Bathing

by Lexi

“You smell gross. Go take a shower.”
When someone tells you this, they often mean it as an insult, but should you take it as one? This person is giving you the opportunity to immerse yourself in a wonderful experience that should not be taken for granted. This person obviously cares for you. Bathing, whether one does it in the tub or in the shower, is a sensual experience. It has its practical aspect, getting one clean; however, it also gives one the chance to relax, rejuvenate and to be alone to think. The healing powers of water go back to the time of Christ and many people today experience intense healing in showers or baths. All types of people, whether they are old or young, spiritual or secular, can be subjected to the awesome powers of bathing.

Since the begging of time, water has been thought of as very cleansing and as a means to a renewed and fresh start. In the Bible, Jesus used water to baptize his followers, washing them free of sin. Before Noah’s Arc, God flooded Earth as a way to wipe out the impurities and start again. Holy water, still used today is said to have healing powers. In metaphysics, water represents the unconscious; it shows us that reality is always changing. It is undeniable that water is cleansing to the human body and soul. Our souls urge us to be near water; they are more content and at ease when we stare at or are immersed in calm water. Our bodies urge us to drink water to satisfy a thirst or to flush out impurities inside us. Over half of the human body is water; we need water to cleanse our system and to keep us alive. This essential liquid, commonly used in the bath and shower is just one part of the bathing experience.

In the dead of winter, when you get home from a long day at school or a hard fought game, a hot shower or bath is often your first thought. What else could be better than rinsing all sweat and grime off your body, warming your muscles, and calming down your core?

Lying in a warm tub of pure, clean water is relaxing; however, lying in a tub full of steamy, soapy, sweet-smelling water is even more relaxing. The hot water immediately loosens your muscles, while the steam clears your nasal passage allowing the aromatic smell of your shampoo, conditioner, or body soaps to fill your nose and consume your mind. As you lean your head back, just enough to allow the water to cover your ears, your eyes close and you listen to the serene sound of nothing. No TV, no iPod, no brothers, nor sisters: nothing but silence presses against your ears. The world is blocked out and you are left alone with your thoughts, or lack there of. As you slowly pull your head back above the water, you are brought back to reality but that feeling of peace and serenity still remains close by.

The showering experience has the similar outcome of peace and relaxation. Stepping into a ceramic enclosure under a firm, hot stream of fresh water allows you to immediately let out the breath you have been holding all day and to let your problems wash away. As the water rushes off of your body, so do the results of a bad test, the people who made you mad, and the parent who will not stop nagging. You are getting rid of all the dirt and frustrations, sweat and grudges, grime and bad gossip; you are cleansing yourself of today and getting ready to embrace tomorrow. The soaps and shampoos allow your senses relief from the smelly, rigid, cold, and dreary world you faced that day. The smooth and slippery body soap smelling of fresh citrus sooths your skin. The thick shampoo smelling of kiwi and coconut softens your hair. Every part of your body and soul is left feeling renewed, clean, and ready to start a new day.

When I was younger, I would never want to get into a bath. I would argue against my parents and cry when I heard the bath water turn on. The shampoo might get in my eyes; a bath monster might come up from the drain; the water might get cold! However, all my genuine worries disappeared as soon as I was forcefully plunked into the tub. The warm water felt so good and as Mom massaged my head and played with my hair I could not stop laughing. I was as content as I could be in the warm water with no bulky diaper or uncomfortable overalls. As Barbie and I played in the bubbles, I realized there was no place I would rather be. I never wanted to leave.
I believe water is cleansing to body and soul; I believe warm, soapy water is therapeutic to people of all ages; I believe a person’s thoughts, feelings and outlooks on life can be changed within only a few minutes in a hot shower or bath; I believe in the healing powers of bathing.