Elevate your bathtime ritual and warm your body on those dark winter nights – or mornings – says beauty writer, Natalie Millman.
WORDS: NATALIE MILLMAN. IMAGES: SHUTTERSTOCK AND VARIOUS BRANDS.
In the coldest and darkest of months, you can reconnect with your body and mind in the simplest of ways: by taking a bath. ‘Bathing is one of the most reassuring, accessible, proven types of self-care,’ says spa and wellbeing expert Suzanne Duckett, author of Bathe: Rediscover the Ancient Art of Relaxation (£16.99, Lagom). ‘It’s not just about pampering though – balneotherapy, the practice of bathing, has proven health benefits. Being in the warmth can improve circulation, help muscle aches, is fantastic for your nervous system by reducing stress and anxiety, can help ease coughs and colds, and even help to burn calories. Bathing really is a magic bullet,’ she says.
It’s also an ancient ritual, one that traditionally – from Roman baths to Middle Eastern hammams – was elevated beyond mere cleansing to a social activity that benefitted both body and spirit. We’re not suggesting you invite your friends round to bathe with you, but by adopting these rituals, you can transform January into a month of blissful indulgence!
FRANCE: Healing thalassotherapy
Although bathing in mineral-rich salts has been practised around the world for centuries – with Cleopatra taking to the Dead Sea waters in ancient Egypt – in the 19th century, French seaside towns started to promote the concept of thalassotherapy. The name comes from the Greek word for sea, and it’s the sea’s rich bounty of minerals and trace elements, the likes of magnesium, potassium, calcium sulphates and sodium, that are utilised in thalassotherapy treatments, alongside marine ingredients such as seaweed, salt and mud. Your bathtub can deliver the therapeutic benefits.
‘One of the easiest things you can do is invest in seaweed powder – the trace elements are ideal for muscle and joint complaints,’ says Suzanne. Seaweed has long been used to help heal wounds and aid skin conditions – French marine brand Thalgo’s Micronised Marine Algae (£42.50 for 10 x 40g sachets, thalgo.co.uk) contains three varieties of algae to purify and soothe.
You can mix things up by pouring in epsom salts (magnesium sulphate), which help to relieve muscle pain. A 20-minute soak in Dr Teal’s Pure Epsom Salt Wellness Therapy with Rosemary & Mint (£9, amazon.co.uk) will not only ease any achy bits, but the rosemary and
