Thursday, August 28, 2008

A Colorful Bath


The power of color can be wonderful–colors can evoke emotional, behavioral and physical responses. Take a “color bath.” This relaxing method allows you to bathe your body in the energy wavelength of a chosen color and create a therapeutic bath according to Blissful Bathtime: Therapies for Rejuvenating Mind and Body (Storey Publishing, 2002) by Margo Valentine Lazzara. When you work with color, your body becomes sensitive to it and grows more open to meditation and healing.
Lazzara recommends using natural, vegetable-based food coloring in your bathwater. (You can purchase these at Health Food Stores.) Several drops added to the bath won’t affect your skin and will tint the water a gentle hue. You can use colored salt or baking soda to make an easily dispersed color bath salt. Perhaps you'd enjoy a color bath combined with some favourite water proof stones and perhaps some herbs or scented oils.
Each color has its own particular attribute. Add Rose and aqua colored baths if you want to relieve tension. Purple and dark blue should only be used for a short time --ten to twenty minutes at most, as they can be depressing if overused. Orange is very invigorating and deep clear greens are very restful. You can add flower petals to the bath. Be careful that the bath water is not too hot as this can destroy the properties of the flowers like roses. A handful of fresh flowers provides you with a color energy bath. Let the blossoms float around on the surface of the water so they can visually stimulate you.
The author also notes that candles are many people’s favorite bath accessory. They are soothing and beautiful, and the flickering candlelight can bring a sense of peace and serenity to the room. Choose candles in colors that promote the mood you desire.
This makes me want to go out to my garden, gather lots of blossoms and jump into the tub for a relaxing soak! Have any of you tried a "color bath"? What color or colors did you use?

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