Relaxing Bath Rituals Have Been Quietly Healing For Centuries

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The Zoe Report

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Bathing as a gentle act of self-care often inspires a state of meditation. It is a chance to withdraw from the world and lay back while the water pampers and lulls your body into proper relaxation. With a conscious and mindful approach, a simple bath can be a powerful healing tool both physically and spiritually. In fact, if you need a little help adopting a more mindful approach to bathing, try a simple stroll through history and across the globe. For centuries, cultures from all corners of the world have each adopted their own ways of practicing bathing. And, more often than not, these methods involved awareness and deep intention.

And, to be clear, the idea of bathing can run the gamut from a communal, social activity with nutrient-rich mineral pools to detoxifying sweat lodges and steam rooms. While different in execution, all of these practices involve connecting the act of physical cleansing to holistic wellness that caters to the mind and body equally.

Ahead, a few of the most popular and traditional methods of bathing, as well as tips on how to adapt these practices in your own bathroom.

Ritual Bathing Across the World

Baths & Mineral Pools

Some of the first bath houses can be traced back to 2nd century B.C., in Ancient Rome. These were said to be a true indulgence for all the senses, experienced in spectacular mosaic buildings and exquisite pools, utilizing herbs, oils, and minerals. These bathhouses typically featured a wide diversity of rooms with varying water temperatures, swimming pools, and spaces designated to simply relaxing. It was the ultimate cultural center of all social activity. Sometimes people could even spend days at the bathhouse, solving problems over a glass of wine and a feast. While we can only see the ruins of Ancient Roman baths today, their splendor is one for the books and one that has prompted the bath houses of today.

“We think of Bathhouse as an oasis to be fundamentally human,” explains Jason Goodman, co-founder of NYC-based Bathhouse. “Communal bathing, at least the way we do it, is a deep, uncomplicated, and almost primal experience that connects people to their bodies.” Today, places like Bathhouse in Williamsburg, Brooklyn or AIRE Ancient Baths (which has locations in major cities around the world including NYC, London, and Barcelona), offer an immersive wellness experience that includes traditional spa and massage treatments. A modern bathhouse will usually feature several pools with varying water temperatures as well as steam rooms and treatment rooms for specific services.

In Japan, bathing has often been correlated with natural hot springs, or onsen. Japanese culture views bathing just as important as sleeping and eating. And the act itself deserves equally meticulous attention — for example, Japanese tradition requires individuals to enter the bath already clean. A prelude ritual of scrubbing and washing prepares them for proper bathing.

The original hot springs date back to the 6th century when they were only to be enjoyed by emperors. Today this popular bathing style is available at outdoor natural hot springs and indoor man-made facilities. The focus is on the water temperature and its mineral composition as well as the water vapor that evaporates from the baths. These days, this sacred tradition is kept alive in establishments like the Shibui Spa at the Greenwich Hotel in New York. Here, custom water temperature and botanical rituals are paired with a massage. The goal is a synchronization of body, mind, and soul.

How to Adapt Mindful Bathing Culture in Your Life

Bathe With Intent

Historically, cultures have always focused on intentional bathing, one with a clear purpose, sometimes because they didn’t bathe as frequently. While modern society is lucky to have bathing as a regular activity, try to consider your intent as you enter the water, be it a bath or a shower.

“Before you set your intention, tune into your more subtle energies,” explains Reiki master Serena Poon. “You can do so by asking yourself questions such as ‘How do I feel?,’ ‘Where am I holding on to tension?,’ ‘What does my body and mind need to thrive?’ Once you have a sense of what your body and energy fields need, you can set an intention for your bath — it might be to cleanse and renew or it might be to energize.”

Use Natural & Sustainable Bathing Products

Many bathing essentials on the market include chemical-filled washes, petroleum byproducts, unsustainable ingredients like palm oil, and feature pervasive synthetics that are bioaccumulative. Traditionally, however, bathing incorporated natural herb- and mineral-infused remedies.

“We ask people to be mindful of what they are using to make sure their bathing isn’t contributing to the degradation of the environment,” explains Arnold. Try opting for more naturally sourced products and look out for formulas with synthetic fragrances as well as palm oil, petroleum, and coloring (sorry, neon bath bombs).

Try Therapeutic Ritual Bathing

“We have to remember how to bathe,” says Rojas Corro. Consider making the ritual of bathing your own, by gathering the herbs that speak out to you. Rojas Corro recommends starting with basil, rosemary, and rue. “Its purpose is to clean and it will remove negative energies,” she says. Infuse them whole in a bath like a soup (or try them in essential oil form). If you don’t have a tub, consider putting a boiling bowl of water or a diffuser with oils in the bathroom as you shower for a true herbal bathing experience.

Poon’s recommended ritual includes Himalayan bath salts in the tub surrounded by crystals that speak to you and/or to the astrological world situation. Use an abalone shell to smudge a stick of choice and create some calming smoke, or to cleanse yourself one bit of water at a time. This repetitive act is like a mantra to the soul, and the accompanying elements act as its nutrients.

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This content is strictly the opinion of Chef Serena Poon and is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended to provide medical advice or to take the place of medical advice or treatment from a personal physician. All readers/viewers of this content are advised to consult their doctors or qualified health professionals regarding specific health questions. Neither Serena nor the publisher of this content takes responsibility for possible health consequences of any person or persons reading or following the information in this educational content. All viewers of this content, especially those taking prescription or over-the-counter medications, should consult their physicians before beginning any nutrition, supplement or lifestyle program.

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