Outer Beauty from Mindfulness

One of the problems of modern life is a lack of concentration, or focus, on the moment, thing, or place where we are or what we are doing. This is caused by the surrounding noise, rush, and avalanche of information dumped on us by the internet and various smart devices. Stress follows as a result - tensing all the muscles, draining energy, taking away vitality and a healthy glow. The body reflects everything we feel on the inside: how calm or agitated we are, how joyful or downcast, how much we get angry or bicker over awkward everyday situations.

Beauty comes from the inside out, not the other way around. A quote from Susan that adorned the ESPA brochures: "For the last ten years we dedicated ourselves to caring for our bodies. For the next ten we will dedicate ourselves to caring for our minds." A true observation and a very sound strategy.

Outer appearance is influenced by everything - good, deep, and sufficient sleep; correct breathing (for women, belly breathing rather than chest breathing); a healthy diet (not eliminating fats, but balancing one's nutrition so as not to take in too many sweets, for instance, which create a constant sense of agitation and restlessness); and physical activity (movement is important). By ignoring all of this, we diminish our own beauty.

Another way in which young women do a disservice to their appearance is by using anti-ageing creams too early, or by over-treating the skin with excessive scrubbing and too much decorative cosmetics. The body needs the most ordinary things to look good. But it needs them regularly. Beauty care, exercise, and also meditation or massage are worth introducing as a routine in one's life.

One good piece of advice from Susan made me smile wryly - not to use laptops or smartphones for at least two hours before going to sleep. If you want to take in some information, the best way is to read a book. The blue light from screens does not allow the mind to calm down and keeps it in a state of alertness, which is why sleep may not be fully restful and we may wake up in the morning unrefreshed, even though we have slept for a sufficient length of time.

But everything begins with awareness - with recognising the value of ritual, of inner (and also outer) calm, of breathing, of healthy eating, and of movement. Not allowing oneself to be overcome by anger and destructive stress in difficult situations. Taking a deep breath in, breathing out, and making a focused decision or tackling the problem.

Promoting inner calm is also the task of the cosmetic products ESPA offers - oils, creams, balms. From what I have tried, all of them have a very strong, distinct scent that either soothes or invigorates. Aromatherapy in a small capsule or jar.

Havens of calm of the kind that the ESPA philosophy has created will grow increasingly relevant with each passing year. Riga has been touched by this less, but metropolitan cities are already ailing from a lack of quietude, silence, and human touch. The only thing one can wish for Latvian women - despite the harsh daily rhythm - is mindfulness, which enhances beauty.