Steam Bath for Pelvis and Yoni
(Yoni is the Sanscrit word for vagina.
I have chosen to use the word Yoni because in Sanscrit it means:
sacred feminine space/container/ source/spring etc).
A pelvic steam bath (sauna) is a wonderful, ancient, feminine art of healing and maintenance.
Other names are bajos (the Maya Tribe – central and south America), yoni-steam (Aurveyda-India),
vaginal-steam (in the west), chai yok (Korea), tahabila (Arabic).
Its purpose is to bring herbal qualities to the opening of the vagina, cervix and the depths of the pelvis and uterus via the steam rising through the cervix.
This healing art is simple to do independently at home, enabling accessible and effective feminine self-care.
It can also be done with the support of a carer/Gynecoscophic practitioner/therapist/in the company of other sisters, supported, ceremonial, and imbued with profound feminine sisterhood.
What is it and what do we actually do?
We sit on a special chair above a pot of hot, boiled water infused with healing herbs,
specifically chosen for our personal needs.
The herbal steam penetrates the body through the exposed yoni, treating in-depth a variety of feminine needs, improving flexibility in the area as well as our sexual experience.
Sitting over the steam moves the blood, moisturizes the area, heals and softens the tissues, benefitting external and internal pelvic organs. The quality of the healing herbs penetrates the blood stream through the tissues of the yoni, reaching the internal pelvic organs – the cervix, uterus, fallopian tubes and ovaries, warming and nourishing them.
We can see by the quality of the next menstrual blood that the moisture and warming cleanse the uterus.
The heating supports the movement of blood, and the oxygen that cleanses and nourishes the tissues also soothes the muscles and deep tissue.
The pelvic steam bath is suitable as routine treatment and nourishment for the pelvis and yoni, enabling a beneficial response to a variety of special pelvic needs, such as: postpartum or after an abortion, local trauma (physical and/or emotional), loss of sexual desire, pre-menstrual pain or pain during menstruation, pain during intercourse and for women who suffer from uterine infections, etc.
Healing herbs, which are adapted to the individual – cleanse, renew, heal, soften, fuse (if necessary) and calm the pelvic tissue.
In certain cases, the steam bath is more beneficial without herbs.
It is advisable to consult your practitioner.
In the course of the session we will discover together which herbs are right for you at the moment and experience the steam bath. Later on, you will be able to do other steam baths with me at the clinic or in your own home as a self-treatment.
Instructions for a pelvic steam bath:
Unless you have special pelvic needs, you will be able to give yourself a pelvic steam bath by following these instructions.
Please consult with me before doing a pelvic steam bath and choosing herbs in case you have special needs, such as: Candida, fungus, unidentified itching, local or urinary tract infection, external or internal cysts, etc.
Suitable herbs for use are:
Lavender, rosemary, moss, basil, oregano, calendula, chamomile, rose petals, nettle, thyme.
Essential oils are forbidden!
You can either use herbs growing near your home or a packet of herbs that you can purchase from me.
If you choose to pick the herbs yourself, while you pick them, touch them, s
mell them and give thanks for them, setting an intention for the healing you request.
Do the same for herbs from the packet before putting them in the pot.
Make sure that the medium-sized pot fits the chair you are using. Put about a cup of dried herbs
or a bunch of herbs you have picked into the pot and fill ¾’s of it with water so that you can move
it easily to its designated spot in the chair.
Cover the pot and bring the water to the boil, then let it boil on a low heat for another 10 minutes.
Make a pleasant, warm spot for yourself where you can feel quiet and comfortable.
I invite you to create an atmosphere that supports mindfulness and relaxation, like lighting a candle, putting on calming music and setting a glass of water next to the chair.
If your chair is open at the sides, wear a long skirt or shawl that covers the lower half of your body and the chair so that the steam remains and doesn’t escape through the sides.
When the pot is ready, place it carefully under or inside the chair and remove the lid; if you have a cover for the chair, put it on and sit down. If the steam is too hot, tilt the pelvis so the steam can escape through the hole in the chair. The heat is supposed to be pleasant. If it is still too hot, get up for a minute or two and then sit down again.
Sense the steam moisturizing and warming the pelvis. All around and inside. Visualize the steam entering you gently, bringing you internal healing and soothing.
Send love and acceptance to your yoni, uterus, fallopian tubes and ovaries. You can send up a prayer for the release of anything that doesn’t support you and invite gentleness, love and healing to enter you.
Set your heart on enjoying this time, taking pleasure in the comfort and relaxation enabled by sitting over good steam. You can combine meditation or a call for inspiration during this time in order to deepen mindfulness and healing.
After about 20 minutes, slowly and gently rise from the chair.
I recommend doing the steam bath before going to bed or when you have time to relax and rest after the sitting.
Expect a change in discharge and/or fluid that will emerge from the yoni in the hours, or day or two, after sitting on the steam.
You may see darker, lumpier and thicker blood in your next menstruation. This is due to the emptying and cleansing of the uterus.
In your coming menstrual cycles you may sense relief after only using the pelvic steam bath several times. Menstruation will perhaps be lighter, you may feel less pain and you will be free to focus on the profound wisdom of your cycles.
In the case of an unusual or unpleasant reaction, please turn to me or contact the practitioner accompanying you.
Do not use a steam bath if you are:
- Pregnant or might be pregnant
- Menstruating
- After ovulation when you are attempting to fall pregnant
- Have pelvic bleeding
- Have increased menstrual or inter-menstrual bleeding
(it is advisable to seek professional guidance).
- If your skin is red and itchy or if there are open sores
- If you have fever due to illness
- If you have an outburst of herpes
- Active infection (cervical, uterine, ovarian)
- If you have a fungal infection with itching
- If you are using an IUD (internal uterine device)
- If you have hot flashes it is advisable to do
shorter steam baths that are not as hot.
You can purchase packets of herbs that are easy to use and a designated chair for pelvic steam baths from me.