According to the University of
California, physical wellness is “the ability to maintain a healthy quality of life that
allows us to get through our daily activities without undue fatigue or physical
stress.” That doesn’t seem to be asking for too much. They aren’t claiming
physical wellness means being able to run for 5 miles without stopping- they
are more or less suggesting that we should be able to walk up a flight of
stairs without huffing and puffing.
You
probably already know the basics to being physically well, like drinking a lot
of water and walking as much as possible. I want to tell you about some things
that you probably have not considered before that can actually change your
life.
The
first thing I want to urge you to try is getting a massage. Sometimes, a
massage is one of those things that you didn’t realize you needed. Have you
ever just melted when you had a friend play with your hair unexpectedly? Mayo
Clinic says “Studies of the benefits of massage demonstrate that it is an
effective treatment for reducing stress, pain and muscle tension.” Massages are
not just for sore muscles. In Chinese medicine, it is believed that there are
pressure points all along the body (especially in the ears and on the feet)
that correlate to different organs in the body. For example, if you had asthma,
a good pressure point to be triggered on your feet is towards the center of
your foot, right below your toes. Many massage therapists know and use these
pressure points to help relieve their clients of pain that they didn’t even
know could be fixed through massage! Did you know face massages are a great way
to relieve allergy symptoms? Although massages run about $1 a minute, they are
totally worth the money, and as soon as you’re done, you’ll wonder why you
didn’t go sooner.
Speaking
of pressure points, another way to stay physically well is through acupuncture.
I can tell you from my own personal experience that I thought acupuncture was
pseudo-science, but after just one session I could immediately feel the
results. I was having severe pain in my knee that nothing seemed to be able to
heal. I eventually gave in at the recommendation of my doctor and visited an
acupuncturist. My acupuncturist put some
needles around my knee and then some in my ear, and then left them in for about
fifteen minutes. I’ll never forget how much one needle in my ear was throbbing.
When I mentioned it to him, he pointed to the ear pressure point chart he had
hanging on the wall. The location of that needle was allegedly the spot that
correlated to knees. That was enough for me to go back a few more times. By the
time I finished going to him, my knee pain was non-existent. If you have any
kind of pain in your body that a stretch can’t seem to fix, definitely consider
giving acupuncture a go. Those little needles can really access those
hard-to-reach areas. If you are hesitant to go because you are afraid of
needles, believe me when I say that the needles are so small and thin that you
will barely notice them going in or out of your skin. At most, the pain feels
similar to a mosquito bite.
For
affordable massages and acupuncture, look online for nearby massage and
acupuncture schools. Oftentimes, they have clinics where third year students
and up practice on real clients for a steeply discounted price. Not to worry
though- they are supervised by highly trained professionals. If being a guinea
pig isn’t really your thing, remember- if there is one thing you shouldn’t
worry about spending money on, it's your health. Challenge yourself to step out
of your comfort zone and try acupuncture or a massage soon!
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