👆 Here I am floating in the lovely pool at the eco-hotel Manon Les Suites Guldsmeden in Copenhagen. Intense relaxation and water therapy!
It's time for self-care, especially when August was so cold and wet and everyday life has taken over with its pace. Here you will get some tools to easily get started and create your own bathing rituals at home, and transform the simple act of bathing into a truly magical ritual of self-care and self-love 🥰💕
Emil and Daniel relaxed very well in the water at the Alexandra hotel spa in Loen.
🤔 But what exactly is a ritual? A ritual is not just a routine we do without thinking. It is a conscious action filled with intention and meaning ✨ By creating a ritual, we create a space that truly allows us to stop, reflect, relax and connect more deeply with ourselves. When we create a bath ritual, even the preparations can be a form of meditation 🧘 It gives us the opportunity to listen to our intuition, feel what our body needs, and ask ourselves: Do I need an invigorating bath, a relaxing bath, what herbs attract me today, what scent appeals to me? The preparations for a bath ritual can be a deep and meaningful experience that can synchronize us with ourselves 💖
The healing power of water 💦
Ritual bathing is an ancient practice that has existed since time immemorial. For thousands of years, civilizations all over the world have recognized the healing essence of water 💧 In Hinduism, for example, the Ganges River is sacred, and it is said that ritual bathing there can cleanse the soul ✨ Many indigenous peoples and religions all over the world also practice ritual bathing. And then we have Cleopatra, who is perhaps the one who made ritual bathing most famous, with her famous milk baths with honey and rose petals, which are said to have contributed to her feminine charm and attractiveness 🍯🌹
There is no doubt that the simple act of immersing yourself in water, with intention, in hot or cold water, can be incredibly therapeutic, not only physically, but also mentally, emotionally and spiritually 💆♀️ Many spiritual traditions around the world have ritual bathing practices because water not only cleanses our physical bodies, but also our minds and emotions, allowing us to truly let go of everything that weighs us down. I also believe that we resonate with the frequency of water on a deep level, since we are largely made of water, and water has a profound effect on us.
🙋♀️ I've been a competitive swimmer and spent a huge amount of time in the water. It's in the water that I've pushed myself the hardest, but it's also in the water that I've relaxed the most and merged with the element in complete calm, peace, and actual clarity 🏊♀️ I like to think of water as a mirror and a mentor, reflecting our inner essence and teaching us about flow, adaptability, and how to find strength 💪 Even the sound of water has been shown to lower cortisol levels, make us feel more relaxed, and reduce stress 🧘♀️
I think this is an instinct in us too, but unfortunately many are far from having the daily opportunity to hear, see or merge with water 💭 I remember how I sat for hours listening to the sound of the river and waterfall while my dad fished when I was little, and how a couple of weeks ago I sat with my shoulders slumped and heard the waves crashing onto the rocky shores of Southern Norway 🌊
Create your own magical bathing experience 🛀🏻
When it comes to bathing in the bathtub, we should be extra careful about what we let into our skin. Many of the commercial bath products are filled with chemicals and artificial colors that are absolutely not beneficial for the skin or our health 🙅♀️ By making your own bath products, you can replace all of this with the goodness of nature: herbs, healthy ingredients and various salts that are truly beneficial for our general well-being 🌿💚 Think of the bathtub as a special pool where you can create a magical elixir, by adding different good herbs, spices, oils, salt and other goodies depending on the mood you want to evoke or in relation to what atmosphere you want to create. Let your bathtub become a magical brew that you let yourself sink into and let your skin absorb all these goodies from nature 🤩
By creating your own bath ritual, you can transform an everyday activity into a more profound experience for your body and mind. Try out the recipes below, create your own, play and experiment, and make your bath ritual a time for self-care and enjoy the magical and healing powers of water ✨💧
👉 A bath oil is part of the basic products for the bathing experience. Here you can either take 1 dl of your favorite organic oil and add a few drops of the essential oil you want to have in it, or you can do it even more from the bottom by adding, for example Calendula or chamomile flower in oil, and let it blend together for 4 weeks. Another tip is to use, for example, lemongrass hair serum or rosemary hair serum as a bath oil.
🛁 Bath salts is also part of the base for a delicious and health-giving bath ritual. You can use different salts such as Epsom salt, Himalayan salt and Dead Sea salt. All are great as they contain a lot of minerals that are great for our skin, and it can also contribute to detoxification 🙌 Epsom salt is also rich in magnesium which can help with muscle relaxation. Here you will get a nice bath salt recipe to start with, which you can have standing in a glass jar by your bathtub, ready to use, and feel free to be inspired to add other salts or herbs:
Bath salt mixture:
· 2 tablespoons Epsom salt
· 2 tablespoons Himalayan salt
· 2 tablespoons Celtic salt
· Mix in a bowl, add about 5 ml of your own bath oil, or like me: Lemongrass hair serum , and dried herbs you like. I have Calendula from the garden and the field. Mix well again, and put in a glass jar 🫙
· 2 tablespoons Epsom salt
· 2 tablespoons Himalayan salt
· 2 tablespoons Celtic salt
· Mix in a bowl, add about 5 ml of your own bath oil, or like me: Lemongrass hair serum , and dried herbs you like. I have Calendula from the garden and the field. Mix well again, and put in a glass jar 🫙
🍵 Herbal infusions are like strong tea that you can make with various herbs, spices and other things that suit what you want to create, but which are also healthy and provide a lot of benefits to the skin. You start by putting the water in the bathtub, and while it is filling, boil a small pan with 2 liters of water in which you will steep your "bath tea" before pouring it nicely into the bathtub, your magical elixir ✨ Here you will get two nice recipes for such delicious "bath tea" and you can just enjoy it!
Magical citrus bath infusion
· 50 grams or about a handful of dried hibiscus (or 3 hibiscus tea bags)
· 2 lemons or limes (use whatever you have lying around, it's easy)
· Extra lemons, limes, oranges or grapefruit
· Boil a pan of water, and add boiled water to the tea or pressure pot where you have added hibiscus (which will provide many good benefits for the skin and body, and a fantastic deep red color) ❤️ Let this infusion steep for 10-15 minutes. If the pressure pot is small, you can repeat this 2-3 times with the hibiscus lying in the pot. Then squeeze in lemon or lime. While this is steeping, prepare the bath by cutting citrus fruit into thin slices and placing them nicely in the water, and add some of the good bath salts you have made 🍋🟩🫙
· 50 grams or about a handful of dried hibiscus (or 3 hibiscus tea bags)
· 2 lemons or limes (use whatever you have lying around, it's easy)
· Extra lemons, limes, oranges or grapefruit
· Boil a pan of water, and add boiled water to the tea or pressure pot where you have added hibiscus (which will provide many good benefits for the skin and body, and a fantastic deep red color) ❤️ Let this infusion steep for 10-15 minutes. If the pressure pot is small, you can repeat this 2-3 times with the hibiscus lying in the pot. Then squeeze in lemon or lime. While this is steeping, prepare the bath by cutting citrus fruit into thin slices and placing them nicely in the water, and add some of the good bath salts you have made 🍋🟩🫙
· Then pour the vibrant red citrus and hibiscus mixture into your bath! And then sink in and enjoy! 💆 At the end of the bath, I recommend scrubbing your feet, legs, arms and chest with Vossabia Citrus Scrub . Then you get even more goodies into your skin, and you don't need to apply any cream afterwards, as your skin will be incredibly soft and delicious 😋 Be careful not to slip when you calmly get up and out of the bath again. Enjoy the calm and feeling in your body! 🥰
Chai Spice Bath Infusion
· 3 tablespoons of black tea
· 2-3 star anise
· 4-5 cloves
· 3 cinnamon sticks
· 4-5 cardamom seeds
· 2 boxes of organic coconut milk
· Bring a pan of water to a boil, and while it's boiling, put the black tea in the teapot or pressure cooker. Then add the spices, and top up with hot water, let it steep for 15 minutes ⏲️ Repeat several times with the herbs all the time in the pressure cooker, if you have a small pot, and fill the mixture into a larger pan that you can carry with you to the bathtub. While the infusion is steeping, prepare the bathtub by adding some extra spices to the bath water along with some bath salts 🫙 Then add coconut milk to the spice mixture before pouring this delicious chai spice infusion into your bathtub. Let it mix with hot water and bath salts and enjoy! Here we recommend scrubbing with Spicy body scrub with honey at the end of your bath ritual. It pairs perfectly with this chai spice blend and will give your skin and mood an extra boost! 🤩 Be careful when you slowly get out of the bath, as you will feel so nice and smooth from the scrub.
· 3 tablespoons of black tea
· 2-3 star anise
· 4-5 cloves
· 3 cinnamon sticks
· 4-5 cardamom seeds
· 2 boxes of organic coconut milk
· Bring a pan of water to a boil, and while it's boiling, put the black tea in the teapot or pressure cooker. Then add the spices, and top up with hot water, let it steep for 15 minutes ⏲️ Repeat several times with the herbs all the time in the pressure cooker, if you have a small pot, and fill the mixture into a larger pan that you can carry with you to the bathtub. While the infusion is steeping, prepare the bathtub by adding some extra spices to the bath water along with some bath salts 🫙 Then add coconut milk to the spice mixture before pouring this delicious chai spice infusion into your bathtub. Let it mix with hot water and bath salts and enjoy! Here we recommend scrubbing with Spicy body scrub with honey at the end of your bath ritual. It pairs perfectly with this chai spice blend and will give your skin and mood an extra boost! 🤩 Be careful when you slowly get out of the bath, as you will feel so nice and smooth from the scrub.
So now I hope you've gotten some inspiration to create a sensual and stimulating bath with water and herbs in focus 💕 and then all you have to do is let loose and play with herbs, salt and oils, and of course our pure, natural and organic skin and hair products that are perfect after a wonderful bath 🥰
🙋♀️ My personal bath routine naturally includes body scrubs, and I alternate between citrus and spicy scrubs. I love them both! Sometimes I like to make a face mask with Rose and Red Clover Scrub , and then scrub it off after soaking in the bathtub for a while. Otherwise, the Skogen Shampoo and Body Wash, as well as Body Balm are a must. Body balm is fantastic every day and not just after a bath ritual where I take my time and make the most of it, but after a regular shower and. Body balm on my legs is every day, but sometimes my whole body gets a good treatment with this wonderfully supple thing. With Sea Buckthorn and Nettle on my face after bathing and showering, my skin and mood are on top, and a fresh deodorant is the icing on the cake!
Warm regards,
Queen bee 🐝 in Vossabia
Queen bee 🐝 in Vossabia