When I was training as a yoga teacher, I heard about a case. A woman had heard somewhere that we must drink lots of water, so she drank religiously, all day. Soon, she had to be hospitalized. Why? Because all the water she drank washed out the essential salts and minerals from her body and it affected her nervous system. That’s when I realized that most of us actually don’t know much about water.
Since then, I have learned as much as I could about the correct way to use water, and now I am sharing it with all of you.
When used mindfully in its different forms—drinking water, bathing water, ice, and steam—it can transform not just your skin, but your energy, mood, and overall health.
Here’s how to optimize water in all its forms for glowing skin, faster recovery, and daily rejuvenation.
Drink Water the Right Way
We all know we should drink more water, but how we drink it matters just as much as how much we drink.
How Much Water Should You Drink?
There is actually no hard and fast rule on how much water we should be consuming, but when I visited one of the best pathological testing labs in India, they had put up some information on this subject.
You can use this approximate formula to calculate your ideal daily intake:
For every 20Kgs of body weight = 1 Liter of water/day
So if you weigh 60 kg, aim for around minimum of 3 liters per day.
However, this is just an approximate guide. You can always adjust your water intake depending on your needs and the weather.
When to Drink?:
Morning: Start your day with warm water (with few drops of lemon juice) to flush out toxins.
Before meals: Drink 30 mins before meals to aid digestion.
Avoid during meals: It can dilute digestive enzymes.
Sip through the day: don’t chug—this improves absorption at the cellular level.
- Reduce intake at night: Drinking too much water at night can cause puffiness in the morning and frequent nightly visits to the washroom, causing disturbance in sleep. If you must have water, try having hot water.
- Avoid Plastic Bottles: Plastic bottles contain extremely large amounts of microplastics which can be endocrine disruptors and can cause inflammation. Always use steel, copper, brass, glass or ceramic instead. Always drink filtered water.
Boost Hydration with Electrolyte Water
Once a day, especially in hot weather or after sweating, sip on electrolyte-rich water. Electrolytes help better absorption of water by the tissues.
Use 1 tsp of ORS/Electral powder a large glass of water.
Just a pinch of Himalayan salt (Buy Here)+ lemon juice can do the trick.
Hot vs Cold Water:
Hot water supports digestion, reduces bloating, and promotes detoxification. In cold weather, it will keep you warm and in warm weather, it will promote sweating, helping to cool the body.
Cold water can slow digestion and should be avoided at all costs.
Pro Tip: Use copper vessels for antibacterial and pH-balancing benefits. (Buy: Copper Bottle on Amazon, Buy Copper Glass on Amazon)
Bathe Smart: Water Quality Affects Your Skin & Hair
Your shower water touches your body more than any skincare product—yet we often overlook it.
Hard vs Soft Water:
Hard water contains excess minerals that can cause dryness, dandruff, and skin irritation.
Install a shower filter or use a final rinse with apple cider vinegar to neutralize minerals. (Looking for a good water filter? Check this one out on Amazon: High Pressure Filtered Shower Head)
Best Bathing Practices:
In the morning, try bathing with cold water or start with warm and change to cold towards the end of the shower.
At night, a mildly warm shower helps to get better sleep.
Add Epsom salt (Buy Here) to your bath or foot bath in the evenings muscle recovery. Get your Foot Massage Machine on Amazon:
3. Ice for Glow & Energy
A beauty secret as old as time—cold therapy has amazing skin and health benefits.
Ice Water for the Face:
Dunk your face in a bowl of cold water or splash ice water 30 times on your face in the morning to:
De-puff
Tighten pores
Boost lymphatic drainage
Wake up your senses
Ice Baths or Cold Showers:
Perfect post-workout or for morning energy:
Reduce muscle inflammation
Improve circulation
Boost alertness and immunity
4. Steam & Sauna: The Healing Power of Heat
Where ice stimulates, steam soothes. Use steam and heat to detoxify and relax deeply.
Sauna or Steam Room Benefits:
Enhances blood flow
Promotes sweating (natural detox)
Eases sore muscles
Clears skin impurities
Don’t have access to a steam room? Do a DIY herbal facial steam at home with neem, tulsi, or chamomile. Steam for 5–7 minutes once a week.
Buy your very own home steam spa machine here:
Facial Steaming:
Loosens blackheads
Opens pores
Increases skincare product absorption
Note: Always follow steaming with toning (rose water or aloe vera mist).
Buy steam machine on Amazon:
Integrate Water into Your Daily Wellness Routine
Here’s a simple day plan you can follow:
| Time of Day | Water Ritual |
|---|---|
| Morning | Drink warm water on waking, ice water splash for face, cold shower |
| Daytime | Sip water every 30–45 mins, 1 glass electrolyte water, warm water 30 mins before meals |
| Evening | Herbal steam (1–2 times/week), warm bath or foot soak |
Consistency is key. Let water be your daily therapist—it heals silently and works deeply.
Water doesn’t just hydrate; it revives, heals, calms, and energizes. It literally is the elixir of life. Whether you sip it, bathe in it, freeze it, or steam with it—make water rituals a non-negotiable part of your self-care.
Above all else, let us respect water. Do not pollute it, do not throw garbage in water bodies and do not waste. It is a gift given to us and we must cherish it. Without it, there is no lif