What many call the most wonderful time of the year brings us fun seasonal activities, festive music and movies, delicious foods, and gatherings with family and friends (though maybe fewer than we’re used to these days). However, it can come with its fair share of downsides as well. The holidays can be stressful, what with keeping hectic social schedules, studying for exams before school breaks or meeting deadlines at work before taking time off, scrambling to shop for the perfect gifts, and time spent sitting in traffic or navigating a crowded airport to board a cramped flight on the way to visit loved ones. Add all of this to your daily responsibilities at school/work and at home, and the stress can really build up in a short amount of time.
The physical and mental/emotional stress we experience at this time of year can have a negative impact on our health and well-being, when we are already battling flu season and trying to avoid COVID. So, amidst all the chaos, be sure to put some time aside to give yourself a gift this holiday season - the gift of stress relief. Massage therapy has been proven to significantly reduce both physical and psychological stress. Studies* have shown this time and time again. The effects of massage treatment include decrease in heart rate, blood pressure, and cortisol (stress hormone) levels, as well as increased immune system function and improved sleep. Treating yourself to a massage can be a great way to relax and release some of the tension built up over the holidays. Massage therapy (as well as chiropractic adjustments and acupuncture) can be especially beneficial for those of us who spent long hours sitting in a car or on a plane to get to those family gatherings.
Do you have a family member or friend who always seems to bear the brunt of the work preparing for the holiday season? That one person who decorates the whole house, buys and wraps all the gifts, takes the kids ice skating or sledding, bakes cookies, and cooks up a feast to host the extended family on Christmas day? What better gift to give them at this time of year than a way to rejuvenate their body and mind after all they did to make this season special for their loved ones? Get the super-mom (or dad, or grandparent, or sibling, or coworker) in your life the gift of a massage!
Gift cards are available in person or by calling (303-744-7100) or emailing (frontdesk@washparkchiro.com) our wellness coordinators. Our team of massage therapists - Tyler, Taylor, Marcy, and introducing Torey - would love to help you relieve some of that seasonal stress. It would also be worthwhile to come in and see Cybil, our acupuncturist, and our chiropractors Dr. Goodman, Dr. Perez, and Dr. Toppin. All of us here at Washington Park Chiropractic are looking forward to helping you relieve the tension of this time of year and get you feeling your best and start the new year off right!
Marcy Prendergast, LMT, specializes in Sports Massage, Trigger Point Therapy, Cupping, and Active and Passive Release Techniques. She enjoys working with patients to find the root of their pain and dysfunction and get them feeling and moving better.