By Marina Rangel |Staff Writer|
Three masseurs with their massage chairs set up in the Upper Commons awaited their stressed and overworked clients. The line wrapped around the corner as students anticipated their five-minute FREE massage.
In a fast moving world how can we take a second to relax?
Even relaxation can seem rushed for students because of their pressed schedules.
In an effort to offer a healthy type of relaxation, free promotional massages were given out on Feb. 14 and 15 to promote the opening of CSUSB’s The Body Shop Massage Therapy.
“This is my first chair massage and I knew I could use one,” said student Michael Iyaniwura, as he stood in line as for a massage.
Sponsored by The Student Health and Psychological Counseling Center, Recreational Sports and Fitness Center, Human Resources and Wellness 2U massage therapy will now be offered as a service on Wednesdays and Thursdays in the Psychological Counseling Center.
There were few people that passed on the opportunity as they walked into the Commons. Massages are not cheap so the sign labeled “FREE” was definitely a show stopper.
Although many of us do not have disposable income to include a weekly massage into our budget, putting a little emphasis on your body’s wellness is not a bad idea.
Afterall, as students we spend a lot of our time stretched over personal issues, work and school responsibilities; keeping not only our minds but our bodies healthy and strong is an important piece of the puzzle.
In a recent study, examined in the New York and LA Times, researchers found that massages feel so great because after muscles have been exhausted and exercised, massages reduce inflammation and boosts mitochondria producing essential muscle energy.
In other words, getting those tired muscles worked on can ease pain from inflammation and help muscles to function and repair themselves. Starting Feb. 29 massage therapy will be offered on campus for $1 a minute and is a convenience that is worth checking out.
“I try to take advantage of everything on campus and I like participating in things like this,” said student Wendy Mendoza.
My personal experience with my free chair massage went great. I never gave it much thought when I passed by massage chairs in the mall and tried not to make eye contact to avoid saying no to a stranger.
Here, I sat down in that chair with a headache from my neck pain and walked away not remembering the pain that stayed with me for two days.
“It was so nice and the chair was a great experience,” said student Kristina Hall after her massage.
Massage therapy will be by appointment, but walk-ins are welcome.
CSUSB’s effort to keep bodies rejuvenated definitely serves as a great reminder to the duty we have to take care of ourselves and feels great too!
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