Slow Down, Level Up: 5 Wellness Rituals To Try

Need a low-cost at-home treatment that’s meditative AF? Look no further than the ancient Chinese practice of Gua Sha and face rolling. Gua Sha is tipped to improve circulation, ease muscle tension, and reduce swelling while face rolling is said to promote lymphatic drainage and product absorption (like serums and oils in your routine), with larger and smaller-sized stones for different areas of your face. Now for the how-to: delicately scrape or roll up and outwards on your neck, jawline, cheeks, and forehead. Apply enough ‘slip’ or facial oil to prevent a pulling sensation, advises Melanie Grant of the global skincare clinic by the same name. For best results, pop it in the fridge beforehand. A healthy, extra glowy complexion will reveal itself with a few minutes of either massage per day. Shop your toolkit below.

The Wim Hof breathing method, developed by dutch adventurer and philosopher Wim Hof, has been proven to reverse inflammation by Radboud University. It’s a series of 30 inhales and exhales sans pause, followed by a breath-hold and repeated three times. (Hint: try Hof's guided Youtube tutorials.) It’s simple but deep so avoid practicing behind the wheel, in water, or on a full stomach. Instead, begin sitting or lying in a comfy position. P.S. tingles, heat, or lightheadedness are normal the first few times. If you’re feeling game, the next arm of Wim Hof's wellness philosophy is cold therapy with cool showers on one end of the spectrum and ice baths on the other. To paraphrase Hof: listen to your body. 

Some days... you know, MONDAYS, we need a little something extra to power through. Enter: collagen and adaptogens to mix through smoothies. Collagen is a protein that our hair, skin, and nails leverage for structure. Unfortunately, this youth-loving protein declines from our mid-20s. Vida Glow's drinkable marine collagen supplements our own collagen for healthier nails, shinier hair, and better skin with consistent use. 

Or take the Super Zen adaptogenic power by The Base Body Co. Supplements with adaptogenic qualities counterbalance or ‘adapt’ to stress on a biological level. This cacao-flavoured concoction is packed with herbs – ashwagandha, rhodiola, rosea, amla, rehmannia root, and schisandra  –  known for unique benefits like boosting brain function and lowering cortisol. Suped-up hot cacao? Coming right up. Blend 2 tsp and your favourite hot or cold milk... et voilà!

Self-massage, while often put in the ‘luxury’ bucket, is a tool for lymph detoxification, improved circulation, and above all, a meditative moment of me-time. (We love ours straight after the shower, especially in winter.) After all, who can respond to their 47th out-of-hours email with coconut oil on their palms? You’ll notice the texture on your limbs become more smooth and plump each time. In Ayurveda, head-to-toe massage or ‘abhyanga’ is left to soak for 10-15 minutes, followed by a shower or bath.

Yoga is a practice hailing from India with millennia of tradition. It denotes more than the tree pose and downward dog postures that come to mind when someone mentions 'yoga'.  Numerous studies cite the power of yoga in improving depression, anxiety, sleep, posture (sitting in a chair all day, anyone?), and more modern-day stressors. But yoga’s true meaning – to yoke – isn’t solely about the postures nor how long you can hold a headstand. It’s union; the combination of body, mind, nature, and others all at once. Deep in Sanskrit teachings, you’ll find postures are only one of ‘eight limbs’ of the practice. Breathwork, for instance, is another. Shake off stagnation with this good vibes yoga flow below!