HOW TO BATHE, ACCORDING TO AYURVEDA

Word on the street is we’re all talking more baths… Since lockdown hit last year, it seems that many of us are opting for a bath or two instead of our showers. Whether it’s because we’ve got the time (thanks to an empty social calendar and no commute into work) or we need the R&R — it’s official, from the people I’ve spoken to, bathing is back.

In India, bathing has always been considered a sacred and healing ritual, not just for the body but for the spirit. Many traditional ceremonies and spiritual purification practices involved bathing. According to Ayurveda, bathing can be a meditative and cleansing experience; the Ashtanga Hridayam (an ancient Ayurvedic text) credits bathing with improved sleep, appetite, sexual vigour and enthusiasm. Read on for how to bathe, the Ayurvedic way.

Ayurveda encourages bathing just before sunrise and just before sunset, known as Snana, as part of a ritual in line with the transitioning of the day. “Bathing is purifying, life promoting, a destroyer of fatigue, physically removes sweat and dirt, is resuscitative and a promoter of ojas or divine energy,” says the ancient text of Charaka Samhita. If you can only bathe once a day then the best time is in the morning, to cleanse the skin after the natural overnight detox and repair of the mind-body, and signal a fresh start to the day. Waking up early — at least 45 minutes before bathing — is key so that you don’t jump straight into something that changes your body temperature. This is the time to begin your Dinacharya of tongue cleansing, oil pulling, breathwork, movement/exercise/yoga asana practice, meditation and Abhyanaga. Then after bathing, wait at least 30 minutes after your bath to eat breakfast to give your digestive fire the time to light up properly. Now you can see why yogis and those practising Ayurvedic Wisdom get up before the sun - not only to cash in on the peaceful yet productive energy of the day but to fit in this health boosting self care routine!  Bathing of course is a wonderful time to wind down before bed — ideally at the beginning of your evening and before supper but here in the West we’re used to it being the last ritual of the day. In this case, just avoid bathing too soon after a meal, waiting 2 hours if you can, to give your digestion the time and conditions to do its work and to avoid dampening your Agni.

STEP 1: TEMPERATURE

Ayurveda encourages use to look at our Dosha, or mind-body type, when drawing our bath — both Vata and Kapha should opt for warm to hot water whilst Pittas should opt for a cooler bath. Try this Dosha test to get a closer understanding of your mind-body type.

STEP 2: LIGHT

Avoid harsh unnatural light sources and light a natural candle instead. Blue light is stimulating and definitely not what you should be exposing yourself to during your down time. Stay off your phone and definitely avoid watching anything on your laptop or tablet.

STEP 3: SOUND

As bathing is viewed as a form of mediation, try to omit outside noise and distraction (while also surrendering to the fact that life goes on around you, so don’t try to overly control the situation to the detriment of this special time to yourself!) and take in the sound of the water around you, and even have a little sing-song if that feels good to you. If you find this too difficult, play some soothing music or one of my digital sound baths via some speakers (waterproof or located a distance away from the water!) instead.

STEP 4: PRE-BATHING PREP

Rather than oiling post-bath, ancient texts suggest giving yourself an oil massage before your bath, as the heat from the water will allow the oils to penetrate your skin more deeply. This is called Abhyanga — read more about how to do it here. Those with Kapha constitutions (and less regularly Pitta and Vata types) can also promote lymphatic drainage, increase circulation and buff the skin using a light silk glove or VERY lightly using a dry skin brush BEFORE getting the skin wet. Learn more about body brushing here. Beware: on thin- and dry-skinned Vata types it might feel good (and wake up the body) but will be too abrasive and stimulating to do often or vigorously and for Pitta types it will irritate and heat up — both aggravating to their dominant Doshas. For Kapha types though this invigoration is good for the body, but be careful before bed as it can stimulate the senses and keep you up a bit!

STEP 5: BATH OILS AND SALTS

In terms of products, adding a few drops of essential oils directly to the water can help you unlock the most relaxing or invigorating and wellbeing-inducing experience. Choose high quality oils (beware of synthetic versions!). While some of them can be an investment (rose for example!), remember a little goes a long way. It also makes sense to choose according to the time of day or which Dosha you need to pacify. For Vata (or evening wind-down), choose sandalwood, rose or jasmine for example — warming and grounding. For Pitta (or another evening wind-down option if your mind or body is running “hot”), choose gardenia, mint or camomile — cooling and calming. For Kapha, choose basil, cedar or ginger — warming and stimulating. You can also add some bath salts, but be careful if you’re a Vata type as these can be drying.

STEP 6: WASHING

Use natural products — avoiding synthetic scents and formulas which might feel and smell amazing but aren’t great for your body or the environment. And be careful what you’re washing! Unless you are covered in dirt, shower gels and soaps aren’t needed all over the body: we don’t want to strip the body's natural oils unnecessarily. A gentle method which you can use in the bath or shower if you didn’t already do dry skin stimulating with a silk glove or body brush is to use a homemade Ayurvedic mung bean scrub to remove the oils — gentle enough for Vata and Pitta Types and energising enough for Kapha constitutions. Keep it simple — soap your armpits and feet, and wash face and hair or remove a face mask at the end of your relaxing bath so that you can rinse off the residue and step out of the bath rather than soak in it all. Allow yourself time to enjoy your bath mindfully.

STEP 7: TO FINISH 

Don’t rush, slow down, pat yourself dry… Try to stay in your relaxed state and carry this through with you into the rest of your day or evening. If you did an Abhyanga massage before your bath and you’re a Pitta/Kapha constitution then you should be all set to go. Vata types, check your skin and see if you need further oleation. A sweep of a light oil like sweet almond will help to seal in any moisture lost during the bath and protect and further nourish your skin.

If your hair is wet be sure that it (and your skin!) is fully dry before you step outside or into drafty areas as this creates a big temp change which can exhaust you. Keep warm so that your body can adjust to room temperature gradually, and you can stay relaxed and ready for the day or night ahead.