Guide to the Ultimate Bath
Baths are glorious self-care moments – whether it’s 20 min or an hour – they can make such a difference – AND there are ways to make it even BETTER! Let’s up level our baths!
“There must be quite a few things that a hot bath won’t cure, but I don’t know many of them.”
Sylvia Plath
My love of hot baths began when I was pregnant with my daughter. It was such a relief to my achy body and helped as a recuperated form the labor.
By the time my second pregnancy came around, it was time to buy a house. I was 6 months pregnant when we were shopping for it and I admit that one reason we chose the house we did was the deep bath that covered my growing belly!
Baths are glorious self-care moments – whether it’s 20 min or an hour – they can make a difference.
PLUS, there are many physical and mental benefits to baths (and many of these things apply to showers, too.)
Benefits
The benefits of baths go beyond,
“Wow! This feels so good!”
CAN IMPROVE BREATHING:
Submerging your body in hot water can improve your breathing and increase your body’s uptake of oxygen. The heat increases your heart rate which increases oxygen.
CALMS THE NERVOUS SYSTEM:
Your nervous system is in charge of the physical response to stress and anxiety. A hot bath can relax that physical reaction, softening muscles, relaxing the breath, which will then calm the mind.
BENEFIT YOUR JOINTS AND MUSCLES:
Have tight muscles and joints? A hot bath can soothe those sore spots. Adding Epsom salts that contain magnesium, even better for those aches.
IMPROVE YOUR SLEEP:
A bath not only helps you relax for a better night of sleep, but studies also show, as your body cools after a bath, you naturally get sleepy.
And that’s just to name a few!
Let’s up level the simple tool to make it truly amazing.
So I wanted to help you take your bath game to a whole new level. Baths are one of my favorite self-care tools and I have taken my bath game to heights most people can only imagine. 🙂 – But now you don’t have to! Revealing my secrets for you!
Here are a few ways you can turn a simple bath into an experience of pure decadence.
“Sorrow can be alleviated by good sleep, a bath and a glass of wine.”
Thomas Aquinas
Before You begin
setting the stage.
I find that simply taking my bath in the same bathroom I use everyday isn’t as relaxing as it could be.
So I like to change the environment so the bathroom feels fundamentally different..
Here are a few ideas for you…
- Dim the lights: If you can, dim the lights. My bathroom has a built-in night light in the overhead. I click that on for my lighting. You can also use candles, of course, but I recommend getting rid of candles due to the toxicity of so many of them which is just magnified in the small space. I use a diffuser instead – see the next idea.
- Diffuser (scroll down for fave oils): I also have an essential oils diffuser with lights in it. (I’ll share it down below). I bring that in to use. (It also has spa music – so good!)
- Music: Some relaxing music and voila, you have completely changed your bathroom from the everyday to the spa feeling – in just minutes!
Choose Wisely
essential oils.
I choose my oils with great intention. I always diffuse for a purpose, not simply the aroma I enjoy.
I am also very particular about the brand I use. I used quite a few brands in the past and didn’t realize I was supposed to FEEL a difference – not simply enjoy the aroma.
The brand I use is Young Living – they are powerful and have made a huge difference for me. You can check them out and order them here.
My Bathtime Faves…
- Valor: I choose this oil when I feel really stuck in my head. This blend of oils will take all those thoughts, pull them down into my body and help me ground. I like to say it “calms the crazies”.
- Northern Lights Black Spruce: One of my fave grounding oils of all time. This plant absorbs the energy of the Northern Lights. It helps you stay grounded as you reach for the stars.
- Gathering: Draws your energy in so you can focus your attention on your spiritual purpose.
- White Angelica: Protects your energy from negativity around you. (And it smells divine!)
- Believe: Ummm…think this one speaks for itself!
Starter Kit
If you need a good place to start, get the Starter Bundle. It’s a great deal and you get a fabulous start on the oils (and a few other goodies!) These are my faves from the kit for your bath:
-
- Diffuser
- Valor
- Stress Away
- Peace & Calming
- Lavender
- Frankincense
- Thieves
- Raven (think eucalyptus)
- SO MANY good diffusing oils!
“Everything is a miracle. It is a miracle that one does not dissolve in one’s bath like a lump of sugar.”
Pablo Picasso
self-care
add ons.
Let’s make the bath even BETTER. Is that possible? Oh, yes, my friend.
Here are a few extras I often add into my bath, depending on the supplies I have and the time. I am adding in tutorial videos to make this an all in one blog post! 🙂
Look no further, I’ve got you!
Abhyanga Self-Massage.
My favorite thing to do before a bath is an Abhyanga Self-Massage with some warm sesame oil. It always feels extra extra when I do this before my bath and it only takes about 10 min to add it on.
The essence is simple: Warm sesame oil (or the oil of your choice) and massage your body with the oil before slipping into the bath.
tutorial.
Here is my fave tutorial on doing an abhyanga massage…
foot massage.
I love me a good foot massage! Oh, my! I do foot massages frequently – just ask my Yoga students. It’s also a frequent request. Foot massages are a powerful way to affect the body and mind. You can make it even yummier by adding a scrub (recipe below).
quick tutorial.
gua sha.
Gua sha: Gua Sha is a gentle “skin scraping” that stimulates the lymph system. I began doing it a year ago when I realized I really needed to up my self-care game – a lot. It’s so easy and it feels so good.
Here is my favorite gua sha tool.
tutorial.
yoga.
Yes, Yoga in the bath. I love gentle stretching in the bathtub – I feel so flexible! I actually created a bath yoga video so you can enjoy it here: (Forgive the quality – it was done ages ago!)
“Anyone who thinks heaven is not hot water behind a locked door has forgotten what it means to live.”
Lucy Frank, Two Girls Staring at the Ceiling
recipes
even better.
here are a few of my fave recipes – to make it even better!
infused bath salts.
The benefits of Epsom salts are huge and they include body and mind. Epsom salts are believed to stabilize our mood, relieve stress and anxiety and reduce depression. (Ummm…yes, thank you!)
Epsom salts also contain magnesium which increases serotonin so supports relaxation and a good night’s sleep. Magnesium is used by the body more efficiently when it is absorbed through the skin vs taken internally – so in your bath!
adding aromas.
While you can find scented Epsom salts, those scents often come from toxic substances and can be absorbed by your skin. My preference is to add a few drops of essential oils into the salts before I add them to the bath, mix well, and pour into the running water.
Even better, fill a few Ball jars with salts and oils to have them made ahead of time. Here is my collection. And here are my recipes:
Oils: muscle, wellness, calm, manifesting – link to recipe post
infused bath salts.
The benefits of Epsom salts are huge and they include body and mind. Epsom salts are believed to stabilize our mood, relieve stress and anxiety and reduce depression.
(Ummm…yes, thank you!) Epsom salts contain magnesium which increases serotonin so supports relaxation and a good night’s sleep. And magnesium is used by the body more efficiently when it is absorbed through the skin vs taken internally so if magnesium is something you need, consider using epsom salts.
make your own salt scrub.
I love a good salt scrub to rub on my feet. I use coconut oil and Epsom salts so it just adds to the peace of my bath. Then I top it with some grounding oils – which, when rubbed into your feet – magic.
recipe.
So easy!
Mix 1/3 coconut oil with 2/3 Epsom salts
Add in 10 drops or so essential oils per 1/4 c.
Laura Erdman-Luntz
Inspired Living Guru
Inspiring Life Coach + Yoga Educator
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