How you start the morning will ultimately determine the tone for the day. Not everyone can be a chirpy morning person, but hitting the snooze button and chugging coffee isn't the answer. Han Lin, Club Oasis manager at the Grand Hyatt Beijing, suggests rising the same time every morning and devoting between 30 and 60 minutes to yourself. 'This doesn't necessarily mean meditation; you can use this time to pamper yourself.' Lin suggests light exercise, such as yoga poses or stretching for 30 minutes, an essential-oil footbath, a home-made face mask, then fill up on a nutritious breakfast. Begin with two glasses of warm water. A smoothie made from honey, yoghurt, banana, and milk will fuel the body for the day. Showers shouldn't be rushed, says Ellespa manager Jennifer Agapie. 'Use a face cloth or mitt and an uplifting scented cleansing gel such as bergamot, lemongrass or grapefruit in the morning. The gentle exfoliation of this revitalising rub will give your skin a healthy morning glow.'
