that years ago, you could not have paid me to take a bath. That’s because I was ultra busy, showering was fast and easy, and I didn’t want to be stuck in a boring bathtub. Now I laugh at myself because I truly didn’t understand what I was missing, nor did I realize the incredible, almost unbelievable benefits of a nice long bath - when it's done the Alywillow way.

I'm going to share those secrets with you now…

Perhaps you've heard me talk about how showering and bathing opens your pores, allowing more things to enter your body. This can be harmful when using most products on the market laced with synthetic ingredients, but Alywillow products are made of pure plants with high levels of nutrients, so soaking in Alywillow products can have enormous beneficial effects on your entire body.

How did I learn this?

Over a decade ago, a small accident led to a bone in my back shattering into three pieces. The enormous pain and inflammation that follow caused numerous problems including chronic swelling with sometimes paralyzing effects. I was in and out of wheel chairs, had trouble keeping any job, and basically struggled with life and motherhood. Plus, my refusal of pharmaceutical pain medicine protected my internal organs from damage, but left me in a state of pain that was unbearable. It was my quest to be naturally pain free that eventually helped me create the Minty Relief products and once I experienced relief, I started sharing it with others... and that was the start of Alywillow.

Chronic pain, aching and sore?

Is your body often aching and sore after a long day or maybe you have chronic pain issues? If so, just add Minty Relief or Riverflow to your bathwater and let yourself soak. This is far more effective than salt baths or baking soda at reducing the inflammation causing pain.

Want to look younger? 

It was quite by accident that I realized I felt better and even looked younger after taking a bath with our anti-aging products (Sagerow, Warrior, Lavender Fields, Firefly, Dragonfly, Firefly, StarLight or StarNight.). Not only is my skin softer and more radiant, my entire body moves with more easy and it's really fun to look into the mirror the next morning... like, WOW! It turns out that our bathtubs are like anti-aging time-machine that can make us look and FEEL so much better! Try one of our anti-aging blends and you'll not only reduce the signs of aging, but also help your body function better so it actually works better!

Overwhelmed or Sad?

Sweet Magic and Butterfly can't fix your problems, but they do give your body what it needs to make more of the hormones that make you happy; which helps you think more clearly and make better choices. This can put you at the top of the world, able to see life from a different perspective, and more easily find solutions for the struggles that plague your life.

Cold or flu symptoms?

We've seen significant improvement in cold and flu symptoms when using Paradigm. You could rub it on from head to toe, but the easiest way to apply it to your entire body is in a warm bath. Just follow the instructions based on your weight. It’s great for newborns and adults and you'll get some much needed relief.

Suffering from eczema, insomnia, psoriasis, itchy skin, shingles, chickenpox, herpes, muscle cramping…?

I'll share below how to get fast help from those symptoms as well as some ways to calm your active mind so you can enjoy bath-time even more.

Which products are best? 

• Dry to normal skin and hair… use Level 4 moisturizers in your bath water.
• Normal to oily skin and hair…  use Level 3 moisturizers in your bath water.
• Skip the soap! Yes, Alywillow cleansers are pure and full of nutrients too, but leave them for your showers, sinks, and shaving. You don’t need them in the bathtub. The moisturizers are all you need here.

What about washing your hair?

Immerse yourself in the water and scrub your scalp. That's it! Just a gentle a scrub, for about 2 minutes. Your scalp will love the soft attention and your hair follicles will enjoy the moisturizing effect.

Which formula to use?

• Anti-aging - Sagerow, Warrior, Lavender Fields, Firefly, Dragonfly, Firefly, StarLight or StarNight.
• Achy and sore - use Minty Relief or Riverflow
• Feeling sick - use Paradigm 
• Feeling sad - Sweet Magic or Butterfly
• shingles/herpes outbreaks - use Warrior
• Itchy skin - Wildwood… but warm moist environments can be like a breeding ground for itchy conditions to spread, so a cool water bath is best. 
• Psoriasis- StarNight and StarLight
• Need better sleep? Lavender Fields
• Reduce muscle cramping: Sagerow

A few benefits of soaking in a bath…

• Cleans all areas of your body, even the hard to reach areas.
• Removes dead skin and hydrates your body.
• Wide dispersion of nutrients from the Alywillow products.
• Reduces levels and stress and anxiety.
• Oxygenates your blood for improved blood circulation and fresh oxygen delivered to all your organs, tissues, and cells.
• Can kill harmful bacteria and improve immunity.
• It also aids digestion. In fact, a recent independent study has shown that bathing may reduce sugar levels in the blood, which could help people who suffer from diabetes to manage their weight better.
• Increases serotonin, associated with happiness and well-being.
• Research has shown that cold water submergence can improve cell damage and decrease the risk of necrosis, reducing the risk and survival rate of some cancers.
• There is no quicker and more pleasant way to regulate your body temperature than through bathing. On a cold day, a hot bath can warm you up. But on a hot day, that cold bath will bring soothing relief.

Calming an active mind.

The number one reason people avoid a long bath is because they don't know how to calm their mind, and that voice never seems to stop. It reminds us of our shame, persecuting us repeatedly with the regrets of our past, creating anxieties of our unknown future, burdening us with the disappointments of life and enslaving us with the concepts of separation. It speaks of our loneliness, our unfulfilled desires, our injured pride, our fears, our griefs, and our humiliation. It doesn’t stop... always running circles, amplifying the energy of defeat in a cyclical pattern, a downward spiral and we feel helpless – unable to escape the nightmare. It doesn't stop because our society teaches us how to analyze, evaluate, think, and focus.... but we don't normally learn how to quiet the mind.

Let me share one of the simplest ways I have learned to calm the mind and stop the chaos. It's gratitude and appreciation. Try this simple method. While you're learning to enjoy your bath, practice gratitude with every thought. "Oh, look at my toe! I'm so grateful to have a toe. Well, actually, I have all 10. How lucky I am! And, they work so well, except sometimes this one hurts. I'll massage it more and let if know that I appreciate all that it does. Oh, look at my leg. I am so grateful to have this leg. Well, actually, I have 2 and I'm so grateful for all they do. Oh, look at my.... (you get the idea)... "  Keep using these words... I'm so grateful and I appreciate these things. They can change your reality.

Create a bathing ritual.

Once you learn the joys of bathing, you'll never go back!

• If you're suffering from something like psoriasis or the flu, then bathe in your bathtub once or twice a day, until you get the relief you need.
• If you're interested in keeping your body healthy, then bathing in your bathtub at least 1-2 a week is ideal.
• And by all means, shower on days you aren't bathing. That's the perfect time to use our bar or foaming cleansers.
• Use warm water or cool water, but not too hot, and always rinse your body afterwards to wash off the particles that fall from your skin.
• Don't have a tub? You may be surprised to find out that you can now order portable tubs that pack away when they aren’t in use. Unlike the centuries before us, regular bathing is no longer just a luxury. It is available to everyone. 

What about wasting water?

According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the typical shower head sprays about 2.5 gallons per minute. If your shower that lasts 20 minutes, about 50 gallons of water are used. Where a full bathtub normally uses 75 gallons of water, but you can soak for an hour or two and gain many health benefits. Don't pick too much on the bathwater. If you'd really like to save some water, maybe you'll consider switching to a vegetarian or vegan diet as it takes approximately 1,847 gallons of water to produce 1 pound of beef.

It's all good!

Evidence has shown that bathing in either cold or warm water, at home or in nature, can have many health benefits without adverse effects. If you have chronic urinary tract infections, use a plain water or a water/vinegar mix douche following any foreign objects entering your vagina, including bath water. It is advised that a health professional is consulted if preexisting health conditions or diseases are present before embarking on any form of hydrotherapy.