Relaxation Techniques - The Bubble Bath

Stress plays a big part in fertility. People who are under extreme stress generally have a lower chance of conceiving than people who are more chill. So, I've got to learn to do as the Jamaicans do and chill out.

I've decided to try a few different techniques for relaxing, and destressing. Then, as I go through them, I'll review the different ways on my blog, and how effective they were for relaxing me.

Today's technique? A real classic...

The Bubble Bath

Time:
Preparation - About 5 minutes
Execution - 20-30 minutes

Preparation:
- found the iPod speakers and set my tunes to "chill." Played an assortment of Chinese zen flute music, put to nature sounds in the background.
- ran the water almost too hot to bear. (Not a good thing to do if one is actively trying to conceive, as you never know when you've achieved your goal, and piping hot water is never good for a pregnant lady.)
- poured in some pomegranate bubble bath, made sure there were heaps of bubbles.
- arranged tealights along the rim of the bathtub, and lit them. Then turned out the bathroom lights and shut the door.

Things I liked:
- The music really relaxed me, because I have a tendency to think too much when I'm idle, whereas when there's music playing, it distracts my mind from wandering too far. (Except maybe to the exotic shores of Asia...)
- The warmth of the water was exceptional, especially in the middle of winter. It really helped to relax my muscles. And the feel of the bubbles and water on my skin was very soothing.
- The candlelight was definitely the right choice, since the fluorescent lights in our bathroom definitely emit negative energy, especially if you're laying on your back, looking right up at them.

Things I didn't like:
- If I were to do this on a regular basis, I would strive for a larger bath tub. The size of the tub was not conducive to being completely covered in water, so I really had to roll around a lot to stay warm, as the exposed parts of me got cold very quickly.
- Not very relaxing for the neck muscles, because of the harshness of the back wall of the bath tub. If I were to try it again, I would find something to support my neck properly, like a bath pillow of a pile of towels if I had to.
- As enjoyable and fun as the bubbles were, the sound of them fizzling and popping was a little bit distracting from the relaxing music, but not too much. It's a distraction that's worth the trade off.
- The pomegranate smell was delightful, very fruity and girly, but possibly not the most relaxing scent I could have chosen. Next time I'd go for something aimed at relaxation, instead of just fun. Like a lavender or freesia scent.

Relaxation Effectiveness:
4 out of 5