Self-love and Self-care on Valentines Day

"The most important relationship you have in life is the one with yourself"

Valentine's day is the time to show a little extra love to the people you care about. Whether you're single or taken, it's important to pamper yourself with the same kind of love and kindness that you'd shower on anyone else.

We often forget that the most important relationship we have is the one we have with ourselves. Valentine Day is about finding guilt-free ways to make “deposits” into yourself to improve your overall well-being, prioritising self-compassion and self-care which have serious benefits for your mental and physical health.

Loving yourself makes you feel at your best and really sets the tone for how you allow others to love you. So here are ten top tips for self-love .

1. Learn to say 'no'. Overcommitting is counter-productive and can lead to increased stress, anxiety, even full-blown burnout. This is why it's important to set limits, in both personal and professional life. A simple way to start practicing this habit is to pause and check-in with yourself before committing to anything.
   
   
2. Do something you genuinely love. Engaging in activities you enjoy elevates your mood and boosts energy. So schedule time regularly to do something just for yourself—whether it's journaling, mediation, painting, listening to music, going for a run or simply giving yourself an at-home spa treatment.
   
   
3. Take nature baths. 'Nature bath' or 'forest bathing' is spending time in nature to relax and rejuvenate. There is growing research that shows that connecting to nature has numerous benefits for our psychological and emotional wellbeing such as calming our nervous system and building resilience. Experience forest bathing on retreat with us and learn to do it whenever you want.
4. Just breathe. Deep breathing for only just five minutes can help reduce stress, lower your heart rate and regulate your blood pressure. It's hands-down one of the easiest self-care techniques out there. On retreat you will learn breath work to master the techniques of diaphragmatic breathing or join our classes to learn.
   
   
5. Shift from 'doing mode' to 'being mode'. We often feel the need to get things done. Try spend some time throughout the day to just be present and be aware of your experiences, it is grounding and helps cultivate an intimate relationship with yourself. Experience mindful meditation in each Yogarama class & retreat
6. Pay attention to your thoughts. Be mindful of the way you talk to yourself. Whenever you notice yourself saying something unkind to yourself, simply switch to a gentler tone and try to evaluate things rationally to contain your inner critic.Practice speaking to yourself as you would to a loved one on retreat.
   
   
7. Be more forgiving. "Practice forgiveness towards yourself and others. Research shows that letting go of grudges and practicing forgiveness offers an array of health benefits from lower stress levels and better sleep to improved cholesterol levels and even lower the risk of a heart attack. Learn how you can foster this healthy habit on retreat.
   
   
8. Laugh more. Laughter releases endorphins and other healthy hormones and helps take your mind off of stress. Don't know where to begin? Spend time with friends and have a laugh, read a funny book, watch a funny movie or do experience laughing yoga with Jeevi, the laughing chef, on our Retreat.
   
   
9. Yoga and Movement. Regular physical movement such as walking, swimming, yoga are all wonderful self-care techniques. It’s well known that exercise helps relieve stress, improves cognitive function and promotes endorphin release that can help ease depression and anxiety, among other things. Learn to make yoga and other mindful movement a daily habit on retreat.
10. Do something kind for someone else. Kindness reduces stress because it releases serotonin which is the 'feel-good' hormone. You can start with little acts of kindness like letting someone in the queue, buying someone a small gift, telling someone why you appreciate them, writing a note to a loved one, donating to a passion cause or inviting a friend to join a community like Yogarama Retreats