Take 5: Health is Wealth

What is Take 5? 
I get paid to give a massage. I give out educational soap box lessons for free. I really enjoy educating my clients and the community about massage therapy. Take 5 is a collection of quick, comprehensive articles relating to massage therapy and most importantly, an outlet for me. :)

I keep hearing TREAT YOSELF!..when I or someone else mentions getting a massage.  When did massage therapy become a "luxury"? A "treat yoself" activity? *sigh* While I am glad people feel great during and after I give them a  massage, I also wonder why it's a luxury to feel good, and why do we only get to treat ourselves when we are feeling bad. As the oldest form of medicine, it seems a little dismissive to call massage therapy a luxury.  I thought, "Health is Wealth"? 

Massage therapy is more popularly used as a rehabilitation therapy because it is exceptionally effective in treating injury AND has all the extra benefits. Stress or pain related. When you find a good therapist, you relax. BUT, while you are floating on a cloud somewhere, we are doing WORK! So many benefits for your whole body starting with your muscular system (relieving pain, increasing range of motion, protecting from injury), to the nervous system (rest and digest, immune support, sleep aid), to the cardiovascular system (lowers blood pressure, slows heart rate, helps circulates blood and lymph)...
The systems of the body are all related in one way or another, and the mind is related to the body. Our cells listen to every thought we have, and our bodies respond! 
In my practice, that is how every client started out. Now, they come for WELLNESS massages, to STAY stress and pain free. Quality of life is mucho bueno. 

Wellness and self care are self preserving activities. Massage therapy can prevent injuries by physically changing the functionality of your muscles. Our stress level also directly affects our health, known as the silent killer.  Stress compromises our immune system and decreases organ function but massages put your brain in the parasympathetic state and increase organ and immune function.  You can look at someone without saying one word and tell how they are feeling (body/pain) and how they are feeling (mind/stress/cortisol). "The best way to treat back pain is to prevent back pain." Travis Houser, PT.  

Health is wealth.  Thanks for reading my blog. Please email me with any questions. brittanylmt@unravelacadiana.com

Unravel Massage Therapy is Located in Opelousas Louisiana, and Serves The Greater Opelousas Area, as well as Lafayette, and the surrounding area.