meditative bathing

“To move - both the body and mind - is the great usher for change.” - shannon vaughn

Change is good, especially when you are stuck, feeling stagnant or in a state of transition. It’s the true meaning behind Pursoma; “soma”  an Ancient Ayurvedic term for transitioning to a better self was the genesis for my own healing. The purpose for creating a company focused on transitioning to a better version of yourself, was to offer others an avenue of healing and be an agent for change. Hence, the evolution of the pursoma ritual that we call meditative bathing. This at-home tool, which is accessible in the sanctuary space of your bathroom, allows you to  disconnect from tech, the world, and reconnect to yourself while calming the mind and resting the body.

The process of change is an incredibly hard state to be in, so you need tools. It could be transitioning from your daily routine when you go from work to home, a certain goal you want to achieve, the process of making your body more healthy, losing weight, or something as basic as an evening-to-bedtime routine. There are also the larger changes -  life changing transitions like a divorce, a sickness or a change in finances.

Movement is medicine for the body in the same way that meditation is healing for the mind. It clears out the stagnation to get to a more pure and elevated state. Via sweating, the body produces endorphins, not only supporting your vitality but literally moving you out of your ‘state of stuck’. I know this because I have been stuck. Movement and meditative bathing were my alternative to alcohol, prescription drugs and generally wallowing in despair unable to move forward. There have been times in my life I have laid on the floor curled in a ball unable to move, not knowing what to do, not knowing how to move forward and process pain. Now, I have tools and what would have taken me a year to move through now takes me a few months, sometimes just weeks. It doesn’t mean the situation is less severe or less stressful; it just means I have found methods in which to ease the pain, disassociate myself from overwhelming thoughts, and move forward with positivity. I now have a buffer which is self care. It eases the stress so that I can avoid physiological effects which end up causing sickness, or worse, disease.

The daily moving of your body and sweating, partnered with the practice of meditative bathing is what keeps me grounded, stabilizes me on tough days, and allows me to sleep calmly. Adding 1) movement to my daily routine and 2) the practice of stillness of the mind either before or after the bath helps me move through trauma and come out on the other side.

The art of bathing and spending some time in inner reflection, is not a new practice. “Taking to the waters” has been a term used for centuries; the practice of human beings going to take baths outdoors in mineral-rich waters in nature as a way to heal, relax and rejuvenate themselves has been a healing practice for centuries. In today’s modern and more urban lifestyles, most of us do not have access to a mineral hot spring in nature, but we do have bathtubs in our homes. The addition of pure mineral salts and healing aromatherapy can mimic the calming effects of nature and mineral bathing. Introducing meditative bathing into your at-home mineral soak is a mindful way to offset the impacts of daily stress and create a way to release anxiety. The act of meditative bathing is a daily habit that I advocate for, and a healing gift to myself and others.

So how does meditative bathing work?

1. Find a time of the day or evening that you can capture 20 -30 minutes for yourself. **Check your screen time for social media, I am certain there is at least 30 minutes of wasted time you could pull from.
2. Go into you bathroom and think of it as a sanctuary.
3. Prepare a timer for 20 minutes, and turn off your digital notifications.
4. Turn on a Spotify playlist or a calming meditation (links to both here)
5. Run a bath with very hot water - as hot as you can stand.
6. Pour as much Pursoma salt into the tub as you want.
7. Get in and soak for 20 minutes with your meditation playing or doing whatever mindful practice you prefer.
8. Exit the tub with a feeling that whatever was weighing on you or felt traumatic is released.
9. Spend 5 minutes laying down wrapped in a towel while your body cools down and recite positive affirmations. e.g.
10. Reassure yourself that you have rested and will feel renewed when you wake up tomorrow.