Soak in a Bath, not just a Shower. The more you do this, the more relaxed you will be during and after your bath.
Benefits of taking a Bath
One of the most popular effects of bathing is the warming effect. The peripheral nerves in the hands and toes expand, blood circulation is stimulated, and muscles and joints become more flexible, which helps to relieve physical fatigue. It also has a cleansing effect, removing dirt from the body and cleaning the skin.
There is also the gentle massaging effect of the water pressure and the muscle relaxing effect of the buoyancy.
However, it is very easy to get bored with soaking in the bath. The reason is simple: it’s just soaking in hot water. Generally speaking, baths are not large and you are supposed to take a bath alone. It is not a space to talk with other people or watch TV. If you get bored, the effect of bathing will be reduced by half.
Here are some ideas on how to maximize the relaxing effects of bathing without getting bored.
The flame of the candle leads you to meditation
The 1/f fluctuation of a flame
The flame of a candle has a 1/f fluctuation. This is also called 1/f noise or pink noise. The power spectral density of this noise is proportional to the reciprocal of the frequency.
This noise occurs in many fields. For example, the light of fireflies, sunlight filtering through trees, the interval between human heartbeats, the sway of a train, and the sound of a flowing river.
It has been reported that people feel more comfortable with a time series that has this 1/f fluctuation. In other words, people feel safe and relaxed when they look at the flame of a candle.
Negative ion emission
Negative ions are also emitted from the small amount of moisture generated when the candle burns. The negative ions are taken into your body through the skin as you breathe. This relaxes your body and mind, and increases metabolism. It is also said to increase alpha waves from the brain and induce a comfortable mood.
It is said that the negative ions emitted from candles are higher than those emitted from forests and waterfalls. This means that you can expect more than just a forest bath while staying at home.
Warm and Cool colors
The flame of a candle produces an orange color due to its low-temperature combustion. Turn off the lights in your bathroom and look at the orange flame in the dark. This will be similar to a fireplace, a bonfire, or the starry night sky. These will keep you occupied no matter how long you look at them.
Aromatherapy that works well with the bath
Essential Oils
Aromatherapy is gaining popularity as a means of relaxation, and in France, aromatherapy is practiced by licensed physicians. In recent years, aromatherapy has been used in the medical field in Japan and the UK. Essential oils are used in this aromatherapy.
Essential oils are volatile aromatic substances extracted from the flowers, leaves, skins, and resins of plants, and are extracted by distillation, direct squeezing of the skins, and other methods suitable for each plant.
The oils are selected for various symptoms of your mind and body, and absorbed into your body through treatments or aromatic baths using aroma pots.
Aromas have a direct effect on your body and brain
The aromatic components of essential oils stimulate the olfactory cells at the back of the nose and are transmitted as electrical signals directly from the limbic system of the brain to the hypothalamus and pituitary gland. These are the animalistic and instinctive parts of the brain that not only control functions such as memory and emotions, but also play a major role in the autonomic nervous system, hormones, and immunity. This is the reason why the sense of smell is said to be the most instinctive and primitive of the five human senses.
There are other routes by which aromatic substances inhaled from the nose into the mouth enter the lungs through the trachea, are absorbed by the cells of the lungs, and enter the bloodstream, or penetrate the capillaries from deep within the skin and work their way into the muscles and organs of the body through the flow of blood and lymph.
Aromatic components that are easily volatilized
The aromatic components of essential oils tend to volatilize and spread in a hot and steamy bathroom. If you take a half-body bath, you will be able to stay in the bathroom for a longer period of time, and thus be exposed to the aromatic ingredients for longer.
The method is simple, just add the right amount of essential oils to the bath water and stir well. If possible, use a bath oil that is specially designed for baths, so it will dissolve into the water more easily.
Bath salts enhance the warming effect of the bath
Bloodstream Promotion
Soaking in a warm bath with the right temperature of bath salts can promote blood circulation throughout the body and help the body’s systems to relax more. At the same time, it also brings about perspiration, which increases the body’s metabolism and removes dirt from the pores along with waste products.
Moisturizing effect after bathing
The minerals contained in salt are said to have moisturizing and firming effects. This is because the salt in bath salts is said to form a film on the surface of the skin, preventing moisture from evaporating.
Natural salt and Epsom salt
There are two main types of bath salts. One is made of natural salt, such as Dead Sea salt or rock salt. The other is Epsom salt, which is made of magnesium sulfate.
Natural salt is mainly composed of sodium chloride, but depending on where the salt comes from, other minerals may be present, and the characteristics of the salt depend greatly on its origin. Dead Sea salt in particular is known to be rich in magnesium chloride, which is expected to have high moisturizing properties.
Epsom salt is named salt because it looks like salt, but it is not technically salt because its raw material is magnesium sulfate. This magnesium sulfate is believed to have a warming effect on the body and is often used in households in Europe and the United States.
If you implement a mix of these ideas according to your preference, you can enjoy bathing and receive additional benefits to your body.
Since they all involve contact with the body, it is advisable to consult with your own physical condition before making a choice.
