New Insights about Massage: Executive Stress Buster…
By
On…and Key to Creative and Analytic Thought
The CEO of a professional consulting company says, “After a midlife hip replacement, I started to schedule a monthly massage and I found it useful for relaxing muscles and reducing stress. What I didn’t expect were the instances of intense focus, clarity, problem-solving and creativity. The number of ideas and solutions blasting into my head astounded me.” Are you in need of a way to recharge and regenerate your energy?
According to recent reports, executives are advised to schedule massages regularly. The major reasons for people getting massages are for health and wellness, including mental and physical stresses.
Massage is a Modern Health Tool With Ancient Roots
Historically, massage is one of the oldest and simplest forms of relaxation and healing. For example, Tomb paintings indicate that massage was performed during early Egyptian times and the Chinese used massage for many medical conditions over many centuries.
Health experts such as staff at the Mayo Clinic inform, “…massage can be a powerful tool to help you take charge of your health and well-being, whether you have a specific health condition or are just looking for another stress reliever…”
Benefits of Stress Busting
Finding good stress relievers is important since managing stress can lead to:
§ Enhanced sleep quality
§ Greater physical energy
§ Improved concentration
§ Increased circulation
§ Reduced fatigue
Given the hectic times and our often-harried lives, it’s comforting to schedule regular times to create islands and periods of relaxation during which our minds and bodies are completely relaxed and rejuvenated. Such experiences should occur frequently, perhaps on a monthly basis. This is especially important when your livelihood require constant productivity and innovation.
There are many different styles of massage. The most common is the Swedish massage, which is a whole-body therapeutic massage designed to relax the muscles and joints. Other popular types include deep tissue, shiatsu, hot stone, reflexology, and Thai massage.
Not all massage needs to be gotten outside of work. Some companies have introduced chair massage for all employees. They find that productivity, employee satisfaction, and customer service ratings increase. In addition, such employee programs can help with employee retention and recruitment, reduce health care costs, and general office morale.
Tips for Adding Massage to Your Self-Care Routine:
1. Find a place that others rave about and discuss the type of massage offered, why they thought it was great, and the cost.
2. Call and find out if the place meets your unique style:
· How long does the massage last?
· What clothing or covering is used?
· Are special oils or lotions used?
· What amount of pressure is used?
3. If you need a laugh, see how an elephant gives a beach massage.
The key is to find some way of de-stressing so that you have the mental energy to be productive and creative. How can a leader be an analytic and/or creative problem-solver without ways to reduce stress and increase productivity? During the holiday season, ask for, or give a gift of a massage.
Note: This post was originally posted on February 25, 2011 and has been revamped and updated for greater comprehensiveness.
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