New Year's Resolution - Wellness

Everyone starts the New Year determined to live a better lifestyle. What can you do to stay healthier? A weekly massage is the answer.

Weekly massages cut sick days by 75%. Scientists have proven that massage can reduce blood pressure, boost the immune system, dampen harmful hormones and raise mood-elevating chemicals such as serotonin. And you can't beat massage for relaxation. Babies fall asleep faster when massaged than when rocked - and they stay asleep, rather than waking the moment mom tiptoes away.

The effects of massage aren't always immediate but long term. Massaging the baby stimulates nerves that carry signals from the skin and muscles to the brain, triggering changes throughout the body. This is how brain waves are altered by massage. Studies of EEG measurements showed that workers who were rubbed down for 15 minutes twice a week had lower levels of alpha and beta waves - indicating greater alertness- than colleagues who did relaxation exercises for the same amount of time.

If you are plagued by insomnia, headaches, or are taking mood-altering drugs, a Swedish massage may be all you need. But if you suffer from painful muscle spasms or need to rehabilitate an injured joint, "deep tissue" massage may be helpful. "Trigger point therapy" can help relieve pain by prodding and stretching out sensitive spots that cause aches in other parts of the body. (Think of the headache you relieve by rubbing the back of your neck.) Sports massage combines all these techniques to reduce soreness, prevent injuries and treat sprains, strains and tendonitis.

Since most therapists combine all of the above techniques, what really counts is the level of competence and the years of experience. I have been Nationally Certified in Therapeutic Massage since 1991 and opened my office in Kendall Park in May 1993. Massage therapy is not just my profession, but a way to a healthier lifestyle for you.