I watched as each drop hit the basin. One drop meeting thousands of other drops that created an ocean of forgiveness, an ocean of acceptance.

I anxiously awaited the moment that my toe, then my legs, then my entire body will be submersed in the healing waters. Immersed in the heat, supported by the forgiving arms of sacred water.

As a child I remember bath time, it was so serene and peaceful. I would stay in the bath until sequestered elsewhere by my parents. The bath was my time to imagine, to imagine a different world, to surrender into the unknown and allow my spirit to guide me to places unexplored.

As an adult it was only recently that I began to truly acknowledge this feeling and more importantly, embrace it. The bath—my safe haven, my respite, my peace, my quiet, my ability to float aimlessly without barriers. 

In yoga we discuss surrendering. We also encourage personal sadhana which translates to rituals or routines that we participate in each day to encourage health and wellness. Part of this personal sadhana is finding moments of tranquility and quiet. In a world filled with chaos, this idea is of extreme importance for all to understand to achieve optimal health. As we maneuver the landscape of life many of us ponder on finding tangible ways in which to experience bliss. Bliss can be found in moments spent outdoors, in moments with loved ones, in moments at the gym or on the yoga mat, in nature, and so many other beautiful experiences that this life offers us. It is simply a matter of finding what resonates in our soul.

For me, the bath has become my haven. When life is overwhelming, when emotions seem to take the best of me, when my body is in pain, when my heart hurts, when my mind refuses to shut off, when I think I just can’t do another day—I run a bath. I watch the water trickle from the facet, I pour healing salts and aromas into the water, I stir the particles with my fingers, and I wait. I wait for the magic to begin, even when I feel hopeless.

I write this tonight as I needed to draw a bath not for me, but for my little girl. Watching a child experience their first heartbreak is truly heart wrenching and tonight, I knew exactly what she needed to feel calm, acceptance and renewal; because as we all have experienced, heartbreak does heal in time. As I ran the water and infused my soul and my healing energy into the water and created a haven of serenity for her, I pondered on this idea of the bath and the healing aspects of water.

Water is perceived in Ayurveda as one of the earths elements and is comprised of universal healing power, along with many other attributes. As I view the power of water, I am drawn to the forgiving elements and what this feeling of being held or supported means to me. I have spent that majority of my life without one parent and now without both, so for me feeling love has to do with security and the idea of being supported for my values, ideas and morals. When I enter a bath, I truly feel a sense of connection to not only myself by my inner knowing, my intuition, and my ancestors. This moment of respite provides me the knowledge and security to know that all will be okay. This is exactly what I recommend to any of my family members or clients who feel overwhelmed or emotionally charged. 

Sometimes healing is so simple, it is within our reach and does not require money or much effort other than running water through a faucet. Society may lead us to believe otherwise, the medical society may suggest medication or other means of healing. In my opinion, the best therapy, the most profound healing comes with simply sitting in the pain and allowing healing water to wash over the physical body to ultimately reach the mind, the soul, the heart. Healing is possible in time, with patience and the proper understanding of exactly what your body is really calling for.

As I watched this water falling on my daughter’s body, I watch in awe the power of a bath. I am grateful for this bath; I am grateful for my knowledge of such, and I am overcome by feelings of gratitude for finally understanding how we can truly heal our own hearts.

Nicole Zornitzer, ERYT 1000, yoga therapist, founder of Niyama Yoga & Wellness Shala, located in Randolph, New Jersey; Upper Lake Mohawk in Sparta, New Jersey; Roseland, New Jersey; and Delray Beach in Florida. NiyamaYogaShala.com.