The Unending Tradition Of Bathing
No matter which culture you look at, there is one thing which brings them together—the habit of bathing. The styles and frequency it is indulged in may vary, but almost every culture in the world throughout the ages has placed some importance on bathing, either as a way of keeping clean or as a ritual, and in some cases, both.
Why is this? One of the most obvious reasons is that of keeping clean, but it goes beyond that. There’s something about immersing oneself in water which has some connotations of the spiritual. Perhaps it’s the supporting force of the water that gives us a feeling of being in the grip of some higher power, or of somehow being closer to nature. It’s no coincidence that many of the world’s religions, and the ceremonies that go with them, use water, and especially bathing some way.
Everywhere across the globe and throughout history, bathing has been used in preparation for taking part in religious ceremonies. In modern times, bathing, using the cleansing power of water, is still used to prepare the body for important occasions of all types. Taking a bath in the evening after returning from work is a way of marking that one part of the day—the working part—is now over, and another part—the leisure part—has begun.
Pure relaxation
But it isn’t only for preparation that bathing is used. The actual time of bathing itself is one of relaxation, of calm, and a time to get your thoughts in order. For some people the bathroom is seen as the place in the house where they can really relax. That’s why the design of the bathroom is so important—a design that engenders a feeling of calm and contemplation is one that is often aimed at in order to give that perfect bathing experience.
One of the first steps in designing a bathroom is to choose a bathtub which gives that feeling of calm and relaxation. Today there are hundreds of models of bathtub to choose from, and each has their own style—and imparts a certain flavor to the overall design of the bathroom. But whether you go for the ultra-modern sunken tub with built-in Jacuzzi or the traditional claw foot tub made for soaking, the bathroom remains a special place. Times have changed, but the importance of bathing across all cultures remains—and with it the importance of choosing the right bathtub and getting the design of the bathroom right.
Peter Lipton writes for http://www.bathtubchoice.com, a website packed with bathtub articles and resources on corner bathtubs
Tags: bathtubs, claw foot bathtubs, Jacuzzi
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