Close your eyes and picture this—you are descending into a bath, your muscles unfurling at the amalgamation of heat and steam. The faint aroma of fragrant rose and jasmine petals waft up with the slightest of movements. Now, you are tilting your head back to luxuriate in a rich, decadent concoction comprising heated milk, honey and essential oils.
Such a lavish elixir is thought to have been the daily ritual of the legendary Egyptian queen, Cleopatra. Aside from being a dreamworthy private indulgence, her fabled baths in sour donkey’s milk are said to be a natural source of lactic acid, which is known to promote a rejuvenated complexion. Centuries on, the benefits of bathing remain strikingly multifaceted. From beautifying to health remedies, the diversity of practices found worldwide are proof of this oft-neglected tradition’s ability to nourish and uplift.
A ritual of the first water
These days, thoughts of cleansing and purification have become synonymous with showers. After all, the dwindling popularity of baths has been attested to by several studies over recent years; a shift that coincides with our increasingly fast-paced lifestyles. The TikTok-driven ‘everything shower’ trend, for example, advocates and touts the romanticism behind a long and product-laden shower regimen.
Yet wisdom on bathing rituals has pervaded throughout the centuries across many cultures, including within Asia.
“According to Ayurveda, bathing is part of our daily routine or dinarcharya,” Singapore-based Ayurvedic practitioner, Candice Goh, says of the ancient Indian medicine system. “It’s an important step to optimise health by eliminating our accumulated wastes, both physical and mental.”
Long before private bathtubs were introduced in the home, bathing existed as a communal practice. In the late 19th century, public bathhouses could be found at Ellenborough Market, Canton Street and Clyde Terrace in Singapore. To this day, a collective bathing experience can still be found in numerous destinations worldwide, from the now-trendy Korean jjimjilbang to the ornately mosaic-tiled hammams of Turkey and Morocco. Each harnesses its own unique benefits based on long-standing cultural beliefs.
In Indonesia, sacred bathing customs epitomise bathing as a spiritual practice. The intricate marble bathhouses of Taman Sari, an 18th-century royal garden complex in Java, are an idyllic representation. So too is the familiar motif of the Balinese flower bath.
“Flowers are an important means of worship to Balinese Hindus and are believed to have the power to cleanse negativities,” explains Karen Chelsea, content strategist at Ubud’s The Udaya Resorts & Spa, of their deeper meaning.
To restore and reclaim
Perhaps the most prevailing of ancient bathing rituals is the famed onsen of Japan. The country is home to over 27,000 of these naturally occurring baths, which are rich in minerals such as magnesium and calcium.
“Japan has understood the healing power of thermal bathing since the sixth century, when it initially grew from Buddhist cleansing rituals,” states Takao Kadota, general manager of luxury onsen resort Amanemu. Overlooking the verdant islands of Ago Bay, the resort is situated in the lushly forested hills of Ise-Shima, where guests can bathe in tranquillity under the skies.
Beyond the unique mineral properties of onsen, Kadota points to their naturally warm temperatures as a crucial benefit. “Being immersed in warm water improves circulation, promoting oxygen flow and enhancing detoxification. Mentally, it induces relaxation by lowering our cortisol levels and releasing endorphins, elevating our overall mood and creating a sense of well-being.”
The powerful hemodynamic effects of bathing in warm water are indeed proven and appear to be unique to a bath’s full immersion. A 2018 Japanese study published in the Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine journal found regular submersion in warm water to yield significant benefits for reducing stress, fatigue and pain alongside improving skin condition.
“Bathing rituals encourage mindfulness, allowing you to slow down and reconnect with yourself,” explains Sheryl Wan, director of St. Regis Spa in Singapore. On its luxe menu, the spa hones in on the rejuvenating powers of bathing through numerous treatments including its deeply exfoliating Black Soap and Rassoul Hammam Ritual.
While it is likely not feasible for most of us to be luxuriating in a lavish bath every day, it is worth slowing down just long enough to do so whenever time affords. Amid the hectic schedules of our modern world and palpable pressure to constantly be self-optimising, switching off to soak presents a compelling balm for the body and soul.
“Both physically and mentally, bathing promotes our body’s natural ability to restore balance,” Kadota illuminates. “A quiet, tranquil environment enhances this mental respite, offering a break from daily stressors.”
And as Goh points out, it is ultimately all about taking care of yourself. “Being fully immersed in this action of self-care helps to satisfy the mind,” she clarifies with a smile. “And of course, it makes bathing even more joyful and intentional.”
This story originally appeared in Vogue Singapore’s November ‘Nurture’ issue, available online.
