May 4th, 2013 • Posted by Breathe Pilates: Studio & Spa • Permalink
We'll be the first to admit, a
massage might seem a bit too unimaginative a gift to give Mom for Mother's Day.
In fact, it is as simple as purchasing an online gift certificate. You know what else is unimaginative, though? A book by a beloved author, bar of
fine chocolate, bottle of sparkling wine - none of these things exactly explore
new gift-giving territory, and yet your mother would love any one of them, just
because it came from you.
Why not give her a gift she will love and a gift that will actually alter the
way she feels? Massage is more than just a great rubdown by trained hands, more
than soft lights, candles, and soothing music. Massage promotes actual
physiological changes to the body. As a massage takes place, a mechanical response naturally occurs due to the
pressure and movement of the soft tissue. Particular massage techniques are
used to increase circulation to areas that have been injured. Massage supports
vein and lymphatic drainage, helping to keep your mom's body healthy. Massage
stretches connective tissue, warding off the formation of large quantities of
scar tissue.
Because internal organs share neurological pain pathways with bones, nerves,
and muscles, they even benefit from massage. For example, during menstruation,
pain in the lower back can make menstrual cramps more intense. In turn, the
sharper menstrual cramps can cause the back muscles to tense, leading to more
pain. Once those muscles in the lower back are relaxed, the ensuing pain
related to menstruation may diminish.
Since the day your grandmother first held your mother in her arms, she found
ways to soothe her. One of the most primal was simply by touching her, rubbing
her little back, stroking her soft skin. Human beings crave touch and respond
in a way that dates back the beginning of time. Your mother will feel connected
to another person, a part of a community - even if she's just met her massage
therapist. She will begin to relax, knowing that someone else is in charge and
she can let our thoughts flow at will. The tension will ease from her body as
her mind enters a state of meditative calm. And though she is not likely to
connect the two, your mom will get a feeling of comfort and well-being that can
be traced back to those days when she was cared for as a young child.
Even if she's a bit of a control freak, relaxation is involuntary. It's simply
a response of her nervous system to touch and technique. In addition, the
longer she lies within the warm embrace of the massage room, the more her sense
of comfort and safety will intensify, allowing her to sink deeper into
relaxation.
Why not slip a massage gift certificate into a pair of new spa slippers, or
serve her a cup of hot coffee with a certificate tucked beneath it? However you
present your gift, make sure Mom knows that you're crazy about her and that you
wish she could be pampered every day of her life.
You don't simply want your mom to be around for a long time; you want her
feeling like a million bucks. Mother's Day is your opportunity to make that
happen.