Tips on Staying Mellow!

Tips on Staying Mellow:
Extending Healthy Living Beyond the Massage Center

An E-Series by Vanessa M. Hazzard-Tillman, CMT


Welcome to the first installment of Tips on Staying Mellow! If you are reading this then you are already on the wellness path. I like to think of being healthy as a journey that changes with and complements your life as opposed to an unattainable destination met only by the select few. It’s those little steps you take now that pay off big months and years down the line. Those steps could be taking a 20-30 minute stroll on a nice day, grabbing an apple with peanut (my personal favorite) as a refreshing snack, or even just taking a moment to stretch after sitting at a computer all day (great for preventing carpal tunnel syndrome).

Here, you will find these tips and more on a weekly basis. I encourage your feedback! If you try any of these tips or have any of your own, please post them! The wellness path is best traveled with a group of sincere, positive people! In fact, according to an article in Whole Living Magazine, a study at the University College London found that people in troubled relationships had a higher risk of health problems. “Such bad vibes can lead to chronic stress, elevating hormones, that can cause aging, arrhythmia, diabetes, and high cholesterol,” explains Mimi Guarneri, M.D., cardiologist and medical director of the Scripps Center for Integrative Medicine in La Jolla, CA. Though this study was more referring to dating and marriage, any kind of negative relationship can cause wear and tear on you emotionally and mentally which undoubtedly can take a stressful toll on your body.

…Which brings us to Stay Mellow Tip #1: Get therapeutic massages often.
Now coming from a massage therapist, that’s kind of a no-brainer. But massage therapy is extremely effective in relieving mental and emotional stress as well as physical stress. According to Prevention Magazine, receiving a massage can cut cortisol levels up to 31%. It also is extremely effective in the increase of dopamine and serotonin. Massage is also affordable. You can book a relaxing Swedish massage or an invigorating deep tissue massage at Mellow for only $75 for an hour session. If you get a massage twice a month, that’s less than $5.36 a day. That’s less than a trip to Dunkin Donuts…and better for you too!

Stay tuned for the next edition of Tips on Staying Mellow: Recipes For Getting a Good Night’s Sleep…its easier than you might think!