I am a big believer in baths. (I'm pretty sure God is, too, with all the ritual cleansing and baptisms.) I spent a year in chilly Central New York, and the first thing I did when I came home was to collapse and warm up in a steamy bath. When I was studying for my bar exams, I listened to most of my PMBR lecture CDs while soaking. (It worked, though I still recite the rule against perpetuities in the tub!) And now, a bath in a darkened bathroom before bed is a welcome time of relaxation.Bath tips:
1. Turn off the lights and light a candle or two.
2. Add some safflower oil to the water for a very inexpensive treat. A few drops of essential oil are nice, too, as are slices of lemon.
3. Have a beverage. I prefer ice water, but fruit juice, iced tea, beer, or wine are all good choices. If you plan on a very hot soak, avoid alcohol.
4. Consider some reading material or similar. I enjoy flipping through pretty photographs in catalogs or even playing Sudoku.
5. Consider music or radio. I alternate between Enya and NPR, depending on my mood.
6. Before you soak, toss your towel in the dryer for 20 minutes so it will be warm and cozy when you need it. If you have a radiator in the bathroom, drape the towel over it.
7. If you must be productive, invest in a speech-to-text program for your computer. I know I've done tons of writing in the tub! I suspect the steam coaxes brilliant thoughts from my brain.
8. If you have dry skin, post-bath time is the best time to moisturize. I prefer pure cocoa butter as most lotions contain alcohol, which is quite drying. A big tub of pure cocoa butter is only about $4, and really does the best job.
My dream bath:
1. A big free-standing tub in the center of the room. Modern design with clean lines. Preferably on a pedestal. Like this, but without the shower:
2. A television! I don't watch much television, but I recently stayed in a hotel room with its own big-screen in the bathroom. I miss it.
3. Radiant heating in the floors.
4. Enormous fluffy bath sheets.
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