4 Tips for De-Stressing ft. Seattle’s City Sweats
Today on el blog we’re talking about stress. I think it’s the word we all love to hate – “I’m stressed.” “Ugh, today was so stressful.” “Aren’t you stressed with your workload?” I’m a big offender when it comes to using this word – part of my process of overcoming stress is venting about it!
Lately I had the opportunity to work with Seattle City Sweats (which opened a location right down the street from my office which was perfect!). They offer infrared sauna treatments, lymphatic drainage treatments, a ‘tonic bar,’ holistic facials, massages, and organic body scrubs.
The peaceful and relaxing experience is what had me take a step back and realize that for 1) I’ve been a little stressed lately and 2) I haven’t been following my anti-stress regime. (We’ll get to my favorite tips at the end).
The Wallingford City Sweats lobby
I started out my experience in the lobby at the ‘Tonic Bar’ where I tried their Spice Detox Tonic, which believe me had me feeling 10x healthier than normal already. I’m usually more of a vanilla milk shake type of girl than a green juice, so I think my taste buds were a little shocked!
I then moved onto the Lymphatic drainage treatment :
uses a massage machine to stimulate the lymphatic system to push toxin-filled fluid out of the body.
The machine utilizes a non-invasive technique which applies pressure to various parts of the body to promote circulation.
Especially beneficial for colds and infections.
For some reason ever since I moved to Seattle I’ve been getting sick constantly! I had never heard of this treatment before, but it was cool how they wrap you up and a machine gives you a massage that targets different parts of the body while applying pressure. It lasts 45 minutes which I felt like was the perfect amount of time. Side note: I also loved that every room has a TV where you can watch movies or listen to calming music.
It helps with detoxification, weight loss, relaxation, skin clarification, insomnia, anxiety, depression, and asthma.
You get your own little cabin which plays calming music. I brought a book along with me to read for the 45 minutes as well. I loved that they also had a refreshing peppermint spray for your face & body in case the heat got overwhelming.
Post treatment
At the end of my visit, I was led to a back area that had sand and lawn chairs – so beachy it made me miss SoCal! A little area of refreshments was set out for me – iced tea, orange slices, and one of their tonics. This was a great way to finish my treatment as it was a cooling down and re-energizing process.
Overall review: I cannot stop talking about the beautiful and peaceful decor of City Sweats! I think my experience was all in the details – you can really tell that the team thought of absolutely everything. In the future I would do the two treatments on separate days (to spread out the relaxation), but this would absolutely be a great option for a “spa day.”
Tips for De-Stressing:
Unplug 5 minutes a day – If I don’t mind myself, I’ll go all day hopping for task to task, checking my phone, and not “unplugging” until I go to sleep. I now set an alarm and spend at least 5 minutes away from my electronics (preferably outside) and just breathing and meditating. It’s a great way to reset what I like to call the “stress clock.”
Treat yo’ self – When I’m having a particularly rough week, I make an appointment for a massage or something relaxing (like the infrared sauna!) While these things can get expensive, Groupon is a great option for finding good deals. Treating yourself can also be something as small as buying a cup of coffee and going for a walk.
Hit the gym – Some people are really disciplined and are great about making the gym part of their routine. I unfortunately am not one of those people. My friends know that when they see a Snapchat of me at the gym it’s usually because I need to work off some steam. It’s in my opinion one of the best ways to de-stress!
Write about it – I think it’s human nature to get overwhelmed when a lot of things are on our plate. When I don’t know what to do, I first write about why I’m stressed. Then I make an action plan with a ‘To Do’ list since I feel that it makes it more manageable. Lastly, I just write about why I’m grateful for what I have. Looking at the positives can be a great way to reset and realize that there’s more to your life than this one moment of stress!
What are your tips for de-stressing?
Disclaimer: City Sweats provided me the services mentioned above in exchange for an honest review of their company and services. All thoughts are my own.
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