Taking extra time can be helpful no matter what you are doing. This applies to
working on a project, planning an event, meditating, eating...you name it.
You might be surprised at what an additional 5 minutes can do for you and your task at hand.
You have, more than likely, heard about the practice of counting to 10 when you are experiencing anger or frustration in the process of communicating with others.
I don’t think I need to go into detail about the reasons why this practice is recommended.
Let’s just say that, as a personal coach, I see it as a way to take your power back in any communication. According to Psychology Today, counting to 10 “…allows more time for the slower neural processing of conscious thoughts to kick in.” I’m sure you’d agree that there is power in that.
In her temper tantrum article, Genevieve Howland (mamanatural.com) says, “Count to 10 to help interrupt your fight or flight response.” You can relate to that fight or flight response; can’t you? Taking that pause can work wonders.
Back to the 5 minutes: We have a different view of “taking 5” when it comes to the time after a massage therapy session. Use the first 5 minutes after your session to divert your thoughts to something else, perhaps redirecting them to a blank mental space.
Don’t worry: If you can’t find a naturally “blank slate” in your mind, you can easily create one by visualizing it. You can, for example, focus your attention on your breathing.
We find, at Nature’s Whisper Healing Arts, that an extra transition period between your massage and “what’s next?” is time well spent. The last thing you want to do is begin something new or start, say, a new project if you are still “back there”.
The 5 minutes post-session is a kind of mindfulness exercise; don’t you think? It brings you into the present and gives you focus.
Of course, we know that our clients are busy people, so we recognize that that 5 minutes can seem like hours as opposed to minutes.
For this reason, we want you to know that our “take 5” after your session can be helpful.
Here’s why:
During a massage session, the body’s parasympathetic system is stimulated, increasing circulation and creating a deep sense of relaxation.
So, as promised in the title of this article, here is our 5 reasons to take 5 (after a massage therapy session). Take 5 to:
1. Integrate the massage session time with the present
2. Re-integrate your “self” with real time
3. Gather your personal resources to tackle “what’s next?”
4. Do some deep breathing
5. Just be in the moment
We think you’ll find that extra 5 minutes just what you need to move with confidence into the future.
Sources for this article:
Howland, Genevieve. “Temper Tantrum: 10 Gentle Ways to Diffuse the Situation without Aggravation”. Posted online on mamanatural.com. May 5, 2020. https://www.mamanatural.com/temper-tantrum/
https://www.mamanatural.com/temper-tantrum/ Zilca, Ron. “Count to Ten and Reclaim Your Autonomy from Your Limbic Brain”. Psychology Today. July 20, 2012.