Hiya!
As you read this, do me a favour... Take a look at your hands - a good long look.
Roll your wrists around. Did you hear anything crack?
Now, rub your hands together.
Feel your hands as you clench each of them into a tight fist, and then open and close them five times, and finally, wiggle your fingers about and touch your thumb to each of your fingers, making a ring with the thumb and finger, running up and down from your first finger to your little finger, and back again.
Did you do that??
If you did, well done! And if you didn't (but know that you could if you wanted to), you can rest in the knowledge that your hands are unique and that they're an evolutionary gift.
The opposable thumb is a distinguishing feature shared by many primates, and is used primarily for precision gripping - a skill that allows us to do everything - like swinging from the monkey bars like a child in the sunshine, to throwing a ball to your beloved pet, to creating masterpieces that transcends eras and live in our hearts forever.
This also means that your hands are perhaps one of the most used parts of your body - and also probably the most taken for granted!
So ask yourself honestly- when did you last have them massaged?
Hand massage or hand reflexology is wonderful way to relax.
A recent study by Osaka et. al. (2009)*, found that a 5 minute hand massage was able to significantly reduce the level of stress in patients with advanced stages of cancer, as measured by comparing the level of chromogranin A (CgA) before and after a hand massage.
Likewise, Cronfalk et. al.** reported in the Journal of Clinical Nursing that regular hand massage for carers of terminally ill family members resulted in "feelings of 'being cared for', 'body vitality' and 'peace of mind'."
So why not make sure that when you have your next massage, that you look after your evolutionary gift and take advantage of the many benefits of incorporating a hand reflexology massage into your session.
Until next time... yours in health,
Mel
*J Altern Complement Med. 2009 Sep;15(9):981-5.
** J Clin Nurs. 2009 Aug;18(15):2225-33.
