How good is taking a bath? “Relaxing your body in warm water is one of the easiest ways to reap both physical and psychological benefits,” says Helen Armstrong, Founder of Apsley.
Going backwards in history, the global pandemic has seen a lot of us managing stress and anxiety by running a bath. And for those of us that had forgotten, or never even tried to make space in our lives for a bathing ritual, that changed.
More than a bath, a bathing ritual involves drawing on the benefits of more than just water, such as the psychological benefits you gain from light and music, and the physical ones you gain from oils, salts and herbs.
But a bathing ritual isn’t a new idea. From the Nordic hot springs to the Japanese onsens or the Russian banya steam baths, cultures around the world have been enjoying the natural healing properties of bathing for centuries.
And nowadays, studies can back up the therapeutic claims of bathing. A study from Japan found that regular submersion in 40-degree Celsius water reduces stress and pain and improves skin appearance. And another study from Germany reported that baths help battle depression.
So we’ve put together some tips to help you create a bathing ritual to boost your wellness.
Table of Contents
Having a bath with only the flicker of candlelight to light up the room creates a calming atmosphere, free of outside distractions.
The electrical lighting in your bathroom is usually quite harsh. So when it’s time to relax and focus your mind on self-reflection, nothing beats a luxurious scented candle. Its warm glow allows you to see just enough and works in harmony with your circadian rhythm, promoting better sleep.
Whereas warm water is enough, a bath tea is even better. And thanks to our modern-day knowledge, we’re able to draw on a few rituals from around the world to create the perfect bath tea.
The flower bath in Bali has been a recent Instagram trend, but this practice has been part of the Balinese culture for centuries. Besides a beautiful aesthetic, the addition of fresh or dry flowers to the bath is linked to their healing properties. For example, rose petals are good for skin and chamomile calms irritation.
In preparation for your bath ritual, dry some orange peels and a few of your favourite flowers.
A bathing ritual infused with essential oils is an ancient Ayurvedic practice. At the core of this Indian holistic healing system is the belief that each human has a dosha (spiritual category) – Kapha, Pitta and Vata – that they need to keep in balance. Thus, according to your dosha, your Ayurvedic bath will have different essential oils, milk and herbs.
While it doesn’t matter if you want to follow your dosha’s guidelines, nowadays we know how powerful essential oils are for our mood and health. For example, lavender is anti-stress and also offers antibacterial benefits, mint has calming properties and also cleanses blocked pores. In addition, milky rice starch will do wonders in softening your skin.
Salts, especially the magnesium-rich Epsom salts, improve circulation, are exfoliating and aid tired muscles. Stemming from thalassotherapy in France (reaping the benefits of seawater), salt therapy has been around for a few centuries.
They are an essential ingredient for your bath tea, with the humble salts elevating your bathing ritual and calming your body.
For example, Marie Kondo, Japanese entrepreneur and cleaning guru, uses Arajio sea salt for her ritual: she adds it to her bath, uses it to massage her feet and even puts “tons of salt on the top of my head and rinse off in the shower before getting in the bath!”
A bathing ritual is personal. This is why besides making a blend of the best oils, herbs and scents that suit your mood and ailments, you can add other elements to your bath that make it more spiritual. Some of these could be stones you gathered on a special holiday, or your favourite crystals.
To stay hydrated during and after the bathing ritual, prepare a pot of delicious herbal tea. Music is also an important part that caters to your senses, so make a playlist with relaxing songs – or better yet, forest or ocean sounds. Have a warm, fluffy towel ready for the end of your ritual and a nice treat, and your bathing ritual will be complete.
Now all you have to do is set a date in your calendar for your bathing ritual. Enjoy!
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