Backyard Herbs Bath

Preparing an herb bath can be as simple as snipping sprigs from your backyard herb garden. The act of cutting in itself is a wonderful ritual to mindfully slow your pace and prepare for a relaxing experience.

Whether tying a bouquet to hang under the faucet or dropping stems atop the water, using whole stems creates a beautiful aesthetic and easy cleanup.

Lavender is always a familiar and welcome friend, but take time to experiment with new recipes as you would in the kitchen. Lemon balm, mint and rosemary are in abundance this time of year and great places to start! Try flowers too: jasmine, wild roses, even clover. The beauty and softness of the flowers are certainly not lost in the experience.

Lemon balm is unique in its ability to both stimulate and calm. Rosemary and mint also share a stimulating, refreshing effect. In this way, bathing may become a morning ritual to awaken or a midday transition to refocus attention from work to family.

Rustle the leaves to release their oils and allow them to steep as the tub fills. (Perhaps this gives time for dry brushing or abhyanga if you enjoy those practices.) If muscle recovery is needed, adding Epsom or magnesium salts is a nice touch.

Take plenty of full breaths while you soak, spending time with both extended inhales and exhales. Receive the benefits of ease with all your senses: scent of the herbs, weight, temperature, feel and sound of the water, and beauty and simplicity of sight.

Snip, breathe, rinse, repeat.

– Hope Parks, Blackberry Wellness Lifestyle Expert

P.S. One more little tip! I love to dry petals (peonies are a favorite) from bouquets my mom and aunt give me from their gardens and add the petals to some Epsom salts for a thoughtful gift.