THE BENEFITS OF MASSAGE

Evidence is showing that the more massage you can allow yourself, the better you'll feel. Here's why.

Massage as a healing tool has been around for thousands of years in many cultures. Touching is a natural human reaction to pain and stress, and for conveying compassion and support. Think of the last time you bumped your head or had a sore calf. What did you do? Rubbed it, right? The same was true of our earliest ancestors. Healers throughout time and throughout the world have instinctually and independently developed a wide range of therapeutic techniques using touch. Many are still in use today, and with good reason. We now have scientific proof of the benefits of massage - benefits ranging from treating chronic diseases and injuries to alleviating the growing tensions of our modern lifestyles. Having a massage does more than just relax your body and mind - there are specific physiological and psychological changes which occur, even more so when massage is utilized as a preventative, frequent therapy and not simply mere luxury. Massage not only feels good, but it can cure what ails you.

Massage is a perfect elixir for good health, but it can also provide an integration of body and mind. By producing a meditative state or heightened awareness of living in the present moment, massage can provide emotional and spiritual balance, bringing with it true relaxation and peace.

FINDING BALANCE

Too much on your plate? Millions of Americans know how you feel.

Stress has become a "given" in our modern world, and a primary cause of physical and mental illness for millions of us. Small amounts of stress can be a good thing, keeping us alert and on-task. But unrelenting stress, whether from overbooked schedules, financial strain, too little sleep or too much bad news, can lead to a breakdown of body, mind and spirit. When an overextended life puts you on a collision course with disaster, there are simple steps you can take to recover a sense of balance.

Slow down and simplify: Honor your true self by choosing, when you can, only those things and events which nourish your health and well being. This includes the people you spend time with, the environment in which you live and work, and the material things you own. You will then have more energy and resources to deal with externally imposed stress.

Take care of your body: Many Americans are suffering from sleep deprivation, poor nutrition, lack of exercise and over-indulgence of sweets, nicotine and alcohol, all of which add stress to the body. Simply by eliminating bad habits and developing good ones, you can decrease stress and build up your energy supply.

Feed your soul: Having a firm spiritual connection to a higher power has been shown in research to positively influence the outcome of stress. Find your connection, your center of being, and maintain that connection through ritual, religious practice, meditation or creative expression.

Use your mind: The new field of transformational psychology has shown us we are what we think. Replacing negative thoughts with positive ones, allowing for mistakes, putting yourself in the other person's shoes and living a life of gratitude and forgiveness are all instant de-stressors.