Massage for Health
Posted on July 29, 2007 - Filed Under Reviews, Health, VA/DC/MD Happenings |
In honor of my husband’s birthday I purchased a couple’s massage because I figured we could both use some relaxation. I have had massages before, but never a side-by-side one. Now for me, massages are one of those things that every time I get one I remember how much better I feel after I get one, and I always make a promise to myself that I will do this more often.
We arrived at the unassuming Seven Corners Medical Arts Building and found the Northern Virginia Massage suite. The mood was instantly relaxing: A large trickling water fountain greeted us at the door with dim lighting and the smell of warm vanilla. We filled out a health questionaire that allows the masseuse to determine any special needs we may have and we were led to a small cozy room with two massage tables. My minor concern that this might be weird quickly vanished as our massages began. Each masseuse varied what they were doing based on our questionaires and any comments we gave during our massage.
Releasing all of our sore muscles and correcting our body alignment not only felt good, but we instantly felt relaxed and energized. I know that improving the flow of the body’s circulation helps it function more effectively, which is one of the reasons yoga is so beneficial, but being able to enjoy such a relaxed state and obtain the same results is amazing.
A 1999 Massage Journal article states that ” Often times people are stresses in our culture. Stress-related disorders make up 80- to 90-percent of the ailments that bring people to family-practice physicians. One of the complaints heard frequently is that physicians don’t touch their patients any more. Touch just isn’t there. Years ago massage was a big part of nursing. There was so much care, so much touch, so much goodness conveyed through massage. Now nurses for the most part are as busy as physicians. They’re writing charts, dealing with insurance notes, they’re doing procedures and often there is no room for massage any more. I believe massage therapy is absolutely key in the healing process not only in the hospital environment but because it relieves stress, it is obviously foundational in the healing process any time and anywhere.”
So once again I’ll promise to get a massage more often, and hopefully I’ll follow through since many doctors suggest that stress may be responsible for about 75% of all diseases in the Western world (including skin diseases such as psoriasis and eczema), headaches, and even depression. Not too mention it’s something great for couples to do together. I’d also definitely go back to Nothern Virginia Massage.
I’d like to wish my husband a happy birthday and many more relaxing birthdays to come.
Comments
One Response to “Massage for Health”
Leave a Reply
A massage, I’m jealous :) It sounds wonderful.
I’ve only had one real hour long massage a few years ago (but I didn’t care for it), and then I had a 15 minute one here at work a few months ago, which was wonderful. I guess it depends on your masseuse.