From the Roman baths of centuries past to Japanese Onsens and modern Jaccuzis, bathing traditions weave through history. As showers became our default way to get clean, baths retained their ambience of relaxation, the best way to wind down and soothe your body after a long day.
The health benefits of a hot bath
Baths are more than just pampering. They’re a core part of a healthy lifestyle. Harvard Medical School says that warm baths induce “including better blood flow, a higher heart rate, and stronger heart contractions,” effects similar to those from exercise.
“Hot baths can be good for your health, opening your blood vessels to relax your muscles and joints,” writes Liz Langley in The Washington Post “They can increase your heart rate as much as moderate aerobic exercise. They can give you a better night’s rest. Hot water helps draw body heat to your skin’s surface, cooling your core temperature, which signals to your body it’s time to sleep.”
The bath is “the last place you visit before you go to bed, and you have to relax,” says Kohler director of marketing Betsy Froelich. “It has to be calming, it has to make it easy for you to unwind at the end of the day.”
Baths as a criteria in where to stay
“A resort is probably the one place where you’ll actually fill and use this beautiful bathtub.” Leila Adul Rahim, hospitality design director
Yet in modern homes, from studio condos and starter homes to entry-level hotels, baths are increasingly scarce, replaced by walk-in showers as a cost and space saving measure. That leaves baths as a luxury for vacations. As hospitality design director Leila Abdul Rahim says, “A resort is probably the one place where you’ll actually fill and use this beautiful bathtub.”
That makes bathtubs increasingly something to build your trip around. You might not choose to go to Bali specifically for a tub—but you might pick your hotel based on its amenities including in-room jaccuzis. “Luxury hotels, boutique hotels and resort hotels are holding on to their tubs,” says Chekitan Dev, Singapore tourism distinguished professor at Cornell University. For those of us who appreciate a long soak in an oversized tub, an elevated bath experience is a key factor in selecting their stay. "I will choose one hotel over another over that,” as a luxury travel forum members recently expressed.
Making the most of your baths on vacation
A bath alone isn't enough. Once you've found a resort with a tub that will be the highlight of your stay, you'll want to make your bath time as relaxing and elevated as possible with an aromatherapy spa bath. More than just a bubble bath, YRS aromatherapy spa baths are formulated with coconut foam to nourish and soothe your skin, while helping you unwind with natural essential oil aromatherapy. That's how you turn a bath into a memorable way to unwind, destress, and prepare your body and mind for a deep night's sleep.