Topic: massage

Study Says Massage Helps Post-Workout Recovery; Get One Daily With Foam Rollers

Study Says Massage Helps Post-Workout Recovery; Get One Daily With Foam Rollers

You probably don’t need a study to make you want a massage, but researchers have verified that massage helps reduce inflammation after a strenuous workout, proving that it’s not just an indulgence. It’s necessary. But…as much as we’d all like to visit spas more often, weekly or even monthly massage is pretty much out of the question for a lot of people thanks to lack of time, money, or both. This is where my favorite fitness gadget comes in handy: The foam roller, otherwise known as “the poor woman’s massage.” More »

Active Release Therapy: An Injured Runner’s Best Friend

Active Release Therapy: An Injured Runner's Best Friend

Over the last two years, I’ve invested a disturbing amount of time and money into running. Not to jet-set around the country for a marathon or for the latest, trendiest running attire, sweat-proof iPod, lightweight running shoes, sunglasses or water bottles that promise to keep my Gatorade cold for more than six hours. No, instead my hard-earned cash has gone towards healing a running-related injury so I could get back to running (after all, isn’t that what we runners do? We run harder and longer than we should, don’t listen when someone tells us to slow down, avoid rest at all costs and ignore pain and discomfort because ending a 10-mile training run early or not partaking in that half-marathon with all your running buddies is unthinkable.) So when a nagging discomfort and tightness in my Achilles developed, I socked an inordinate amount of money into trying to make it go away, including new shoes, deep tissue massage, physical therapy, anti-inflammatory meds, more new shoes and even acupuncture (OK, that was a little weird). Frustrated and more than a bit desperate as I watched the running world pass me by, I decided to try Active Release Therapy (ART). More »

Reiki Won’t Cure My Irregular Periods Unless I Believe It Will

Reiki Won't Cure My Irregular Periods Unless I Believe It Will

Last week, I wrote that I didn’t really know what Reiki was (“It sounds like gardening to me”). Afterwards, I thought that statement might be a bit unfair, seeing as how Reiki has been receiving a lot of media hype lately as an alternative path to healing. Which got me to thinking: maybe I should give Reiki a whirl. I’ve got an open mind and am willing to try anything, so why not discover for myself what this practice is all about? More »

Relax on a Budget: 10 Ways to Relieve Stress Under $10

Relax on a Budget: 10 Ways to Relieve Stress Under $10

The biggest thing we hear people complain about is stress. We’ve all got too much to do, too little time — and if we ever find ourselves with a spare moment, we worry about what we’re forgetting to do. Well, we order you to take some time to try out some of our tools for stress relief. They’ll all cost you under $10, which is negligible compared to the years of therapy you might need if you actually crack.

So, turn on some Yanni, lean back, and start to relax while browsing our 10 items for relaxation under $10. More »