Have you ever had the moment when you feel so stressed that you just want to put everything behind and restart? If you are living in a city like me, it is hard to find the right time and space to fully recharge and take care of your mind.
The perfect solution would be able to travel to a resort or an island (like Maldives) where you can put everything behind and take the time to relax, reflect and recharge. While this may not be feasible at all times, don't worry, here's my advice on how to create a special moment to recreate the feeling of escaping to a resort that can do the same justice to refresh your mind and indulge yourself - Creating the ultimate bath experience.
Bath is just like a spa. Scientifically speaking, submerging ourselves in hot water can be both therapeutic and reinvigorating not only because it sooths tired muscles and improves breathing, but also increases blood flow to the skin. It is the perfect sanctuary to relax and recharge.
Tips to Create a Spa - Worthy Bath:
(The best would be to book a hotel with luxurious bathroom but it can be recreated at home as well!)
Items to help:
1 ) Use A Bath Bomb
Bath bombs are my little go-to bath products whenever I take a bath. It gets to the point I even asked the hotel to make sure my room has a bath, not just a shower. I told the staff when I was in Paris, where the hotel offers rooms with shower/bath, "Just want to make sure the bathroom has a bath as I've brought a lot of bath bombs", I said shyly and laughed at how funny it may have sounded.
Bath Bombs are essential to create the ultimate bath experience as they produce iridescent bubbles, captivating colours and amazing scent. My favourite brand of bath bombs is LUSH as it produces the maximum bubbles and fizz and gorgeous mix of colours you cannot wait but dive in!
2) Use Aromatherapy Products
Different scent will have different beneficial effect, e.g. lavender relieves stress, citrus like orange or grapefruit spark happiness, peppermint boosts energy. While you can choose the scent from your bath bomb, I would go an extra mile to add more aromatherapy to the bath. My favourites include the bath oil from Aromatherapy Associates
Aromatherapy Bath Oils
3) Candles
Candles are optional but definitely create a peaceful ambience, my favourite candles include brands : Diptyque, Anthropologie and Jo Malone.
4) Music
Remember spa centers play calming music? You can do the same too. Shuffle a bath/ meditation / spa playlist on YouTube/ Spotify to help you fully relax and take your mind away. Search for water sounds along with the music if you enjoy the sound of water running too!
The Ultimate Ritual
With all the items prepped, it is time to practice mindfulness in the bath and here's the steps on how to meditate and relax in bath to relieve stress:
STEP 1 - Get in the Bath and enjoy the sensation
This is quite simple, after you have prepared a bubble bath with relaxing scent from your bath bomb and bath oil, simply notice how the water feels against your skin, is the water warm or too hot? Touch your skin with the warm water, and notice how the colour is like in the bath. If you use the LUSH bath bomb, the colour may look like a galaxy or is sparkling and glimmering in gold. This is just a relaxation stage where you can get started with your mindfulness practice.
STEP 2 - Close your eyes and Deep Breath
Practicing mindfulness and meditation involves the basic - breathing. Start deep breathing to calm yourself and when you get comfortable, close your eyes. Count the breath : Breath in for 4 seconds, Breath out for 6 seconds. Repeat until you get into a zone when you feel relaxed. It is important to just focus on the breathing and not think about anything else. After you feel relaxed, think about all the stress that is causing your tension and tell yourself that you are able to overcome those stress and obstacles.
STEP 3 - Enhance and Reinforce
Lastly, let the calming music guide you, your mind should feel refreshed and have a positive perspective after a few deep breathing exercise and positive self-talk. Open your eyes gently and just rest.
With all the items and rituals suggested, I hope you can create your own stress-relieve bath experience to improve your wellbeing or if you fancy, just to create a spa moment for yourself because you deserve it! If you have a chance to try this spa-worthy bath experience yourself, do let me know how it goes by commenting below or tag me on Instagram @loislaulife
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