Do You Even Practice Self-Care? (A 10-Mile Run Doesn't Count.)
You get your massages. You hit the gym. You sweat. But what about recovery? What about the time you carve out specifically for you? Not to push harder, not to perform, but just to restore? That's self-care. And a lot of us, even those of us who work in wellness for a living, are not great at it.
Over the past 20+ years, I have spent so much time helping clients recover from their pain and injuries and teaching mobility and self-care techniques in our studio that my own practice gets pushed to the bottom of the list. If you relate to that, this one's for you. And I think a lot of you can.
What Self-Care Actually Looks Like
Self-care isn't an hour-long yoga class you have to drag yourself to. Or an 'easy 10k' on your so-called rest day. It doesn't need a plan, a mat, or a lot of time. Sometimes it's 5 minutes on the floor between clients. Sometimes it's rolling out on the couch while you watch TV. The bar is lower than you think, and that's actually the point.
Case in point: a while back I was at an out-of-town training and had a dull headache dragging on all day. Aleve, Excedrin Migraine, nothing was touching it. That evening I got out my Yoga Tune Up® therapy balls, found a spot to relax, and spent about 10 minutes with the balls nestled into my suboccipital muscles, scalenes, and temporalis while watching Grey's Anatomy. My headache was gone. Ten minutes. That's it. Why didn't I start with the therapy balls? Good question. Even I forget about my tools sometimes.
How to Level Up Your Self-Care Routine
If you want structure and guidance, our Strategies for Self-Care Workshop is a two-hour deep dive where you'll work from head to toe, learn targeted techniques for your specific issues, and walk away with more tools than you knew you needed. We cover plantar fasciitis, migraines, shoulder problems, tight hips, sciatica, piriformis pain, back pain, carpal tunnel. You name it, we have something for it.
Or you can start smaller. Join one of our rotating mobility classes and get a taste of what consistent 5-10 minute movement practices can do over time. Or ask your therapist for some suggestions on stretches you can do after your massage.
Sometimes it's as simple as slowing down a little bit. Maybe on that rest day you actually rest. Or go for a walk instead of a 'quick HIIT workout'. You don't need to spend an hour every day on mobility or go down the rabbit hole after googling 'best self care strategies'. And if self-care to you means putting your phone on do not disturb, getting in the car and driving until you run out of gas and contemplate starting a new life in whatever town you've just arrived in, maybe you should start with just getting a massage and let the experts at Michigan Massage and Wellness take care of you for an hour.
Self-Care Isn't Selfish. It's Essential.
Stop waiting for the hour you don't have. Start with the 5 minutes you do. If regular massage isn't in the budget or the schedule right now, targeted self-care work is the next best thing, and it compounds. A few minutes a day adds up to significantly less pain, better mobility, and a body that doesn't feel like it's fighting against you. So next time you think you don't have time, ask yourself if your body is going to wait until you do have time.
Over the past 20+ years, I have spent so much time helping clients recover from their pain and injuries and teaching mobility and self-care techniques in our studio that my own practice gets pushed to the bottom of the list. If you relate to that, this one's for you. And I think a lot of you can.
What Self-Care Actually Looks Like
Self-care isn't an hour-long yoga class you have to drag yourself to. Or an 'easy 10k' on your so-called rest day. It doesn't need a plan, a mat, or a lot of time. Sometimes it's 5 minutes on the floor between clients. Sometimes it's rolling out on the couch while you watch TV. The bar is lower than you think, and that's actually the point.
Case in point: a while back I was at an out-of-town training and had a dull headache dragging on all day. Aleve, Excedrin Migraine, nothing was touching it. That evening I got out my Yoga Tune Up® therapy balls, found a spot to relax, and spent about 10 minutes with the balls nestled into my suboccipital muscles, scalenes, and temporalis while watching Grey's Anatomy. My headache was gone. Ten minutes. That's it. Why didn't I start with the therapy balls? Good question. Even I forget about my tools sometimes.
How to Level Up Your Self-Care Routine
If you want structure and guidance, our Strategies for Self-Care Workshop is a two-hour deep dive where you'll work from head to toe, learn targeted techniques for your specific issues, and walk away with more tools than you knew you needed. We cover plantar fasciitis, migraines, shoulder problems, tight hips, sciatica, piriformis pain, back pain, carpal tunnel. You name it, we have something for it.
Or you can start smaller. Join one of our rotating mobility classes and get a taste of what consistent 5-10 minute movement practices can do over time. Or ask your therapist for some suggestions on stretches you can do after your massage.
Sometimes it's as simple as slowing down a little bit. Maybe on that rest day you actually rest. Or go for a walk instead of a 'quick HIIT workout'. You don't need to spend an hour every day on mobility or go down the rabbit hole after googling 'best self care strategies'. And if self-care to you means putting your phone on do not disturb, getting in the car and driving until you run out of gas and contemplate starting a new life in whatever town you've just arrived in, maybe you should start with just getting a massage and let the experts at Michigan Massage and Wellness take care of you for an hour.
Self-Care Isn't Selfish. It's Essential.
Stop waiting for the hour you don't have. Start with the 5 minutes you do. If regular massage isn't in the budget or the schedule right now, targeted self-care work is the next best thing, and it compounds. A few minutes a day adds up to significantly less pain, better mobility, and a body that doesn't feel like it's fighting against you. So next time you think you don't have time, ask yourself if your body is going to wait until you do have time.
