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C r e a t e d & P u b l i s h e d b y A L S O H o m e L t d | E l ä L i f e A s t r a H o u s e , T h e C o m m o n C r a n l e i g h S u r r e y

G U 6 8 R Z , U K

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' e s s e n c e ' i s a n o n l i n e , d i g i t a l m a g a z i n e p u b l i s h e d b y A L S O H o m e L t d a n d E l ä L i f e t h a t p r o v i d e s i t s r e a d e r s a c h a n c e t o s l o w d o w n , p a u s e , r e f l e c t a n d l i v e w e l l . I t b u i l d s o n a s e n s e o f c o m m u n i t y a n d f r i e n d s h i p w w w . e l a l i f e . u k c o p y r i g h t

A L S O H o m e L t d . A l l r i g h t s r e s e r v e d .

N o p a r t o f t h i s p u b l i c a t i o n m a y b e r e p r o d u c e d , d i s t r i b u t e d o r t r a n s m i t t e d i n a n y f o r m o r b y a n y m e a n s , i n c l u d i n g p h o t o c o p y i n g o r o t h e r e l e c t r o n i c o r m e c h a n i c a l m e t h o d s w i t h o u t t h e p r i o r w r i t t e n p e r m i s s i o n o f t h e c o m p a n y . F o r p e r m i s s i o n r e q u e s t s p l e a s e e m a i l i n f o @ e l a l i f e u k

Hi, I love this time of year. For me, this is when the New Year, really begins. Spring. This is when I come alive! I'm so full of hope, life and energy. Anything is possible after the darker, heavier winter months

This fourth edition of Essence is about RENEWAL As we enter Spring, the season of renewal and new life, it feels like joy is tangible and hope is hanging in the trees! I've recently started foraging much to my husbands annoyance, apparently I slow his walks down...! However, I really love it I was told I come alive when I talk about foraging and I think I agree. I've always loved the power of plants and nature for our health and I have found this new, even deeper love for plants when I can just find them on a walk or in my garden. This month I've picked cleavers and made tea, brilliant to boost your immune system, turkey tails, nettles and wild garlic.

When we forage, we use our eyes to scan the ground, the trees, the hedgerows, all around us This action of moving our eyes can help calm our nervous system and our minds and connect us back to nature. When we forage we use all the senses, we see, we touch, we smell and we taste

Why not give it a try and calm your mind, Love,

A curated range of aromatherapy products to help you find moments for self care and skincare. We are here to help you nourish and nurture your body and mind and to remind you that YOU MATTER . YOU ARE VALUABLE . YOU ARE LOVED . YOU ARE SEEN

Hope is not pretending that troubles don't exist. It is the trust that they will not last forever, that hurts will be healed and difficulties overcome. It is faith that a source of strength and renewal lies within to lead us through the dark into the sunshine."

Liz Chase

Designed

Spring ENJOYING THE CHANGE IN SEASONS FROM WINTER TO

Lots of people find themselves feeling a bit tired and eager to stay home during the winter months. Coupled with big, hearty meals, winter is a time for rest and hibernation. The days are short, the weather is cold - it’s no wonder we all want to stay snuggled up in bed Allowing ourselves to fully let go and embrace winter tells the body it’s okay to slow down.

Traditionally, people used to live by dusk and dawn The sunrise in the morning brought with it a peak of cortisol to wake up and begin the day. In contrast, dusk brought a sense of relaxation and calm. It was a sign to slow down and wrap things up.

But as time has gone on, we ’ ve found ourselves working harder than ever. The majority of people wake up in the dark during the winter and don’t come home until it’s dark again. This can be especially exhausting for the body that’s meant to be governed by sunshine

Embracing the seasons means embracing the cold, sleepy and dark months as well as the fresh, bright and sunny months. While you might have felt tired and lethargic in January, you may be surprised to find yourself feeling bright and energetic in March. That’s why the changing of the seasons is so fascinating - it has extraordinary effects on our bodies and minds. Especially the transition from winter to spring.

Spring marks the start of new beginnings. It’s when plants sprout, flowers bloom and when birds lay eggs. It’s the ultimate symbol of rebirth.

Spring tells us that it’s time to renew our minds, bodies and spirits. Feeling energised by the longer and sunnier days, this season is the perfect time to get outdoors and embrace nature and the environment Even the colours of spring are enough to make us feel reinvigorated Try slowing down and appreciating the world around you. The vibrant colours. The fragrant scents. The changing scenery. This is the time to cherish love, renewal and growth.

So if you ’ ve been feeling guilty about holeing up at home this winter, don’t. You’re listening to your body! With spring right here, you’ll be out and about with a fresh take on life in no time.

3 WAYS TO SPRING CLEAN YOUR BODY & MIND

Spring cleans aren’t just for your home - they’re for your body and mind, too. After a long winter spent eating hearty foods and hibernating at home, now ’ s a great time to give back to your mind and body to live a happy and healthy life that makes you feel good Here are our top 3 ways to spring clean your body and mind this season.

1. Address the stress in your life

Dealing with ongoing stress can negatively affect your mind, body and feelings. Being in a perpetual state of fight or flight increases your heart rate and elevates your levels of stress hormones. This results in countless issues such as skin conditions, heart problems, and mental health conditions. Stress is bad news - and it’s never too late to address these anxious thoughts and feelings

Try becoming more active, splitting up big tasks and confronting the many things causing you stress. If you feel like you ’ ve got too much on your plate, try to minimise your life and clear out your schedule. Allow yourself time to rest and relax and don’t feel bad about it. But also, give yourself grace Life is hard Sometimes difficult things happen that are beyond our control and require the help of a professional to deal with.

2. Go on a digital detox

Are you feeling more tied than ever to your electronic devices? Whether you spend your evenings endlessly scrolling or are watching far too much TV, going on a digital detox is one of the best ways to spring-clean your mind this year.

Try scheduling time without your phone or laptop to do something that doesn’t require a WiFi connection. Go for a walk. Read a book. Take a long soak in a bath. While giving up on electronics completely may not be realistic, you can definitely find ways to cut back Try starting small by logging off of all social media for a week. Take notice of how it feels and how much more free time you have. Think about how your energy levels and mood are affected. You may be surprised to find out just how impactful a digital detox can be

3. Realign your diet

The vast majority of people allow themselves to indulge over the holiday period. From baked goods to lots of outings with loved ones, you may have found yourself consuming far more sugar and alcohol than you would normally like. It’s natural to crave heartier food during the cold months, and it’s great that you allowed yourself to let go and enjoy instead of being tied down to a strict diet

But as the days start to get longer and summer steadily approaches, it’s now time to reestablish your goals and focus on realigning your diet This doesn’t mean going on a strict meal plan that leaves you feeling hungry, tired and irritable. It simply means nourishing your body and mind with whole foods that make you shine from the inside out.

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Give your body and mind the TLC it needs with a spring clean Whether you choose to realign your diet, go on a digital detox or get serious about addressing the stress in your life, there are countless things you can do to get yourself back on track

elders COMING BACK TO THE WAY OF OUR

Different cultures and countries have varying viewpoints when it comes to caring for the elderly. With people living longer than ever before thanks to improvements in healthcare and technology, we are now seeing a sharp increase in senior citizens across the world. But as populations continue to grow, elderly people are less looked after than in previous years. Especially in parts of western society that once used to pride themselves on respecting older generations.

Nowadays, hundreds of thousands of elderly people are lonely and cut off from society in the UK Findings from Age UK show that more than 2 million people in England over the age of 75 live alone and have gone over a month without speaking to a friend, neighbour or family member. But as a country that once prioritised and respected the elderly, it’s hard to believe how we ’ ve reached this point.

The unfortunate reality is that modern society places more value on work and independence than on spending time with family As people grow up and seek out new and fruitful opportunities in bigger cities, their parents are often left behind uncared for. While this is more drastic in the western world, other countries are seeing the same shift, too.

Roughly 10 years ago, China enacted an “Elderly Rights Law” to address the growing problem of lonely elderly people by mandating that adult children visit their parents While this law has been difficult to put into practice, it does make you reflect on how the state had to resort to such drastic measures in the first place. Clearly, something isn’t right.

Mediterranean and Latin cultures strongly prioritise the family. It’s even common for different generations to live under one roof to ensure that everyone is cared for This protects the elderly and keeps them socialised while also providing free childcare for new children that enter the family It’s a system that has been around for hundreds of thousands of years.

Koreans also strongly respect the elderly and celebrate them getting older with large-scale 60th and 70th birthday parties. It is seen as an honour to care for one ’ s parents as they get older. Sadly, this viewpoint isn’t echoed around the world

Because prioritising and respecting the elderly can come with limitations. Some think that it can hinder individuality and the prospects that exist for young adults around the world. Caring for parents is a large emotional and financial responsibility, but it does come with a host of benefits and peace of mind knowing that the ageing generation is being cared for.

As the growing problem of loneliness and isolation among seniors is addressed, it makes us reflect on important traditions lost and just how much the elderly have to give. While they may have lived in a different time, it still doesn’t take away from the fact that they have accumulated years of wisdom and experiences In an age where we like to think we know better than anyone, it could do all of us a world of good to set our egos aside and learn from the wisdom of the older generation. Sure, viewpoints may differ. But that doesn’t mean their viewpoint isn’t important Celebrate your elders and the path they’ve paved for all of us to be here today.

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T r a n s i t i o n s a r e a p a r t o f l i f e , a l l o w i n g f o r p e r p e t u a l r e n e w a l . W h e n y o u e x p e r i e n c e t h e e n d o f o n e c h a p t e r , a l l o w y o u r s e l f t o f e e l t h e e m o t i o n s o f l o s s a n d r e b i r t h . A b u d g i v e s w a y t o a n e w f l o w e r , w h i c h s u r r e n d e r s t o t h e f r u i t , w h i c h g i v e s r i s e t o a s e e d , w h i c h y i e l d s a n e w s p r o u t . E v e n a s y o u r i d e t h e r o l l e r c o a s t e r , e m b r a c e t h e c e n t e r e d i n t e r n a l r e f e r e n c e o f t h e e v e r - p r e s e n t w i t n e s s .

EnjoyasneakpeakofourALSOHomeSpringcollection. ALSOHomeisoursisterbrand.