For every new day, nutritionists and exercise gurus can suggest several things for your health: eating a hearty, balanced breakfast and doing stretches, cardio exercises and strengthening routines. But what about your soul?

Early morning must be a treat not only to the person’s ‘corpus’ but also to his ‘anima’ (call it inner self or soul). The Chinese usually go to the park or in their gardens to do tai-chi, which relaxes both body and mind. But you can do something simpler than that right inside your own home.

While it’s fine to meditate during your leisure time, it’s even better to start your day meditating. Having a fresh mind for another day of work and keeping yourself attuned to life’s essentials will keep the negativity at bay. Thus, you are better able to handle stress after several hours at work or school.

You may meditate right before, during, or after you take your shower. Nature and mankind are generally still, restful and peaceful at daybreak. Your mind is freshest at this moment, like a new canvas or a blank piece of paper waiting for the day’s masterpiece.

Before your daily grind begins, think clearly about the things that matter and immunize your thoughts and feelings from the excesses of your desires. Take a warm shower. Let the soothing heat and calming flow of water ease your mind. Let your worries come later; for a couple of minutes, free yourself from them.

Hindus call the hour before sunrise ‘Brahma muhurta’ (hour of ‘god’). Even devout Muslims, Christians and followers of other religions find morning prayers indispensable to their faith. Whatever your beliefs, the important thing is that you give yourself enough time to think positively about life before you step into life’s realities.

Morning shower meditation may sound odd if you consider what meditation usually requires: peace, concentration and calming environment to help you go smoothly through the process. How could you ever meditate when you are ‘disturbed’ by the water?

The proponents of this type of meditation believe that all of the worries, tensions, problems and any sort of bad thoughts retained in the mind can be washed away figuratively and even mystically by the flowing water. Such a notion somehow creates a great relevance of the natural healing and calming effects of water. Indeed, water’s characteristic as a ‘universal solvent’ extends beyond the laws of physics.

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Long time ago, the water is considered a perfect source of life-giving energy. Travelers kneel down before the creek or any stream they would come across and help themselves with the cool and healing wonders of the water. And many young people bathe on the flowing water because of the thought that it has a great connection to the Divine.

Such belief observed by many cultures from different parts of the world continues to live on. That is why, most of the ‘health-and-beauty’ establishments like salons, and spas are promoting the same theme to all types of weary people. Add to that, the majority of us are deeply engaged with these bathing rituals to give ourselves the best time to exude the beauties we are hiding within.

That’s actually what we know: that bathing rituals are only good for bringing out the beauty of each person, but there is more than that. And that is to feel back the weary spirit and energy once lost in the course of acting on each of our responsibilities.

So what are these bathing rituals that are believes to restore lost energies and vigor?

Unlike your customary way of bathing under the shower or soaking yourself in bubble bath, you can make it healthier and more relaxing if you infuse the soothing wonders of the aromatic oils, and the detoxifying effects of salt.

These oils, which are usually extracted from different plants, are proven best cures for ailments. Once inhaled, these stimulate the olfactory nerves that reset the emotions such as anger and anxiety. And apart from that, these are also great pain relievers when absorbed by the body.

The use of the flower petals too has the great effects when added to your bath. Cleopatra, the famous Egyptian queen, had her bathing made more rejuvenating with the help of the rose petals. This is due to the aphrodisiac qualities of the fragrance brought about by this universally known flower. But aside from arousing your sexual energy, the rose scent is also known for uplifting your spirit, and also giving you firmer, younger-looking skin.

Aside from rose, there are even more therapeutic aromas that you could incorporate in your baths. These are lavender, hibiscus, cadres, citrus, tangerine, orange, mint and pines. Each of these has a distinct effect in cleansing, purifying, warming, and invigorating your body.

Peppermint and spearmint, on the other hand, have cooling and revitalizing benefits that make it the popular choice among some Olympic athletes before they engage in their different events.

The aromas given out by these different herbs and flowers play an essential part in making your bath a restorative ritual. This is because our sense of smell is powerful enough in treating the ill thoughts that our mind harbors.

But you can also associate the colors, such as the ‘Japanese five elements,’ which deal on the choice of colors of the auspicious flowers. These colors are white for air, blue or violet for water, red for fire, yellow for earth, and deep reds for the energy of the woods.

Whatever your bathing ritual includes, what matters is that you should feel it’s the best way to indulge your senses and that you believe it works wonders.

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