Resetting My Nervous System: Eucalyptus Contrast Therapy & Sound Bath with Ruth John
A few months ago, I realised I wasn’t coping as well as I thought I was.
On the outside, everything looked fine. Clinic running. Boys growing. Life moving.
But internally? I felt like my nervous system was permanently switched on.
Postpartum anxiety doesn’t always look dramatic. For me, it has felt like a low-level hum of hypervigilance. The constant feeling of being needed. The mental tabs always open. The inability to truly switch off. It’s exhausting.
So when I came across Ruth’s eucalyptus contrast therapy and sound bath experience, I booked it as a birthday gift for my sister — but if I’m honest, I needed it just as much as she did.
And Ruth did not disappoint.
First Impressions
From the moment we walked in, the space felt calm and peaceful. Soft lighting. Warm energy. And Ruth’s voice — instantly grounding. The kind of tone that makes your shoulders drop without you realising they were up by your ears.
We began with blood pressure and heart rate monitoring, followed by a clear safety briefing. As a healthcare professional, I really appreciated this. It wasn’t just “jump in the ice bath and see how you feel.” It was structured, trauma-informed, and intentional.
The Contrast Therapy Experience
Contrast therapy alternates between heat exposure (sauna) and cold immersion (ice bath), using controlled stress to stimulate circulation and nervous system adaptation.
The first cold dip?
Hard. Really hard.
Your brain screams “get out.” Your breath shortens. Your body wants to fight it.
But Ruth guided us through breathwork. Slow, controlled exhales. Staying with the sensation rather than panicking against it.
By the final dip, something had shifted. I stayed in for over three minutes. Not forcing it. Just breathing.
There was something incredibly empowering about that.
Before the final sauna round, we applied a eucalyptus salt scrub and essential oils. The warmth of the sauna with the scent of eucalyptus was deeply awakening — almost like it opened the lungs and cleared mental fog at the same time.
Physiologically, contrast therapy is thought to:
Stimulate circulation
Activate then regulate the sympathetic nervous system
Improve vagal tone
Support resilience to stress
But what I felt was simpler than the science.
I felt present.
The Sound Bath: The Deep Reset
After showering and changing, we moved into the studio for the 60-minute sound bath.
This took the relaxation to a completely different level.
It’s very rare in my life right now that I get to just be. No one asking for snacks. No one climbing on me. No clinic admin running through my mind. Just stillness.
The layered sound frequencies, bowls and vibrations felt like they moved through the body rather than just around it. I found myself in a state somewhere between sleep and wakefulness — deeply relaxed but aware.
By the end, I genuinely felt lighter. Almost floaty. Like someone had turned the volume down on my stress.
The only downside? We had to drive home.
Why I Needed This
As mothers, especially in the postpartum years, we spend so much time in a state of giving.
Giving physically.
Giving emotionally.
Being needed constantly.
And while I love being a mother and wife, I’ve realised something important:
If my nervous system is dysregulated, I cannot show up as the calm, grounded woman I want to be for my family.
This experience wasn’t indulgent. It was restorative. It reminded me what it feels like to inhabit my body without tension.
What I Took Away
Controlled stress (like cold exposure) can build resilience.
Breathwork is powerful when guided well.
Being in a safe, small group setting makes vulnerability easier.
Deep rest is not a luxury — it’s necessary.
Most importantly, I was reminded that self-care isn’t about bubble baths and ticking boxes. It’s about doing things that genuinely reset your nervous system.
And I need to prioritise that more.
Final Thoughts
If you’re feeling overstimulated, burnt out, or like your nervous system is permanently “on,” this experience is worth considering.
It was grounding, empowering, and deeply calming all at once.
I’ll definitely be going back — and not just for birthdays.
Because when I take care of myself properly, I’m a better mother, a better wife, and a better version of me.
And that matters.
If you want to have this same experience check out Reset with Ruth
