by Jordan Brown
My dog never tires of reminding me how good for me it is to move around and get some exercise, no matter the weather or how busy the day’s schedule. If it weren’t for his persuasion, I’d find plenty of excuses to remain seated instead of going for a walk.
“Sitting for more than three hours per day can cut two years off of your life expectancy!” recent magazine articles warn. Such revelations have prompted many desk workers to give up their chairs in favor of encouraging increased longevity, better muscle tone, and better resistance to disease. People are standing up for improved energy, mood, and productivity!
This is well and good, and I don’t dispute the research. But don’t you wish sometimes that all this stuff that is supposed to be good for us was, well, more fun?
While I fully support the need to engage in healthy levels of activity, couldn’t there be some way to have your cake and eat it, too? Actually, there sort of is. Some of the benefits of moving around more can be found while resting blissfully on your back, receiving a massage!
In fact, Swedish massage was actually developed in order to help invalids recover their health by simulating exercise. Massage can be described as passive exercise that helps rid us of toxins, that improves circulation and muscle tone as well as mental functioning, and that increases our sense of well-being.
No, it’s not a substitute, folks, but for those times when you want to do the right thing for your health, but without all the sweat and effort, remember you can treat yourself to a massage!
