Although I find bathing in outdoor hot springs one of the most relaxing things to do, I never understood the Japanese love affair with their bathtubs…that is until last Christmas when I moved into my own home. My previous abodes just never had appealing ofuros but this place is different…maybe it is because I got to choose how I wanted it with the wider space, the little shelf that can balance a cup of tea or a glass of wine, perhaps it is that I splurged on the flooring and it feels lovely beneath my feet, whatever the reason, I get the obsession with taking baths now.
That said, all summer I showered . Soaking in hot water was the last thing I wanted when my body was marinating in my own sweat all day. Alas summer is coming to close, the last couple of days with all members of my family sniffling with a cold and the humidity seemingly gone, our bath has been officially been beckoned back into business and it feels luxurious! Last winter we got into the habit of buying different bath salts and take turns choosing from our selection of onsen style, herbal healing ones, a stock that a friend spoiled us with of bubble baths from Lush and tonight’s choice- some medicinal salts to ease our sore muscles. My bath environment is so relaxing that I don’t even miss going to hot springs…something which I use to spend a lot of money and time doing.
A friend of mine taught me that an evening bath ritual can be very productive in other ways aside from the obvious of wiping tension away. She claims she learned how to speak English because of her bath…after her kids were in bed, she would study in her ofuro as it was her quiet, uninterrupted time. Taking a bath has been hailed by others for:
- opening pores and releasing toxins
- weight loss
- bringing down high blood pressure
- better circulation
- better sleep
- steam therapy which is what I need now to open my clogged sinuses and ease my rough throat
…and a quick google will find dozen more proven and unproven benefits of a nightly bath.
Cautions include:
- drinking and drowning (don’t worry, my wine with my bath is something I seldom do and it is just a glass)
- sleeping and drowning
- of course electrocution…electrical safety folks!
- heart conditions, pregnancy… if you have a condition that you think will cause adverse and dangerous effects due to 20 min in hot water…please consult with your physician before starting a nightly ofuro ritual
Ooops, dropped some wine in the tub? No worries. There are hot springs here that intentionally add it to their water. In fact, many things you can find in your fridge can be thrown in to spice up the bath and supposedly add some health benefits to you…you probably remember the oatmeal baths from when you had chicken pox. But consider some olive oil, milk, honey, citrus fruit, herbs…you know I am sure if you search this you can find many surprising ingrediants to make your bath more relaxing, invigorating, healthful, whatever your objective is. In fact, bathing has a long history that goes beyond hygiene so you can draw on the inspirations of the Greeks, Romans, Turks, Japanese and try to learn how they used/ use bathing for spirituality and healing and even socializing.
A lovely room to bathe in is a simple way to make your home more of a retreat. A staycation can be had every night by starting a bathing ritual. Come to think of it, I have wondered how people can work such long hours in Japan and this may just be one of things that keeps that energizer battery inside salarymen/women recharging.