Whenever I visit friends, or family in a new home and they give me a house tour,I always ask them if they use their bathtub. Nine times out of ten they say they don't,  or hardly.  As a matter of fact, one very good friend of mine who has been living in her new home for over a year now, happens to have my dream tub.  It is a white claw foot cast iron tub with the faucet in the center , allowing one to sit on either side (depending on the view).

Recently I was over for dinner and I asked her if she had used her bath yet,  she said she hadn't but her kids did all the time.  Most kids seem to love to play and soak in the tub until their fingers wrinkle and the water is cold. Funny I think they are on to something.

Like the slow foods movement, I want to bring back the slow soak movement. Okay a shower is fast and efficient but you can't eat fast food all the time.  Bathing, like a home cooked meal eaten slowly at a lovely but simple table requires a little preparation and effort but so worth it. Here is my recipe and suggestions for taking a bath:

First of all I am not recommending a bath as a way to get clean.  I believe like the Japanese bathing etiquette one enters the bath already washed, rinsed and shampooed. The bath is a time to step out of the every day hurriedness of life and just enter the water to restore the mind and body.  It is such a simple action this coming together of body and water, yet the benefits are great.

I know this may seem like a foreign concept to our western senses but washing before bathing is really logical and more healthy.  First of all there are many bubble bath products that are just plain full of chemicals and irritants for those delicate areas of the body, not to mention the soap film left around the tub.  I recommend banishing all soap or sudsy products from the bath as well.

If you have a separate shower from your tub, that's great.  If you don't have that luxury and have already prepared and cleaned your tub, a simple sponge bath will do.  The idea is you are washing off the oils and residue of the day, to enter the bath already somewhat purified. (There's a reason the tell you to shower before you enter a public hot tub or whirlpool).

If you are not lucky enough to have a cleaning lady, then before your bath you will want to give it a thorough cleaning with a gentle cleanser like "Bon Ami" or a homemade or natural cleansing product.  I like to also finish the process  with a small amount of Chlorox in water  rinse. Finally I wipe the whole tub and faucet and walls down so they are dry and shiny!  There is no appeal in getting in a dirty tub-what is the point?

Now you are ready to run the water .While the water is running I like to gather a few more key ingredients.  I would highly recommend an inflatable bath pillow that is easily cleaned, and a nice fluffy bath towel and face cloth, as well as a tall glass of filtered water. Light some aromatherapy candles or just plain white votives to create soft light. Music is optional but if I do listen to something it's usually classical or instrumental, then again quiet is good too.

Now that the bath is filled with very warm to hot water you can add your choice of bath product or homemade mix. There are all sorts of bath products and types of baths for different purposes, but that will be a topic for another time.  In the winter I  love the Dr. Hauschka Spruce Bath- as it feels like you are breathing in a forest.  I like to add 1 to 2 tablespoons depending on how deep the water is.  (The other great thing about the Dr. Hauschka Aromatherapy Baths is they do not leave a film in the tub ).  I pour in the Spruce Bath, and then with my hand create a sideways figure it in the water to disperse the product and really enliven the water.  I do this motion about 8 times. We all know a running stream is cleaner and more refreshing than sitting water.  

Now the water is ready, and so are you!. I would recommend that you soak for 20 minutes, no more or less-this seems to be a good amount of time to let your body and mind rest and not feel depleted from too much heat. I drink plenty of water to keep hydrated and I would suggest rinsing the face cloth in cold water to apply to your forehead while soaking.  By keeping the head cooI, I find this balances the warmth and the heat the body is experiencing.  Speaking of cold water, after I'm done my bath I  will rinse off with a little bit of cold water to help the circulation and refresh the skin. Try it, it really feels good!  Just stay warm and make sure to rest afterward.  I find for stress and fatigue a bath at the end of the day will help me sleep better, and seems to keep my immune system in order.

If you are like most people in our modern times I know you are busy, but  why not try to set aside one day of the , week, or month when you can  look forward to enjoying the art of bathing.  Who knows, it may become a regular thing-a slow soak, like a slow meal...savored and nourishing and oh so good for the soul. A Votre Sante!