—
Remodeling a bathroom is a big deal and costs a pretty penny. However, there’s one good reason I chose to turn my bathroom into a palace: to relax.
People say they don’t have time to relax, but doing so is absolutely necessary. Relaxing curbs anxiety and stress, thereby slowing the aging process. Dr. Mercola explains how a study from PLOS One proved the relaxation response counteracts the effects of stress including hypertension and insomnia. If you want to be healthy, regular relaxation is necessary.
I thought I knew what relaxation was until I got into a Japanese soaking tub.
Several months ago, I went to a local wellness center to try out the Japanese soaking tub traditionally known as Ofuro. Contrary to what it might sound like, a Japanese soaking tub isn’t just a fancy, over-sized bath tub. It’s traditionally used for relaxation and detoxification. It’s not a tub you bathe in – showering is done prior to getting in for a soak.
The moment I got in, I understood why so many people put one in their homes. The tub itself was huge, and could have comfortably fit four people. The water spout to fill the tub came from the ceiling, and the tub had already been filled with filtered water when I got there. There was a wooden tray laying across the tub where I could put a cup of tea or water, and my essential oil blend I had selected to rub on my chest to inhale the vapors.
Around the tub was a cleverly designed drainage system that looked like natural rocks and succulent plants – much more relaxing than the drain I was used to staring at while standing in the shower.
There was a massage chair in the corner, and I was told it was traditionally advised to take a cool shower when my body temperature rises to the point of discomfort. The process of moving between the tub and the cool water ended up being extremely relaxing.
Shower luxury better than any hotel.
My luxurious experience began long before I got into the tub. Prior to soaking, I stepped into a gigantic shower with a rainfall showerhead and a side stream of water. I almost didn’t want to get out of the shower, but the hot water in the soaking tub was calling me.
After about fifteen minutes soaking in the hot water, I got out for a rest and sat in the massage chair on the other side of the room and rested my feet on a foot massaging plate. They called the soaking room a “suite” for good reason. After massaging my back and my feet, I got back into the tub for more relaxation. I must have moved between the tub and the massage chair and shower at least five times in the course of my two-hour session. At one point I read a book, but most of the time I just closed my eyes and relaxed.
By the end of the session, I was ready for one last shower. It was the most luxurious shower experience I’d ever had. When I came home to my puny little shower/tub combo, I couldn’t imagine continuing to shower like that. So, I decided to upgrade my bathroom.
After one luxury shower experience, I couldn’t go back.
I looked into getting a Japanese soaking tub, but traditional 2-person tubs cost around $8,000, and that’s not including installation. Smaller tubs made from different materials can cost less, but the quality isn’t the same. Perhaps a soaking tub will be in my future.
While researching modern luxury shower setups similar to the one I had just experienced, I discovered a variety of options. There were round rainfall showerheads, square heads, single side streams of water, triple side streams, streams coming from both sides, streams with neon lights, and even a setup designed to make you feel like you’re lying down underneath a waterfall. If those options are available in hotels, I’ve been staying in the wrong places!
Relaxation is always worth your time and money.
One thing I’ve come to realize is that relaxation is always worth the investment of time and money. Whether it’s remodeling your bathroom like I did, or going to a silent meditation retreat for a week.
When I was younger, I had boundless energy, and relaxing sounded like a waste of time. As I’ve gotten older, I’ve come to appreciate the simplicity and slowness of life, and I incorporate relaxation into my routine every chance I get.
—
This content is sponsored by Larry Alton.
—
—
Photo credit: Shutterstock