It’s no secret that stress levels are on the rise worldwide. In trying times like these, it’s important to make time to care for yourself. With self-care, you can be present in your current state of mind, and thus, better process your emotions.
Directing your attention to the here and now promotes stress relief, as it focuses and calms your mind of the negative thoughts and worries you may have. To achieve a more present state of mind, many have turned to mindfulness exercises through meditation, yoga, or saunas. But one of the most effective ways to quiet your mind and put yourself at ease is something that perhaps you haven’t considered before: an in-home steam shower.
Let’s go over a few tips for practicing mindfulness in your life, then some suggestions we have for making the most of your in-home steam shower!
What Is Mindfulness?
Mindfulness is the practice of being aware and in the present moment with yourself, your physical state, and your feelings, without being overwhelmed or reactive to outside surroundings. The purpose of mindfulness is to reduce stress, allow you to be more conscious of your actions, and promote focus throughout your day.
What Are the Benefits of Mindfulness?
Mindfulness isn’t just an exercise — research has shown that mindfulness is beneficial in treating clinically depressed patients. But everyone can benefit from mindfulness exercises. Additional benefits of mindfulness practices include:
- Better sleep
- Reduced stress levels
- Heightened focus
- Improved eating habits
- The ability to put stressful life events into perspective, so you can change the narrative and cope with them better
- Increased overall awareness during your daily life
Everyone finds their own benefits of daily mindfulness exercises, and your results may depend on your own needs and desires.
6 Ways to Practice Daily Mindfulness With Your In-home Steam Shower
You don’t need to go on a week-long meditation retreat to learn to practice mindfulness. There are options for mindfulness that you can incorporate into your daily routine, and with an in-home steam shower, those exercises can become even more life-changing.
The shower is a peaceful place to be with your thoughts. Steam showers come with added benefit of being a source of comfort that is more accessible than something like an in-home sauna or pool. Take advantage of your tranquil in-home steam shower to practice self-care and mental discipline with the following activities.
1. Breathing Exercises
Your oxygen intake can control your mental state, but most people only breathe shallowly into their chest, especially when they’re stressed out. Here are the steps to a common mindful breathing technique: 4-7-8:
- Sit in a calm, relaxed place where the air is fresh.
- Inhale for 4 seconds, hold the breath for 7 seconds, and then slowly exhale for 8 seconds.
- Repeat for 3 to 4 more breath cycles.
During the exercise, follow your breath as it fills your chest, ribs, and back, and presses downward into your abdomen. This will help you become aware of your breath and your physical body in general. Breathing exercises can be done from the comfort of your backyard, your office, or your room, but there is an added level of calm when you try this breathing exercise in your in-home steam shower.
2. Progressive Muscle Relaxation
Sometimes anxiety can manifest itself physically in your body, and progressive muscle relaxation is a great way to relieve that physical stress.
Progressive muscle relaxation involves focusing your mind on one muscle group at a time and slowly tensing and releasing those muscles. This practice not only helps you recognize where you hold tension in your body, but also helps you actively release it. This activity is fantastic for promoting physical control, and it’s especially recommended for people who tend to see their stress appear as physical sensations.
Hot water naturally relaxes the muscles, so the best time to do this exercise may be in your daily steam shower.
3. Listen to Music
Music has long been a source of relaxation, focus, and enjoyment. Mindfulness is about focusing on the present. Choosing a piece of music that you love, and focusing solely on the sound and lyrics, enables you to stay present in the moment and put yourself into a more relaxed mindset for the day.
You can find many opportunities to incorporate music into your day, from going for a walk to taking a shower. There are even custom shower systems that offer built-in audio accessories, which can add an entirely new element to your music listening experience.
4. Meditation
Meditation is the origin of mindfulness. Sitting with yourself is the ultimate exercise in mindfulness, and, fortunately, it can be done anywhere — even while enjoying your in-home steam shower. Using ThermaTouch, you can even play your favorite guided meditations while you focus and cleanse yourself in the steam.
5. Aromatherapy
Scents have always had a calming and focusing effect, whether it’s the smell of home or the smell of spring rain. Aromatherapy can help bring you to a peaceful place without distractions or worries.
Using scents as a form of therapy dates back to ancient times. Even the Romans recognized the soothing and energizing effects of scents like:
- Eucalyptus
- Jasmine
- Orange blossoms
- Rosemary
- Peppermint
Bringing aromatherapy into your in-home steam shower can take your mindfulness routine to a new level. The steam in your shower can slowly diffuse the oil into the air, creating an all-encompassing, relaxation paradise.
6. Chromatherapy
Just as aromatherapy uses scents, chromatherapy uses colors to create a mindful state. Chromatherapy bathes you in color to focus your mind on specific moods. If you enjoy washing in cool light or warming yourself in oranges and yellows, chromatherapy may be the perfect way to discover your most mindful state.
Build Your Ideal In-home Steam Shower
If you want to begin and end your day in a peaceful and satisfied mindset, you’ll need the best digital shower control for your in-home steam shower system. Thermasol’s custom shower systems offer the best shower accessories, steam kits, and chromatherapy and aromatherapy add-ons. ThermaSol’s digital temperature control shower systems offer complete control through a top-of-the-line digital shower panel that lets you customize your steam-shower experience.
Schedule an appointment today to learn how Thermasol can help you take control of your mindfulness routine.
