A bath at the end of a long, stressful day helps you relax, releases toxins and prepares you for a good night's sleep. While you can bathe at any time of the day, taking a bath at the end of the day will improve your stress-releasing experience. There are several ways to enhance relaxation in the bath tub.
Turning the lights down (or off) and illuminating the bathroom with candles will calm your senses. One candle is enough to create ambiance and allow you to sink into the soothing warmth of a bath, but you can use many candles to create a lavish setting. Fixating on the flame can help bring you into a trance, allowing you to leave behind the worries and concerns of your day.
The sense of smell is often the most ignored sense. Many aromas have a relaxing quality. Vanilla, lavender and rose are helpful scents that will assist you in relaxing. These scents can be used individually or combined. Add them to the bath experience either by using an aromatherapy candle, burning aromatherapy oil or adding an oil to the hot water of your bath.
Musical tastes vary from person to person. Choose music that you find calming. While listening to your favorite dance track might make you happy, save that for a time when you want to be energized. Soothing classical music helps calm your mind and can take you on an imaginative journey. You may listen to your favorite ballads. Whatever the music you choose, the goal is to feel calm.
Add oil or salt to your bath to help moisturize your skin and soothe aching muscles. Epsom salt is the traditional bath salt that helps reduce cramping, pull out impurities and kill any bacteria. It soothes skin plagued with irritations or bites. Herbal oils soak into your skin leaving it smooth and silky. Mint, rose and valerian leaves have been used for centuries in baths to increase calming effects and add an aphrodisiac quality to the bath.