Massage: More Than a Luxury

In modern times, particularly in the West, massage has been viewed as a luxury experience, accessible mostly for the privileged in society. Before becoming a therapist myself, I also shared this perspective. Oh, how wrong I was. At the onset of my journey to become trained and licensed in this ancient art, I was awed by the complexity of influences massage has on the body. Add in the diversity of techniques and modalities encompassed by this bodywork and there are no words for the passion that was ignited within me.

Massage has been employed across global communities for over 5,000 years and not as a luxury but as a method for wellness and healing. In many Eastern cultures massage has long been incorporated into daily life as a means of easing the stress and tension of everyday activities while encouraging the prevention of possible ailments. This community engagement offers not only physical benefits but a connection with positive touch that is often lacking in modern society.

After 20 years practicing as a licensed massage therapist with a long history of working within the Western medical system and studying a spectrum of Eastern healing concepts, I can’t imagine a healthy lifestyle without massage or bodywork woven in to some degree. We must advocate for the necessity of this art as a tool for maintaining mental and physical wellness, especially as we find ourselves being inundated with more distractions and an ever increasing flux of stress and ailments in our lives.