Tune Up With Touch

Next to yoga and meditation, I rank massage right up there as a valuable and useful (and heavenly!) way to relax. There are certainly different ways to ease the mind and body, but for me, it's massage.

We all have a tendency to give up what is important to us, to make room for conference calls, meetings and errands -- and before we know it, we feel burned out. Taking the time out of a busy day to get a massage is one of the most important ways to heal the body, mind and spirit.

Massage therapy is especially helpful for de-stressing the muscles around your neck and shoulders, where most people hold tension.

When you have relieved muscles, you can perform better at your workouts and your everyday life. A professional massage therapist knows where to touch, how much pressure to apply, and how to make a difference.

Finding the right massage therapist takes some research. Obviously, you want to find the best fit for you. Start by asking friends whom they recommend -- bearing in mind that everyone will swear they have the best massage therapist EV-er. ;-)

Before you hop up on the table, do ask the clarifying questions, which really do matter: How long they been in massage therapy? (One of my Denver favorites, Carolina Gosselin, has been performing massage therapy for so long, she very literally rubbed the fingerprints off her fingers!)

Where did they acquire their certification? What kind of massage therapy do they perform? And most importantly, just see if you connect with them. There’s nothing worse than showing up at your appointment, only to feel ill at ease, for whatever reason.

What if you don’t feel comfortable? You have two choices: Stay and tough it out, or get up and leave. I tried the first path once, at a chain that offered cheap-cheap-cheap ($30) massages – and ended up with a severely stiff neck for several weeks afterwards. I knew as soon as she started jamming her elbow into my neck that it didn’t feel good, but I stayed quiet, stayed polite. I should’ve gotten up and left. Do have the courage to get up and walk out.

(Massage Etiquette 101: Just as it’s tacky to ask for a doggy bag at an all-you-can-eat buffet, don’t get up and walk out 55 minutes into your one hour massage. If it’s not working, leave within the first 10 to 15 minutes.)

Taking the time for massage is very important for your mind, body and soul. An hour every two weeks is ideal (and luxurious!). If you can’t commit to the ideal, then try once a month. Even once a quarter is better than none.

Here are some links to help you find the right massage therapist for you:

www.finda.com