“The body is precious. It is our vehicle for awakening. Treat it with care.” – Buddha
One of my favorite ‘self-care’ rituals is a monthly massage. Routinely regarded as a self indulgent practice, massages, in my opinion, are a basic self-care requirement…that happens to feel like an indulgence! Just like your car needs a routine oil change to run optimally, your body needs routine maintenance, too. Massages fit this bill. Also, in times of distress, massage can help. As an example, I fractured my neck in a car accident a little over 10 years ago. When physical therapy failed to give me back the range of motion in my neck I needed, I turned to massage. I solely credit that therapist for giving me the ability to turn my head to the right without pain. {Thanks Michelle!}
Some of the benefits of (regular) massage include:
- pain management
- immune system support
- stress management
- fibromyalgia relief
- better sleep
- aid with carpal tunnel symtoms
- reduce anxiety
- help with headaches and migraines
- promotes relaxation
The great thing about massage is it can be customized to your time, financial and physical constraints. To find a good massage therapist in your area, ask your friends for a referral. I’m sure you have a friend (or two) who could be bribed to share the name of theirs…if you’re lucky. Good massage therapist’s schedules are usually pretty booked, so be prepared to wait. And be sure to drop the guilt in your neatly folded pile of clothes and simply enjoy the experience.
Light and Love,
♥k