If you have ever visited old log cabins or reconstructed colonial time homes, you’ll notice that early settlers didn’t have cool shower technology like we have today.  It would be difficult to heat such a large amount of water for one bath, bucket by bucket, and it would not be fun to be the 5^th family member to use the SAME water!  Nowadays, baths are luxurious, relaxing and convenient, especially if you have some room to stretch out and get your whole body under the water.

My childhood bathtub did not have a working plug in the drain so I only took showers until I had my own apartment garden tub.  Even then, I wasn’t quite sure what to do with it – it sure looked nice in the bathroom, but what’s the point of sitting in this hole in the floor?  My future husband on the other hand grew up on only baths, so with his guidance, I thought I’d give it a try.  I have found many fruits in my new bathing habits and I hope you can do the same.  A good soak really adds a bright spot into my week.

Showers are so quick that my skin doesn’t get too soft. After a good soak, I can use scrubby gloves or a pumice stone to work on the calluses on my feet, knees or elbows.  It’s nice to get some dead skin cells off and make room for new growth.

Whatever you like to do in your quiet time, you can do in a bath! I set my bathtub caddy tray across the middle and bring whatever I’m in the mood for.  Sometimes I snack on a fruit and yogurt parfait or smoothie, watch an episode of my favorite show on my ipad, or listen to soft music or an audio book or just quietly reflect on the day.  If it’s dark out, a candle or two really adds to the relaxation.  If you’re feeling up, a bath helps.  If you’re feeling down, a bath helps.

If you don’t have a jetted tub you can toss in some clary sage and eucalyptus oils or whatever suits your mood at the moment. They’re great for your skin and have an effect on your brain.  Our tub has jets, so we diffuse oils in the bathroom.  If you’re using high quality oils, which you should, breathing in the aroma will still affect your brain and body as if they touched your skin.

Salt is great for sore muscles and softening your skin. If you plan to wash your hair though, salt water doesn’t leave my hair smooth and shiny.  Baking soda is also a nice addition to soften skin.

I make my own mask using aloe gel, clay powder, honey and Burt’s Bee’s Facial Cleansing Oil.  As my face starts to sweat a little I coat it on and let it sit for about ten minutes.  I’ve given other people this mask and they say they can tell a difference in their face, but for some reason I can’t.  I’m convinced that if I enjoy the mask experience, I’m doing it right, even if I don’t see a visible difference.  These ingredients are designed to detox, kill the germs, heal and renew a little of your elasticity.

I’ve always loved feeling my hair under water. Believe it or not, just rinsing your hair with water alone is a good balancer for it’s oils.  Before you cleanse your scalp, it’s beneficial to massage your scalp – and I also rub my fingers through my hair all the way to their ends.  There is no shower head pressure, but it’s soothing to feel your hair floating in the water around your face.

I may be crazy, but it’s those little moments of enjoying what the world has to offer that bring a smile to my face when I think about it later.  My hair care specialist recommends two washings before conditioning.  I only cleanse my scalp, not the rest of my hair.  Then I only condition my hair, but not my scalp.  I sit back and let it soak into my hair for as long as I can.

I have found the actions above to be very therapeutic and sometimes I just need to know that I can look forward to that weekly planned bath night where I can get away for a short while and treat myself to a little spa in my own bathroom.