1. Jazz up your shower with a burst of orange and geranium. Neal's Yard Remedies recommend using their orange and geranium shower gel first thing in the morning because the oils "impart a bright sunny scent”. Geranium has an uplifting effect helping to cope with fear and depression, while orange also helps overcoming sadness. It  improves sleep and encourages positive thinking.

 

2. Always keep warm, especially your muscles. Of course exercise is the best thing you can do to raise your body temperature and to help you keep that nice warmth you can apply Niki's Warming Balm from Niki McGlynn a homeopath, reflexologist and aromatherapist who blends organic ingredients in her lab in Wokingham.

 

3. Talking of essential oils, aromatherapist Carol Webb's tip is to make your own energising body oil that you can use after bathing. The incredients are red thyme (five drops), lavender (five drops), grapefruit (10 drops) and black pepper (10 drops). Mix the essential oils in 60 ml of Sweet Almond Carrier Oil and use as an energising body rub.

 

4. Increase the circulation in the face by practising self-massage: bringing a fresh supply of oxygen to the face is vital to feel energised. Try my self-massage technique for the face which, as an added benefit, can help firm the skin around the jawline.

 

5. Is the weather making you feel miserable? You can change the way you feel with meditation. I recently went to a meditation retreat at Evolve Wellness Centre in South Kensington, a beautiful and peaceful yoga centre in a secluded mews. Research studies have shown that meditation can affect the brain's chemistry to achieve changes in metabolism, heart rate, respiration and blood pressure.

 

And now, armed with all this knowledge, we can face the rest of winter head on.

 

Paola Bassanese is founder, director and lead therapist at Energya which specialises in health treatments including holistic massage, natural facelift massage, pregnancy massage, nutrition and