Remember that taunt in middle school, “Does your face hurt, cause it’s killing me”? Well, sometimes our face does hurt because of the stress we are carrying around in our heads. Our foreheads are furrowed, our eyes are squinted, our jaw is clenched. Did you notice it as you were reading that? Paying attention to those signs of stress gives us the opportunity to take action to relieve it.
This head and neck massage, guided by Dr. Sharon M. Weinstein from the Salt Lake City VA Health Care System will have you relaxed in just 15 minutes.
Before watching the video below, prepare yourself and your environment:
- Sit in a way that allows you to feel well-supported. If possible, place the soles of your feet on the ground, for strength and stability.
- Limit your digital distractions (consider “Do Not Disturb” or turn the volume off). Your attention and intention should be on self-care.
- Hydrate with water and have more water nearby. Tight muscles can create a traffic jam with reduced circulation. You want to hydrate, soften and help fluids move.
- Wash and dry your hands thoroughly before and after.
- Remove jewelry, placing directly nearby.
- Review clothing around forearms. If tight or confining, consider rolling up your sleeves or removing your jacket or coat.
- Avoid injured areas, including cuts, bruises, rashes, swelling, bandages or broken skin. If need be, apply pressure to only one side of your body.
- Apply moderate, consistent pressure. Respect your body. If you tend to bruise easily or are taking blood thinners, use gentle pressure.
Your mind and body deserve to be cared for!
Self-care routines like this are part of your Whole Health. Don’t let a day go by without giving yourself at least 15 minutes to nurture your health and well-being. Find the Whole Health contacts at your local VA and learn more about self-care.
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