In the modern Western world, bathing has become a utilitarian practice. We quickly hop into the shower before work or rinse our kids off in the bath at the end of the day, usually doing this all on autopilot. Perhaps we manage to run a bubble bath once in a blue moon, but it’s not nearly enough. Because of this, we’re missing out on the restorative benefits of a bathing ritual, a practice that can nourish our bodies, minds and souls.
We run you through the nourishing effects of a bath ritual, and how to create your own indulgent experience at home.
The beauty of the bath ritual
Many of us will run a bath when we’re feeling stressed out and in need of some self-care. A bath ritual goes one step beyond this, giving you the space to have a spiritual and restorative experience. Regions like Turkey, Scandinavia and Japan have long embraced the bathing ritual, with communal bath houses offering ample opportunities to bathe and unwind.
“The good news is that we don’t have to go to these far flung lands to enjoy a bath ritual of our own. In fact, it’s possible to create a bathhouse experience and enjoy all its therapeutic benefits right at home.”
A bath ritual can be beneficial when:
- You’re feeling stressed or anxious
- You’ve had a long day
- You need a reset or detox
- You’re about to go out for the evening
- You desperately need some “me time”
- You’re suffering from sore muscles or joints
- You are feeling congested and under the weather.
Bath rituals can have a healing effect, both on a physical and emotional level. Submerging ourselves in warm water prompts our blood vessels to dilate and our muscles to relax. This eases pain and stress, whether we’re sore from a workout, illness or tension. The act of bathing itself also promotes relaxation and mindfulness, reducing emotional stress. To truly take your bath to the next level, follow the steps below to achieve total bliss.
The anatomy of a bath ritual
1. Achieve the right ambience
To ensure you can totally switch off at bath time, it’s key to strike the right ambience. Give your bathroom a quick tidy up while you wait for the bath to fill up, ensuring there is no visible clutter to distract you while you soak away.
Next, turn the harsh bathroom light off and opt for some candles instead. You can pop some tealight candles around the edge of the bath or simply go for one large candle near you. A scented candle will help you reap some aromatherapy benefits too (we love lavender for truly relaxing vibes!)
If colours have an impact on your mood, consider opting for coloured candles that match your desired intention. Yellow can evoke a sense of energy while pink exudes self-love, for example.
2. Go into ‘Do Not Disturb’
It’s time to switch flight mode on and switch yourself off. To truly enjoy your bath ritual, it’s important to make it a sacred period of time for yourself. This means not being jolted back into reality with notifications or ringtones. Whether it’s putting your phone in another room, muting it or completely putting it into DND mode, make sure to create the space you need to truly unwind.
If you struggle to make time for yourself, consider pencilling your bath ritual into your calendar. By allocating a specific period of time for the experience, it’s less likely that you’ll let it slip by the wayside.
Finally, make sure to tell your partner, relatives or housemates to give you some peace and quiet when it’s time for your bath ritual!
3. Set the right temperature
Did you know there’s actually an ideal bath temperature? The perfect bath should be set to around 37 degrees to match your body temperature. This allows for just enough steam to soften and detoxify the skin, without drying it out. If you’re prone to skin irritation, consider spending less time in the bath or setting it to a lower temperature.
A thermometer’s the ideal way to keep an eye on the water temperature, but you can also dip your wrist in to gauge your comfort level.
4. Swirl in some of our aromatherapy body & bath serums
Aromatherapy refers to the use of essential oils to stimulate the amygdala and limbic system. This can have a positive effect on your mood and emotions, with our body & bath serum range offering the perfect blend of essential oils to invoke a variety of different moods.
DESIRE Body & Bath Serum
Our Desire body & bath serum is an opulent blend of precious jasmine flower, sandalwood and ylang ylang, evoking a sense of sensuality while deeply nourishing the skin.
JOY Body & Bath Serum
A blend of exotic fruits and aromatic flowers, this body & bath serum is uplifting, energising and supremely hydrating.
LOVE Body & Bath Serum
Practice self-love with this exquisite infusion of rose petals, vanilla bean, sandalwood and frankincense.
PEACE Body & Bath Serum
Let your worries melt away with this harmonic blend of frankincense, geranium, neroli flower, sweet orange and bergamot peel.
PRENATAL Body & Bath Serum
Our Prenatal body & bath serum is ultra-nourishing, with the blend of mandarin, sandalwood and sweet orange supporting skin elasticity, tone and hydration.
STRENGTH Body & Bath Serum
This energising blend of eucalyptus, black pepper, rosemary, mint, lemongrass and ginger soothes sore muscles and brings vitality back to the body.
5. Have a breather
When we’re stressed, we have a tendency to hold our breath or take shallow breaths. This habit only increases tension, keeping our bodies in a highly-strung state.
Your bath ritual is a great opportunity to practice deep breathing. This allows more air to flow into your body, reducing stress, anxiety and even physical pain. Pop on a meditation recording or simply take deep breaths in silence, appreciating the calming effects of each inhalation and exhalation.
6. Take the time to read or think
Reading is one of those pastimes that most people wish to engage in more, but simply don’t have time for. Your bath ritual is an excellent opportunity to read, allowing you to escape into another world. We suggest opting for a fiction book, perhaps a romance novel or one that’s set in an otherworldly setting, as opposed to a thought-provoking non-fiction book.
Alternatively, you can take the time to simply think or meditate. Meditation encourages you to focus on the present, so if your mind is racing thinking about all your other obligations, try to simply bring your thoughts back to the present moment. You may even want to set a specific intention for your meditation, such as to feel calm, energised or confident.
7. Finish with the Lime Caviar Body BalmOnce you’ve had your indulgent soak, it’s important to lock some moisture into your skin. We love the energising nature of our Lime Caviar Body Balm, a nourishing blend of mango, shea and cocoa butters along with coconut oil. The addition of native Australian lime caviar infuses the skin with antioxidants and vitamin C, locking in hydration and sealing off your bathing ritual.
Aside from being a soothing practice, applying moisturiser to your body after being submerged in water is also essential for its health and appearance. The water on your skin will evaporate quickly, which can leave it feeling dry, itchy and tight unless you moisturise!
Bonus tip!
The steps following your bath ritual are truly the cherry on top of your experience. If you choose to bathe at night, it can be delicious to change your sheets just before you hop into the bath. This means that you’ll be able to slip into freshly laundered sheets after your bath, feeling reset, renewed and ready to drift off to sleep.
