明亮的光線劃過我緊閉的雙眼,借著我深吸了一口氣,一股沁人心脾的柑橘香味飄進了我的鼻腔。

But far from lounging under a Mediterranean sun, surrounded by lemon trees, I’m in a medispa in London’s Belgravia, trying out the latest 15-minute therapy for stressed-out execs who want a quick reboot.

但我可不是悠閑地躺在地中海的日光下,身邊是成群的檸檬樹,而只是在倫敦貝爾格萊威亞的一家溫泉會所里嘗試最新的15分鐘放松舒緩療法而已,希冀能夠讓自己重新振作起來。

It combines the sort of light stimulation used by lamps shown to alleviate SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder — seasonal depression, thought to be caused by lack of exposure to sunlight) with aromas scientifically proven to have an effect on the mind and body — a cross between light therapy and clinical aromatherapy.

這種療法將用來減緩“季節性情感障礙”(可能是憂郁缺少光照而引起的季節性的憂郁)的燈發出的光線刺激與芳香科學結合,且確實被證實有益身心——光線療法與臨床芳香療法的相遇。

Research established that three smells seem to have a measurable impact on how people feel and behave. ‘Lavender contains a natural anaesthetic called linalool, which is why it has a reputation for being relaxing,’ he says. ‘Citrus scents have anti-depressive effects and mint has been shown to enhance sports performance.’

研究表明有三種氣味能夠在很大程度上影響人的感受以及行為。“薰衣草含有一種名為芳樟醇天然麻醉成分,這也就是其能夠以使人放松而聞名的原因。柑橘類的芳香能夠起到抗抑郁的作用。而薄荷則被證實能夠提升運動表現。”

Tests showed that a combination of light and smell was more effective at boosting mood than light or smell on its own — and best of all, it only took 15 minutes to create that change.

測試表明比起單獨的光線或是氣味,將光線與氣味結合在提升情緒方面更為有效——最重要的是,這一轉變僅需15分鐘。

You simply sit back, relax, allow the therapist to position the lamp correctly and load up your chosen capsule. Then breathe for 15 minutes.

你要做的只是靜坐、放松,讓理療師來調整燈光位置并裝上你選擇的膠囊。然后就深呼吸15分鐘吧。