Travel The World From Your Shower With These Global Body Care Traditions

By Geeta Rao 

 
There’s one universal truth that we can all agree on – there's nothing better than a nice, long bath after a week full of chasing deadlines at work or cramming for your next exam. 

Before you go grab your favourite tropical-scented body wash, take a look at these bathing rituals from around the world for some inspiration on how you can easily upgrade yours.  

From icy cold Nordic winter baths to fiery Bhutanese hot stone baths, from steaming Turkish hamams to Ayurvedic medicated oil baths, these bathing rituals are as old as the hills and stem from a universal quest for wellness. 
 
 

Swedish Kallbad 

If you want a real endorphin high do like the Swedes and dive into an ice-cold Swedish lake in the dead of winter. Ice bathing literally shocks your system into recharge and rejuvenation mode - perfect for when you’ve had a long week, isn’t it? 

TRY IT AT HOME: For this Swedish experience, think ‘Ice Bucket Challenge’ on a milder scale. Pour a mug of iced water over yourself after a hot shower. Your skin will thank you. 
 

Ayurvedic abhyanga 

In a classic ayurvedic abhyanga ritual, two masseurs work on the left and right side of your body in perfect unison using medicated oils to keep your skin supple and toned, while the healing properties of the oils are absorbed. 

TRY IT AT HOME: We know you love a good massage, so why not use a simple sesame oil and do it on yourself? Massage from your feet up, in the direction of your heart. Wait an hour, then wash off with an ubtan or natural cleanser. Don’t moisturise or use anything else on your skin that day. 
 

Japanese Onsen 

Bathing in healing waters from mineral and sulphur-rich hot springs or onsen dates back at least three thousand years in Japan. Onsen baths are often set in pristine natural surroundings near the hot springs. If there is one thing you need to know about this bathing ritual, it is etiquette, etiquette, etiquette. You have to be fully bathed before stepping onto one, no swimming suits are allowed and your towel must never touch the tub water. 
 
TRY IT AT HOME: Thankfully, you can bend the rules a little and skip the bath before the actual one at home. It is possible to buy Japanese bath salts online, or you can also add a handful of magnesium or Epsom salts to piping hot bath water and dry off with natural bamboo onsen towels. 
  

Icelandic geothermal baths 

On a freezing cold day, what could be better than meeting up with friends at a volcanically heated pool? That’s traditional Icelandic bathing for you and it dates back to the Vikings. Geo-thermal baths are one of the country’s hottest tourist attractions - literally. One of the famous ones in the southwest of the country, The Blue Lagoon is built on a lava field, and there are hundreds of older volcanic spas all over the country. 

TRY IT AT HOME: You may not be able to make the trip, but you can bring the same healing powers with skincare using silica mud and green algae from the geothermal lakes to your bathroom shelf until then! 
 
 

Turkish hamams 

Hamams were formally established and given royal approval by the Ottomans way back in the 15th century though they existed in some form earlier. The full hamam experience is lengthy: a vigorous massage, scrubbing and exfoliation, bathing, steaming and moisturising designed to draw out all the accumulated toxins on your skin. 

TRY IT AT HOME: Keep a natural loofah or kesse glove for exfoliation Turkish style and a traditional olive oil soap to get the hamam feeling at home. 

Bhutanese Dotsho 

Hot stone baths or dotsho, an essential part of wellbeing, are based on Tibetan medicine. You can see these hot tubs across the country. Heated river stones are added continuously to menchu, bath water infused with khempa or artemisia leaves. When the stones hit the water, they release minerals while the heat makes the leaves release their essential oils. This combination works on physical ailments and also on mental relaxation. 
 

TRY IT AT HOME: Of course, Dotsho is best had in Bhutan. But if you want to make a quick mental trip there, you can find dried khempa leaves for your water and relax to the sound of a singing Buddhist bowl to transport yourself.