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| photo credit: Lindsey |
To this list, I would add an 11th tip: take a bath every night. Do you remember as a child taking your bath every night? Playing with your rubber ducky or with bubbles in your bubble bath? How fun and relaxing it was? For some reason, Americans in general stop taking baths after childhood, but in Japan, taking a bath is a nightly ritual for people of all ages. I grew up taking baths in Japan, especially during the winter. Boy, do I recall a relaxing and soothing sensation sitting in the bath tub - such iyashi. It is obviously not only very warming deep into the core of the body, but also a wonderful way to kick start your metabolism because of the heat. It's also very detoxifying because of the sweating that is induced from the hot water. Ladies, your skin will be glowing after the bath! For people who suffer from having cold hands and feet, or always feel cold, a warm bath every night is an excellent prescription to combatting that. Women with menstrual irregularities, cramping, and PMS will also benefit from taking nightly baths as the warming effects will help to unblock stagnation in the body and warm the "cold in the uterus" which afflicts many woman. Being very relaxing, you will also go to bed toasty warm and have a very nice and deep sleep.
If you sweat a lot during the bath, make sure to drink plenty of water, and take breaks if you feel yourself getting a little too hot - that is, depending on how hot you make the water. I like mine quite hot, but a warm bath will do just fine too.
Ahhh, now just visualize sitting in a nice tub of warm water, soaking your achey body and tired mind, and feel all the stress just melt away.....
