Naturopathy

One of the best things about summertime is shedding that dry air-conditioned skin that we have been bearing over the cooler months and developing a dewier, more radiant and glowing complexion. Summer skin is a wonderful thing, and we want to take full advantage of all the ways in which we can boost it.

Encourage that radiance with nourishment from within…  All the beautiful Summer fruits we now have on offer can do exactly that besides being irresistibly delicious!

Our favourites are: Papaya and Mango

These delicious fruits are bursting, full of Vitamins, Flavonoids, Carotenoids and Antioxidants.

One of the Vitamins most abundant in Papaya and Mango is Vitamin A. This vitamin is essential for the health and integrity of both our skin’s epidermis and dermis. Vitamin A also helps prevent against damage from the sun by interrupting the process that breaks down collagen as well as supporting the oil glands around your hair follicles to create that dewy complexion.

Vitamin C is also plentiful in these fruits, and when you think C, think collagen! This vitamin is an integral part of collagen synthesis, which is an important player within the web of protein, being the key to our skin’s elasticity and firmness. Besides, Vitamin C is another power antioxidant protecting our precious skin cells against damage from free radicals and pollutants that we are exposed to, day in and day out.

Vitamin E is found in both Papaya and Mango. It also is an essential antioxidant to prevent the breakdown of skin. Additionally, Vitamin E also has skin moisturizing qualities and aids in strengthening the skins barrier function.

So, now is the perfect time to scrub away the dead layers of the skin to allow for this new Summer glow to come through. Set up some pamper time for yourself at home and cover your body & face in a luscious body scrub or exfoliating facial with Gaia’s Retreatment Botanics Refining Face polish. Alternatively, fast forward that beautiful glow – come visit us and book a full body scrub in our Gaia Day Spa Steam Room to sweat out all those surface toxins to purify the skin.

Then it’s off to the local farmers market to stock up on all those nutrient dense fruits!

Shelea
Gaia’s Head Naturopath

Organic Gardening

What an amazingly hot, dry, and windy season we are having this year. I can’t remember another year quite like it. The consistent rains still haven’t arrived…

For our organic gardens, we have decided to hold off on our usual big Summer plantings, until the rains arrive. The focus for us in a year like this is plenty of heavy composting, mulching and well directed watering of the plants. Having your hose on the ‘jet’ setting and penetrating the soil around the base of the plants once or twice a week is much more effective than regular light watering. Also, to ensure you’re looking after the health of your plants, add seaweed solution over them in the evenings (every few weeks) and build shade structures over your beds to act as a wind barrier.

Even with our reduced cropping this year we are still enjoying a bountiful harvest of golden zucchinis, Costa Romanesque zucchini, butter beans, tomatoes, tomatillos, jalapenos, ginger, chillies, baby beetroot, cucumbers and all our usual delicious salad leaves. We’re looking forward to a big sweet potato harvest at the end of Summer, and the Piel de Sapo melon vines are starting to set fruit, too. Our Jerusalem artichoke beds are 6 feet high and covered with beautiful little sunflowers, showing promise for a big Autumn dig!

As we come into the hottest time of the year, be mindful of your health when getting out into the garden… Stay hydrated and do your gardening early in the morning, or in the evening.

Let’s all continue to keep our fingers crossed for good solid rain to pour!

Cam
Gaia’s Boutique Farmer

Day Spa

It’s a such a beautiful time of the year now, with Christmas and New Year’s around the corner there are plenty of events, gatherings and adventures outside. However, when temperatures start to soar, be mindful to keep your body hydrated. Hydrate from the inside with plenty of water, and from the outside with nourishing natural skincare products. One of my favourite Retreatment Botanics products to use in the Spa treatments at this time of the year is the nutrient rich ‘Instant Glow Face Masque’. Featuring active Kakadu Plum, Emu Apple and other potent Australian Natives, it gives the skin an antioxidant boost to help restore the sometimes damaged summer skin. In preparation for the social events, it’s nice to feel refreshed and renewed with bright & clear skin.

Some of us also feel a little burnt out at the end of a year, so it’s important to take some down time. Escape to the Gaia tropics to unwind and indulge… Our Signature Body Polish in the steam room will soften the skin and draw out impurities and our Unique Body Cocoa Butter Masque treatment will replenish, hydrate and nourish your skin. Our vast range of treatments, from traditional to nurturing and Healing can be found here – www.gaiaretreat.com.au/day-spa/spa-menu

Schedule in some time-out for yourself this Summer, to enliven your senses and connect with the tranquil sounds and native beauty. If you have a loved one that is in need of some pamper time this Christmas, why not treat them to an experience at Gaia Retreat & Spa. Gift Certificates are available for purchase on our website shop. It will be a nourishing experience they won’t forget!

Mel
Gaia’s Day Spa Manager