Non-Traditional Healing and Wellness Modalities

Living with chronic disease or pain can be overwhelming. Day after day, it feels like a constant battle just to get through the basics. But what if there was something simple that could help you feel better? That’s where massage comes in. It’s more than just a way to relax; massage can have real benefits for those struggling with long-term health issues. Let’s explore how this natural therapy can make a difference in your life.

I’ll start off by saying, I have personally be impacted by the power of massage, over the course of my baseball career, I have experienced injuries that have lingered for many years. I practice yoga and exercise regularly but at times it felt like there was more I could do to relieve my lingering issues. I spoke with a good friend Gavi LeBauer, owner and massage therapist at The Body Lab here in Tampa Bay about some of my issues that were only getting worse, specifically hips, knees and mid back. Gavi took the time to discuss my issues and we found a solid treatment plan to get the ball rolling on my physical recovery. Being a healthcare professional myself, I was familiar with some of the terminology and modalities but not at an expert level like a seasoned massage therapist. I started receiving treatment and in a couple sessions my pain has drastically and sustainably decreased, so as I embark on my own wellness and healing journey battling knee and hip injuries from 10 years ago, I decided to do some additional research to determine how massage can benefit others.

Pain relief always comes up as one of the first and foremost results of massage. Whether it’s from arthritis, fibromyalgia, or a lingering injury, chronic pain can take over your life. Massage helps by loosening tight muscles, improving circulation, and reducing inflammation. This can lead to less pain and better mobility, making it easier to go about your day.

Something that I emphasize with many of my patients is stress management. Massage can play a key role in reducing stress, its no secret chronic pain can lead to higher levels of anxiety and/or depression. The physical touch and calming environment of a massage can trigger your body’s relaxation response. This lowers cortisol levels, the hormone related to stress, and can leave you feeling calmer and more in control.

Finally, two of the effects I have seen in my own healing journey are improved sleep and a higher functioning immune system. Better sleep can be attributed to less pain, less anxiety and overall feeling of wellbeing after a massage. Better immunity can correlate to moving the body around, forcing the lymphatic system to move and expel waste. The lymphatic system is basically the waste disposal system of the body, however unlike the circulatory system, the lymphatic system does not operate on pumps, rather, the body’s natural movements to increase excretion of waste.

I believe many people can benefit from massage with a licensed practitioner. There are many ways to seek good health and wellness both physically and mentally and I am here to help anyone looking for those modalities. Contact me for any additioanl information you may need.