A simple soothing self-care ritual to ease pain

One of the most relaxing things you can do when you are in pain, is to have a nourishing soak in the bath. If you are lucky enough to have a bathtub, there are few things that can soothe the body and mind as throughly as quality time spent in a healing bath. We often think we don't have the time to take a long, hot soak in the tub and it is seen as a luxury or indulgent for most of us. Yet it can benefit us so much and perhaps lessen doctors visits. Looking after our body from top-to-toe has to be on the priority list. Bathing is a long-standing ritual; a therapeutic practice with roots in ancient India and Greece. The art of bathing goes back centuries and across the whole world almost every country has its own ritualistic approach. In Finland, the saying ‘the sauna is the poor man’s apothecary’ still remains prevalent as the country has almost as many saunas as it does inhabitants. It’s strongly believed that sweating it out in a sauna not only provides a full body cleanse, but also helps you to relax.

In Japan, it’s not uncommon to bathe once or twice a day and outdoor communal bathing. A rotenburo is an open-air hot-spring bath. “Ro(露)” means it is exposed, without walls or fences. “Ten(天)” means the sky. Onsen is a popular and beautiful way to relax outdoors.

While each bathing ritual involves immersing your body in water and has the power to cleanse you both physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually. Your own bath might not look like it has the ability to transform your mental state but taking inspiration from traditional bathing rituals can make a surprising difference…

When it comes to a relaxing bath we usually look to a nourishing bath oil or soothingly scented bubble bath, you might even light a candle to set the mood.