There’s a new health trend that has been sweeping through bathtubs across Japan since last fall: half-body bathing. Really, all it consists of is filling your bathtub up half-way with hot water, then only soaking your legs and hips for 20-30 minutes. Apparently, it’s supposed to raise your core temperature more than a normal bath, allowing more stress release, detoxing, and pore opening, plus is said to jumpstart your metabolism and blood circulation.
A lot of people have been taking their half-body baths to the next level by trying crazy new versions of half-body bathing. Others have even been utilizing their free upper-bodies to test out their revving metabolisms. Prepare yourself to see things you never expected to see in a bathtub!
One would think that half-body bathing is pretty straight-forward, however some people find the concept difficult to grasp, asking, “Which half of my body do I soak? The right? The left?” So, just to be sure that we’re all on the same page, this what it should look like:
▼ There’s no harm in straightening your legs out if you have a longer tub though.
Not everyone executed the half-body bath the same way and some people have managed pretty incredible body positions!
▼ When asking about half-body baths, this girl got an odd pictorial description from her friend (notice the bleeding mouth).
最近知り合いの生主さんが半身浴始めたらしくどんな感じで半身浴してるか絵で説明してもらったけどさ。
— 苺めす豚【ル】 (@xoxo1080) August 3, 2013
いや、まぁ半身浴っちゃ半身浴だが
なんか間違えてる気がするのゎ
うちだけだろうか?
しかも、口から血でてるしww pic.twitter.com/WvbnQ7o0nt
▼ Hm… technically that’s “half-body,” right?
半身浴なう(`・x・´) http://t.co/lmahIxW07q
— エアル@あくまで紳士 (@eal_niconico) August 28, 2013
▼ There’s no way that this position would allow you to de-stress!
半身浴ガチ勢 pic.twitter.com/1quIoHvwcO
— 2代目ふたろう (@ftar0) February 23, 2015
▼ This guy’s combining half-body baths and water conservation.
https://twitter.com/koutimaru/status/523415160925327360
▼ This is pretty impressive, if not dangerous.
https://twitter.com/__wadai_now_/status/583259476964192256
▼ No, the caption doesn’t really help you understand what’s going on here. She says, “I have an audition tomorrow, so I’m taking a half-body bath with a sauna suit on.”
https://twitter.com/w_3103mana/status/583461137020125184
Now, those people who manage to do normal half-body baths have been finding themselves with free upper-bodies and hands. It’s known that some people take their cell phones into the bath to entertain themselves (which just sounds dangerous to us), but sometimes that’s not quite enough to complete the relaxation experience. Plus, they say that staying hydrated while bathing is even better for you…
▼ Starbucks’ Frappucinos count as hydration, right?
▼ Apparently so, because everyone’s drinking them.
やっと念願の半身浴しながらスタバ~♪至福すぎたね pic.twitter.com/W3TTHciWqg
— Moeko (@gaga0509) March 15, 2014
▼ At least this person is trying to be healthy by having “drinkable granola” while bathing.
長風呂半身浴飲むグラ pic.twitter.com/7t2N7VfNq9
— おんぷ (@daon4649) January 23, 2015
▼ Probiotic milk drinks are really good, but maybe they’re not the best while soaking…
https://twitter.com/zu_mi_8/status/402390124169658368
Since the half-body bath is supposed to detox and boost your metabolism, some people have been getting hungry while in the tub, so they’ve started taking snacks with them.
▼ The good things about apples, if you drop them in the water, you won’t make a mess.
食べても食べても腹が減るので半身浴しながらリンゴを食う♪(´ε` ) pic.twitter.com/EElHsMVGc1
— te_tsu_law (@te_chu_law07) October 15, 2013
▼ Wouldn’t you like to take a bath seasoned with potato snack stick crumbs?
半身浴しながらじゃがりこ食べるのがマイブームって友達に言ったらこれ以上ないぐらいバカにされた... pic.twitter.com/lXFZ1zS2e1
— はっしー (@hassy_you) April 20, 2014
▼ Instant ramen in the bath tub? Is that crazy or genius?
https://twitter.com/siotamiya/status/484200870297350144
▼ We present the king of multi-tasking: warming his instant curry in the bath water.
半身浴なう。 pic.twitter.com/7747JLdWH4
— 小倉範彦(ウラニーノDrums) (@oguranorihiko) February 14, 2015
▼ This guy brought what he claims is the ideal half-body bath accompaniment, a jar of crushed ginger.
半身浴のお供・自分で買ったの(≧∇≦) http://t.co/Rr4wtNXOjW
— やじビエ@疫病退散 (@streakingpig) May 27, 2014
Some of these half-body bath snacks kind of make us think they’re reversing any health benefits they’re getting from the fad bathing technique, but if it’s working for them, so be it.
Half-body bathing isn’t the only way to de-stress in the tub, though. Japanese people have come up with all kinds of home bath remedies, so don’t worry if you want to stick to full-body soaks, because you have plenty of options!
Sources: Twitter via Naver Matome 1, 2
Images: Kirei Seinaka, TwitPic (@puikofu),
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