The Power of Massage

Korrin B.

January 22, 2009 - 3:46 PM

I am minoring in Non-Profit Administration at the University of Oregon and, after today, I have a new idea on what I could do with it. I think that someone needs to start a non-profit organization in Eugene that works to provide complimentary massages to college students. I went and had my first professional massage today and it was wonderful.

As college students, we don't just get up, go to work, come home, and sleep. We get up, go to class, go to work, work on our internships, do our homework, study for tests, apply for scholarships, go to meetings for the different clubs and organizations we're involved in, and if we're lucky we're in bed by 2:00am. I didn't realize how much this daily routine wore on the body until I stood up after my massage and felt one hundred times more relaxed.

I was carrying around so much of this stress and activity in my muscles. My shoulders were really tight. I always figured that more relaxation time would help with this, but where are you supposed to find time for that? Whenever I'm at home or at school, I'm thinking about what I need to get done. Therefore, going to a spa and getting a massage was the perfect solution.

Getting a massage is dedicating oneself to a complete hour of just relaxing, nothing else. If you wanted to get up and do that essay that is due, you can't. Someone takes care of you for an hour. They offer you warm tea and they wrap your feet in warm towels. Nothing is expected of you for that entire hour. It's an amazing feeling.

My masseuse warned me that when I got up I might feel a little light-headed, so to go slowly. I really didn't think I would be, but when I got up I had to stop for a second and just breathe. It was such a relaxing experience that it was difficult just getting back up and going at the fast pace that I've become accustomed to as a student. I enjoyed having my body force me to slow down. I had to go to work right afterwards and I felt like I was able to handle the day much better working at that relaxed, slower pace.

My masseuse recommended that I come in about once a month for a massage. I had to chuckle to myself. I would absolutely love to do that, but with the prices that are charged for massages, I really doubt that it can fit into my college budget. Hence why I think there needs to be that outlet for college students like me who carry their exams in the knots in their muscles. Free massages for all college students would not be a bad idea. In fact, I think that having more relaxed students would just heighten the potential for our world to have more successful, qualified future leaders. College students should go get massages. It may be pricey, but sometimes you have to treat yourself. I highly recommend it.