Ever since I was a kid, I’ve loved taking baths. The older I got, the longer I wanted to stay in. Was that intuitive? Was I beginning to witness and take on more stress as I grew up? Most of us do, and I needed a way to relax. Those hot baths became a place for me to find peace, comfort, and nourishment. It wasn’t until I became an adult that I learned about Balneopathy, defined as healing through therapeutic waters. Up until that point, visiting the hot springs in my native California sounded cool and adventurous - but the more I learned about these ancient treasures, the more intrigued I became.
“We all come from the sacred waters of our mother, and for me, this practice is a return to self. Visiting hot springs brings me back to that original inner peace."
Benefits
Soaking offers a myriad of health benefits. It provides natural detoxification, increases circulation, soothes muscles, and aids in healing various skin conditions. But for me, one of the most healing components of soaking is simply the decision to take time for myself. The conscious act of self-care is the root of all healing.
Create Your Own
We may not all be able to visit hot springs on a regular basis, but you can create your own therapeutic spring at home by creating healing waters in your tub! Ideally you want to have some type of water filtration system in your home - perhaps just a great shower filter - and use that to fill the tub. Then the fun begins! You can customize what you innately need with a wide variety of oils, salts, clays, herbs, flowers, and even crystals to activate your home spring experience.
Etiquette
If you do have the opportunity to visit scared hot springs, consciousness is of the utmost importance. I always clean up after myself - and if necessary, I’ll clean up after other people, too! These springs are meant for deep restoration, and I stay mindful of others by respecting their privacy and being relatively quiet most of the time.
Try It
There are tons of helpful resources that share information on a variety of springs around the world. Next time you’re going on a road trip or getting on a plane, I encourage you to do a little bit of research - sacred waters may be just a stone’s throw away!
x Christy
