Bath Meditations

Index

1. Precursor – A little introduction to the post.
2. Preparation – Overview – Super quick prep overview so you can jump into the meditation.
3. Ambiance
4. Music
5. Incense
6. Salts
7. Meditating in the bath
   1. Take a few deep breaths
   2. Listen to your heartbeat
   3. How does the water feel on the skin?
   4. What can you see?
8. Back to reality

Bath meditations formed one of three core meditations that started me on my course for recovery.

The funny thing is, I didn’t even know I was already meditating, till someone told me the practices of meditation, and I said, ‘hey I kind of already do that!”.

Often people think that meditation is some kind of thing done by wrinkly dudes in funky clothing, but the reality is, most people do it all the time without realising it.

That being said, there is great power in the intention of starting a meditation, as telling yourself that you’re initiating a meditation makes it stronger.

Like many things (diet, exercise, hobbies) it’s always a good idea to set a little time in the day, or in the week, to allow for these meditations to take place. Sometimes structuring this can help to make it actually happen, but sometimes doing it when you simply need it is also wise.

For around a year now, I have been taking cold showers, so a nice bi-weekly warm bath is something I look forward to.

Whilst everyone is different, it may be worth noting, that some recommend to only stay in the bath for a max of 30mins, but everyone is different, so keep an eye on your reactions to negative effects such as dry skin.

I guess everyone has a different idea of what a perfect bath is, but I will share my personal experiences on the setting up of the bath. Regardless of what I like, please just go with what you feel is best, as this, will make you feel better!

I will go into greater detail below regarding each individual element, but in short, I like to give the bathroom a quick once over with a cloth to make sure it’s clear of dust and the likes of. I’m not talking a podium finish here, more of a respective once-over.

I then set up the music to reduce my heartbeat, and get me in the right mindset.

After this, I tend to do a tiny bit of tidying up (shampoo bottles etc), primarily reducing clutter or unwanted eye sores. Also I reduce any other negative sensory inputs such as bad smells, or perhaps shutting a creaky cupboard.

The main aim for this prep, is to align the space to your relaxed vibration.

Lighting candles can be an extremely powerful healing aid. However, for me, I normally get the lighting to how I like it and get some incense going. Incense sticks roughly lasts 40-60mins and the smell can still be beneficial for long after this.

Most incense is quite strong, so some prefer oils or the likes. Personally, I like incense as it also produces some lovely visuals from the smoke. This in itself is often enough visual entertainment for me.

I normally open the window slightly to allow for airflow, which also reduces the oversaturation of the smoke, it also brings a nice cold breeze for a hot bath. When there is a colder outer atmosphere and warmer bath, this then creates extra condensation, which works wonders for the respiratory system, especially in collaboration with Epson salts.

Regardless of what elements you include with your bath, I would highly recommend setting a positive intention with every key action. For instance, if you run the bath, set the intention that “this bath will wash away my stress and fill me with pure contentment”. When you light the incense, you could say “this incense will clear any stagnant air in this room and it will make way for the pure cleansing power of white sage [or your selected incense]”.

Create the space you envisage to be beneficial.

Sometimes I like to turn all the lights off, so I have a more ‘womb’ like experience, and other times, if in the day, I like to keep the curtains open, or with the lights slightly on, so I can have a more ‘present’ experience.

Go with what feels best, but try to avoid anything in the room that may trigger any task driving emotions. For instance, you don’t want to be reminded of a task you need to do, or an obligation of kinds, work or family related.

We don’t want anything to trigger anxieties of kinds, or anything that will bring our attention sharply back to a ‘real world activity’ such as picking up the kids.

Phones, and the softwares on your phone are often designed to take your attention away from whatever your doing, so things like that are best switched off. If you do have an obligation to action, perhaps set an alarm, and then take your mind away from the task.

Intention

Once all set up, perhaps set the intention of “this space is now ready to be amplified with nothing but good vibes”.

The effects of music on my state of mind are profound.

I am constantly trying to recognize the patterns of how ‘external inputs’ affect me, and music is certainly a key one.

In the morning when I’m tired it can really shift me into a new gear. It can work wonders for concentration when working. The same certainly can be said for when I’m relaxing, or meditating.

Once again, everyone has their own frequency and variants of that frequency, during different states of mind. Therefore, everyone resonates with different music, and there is no right or wrong way of doing things.

That being said, my favourite music for meditation is something quite ambient, nonintrusive and relaxing. Normally I steer clear of lyrics, as words are strong triggers, and could distract.

Often I will use Spotify or Tidal to download the playlist. This enables me to turn off wifi / data to reduce incoming calls or notifications. The radio is nice, but sometimes they can do a commercial break, or talk about the current affairs, which is often perceived to be not good!?

Here are some examples of the playlists I listen to.

Music for Plants

This is a fairly modern collection of ambient works, often with birdsong in the background. This album also works great for some open-eye lounge meditations too.

Spotify link to Music for Plants

Relaxing Indian Flute Music

This playlist probably takes me deeper than most. It’s a collection of modern chilled Southern Asian inspired music. The sound mainly focuses on flutes and deep ambient sounds.

Spotify link to Relaxing Indian Flute Music

Healing Ragas

Slightly more traditional South Asian music, but still more ambient than most. Main sounds include flutes, sitar and subtle bongos.

Once again, a very powerful playlist.

Spotify link to Healing Ragas

Coffee Table Jazz

Whilst generally more applicable for my sofa meditations, the creamy sound of this playlist provides the perfect warm and fuzzy ambiance for a bath.

Spotify link to Coffee Table Jazz

Chilled Classical

Full of wonder and etheric vibes, this playlist stays away from anything too vigorous, but favours the sweet beauty of calm.

Spotify link to Chilled Classical

Intention

Once you have chosen your music, perhaps say to yourself “this music will resonate with everything in this room, the sound waves will raise the frequency of everything it touches”.

Now that we have talked at some length about music, letus move on to some additional senses we can activate during this process.

Some say that smell is one of our most primitive senses and can trigger deep memories, even for people suffering from memory problems.

Others will also mention how smell triggers elements of our ‘lizard brain’, all of which are probably valid.

That being said, I believe that incense does go a little further than triggering elements of the brain. Sage amongst many other plant material has been used for millennia to clear negative energy from a space, and generally make environments feel ‘lighter’. White sage in particular is known to have anti bacterial properties.

Whilst you could read into how the native Indians used sage, or how other communities used other materials, simply put, all you need to know is what works for you.

Activate your senses and go out to your nearest shop and smell the different options. Whilst I do believe that sage in particular has strong clearing properties, it’s really up to the person to sense what resonates with them.

A chef, for instance, could be put off by zesty aromas, as this could remind them of work. Or they could love it because they connect so deeply with cooking!

I personally have a whole collection of incense, and my favourite one changes almost daily!

Intention

Once you have chosen the incense you wish to use, perhaps announce “this incense will clear the air, and make way for nothing but pure, fresh air for the whole environment to enjoy”.

Initially, I was sceptical of this, as I couldn’t see how the salt could benefit me. After quite a few baths, I can confirm this contributes to the healing qualities of the bath as a whole.

The ones in supermarkets and bath shops can be quite pricey, so I instead buy kilograms of the stuff on amazon instead. This does mean you have a large bag hanging around, but it’s significantly more cost-effective.

Most people buy epsom salt infused with other materials such as peppermint and the likes of, but I find that the smell of the incense, along with the steam from the bath is more than enough for my senses.

Regardless of the fragrance, saline air (salty air) has many major health benefits. Having moved next to the sea, I see a massive impact on my general health, and my son who has respiratory problems, when I spend at least a couple of hours at the beach per week.

Intention

When you put the salt in the bath, state that “this salt will infuse with the water, to create the most relaxing and healing bath. May it help shift any negative energy and replace it with nothing but the purest positive energy”.

Now fully set up for the meditation, it’s time to fully unwind.

What we want to do here, is pay attention to our senses and see what comes about whilst we meditate.

We have created a safe, relaxing, and rejuvenating space, so let’s see what it feels like!

1. Take a few deep breaths: breath work

Take a few deep breaths. A good method is breathing in through the nose for 4 seconds, hold for 7 seconds and then exhaling for 8 seconds from the mouth.

Everyone has a different lung capacity, and the vapor in the air may make this more tricky, so do what you feel is the most effective.

Feel how thick the air has become because of the steam in the air. We have blessed the water as it fills, and have blessed the salt as it entered the bath. Now feel how it encapsulates the air, and clears your airways.

Salt air has been healing mankind for millennia, the only difference now, is that we are sat in a nice warm bath, with Spotify as our bard.

Practice gratitude: Feeling nice and relaxed? Perhaps thank your guiding stars for having such fine air to breathe!

2. Listen to your heartbeat: engage the heart

As you breathe in for 4, hold for 7, and exhale for 8, notice how this affects the core of your body, your heart.

The heart pumps blood, and thus energy, around your body, and is a key regulator of the flow of your body’s energy. This energy is directly connected to the stimulation and relaxation of all the body systems.

Generally speaking, speeding up the breathing, speeds up the flow, and slowing the breathing, slows the energy flow down.

Be mindful of how this affects other parts of your body, in particular, try not to get too lightheaded, as we are in a bath. If you do get light headed, slow the breathing down.

That being said, utilise the power of the breath to set your internal clock to the right tempo.

Essentially, we are using our breath as a core control for the whole body system. Regardless of the situation, remember that breathing is one of, if not the most powerful, and easily actionable, self-reliant exercise that you can do.

Once we have reached the frequency we feel comfortable with, bring the breath back to its resting, naturally relaxed state.

Observe how the heart also follows suit!

Maybe now might be a nice time to thank your heart for all its unconditional work that it does for you! You may wish to go a step further, and think how amazing the body is at keeping going. Remember that this bath is just as much for you as a whole, as it is for your individual elements – mind, body and soul!

3. How does the water feel on the skin: engage touch senses

Our skin is full of receptors and accumulates to the largest organ of the body.

The skin connects us to our tangible world, and I strongly believe that treating it every now and then helps amplify the positive energy for the system as a whole.

Salt baths are well known for rejuvenating properties in the skin, including anti-inflammatory benefits.

Focus on how your skin feels, feel how the water flows over the pours in the skin. Does the water seem thick, or thin? How is it healing your skin? Are your muscles now also relaxing?

Imagine how the properties of this water are healing your skin. Allow the positive energy you have instilled in the water to rid you of negative energy.

Feel how the warmth of the water actively disintegrates tensions within the body and transmutes it into soft calming waves within the bath.

Whilst the water touches the skin, physically, can you feel how the positive bath energy from the bath reverberates beyond that of the skin? Can you feel how it relaxes the muscles, nervous system and all other bodily systems?

Whilst the salt water is external to the body, the positive relaxing energy it gives you will also help internal organs. Through positive energy itself, this could reduce stomach problems such as IBS, or even wider problems such as mental health.

All the energies are linked, and this salt bath is potentially one of your most powerful tools for cleansing.

Practice gratitude: Perhaps a quick thank you to the planet for providing such amazing tools to work with?

The incredible element of water, and the crystalline structure of salts can work wonders, especially when utilised to their full extent! Let’s just say a few thanks for this also!

4. What can you see: eye and third eye activation

Are there little waves in the bath? How does the steam roll around the room? Does the incense smoke create any interesting patterns?

Perhaps there are some interesting patterns in the tiles, or the steam and condensation on the windows may have a certain texture to them.

Does your current relaxed state of mind change your visual senses along with your other senses? Do you see things differently, even if subtly? Perhaps altering your vibration through relaxation changes the way you see things, in a positive way?

Maybe once in this relaxed state, you don’t need as much, and what you have in front of you provides enough stimulation and feedback? Could you relate with the fact that when you slow down, there might actually be more to truly take in?

You may want to focus on one thing for a certain period of time, or you may want to slowly scan the room to see where your eyes wish to go.

Are there any correlations between what you’re looking at, and what you’re thinking about? Or it could be that you have in some way disconnected with your eyes, and are deeply engrossed with feelings and slow thought patterns?

Practice gratitude: No matter where I am on planet earth, even if it’s a hot country, I am always thankful for a hot bath. If you’re the same, perhaps take a few moments to be thankful for the literal things around you?

Feeling refreshed and rejuvenated? Or it could be you’re still feeling a little bit happily spaced out?

If you still feel a bit like you’re on another planet, just take ample time to get back to reality. Sometimes I feel the steam I give off after the bath almost acts like a steam bath for the rest of the rooms. I am somewhat positively humming.

Now might be a good time to reflect on your experience. It might have been like any other bath, or you could have noticed a few small positive differences?

Those small things don’t have to go away, they can now be part of every bath that you take. Next time you may find a few more positive differences, which you can then take to the next bath, and so on.

Positive incremental change is a core practice. In my mind, it undoubtedly helps you become more mindful, present and more, you. You set the intention of positive change for your environment, you feel it, and then you ponder on it. When the next bath comes along, you can bring everything you want to that bath, and perhaps make a few small additional changes for the next time!?

What did you pick up from this experience?