Spa Time Anytime - a cooperative writing experiment

2006-03-10 - 2:18 p.m.

Before we begin, deep, DEEP apologies to the author. This article appears (for no apparent reason) on the Quaker Rice Snacks Web site.

December 8, 2005

Spa Time Anytime

Pamper yourself at home, at work, even on the road with these quick and easy tips.

By Gigi Ragland and Veralynn

A spa experience transports us out of our everyday routine and places us instantly into a realm of relaxation semi-comatose state. But you don't have to be in a spa to pamper yourselfwear pampers. No matter where you are, you only need five minutes to get a mini wellness fixwasted. Try these simple relaxing techniques...

During your lunch break:

• Forward your phone calls, turn off the computer, turn down the blinds, dim the lights. In fact, this is such a good idea that for maximum health benefits you should do this throughout the entire work day.
  
• Close your eyes, sit in your chair with both feet on the ground, breathe deeply and slowly. Tip: try to control the snoring this time.
  
• Rub eucalyptus or mint essential oil into your temples as you breathe in and out. Or have that cute co-worker rub oils all over your back.
  
• Or visualize your favorite color. As you breathe in and out, imagine the color filling you up and releasing itself with each exhale. Try not to say, "Oooh, the colors!" else HR will likely be after you with an intervention program.
  

• Light candles in a comfortable room , extinguish kitten's tail when he lights himself on fire (tip: use scented candles to cover the smell of burning cat hair), dim the lights , curse when the bulb burns out, rummage house for spare bulb, and close the curtains or shades. Put calming instrumental music on.
  
• Move furniture to allow room for five feet of space around you and place an exercise mat or a rug on the floor. Hoover up the tumbleweeds of cat hair. Return stolen hair ties and other household items the cat's been hiding under the furniture to their original locations.
  
• Perform some gentle, relaxing stretches or yoga exercises. Take ibuprofen when you pull that muscle wrong. Slather self in Biofreeze/Ben Gay.
  

• Bring a battery-operated heated back cushion ahem and place it where the heat would feel best, perhaps the back of the neck or lower back.
  
• Switch on your iPod with tunes that remind you of your favorite destination, maybe a medley of Jimmy Buffet and Bob Marley songs for a reminder of a beach vacation. drink a margarita from your liter-sized sports bottle to complete that island feeling.
  
• Write in a journal your wish for the day.Make mental notes of snarky things to say in your online journal about the weirdos on the bus/airplane/etc.
  

• Splash your face five times with cold water for a quick pick-me-up.Drink the mini-bar for a quick pass-me-out.
  
• To unwind, take a bubble bath and listen to some soothing music. Extra-strength: Bring along the cute bellboy if necessary. Have him scrub your back...it's exfoliating.
  
• Try an in-room massage. Check with the hotel concierge for other spa-like services. Spa-like services? Wow, I didn't know the folks at Quaker thought that way. Just how much are they charging for their happy-endings?
  

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