The Hidden Benefits of Massage

I didn't realize how many knots I had until my Megan began working her magic. One after another she attempted to release the tension that was binding my neck, shoulders, and back. Lucky for me, the chronic pain that I used to experience on a daily basis is a thing of the past. However, that doesn't excuse me from feeling the negative effects of my neck surgery every now and then when I've spent too much time on the computer and no time exercising.

While I may have a heightened awareness about my body most of the time, this massage made me realize that there are underlying issues that I am completely clueless about as well. Our bodies are capable of enduring all sorts of physical challenges, and it has the capability to heal itself in ways that many don't fully comprehend. That's why it's important to seek out ways to help nurture ourselves and our bodies, so that they can perform to the best of their abilities.

The majority of the public believes that getting a massage is only something you do to pamper yourself, or treat yourself to on special occasions. And the advertising we see on TV and in other ads (magazines, newspapers, etc.) reinforces that fallacy even further. The reality is that massage should be treated as much more than a mere indulgence. You might be surprised to hear this, but regular massage is actually part of a healthy lifestyle.

Not only is it a soothing way to reduce stress, pain, stiffness and soreness, but it also has a myriad of other benefits to be aware of as well. It's too bad that most health insurance coverage doesn't include these beneficial treatments. However, that doesn't stop medical practitioners from prescribing this to their patients anyway. Research suggests that massage can relieve insomnia, control blood pressure, manage anxiety & depression, boost immunity, improve circulation, and promote joint flexibility to name a few of the positive effects experienced as a result of a professional rub down. Megan was extremely mindful of my comfort levels and did a wonderful job of lessening the tension in my neck and back. I'm ready to go back in for another treatment already! 

I felt like a new person after my massage therapy session. Overall, the experience I had was soothing and relaxing. Little did I realize at the time that I booked the appointment that I was in such need of her services. It didn't take me long to see that it's something that I need to do more often as a way to continue on my path to happy healing. If you ask me, it's something we should all do! Some of you might be thinking about how costly massages can be, and sometimes they are, but maybe you're looking in the wrong place?! For instance, upscale spas here in Boone, NC (in most cases) charge significantly more than the rates Megan charges at the salon. It doesn't hurt to shop around to ensure you're getting a price you can comfortably afford. This may not be something that I could do weekly, but I definitely plan to get treatments at least monthly.

Megan Ward is a licensed massage therapist here in Boone, NC, who recently opened her new business, Every Body Massage & Bodywork Therapy, in the Shear Shakti Salon located in downtown Boone. Her Therapeutic Integrative Massage technique incorporates Trigger Point Release, Swedish massage, & Deep Tissue work. It's apparent that she loves and enjoys this type of work, and that energy comes across in the way that she moves and manipulates your body. I felt so at peace that I nearly fell asleep during our session!

To the lucky few who read my blog that live in (or around) my hometown, Megan has offered one complimentary 60-minute massage as a giveaway! How awesome is that?!? If you'd like to be considered for this random drawing, please leave a comment here or on the WW Facebook page answering this question:

“Have you had the opportunity to experience a massage from a licensed professional? If so, what was your experience and how has it helped you?” 

Even if you aren't eligible for the giveaway, I'd still love to hear your responses! For those who can enter, if you'd like to receive an extra entry, head on over to the Shear Shakti Facebook profile and become a friend. Just leave a comment here once you've done so.

Related Links:

• Every Body Massage & Body Work Therapy (Megan's Website)
• Shear Shakti Salon | Boone, NC (Website)

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How I Reached a Path of Happy Healing

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Chronic pain was part of my daily life for over 3 years. This was after I had major neck surgery to remedy the issues I was experiencing, which were 3 ruptured discs in my cervical vertebra. I was in the dark about what the source of this pain was for several months before finding a doctor that could properly diagnose me. At that point, I was at my wit's end with the daily pain, and I was willing to do practically anything to lessen or get rid of it entirely. The doctor assured me that after the procedure the pain would subside, and I would be back to 'normal' in a matter of months after my surgery. Having felt like I exhausted all of my other options, I decided to go through with the surgery. That was 4 years ago.

Today (Jan 31st), is the anniversary of that surgery. It seems sort of morbid for me to celebrate such a painful time in my life, especially since it completely changed everything about how I chose to live and what I was capable of doing physically. One thing that I missed terribly was my ability to rock climb. Before the neck issues, I climbed about 5 days a week—it was a huge part of my life. Even though I was left with a void that climbing could no longer fill, I was eventually ushered onto a new path that brought me to where I am today.

I overcame many obstacles during that time period that were extremely difficult for me to come to terms with. Now, I see how necessary it was for me to shed my old ways in order to be open to all the new experiences I wanted to have in my life. When I no longer had the ability to rock climb, I had more time to devote to photography. Reigniting my passion for taking pictures was one of the greatest gifts to come from this life-altering experience. Now, I look back on what happened as a blessing.

Not only did this experience guide me to a path where I am finally following my dreams, but it also helped draw me closer to a partner who has been there for me through thick and thin. Chronic pain can get the best of you sometimes if you don't have the will to fight against it; Cody was a real trooper when I had bad days. I'm very grateful that Cody has stuck by me through the good and bad.

It wasn't until April 2010 that those 'bad days' became few and far between. A friend introduced me to Yoga, and I've been practicing it almost daily since that time. There were moments when I felt as though the chronic pain would never go away. I consider myself extremely lucky that I could find a way to make that happen (finally). There were many occasions during the days of chronic pain that people suggested I take up Yoga, but I pretty much ignored their willingness to offer assistance. I'm glad that I finally wised up and changed this painful pattern once and for all.

This past year has most definitely been a time for healing—physically, mentally, and emotionally. It's so nice to look back on this time last year when I had no idea that the discomfort I was experiencing would diminish. It's a reminder to me that something that is bothering or worrying you today won't necessarily be there as you get further down the road. The fact that I'm sitting in front of this computer without a stitch of pain is a testament to the fact that things don't always stay the same, even if we feel as though nothing is changing.

January 31st, 2011 I will gladly celebrate my neck surgery anniversary because, in a way, even though it could be considered one of the worst things to happen in my life (so far), it's also one of the best things to have happened to me, too. 

Related Links:

• One Year Surgery Anniversary (2008)
• Forgetting that Fear 

Forgetting that Fear

*WARNING: This is from my heart.

I've distanced myself for the past few days, as my mind has been clouded with all sorts of worriment that should have only been contemplated instead of dwelt upon. I can't help it though, sometimes, I'm that guy. As some of you may know Friday was the photographers reception in which the winners were to be announced for the competition. I am saddened to report, that neither of my photos were selected for any awards, no category winner, no special mentions, or people's choice award......Nothing! I'll admit that the defeat was disappointing for me, until the end, my hopes were high. In retrospect, I feel lucky to have even been a part of the competition at all - and I am deeply honored. The whole process brought upon so much anxiety for me, choosing the photos to enter, waiting to hear whether or not they were selected, framing the ones that were actually chosen, going to the shows grand opening, everything.........but I took a chance, and I did it! For most of my life, I've been quite afraid of putting myself out there for fear of rejection.



There was a point in my life when I was finally able to let that go. Last night, I realized when that was, and how exactly that was achieved.It took a gigantic leap of faith for me to move nearly 500 miles away from my family and friends to a place I had only been once, Boone. I honestly feel that I was drawn here by some divine force that I have never really been able to explain. This is my home, and I belong here. My life has changed so much since the summer of 05 and with every step, I never really knew what was going to happen, but I stuck it out, and I stayed. Almost two and a half years later, I am doing things, and living in a way that I didn't really imagine for myself back then.


After the reception, we picked up the free tickets I was awarded to see the Banff Mountain Film Festival movies that go on every year here in Boone. They are always everything you expect them to be out of the festival contestants. The caliber of movies they show are always on a level that really touch me in several different ways. One in particular that we saw last night, really hit home, it was called "20 seconds of joy". The 60 minute film was about a girl named Karina Hollekim who was a BASE jumper, an extreme and upbeat girl who was living her life to the fullest. From the start of the film, I knew that it was going to strike a cord with me, and in the end, I knew that I would be crying. I was short of a sniffling baby when her life was flipped upside down. I identified with Karina's story, because I too had been deeply involved with something that I loved so much, to only have it taken away before I was ready for it to end.



What happened with Karina, is that she suffered a terrible landing on a particular jump, and shattered her right leg in several different places, and has been through many surgeries in attempts to restore her leg. Our particular injuries can only be compared to a certain extent, and neither one can be measured the same way. After overcoming tremendous odds, Karina asked the question that I knew would break me, "Will I ever be able to jump again?", I started shaking and tears flooded my eyes..........I too remember asking my doctor prior to my neck surgery whether or not he thought I would climb again.......I felt her pain.


It's been since Sept of 06 that I climbed, and I think about it on occasion, I miss it so much sometimes. If I see photos, my hands will start sweating, and my heart will start racing, I can recall exactly what it felt like to be on that rock. Earlier I mentioned that there was a point in my life when I learned to let go of the fears that I harbored.......it was when I became a climber. Aside from being in the best physical condition of my life........I felt stronger all around, my mind as well as my body were well conditioned. I pushed myself to do things that I never imagined I would be capable of physically, but when I was finally able to achieve my goals, those accomplishments influenced my daily life, and gave me the courage to go that extra mile - I could do anything if I put my mind to it.


Climbing was my life, I did it four days a week, watched videos, trained......it was all I cared about quite frankly. But like Karina, in a matter of days my life was changed. Unlike Karina, I wasn't injured while climbing or in her case BASE jumping, but it happened four days before I was going to enter a rock climbing competition, something I had been working toward FOR MONTHS! I was crushed. I have come a long way since then, and I accept the course my life has taken.....Will I ever climb again? Well, I sure hope so.....Do I have any regrets about anything that happened? No. Would I do things differently given the chance? Probably not. However, I do need to continue my fight to overcome those fears that I have on a daily basis and against all odds stay motivated and driven by the desires I have for the chapters in my life story. Right now, I feel like I'm headed in the right direction.

Be Strong. Stay Determined. Find Inspiration. Never stop pushing myself.

......Observance of an Awakening......

What I love most about writing and keeping personal records is the availability to look back upon what I was and how I was feeling during those periods. Otherwise, some highly significant details would be lost never to be seen again.

Today marks one year since my life altering surgery..................

Right now, I'm left with a bad taste in my mouth. It has been hard to separate the good from the bad today. Flashbacks of time lost. Sometimes, I miss what could have been. As a result of my injury and surgery my life has changed in ways that I did not expect. It is so different from what I thought it was going to be. Yet, different in a good way. I was not prepared for it and it has been far from easy. I am truly thankful to have Cody for support, for always knowing when to stand by, or when to back down. I am not always the easiest to live with, I know. Thank you!

It's taken some time for me to find the blessings in all of this. I now know that deep down this is where I am meant to be at this point in time. I'm learning, I'm growing and I will do everything in my power to continue to do so.

Through all of this I have regained a new found passion for photography. Not that I want something like this to happen every time I need a wake up call, but at least I can say that some good has come out of it all. I've certainly come a long way but the journey is far from over.

Below you'll find a passage written not too long after I had my surgery, I just thought it was a nice contrast to how I was currently feeling.

Saturday, February 17, 2007

Eating my tears......................... Oh where to start? I have definitely been going through some transitions lately. Nothing is as it was. You start to realize that most things change and for you to expect things to stay the same then, well, you're delusional! I always seem to learn the hard way. What I've been through lately doesn't really compare to anything else I have experienced in my lifetime as short as that has been so far. It's always been a huge downfall of mine to be reliant on anyone; but as of recently I've had to do just that. I also feel as though I've had to learn to be weak in a way. I go from being in optimal health, climbing a few times a week, living it, and breathing it on a daily basis; to doing nothing. Only a select few actually know that for the past four months I have had problems with pain management; something that came about quite suddenly. And just recently with surgery and lots of hope I'm looking forward to being fully recovered so that there will be a day when I can climb again. That is where I lost my passion to do anything. Especially going about everyday without knowing why you're in pain. Well we found out: I had 3 herniated discs in my neck that were pressing on my spinal cord - the solution was to have the discs removed, all 3 of them! Most of my cervical vertebra is now fused - or is in the process of fusing itself. I've been off work for the past few weeks and I'm going nuts! I rather be working but I physically have felt like crap so I wouldn't be any help to anyone anyhow. I hate feeling so weak...........being so weak..........since when can't I lift 5 lbs.!!! About four months ago all I thought about was being stronger.......doing that one arm pull up for goodness sakes! Things have changed for me immensely and I've had a ton of trouble staying balanced these days. I keep telling myself to hang in there that soon enough I will be good as new but it's hard to be optimistic sometimes. Woe is me.........I sound like a victim right now.........I hate that! Well, anyhow what's done is done. I will recover it just takes time and unfortunately I am the most impatient person on the planet!