Get Massage During this Recession
According to a Morning Edition story by NPR's Tovia Smith, "little luxuries" like those in the spa and wellness industries are holding strong. In Little Luxuries Faring Well in a Flagging Economy, Smith covers a day spa whose sales are up 10 percent and a wellness center with packed dance classes. Apparently, people are skipping the vacations and more extravagent luxuries for massage, yoga and, yes, liquor.
It's not hard to believe - that massage therapy might be more recession-proof than not. Frustration, anger and stress seem to be the emotions of the moment with employment down, credit impossible and the stock market slipping and sliding. If it is any indicator, the Smash Shack's business is growing. (The Smash Shack is a California business for angry people who feel the need to smash things).
Before you go smashing your china against the side of your house, you should know massage - the healthier version of booze - is a great way to feel better immediately when things go awry. It affects you physically, of course, by increasing ciruclation and easing muscle tension. But it also helps on another level - a chemical level.
According to one study done by the Touch Research Institute (TRI), published in the Journal of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, immediately following a massage depressed moods, anxiety and the stress hormone cortisol were each reduced.
Want to keep your job? Another of the Touch Research Institute studies indicates receiving regular therapeudic touch just might improve job performance. A TRI study, reported in the International Journal of Neuroscience, done on adults who received regular massage indicates brain patterns "consistent with enhanced alertness." These adults were also able to complete math problems more quickly and anxiety and stress were down.
Dopamine, which is associated with pleasure, and seratonin, which in a round-about way, is responsible for restful sleep, are both increased with massage.
So go out and get a massage, right? Yes!
The really great news about all of this is that there are plenty of massage therapists offering "recession specials," as well. Just google massage recession specials or massage discounts and see what pops up for your area.
Packages are also always a good buy if you can make the up-front investment. Then, package purchased, all you have to do is commit to a time for your "little luxury."
Check out the following:
Tovia's article on Little Luxuries.
The Smash Shack and NPR's Story on Anger.
An Emotional Time in the Workplace.
Studies done by the Touch Research Institute.
Bodywork provides custom massage therapy and bodywork services in the Austin area.
It's not hard to believe - that massage therapy might be more recession-proof than not. Frustration, anger and stress seem to be the emotions of the moment with employment down, credit impossible and the stock market slipping and sliding. If it is any indicator, the Smash Shack's business is growing. (The Smash Shack is a California business for angry people who feel the need to smash things).
Before you go smashing your china against the side of your house, you should know massage - the healthier version of booze - is a great way to feel better immediately when things go awry. It affects you physically, of course, by increasing ciruclation and easing muscle tension. But it also helps on another level - a chemical level.
According to one study done by the Touch Research Institute (TRI), published in the Journal of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, immediately following a massage depressed moods, anxiety and the stress hormone cortisol were each reduced.
Want to keep your job? Another of the Touch Research Institute studies indicates receiving regular therapeudic touch just might improve job performance. A TRI study, reported in the International Journal of Neuroscience, done on adults who received regular massage indicates brain patterns "consistent with enhanced alertness." These adults were also able to complete math problems more quickly and anxiety and stress were down.
Dopamine, which is associated with pleasure, and seratonin, which in a round-about way, is responsible for restful sleep, are both increased with massage.
So go out and get a massage, right? Yes!
The really great news about all of this is that there are plenty of massage therapists offering "recession specials," as well. Just google massage recession specials or massage discounts and see what pops up for your area.
Packages are also always a good buy if you can make the up-front investment. Then, package purchased, all you have to do is commit to a time for your "little luxury."
Check out the following:
Tovia's article on Little Luxuries.
The Smash Shack and NPR's Story on Anger.
An Emotional Time in the Workplace.
Studies done by the Touch Research Institute.
Bodywork provides custom massage therapy and bodywork services in the Austin area.
Labels: improve job performance, massage benefits, massage is recession-proof, massage therapy, reduce anxiety, reduce cortisol, reduce stress
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