People I meet will often ask what I do for a living. When I tell them that I am a professional massage therapist, I am usually met with one of two reactions.
The first is, “oh my, I need a good massage.” The second reaction is “what does a massage actually do for me?’
What does a good massage do for you? Well, for one thing, it can help you relax when you have been feeling stressed.
Another thing is the breaking up of toxins that get stored in our bodies. How do toxins get stored in our bodies? I am not a medical doctor, but here is what I can tell you. Mental stress sends certain hormones and toxins coursing through our bodies. Often, when we are under a significant amount of stress, we will develop “pockets” where those stress hormones will settle, and they will form blockages in our systems.
I can perform a type of massage that will be somewhat less relaxing, but it will serve to break up those areas and release those toxins. It is important for my clients to take a hot bath in Epsom’s salts after one of those massages. The Epsom’s salts will pull out those impurities from the body and help your system get clear.
My sister has sciatica and it limits her movements. When I massage her, I work on those areas that have tightened up because of her spasms. I gently stretch her hip area and work on her back. She almost always feels better for a week or so. She does not tolerate pain meds very well, so my massages are the only way for her to get relief.
I have other clients who have autoimmune diseases. For them, I work muscles they cannot work on their own. Almost like physical therapy. This gives them a range a motion they would not otherwise have.
I could go on and on, but I think you get the idea. Massage is not simply some silly indulgence for people who have money to burn. It is a way to relieve stress and to move pain away.
It is also a mode of therapy which involves touch. There are some of us who are not in a situation where we get to be touched by others and human touch can be a great comfort, especially in times like these.
Massage therapy is good for people on so many levels. If you have not had a good massage in the past few years, it might be time to call and schedule one.
Valentina Boonstra
