You don’t have to be an athlete to be active

Most people I talk to really downplay their level of activity. I LOVE that Colorado really supports such an active lifestyle, but sometimes I feel that there is a lot of stress and competition out there to define what an active lifestyle really is. You don’t have to be riding Rist Canyon every week to say that you have an active lifestyle.

Are you giving yourself enough credit for the active lifestyle that you life?

More importantly are you giving yourself the tools that you need to continue that lifestyle for years to come?

Let’s first clarify what an active lifestyle looks like. If it’s not riding your bike 120 miles a week or hiking a 14er what is it?

• Commuting by bike or by foot to and from work 3-5 times a week
• Actively playing with your kids or grandkids; getting down on the floor with them, picking them up, etc.
• Tending to your garden and lawn (can be a year round activity in Colorado!!)
• Shoveling your driveway and sidewalks (also sometimes a year round activity in Colorado!!)
• Walking for exercise or meditation on a regular basis
• Hiking local trails
• Working at a job that requires lifting, bending or any repetitive motion
• The desire to move through life pain free, feeling as young as you can as long as you can!

Okay, so now we all know that you don’t have to be an athlete to say that you are active.

Massage is one of the most important tools you can have in your bag of tricks. It is just as essential for those living an active lifestyle as it is for athletes. Regular massage can help to address areas that could potentially turn into an injury before it happens. Your therapist is able to feel for areas that are holding tension that you may not be aware of. Working through this tension before it becomes a problem can help you avoid injury, pain and fatigue.

Regular massage can also help you to recover from activity quicker, eliminating soreness that can slow you down after a day of work or play! This soreness, when left untreated can lead to more serious chronic pain. Massage is designed to increase circulation, increasing oxygen and nutrient deliver to an area of soreness. Speeding up the healing process so that you can avoid long term pain and potential injury.

It is what you do on a daily basis that leads to your overall long term health. Just like eating well, exercising, seeing your chiropractor; regular massage should be a part of your long term health plan.