Ahhhh...

Tonight, I had a massage. There is nothing like getting one, for those of you who have never had the opportunity. It is, to a certain extent, a selfish experience, but it is also a conscientious one. My practitioner uses myofascial release in her practice, and I find I feel better every time I go. I also find I feel poorly if it's been too long between sessions. I also know that my body tells me when it's time to go back even before my calendar reminds me.

Too many times people think of massage for serious athlete types, who stretch and strain muscles on a daily basis. This can be true: massage does help repair muscles by increasing blood flow to the affected areas. However, it can be just as important for those of us who spend the majority of our days staring at a computer screen, pinning a telephone between our ear and shoulder, or with our elbows and arms at unnatural 90 degree angles for hours on end. These types of repetitive motions can errode health by wearing on joints, tensing muscles without strengthening them, and holding irregular postures.

So, for your next birthday, splurge a little, and treat yourself a lot. Trust me, you deserve it.