Care for the carer’s day

At a recent “Care for the carer’s” day put on by Shellharbour City Council, carers were given the opportunity to fill their own cup of self-care. Every single carer who attended were bound by a common thread of giving endlessly for the sake of others.  I doff my cap to all in a carer’s role, for the endless giving and care you provide.

The day was made up of several sessions, each simple yet profoundly meaningful, including a meditation and yoga session, a talk on self-care activities, and a chance to make our very own aromatherapy bath salts.

The day was a truly holistic experience, addressing the mind, body and spirit, and was engaging for the senses, with a combination of the senses of sight, sound, smell, and touch incorporated into the day’s activities.

It is lovely to see a local council putting on sessions for their citizens, and even greater to see the beneficial impact it has on them. As a natural therapist I often take it for granted what a simple act can have on a person, and being a part of making aromatherapy bath salts with people who often do not have time to have a bath due to caring for others was very meaningful to me.

I have a new appreciation for the importance of scheduling self-care into your weekly routine as a priority, not as an afterthought, which often is the case. It is important not only to yourself but to those around you to ensure that time is set aside time and ensure it is not taken up by other things that pop up. This requires a shift in thinking from this time being not a luxury but a necessity.

I especially enjoyed making my own aromatherapy bath salts, getting my hands involved as I mixed the dry ingredients and the sense of smell as I smelled the aromas of the essential oils. Confirming my passion for aromatherapy and self-care, due to the sheer simplicity and inclusiveness that it can bring, along with deeply rewarding benefits to the mind, body and spirit.

Kind regards,

                        Penelope Espinoza Hallett, Naturopath

                        BHsc (C.M.) AdvDip. Nat/N.D, Dip. Aroma, Dip. C.H., Cert. R.M., Cert. R.M., Cert. SBM, mNHAA