I think I might really be into bath houses. No...really.
Ask yourself what the worst part of traveling is? Is it the stress of packing and lugging your belongings around with you? How about the miles you walk in your effort to see everything? Your back and arms are sore, not to mention your swollen, blistered feet. Depending on where you stay, you may have the luxury of a swimming pool to cool off in, but chances are the resident children found that pool long before you and are camped out in their self-proclaimed splash zone. Involuntary Marco/Polo participation aside, it's sometimes hard to relax your body (and mind) during a vacation.
Prior to a recent trip to Newport, RI, my friend Hannah discovered The Bodhi Spa. The spa, categorized as a "Hydrotherapy Day Spa,"offers a mix of traditional massage and facial services; however, their distinctive feature is the Water Journey room. The Water Journey included a rotation of different pools and steams:
Therapeutic 104˚ Epsom Salt Pool
Mineral Rich 98˚ Dead Sea Salt Pool
Stimulating 55˚ Cold Plunge Pool
Aromatherapy Steam Room
Detoxifying Infrared Sauna
Traditional Finnish Dry Sauna
According to The Bodhi Spa, "the action of heat: dilates blood vessels, causing more blood to circulate near the surface of your skin. This action bathes cells in oxygen-rich blood and allows a small amount of toxins to be released through the skin. The action of cold: constricts your capillaries, and shunts the blood to the core. It is here that the majority of toxins are removed as the blood filters through the internal organs. The blood is then replenished with fresh oxygen and pumped back to the rest of the body to begin the ongoing cycle. The process of stimulating the circulatory system with hot and cold, detoxifies and bathes your cells in fresh oxygen-rich blood; bringing youthfulness to your mind and body" (Water Journey).
After a long day of walking, The Water Journey was an opportune time to relax, float, and stretch out my sore legs and feet. This, paired with a fantastic hot stone massage, was one of the highlights of the trip to New England.
The older I get, the more I value self-care. I try to regularly get massages and find times where I can shut off the buzzing devices and screens. My grandfather said that one of the hardest things to learn in life is how to relax, and I don't disagree. Sometimes you have to cut some time out of a busy schedule, even a busy vacation schedule, to unwind.
I'm currently planning a trip to NYC, and the thermal baths at AIRE Ancient Baths look very appealing. "In the midst of the bustle and fast-paced rhythm of downtown, right at the heart of TriBeCa, there is an oasis of tranquility exclusively designed to balance mind and body. Located at a restored historical building, originally an 1883 textile factory, the AIRE experience consists of an unforgettable journey through sensations across the various baths with water at different temperatures that will transport you to the ancient times of the Roman, Greek and Ottoman tradition" (AIRE).
AIRE's Ancient Thermal Bath looks especially appealing, and similar to The Water Journey I enjoyed so much at The Bodhi Spa. "Lose yourself in a journey of sensations in a restored historic building surrounded by candles, an experience that consists of a tour at your own pace through baths at different temperatures: the Caldarium (Hot Bath 102ºF), the Frigidarium (Cold Bath 57ºF and Ice Bath 50ºF), the Tepidarium (Warm Bath 97ºF), the Balneum (the One Thousand Jets baths) and the Laconicum (Steam Room with aromatherapy) and reach a state of total physical and mental escape in the Flotarium (Salt Water Bath) as well as the salt exfoliation area. Live a unique experience of total relaxation for the body and the mind through the pleasures of water in a magical atmosphere" (Ancient Thermal Bath).
If I end up going, I'll update this post with details about my experience.
Namaste,
AB
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