I get a lot of people who come to me asking me if they can clear their energy in the shower. They either don’t like to take a bath or the just don’t have the time. To that I always say, “Come on, just once a month. Take twenty minutes to clear your energy, soothe your muscles and relax your mind.” We all run around trying to get three things done per minute; it isn’t okay. In order for you to reboot and reset and maybe even reclaim yourself, you need to have more than a “git r done” attitude about it. I will admit to being of the same mindset a lot of the time. However, there is a kinder voice inside of me that will eventually tell me that I must take some time to get right with my needs. Once I do it, I am much more effective both professionally and personally. You cannot offer drinks to those who are thirsty when your well is dry. So, take twenty or thirty minutes once a month, or more if you feel you need it, and reconnect with yourself. Taking a bath is a warm deliciously scented way to do that…and if you shut that bathroom door, hopefully no one will bother you.
To boost my bath taking campaign, I would like to offer you some things that I have found while researching the goodness of a bath. You see, a hot bath does more than clear your energy and help you unwind. It can also restore your immune system, relax sore muscles and offer relieve from skin break outs and eczema when you steep in the right stuff. It is also a good time to do some other self care rituals that will enhance the care of Y-O-U.
So here are a few good things that I actually found on Martha Stewart ( I love her. She gives a lot of good info on that site and it’s all free)
Stress Relief – If you are feeling fried, dried and laid to the side….bathtime with sea salt, epsom salt and clay is a great idea. These ingredients pull toxins out of your body. Scents like lavender, mint and vanilla are all good for calming the senses. Of course, I am going to suggest you try : Relax Clearing Bath Salts
- While you soak: Why not apply a conditioning treatment to your hair? You all know I am a serial hair abuser. Here is a recipe for a mask that helps me when I start looking more like the Scarecrow than Dorothy.
Coconut Oil Mask
Coconut isn’t just for your pina colada. This lightweight oil is perfect for a mask because it locks in moisture without petroleum-based ingredients found in many hydrating hair products.
Ingredients:
2 Tbsp coconut oil
1 Tbsp olive oil
Directions:
1. Mix coconut and olive oil.
2. Coat the hair with the blend, focusing on brittle ends.
3. Wrap hair into a bun, cover with a shower cap and let the mix sit for 15-30 minutes.
4. Rinse and shampoo/condition.
To Fight a Cold- When your nose is getting stuffy and you start to get achey and get the chills, a nice warm bath with epsom salts and eucalyptus might be your new BFF. Warm water and eucalyptus have decongestant properties that help to open sinus pathways.
- While you Soak- Sip a lovely cup of tea with Echinacea, or try one of Traditional Medicinals Teas specifically blended for colds and sore throats.
To Treat Breakouts- We all know breakouts occur everywhere. Especially in winter when skin tends to be covered up more often. Oil glands get clogged with oil and dead skin underneath our layers of clothes. The good news is that Epsom salt is a useful friend! The magnesium sulfate compound an anti inflammatory, and also helps shift the PH of skin to assist in the fight against break out bacteria.
- While you soak – Try a new mask for your face. I am giving you one that I have tried and one that I haven’t. I am a super dry girl and don’t have need for an acne fighting mask, but I did ask around to some of my bump fighting sisters and came up with a good natural DIY mask recipe.
Simple Oatmeal mask for Oily Skin
What You’ll Need
3 TB Powdered (ground) oatmeal
2-3 tsp strong green tea
1 tsp local raw honey (for vegans, mash up some avocado or use plant yogurt)
2-3 drops tea tree essential oil or essential oil of your choice that are good for healthy skin like frankincense, rose geranium, lavender, helichrysum .
Grind your Rolled Oats (this is important because you want the oatmeal to be as absorbent as possible. You can use a coffee grinder for this.)
Mix in the warm tea
Add in the honey and mash the ingredients until gooey
Add your essential oil and stir
Spread on face generously and leave on for 20 minutes. Wash off with water and a soft cloth.
Simple Mask for Dry skin that lacks luster
I love this mask. It does brighten your skin. Please don’t leave it on too long. The turmeric tends to stain a bit, if left on longer than twenty minutes. It makes my skin feel and look brighter and lighter. It is a simple four ingredient mask
Simply mix together – 2 TBS coconut oil, 1TBS Jojoba oil ( if you don’t have it don’t worry about it coconut oil alone is groovy.) 3 TBS of Turmeric powder, 1TBS honey and 1TBS Milk. Mix it all together and smooth it on your face. Please be careful if you have blonde hair. Turmeric is a little stainy. Don’t leave on for more that 20 minutes.
To Make you sleep better – Hot water, epsom salts and essential oils are a magical cocktail for relaxing the mind and encouraging some good z’s. For extra help use valerian essential oil .
Continue the theme by making a linen spray out of distilled water and essential oils to spray your bed linens before hitting the hay.
To Soothe Sore Muscles- To loosen stiff muscles, a soak in warm water with epsom salts is a great trick. I have also read that mustard seed is a great addition to dilate blood vessels which can enhance the blood flow and relieve stiffness. There are commercially prepared mustard soaks available online. I know that drizzling mustard in the tub sounds like the opposite of relaxing to me, so I will let you all deal with how you get the mustard in the tub.
So those are just some other great reasons for you to take a fabulous bath. You can find my clearing baths on my website or by clicking this link Purchase a great bath. And one last tip or two… please remember that a good temp for taking a bath is 112 degrees. Always test with a finger or a toe or a flipper ( if you are a mermaid). Post bath, rehydrate inside and out by drinking a glass of cold water and applying some body lotion. Here’s one last recipe for a good non greasy lotion:
2 Tablespoons of Grated Beeswax
1/2 Cup of Sweet Almond Oil*
2 Tablespoons of Vitamin E Oil
2 Tablespoons of Cocoa Butter
3/4 Cup of Water
Melt beeswax and Cocoa Butter together in a microwave or in a double boiler situation. Put all ingredients in a bowl. Get out your hand mixer and mix it all together until it is creamy. Put it in a jar and use the heck out if it. Easy Peasy and not too greasy.
Love yourself…..often.
Smooch out!
