Water, we are born into it, out of it, and made up of it. Being in bath water brings us back to that womb-like feeling, which we never want to leave. It’s no surprise to anyone that our daily rise and grind is literally taking tool on your body. Whether it’s your job or your work-out and training routine, the body can get stiff from overuse, stress, and from lack of proper care. This is when tightness and pain rule the body making it hard to think straight. Allow your self some space both in the body and the mind with a healing Epsom salt bath.

Setting time for yourself to care for your body is a very important undertaking. In fact we only get one body, and this is the vehicle that brings us through our lives. The mind can become overrun as well and can crave space for the person to literally work out which thoughts matter to them and which thoughts are garbage. Trust me, a lot of thoughts are garbage.

Start by turning off your cell phone. Then hit the kitchen and grab some baking soda. Next to the bathroom grab your Epsom salts (available at literally any pharmacy) and perhaps some lavender oil and turn on the warm water. Fill your bath tub with warm water, one cup Epsom salt, a half a cup of baking soda and three or four drops of lavender oil. Close the door and shut your self off from the external world, focus on your breath extending your exhale, calming your parasympathetic nervous system and bringing your heart to a natural resting rate. Enjoy at least 15-20 minutes here, if not until your fingers become pruned. Ask yourself, how am I today body and mind? Really listen to the answer, without judgement or expectation. Then, after the muscles warm and the mind softens, once you are ready to rise, do so extra slow. Slower than you want to. Drain that tub and be extra nice to yourself for at least two hours afterwards.

The Epsom salts help to bring circulation to the body and into any areas experiencing a lack there of, often due to inflammation and lack of space. This causes pain and dis-ease. The body is also relaxed by the effects of the magnesium in the salts and this is a nutrient our bodies often lack. Circulation reduces inflammation. The baking soda will bring the body back to a balanced ph. This means a reduction of acid which causes inflammation. The reduction of inflammation in the muscles and the joints creates more space for circulation and then promotes healing to the area. The lavender oil has similar relaxing properties on the body however is also said to reduce stress and have relaxing properties on the mind.

All and all the bath also creates space for the mind. Very little stimulus and a concentration of breathing help to calm down speeding thoughts and it becomes much easier to see answers to questions that plagued us previously. This is simply done through self love. Because you are both worth it and enough. So please, take some time for yourself. It is when we love and accept ourselves treating the body and mind with compassion that we can begin to treat others with the same kind of love, kindness and compassion. It might be a stretch, but I think love, compassion and kindness can change the world and, anyway, I basically stretch for a living!