In the hectic world we live in, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed and stressed out. But taking time for yourself is important for your physical and mental health. In fact, stress management is an essential part of a healthy lifestyle. A relaxing bath can be one way you help yourself relax from stressful situations or everyday challenges. A study from Finland found that soaking in a hot bath was as effective at reducing stress as climbing uphill or walking fast uphill on a treadmill. The benefits of taking a relaxing bath go beyond feeling good. They can also help you reduce stress and boost your immune system as well as lower your blood pressure and heart rate while increasing circulation and lowering your heart rate variability. Read on to learn more about the mind-body benefits of relaxing baths
Ancient Ritual or Modern-Day Therapy?
A bath might seem like an antiquated ritual to some, but there are many benefits to taking a bath. If you’re looking for a way to reduce stress and improve your mental health, a relaxing bath is a great option. The mind-body benefits of a relaxing bath can be powerful. Beyond simply feeling good, hot baths have been shown to lower blood pressure and heart rate while increasing circulation and lowering heart variability. There is also evidence that soaking in water can relieve symptoms of depression and help with insomnia, too. Water has been used as therapy for thousands of years, but this doesn’t mean you should underestimate the power of soaking in that tub! A good soak can be just what you need after a stressful day at work or when you wake up feeling groggy from the night before. The only question is: What type of water will you use?
How Does a Bath Help?
A study from Finland found that soaking in a hot bath was as effective at reducing stress as climbing uphill or walking fast uphill on a treadmill. While you soak, your body’s natural response is to release endorphins, which are hormones that make you feel good. The responses your body has while bathing are similar to those it has when you exercise, but without the physical labor often required. The benefits of taking a relaxing bath go beyond feeling good. They can also help you reduce stress and boost your immune system as well as lower your blood pressure and heart rate while increasing circulation and lowering your heart rate variability. Read on to learn more about the mind-body benefits of relaxing baths
Physical Benefits of a Relaxing Bath
First, a relaxing bath can help you to relax and reduce your stress levels. But that’s not all! Taking a bath is also good for your physical health. A study from Finland found that soaking in a hot bath was as effective at reducing stress as climbing uphill or walking fast uphill on a treadmill. The benefits of taking a relaxing bath go beyond feeling good. They can also help you reduce stress and boost your immune system as well as lower your blood pressure and heart rate while increasing circulation and lowering your heart rate variability.
Psychological Benefits of a Relaxing Bath
Taking a relaxing bath is not just about feeling good. It has psychological benefits as well. A study from Finland found that soaking in a hot bath was as effective at reducing stress as climbing uphill or walking fast uphill on a treadmill. Not only does it relieve the physical symptoms of stress, such as muscle tension and headache, but it can help you feel more relaxed and less anxious about your day-to-day challenges. It's also important to note that the water temperature doesn’t make much difference to how quickly you will feel relief from stress. What matters most is how long you spend in the water, not how hot the water is. This is because the body starts to produce its own heat soon after you enter the bathtub, which creates a calming effect that lasts long after your soak ends.