New Bath Brings Japanese Well-Being Home

A bath can be relaxing, restorative, rejuvenating. The ancient Egyptians created an elaborate bathing routine tied to beauty rituals. In ancient Japan, baths were treated not just as a physical cleansing mechanism, but also as a means to spiritual cleansing. The practice of shinrin-yoku, or forest bathing, has further enhanced the Japanese bathing experience. Introduced in the country in the 1980s, shinrin-yoku is said to be have numerous health benefits. Studies and field experiments reported in the National Library of Medicine show therapeutic benefits including a reduction in blood pressure, pulse rate, and the stress hormone, cortisol. You don’t have to travel overseas to one of the many accredited shinrin-yoku forests in Japan (or even to stateside resorts like L’Auberge de Sedona in Arizona or national parks such as California’s Humboldt State Park and Olympic National Park in Washington) to enjoy the idea. In the spirit of this storied practice and inspired by Japanese soaking tubs, Kohler has introduced the experiential Stillness Bath. Debuting at CES 2021 in January and available to the public later this year, the Stillness Bath offers a multi-sensory solution for smart tech-enabled self-care. Kohler calls it “decadent serenity” that creates “an immersive journey of the senses designed to relax the mind, soothe the body, and renew the spirit.” For $15,998 (fully loaded; other configurations start at $6,198), it ought to. The ceramic vessel features water that fills from the bottom of the bath and cascades over top into the surrounding Hinoki wood moat. The sound soothes, while the water that overflows is reheated and reintroduced to the tub, so it maintains a constant temperature. Chromatherapy, also known as color therapy, is introduced through full-spectrum lighting that surrounds the bath. “Fog then envelopes the surface of the Stillness Bath, immersing the bather in a feeling of deep relaxation,” said Kohler in a news release. An optional Experience Tower that can be mounted to one side of the tub releases essential oils to further stimulate the senses. The tub can also be controlled by the Kohler Konnect app to customize settings and use voice control for touchless operation. The Stillness Bath, along with several other new additions to Kohler’s smart home collection, are focused on personal wellbeing at a time in which its more in-demand than ever. “As millions of people around the world spend more time at home, they yearn for balance and seek an escape from the stresses and anxieties of everyday life,” said Kohler. “The potential for technology to create more moments of wellbeing, and making it easier to unwind, destress, and find peace, is a driving force behind’s Kohler’s continued investment and product development in smart home technology.”