Give Yourself a Bouquet

by Cheng-Ling Chen — December 24, 2007

Need some time to decompress with everything that's going on this week? Sneak away and treat yourself to a bouquet bath. Pick herbs and flowers from your garden or gather some from the grocery store. A good bundle could include:

• Lavender, for calming those frayed nerves
• Chamomile, which provides sedative effects
• A sprig or two of something uplifting, like geranium, basil, or eucalyptus
• Something else that delights your senses, like a fragrant lily or a dark red rose

Tie your bouquet with a ribbon or string. To release the aromatic oils, gently tear the flower petals and rub the herbs between your fingers. Prepare your bath by tying the bouquet upside down under the faucet to let the water flow through it. You might also like to sprinkle bits of herbs or a few flower petals into the bath.

As you dip yourself into the water, let the natural scents envelop you. Close your eyes and do a scan of your body. Notice where you are holding on to tension. Breathe into these areas and see if you can release the tightness. Lengthen your neck, relax your arms, and sink your spine further into the bath. Wriggle your toes and feel the warm water infiltrate those tiny spaces between your toes. Use this moment to reconnect with your body and center yourself. Let any anxieties wash off of you and float to the surface of the water. Take a deep inhale, and as you exhale, let everything go with a big sigh.