Real Self-Care: Hot Water

This post is part of a month-long series on Real Self-Care for world-changers. It’s about the experimentation: figuring out what works for you and following your heart. Simple, messy and everything in between. Self-care should be custom, intuitive, feasible and kind – to serve your actual life.

Hot Water

One of the very best gifts that I give myself is getting into some hot water on a regular basis. A hot bath, a hot tub or hot springs will all do the trick. I personally love Harbin Hot Springs, here in Northern California, but a long bath with epsom salts or even a dip in a friend’s hot tub will do the trick.

Hot water is great for circulation, for sore muscles, and for recalibrating my whole nervous system. It seems to reset everything.

One of my favorite thing about traveling to Japan is the plentitude of public baths (with really hot water!). When we visit my husband’s family’s home town, we visit the baths at least once a day. Japanese people swear by the health benefits, and that it keeps them young! I certainly return home feeling really nourished, and it’s a lovely ritual to begin or end the day.

Here in Oakland, I try to get to the hot tubs or hot springs at least once a month. It’s so good for my muscles and my mood (especially in winter when I’m looking to thaw out!).

While you could travel to a resort for this kind of treatment, it’s also easy to do for yourself. Even ten minutes in a hot bath may create a greater sense of ease and relaxation. You could add candles or music, or you could just close your eyes and be with yourself.