Using nature for self-care

It’s a very modern concept but an upcoming workshop will take self-care back to the basics finds Eleni Philippou

Self-care. It’s certainly having its moment in the spotlight since the start of the pandemic. But what really defines self-care? Is it setting boundaries, going to brunch, saying no and leaving your phone in another room at night? Perhaps.

Pampering ourselves is wonderful and having that extra piece of cake is indeed a guilt-free delight yet isn’t looking after our wellbeing more than a momentarily feel-good treat? It’s become perhaps a bit of a trend but the good intentions to put our wellness first tend to see us get lost in the noise and feel good only superficially. But taking care of our emotional, physical and relationship needs may be simpler than we think.

“Self-care is about making the time and space to shamelessly take care of yourself, with as much love as we would look after a newborn,” says aromatherapist, holistic therapies practitioner and the founder of Gaia Olea Elsie Hadjipavli. If you’re into local handmade herbal skincare and wellness products, chances are you already know of the Kalavasos-based brand. Besides making creams, oils, soaps and more from scratch, Gaia Olea’s first workshop looks at self-care through the simplest way possible – connecting with nature.

“Self-care for me is about honouring our self by tending to our emotional, mental and physical needs,” she says. “[It is] about shutting social noise out and carefully listening to what our body and soul really crave. It’s about putting yourself first, not because you are more worthy than others, but exactly because you are as worthy as everyone else. As we are witnessing stress-related diseases rising at an unprecedented level, I believe self-care is exactly what all human beings in the world need.”

And so, Gaia Olea’s upcoming workshop next Sunday is a relaxing, fun and informative morning exploring some nature connection methods and the benefits these have on overall health and wellbeing. A connection Elsie says is a vital part of her life as for the last few years she lives close to nature.

“Nature is my main source of inspiration in life,” she says, “it’s where I find refuge from the overwhelm of the world, and where I finally feel a sense of belonging. Nature has provided a healing space for me in many ways, and I feel that she has the capacity to offer this healing space to everyone.” Living near her workshop in Kalavassos, grounding and connection to the earth are now part of Elsie’s way of life.

“I believe that we have just forgotten that we are nature ourselves,” she adds, “that we belong to the natural world and that the rhythms of nature are essentially our rhythms. We need to remember that by aligning to the rhythms of nature we get to experience a more wholesome, balanced, effortless life as well as a healthier mind and body… With the effects of climate change and natural environment destruction being louder than ever, I feel that the only chance we have is to reconnect to our true nature by realising that we are indeed nature ourselves.”

Gaia Olea’s workshop aims at sharing the simple ways in which we look after ourselves at home. Her workshop, starting at 10.30am, will focus on simple practices that anyone can do on their own with little to no cost. Lasting four hours, the workshop is priced at €45 (but is negotiable). The day will begin with a brief explanation of how the nervous system works to comprehend the importance of taking care of it and then participants will move on to explore some breathing techniques and pressure points to calm the nervous system. The basics of some nature connection techniques will be discussed and eventually, the workshop will focus on herbal body oiling.

Elsie will explain how people can create herbal oils at home, advising how to choose the right herbs and essential oils. Hands-on and interactive, the workshop will have participants making their own body oil with essential oils to take home. This will be done by using simple, everyday ingredients as that is also the essence of the day. Pure, raw materials such as plain olive oil, dried local herbs and a few essential oils that are easily accessible to most people will form the basis of the body oils.

“I was introduced to body oiling when I lived in India back in 2011,” says Elsie, “as it’s such an integral part of Ayurveda medicine, and have integrated it into my daily life since. It is a feasible and accessible form of self-care for most people.”

That’s what Gaia Olea’s workshop will be about. “Less stress, more joy,” says Elsie.

Self-care through nature connection: Body Oiling

Workshop facilitated by Gaia Olea, focusing on natural self-care practices such as body oiling. November 7. 10.30am-2.30pm. €45 but flexible. Registration is completed with a payment via gaiaolea.com. Tel: 99-675618