executive’s work week or day is like. She treats her business clients similar to her athletes.
Some days they may need a deep tissue massage because they had a stressful meeting and
other times they need a Swedish massage or relaxation massage. Most executives workout
and eat right because they know that exercise and good nutrition helps your mind, Richeson
explains. “On the same level, massage gets your mind working the right way because it helps
to balance everything—workouts, job, family and life.”
It’s relatively easy to find massage services today—whether it’s a chair massage, private
massage, massage at a day spa or even a massage at a hotel while travelling. Richeson’s advice
is to make sure you have a credited massage therapist who was recommended by someone
you know and, if you feel uncomfortable at any point, stop the massage. “It is a relationship
and someone that you are vulnerable with the majority of the time. You have to trust the
person,” she says.
Massage may be the missing piece of the puzzle for many business leaders. “When you get a
massage, it is about you,” says Richeson. “You don’t have to talk to this person. It is not about
anyone but you. People need that. We need to be nurtured.”
V.
Do Massages Have Real Health Benefits?
One Australian study found that a 10-minute muscle massage after a workout could reduce
soreness by 30%. A separate review study on massage found that levels of the stress hormone
cortisol dropped 31% following a rubdown, while levels of feel-good hormones like dopamine
and serotonin increased roughly 30%.
You don’t even have to shell out cash for a stranger to perform your massage. Research on
different forms of self-massage, including foam rolling, have found that giving yourself a good