Rub-A-Dub-Dub…..Ahhhhhh Massage!

Rub-A-Dub-Dub…no, this is not about three men in a tub as the old nursery rhyme says….instead it is about back rubs and foot rubs and…you get the picture!

A couple months ago, I wrote a post about finding the right massage therapist.  

I have to confess, that I had never had a professional massage before I met the Captain.

And no, The Captain did not give me a massage personally…I know what you were thinking! 😉

But he did give me a membership to a Massage and Spa Salon for my Birthday…and that was many years ago. 

And here comes the confession….you knew there would be one didn’t you?

I didn’t use it for almost 7 months!  I just didn’t think I needed to have a massage.

The Captain kept telling me how it would help all that ails me….and I certainly had plenty of aches and joint pain…knee surgery etc.

I also used the approach that I did not have an hour, or half hour, to lay on a massage table and be pampered.

So I kept stalling.

Finally, I decided to go and have a massage….mainly to get the Captain to keep from asking me…”Have you used your Birthday Massages yet?” 

The first time I went…I was asked what kind of massage did I want.

Massage

Well, I didn’t know…remember, I had not had anything but perhaps a brief neck rub from a co-worker in an effort to relieve a headache.  I still had the headache when her inexperienced hands were done….(sorry Laura) and I had rubbed my own feet, which always made them feel like they had never been walked on….hahaha!

So, I said just give me an overall massage…..and then she asked at what pressure?  Again, I didn’t know so I said medium pressure.  I mean you can’t go wrong with medium anything can you?

Forgive the look of this massage table.....this was after my massage so the sheets are not hospital perfect as they are when I entered the room.
Forgive the look of this massage table…..this was after my massage, so the sheets are not hospital perfect as they were when I entered the room. ;(

And before she left the softly lit room with background music (that reminded me of an Oriental tea room… because it consisted of flutes and other “soothing” and “relaxing” meditation music),… she told me to take off whatever clothes made me feel comfortable.

I thought that was cool.

I certainly wasn’t looking forward to disrobing, even though the Captain had assured me that I would remain completely covered at all times, with the sheet and thin blanket on the massage table.

My question of how then, would the massage therapist be able to give me a massage if I was covered….was quickly answered when the therapist removed a limb…my arm or leg (not a tree limb) haha!  from under the sheet, …..while leaving the rest of me under cover.  She tucked the sheets around my arm pit so that only the limb (arm) that was being massaged was exposed. 

The wonderful bolster placed under your legs or ankles relieves pressure.
The bolster that is placed under your legs or ankles to relieve pressure.

She put a bolster under my legs…oh yes….to relieve any pressure one might have with laying flat and begin to massage my whole arm right up to my fingertips.

By the way…have you ever had the palm of your hand massaged? Wow! does that feel good.

I have to admit….by the time she got to my feet…I had snuggled on the heated mat of the massage table, with a big smile firmly planted on my lips… as the therapist gave me the most amazing foot massage ever!  

And I was hooked! I go about every two weeks now and I make time for that special hour…it is so worth it!

If you go to a massage therapist…you know that you can choose the kind of massage you want and what areas of your body you would like worked on. 

The choices are limitless.  If you want an hour spent on your feet…just say the word.

Massages are so beneficial to the human body…if you have swollen ankles….the therapist can literally move the fluid throughout your body so it can be eliminated through the body’s processes. 

If you have a tension knot in your upper shoulders….the therapist will work on that until it is gone and dissipated. 

Massage4
Azalea, my therapist.

 Why am I telling you all this today?  Because I just got back from my massage with my favorite therapist who is always waiting for me when I come out of the room with a glass of water.

I “try out” different therapists when ever we move, and when I find one I like….I make sure my future appointments are with her.

I personally prefer a woman because…well, because I am a woman…I also have a woman dentist, woman MD, woman eye doctor…you get the picture…that way she knows what it feels like when I describe any symptom.  🙂

I took the below from the website of the massage salon the Captain and I go to…and have gone to for all our married life. It is a chain called Massage Envy.

I am not being compensated for any of what I am telling you…but if you have never had a massage, you don’t know what you are missing! 

Below are some of the advantages to getting a massage.

Relieves Stress

Stress relief is key to achieving a healthier lifestyle. Even a single massage session can significantly lower heart rate, cortisol and insulin levels–all of which help reduce daily stress.

Encourages Relaxation

Relax. Reset. Repeat. Massage has been shown to help the body enter a relaxing rest-and-recovery mode- an effect that lingers long after the massage is over.

Improves Posture

Unlike other bad habits, poor posture can be relaxing to correct. Massage helps reinforce healthy and natural movements, which can get your posture back on track.

Massage Improves Circulation

Improves circulation. The pressure created by massage therapy moves blood through congested areas. This causes new blood to flow in, resulting improved body function.

Lower Blood Pressure

High blood pressure has more misconceptions than nearly any other medical condition. But one effective way to stave off high blood pressure naturally is massage therapy.

Massage Relaxes Muscles

Got neck, back or muscle pain? Odds are, sitting all day at the office is the culprit. Massage gets to the root of persistent pain by relaxing sore muscles.

 Massage Improves Flexibility and Range of Motion

As we age, joints tend to tighten, making range of motion more restricted. Massage helps keep joints more fluid, making you more flexible and less prone to injury.

Massage Promotes Deeper and Easier Breathing

One of the telltale signs of anxiety and stress is constricted breathing. Massage can play an important role in reliving respiratory issues and training the body how to relax.

Massage Relieves Headaches

45 million Americans suffer from chronic headaches and migraines. Massage helps ease the pressure and pain, which can also reduce the chance and frequency of headaches.

Massage Strengthens the Immune System

Studies indicate that regular massage can naturally increase the immune system’s cytotoxic capacity–the activity level of the body’s natural “killer cells”.

Massage Enhances Post-Operative Rehabilitation

Massage helps the body pump more oxygen and nutrients into tissues and vital organs. This makes massage therapy a great supplement to post-operative rehabilitation.

So now you understand why I am so relaxed today….and that is a good thing!

My dear readers…have you gone to a massage therapist? and if so….do you agree that your body is better off? 

logo

 

 

http://www.massageenvy.com/benefits-of-massage-therapy.aspx

Similar Posts

Please comment, I'd love to hear from you.