Some of you may know I’ve been looking for a new or gently used car. I’ve read all the reports on Kelly Blue Book and JP Powell, studied autotrader.com and cars.com to find the best value. I’ve test drove at least 10 different models, including ones I knew weren’t quite the right one for me. I’ve had sales men (they all seem to be men) try to pressure me into buying something I knew I couldn’t afford. After going through a lot of sticker shock ($25000 for a car?), I think I’ve finally found the one that I want. And I’m sure that I’m getting a good value for the money too, and plan to keep this one running in top form for as long as possible.
First, I took pretty good care of my old car. It’s lasted me almost 10 years, and has had only minor problems until recently because I made sure to keep up with all the maintenance.
When it was time to look for something else I did my research. I asked a lot of my friends for referrals and opinions about what was good and what I should avoid. A couple suggested I make a list of what I had to have, and what were options to look for. This helped me narrow down exactly which models might be a good fit.
Then I checked the internet and the dealers to find out the true value of the car. I was an informed consumer, and knew to say no when I wasn’t happy with the selections the sale men tried to persuade me to buy. I also found that the model I was looking at seriously was available about 30 minutes away, but not in my own town.
I got the car I wanted for the price I wanted.
So what does this have to do with massage?
The best way to take care of your own personal ‘vehicle,’ your body, is to maintain it. Keeping yourself healthy and happy goes a long way making your life better. Eating right, exercising, getting plenty of sleep -- you know the drill. And regular massage is a great and enjoyable way to prevent health issues (especially those related to stress) and to let injured, sore, or tight muscles heal quicker. Medical experts, including Dr. Andrew Weil, are now estimating that upwards of ninety percent of disease is stress related. This include all ‘signs’ of aging.
My professional massage organization, ABMP, lists over 20 medically proven benefits of therapeutic massage. These range from simple things like increasing joint flexibility and resiliency to the more complex – decreasing depression and anxiety, enhancing the immune system, relieving migraine pain, lessening labor time for expectant mother.
Regular massage, like changing your car’s oil every 3000 miles, is important for keeping your body systems functioning at its peak performance. Regular maintenance increases your health, saving you money by keeping problems in check, and keeping you out of the doctor’s office. It’s fun to think that something as pleasurable as massage really does save you money in the long run.
Massage is also a good way to get to know your body better. Many times my regular clients tell me, ‘I didn’t know that hurt until you touched it.’ But massage isn’t only about working out muscle tension. Arthritis sufferers note fewer aches and less stiffness and pain. High blood pressure patients demonstrate lower diastolic blood pressure, anxiety, and stress hormones. Premenstrual syndrome sufferers have decreased water retention and cramping.
I also encourage all my clients to do their own research. If you’ve got a specific problem, disease, or disorder please be sure you’re aware of all ‘contraindications’ or ‘ no nos’ surrounding these conditions. For example, some essential oils, like pennyroyal, should not be used during pregnancy. I do keep pretty up to date with most medical conditions and how massage affects them. Each day brings more and more information about what’s good, and what’s not so good. I’m always happy to look something up for my clients, and many times have learned new things because my clients have asked about them.
Most importantly, listen to your body. When you car’s making a funny sound, don’t you try to isolate what’s really going on with it before you visit your mechanic? I was taught that people with Fibromyalgia were not supposed to want deeper pressure during massage. But what I’ve found out from my clients is that deep work actually feels good. And now research is proving them right, that deep tissue massage does help to release the adhesions and ‘densities’ associated with this disease.
There’s another reason you want to do your own research. You might find that a specific treatment or ‘modality’ works really well with whatever problem you may have. Each massage therapist has their own specialty and training. But not every MT does every treatment. Got scoliosis or other back problems? You may want to try Raindrop Therapy. Having a lot of ‘one sided’ problem, like everything on the left side hurt? How about Craniosacral work.
Don’t be shy about telling your MT that something isn’t working, doesn’t feel right, or in any way is uncomfortable. After all, we’re providing a service for you, not to you. You are in total control! Fire your MT if they’re not meeting expectations, and hire a new one who fits better. After all, you’d find a new mechanic for your car if they went fixing the problem, right?
Ask your MT questions. And if they don’t know, or won’t find out, well, maybe you need another therapist.
Which brings me to the next point. Every massage therapist is different. Most people who come to me know I use firmer pressure than many other MTs. In fact, I make sure to state this right up front, and put it on my website just so all my clients are aware of this. And I’ve referred people to other MTs because I think that they can have their needs met better by someone else.
So if you’re looking for a specific feeling, pressure or modality you may need to try a couple MTs out before you find the right fit. It’s OK to take us for a ‘test drive’ to see if you feel comfortable with everything you’re exposed to. Starting with 30 minutes on the table is a great way to find out just want kind of service your MT provides.
And of course, like sitting in your new sweet smelling car, massage just feels good.
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