Photo: Italian voice / Flickr

The bathroom in my first apartment was tiny and did not have a bathtub. I was young and excited about having my own place and did not care. I didn’t have time for long soaks. And I never liked the idea of stewing in my own dirt. Yes, there was the option of taking a shower first, then laying back and relaxing in a lavender-scented bubble heaven. But the thought of sitting and waiting for the bathtub to fill up did not appeal to me.

Who needs a bath when you can have a shower, right?

Wrong. Drawing a bath is once again very fashionable. Why, you ask? Well, there are many health-related benefits, depending on how and where you bath.

A good old soak will help you with stress relief and it will relax the muscles in your body. You will also experience lower blood pressure and relief from arthritis. In addition, herbal bath products and bath oils go a long way towards ridding your system of toxins, as well as hydrating your skin.

What bathtub is right for you?

If you have no mobility-related health issues, simply ensure that your bath is large enough and that you can lie down comfotably. We’ve all experienced what bathing in the wrong-sized tub is like. It is not the most relaxing experience.

For those of you suffering from arthritis or muscle pains, there is an array of hot tubs, jacuzzis and hydrotherapy tubs to choose from. Features to look out for include warm water jets, adjustable nozzles, comfort seating, and backrests.

Enhance your bath experience

There’s much more to bathing now than simply pouring a little bubble bath. Nowadays, you can choose bath salts, which are water-soluble, inorganic crystals mixed with various oils, organic oats or milk powder.

Herbal bath teas are also very popular to treat skin conditions. As the name suggests, little sachets are filled with salts, herbs and granules. You can choose from a wide range of aromas such as eucalyptus, rosemary, oregano, burdock, pine, chamomile and more.

Yes, please

In the age-old debate of shower versus bath, there is no winner. A shower is still the easiest and quickest option in the morning – when you are physically able to do so. But I’m now a firm believer in taking long, hot, wonderful-smelling baths. Go ahead, light a few candles, close your eyes and relax.

Tags: bath, stress relief