Massage

Massage is a powerful resource many, perhaps most, people do not take advantage of. Insurance usually doesn’t cover it, and it can seem pricey. However, many cultures consider massage a priority for good health.

Over the last several years I’ve loved getting a massage. I would get one as a way to treat myself or as a gift. I didn’t make it a regular thing and always wished I could.

Other than ‘feeling good’, massage may help reduce pain, increase circulation, reduce anxiety, …¹

Yesterday, I went to get a massage. I have begun getting one regularly. At first I would go because I had a sore shoulder or my back hurt. ²³ Then I would go because I wanted to destress.

Things I’ve learned over the last several months of receiving a massage regularly:

Massage requires a person to allow another person to touch them. It requires allowing yourself to be vulnerable. (What’s more vulnerable than voluntarily stripping, laying down on a warm bed with a sheet over you, and allowing a ‘stranger’ to rub your body down from top to bottom?)

There are dozens of types of massages. From simple isolated locations and chair massages to full body and deep-tissue massages. Massage therapists know many types but some specialize in different areas. There are medical massages (great for cancer patients), and pregnancy massages (to help relieve the stresses of a body taken over by an alien).

I prefer ‘deep-tissue’, now that I’ve figured out what I like. Apparently, the little bit of pain I endure helps my muscles to relax and behave better.

Psychologically, I love being touched and feeling alive. Massage helps.⁴

I am constantly reminding others to take care of themselves. You are important.

• Put yourself on the list, near the top.
• Do things for you, not just those you love.
• Love yourself, you are worthy.

If you want to be the better

• mom
• dad
• parent
• worker
• lover
• employee
• business owner
• person

Taking care of yourself will put you way ahead of the game of life. Without putting yourself on the list you will end up needing someone else to take care of YOU. Your ‘selflessness’ is truly a form of selfishness.

But when you make taking care of yourself a priority, THEN you can truly help others.

Be the bigger person, the better person, present yourself to others as a whole and complete human who is now able to love others AS they love THEMSELVES. Learn to put yourself on the list.

YOU ARE WORTH IT.

Thank you for reading,

Dr. Wendi

Picture curtesy of: https://collection.sciencemuseumgroup.org.uk/objects/co107310/plaster-model-demonstrating-massage-called-suki-practised-in-vaitupu-statues

1. https://www.massagetoday.com/ ↩︎
2. https://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2021/10/massage-helps-injured-muscles-heal-faster-and-stronger/ ↩︎
3. https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/providers/digest/massage-therapy-for-health-science ↩︎
4. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/everyone-top/202108/the-vital-importance-human-touch ↩︎