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Massage: The Unsung Superhero of a Healthy Lifestyle

You’re feeling stressed, strung out, and out-of-sorts. First, you examine your diet. Cheeseburgers, fries, and shakes aren’t helping you keep your pledge to eat healthier. Next, you catalog your physical activity, which shows you moving at the speed of a turtle from your bed to work and back to your couch. With great intention, you mindfully pre-plan your meals and schedule time for 30-minutes of daily activity.

These improvements help you feel less sluggish, improve your sleep, and reduce your stress. Hurray! Life’s pretty good.

But life could be great.

You’ve forgotten about massage, the superhero of a healthy lifestyle. Some folks “treat” themselves occasionally for a massage, which is better than never having one at all. But we’re talking about regular massage as a tool to reduce stress, improve circulation, increase energy, and help you to relax. Regular massage also improves the immune system and increases joy.

Honestly, regular massage is not only an unsung hero of a healthy lifestyle, it’s a superhero! Consider this: if your dietary and exercise routines were Super(wo)man, your massage therapist would be Bat(wo)man, the coolest of the cool. She uses gadgets like aromatherapy, hot stones, and warm oil. She can work you over, all without flying and she has no issues with kryptonite. Swoon.

Better send up a Bat Signal and schedule that massage right now!

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Are you guilty of self-neglect?

According to a 2013 Pew Research Study, men spend about five hours more in leisure than women do. Included in men’s leisure activities are watching television, playing games or sports, and other activities.

Source: AdobeStock

In America, we tend to think of leisure as a luxury. We put off having fun until the work is finished (thanks for that, Puritans). This delay in rest and relaxation is one factor causing U.S. women to feel more stressed than men. (And this even when men work, on average, at their paid jobs 10 hours more a week.)

Emotional well-being is intertwined with physical well-being. When you postpone rejuvenation, your proverbial well runs dry, leaving you operating on fumes and caffeine. Tempers may flare. You feel out-of-sorts.

We’ve become focused on doing life rather than living it.

Here’s the great news: you can choose to make a change. Right this minute. Decide to schedule time for you to rejuvenate your body and spirit. Make a list of activities you enjoy. Pick one to commit to doing this week. Next week, do the same. Make this commitment non-negotiable.

Having a hard time coming up with ways to relax? Here are a few ideas to get your wheels turning:

  • Take a walk or hike
  • Read a book for pleasure
  • Get a pedicure and/or manicure
  • Go to a museum
  • Visit an art gallery
  • Dance (in your kitchen or at a club)
  • Listen to live music
  • Color
  • Paint
  • Meditate
  • See a movie
  • See a play
  • Scrapbook
  • Crafts, like knitting or crocheting
  • Take a class, like improve or pottery
  • Bake
  • Get a massage

You may be saying to yourself, “I don’t have time for frivolity. My family needs me.” Feelings of selfishness may arise. Here’s the deal: feeling selfish because you’re nurturing yourself is caused by unearned guilt. We may believe that doing for others should always come first. It’s important to recognize this belief and challenge it. Tell yourself, “I feel guilt, but I can see that it’s unearned. So I’m going to do something for myself. Life is about me, too.”

Schedule a massage today!

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Top 5 Essential Oils Used in Massage

One of the most pleasurable aspects of getting a massage is the calming scent of luxurious warm essential oils used. In addition to satisfying your sense of smell, essential oils have health benefits.

What exactly is an essential oil? According to the National Association for Holistic Aromatherapy (NAHA), “The term “essential oil” is a contraction of the original “quintessential oil.” This stems from the Aristotelian idea that matter is composed of four elements, namely, fire, air, earth, and water. The fifth element, or quintessence, was then considered to be spirit or life force.”

AdobeStock_66015418Here are five essential oils and why they might be used during your massage:

  1. Lavender. While lavender isn’t for everyone, it is a popular essential oil for massage. Lavender does what the body needs it to do and is effective for a variety of challenges, such as pain relief, insomnia, and stress.
  2. Frankincense. Long considered a precious essential oil (after all, Christian tradition tells us that the wise men brought is a birth gift to Jesus), Frankincense is used for grounding, enhancing one’s breath, soothing coughs, as a meditation aid, and for relaxing. It also has anti-inflammatory and antidepressant properties.
  3. Bergamot. Bergamot has a pleasant, spicy citrus aroma. It is used to relieve depression, lift one’s mood, and aid in fighting addictions.
  4. Eucalyptus. It’s no surprise that Eucalyptus is especially popular during cold and flu season. Not only does it help ward off germs, it soothes chest and nasal congestion.
  5. Grapefruit. Grapefruit is an immune boosting essential oil said to boost circulation, fight colds, eliminate oily skin, and combat fatigue. Plus, it smells fun and fresh!

What’s your favorite essential oil?

Essential oils like these (and others) can be used with a variety of massage modalities. At Miracles Massage, we create an atmosphere where you relax immediately, which sets the stage for an amazing massage experience — no matter which essential oil is selected.

Schedule your appointment today!

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5 Reasons You Need to be Touched

 

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Source: Adobe PhotoStock

Have you ever been so busy that time flew? Sure, obligations were met: family fed, homework completed, and kids ferried around. Suddenly, you realize it’s been days (or weeks or months) since someone touched you, hugged you, held your hand.

 

Not being touched can leave a person feeling unmoored. Disconnected. While you may not recognize the lack of touching immediately, not being touched can negatively affect your mood, confidence, and — ultimately — your health.

So here are five reasons you need to be touched – STAT:

  1. Feel connected. When we are touched or touch others, we expand into feeling connected, literally and emotionally. A sense of connection can be felt energetically with even the most casual of touches.
  2. Bonding. I wrote last week about newborns being placed on their mother’s chests in order to facilitate bonding. Touch allows parents to bond with children and romantic partners to bond to each other. Relationships suffer when touching is a casualty of a busy lifestyle.
  3. Improves health. Regular touch has been shown to lower blood pressure. The great news is that even petting your puppy or stroking your cat will also suffice! Also, being hugged is a great reducer of anxious feelings.
  4. Improves your mood. Have you ever been in a grumpy mood only to have someone you care about fold you into a hug? Did their touch dissipate your bad feelings? Touch is one way people feel optimistic, less cynical, and grounded.
  5. It feels great. Can I get an “Amen?” Whether you’re getting a hug from you child, holding hands with your lover, or relaxing into a great massage, being touched feels wonderful.

Being touched is good for you and your loved ones! Make sure to include touch into your life daily.

Sign-up for our monthly newsletter to learning more about the power of touch and how it improves your overall health.

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The Power of Skin-to-Skin Contact

 

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Source: Adobe PhotoStock

Newly born babies are placed upon their mothers’ bare chest, creating a skin-to-skin contact. It’s believed that this type of contact is critical for bonding and connection. Babies who bond with their parents via skin-to-skin contact are calmer, sleep better, and cry less.

The need for touch doesn’t end just because we’ve grown up. Think about it: your skin is your largest organ! It’s extremely sensitive and responsive. Holding hands, hugging, or other ways of touching are how we show affection. But these acts go well beyond pleasure; touching one another can bring healing and comfort.

And our world needs more healing.

Today, you’re invited to try one of these methods:

DIY Massage: If you’re shy about visiting a massage therapist or short on time, you can give yourself a massage. Simply rub your hands together to warm them up and gently massage your face by using circular motions on your temples, jawbone joint, and on your shoulders. According to Psychology Today, “Evidence supports the idea that it’s effective: Self-massage has been shown to slow the heart rate and lower the level of the stress hormone cortisol.

Tickle Massage: Touch is great for all ages and especially fun cross-generationally. Not only will tickles result in touch, there’s sure to be lots of laughter as well. It’s a win-win situation!

Foot massage: Grab a tennis ball and place it on the ground. With bare feet, rub your right foot slowly over the ball, making sure to touch all areas. Try to pick up the ball between your toes. When you’re finished with the right foot, repeat with your left. It’s amazing how grounded and awake you’ll feel after this simple exercise.

Schedule a massage: There’s nothing quite as relaxing as a great massage! Cortisol levels decrease, blood flow increases, and joints loosen. We happen to think Miracles Massage is perfect (okay, so we may be biased). Schedule your appointment today.

Take a deep breath in. Let it out slowly. We hope to see you soon!