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The onsen ritual: caring for the body is a practice, not a luxury
💡 The onsen ritual reframes bodily rest and care as an intentional practice, not a guilty indulgence.
In the book's karada section, Longhurst highlights the Japanese bathing culture of the onsen (natural hot spring) and sento (public bathhouse). Bathing here isn't just about getting clean — you scrub thoroughly before entering the communal water, so the soak itself is purely for relaxation and restoration.
The ritual is deliberate and unhurried: soaking in mineral-rich water, often outdoors, is a way of honoring the body and letting the mind decompress. It's communal yet quiet, a shared space where daily hierarchies dissolve — everyone is equal in the bath.
The broader lesson is that tending the body deserves the same intentionality as tending the mind. Rest and physical care aren't indulgences to feel guilty about; they're a necessary pillar of contentment.
Source: A Little Book of Japanese Contentments: Ikigai, Forest Bathing, Wabi-sabi, and More — Erin Niimi Longhurst