bathing experiences
Make Your Way To Good Health With This Ayurvedic Bath Routine
Showering is an integral part of your personal hygiene, and there is nothing more refreshing than starting the day with the perfect shower. One of the best ways to care for your skin is incorporating an Ayurvedic shower routine into your life. Showering, according to Ayurveda, is a therapeutic, healing experience that restores physical energy to the body, removes sweat, and dirt from the skin, and relaxes the mind by balancing emotions.
Treat yourself with these natural and amazing Ayurvedic shower practices and make your way to good health:
Dry brushing for your skin
It's no mystery that exfoliating is one of the best ways to show your skin some love. So, Ayurveda recommends dry brushing, also known as Garshana, for your skin to slough away dry and dead skin on areas like knees, elbows and ankles. Besides, it stimulates collagen production that helps tighten your skin, promoting anti-ageing. It also enhances blood flow and stimulates your sensory nerves for a calming experience.
Rember, the main rule of thumb- always brush your skin with a brush moving towards your heart. So if you're starting with your legs, your strokes are going up instead of down. Additionally, it would be best to opt for brushes with natural fibres to reduce reactions from synthetic ones, especially for sensitive skin.
Before the popularity of spas, the art of massaging oneself with oil, also known as Abhyanga, was widely practised by people. Abhyanga or body massage is still a powerful healing pre-shower ritual in Ayurveda today. Before a shower, rubbing oil into the skin helps remove excess sebum and grime.
Want to enjoy your perfect me-time? Begin your oiling process at your toes and fingertips, paying extra attention to your joints. As you go upwards, use gentle circular motions to prevent toxins from entering your body deeper. Devote your morning to a body massage with natural oils and reconnect to your calm and nourished body.
Set yourself the right temperature shower
Here comes the most amazing part of your Ayurvedic routine: the shower! When drawing your shower, Ayurveda encourages you to look at your doshas, the regulatory principles of the body, mind and behaviour. Hence, it suggests using cold water if your dosha is Pitta and warm water if it is Kapha or Vata.
The cold shower improves your eyesight and is known for resolving digestion issues. The warm shower as it helps your Kapha or Vata skin open your pores, allowing oil to penetrate deeper into your skin for a moisturised effect. Tepid water should be used for your hair and face as hot water can damage them.
It is advisable for you to avoid conventional soaps and go for natural cleansers. These soaps are harsh on your body and increase your skin's pH(Potential of Hydrogen)level. So, always go for ph-balanced shower gels to restore your skin's natural oils.
You can choose shower gels such as Santoor Hydrating Skin Body Wash and reverse the signs of ageing. Enriched with nourishing and hydrating virgin coconut oil and moringa, it makes your skin smooth and gives it the care it deserves. Need a suitable shower gel for your skin? Check out Hydrating Shower Gels for Every Skin Type.
The final step to a refreshing Ayurvedic shower regime is to moisturise your skin. After a soothing shower, pat yourself dry with gentle touches. If you did an Abhyanga massage before your shower and you’re a Pitta/Kapha dosha type, then you should be all set to go. However, if you are a Vata body type, you might need further nourishment. So pick moisturisers with natural formulation to radiate a supple and healthy look.
Following these simple tips for your shower gives you healthy and clean skin. For best results, use shower gels with natural extracts such as neroli, moringa, sandalwood for nourishing, clean and radiant skin. Time and again, Ayurveda has proven that its existence in your daily practices purifies your body and mind and is essential for personal hygiene. So, rejuvenate and heal yourself with a soothing Ayurvedic shower regime.
Need more guidance on showering? Read - Do's & Don'ts: Your Ultimate Bath Time Cheat Sheet.
