Get Sleepy: Sleep meditation and stories - A Sleepy Day at the Roman Baths

Starting point is 00:00:00 Want to talk ETS with the people behind them? Join me, Etienne Jean-Cabouchard on the Upside Ticker Talk. We dive into what's moving markets with timely analysis, trends, and answers to ETF questions you've actually been thinking about. Hit play on the upside ticker talk and elevate your ETF investing IQ. Welcome to Get Sleepy, where we listen, we relax, and we get sleepy. I'm your host Thomas. Thanks so much for tuning in. Do make sure that you've hit subscribe or follow wherever you listen. That way, you should see us pop up on your feeds every time we release a new episode.

Starting point is 00:00:50 We really hope this show feels like a place you can return to every time you come to bed. One of the keys to improving sleep is to create a calm, relaxing and reliable routine that you can repeat night after night. Get Sleepy is designed to be the final piece of that puzzle. The more you listen, the more that our voices will become a trigger to your brain, that it's time to switch off from the day and get some rest. So, make sure you've hit subscribe or follow. and let me tell you what's coming up on the show tonight.

Starting point is 00:01:41 Shortly, we'll be travelling back in time almost 2,000 years. We're visiting the Roman Baths in what is now the city of Bath in England. Kayla wrote this lovely story for us, and I'll be reading it for you. Before we begin, tuck yourself into bed. and get nice and cozy. Take your time, adjusting anything you need to feel comfortable, to help relax our nervous systems before sleep. Let's take a few moments to focus on the breath,

Starting point is 00:02:40 inhale through the nose, and follow the sensation of the breath as it travels through the nostrils to the back. back of the throat and into the lungs. As you exhale, follow the feeling of the breath, moving back out through the body. Again, inhale following the breath, noticing how it feels as it passes through each stage. Then slowly exhale. any sensations as the air leaves your lungs. Continue to focus as you breathe in and out. Hopefully,

Starting point is 00:03:39 this makes it somewhat easier to feel relaxed in your cozy bed. Now it's almost time for our story. Thermal pools have a long history of promoting health and healing. And we hope this visit to the Roman baths will help you to rest well tonight. Close your eyes and imagine that you've travelled back in time to Roman Britain. This is where our story begins, walking down a wide, dusty road. The first thing you notice is the smell. It's sulfuric with a metallic tank that gets stronger with each step you take towards Aquisoulis. The waters of the Celtic goddess Sulis. The scent mixes with the earthy smell of horses and grass. As you wave to a fellow traveler trotting on. horseback. Next are the sounds, the rushing of the river as you cross the bridge. And then conversations in Greek, Latin, Aramaic and Celtic. People greet new and old friends and barter with the stallkeepers

Starting point is 00:05:59 at the markets, just outside the bathhouse. When you get close enough to the bathing complex. If you listen closely, a low gurgle of water can be heard. The sound comes from the natural springs that you've travelled so far to see, and which are now so near. The town of Aquisulus is surrounded by green hills, with limestone rocks jutting out from grassy peaks. It's this limestone, which, through over 2,000 years of rainfall and underground rivers, created the baths you'll be visiting today. But in town, it's the rivers and waterways that are most striking. The beautiful River Avon runs through Bath, providing fresh water for the surrounding areas.

Starting point is 00:07:19 and opening up trade routes across the aisle. While you've travelled here to visit the temple and spa, the scenic journey through the countryside has provided a peaceful and awe-inspiring start to the day. The market is busy with people who've travelled from out of town, restocking on food and other wares. Dust cakes your sandals and sandals and, feet as you wander through the stores. But it will soon be washed off by the warm, healing waters.

Starting point is 00:08:11 You stop at a fruit fender, admiring a basket of fresh apples, and purchase a few to take with you for the day. You make sure you keep a few coins to throw in the springs as an offering to the goddess of the baths. Sulis Minerva, who presides over the healing waters. Next, you look at a few other stores, seeing a carver chipping away at marble to make small statues of the gods, and a dye maker selling brightly coloured robes. But the tall buildings of the temple complex call to you. you leave the market and walk towards the high, narrow steps of the temple of Sulis Minerva.

Starting point is 00:09:23 Towering Corinthian columns mark the temple entrance. But perhaps the most striking feature of the temple is the Gorgon's head in the center of the stone pediment, held up by four fluted columns. What this image represents is up for interpretation. Even though the face looks male, it's possible that it's meant to represent the Gorgon Medusa. Medusa's head adorns the shield of Athena, or by her Roman name, Minerva. It's also possible that the image represents a Celtic water god. another protector of the sacred springs.

Starting point is 00:10:28 On the pediment, there are also merman, winged women, and an owl. Minerva's animal representation. It paints a beautiful picture of the mix of deities that reside here. Aquisulus is a place where cultures mixed together. Sulis was the Celtic goddess. who ruled over the baths when the Romans arrived. In her, they saw something of Minerva, so the two goddesses merged together. Now they have joint ownership of the baths. People come from all over the Roman Empire, from far-flung places in Britannia to Rome and Syria,

Starting point is 00:11:33 to worship at her temple and bathe in the healing waters. Normally, only priests are allowed to enter the inner temple and see the fantastic statue of Sulis Minerva. But you've arranged a special tour. You wait on the temple steps for your priest guide to meet you and show you the sacred places. inside. Soon, a smiling priest approaches, wearing a long white robe and a red sash around his waist. He welcomes you to the temple. Before going inside, the priest points out an interesting altar

Starting point is 00:12:39 in front of the building. A thick stone slab engraved with a quote, This is used for ceremonial purposes, but something about it is unique just to Aquis Sulis. The base of the altar reads to the goddess Sulis. Lucius Marcius Memo, Soothsayer, gave this as a gift. The priest explains that Lucius is a heruspects, A diviner who can read the future from the entrails of sacrificial animals. While this practice is common in the Roman Empire and the Near East, Lucius is the only known Heruspects in Britannia.

Starting point is 00:13:48 He sometimes visits this place to bathe in the waters and practice divination. It's a special treat for priests who couldn't see this practice anywhere else in the country. The priest guides you inside the temple. As soon as you enter, all the noise from the courtyard is blocked out by the thick walls. It's quiet and peaceful in here. walk back and forth, lighting coal lamps and praying at the foot of a tall, bronze-gilded statue of the goddess. You and your guide take a few moments to gaze up at the towering figure. The flickering lamps almost make the statue look lifelike, letting your eyes close. You can sense there is a

Starting point is 00:15:07 sacred power in this place. Whether it's the deity or the fact that these are the only natural hot springs in the British Isles. Either way, you know you're lucky to be here. Sulis is famous for being a healer. It's her touch that makes these waters such an effective place for healing. The statue is wearing a Corinthian war helmet to represent Minerva, the Roman goddess of wisdom and war. Both Sulis and Minerva are connected to wisdom. These two goddesses combined represent the importance of having both strength and softness. the balance of action and rest that we all need to thrive. Exiting the temple, you thank the priest for the tour.

Starting point is 00:16:32 He leaves you alone on the temple's steps, where you watch the people come and go through the gateway to the bathhouse and enter the calming maze of the baths, saunas, steam rooms, and exercise rooms. Now that you've visited the temple, you're ready to join these crowds, and enter the waters of Aquisulus. You cross the courtyard to the entrance of the springs, which has a painted sun above the gate. Entering the building, you're greeted by humid air, the steam rising from the bars and the piping diverting the water to various places in the complex make the whole space feel warm and cozy.

Starting point is 00:17:44 In the east wing, you find the opoditarium, the changing room. You leave your outdoor things in a cupboard and change into your swimming clothes. Through the door, you come to a small, lukewarm pool where you can wash off the dirt and dust from outside before moving further through the spa. You enter the water, feeling the freshness of it washing the dirt from your skin after your long journey. There is olive oil for patrons to use as soap, you pour some in your hand and slowly scrub yourself, getting all of the dust and grime off your body. When you exit the bath, you feel fresh and clean, ready to make your way through the different

Starting point is 00:18:59 rooms of the bathhouse. Putting on your robe, you decide to start in the great bath, This is a social part of the complex, and you may run into an old friend or make a new one. You walk through the doorway to the great bath and are taken in by the splendour of the room. Colourful paintings line the walls, and the barrel-vaulted ceiling reaches up to the sky. The roof protects the waters from growing algae. but it's magnificent to look at. These baths are perhaps one of the biggest buildings in this part of the aisle.

Starting point is 00:20:05 You remove your robe and walk down the steps into the steamy water. It's such a wonderful luxury to feel the silky, warm liquid covering your whole body as you're submerged, finding a place to sit around the edge. You take a couple of deep breaths and smile. A few people are chatting and laughing with each other, while others are sitting alone in silence, enjoying the time for rest. In this special place,

Starting point is 00:20:58 you find it easy to let go of your everyday worries. The chores and to-do lists will still be there for you when you return home, but here, enclosed in the warm geothermal pools, you can release all of your worries, leaning your head on the edge of the pool. You let your legs and belly float up, the water supporting you as you gaze at the high ceilings. The steam rising up from the pools is vented through small holes on either end of the ceiling, but it keeps some of the heat and moisture in. This means you can stay cozy and warm here, even on the colder days. You push off the wall and slowly swim back and forth a few times. stretching your limbs after the long walk.

Starting point is 00:22:18 Then you sit on a bench again, taking in the sights and sounds around you, hushed conversations and water gurgling. There's no rush to do anything in this place. You have the whole day to enjoy the spa. When you feel ready, you climb out of the pool and wrap yourself in a dry robe, walking through a rectangular stone doorway. You come to the calderium, a hot room. It's kept warm by pipes, carrying the hot spring water under the floors and through the walls,

Starting point is 00:23:29 Clipping into your wooden sandals, you enter the room and find a bench to sit on. While there are still a few people having whispered conversations, it's quieter in here than in the main bath. A thin layer of steam hovers in the warm room. In the heat, it's easy for your muscles to relax, and you feel warm and loose or warm. all over. Some people find that these heated rooms also help to clear sinus congestion and clean the nasal passages. You focus on taking a few deep breaths, inhaling and exhaling slowly, savoring each moment, splashing and conversations from the great pool, echo into the

Starting point is 00:24:43 hot room, you hear a group of children laughing and chasing each other through the pool. Droplets of sweat start forming on your forehead, and you decide that this is the perfect time to cool off. You stand slowly, your wooden shoes making a light tapping noise on the floor as you exit the hot room and enter the frigidarium. The cold plunge pool. There's only one other person in the round cold pool. People don't spend much time here, which makes it peaceful. You know it's always a challenge to get in, but it feels refreshing and invigorating after just a quick dunk in the chilly water. You take off your sandals and dry robe and step into the pool.

Starting point is 00:26:06 You inhale and then plunge your body down as you exhale. Your toes and fingers feel prickly as the water cools your skin. Taking a couple of breaths, you sit through the discomfort, enjoying the release and freshness that the cold pool brings. After a minute, you climb out of the pool again and wrap yourself in your dry robe. Feeling invigorated from the cold dip, you wander through a couple of other stone doorways, your wooden sandals clicking on the mosaic floors. Next, you make your way into the gymnasium. Unlike the calming atmosphere of the rest of the spa, the gym is filled with activity. Some people are doing exercises with weights, alternating between lifting them overhead and using them

Starting point is 00:27:34 in a long jumping exercise. Another group of people were playing trigon, a catching game with three people, throwing a small ball in a triangular formation. You find two others looking for a third to play with and join in with their game. You catch the ball with one hand and then toss it with the other, trying not to let the ball drop. It takes a few throws until you're used to the weight of the ball. And then you get into the rhythm, laughing with the others when the ball is dropped. After a little while, you thank them for the game and continue through the complex to the

Starting point is 00:28:38 treatment room. After all the activity, from your pilgrimage to Aquisulus, to the workout in the gymnasium, a massage is just what you need to relax easy. more. A smiling masseuse welcomes you and invites you to lie down on a dry towel on the massage table. They have olive oil infused with different herbs and you end up choosing the one infused with frankincense for your massage. The masseus presses into any stiff muscles and knots until the tension melts away. You can smell the sweet oil and spices, mingling with the metallic scent of the thermal waters. You hear splashing, trickling, the tap of sandals on tiles, and quiet conversations. All of your senses

Starting point is 00:30:03 are enveloped in this magnificent place, sliding into a daze. You enjoy the rhythmic feel of the massage, relaxing into the combination of pressure and gentler movements. The masseus thanks you for patronizing the spa when the massage is done. You thank them in return, and continue on through the west wing of the bath complex, back into the hot, steaming room. It only takes It takes a few minutes for sweat to start appearing on the backs of your hands. Even though you've been away from the hot rooms for a little while, you inhale the steam, enjoying the heat that's almost a little uncomfortable, knowing you'll continue through the cycle of warm and cold once again.

Starting point is 00:31:24 a little while longer in this hot room, you follow the signs into the tepidarium, the warm room. Here, there are several smaller pools with warm water, which people are relaxing in. You pick up a clean stridgel, a curved metal tool to scrape the olive oil off your skin. Then you step into one of the warm, round baths. With this second dip in the thermal waters, you find that your body relaxes even more quickly, the repetition of the cycle becomes more pleasant as you get used to the treatments, resting against the wall of the pool. You feel the water warming you everywhere, this room is at a pleasant temperature and you can spend a lot more time in here than in the hotter

Starting point is 00:32:46 or colder rooms. You stay for a while, enjoying the warm, smooth water filled with minerals, bathing your skin and helping you to feel weightless. There's just one more part of the cycle now. You walk back to the cold room and dunk once again in the cold plunge, feeling refreshed and tingly from the brave dip. Before leaving, you decide to take one more swim in the great bath. You slowly walk back to the grand room that houses the bath, its high ceilings traping the place in splendor. You find a quiet corner and step back into the waters, sinking down on a bench, so that the liquid comes up to the top of your shoulders.

Starting point is 00:34:08 You're so relaxed from your day at the spa. You could almost fall asleep right here. You let your head rest on the edge of the bath, and your body floats up, feeling support. by these healing thermal waters. The waters here ease aches and pains, and are even thought to cure some diseases. Prince Bladdered, the Celtic youngster credited with discovering these springs, recognized them as a special place for healing. He and his pigs were cured of leprosy after based on.

Starting point is 00:35:03 leaving in the muddy waters, the belief in the healing powers of the baths has continued into Roman times. Under the watch of the goddess Sulis Minerva, the bath contains more than 30 minerals, including potassium and magnesium, which are thought to add to the water's healing properties. While you don't know if the baths truly have healing powers, or if it's just a legend, bathing here has eased your muscles and relaxed both body and mind. Soon, you notice the light in the bathes is getting dimmer. Workers come round to light oil lamps so that bathers can stay a little longer. You watch the glittering orbs light the hallways of the bath complex, and then step out of the water and wrap yourself in a warm, dry towel. You head back to the changing room and redress

Starting point is 00:36:38 yourself in your dry clothes. But you still have one more stop to make before leaving the baths, holding one of the coins you saved from earlier. You walk once again through the hall with the great bath and into the small circular room that houses the sacred spring, burning candles light the path as you approach the gurgling water. This isn't a pool for bathing in, but patrons to the Baths can leave an offering for the goddess Sulis Minerva. Looking into the spring, you can see objects glittering below the surface. Coins and ceremonial pants that people have thrown in here after their visits to the baths, you feel the cool weight of the coin in your palm. And think about your gratitude. for being able to visit this place.

Starting point is 00:38:07 You think of something you would like to ask of from the guardian of these springs, and then toss the coin in and watch it sink to the bottom. Who knows how many tens, hundreds, or even thousands of years it will stay there for. Finally, it's time to leave.

Starting point is 00:38:41 following the glimmering candles back through the east wing and out into the courtyard. You leave the baths behind. Even the courtyard is quiet now, with only a few priests and visitors coming and going from the temple and spa complex. The market stores have all shut down for the day, and the square feels sleep. under the partially cloudy sky, where you can just make out a few stars shining above. You walk through the gates and down the narrow road to the guest house, where you'll be spending the night before your journey home tomorrow. You climb the stairs to your room, where there's a cozy bed waiting for you, covered

Starting point is 00:39:55 in soft blankets and thick pillows. You crawl into the bed, surrounding yourself with warmth and comfort. Your skin is smooth from all the thermal water and oil, which feels delightful against the soft blankets. You feel ready for sleep. Body and mind relaxed from your one, wonderful day. Letting your eyes close, you can still smell the thermal waters and hear the Avon River as it weaves its way through the town. With it, it carries a small part of the sacred waters of Aquisulus. You imagine the waters of the bath, warming and supporting you. As you you drift off into a deep and restful samba.

Get Sleepy: Sleep meditation and stories - A Sleepy Day at the Roman Baths

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