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Valentine’s Day Post Part 2:
Have a Onederful time pampering yourself on V-Day

We’re staying optimistic about Valentine’s Day and we invite you to do the same. Whether you have a date or not, it should be a time to express your love … for yourself. Focus on your inner and outer beauty, both accentuated by your health. There are many activities you can do by yourself (or with friends) to make Valentine’s Day an enriching, peaceful experience. Don’t be one of the 15% of American women who send themselves flowers on Valentine’s Day – celebrate you, your body and your health.

Massage:  We’re not talking about a 15 minute massage that you had a friend give you – go get a professional massage to cleanse your body and mind. The benefits of getting a professional massage include relieving muscle pain, reducing stress and increasing circulation. There are many different types of massages, but the most common two are deep tissue and Swedish. A deep tissue massage is focused on relieving tension in the muscles and fascia. Deep Tissue massage is designed to relieve severe tension in the muscle and fascia. This type of massage is recommended for people who have consistent pain or are athletes. The Swedish massage is more relaxing. With long, flowing strokes, this type of massage can reduce pain, joint stiffness, improve circulation and reduce stress. Before your massage starts, ask for a particular mist or scented oil to enhance the comfortable atmosphere. Be sure to drink a lot of water afterward to flush out the released toxins.

Bubble bath:  Who doesn’t love bubble baths? Nothing is more relaxing and peaceful than laying in a foam-filled tub. Read a book or put on some soothing music while you rest in bubbly bliss. Bubble bath gel can be bought at any retail store that sells bath items, and it can be found in a wide variety of scents, including fruity, sweet and floral. You can make your own bubble bath by adding in a little mineral oil or baby oil to the water. For a skin-softening bath, add a cup of powdered milk to the warm, running water. Adding bath salts will benefit your skin in numerous ways. The salts change the osmotic balance of the water, therefore decreasing the amount of water absorbed by the skin and reducing the “pruning” effect to the skin. Bath salts also soften and exfoliate your skin. If you’re feeling creative, you can soothe your skin with all-natural, homemade bath and body products that you can make at home.

Sauna: Kick it up a notch and let some steam into your life. Saunas can be found at public pools, gyms and spas, so they’re easily accessible. The main idea: relax in a hot, humid room and sweat. The temperature inside of a sauna is around 176 °F, but it stays humid enough so you don’t dry up. Saunas are widely used in all parts of the world, and are not harmful for the elderly or even infants. You can relax in a sauna to reduce stress. Saunas have also been said to temporarily relieve the symptoms of the common cold, improve exercise tolerance, reduce chronic pain and decreases symptoms found with many heart problems. It even has been found that they help those with eating disorders and depression.

Go shopping: Shop for yourself, friends or loved ones on our web site! Show the ones you love that you care about their health. We’re offering 10% off of all the items listed on our Valentine’s Day Gift page (offer expires Feb. 28, 2010) when you use the coupon code Lovefeet. You can also get free ground shipping on any order over $50 if you use the coupon code myvalentine10. Pep up your look and enhance your health with our wellness foot care products and orthopedic shoes.

Yummy dessert: Treat yourself to a healthy, yet delicious dessert. Having a healthy dessert does not mean you have to skip out on the chocolate or peanut butter – be sure to whip up something to satisfy your sweet tooth and feel free to sprinkle in some of your favorite fruit. Eating Well’s web site has a lot of healthy dessert recipes that you can make on Valentine’s Day to share with friends or to enjoy by yourself. Stay away from foods that are high in saturated fats, trans fats and sodium, so you can lick that dessert plate clean without loading up on the calories.

Rest easy: After a long day of pampering and spoiling yourself, hop into bed early for a nice, long sleep. Spray some pillow mist on your pillows and covers, like Bath & Body Works’ Aromatherapy pillow most in Lavender Chamomile or Warm Milk & Honey. It’ll put you right to sleep. And the cherry on top: wear a silky face mask for the ultimate spa-like experience. It’ll make you even more excited to say “bye” to Valentine’s Day.

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