Hi We all bathe! We have to bathe, right! So what?
Ayurveda, being the life science advises us regarding bath. That's pretty cool i feel. For a person who wants to know the best possible way of doing things, coming across the description of such teeny weeny issues was a pleasant surprise. What a simple activity like bath does to you, how to take a bath and the benefits of it might actually surprise you. Well, even brushing and pooping have been described... So, guys, our morning rituals are not just a part of human evolution!
Bath- snana as it is called has been described as a part of dinacharya,the everyday rituals of life. It follows abhyanga (oil massage), udvartana (dry massage) and vyayama ( exercise).
Acharya Charaka says that a bath is purificatory, not just to the body but to the mind and soul too. It rejuvenates you and acts as a tweaker of libido too. It's an aphrodisiac he says. A bath not only removes dirt, but also helps remove tiredness (imagine tiredness just getting washed off!). It also helps to bring back the strength that the body loses everyday. Acharya vaghbatta further adds to it by saying that it's an appetizer. It helps Kindle the digestive fire and in total helps to correct doshas. Ultimately a bath is called the best booster of ojus-the essence of the body!
Ayurveda, being the life science advises us regarding bath. That's pretty cool i feel. For a person who wants to know the best possible way of doing things, coming across the description of such teeny weeny issues was a pleasant surprise. What a simple activity like bath does to you, how to take a bath and the benefits of it might actually surprise you. Well, even brushing and pooping have been described... So, guys, our morning rituals are not just a part of human evolution!
Bath- snana as it is called has been described as a part of dinacharya,the everyday rituals of life. It follows abhyanga (oil massage), udvartana (dry massage) and vyayama ( exercise).
Acharya Charaka says that a bath is purificatory, not just to the body but to the mind and soul too. It rejuvenates you and acts as a tweaker of libido too. It's an aphrodisiac he says. A bath not only removes dirt, but also helps remove tiredness (imagine tiredness just getting washed off!). It also helps to bring back the strength that the body loses everyday. Acharya vaghbatta further adds to it by saying that it's an appetizer. It helps Kindle the digestive fire and in total helps to correct doshas. Ultimately a bath is called the best booster of ojus-the essence of the body!
>How to take a bath :
#In private or at public places, it's as u like it : but it's said that u must not be naked. So, at least a towel is essential. The social practice during their age encouraged bathing at sacred places and public spots like lakes which might have led to this idea. Once I heard a Muslim friend of mine say that in their culture, it's mandatory to cover ur body with a white cloth during bath. The intention is that, if at all something happens during the bath, I guess she was referring to an earthquake or some mishap which could cause death or something that would require you to run, it would be definitely better to have yourself covered. Well, am not sure of the fact but i felt it's right. Maybe u could have the cloth nearby if not on you while bathing.
#In private or at public places, it's as u like it : but it's said that u must not be naked. So, at least a towel is essential. The social practice during their age encouraged bathing at sacred places and public spots like lakes which might have led to this idea. Once I heard a Muslim friend of mine say that in their culture, it's mandatory to cover ur body with a white cloth during bath. The intention is that, if at all something happens during the bath, I guess she was referring to an earthquake or some mishap which could cause death or something that would require you to run, it would be definitely better to have yourself covered. Well, am not sure of the fact but i felt it's right. Maybe u could have the cloth nearby if not on you while bathing.
#Next is about the timing, a bath is best taken at morning times with the start of the day. After proper oil massage with a medicated ayurvedic preparation like Dhanwantaram tailam or kuzhambu or just plain til oil(sesame oil) the dry powder massage is advised to cleanse away a little bit of the oil and also dirt . Not to be forgotten, there's the exercising... And then bath. So, just washing yourself is not the aim. The abhyanga, udvartana and then exercise will cause the body to become well lubricated and flexible. After all that, a bath would be 100% relaxing, right... :-)
Well, Has to be!
Well, Has to be!
#contrary to the very popular notion about usage of hot water for regular bath, ayurveda actually suggests that water used should neither be too hot nor too cold. It must be adjusted to our requirement. And we must be sure that hot water is not poured over the head. It would harm your eyes and hair. It's tough to alter the temperature while in a shower, but if the water is lukewarm, then can serve both purposes. Water if too hot can cause the blood pressure levels to drop causing events of fainting. It's pretty easy to guess that fainting while in a bath might even be life threatening . Very cold water (ice cold water baths may benefit athletes) if used regularly can lead chronic to respiratory ailments. Both can be used therapeutically though. The temperature is therefore not standard, but decided according to the person's Prakriti(constitution) and vikriti (disease / doshic status).
A study on hydrotherapy for those interested!
A study on hydrotherapy for those interested!
# washing hair everyday might not be easy but applying oil to the head is considered a part of dinacharya, so washing must be essential too. The water used for the uttamanga (parts above the shoulder) shouldn't be too cold either as it can a variety of vataja disorders.
So, bath is not just a simple chore neither a jaccuzi luxury nor a leisure activity, it's a life protecting and soul refreshing ritual, something that your body needs from you. So, next time we take a bath, let's be sure we are doing it the right way.
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment