“I can’t afford a massage”
That’s the line I always hear when I tell people to set up an appointment. “I can’t afford that with my budget this month.” Then, I always think, if you can’t afford to take care of your body, what can you afford?
Out of all the things we spend our money on, new toys, fast food, why don’t we budget in our health? When you hear people talking about “spending wisely” you never hear the conversation of spending money on your health. Maybe you talk about the gym membership that you never use, or how your grocery bill went up trying to follow your new fad diet this month, but when it comes to massage, it’s always the same excuse, “I can’t afford that”. The best investment we can make is in ourselves.
Massage therapy is an ancient form of eastern medicine that historical writings have been found to date back to 3,000 B.C. It was practiced in the United States mostly as an aide to movement specialists. It did not form a name for itself in the U.S. until the 60’s and only blew up from there to help with muscle tension relief, pain relief, relaxation and increased joint mobility. We have now entered a time where society still separates all the wonderful benefits of massage, rather than combining and celebrating them as one whole body and mind experience. With muscle tension release, increased flexibility, low blood pressure, the mind can feel clear and rejuvenated, along with the body. Giving us our fully charged battery to take on anything our days throw at us. Not only does it have effects on the physical aspect of our body, but it effects the psychological aspect as well. Massage has been proven to help release chemicals in the brain such as serotonin and dopamine, which are endorphins related to elevated moods and pain control.
Who does massage benefit the most? Why, everybody of course! Whether you are a fitness guru, and your muscles are tense from your workouts throughout the week, or you’re a teacher who mostly sits at a desk and stands at the front of class for most of their day. Nurses who have taken on the emotional stress of their patients or stay at home moms who are down to their wits end. Everyone from every background can benefit from massage. The better we treat our bodies now, the better our bodies treat us later.
Where do you want to be in 30 years, scheduling your life around doctor appointments to help manage the chronic pain of a constant daily life that you never took a break from? Or would you rather be conquering each day to it’s fullest because you made the investment in your body and learned how to help stop the pain before it stopped you?
Unfortunately, pain can come from anything. Leaning over the couch to reach the remote, bending down to lift your crying baby as you’ve so many times before. Massage therapy is not a cure for pain, and that is not what I am trying to say. What I am trying to say, is with a good therapist, you can learn how to make safer functional movements, and help keep the muscles that are working too hard (and one reach away from a strain) at ease to help prevent future damage. Treat your body with love and kindness, so when the time come it will work the way you need it to.
One of my goals as a massage therapist is to break the stigma that massage therapy is specific to a spa treatment. Relaxation is most definitely not the only benefit of massage. Low back hurting after sitting at the office, or standing on the floor, all day? Maybe you didn’t think that your muscles will tighten with daily activities, and that one day, because of those tightened muscles, other muscles will in turn become effected. Until, on that one day, you can’t get out of bed because your low back hurts so bad. Had you already set up an appointment, we could have stretched the muscles that were tight and overactive, and worked together to strengthen the ones that weren’t working hard enough.
I hope this post leaves you with more than you came with. A little more knowledge on what massage can do for your mind and body, more confidence when you set up your next appointment that you are investing in the best bet, which is your health. Most importantly I hope this post leaves you with the knowledge that when you set up an appointment with Complete Wellness Therapy, you are setting up an appointment with someone who wants more than just a relaxing session. You’re setting up an appointment with a therapist who wants you to live and lead the best life you are able to by providing you with the tools to keep your mind and body at their most functional capacities.
Stay complete, stay well. -Steph