When I see my clients for the first time, I suggest they do this at home even before I start my massage session.  I tell them to take a bath weekly.  I know that most of us don’t take a bath.  That’s for kids, right?  Then they graduate from taking a bath around 2 and switch to shower.  But you know, bathing is much more effective than taking a shower in many ways.  It cleans you better, and the most benefit is it can release muscle tension and stress.  Isn’t it great if a bath can do that?

I’m from Japan, and everybody takes a bath on a daily bases in Japan.  I think that’s one of the reasons many Japanese people live healthier and longer than Americans.  I admit that I haven’t taken baths for many years since I came to the US (about 30 years!) and just recently I got back to this routine.   As a massage therapist, I use my muscles a lot, and sometimes I get pretty exhausted, but bathing helps me a lot.

And if you can add a cup of Epsom salt and a few drops of your favorite essential oil, it can even boost the effect.  Just fill up your bathtub and enjoy your bath for 10 – 15 minutes!  Try this at least once a week.