In many cultures around the world and throughout history, bathing has been a ritualistic act. A bath cleanses impurities and calms the spirit. Immersing oneself in water can feel exhilarating beyond belief. In the twenty-first century, we have the technology to make our bathing experiences transcendent every time. Here is my recipe to a bath that makes you feel rejuvenated, happy and healthy. 1. Squeaky Clean Utilities Toto, the manufacturer and not the cute little dog, makes quality baths with hygienic features built into every part of their valves and plumbing. The anti-return valve for instance keeps bath oils and impurities from building bacteria up in the jets. There is nothing so upsetting as spotting a ring of dirt on the inside of a jet, or feeling nervous that the basin isn'...

A steam bath is not the same thing as a sauna. Each has their ups and downs, but both are therapeutic and medicinal. The steam room is the one where the heat is carried on thick clouds of mist emitted from steam heads, and although it might feel more intense than a sauna at first, it is actually a little bit cooler. Your steam shower at home must be sealed in by vapor tight walls. Above the steam room on the far right is sealed off by a glass door.  The walls need to be made of materials like acrylic, tile or marble. Chesnut Beach is always a lovely choice. The steam rooms take only two to five minutes to heat up, just like a regular shower. Any time you have a cold, or you ache from overexertion, press the buttons on your wall control and your steam bath will clear yo...

Birds are beautiful in a garden, or just outside your windows. They can make lovely song, and they eat bugs who make less lovely sights and sounds. So it's worth a little effort to attract them to you, with bird feeders, bird baths, and bird houses. Bird Feeders Bird feeders are the best way to attract birds. After all, who doesn't love free food with great presentation and somewhere to sit while eating it? As long as the food and the dining area are a match to your likes, that is. Different birds prefer different food: seeds, millet, suet, and even corn or fruit. And they need enough variety to get their nutrients. If you have a particular kind of bird in mind, look up what they like to eat. Then think about whether you want an open or closed feeder-like any restaurant, open air provi...

I think that heat+water is possibly the best combination ever devised, excluding the summer in the deep south. Other than that, you name it - hot baths, hot showers, steam baths, saunas, hot springs - and I love it. I'm not alone, either. Most of the rest of the world has and uses public steam baths and saunas, often every day. Even throughout the history of this country, hot springs have been believed to have positive medicinal effects. Truth be told, heat+waters is a pretty magical combination for your health, which is why private steam baths and saunas are starting to become common even in our quick shower in the morning culture. But what do they do for you that's so great? Good For Your Heart Simple Temperature Controls From Steamist This is, really, the root of all the benefits ...