Jasdip, take a bath towel in to the tub with you and , when you get in, dunk the towel in the water and then lay it on top of your body and do some relaxation. The ten minutes will fly by, I do that and, when the towel loses it's warmth, in to the hot water it goes and back on my sore body.

Not much of a mediator, are you, Jazzy? ;-)

Ten minutes of deep, cleaning breaths and doing nothing but thinking about your breathing will do amazing things for your health....lowered blood pressure, tension, improved blood circulation, and more.

It does take practice to empty your mind in order to focus on the sound of your breathing, but it's as simple as that. Oh, and it needs to be quiet....no tv, phone, talking, etc. (((you can do it)))

Get some audio books! I like raisins soaked in bourbon. 5-6 of them can be a real attitude adjustment on a bad afternoon. ;) I hope your legs feel better!

You really don't absorb much magnesium from Epsom salts in the bath. Instead, apply magnesium oil. For more information: http://www.natural-alternative-therapies.com/magnesium-oil-uses/  I purchase Ancient Minerals Magnesium Bath Flakes and make my own magnesium oil: http://wellnessmama.com/5804/make-your-own-magnesium-oil/

I listen to the radio in order to try to keep me in the tub at least 10-15 minutes when doing a therapeutic bath.

You need a romance novel, and read a couple of chapters.

I've read all kinds of books in the tub. Now that I have speakers in the bathroom, I'll select a list of songs to play just for one bath. :) If you have a portable phone, you can chat -- but don't do it with your cell phone unless it's cheap. Don't use a landline that's plugged into the wall--it won't short out the way a battery one will (or so I'm told). There're also sudoku, crosswords, or any other kind of paper puzzle you like. A soft pencil and a clipboard is all you need. I've heard of people knitting in the bath, but I won't go there. :) Still, you can do most sedentary amusements. Even get one of those cross-bath tables and a tablet and visit with us (though I wouldn't have the courage to risk dunking it). :)

I know the feeling. I found it difficult reading in the tub....didn't want to get the book wet. Maybe books on tape would work, I never tried it. I, too get bored and would keep looking at my watch hoping it's time to get out. That's why I took the jacuzzi out when we remodeled. I now have a lovely vanity area there instead. I figure it will be the kids problem when it comes time to selling the house. Besides, we have two tubs upstairs if anyone likes baths. In ten years I don't think I used the jacuzzi ten times!!!

Georgysmom, that's exactly the way I am. I always said that if I ever bought a house the first thing I would take out are the jacuzzi tubs. They all have them, and they're just water and energy hogs. Give me a large shower. I use the tub for cleaning the kitty litter boxes, and that's it, and now, taking boring baths.

Grainlady, if I'm not absorbing the magnesium, what other benefits are there to epsom salts? I've heard for years that soaking in them is good for you.

Moni, I keep the raisins in a glass jar with the lid on, once they've absorbed the gin. I guess there's no need to have them sealed in a jar, I can keep them covered with the coffee filter that I use initially. Maybe that will alleviate the taste somewhat. I think it's also the sweetness of the raisins I'm not keen on as well, so it's a double-whammy for me.

Rhizo, I can sit and watch a tv show or two, and I like sorting recipes or doing a jigsaw puzzle at the same time. When I get tired, I start rubbing my feet on the carpet. Hubby wonders I have any soles left in my socks at all. But laying in a tub or at a spa is a total waste of time for me.

I'll try reading a book, and Yayagal, I like the idea of the whole towel over my body. I do put my facecloth on my chest but mmmmmm a hot towel would be nice.

I can't sit in a tub long either. Even a spa get boring.

Jasdip-

You are absorbing a tiny amount of magnesium, but Epsom salts (aka magnesium sulfate) has a lower percent of magnesium than magnesium chloride to begin with. When you add Epsom salts to bath water, you dilute that small percentage of magnesium even more. A better idea would be to make magnesium oil with magnesium chloride and water in a concentrated form and apply it directly to your skin for maximum absorption, rather than the diluted Epsom salts going down the drain when you pull the plug. By applying it directly to your skin, you won't need to soak in the tub. There are a number of books on this subject and the one I have is loaned out to a friend just now.

Darn. I made more drunken raisins and they're too drunk. They're strong. I mixed some more raisins in, but since they've already soaked the gin, I doubt it will do any good.

Just let them sit open, for some more booze to evaporate!

Have you considered the turmeric caps for arthritis pain?

No, Pink, the twice a day raisins treatment works very well, and doesn't cost much.