FitSugar

Back on Track: Relax With a Bath

FitSugar — Sun, 08 Jun 2008 04:30:00 -0700

Many of you have complained that you have your worst night's sleep of the week on Sunday. Waking up bleary eyed on Monday morning is no way to tackle the week. To help you wind down after a fun filled weekend, I suggest taking a bath Sunday night right before bed. Bathing, as opposed to showering, promotes relaxation and can help you catch up on your Z's. Lack of sleep can lead to chronic stress and weight gain, so welcome the sandman with a warm bath. Add some lavender oil to truly relax. You will wake up refreshed and ready to get back on track.

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Relax Already: Lavender Bath

FitSugar — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 15:30:00 -0800

Lavender is an incredibly soothing scent and there is now research to prove it. Evidence suggests that the scent of lavender may help slow the activity of the nervous system and promote relaxation. One way to reap the benefits of lavender is using lavender oil as a massage oil. If you don't have the bucks to spring for a massage, you can always take a lavender-scented bath. Soak your muscles and soothe your nerves at the same time.

To turn your bath into an aromatherapy session, the magazine Body+Soul has a great suggestion. Instead of putting lavender oil in your tub, try making a body tea by steeping 4 oz. of dried lavender flowers in 2 cups hot water for 20 minutes. Then simply pour your aromatic tea into bath water and steep yourself for as long as you like!

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At Home Spa Treatment: Piña Colada Body Exfoliant

FitSugar — Thu, 31 May 2007 15:45:00 -0700

Sometimes you need a vacation and taking one is simply impossible. This is when you have to pamper yourself. If you can't sip a piña colada on the beach, why not have a piña colada exfoliating bath? Yep, you can make a great all body exfoliant with the same ingredients you use to make the very same tropical cocktail you would like to be sipping on some beach.

According to Lindisima this treatment will both moisturize your skin as well as act as a gentle exfoliant. The coconut milk moistens the skin and the fruit acid of the pineapple exfoliates dry skin.

Here's what you need:

2 cups of pineapple juice
1 cup of coconut milk (fresh or canned)
1 cup of milk (fat free is better and easier to clean)

Here's what you do:

Place all ingredients in a blender to mix or puree. Draw a bath with water at your favorite temperature.

Pour "piña colada" mixture into the bath water and soak for 10 or 15 minutes.

Sip some cold water with lime or lemon. Close your eyes and feel the Caribbean sea breeze.
Shower after the treatment and apply body lotion.

Just a reminder that if you are allergic to any of these ingredients, you should just give this treatment a pass. And since soaking in hot water can increase the effects of alcohol, you shouldn't drink a piña colada while taking your piña colada bath.

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At Home Spa Treatment: Milk Bath

FitSugar — Fri, 02 Mar 2007 17:30:00 -0800

It is said the Cleopatra bathed in milk to keep her skin soft and supple. Although it seems weird to soak in milk it is actually great for the skin. The lactic acid in milk contains alpha hydroxy acids, which work mainly as an exfoliate, encouraging dead skin cells to slough off making room for new skin. Milk can cleanse the skin down to its deepest layers.

Although, Cleopatra reportedly used sour milk, you can use regular milk or buttermilk instead. Just add 2 to 4 cups of fresh milk or buttermilk to your bathwater as the tub is filling. You could even use powdered milk if that seems more bath-like to you. Soak for a good 20 minutes. Shower to rinse and use a sugar scrub or shower gloves to help remove the old skin. Keep the shower water on the cooler side, since the hotter the water the harsher it is on your skin.

Fit's Tip: If you are lactose intolerant or straight up allergic to milk, this is not a home spa treatment for you.

Relax Already: For Just One Hour

FitSugar — Tue, 23 Jan 2007 15:15:00 -0800

A new study from the University of Milan has found that weekly, one-hour stress-management sessions can reduce worker stress, improve heart health and lower blood pressure.

So if you're feeling stressed maybe you should make appointments for regularly scheduled weekly one hour massages. Too pricey? Make an appointment with yourself for a one hour bath or time on the couch with a good book. If you spend a lot of stressful time in front of the computer screen, subscribe to a daily wellness email such as Daily OM. The emails are relaxing and calming and in times of major stress, these emails can really help put things back into perspective. Sign up today at DailyOM.com.

Relax Already: Take a Bath

FitSugar — Wed, 08 Nov 2006 14:30:00 -0800

It's the end of a very long day. You've cooked, you've cleaned and you've tucked the kids in bed. There is nothing on tv, you're sick of your book (and your husband for that matter) and all you want to do is unwind. Here's a thought: Take a bath.

Almost everyone has a tub but not everyone uses it for bathing (ironic, really). One way to calm down after a hard day is to draw yourself a bath.

Not into soaking in plain, old bath water, then read more

People pay good money to soak in therapeutic spa tubs, but you can create your own therapeutic bath at home. There are so many fun bubbles, oils, milks and soaks to make your bathing experience even more enjoyable. Dr. Hauschka, the holistic skin care brand, has a line of aromatherapy bath oils for any mood. If you're looking to de-stress, try the lavender or the spruce oils (or combine them both for extra aroma fun) for the soothing and calming properties in the herbs. The trial size kit is only $15.95 if you're not yet sure that bathing is your thing. Buy them here.

Fit's Tip: Put some fresh towels beside the tub before you start the bath... nothing kills the mood of a de-stressing bath like running naked across the cold bathroom floor to fetch a towel.

Relax Already With a Bath Thermometer

FitSugar — Wed, 03 Oct 2007 17:15:00 -0700

We've all done this: Decide you need to relax with a soak in the tub. Start filling the tub and walk away to get all the accouterments prepped for your relaxing bath (crossword, music, candles, bath oil, etc.). Excitedly come back to a tub, nice and full. Get in. Find out it's scalding hot. Jump out of tub screaming. Look at your foot to see whether it is still there or burnt off entirely.

Avoid this awful situation by getting a bath thermometer. Commonly used by moms who want to make sure their baby's baths are at the appropriate temperature, these bath thermometers can be used by adults who are easily distracted too! The ideal bath temperature, so that you don't shock your body, is about 98-99 degrees (though some like it hotter). However, usually if it's any hotter, you'll be sweating to cool down, and if it's any colder your body will be in overdrive trying to warm itself up - hardly the relaxing experience you were looking for.

I especially like this Mobi Digital Bath and Room Thermometer ($12.99) because it also measures the room temp as well, which is kind of cool. Buy it from target.com.

What's the Deal With: Ice Baths and Injuries

FitSugar — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 14:30:00 -0700

It's a known fact that immediately after an injury, whether it be from hammering your thumb instead of a nail, or heading the soccer ball with your nose, ice is the answer. An ice pack or frozen bag or peas applied to the area helps reduce pain and swelling, but have you ever heard of an ice bath? Sounds chillingly unbearable if you ask me, but if you're into long-distance running or training for a marathon, it may be just the thing you need to prevent injury that could result in time off.

According to Runner's World, ice baths are a method of cryotherapy or "cold therapy." After long runs, a soak in ice water constricts blood cells and decreases metabolic activity, which reduces swelling and prevents the breakdown of tissues. After you come out of the freezing water, the tissues begin to warm up and your blood flows faster. This helps return the byproducts of cellular breakdown to the lymph system for efficient recycling by the body. So not only does a soak in an ice bath help prevent inflammation, but it also flushes harmful metabolic debris out of the muscles.

Many athletes swear by these post-workout ice baths. Dotting your body with ice packs is an option, but full-on immersion in ice water is much more effective. You only need to be in the chilliness for 10 to 20 minutes to prevent injury. I was wondering if any of you have ever used ice baths. If not, would you ever consider it, or does it seem too intolerable to bear?

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Chocolate Bath - Deliciously Relaxing

FitSugar — Tue, 13 Feb 2007 17:30:00 -0800

Do you like chocolate? Well you're soaking in it...ahhh doesn't that sound nice - a chocolate bath.

A Japanese spa in Hakone offers them. Incorporating chocolate into natural hot springs, the bath contains cacao extract and trehalose, a kind of natural sugar. These ingredients promote beautiful skin by trapping the moisture.

For the rest of us, there are hot chocolate bath salts. They're also available in white chocolate, for only $9.00.

Of course, baths in general are very soothing and relaxing. And there are health benefits and happiness associated with chocolate. I never would have thought to put the two together - but I bet some of you have!

Spending time in the enveloping warmth and the delicious aroma of chocolate must have an amazingly calming effect.

Get Physical: Take a Bath Together

FitSugar — Sat, 01 Sep 2007 03:30:00 -0700

After taking to the streets for a nice jog (or walk) together, you may even want to hit the showers together too!

According to new research from the Rheingold Institut in Germany, couples that bathe together from time to time have a deeper connection with their partners than those who only bathe solo.

But just before you have your romantic moment together, how about a sit-up contest to see who has to clean the bathroom when you're done bathing? Whoever does the most in one minute skips the clean up!

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