Happy National Relaxation Day! To mark the occasion, we put together a list of ways you can relax that benefit your mind, body, and spirit. As massage therapists, you put your heart and soul into helping others relax and rejuvenate, so today, take some time out of your busy schedule to practice a little self-care. Your body and mind will thank you!
Get a massage:
According to Mayo Clinic, “Studies of the benefits of massage demonstrate that it is an effective treatment for reducing stress, pain, and muscle tension.”
Take a yoga class:
Mind-body practices such as yoga can reduce stress and build physical resiliency to stress, according to a study published in PLOS One.
Take a walk:
A recent study showed that walking in the park during lunch breaks from work resulted in better concentration and less fatigue in the afternoon.
Take a nap:
Shilagh Mirgain, PhD, a health psychologist at the University of Wisconsin, says, "Sleep research shows that sleep, even a short nap, primes our brains to function at a higher level. It allows us to experience better cognitive functioning, such as being able to focus more easily, come up with better ideas, find solutions to problems more quickly, and remember information more accurately.” Read more sleep tips from Mirgain at www.uwhealth.org/news/simple-strategies-to-improve-your-sleep/40770.
Avoid checking the news:
A steady diet of news consumption can be toxic. As Rolf Dobelli writes in The Guardian, “News is to the mind what sugar is to the body.” According to Dobelli, “Panicky stories spur the release of cascades of glucocorticoid (cortisol). This deregulates your immune system and inhibits the release of growth hormones. In other words, your body finds itself in a state of chronic stress. High glucocorticoid levels cause impaired digestion, lack of growth (cell, hair, bone), nervousness and susceptibility to infections. The other potential side-effects include fear, aggression, tunnel-vision and desensitization.”