I do love a good soak especially with epsom salts and dry flowers and sometimes I light a few candles too. Baths are functional more ways than one as it works even better than showers when it comes to relaxing the mind and body as baths take extra time by slowing down, soaking up the warmth and appreciating the calm and letting go the days events. By appreciating the calm, your mind and body will benefit greatly.
Here are a few reasons why you should take time out to enjoy a bath more often.
A bath doubles as Aromatherapy
A bath calms the mind and nerves, but you can make it more special by including aroma oils such as lavender, pine, eucalyptus or lemon or add a heaped tablespoon of epsom salts infused with dry flowers. It Helps boost your mood and productivity just by inhalation. Candles boost a baths restorative effects even more. Light one or a few nearby and you’ll enhance the therapeutic powers of your bath, turning it into a mini spa. A warm bath combined with certain organic oils such as coconut, olive, oat flakes or lavender as mentioned before can better hydrate and heal dry or irritated skin plus aromatherapy is great for regulating your mood and reducing stress.
Helps Relieve Cold and Flu Symptoms
Steam from a hot bath works wonders for stuffy noses and bad coughs. Congestion is caused by inflammation in your nasal passages and the steam gets the blood vessels in your face and nose moving, thus loosening any mucus blockage especially if you use Eucalyptus or Pine essential oil in your bath. The temperature of the bath can also help your immune system fight off viruses.
Muscle Therapy
A combination of warm water, hydrating aromatic oils and epsom salts can make a bath one of the best remedies for inflammation and swelling. Epsom Salts contains magnesium and may help the body get rid of toxins responsible for inflammation while also reducing swelling, stiffness and pain. The anti-inflammatory properties of salt baths have also been to have positive effects on people who suffer with metabolic diseases like type 2 diabetes. Pour some salts under warm running water and your body will relax just as much as your mind. It’s best to use salts with a bath oil or use a body lotion afterwards as the salt can dry out the skin.
Makes Your Heart Healthy
Taking regular warm baths can help reduced blood pressure, according to some research. Reduced blood pressure can help in preventing more serious heart conditions, like heart attacks or stroke. By using heat to induce better blood flow and circulation, you are giving your body a mini-workout which helps burn calories. Ok, a soak in the bath is no match for water aerobics or any other water sports, but a good sweat induced by a hot bath can burn as many calories as taking a walk.
Easy Way to Incorporate Skincare
Whilst relaxing in the tub for 20 or 30 mins why not include additional skincare treatment while you read or listen to music? Exfoliating treatment, Detoxifying mask, or deep moisture mask anything that requires approximately 10 to 20 mins wear. This is one more way to turn your bathroom into a full-blown spa retreat.
Improves Sleep
Taking a hot bath before going to bed will raise your body temperature just enough to act as a natural sleep aid. You can get the same results from a shower but baths offer a more relaxed, soothing approach. It’s not the increased body warmth that triggers your sleep rhythm it’s because your body is working double time to lower the temperature by dropping your heart rate gradually this is what makes you feel sleepy. So the best thing to do is time your bath 30 mins to an hour before you sleep and you can slide into bed at the exact moment your body is readying itself to relax for the night.
Try taking a bath with few drops of lavender oil dropped in to enhance the calming effects on the mind. A calm mind = a restful night’s sleep.
