Welcome to part four of my four-part series on the whys and hows of massage therapy as an integral part of a healthy, balanced lifestyle.
Parts 1-3 taught us how the body responds to massage. Last—but most assuredly NOT least—we turn to the power of the mind.
#4. Your Power to Heal
It never ceases to amaze me how many of my clients, in the middle of their massage, will say something like, "Wow—I didn't notice this before, but right where you're working? It's been killing me forever."
I'm increasingly convinced that fully half the benefit of massage comes from its power to reconnect the mind with the body. So often, we spend our lives thinking about everything outside of us—the job, the kids, the spouse, the house, the car, the economy, and on and on. Life seems frantic and fast-paced because there's simply so much to keep track of, most of it all at once. But on the massage table, all that gets put on the back burner for just a little while, and we get a chance to check back in with ourselves. Our body may not be who we are, but it is where we are, and it needs us to be present with it. After all, if you have something that's been "killing you forever" and you don't even realize it's back there, do you really think that thing's going to just up and magically go away? Not so much.
The body is an amazing thing, with the ability to heal itself from just about anything. Massage isn't what heals you; it's just the tool. After all, it's YOUR brain that handles the sensations of touch and disregards pain. It's YOUR body that compensates for changes in posture, pumps blood into a tired or injured area, and holds bones and joints in place. It's YOUR nervous system that kicks in the relaxation response when it feels its muscles letting go. Massage works by activating YOUR innate power to heal—because it brings your mind and body back together. Why? Because it feels good. And when something feels good, we want to be present for it.
So toss those beliefs about "Everything good must be bad for me" out the window! Thumb your nose at people who think massage only belongs in the spas! Seize your health—and your own power to heal—in both hands and see a massage therapist today!
Convinced? Not convinced?
If you're located in the northern Willamette Valley, print this article and bring it to an appointment with me for a 20% discount on a massage!
Thank you, everyone, for your commitment to learning and to your health.