XXVI. The Yogi Bath
It should not be necessary to devote a chapter of this book to the
importance of bathing. But even in this, the
twentieth, century a great mass of the people understand practically
nothing about this subject. In the large
cities the easy access to the bathtub has, in a measure, educated the
people up to at least a partial use of water on the outer surface of the body,
but in the country, and even in many homes
in the cities, bathing is not given
the place it should occupy in the daily life of the people. And so we think it well to call the attention of our readers to the subject and
explain to them why the Yogis set so
much store upon a clean body.
In
the state of nature man did not need the frequent use of
the bath, for, his body being uncovered, the rains beat upon him, and the
bushes and trees brushed against his skin, keeping it free from
the gathered-up waste matter which the skin is continuously throwing off. And, then, the primitive man, like the animals,
always had streams handy, and
followed his natural instinct, which
impelled him to take a plunge once in a while. But the use of clothing has changed all this, and man to-day, although his skin is still at work
throwing off waste matter, is unable to get rid of the waste in the old way, and instead he allows it to pile up on
his skin and consequently suffers
physical discomfort and disease. A
body may be very dirty indeed and still look clean to the naked eye. A
peep at the garbage piles on its surface
through a strong glass would shock many of you.
Bathing has been practiced by all races of men mak ing
any pretense of culture and civilization. In fact, it may be said that the use of the bath is a
measuring- rod by which the culture of a nation
may be determined. The greater the use of the bath, the greater the
amount of
culture, and the fewer the baths, the less culture. The
ancient people carried the use of the bath to a ridiculous extent, departing from the
natural methods
and running to such extremes as perfumed baths, etc.
The Greeks and Romans made the use of the bath a requisite of decent living, and many of the ancient people were far ahead of modern races in
this respect. The Japanese people to-day lead the
world in the
recognition of the importance of the bath and in its faithful practice. The poorest Japanese would rather
go without his meal than without his bath. One may go into a crowd in a Japanese city even on a
warm day
and fail to notice even the slightest unpleasant odor. Would that as much could be said of a
crowd in Amer ica or Europe? With many races
bathing was, and is to-day, a matter of religious duty,
the priests recog nizing the importance of bathing, and knowing that it could be best impressed upon the masses
in this way, having incorporated it among their
religious rites. The Yogis, while not regarding it as a
religious rite, nevertheless practice bathing just as if it were.
Let us see just why
people should bathe. Very few of us really understand the matter and think it
is merely to get rid of the dust and visible dirt which has accumulated upon our skin. But there is more than this to it, important as mere cleanliness is. Let
us see just why the skin needs to be cleansed.
We have explained to you, in another chapter, the Importance of a normal perspiration and
how, if the pores of the skin become clogged or closed, the
body is unable
to get rid of its waste products. And how does
it get rid of them? By the skin, breath and the kidneys. Many persons
overwork their kidneys by making them do
both their own work and that of the skin
as well, for nature will make one organ do double work rather than to leave its work undone. Each
pore is the end of a little canal
called a sweat-tube, which extends
way down into the surface of the body. There are about 3,000 of these
little canals to each square inch of our skin. They are continually exuding a moisture called perspiration, or sweat, which
moisture is really a fluid secreted
from the blood and laden with the
impurities and waste-matter of the system. You will remember that the body is constantly tearing down
tissue and replacing it with new
matter, and it must get rid of its
waste just as a family must get rid of its waste sweepings and garbage.
And the skin is one of the means by which the waste is removed. This waste, if
allowed to remain in the system, acts as a
breeding place and food for bacteria,
germs, etc., and that is why nature is so anxious to get rid of it. The skin
also exudes an oily fluid which is
used to keep the skin soft and flexible.
The skin itself is
constantly undergoing great changes in its
structure, just as is any other part of the body. The outer skin, often called
the scarf-skin, is composed of
cells, which are short-lived, and are constantly being sloughed off and replaced by younger cells forcing their way up from beneath the old ones.'
These wornout and discarded cells
form a coating of waste matter on the surface of the skin, if they are
not brushed of! or washed off. Of course quite a number of them are rubbed off by the clothing, but a
considerable quantity remain, and the
bath or a wash is needed to get rid of them.
In our chapter on
the use of water as an irrigator for the internal man, we told you of the
importance of keeping the pores open, and
how soon a man would die if his pores
were sealed, as shown by experiments and
occurrences in the past. And this accumulation of wornout cells, oil, perspiration, etc., will at
least partially seal up the pores unless the body is kept clean. And then, again, this filth on the surface of the
skin is an invitation for stray germs and bacteria to take up their abode there and thrive. Are you extending
this invitation to your friends, the germs? We are not speaking of dirt obtained from the outside world
now- we know that you would not carry that around with you-but have you ever thought of this waste
matter from your own system, which is just as much dirt as the other, and sometimes occasions worse results ?
Everyone should
wash off his body at least once a day. We do not mean that a bath-tub is
necessary (although a tub is, of course, a
great convenience), but a good wash-off is requisite. Those who have not
a bath tub can get just as good results by
taking a towel and a basin and
passing the wet towel over the entire body,
rinsing the towel after the first rub, and then going over the body the
second time.
The most desirable
time for a wash-off or a bath is in the
early morning, immediately after arising. The evening bath is also a good
thing. Never bathe immediately before, or immediately after a meal.
Give the body a good rubbing with a rough
cloth, which will act to
loosen up the dead skin, and which will also stimulate
the circulation. Never take a cold bath when the body is
cold. Exercise yourself a little until you warm up some, before taking a
cold bath. In taking a plunge bath, always wet the head before getting the body
under water-then wet the chest, and then plunge in.
A favorite Yogi practice after taking a cold bath, or a cool one, is to rub the body vigorously with the hands, instead of using a
towel, and then getting into dry clothes
with the body still covered with moisture. Instead of this making one
feel cold, as some might imagine, it
produces just the opposite effect, for a feeling of warmth is experienced immediately after the clothing is on, which is increased by a gentle
exercise, which the Yogis always
take immediately after the bath. This
exercise is not violent, and is discontinued as soon as one feels himself
in a gentle glow all over the body.
The
favorite Yogi bath, or wash-off, is in cool (not cold) water. They wash
themselves vigorously all over, with the
hands, or a cloth, followed by a hand-rubbing,
practicing the Yogi deep breathing during the wash and the
rubbing. They take this immediately after
arising, and follow it with a mild exercise as we have stated. In very cold weather they do not
plunge into the water, but apply it
with a cloth, followed by the hand-rubbing.
A wonderful reaction follows the application
of cool water, applied as we have stated, and the body soon manifests a
magnetic glow after the clothing is placed on one after the bath. The
result of these Yogi baths if practiced for awhile is that the person will become vigorous and "hardy," their
flesh becoming strong, firm and compact, and a "cold"
becoming almost
unknown to them. The person practicing it becomes like a strong, hardy
tree, able to face all kinds of weather and seasons.
Right here, let us caution our readers against adopting
a too cold bath at the start. Don't do this, particularly if you are of impaired
vitality. Try water at a pleasant temperature at first, and then work down toward a little cooler, gradually. You will soon
strike a degree of temperature that
is most pleasing to you- stick to that But do not punish yourselves. This morning cool wash-down should be a thing of pleasure
to you, not a punishment or a penance. When you have once caught the
"knack" of it, you would never think of giving it up. It makes you
feel good all day long. You feel a little
cool as the wet cloth is applied to the body, but this is followed in a moment or so by a most delightful
reaction and a feeling of warmth. In case you
take a cool bath in the tub, instead of a wash-down, do not stay in the tub more than one minute, and
use your hands vigorously the whole time that you are in the water.
If you take these morning washes, you will not need many warm baths, although an occasional "soaking" will
do you good, and you will feel better for it. Give yourself a good rubbing
down, and put on the clothing over a dry skin (in the case of a warm bath).
Persons doing much walking, or standing, will find that
a foot bath at night just before retiring, will prove most
restful, and conducive to a good night's sleep.
Now don't forget
this chapter as soon as you have read it,
but try the plan it advocates, and see how much better you will feel.
After trying it for awhile, you will not think of giving it up.
THE YOGI MORNING
WASH-DOWN.
The following may give you some ideas regarding the
way to get the best results from the morning wash-down.
It is very invigorating and strengthening, and will make
one feel the beneficial effect all the day.
It begins with a little exercise which causes the blood to circulate and
the Prana to be distributed all over the body, after the night's rest,
and renders the body in the best condition in which to take the cool wash-down
or bath.
Preliminary Exercise, (1) Stand erect in a military attitude,
head up, eyes front, shoulders back, hands at sides. (2) Raise the body slowly on toes, inhaling a deep breath, steadily and slowly. (3) Retain the
breath for a few seconds,
maintaining the same position.
(4)
Sink slowly to the first
position, at the same time exhaling the breath
through the nostrils, slowly.
(5)
Practice Cleansing Breath. (6)
Repeat several times, varying by using right
leg alone, then left leg alone.
Then
take the bath or wash-down, as described on the
preceding pages. If you prefer the wash-down, fi11 the
basin with cool water (not too cool, but just a pleasant
stimulating temperature which will bring on the
reaction). Take a rough cloth or towel and soak it in
the water, and then wring about half the water out of it. Beginning with the chest and shoulders, then the back, then the abdomen, then the thighs and then the lower
legs and feet, rub the body all over vigorously. Wring the water out of the towel
several times in going over the body, in order that the
entire body shall receive fresh cool water upon
it. Pause a second or so several
times during the wash-down, and take a couple of long deep breaths. Do not be
in too much of a rush, but go about it calmly. At first few times the cool water may cause you to shrink a little, but you
will soon get used to it, and will learn to like it. Do not make the mistake of commencing with too cool water, but
rather work down the temperature by
degrees. If you prefer the tub to the wash-down, half fill the tub with water of the proper temperature, and kneel in it
while you do the rubbing, then
plunge the whole body under the water
for a moment, and then get out at once.
Following cither the wash-down or the tubbing, one should
rub the hands vigorously over the body several times.
There is something in the human hands which cannot be
duplicated by a cloth or towel. Try it for yourself. Leave a little moisture on
the surface of the skin, and then get into your underclothes at once, and you
will be surprised at the peculiar glow which will come over you. Instead of the
water making you feel chilly you will experience a
peculiar feeling of warmth on all parts of the body covered by the clothing,
under which
a little moisture has been left on the skin. In case of either wash-down or tubbing, follow the wash or bath with the following exercise, after the
underclothing has been put on:
Concluding
Exercise. (1) Stand erect; stretch out arms straight in front of you, on the level
of the shoulders, with fists clenched and
touching each other; swing back the
fists until the arms stand out straight, sideways, from the shoulders
(or still a little farther back if they will
go there easily without forcing), this stretches the upper part of the
chest; repeat several times and then rest a moment. (2) Resume the clostag position of 1, the arms straight out, sideways, from the
shoulders; the arms still extending from the sides, on a
level with the shoulders, swing the fists around in circles,
from the front to the back-then reverse, and swing from the back to the
front-then vary it by rotating them alternately, like the
arms of a windmill; repeat several times. (3) Stand erect, raise the hands over the head; hands open, and thumbs touching;
then without bending the knees try
to touch the floor with the tips of
the fingers-if you are unable to do this, do the best you can; return to
first position. (4) Raise yourself on the
balls of your feet, or your toe-joints, several times, with sort of a springy motion. (5) Standing,
place your feet about two feet apart, then sink slowly to a squatting position, for a moment, then resume original position. Repeat several times. (6)
Repeat No. 1, several times. (7) Finish with the Cleansing Breath.
This exercise is not nearly as complicated as it appears
at first reading. It is really a combination of five exercises, all of which
are very simple and easily performed. Study and practice each
section of the exercise, before you take the bath, and master each
part thoroughly. Then it will run like clock-work, and will take but a few
moments to perform it, It is very invigorating, calling into play the entire body,
and will make you feel like a new man, or woman, if you take it
just
after the bath or wash-down.
The
wash-down of the upper part of the body in the morning,
gives a strength and vitality through the day, while a
wash-down of the body from the waist down (including the feet) at night,
rests one for the night's slumber, and is very refreshing.
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