By Kelly Harris | published July 7, 2013 |
Thursday Review Contributing Writer
Massage therapy is a session in education, modification, and relaxation designed just for you. When was the last time you took even one hour for yourself? Many people treat themselves to massage on vacation, but for often forget the soothing feeling once they return to their daily grind. But this is when massage serves you best.
From the moment your massage session begins, until time is up, the time is yours. You can leave significant others, careers, kids, in-laws, finances and household chores outside the door. You will learn easy stretches to help combat the fatigue. Your muscles are meant to be used, but reward them for working for you.
High stress levels have been shown to greatly increase the chances of illness and disease. Though the numbers can vary, some current research shows that up to 70 percent of illnesses are related to, or intensified by stress. Medical conditions with direct links to stress include high blood pressure, heart disease, fybromalgia, migraines and chronic headaches, alcoholism, carpal tunnel syndrome, chronic backache, arteriosclerosis, allergies, impotence and infertility, memory loss, insomnia, and even many forms of cancer, with predictable increases in health care costs for everyone. Stress reduction techniques are being incorporated as standard procedure in many large businesses, especially for on-the-edge employees. Reports now suggest that when an employer spends just $1 on wellness programs, the company receives a $5 return. A healthy workforce means that productivity increases and the turnover and illness rate declines.
The family practice physician is beginning to return to the basics of healing. Doctors rely less on prescription medications that work on a specific problem and concentrate on you as a person.
Some family practice physicians are beginning to return to the basics of healing, relying less on prescription medications that work on specific problems and concentrating more on you as a patient, and as a person.
This is where you come in--by working with, and not against, yourself. There is now extensive information available for stress reduction techniques. With modern technology it is available at your fingertips, but because of modern technology we speed up to keep up and don't have time to research what is out there.
Here are a few ideas to help reduce the effects of your "itises" (itis means "the imflammation of"), whether yours is career-itis, job-itis, parent-itis, housework-itis, and choose what works best for you:
Stretch
Think like an animal: what is the first thing they do in the morning? Try this before, and immediately after, you get out of bed each day.
Rejuvenate
Give yourself 45 minutes per day that are your minutes. This is your time.
Read the article you've wanted to read.
Take a bubble bath
Take the phone off the hook and turn off your cell phone or smart phone
Climb a tree (and do I really need to add a disclaimer for this suggestion?)
Drink water
Start with a small glass and increase it a little at a time. If water is not your cup of tea, add a little lemon or boil water with cinnamon sticks and then chill. Maybe add some mint. Water is great for circulation, skin tone, and ridding your body of toxins.
Take five
Whether you are working in the yard, spring cleaning, sitting at a desk all day, or driving extended periods, take a five minute break every hour! Get up, walk around, stretch, get a drink of water, take a couple of deep breaths and then resume your activity. Not only does this give your muscles a rest, but it also allows your head to clear and makes the work ahead less tedious.
Scrunch
When you get in bed, or even during tense times during the day. Scrunch! Take a deep breath and tighten every muscle in your body; fists, jaw, feet, behind, and toes. Hold the breath for just a few seconds. Let the breath out slowly and allow your muscles to relax. Or, think of little kids. When angry, children tend to tense their little bodies and say they're gonna' hold their breath 'till they turn blue! Don't they calm down after this little stunt? Try it.
Think
If you are sore in the mornings, how did you sleep? What position? Old mattress? If you get sore by mid-afternoon, how long have you been in the same position?
Think again
What is on your Gotta’ List and what is on your Shoulda’ List. Know the difference. When was the last time you thought of your Wanna’List?
You are what you eat
Did you eat breakfast? Skip lunch? Rush through dinner? What did you consume. Is the percentage of coffee and/or soda in your system greater than or equal to your blood supply? Learn to work with your body and not against it.
Less is more
Muscles are meant to be used, so reward them for helping support you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Stretch and exercise gradually.
Finally, try massage.
It's relaxing, informative, and wonderfully habit forming. Massage therapy has been around for over 3,000 years. It is now being rediscovered and appreciated as a stress reduction technique.
Though it is not intended as a replacement, massage is a great adjunct to other medical therapies. Massage therapists do not diagnose conditions, though they may recommend you seek medical attention and refer you accordingly.
Locating a licensed or certified massage therapist:
States, cities, and towns vary as to massage regulations, so check credentials, ask questions when you call for an appointment, and make sure that the therapist is a member in good standing in one of more of the following organizations: AMTA (American Massage Therapy Association; ABMP (Associated Bodywork & Massage Professionals; NCBTMB (National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork. Get referrals if possible from friends, family, health clubs or from the medical community about qualified massage therapists in your area.
Now, dump your purse, briefcase, wallet, smart phone (or other attached junk you insist on toting) on the dining room table and see what you can live without on a daily basis. Try to use your shoulders for intended purposes, not a hanging rack. Bring your shoulders down. If they hide your ears or act as earrings, they are too high. Unscrunch your face after you've made your point. Look in the mirror and smile. You know they say it takes fewer muscles to smile than to frown. Whoever THEY are, THEY are right.
