Everything you need to know about bathing

Everything you need to know about bathing

Not everyone in the world takes a bath as a way of cleaning their body. There are people who used to take a shower instead of bathing because it is what they were used of doing. And that is fine but if you got introduced to taking a bath, there are things you should know. Bathing is more relaxing since you just have to soak yourself in to your bath water with a few of your favorite essential oils and maybe a sprinkle of your bath salt. And maybe drink a glass of wine while you listen to your favorite playlist? That would give you the maximum relaxation you need; but, there a few unknown facts about taking a bath. This post will give you just that. Here is a list of facts about taking a bath:

  • Roman baths were originally built exclusively for the poor. When you think of Roman baths, you probably envision the elite of society lounging around huge bodies of water. And while this was how things ended up, it was not how they began. The very first of Rome’s 900+ public baths were actually built for the poorest people to use, while the rich folks would have baths at home. Over time, however, the leisurely bathing pastime became a hallmark of Roman society in general – and bridged the gap between rich and poor just a little bit.
  • In Pompeii, hot water was piped in to public bath houses.
  • Being clean was not such a priority in the “civilized” world. In fact it has only been the last 100 years or so that people in the U.S. started bathing more than once a week, if that much. Some say the reason a lot of marriages take place in June is because most people take their bath in May. That meant they were clean when June comes around.
  • A bath actually uses less water than a shower. It is a commonly held belief that baths are something of a ‘water-hog’, with showering frequently cited as being more water-efficient. The reality is actually quite the opposite. A standard power shower in a home will use up to 136 litres of water per use. A regular bath, on the other hand, will use just 80 litres of water: that adds up to quite a saving over the period of a few years, we can tell you!
  • One reason people didn’t bathe much in the old days was that it required water, something that was not always easy to come by. Rich people had more access to a hot bath than the peasants, so bathing was somewhat of a rich guy’s luxury. In many parts of the world, it still is. The students can launch into a study of the world’s water crisis and think about how people waste a precious commodity just to take a bath.
  • The concept of displacement was discovered in the bath. Ancient Greek mathematician Archimedes was partial to the odd soak in the bath, and it is a good thing too! It was during one of his dips in the bath that he conceived of the idea of displacement – a concept that is now taught across the globe and found in every science book. Isn’t it amazing what kicking back in the bath can do?
  • Group bathing is popular in many parts of the world. For instance, in Turkey, they have hamams. This is where people not only bathe, they relax and socialize. Women celebrate weddings and births at a hamam. In Japan, a sento or onsen is sacred ground that is part of friendship and family bonds. While most Japanese houses now have their own bathrooms, onsens are still popular places to go. Finnish people use a sauna to heal and cleanse the body and usually share the space with a group.
  • For years, “cryotherapy” has been one of the favored ways for athletes to recuperate after train and game day. The theory is that is helps muscles recovery and inflammation by driving blood away from the cold outer layers of the body, and deeper into the muscle tissue, getting flush away debris and rush in the elements needed for reparations.
These are a few unknown facts about taking a bath. Hope this post made you learn something.
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