Bathing:
-The immersion of the body into a fluid, usually water
Forms:
- Mud bath provides mineral rich waters for the skin
- The Sauna also known as a sweat bath invigorates internal bodily functions much like exercising
- Hot water bathes to release toxins and decrease muscle tension
- Cold water bathes to prevent swelling by constricting blood vessels
- Social pools (self explanatory)
- Spiritual bathing usually involves special herbs or other additives for cleansing the mind, body, and soul.
Example of a Mayan spiritual bathing practice:
-The Mayan spiritual bath requires one to gather four to nine leaves or flowers of their favorite plants and crush them up in a bucket of water. During the process of gathering and mixing into the bucket one is required to say small prayers to ensure the plant spirit of your intentions. After which, the bucket of water is washed in light for a few hours to allow all the oils to settle into the water. Finally the water is applied by pouring small amounts of the herbal fluid to the body. Once finished one should meditate and/or recognize the absence of negative energies.
- The Mayans referred this bath to anyone with a blockage in their chu' ulel (soul force). Mayan shamans believed that this bath would help revitalize the electro-magnetic field that surrounds our bodies and promotes the mind/body/soul.
The Human Electro-Magnetic Field:
As most know the earth along with every living organism have a magnetic field. Every magnetic field has a positive and negative polarity. On a cellular level different chemical reactions within the body release charged particles. These charged particles create an electric field and due to the movement of these charged particles they create a magnetic field. Recent scientists have concluded that positive magnetic fields can create stress and disrupt metabolic functions within the body. Negative magnetic field have a beneficial effect on body by activating the hormone known as melatonin. Melatonin is an anti infectious, anitaging, stress reducing hormone. Sometimes negative magnetic fields can greatly increase the rate broken bones are healed along with other physical or emotional medical problems.
