If there’s one thing we’re unanimously striving for, it’s balance.

From work/life balance to mental balance, many of us know that finding that equilibrium is what leads to less stress, more enjoyment.

But it’s no mean feat trying to strike it, so we caught up with those who live and breathe (deeply) the art of finding the perfect balance for your wellbeing.

These are their personal go-to tips…

“I practice the 7/11 breathing practice, which is very easy to remember, so you can call upon it whenever you feel stressed and overwhelmed to refind your balance.

All you do is breathe in to the count of 7 and then out to the count of 11. Breathe in slowly and deeply through your nose and out through your nose.

Your stomach should expand, but your chest should rise very little, so you may find it helpful to place one hand on your stomach and the other on your chest to monitor this. Keep going for a couple of minutes and see how much calmer and in control you feel.”

“When a situation evolves so quickly, like everything at the moment, it can be tempting to follow updates obsessively and find yourself becoming swamped by the volume of news and information from outlets and social groups.

Taking some time to meditate allows you to be more balanced, ensuring that whilst you are aware of what’s going on around you, you are not becoming overwhelmed by it.

When you’re practicing mindfulness techniques, you’re open to the seriousness of the situation and aware of ongoing developments, whilst not allowing yourself to become lost in it. When you’re open to suffering and difficulties, you’re also more open to other concepts like joy, love and kindness.”

“CBD oil is highly effective and has a range of benefits, from reducing inflammation, lifting anxiety, aiding sleep, relieving pain and cellular protection by offsetting the damage caused by free radicals. 

Massage it into your skin topically as it is more easily absorbed into the bloodstream, allowing it to interact with receptors in the skin itself, unlike when it is ingested sublingually (usually as drops under the tongue) or orally in capsule, food or drink form.

The skin is the largest organ and our body’s first line of defence against unwanted organisms. 

As such, this protective layer has the highest concentration of cannabinoid receptors, which are located throughout the body as a part of our endocannabinoid system and regulate a number of critical bodily functions and responses such as stress, pain, appetite, inflammation, sleep, immunity and even processes like how much or how little oil our skin produces - making it perfect for finding balance.”

With the added scent of rosemary, and with a touch of coconut oil and soothing lavender, we love Sanctuary Spa’s Calming CBD Oil - just rub into your wrists and temples and…breathe.

“I like to make a list of things that I am grateful for.

 This is particularly useful when feeling very emotional, stressed or overwhelmed. Creating a quick list of up to three things will very often change your mental state to a more balanced one.”

“For me balance is about self awareness, knowing what you need to do to be your best you. It’s about tuning in and listening, learning your warning signs.

Figure out what works for you and what doesn’t. Become aware of your non-negotiables. If you thrive on getting up early to have ‘me time’ then go with it. If going for a run does it for you, then make it a non-negotiable.

Balance requires boundaries, so don’t be afraid to say no. I’ve become increasingly aware that I need to be flexible and forgiving with myself, especially as no two days are the same. Achieving balance is a journey.”

“As our bodies are ever-changing, I believe that sleep is one cycle so necessary to our daily healing and an ideal place to try and achieve balance. I use a sleep or pillow mist to engage in positive sensory experiences before sleeping. 

I like using different scents and try to be active and present whilst spraying to deepen this experience further as I prepare for sleep.” 

If you fancy trying a sleep spray to help enhance your wind down, try Sanctuary Spa’s Sleep Mist, laden with a scientifically proven mood-soothing fragrance of jasmine, patchouli and frankincense. It also has the added bonus of hyaluronic acid which keeps your skin plump and hydrated overnight.

“Affirmations can be used as a self-hypnosis tool and are most effective when you are within a relaxed state such as during yoga nidra, during or after meditation and even during and after exercise.

The states just before and after sleep are also excellent times to work with affirmations. Explore staying aware within the hypnogogic state - those moments just before you fall asleep - and the hypnopompic - those first moments upon waking.

Motivation and intention play a crucial part in the success of using affirmations, so it’s important to make sure you tap into a strong motivation before you embark. Really believe it will happen, and have a determined yet relaxed attitude.

My top tips for creating affirmations to support your wellbeing are; use the first person ‘I’ and the present tense (e.g. I feel joy in my life), use the vocabulary and language you would use conversationally (your subconscious will respond better to words and sayings you use every day) and visualise your positive outcome when you recite your affirmation.”

“Our skin is our biggest organ yet rarely gets the attention and care it deserves other than on our faces.

Balms are a great way to deliver an intense dose of moisture and help feed the skin with all that it needs to do its job properly. Dry brush your skin before applying for maximum benefit and to help your skin really glow. 

Clever products can also boost their effectiveness with plant power in the form of essential oils and extracts. Warming extracts like ginger and rosemary will help to stimulate circulation while herbs like lavender and chamomile are calming, soothing and anti-inflammatory. Vitamins like vitamin E adds to the suppleness of the skin and can also be used to reduce scars.”

Loaded with self-heating ginger oil and thermolat, Sanctuary Spa’s De-Stress Warming Body Balm is the perfect balm for soothing muscles and tension after a long day, with the effects lasting up to two hours.

However you seek to find balance, Sanctuary Spa’s Wellness Range can help you relax into it. Shop the range now.