the relaxation magazine
Spring 2017 THE BATH ISSUE
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Image from pixabay.com
six Letter from the Editor nine Letters from our Readers ten The Benefits of Bathing sixteen Bath Product Guide twenty DIY Bath Bombs
ANNE CARTER
Editor in Chief SHELLY BLAKE
Creative Director ELLIOT SCHAFFER, EMILY WONG, TIFFANY SHANNON
Editors ASHLEY EVANS
Advertising Director CAMILLE BAKER, REBECCA LEE
Designers JANET FILMORE
Sales and Distirbution Pause: The Relaxation Magazine™ © 2016 Meredith Corporation at 805 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10022, All rights reserved. Publisher assumes no reponsibility for return of unsolicited manuscripts or art.
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Letter from the Editor
Dear Reader, With a toddler running around and a busy job, I just can’t always find time to set aside for myself. Kind of ironic, isn’t it? One self-care ritual I make sure to never, ever skip is my evening bath. Whether its just a quick dip or a long soak complete with candles, bubbles and wine, I always take that time at the end of the day to unwind and reflect. That’s why this particular issue is so special to me. As you’ll learn when you read on, bath taking is an ancient practice that has many health benefits, but I think our ancient friends saw past that. They recognized how much of an effect that simply sitting in hot water can have on your soul. And that’s why we brought you this issue. I won’t lie, when the idea was first pitched to have a bath-centered issue, I was skeptical. I was worried that you, reader, might find it strange or off-putting. As we developed it, though, I realized just how simple, soothing, and helpful it could be. In the hecticness of life, while we might find the time to pop out to a yoga class, we rarely have slow down enough to just breathe. That’s what Pause, and this issue especially, is all about. So suds up and read on! Yours,
Anne Carter
Editor in Chief
Letter from the Editor
Image from pexels.com
Image from pixabay.com
Letters from our Readers
Feeling Inspired! “I loved this past issue of Pause! I’ve always wanted to try yoga, but for some reason never had. Reading about the benefits really inspired me to get moving. So far, I love it more than running, and its so much more fun than going to the gym! I’m even considering trying a class at a local studio, which I never would have done a year ago. I was surprised to discover that something so relaxing and meditative can also be such a hard workout! Thank you, Pause!”
Mary
from Florida
Fun for Couples “My favorite part of this issue was the ‘Easy Yoga for Couples’ article. I’ve been doing yoga for years and have always wanted to try a couples class, but thought my husband would never be interested. When I saw how simple the poses in this article were, I knew that it could be a good way to introduce my husband to the practice. To my surprise, he was hooked! After doing the routine in the article, he asked to attend a class with me, and we’ve been going weekly together ever since! With three young kids running around, this has been a great way to reconnect, just the two of us. Such a great article! ”
Amanda
from California
From The Yoga Issue Want to drop us a line? Send us an email that includes your name and state to readerresponses@pausemagazine.com.
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Shower versus Soak Originally published on bustle.com Written by JR Thorpe
From ancient Roman bathhouses to trendy spas, luxury baths have been sought out for centuries. Clearly, our toga-wearing friends were on to something, but exactly what health benefits does a good soak provide?
Image from unsplash.com
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Shower versus Soak
B
aths and bathing have been such a huge part of human health that there’s a bathing tradition on every conti-
nent; Scandinavians take plunges in cool water after
time in a sauna, while the Roman love for baths gave birth to huge
bathing complexes with under-floor heating and a range of tempera-
tures, some of which are still standing today. Nowadays, however, hot baths in one guise or another are largely prescribed for relaxation
and getting a bit of time for yourself. But does taking baths also have medicinal qualities?
Too-warm baths are actually not particularly good for you; they
put your body under what’s called heat stress, where your body’s internal temperature regulation is thrown and doesn’t have enough
opportunity to recalibrate (i.e. if you’ve got most of your skin
submerged in scalding water and it can’t cool down). Heat stress, according to Harvard Medical School, is actually a strain on the
heart, so ideally you should take slightly cooler baths or frequently pour cold water on yourself while you broil. (It’s why people
with heart disorders should stay away from hot tubs and saunas.)
Otherwise, baths’ medicinal benefits are focused on two areas: psychological relaxation, and targeting specific conditions. And here’s a myth busted: hot baths can’t help cure cancer. Heat is sometimes used as part of “hyperthermia” treatments to treat
cancer, in combination with radiotherapy and chemotherapy; but hyperthermia uses highly specialized heat treatment, like heating
up blood and re-injecting it or putting heated probes into tumours, rather than general immersion into water. Sorry, guys.
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Image from unsplash.com
An important side note: If you’re a sufferer of frequent UTIs, you
izing your skin, sloughing off dead cells, and attempting to remove
water, particularly if it’s got bubble bath or bath oils in it, has been
that a material that ideally shouldn’t go anywhere near human
might actually want to avoid baths. Excessive time spent in bath-
linked to increased rates of UTIs, even in young girls, because the exposure to bacteria from your rectum can end up entering
your urethra. Sad, but sometimes, no amount of health benefits is worth the pain. If that’s not you, then behold these six health benefits of taking baths.
1. Being Horizontal In Water Helps Your Mood This is actually not the most amazing revelation, but it may
potential causes of infection. And there’s new research to suggest skin might actually be a cure for inflammatory skin diseases in
baths: bleach. Researchers at Stanford found that baths in 0.005
percent bleach helped eczema sufferers both by killing the bacteria
on the skin and by dampening the immune system’s inflammation response, reducing pain and swelling. It’s not recommended if
you’re not suffering from serious dermatitis of some kind, though. (Also, be really, really careful if you ever try this at home.)
surprise you to know that it’s actually scientifically proven. In 2002
3. Bath Heat Can Help With Muscle Pain
usually at the end of the day, significantly improved the mood
actually your bath salts: depending on the type of bath you take,
a University of Wolverhampton study found that a daily bath,
The real culprit behind the relief of muscle pain in your bath isn’t
and optimism of the participants, which was attributed to a com-
it’s either heat or lactic acid. If you’re taking a hot bath, it’s sug-
bination of bodily comfort, warmth, isolation, and body position-
ing. It turns out that our bodies associate horizontal conditions with relaxation and vulnerability, particularly in the bath, which
possibly mimics the warm, liquid conditions of the womb. One
baby-bath manufacturer even makes baths that consciously
feel like the womb, to calm any unhappy little ex-occupants. Some scholars think that this particular positioning gives us a sensation of security.
2. Baths Can Help Relieve Skin Conditions If you suffer from psoriasis or another skin condition, you’ve likely been prescribed medicated or oiled baths as a method of moistur-
gested that the heat of the bath is providing the equivalent of a
“hot pack” that increases the temperature of the aching muscles, blocking pain sensors and producing pain relief. If you’re an
athlete, though, you’re more likely to throw yourself into a cold bath, which lowers the levels of lactic acid in the bloodstream. The
cold constricts blood vessels and drains lactic acid, which builds
up in the body during intense exercise, out of the affected muscles. Once you get out, new blood, free of acid build-up, replaces it, and your recovery time significantly improves.
4. Hot Baths Before Bed Produce Better Sleep A good night’s sleep is associated with a host of health benefits,
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Shower versus Soak
from immune system strength to better pain recovery, and a heated bath before bed is apparently a good way to ensure that you drift
off to the Land of Nod without too much difficulty. It’s a matter
of temperature adjustment and hormones. A drop in body temperature at night is one of the classic signals for the body to start
producing melatonin, the hormone that induces sleep. Our bodies get colder at night naturally: apparently the temperature dip starts
two hours before bed and lasts till about 4 a.m. Kick-starting that
downward shift by heating yourself up artificially is an old trick to get yourself to feel sleepy. Get out of a bath, cool yourself down for
a while, then slip into bed. Don’t massively overheat yourself, though, or you’ll find you’re actually revved up instead of chilled out.
5. Steam Helps To Reduce Cold Symptoms One of the warm bath’s better qualities is as a treatment for
symptoms is its function for winter cold-sufferers. We can’t make the common cold vanish, but getting yourself submerged in hot
water targets two different elements of cold-management: steam therapy and overall body temperature. The inhalation of steam is an excellent remedy for cold-induced misery. It clears out the
nasal passages while reducing inflammation, and a steamy bath is a great source of the stuff. And it’s recommended that you keep
yourself warm when you’re suffering from a virus: a 2011 study
showed that elevated body temperature actually helps certain
elements of your immune system to function more efficiently, helping you fight off infections and general nasties. A warm bath makes your immune system work better.
6. Salt Water Baths Calm Arthritic Pain If you’re a sufferer of chronic pain related to arthritis, fibromyalgia, or muscular low back issues, this one may actually be a godsend: using average table salt in your next bath can really help to reduce the amount of pain you get in your joints. The discovery, made
by scientists in 2012, shows that a saltwater bath takes a lot of the agony out of inflammation-based pain syndromes. The reason?
Salt reduces swelling in cells by dehydrating them, and acts as an inhibitor of the inflammation that causes such serious pain in suf-
ferers. Interestingly, salt baths are one of the most ancient on the planet, beloved by the ancient Greeks and made into a full-blown
industry in the 1700s in Europe. Clearly salt baths for pain relief have been a thing for thousands of years, but it’s only now that we’re understanding why.
Image from pexels.com
Image from stokpic.com
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Bath Product Guide Written by L. Rau Bath bombs? Bath salts? What’s the difference? What the heck is a bubble bar? We lay it all out for you.
B
ubble bath is the classic go-to bath product. The one you used nightly as a kid that you can still get away with as an adult. You more than likely already know what this one does: bubble bath creates a fluffy pile of bubbles that are just as fun to make a beard with as they are to soak in. (You know you’ve done it.) What you might not know is the different forms bubble bath can take. While it can come in the typical bottled gel form, brands like Lush have begun introducing solid bubble bars that froth when crumbled under running water, just like magic! Ever popular, bath bombs are fizzy balls of fun that put on a show when dropped into your bath. Baking soda and citric acid work together to create a colorful, scented explosion that is the epitome of relaxation. In addition to turning the water fun colors, bath bombs can also be filled can be filled with nourishing oils, dried flowers, or even glitter for extra oomph.
The original bath add-in, bath salts can often serve more purpose than adding a pleasing scent. In particular, Epsom salts are designed not only for relaxation, but for pain relief. Soaking in a bath with Epsom salts is a centuries-old, inexpensive remedy for sore muscles, arthritis, bruises, and even insomnia. Of course, these aren’t the only things you can add to your bath. Other popular bath add-ins include: flower petals, teas, essential oils, powdered milks, oatmeal, baking soda, honey, and even Jello! However, if some of those aren’t quite your style, you can always stick to the “big three” listed above. Now that you know a little more about various bath ingredients and add-ins, turn the page to discover a few of our favorites!
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Bath Product Guide
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1. Me!Bath Bath Bombs in Lavender Lullaby These are inexpensive and perfectly sized. Made with the soothing scent of Lavender, they’re a relaxing treat. Available at Target.
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2. The Comforter Bubble Bar Crumble this bar under running water for oodles of fruity smelling bubbles. Oh, and it turns the water pink! Available at Lush.
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3. Dr. Teal’s Epsom Salts in Relax & Relief Dr. Teal’s epsom salts are scented with essential oils for added relaxation. These use Eucalyptus and Spearmint essential oils to refresh and cleanse. Available at Walmart.
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4. Rose Buds and Petals Rose buds carry a familiar, pleasing aroma, and these multi-use ones are no different. They can be used in sachets, potpourri, or rosewater in addition to the bath. Add a handful to your favorite bath salts or sprinkle a few directly in the water to enjoy a soak that not only smells wonderful, but looks beautiful too. Available from elementsbathandbody.com.
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5. Golden Wonder Bath Bomb As seen on this issue’s cover, this fantastical present-shaped bomb leaves the bathwater a surprising turquoise color. It also smells of citrus to invigorate your senses and your mood. Still not convinced? It releases golden glitter as it fizzes for the ultimate bath time party. It is on the pricier side, but it’s worth it for all this fun! Available at Lush.
Rose bud image from pixabay.com
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DIY Bath Bombs Originally published on abeautifulmess.com Article and photos by Emma Chapman
In a bowl combine the dry ingredients. Whisk to remove any clumps, corn starch tends to
Makes two large size or 3-4 Easter Egg size depending on your mold.
Ingredients 4 oz. baking soda 2 oz. corn starch 2 oz. citric acid 2 oz. Epsom salt 1 to 1½ teaspoons water 1 teaspoon essential oil 1¼ teaspoon oil 1-2 drops food coloring (optional)
be clumpy. In a small glass jar stir together the wet ingredients. If you’re using coconut oil, give it a quick melt in the microwave or stove top first so it will more easily combine with
the other ingredients. Slowly pour the liquid mixture in with the dry mixture, whisking
as you go. If you see the mixture fizz or foam, you may be adding the liquid too quickly. Once all the wet ingredients are combined with the dry, take a small amount in your hand and squeeze it together. It should stick together fairly well in one or two big chunks. If it’s still too powdery to hold together, just add a tiny bit more water and mix until it does hold together.
Then fill each half of your bath bomb mold (mine are from Amazon) with the mixture
until it’s just overflowing a little. Press together, then gently remove one side of the mold. Place the bath bomb on a tray and allow to dry out just a little (10-12 minutes) before removing the other side. Once you are ready to remove the other side, gently invert the bath bomb so the uncovered side is facing down, then gently remove the other half of
the mold from the top. The key word, if you haven’t noticed, is gently. These can fall apart on you very easily if you’re not careful. If a bath bomb does crack in half while you’re
removing it, you can gently press it back on top of the other half, or remove all the mixture back to the mixing bowl and start the molding process again.
Once they are completely out of the mold, allow them to dry out for 8 hours or overnight. Once very dry, you can wrap them in plastic wrap and store in a dry place until you’re ready to use them, or you can gift them to friends.
You can add dried flower buds, like lavender buds, to these pretty easily. Just remember to
use food grade dried flowers to avoid flowers that might have been grown with pesticides as you don’t want to soak in a bath with that. No thanks! Do keep in mind that after using a bath bomb with dried petals, you will have to remove these from your tub. So if that bothers you, then leave the buds out.
These turned out to be a lot of fun to make, and they are even more fun to use! I highly
recommend giving them a try, or you could make a batch to give away to friends or family. Enjoy!
xo, Emma
Keep an eye out for
The Beach Issue
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the relaxation magazine
Summer 2017 THE BEACH ISSUE Image from pexels.com
Coming to newsstands May 2017