You Need a Bath
Soaking is easy, necessary therapy
In my travels, recently, I’ve noticed an unsettling trend: even the swankiest new hotels are installing rain showers in place of bathtubs.
I consider this both a travesty and a personal affront, since one of my great joys is running a hot bath and partaking in whatever scented body washes and (in the best cases) bath salts are arranged by the hotel sink. For me, luxurious soaks are a favorite part of vacation, a signal to my body and brain to let go.
And yet this new hotel trend does raise a fair question: if I find baths so relaxing, why don’t I take them at home? Occasionally, I’ll hop in the tub if I’m nursing a muscle ache or injury and my kids do it all the time (complete with their favorite bath bombs!)
So, why must baths feel like such a luxury for us as adults?
The short answer is that they shouldn’t — especially these days. In a time when we’re all trying to manage insurmountable levels of stress, for those with tubs, baths can be a simple way to calm the mind, body and spirit. And, in 2022, the options are myriad and rich, with benefits, ingredients, and even scents that far surpass your basic bubblebath.
