"It is no measure of health to be well adjusted to a profoundly sick society."
-Jiddu Krishnamurti
We live in a fast-paced world. It seems much of our day-to-day human value is determined by how much we can pile on our plates (figuratively and literally), how fast we can get from point A to point B, how much time we spend working (often hunched over various devices), how well we act under stress, how few breaks we take, how little we ask for help, how much overtime we put in (to work and family), the list is never ending...
At times, it can be hard to justify taking a moment for yourself. "It's just stress," you may think, "no big deal".
But it is a big deal. According to the Mayo Clinic, stress contributes to or causes many physical, mental, and emotional issues including:
Headache
High blood pressure
Diabetes
Muscle tension or pain
Fatigue
Sleep problems
Anxiety
Lack motivation or focus
Feeling overwhelmed
Sadness
Exercising less
Massage has been proven time and again to help counteract the detrimental effects of stress on the body, mind, and spirit. It is one of the oldest methods of dealing with muscle pain and stress related maladies: references in medical texts date back over 4,000 years! Science is now catching up, providing evidence based studies for what people the world over have known about massage for millennia. Above all, massage belongs to everyone, it is truly a global phenomena. Cultures all over the world have been using and passing down their own versions of traditional massage for many generations. Even long ago, people understood the need for and power of compassionate, knowledgeable touch.
I firmly believe in the therapeutic power of touch. When we are born, we require a caring touch throughout our development or else we do not thrive. As we grow older, we still need that interaction, but our fast-paced culture does not always allow time or space for it. Because of this, we suffer in many different ways be it mentally, emotionally, or physically. Massage is my way of being of service, bringing that compassionate and knowledgeable touch back into people's lives.
