Bath time: relax with our recipes for a sensuous bathing experience

Vegetarian Times, Feb, 1998 by Karin Horgan Sullivan

In the midst of our rushed and harried lives, the bath serves as the all-important "time-out." With its inviting, misty steam and embracing, fragrant waters, the bath is an opportunity to retreat into a private sanctuary, an indulgent distraction from punishing deadlines, household chores and the nonstop ringing of the telephone. More than just a good way to scrub down and get clean, slipping into a soothing bath can help you shed the detritus of daily life--a thorough cleansing for the body, mind and soul.

"You take a bath to get away from the world," says Victoria Moran, author of Shelter for the Spirit (HarperCollins, 1997), "to mull things over, to relax completely and send tension down the drain."

In Jungian dream theory, water symbolizes the unconscious. "There's something primitive about it," observes Margaret Doner, a massage therapist at the Wellness Spa in Hyde Park, N.Y., and co-author of the Wellness Center's Spa at Home (Berkeley, 1997). "It takes us back to the womb and makes us feel warm and enveloped."

Indeed, we've always been fascinated with the curative powers of the bath, and its intoxicating lure has captivated many cultures throughout history--from the ancient Romans, who constructed opulent public baths throughout their empire; to the Ottoman Turks, who equated physical cleanliness with spiritual holiness; to the Japanese, who to this day enjoy elaborate, sensual bathing rituals, all designed to heighten their pleasure in their daily soaks. "Baths are holy," writes Pratima Raichur, author of Absolute Beauty: Radiant Skin and Inner Harmony Through the Ancient Secrets of Ayurveda (HarperCollins, 1997). "That is, they purify us and make us whole."

To fully work its magic, a bath should involve more than just plopping into a tub of hot water. Take the time to transform your bathroom into a tranquil oasis, advises Kathy Corey, co-author of Rituals for the Bath (Warner Treasures, 1995). You don't have to splurge on expensive items--even small touches can make your bath comfortable and cozy. Creating personal bath time rituals can be as simple as indulging in a soft velour robe or flannel pajamas, setting out your plushiest towels and filling one bathing basket with accessories (a loofah, bath mitt and pumice stone) and another with your favorite shampoo, body wash and lotion. You may even want to add a neck pillow, so you can truly relax in the water. Next, light some aromatherapy candles and fill a vase with fragrant flowers (fresh or dried, both do nicely). Plug in a small CD or tape player and let your thoughts drift, lulled by some sultry saxophone riffs, melodious New Age piano solos or classical string serenades.

Once you've set the stage, it's time to prepare the bath. Doner recommends drawing a bath with water that's just slightly warmer than body temperature, about 100 degrees. Too hot, and water can dry the skin and sap your energy. Add a few drops of aromatic essential oils when the tub is completely filled (not before or they will quickly vaporize). Used for centuries to recharge the body and lift the spirit, fragrant oils (made from pure extracts of plants) can lend special character to the bath experience. While oils have many healing attributes, both physical and emotional, when selecting your favorites simply follow your nose, choosing the scents that work for you (see Scented Notes below).

We've developed the following recipes for three distinctly different baths: romantic, relaxing and revitalizing. Use our suggestions or embellish them to create your own versions. Now, turn off the telephone, hang the DO NOT DISTURB sign on the bathroom door and lie back for 30 minutes. This bath belongs to you.

A ROMANTIC BATH

Suffused with the scent of roses, this bath is a sensual prelude to a romantic evening. The red rose has long been a symbol of love, perhaps because its aroma is reputed to be an aphrodisiac. Sequentially slathering yourself with a rose-scented body scrub, bath gel and body lotion creates a romantic aura that lasts for hours.

Tub tips: Set the mood by filling the bathroom with candlelight.

Music: The Gene Ammons Story: Gentle Jug, a collection of jazz ballads by the legendary tenor saxophonist.

In the bath: Pour 1/2 cup rose water (available at natural food stores) into a full tub of water. To soften skin, wash with Aphrodisia Naturals Romantic Aromatherapy Body Wash, made with essential oils of rose and ylang ylang, a sweet, heady scent also rumored to have aphrodisiac powers. To gently exfoliate skin, mix some body wash with Burt's Bees Rose Sugar Body Scrub.

After bath: Smooth on some Shikai Apricot/Rose body lotion, then slip into something silky. The night awaits....

A RELAXING BATH

Long regarded for its ability to ease anxiety and instill the kind of alert peacefulness achieved through meditation, lavender also is a favorite among herbalists because it balances and beautifies all skin types.

Tub tips: Fill your bathroom with lavender-scented tapers. Or light several unscented candles, wait a moment, then add a few drops of lavender oil to the melted wax--just be careful to avoid the flames. While you soak, sip a mug of chamomile tea, a centuries-old remedy for anxiety.