Teaching is a calling, not just a job. It is very easy to forget about self-care while you spend most of your day taking care of everyone else around you. There is no denying that the classroom today is a stressful place. Stress, when left untreated, can lead to back and neck pain, which gets worse with each passing quarter, semester, and year. This also applies to anyone that is involved in the daily care and education of children such as principals, teacher aides, teacher assistants, professors, and childcare providers! If you are experiencing muscle tension (or care about someone who is) it is time for you to learn more about the benefits of massage therapy!
5 FANTASTIC reasons for teachers to get massages:
- Eases tight muscles and tension (most common in the neck, shoulders, and lower back)
- Boosts immune system (schools are a breeding ground for germs!)
- Promotes healthy sleep (everyone needs this!!!)
- Manages stress (who doesn’t have some kind of stress these days?)
- Improves circulation (all that up and down and running around the classroom and school!)
Making healthy choices looks a little different to each person and choices are wonderful! Remember not to take on too many changes at once. Results of burnout, injuries and emotional setbacks can make a big impact on your already full schedule. Lesson plans, school schedules, sport night and health checkups already mark up your calendar, writing in time for yourself each month is going to help you “keep your head about water” for the rest of the year. Schedule a couple massages over the next few months so you have something to look forward to and “teacher brain” doesn’t kick in and you find yourself missing out on time for yourself.
Creating a plan to help you best achieve your health goals should include rest and recovery. Massage therapy and chiropractic adjustments are great ways to recover! Restoring your nervous system function and sending you on the path to have overall health and wellness and being the best version of you that you can be! An hour massage treatment every 4-5 weeks can go a long way in getting your body where it needs to be. Tight or inflamed muscles can cause stiffness and limited range of motion. A massage therapist will be able to give you a massage to help loosen things up and improve circulation and range of motion. As tight muscles disappear over the sessions, you will feel more limber and looser.
Lastly, make sure you are honest with yourself, set attainable health goals, and keep track of your accomplishments. This means schedule that much needed massage… YOU are worth IT!! Just remember, it is ok to be a little selfish sometimes; we must take care of our own health and wellness first.