Have you ever made the statement that life is too short? You were probably talking about something that you were afraid you would regret not having ever done or maybe about a situation that you felt was wasting your time or energy. Those are very important things to be aware of. However, even more crucial is taking that one step farther and considering what you might be doing to literally shorten your life.
It seems that every time we turn on the TV or open a newspaper there is some new disaster. If the bottom hasn’t dropped out of the value of our homes and investments, the entire Gulf of Mexico is being flooded with oil, threatening the lives and livelihoods of an entire region and doing irreparable damage to the environment. Unemployment skyrocketed and whole industries have been on the brink of failure.
Plus, we each have events and situations in our personal lives that seem to constantly demand more than we have to give. All of this adds up to more stress than our bodies have any way to effectively handle. Unchecked, stress carries a high price. It can lead to heart disease or stroke and even death.
The good news is that there are things that we now know are effective in combating stress. First, we need to move. Not to Montana or a tropical island, tempting as that might be, but move as in move your body. Exercise is one of our most powerful tools. Meditation can help manage how we initially respond to situations, cutting stress off before it has a chance to settle in, and should be something you consider.
Massage has always been an excellent option, and hot stone massage therapy is being increasingly used to relax those deeper layers of muscles and connective tissue where chronic stress and tension take root. A skilled practitioner can create an experience combining technique, hot stones, massage oils, music and maybe even some aromatherapy to effectively replace stress with peace and relaxation.
As much as we all love a good massage and think of it as a special treat, it is actually anything but a luxury. Life really is too short. Don’t allow stress to rob you of your full allotment of years.
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