FACT: We are all busy, and it is easy to neglect ourselves, or even take our frustrations out on ourselves. Today is the day to take charge of your well being!
It can be as simple as adding a couple of stretches first thing in the morning or during your day at work Plus, make the time to get a massage at least once a month.
Don't fight your body when its telling you it's tired or needs to slow down and relax. Work with it! Your body is such an amazing and complex creation! We just need to listen and be aware of what it is trying to tell us.
Here are some simple techniques to help you de-stress:
1. Shake it off!
Make sure you get up and move around every 30 minutes. Stand up, shrug your shoulders up to your ears slowly 5 times and when you let your shoulders down, release a long, slow deep breath.
2. Just say no!
Help avoid carpal tunnel syndrome by stretching 1 arm out in front of you and gently bending your fingers and wrist back with your opposite hand. Hold for 5 seconds on each hand.
3. Smooth moves!
Smoothly bend your head towards first your left shoulder, then your right. Tilt your chin to your chest, then towards your back. Hold each position 5-10 seconds. If you rotate your head just slightly while tilting it, you can feel a good stretch. Hold that until you feel a gentle release.
4. Find a friend!
Sit straight in a chair, have someone press down gently on the top of one shoulder. While they are pressing down, you push your shoulder up towards their hand. Hold for 6 seconds. Relax, then they will press a little further down. Repeat the first step 3 times. Each time your shoulder will get lower and lower. The release feels so good!
5. DIY massage tool!
Slide two tennis balls in a sock underneath your back so the balls lie on either side of your spine. Massage your back with very small up and down movements. Keep your head and neck relaxed as you move, and avoid over-extending your neck. You may work your way down your spine or linger in one area.
6. Belly Breaths!
One of the best things that you can do any time of day to get calm and relaxed, is practice deep "belly breaths". Place your hands on top of stomach, breathe in deeply through your nose so that you fill up your stomach. Try making your stomach fill up like a basketball (not just your chest), hold for 2 seconds, and slowly release all the air.
These are just a few things that you can do while at home or at work to help in between your massage appointments.
7. Find a massage therapist!
Meet Naomi Rust, LMT. She is Good Fortune Soap & Spa's Chattanooga massage therapist. We love her positive attitude and passion for massage, and so do our customers!
She has amazing feedback from customers with comments such as: "Her technique is really unique and customized". "She used varied pressure on different areas so I left feeling relaxed and relieved, but not sore!" and "I couldn't move my shoulder, and now I feel so much better".
Get moving and relax. Give us call if you'd like to schedule a massage with Naomi! 423-473-6727
