When we were little, someone else ran the bath.
The warm water they sloshed over us soothed us and helped us relax, and we didn’t have to earn it. The same is true now that we’re grown. A good soak rejuvenates, relaxes, and settles the body like very little else. Yet many of us have lost the habit.
In this guide, I share the healing benefits of hot springs and warm soaks, a simple bath ritual you can do at home, tips for visiting natural hot springs in the cooler months, and a few of my favorite Southwest soaks.
How I Found My Way to Hot Water
Some of the homes I’ve lived in as an adult didn’t have a bathtub, so I started looking for hot springs. Living in the West, I found plenty. Natural hot springs are my favorite way to soak, and many carry dissolved minerals that make the experience feel all the more restorative. I hope you’ve soaked in a natural spring or two.
When I cross-country skied, I made a point of ending the day in a hot spring if one was nearby. After an hour of soaking, my muscles rarely ached the next day. When I skipped the soak after a hard workout, I usually felt it. It’s a small ritual that has served me well, and it’s easy to bring into the colder months.
Bathing Is an Ancient Practice
People have gone to the water for comfort and restoration for thousands of years. Across civilizations, from Roman baths to Japanese onsen to Indigenous communities who have honored hot springs for generations, communal and therapeutic bathing has long been woven into daily life, often recorded alongside the great events of the day.
There’s wisdom in that. In a world that rarely asks us to slow down, soaking invites us to stop, breathe, and simply be in our bodies.
The Healing Benefits of a Warm Soak
Warm water relaxes tight muscles, eases tension, and can help you wind down for sleep. A soak in the evening, followed by a cooling-off period, is a gentle way to signal to your body that the day is done. None of this is magic. It’s the simple, steady kind of care that we tend to forget.
A Therapeutic Bath Ritual at Home
When I lived in Ojo Feliz, New Mexico, a hot spring wasn’t always within reach, so I learned to make my own. The approach comes from the work of Dr. Hazel Parcells, a nutritionist and healer. You can read more about her in Healer, The Pioneer Nutritionist and Prophet by Joseph Dispenza. These are baths I take for comfort and relaxation, and I’m sharing my own experience, not offering medical advice.
Salt and baking soda soak: Dissolve one pound of sea salt or rock salt and one pound of baking soda into a tub of comfortably hot water. Soak until the water cools.
Baking soda soak: Dissolve two pounds of baking soda into a tub of comfortably hot water. Soak until the water cools.
Dr. Parcells suggested using one formula per evening and not mixing them. I’ve followed this practice for some time, and I’ve noticed my skin feels softer and I sleep more deeply. When my gums feel irritated, I find a soak helps me feel better. That’s my experience, and yours may differ.
A few cautions: keep the water comfortably hot, not as hot as you can bear, and get out if you feel dizzy or lightheaded. If you’re pregnant or have a heart condition, high blood pressure, or another health concern, check with your doctor before taking long, hot soaks.
Soaking in Natural Hot Springs This Season
Cold air and warm water make a wonderful pair. A few things I’ve learned over the years:
- Check conditions before you go. Roads, access, hours, fees, and reservations can change, so confirm with the springs directly or the managing agency.
- Mind the temperature. Natural springs vary widely. Test the water first, and take breaks to cool off.
- Keep soaks short. Fifteen to twenty minutes at a time is plenty for most people.
- Hydrate. Bring water and drink it before and after.
- Plan your exit. Bring a warm robe, dry layers, and a hat. The walk back to the car is the chilly part.
- Leave no trace. Pack out what you pack in, and respect the land and the communities who steward it.
Two Southwest Soaks I Love for the Cooler Months
Montezuma Hot Springs, New Mexico. Just outside Las Vegas, New Mexico, a handful of stone-lined mineral pools waits beside Gallinas Creek. I love pairing a quiet bicycle ride along Highway 65 with a long, warm soak. Read the full story →
Joyful Journey Hot Springs, Colorado. At the northern gateway of the San Luis Valley, three mineral pools look out over the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. A crisp morning, the hottest pool, and a hot stone massage afterward: “toddy for the body.” Read the full story →
Saving one for spring: If you’re up for an adventure when the weather warms, Verde Canyon’s hot mineral springs in northern Arizona are worth the rough road and the chilly river crossing. The best months to visit are May through October.
Planning your own soak? My downloadable guides to Southwest outdoor adventures and hot springs locations are on Gumroad. Browse the guides →
Remembering What We Already Know
Bathing for relaxation, rejuvenation, and comfort is one of the oldest forms of self-care we have. These aren’t secrets. They’re things we’ve known for centuries and set aside along the way. Maybe this season is the one to pick them back up.
Till next time!
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