Although the history of its therapeutic benefits dates back centuries ago, massage therapy has only gained popularity and recognition in North American health care in recent decades. What once was a luxury at a spa, is now part of most extended health care plans.
Unfortunately, even though people pay for these benefits, they often go unused for numerous reasons:
- You don’t know what your benefits cover
- You feel as though you don’t “need” a massage
- You save your benefits for “when you really need them” but never end up using them
It is important to remember that you don’t have to be in pain to get a massage. We encourage people to book regular maintenance appointments to avoid being in pain at all! Getting on top of muscle tension before it causes injury is like getting your regular maintenance appointments in for your car. What happens when you skip an oil change? Your engine slowly starts losing its efficiency and is eventually going to cause some major problems. Our bodies are no different and there are many ways a regular massage can help you stay healthy.
Physical Health
Some people have labor-intensive jobs, some have posturally-straining jobs, but no matter what, there are few careers out there that aren’t physically demanding on the body in some way. And then of course we all want to get out and play in our free time, which often doesn’t included an hour of relaxing and stretching. A regular massage can help ease a lot of the strain we put on our muscles and joints, preventing painful conditions such as tension headaches, back strains and tendonitis.
Emotional Wellbeing
We all have some degree of stress in our lives. When you book a massage, that time slot is all about you and your needs. It is a time to turn off your phone, step away from your computer, forget about work and focus on yourself. It is a time to learn to RELAX and BREATHE – things we often forget about in the hustle and bustle of life.
How often should or can I get a massage?
This is something I hear often, especially from those who are new to massage therapy. Really, there is no simple answer to this. It often depends on the amount of time you are willing to dedicate to your well-being and of course, how much you can afford. If you have coverage, find out how much and spread that out over the year. If you’re injury free, I often suggest booking every 4-6 weeks, more if you have something bothering you. Either way, don’t wait for that rainy day that you might get injured. Your body will thank you!
Written by Kristi Easton, registered massage therapist
At Element Therapeutics we direct bill most insurance companies. Please check in with our office staff to see if we can direct bill for you!