September wellness from birthdays to self-care

I absolutely love September. It's not generally a popular thing to say because it's associated with the end of summer and returning to school, but I love it. The autumn colours, the warm air with a hint of those wonderful winter smells, the promise of cosy evenings in, big coats, hot chocolate and celebratory seasons on the horizon from Halloween to (dare I say it?) the festive season. However, I think one of the reasons I am particularly fond of September is there always seems to be so much to celebrate, and that's probably because it's the most popular birthday month of the year.

The most popular birthday month of the year

According to the Office of National Statistics, 26th September has consistently been the most common day to be born over the last two decades. It is also generally the most common birthday month in England with eight of the top 10 dates of birth falling towards the end of the month and the other two at the start of October. Tellingly, 26th September falls exactly 39 weeks and two days after Christmas, but we won't dwell on that.

The beauty of birthdays is that whether it's your own or that of friends and family, it's a wonderful thing to have an excuse to celebrate and spoil our loved ones with gifts and gatherings. I am delighted by any excuse to smother my nearest and dearest with all the things that make them feel loved, and within our team at Spabreaks.com we like nothing more than an excuse for a party.

Inspired by the seven chakras

Unsurprisingly, we're very into chakras and birth stones at Spabreaks.com. There are seven chakras, thought to be the energy centres of the body, and in holistic wellbeing each one corresponds to different areas of wellness. In modern spa environments, therapists use crystals and essential oils alongside practices like yoga, meditation and massage to channel therapeutic effects and support overall wellbeing. The seven chakras are:

• The Crown chakra
• Third eye chakra
• Throat chakra
• Heart chakra
• Solar plexus chakra
• Sacral chakra
• Root chakra

As a team we have also aligned them with our company values, illustrating and enshrining the hallmarks of the supportive, productive, healthy and inspiring working environment that we strive to create.

With that in mind, September's birthstone is the sapphire - that mesmerising blue stone, which in wellness terms is connected to the throat chakra and the third eye chakra.

The throat chakra

The throat chakra is the centre of communication, creativity and self expression - in short, it's the body's communication hub, where you find your voice and sing praises — for yourself and others. It's also linked with turquoise crystals, thought to help promote clear and honest communication.

The third eye chakra

The third eye chakra is connected with forgiveness and compassion both for ourselves and others. Located in the centre of your head, parallel to the middle of your eyebrows, it's believed to be linked to perception, awareness, and spiritual communication. It's also associated with the lepidolite gemstone, which can be used as a calming stone to help with feelings of stress, anxiety and depression.

Perhaps that thought will inspire a little gift inspiration as you wonder how to celebrate any upcoming birthdays.

The gift of self-care

It's fitting that September is the most popular birthday month, because with the arrival of a season associated with wrapping up and taking care of ourselves, it's imbued with a sense of self-care and caring for others.

For us at Spabreaks.com that feeling is intertwined with the image of wrapping yourself up in a fluffy robe and slippers and taking time to relax, which of course is why we think a spa break or spa gift voucher makes the perfect present.

Whether it’s your own birthday or someone else’s, whether it’s in September or not, I hope you will take the time to give yourself the care you deserve this month and beyond - you're worth it.