Turn Your Shower Into a Spa

When we think of pampering, a bath will most probably feature somewhere; there's nothing like a long soak in a hot bath to make you feel a million.  But a shower can be just as luxurious and relaxing, and even a relatively long shower can use less water than a bath.  So here are 3 easy ways to turn your shower into a spa:

1. Give yourself some Hydrotherapy.  If you have an adjustable shower head, set it to the most vigorous setting and give yourself a massage.  If the shower attachment is also detachable then you can focus the massage on different parts of your body.

2.  Get the Roman bath experience.  In a Roman bath house the routine was to get warm, get hot and then cool down.  (Before you start put a body scrub in an ice bath or in the fridge for a few hours.) Begin with the water on a warm setting, then turn up the heat.  Don't stand under the hot stream, but off to one side while the bathroom fills with steam. Then relax and enjoy for a few minutes - perch on the side of the bath or bring in a little stool.  To enhance the experience cover yourself all over in a cleansing clay mask or with olive oil (but take care to avoid slipping).  Then turn the temperature of the shower down so that it's just lukewarm and use your chilled body scrub to exfoliate for a really invigorating experience.

3.  Exercise your senses.  Place a bath bomb in the shower tray or bath not too close to the plug hole.  It should gradually dissolve, releasing its lovely aroma.  Or burn some incense or a scented candle while showering. Take deep breaths while concentrating on the feeling of the water against your skin to give your senses a workout.