I see a lot of people in my clinic with a whole assortment of pain. It’s like a virtual game of "Where’s Waldo?"—only Waldo is your pain, and he’s hiding somewhere between your shoulder blades, lower back, knees, or some other body part you’d rather not think about. They come to me with a laundry list of things they’re doing to tackle it: weekly physical therapy, regular massages, monthly chiropractic adjustments, acupuncture, kale smoothies, hot yoga, goat yoga (what’s next, alpaca yoga?), and soaking in hot tubs. But they’re still walking around like they just spent the weekend in a tumble dryer.

Here's the kicker: after they run through this epic list of all their Herculean efforts, I always ask them the same question: “What do you do to relax?” And without fail, they get that "deer in the headlights" look. You know, the kind that says, “Relax? Who has time for that?”

Folks, if you can’t relax on a massage table for an hour a week without mentally planning your next grocery run, chances are you’re not relaxing much anywhere else. Maybe you take a deep breath right before your head hits the pillow, or you find a moment of Zen at the end of a 10-day internet-free vacation, but let’s be honest: for most of us, relaxation is a foreign concept.

And here's the irony: relaxing isn’t just about feeling good. It’s about letting your body and mind recover, heal, and function optimally. Studies have shown that relaxation techniques can lower blood pressure, reduce stress hormones, and even improve immune function. In other words, when you take time to relax, you're doing your body a huge favor.

I get it, though. We live in a society where relaxation is often equated with laziness. If you're not running a marathon, climbing a corporate ladder, or mastering artisanal sourdough, you're seen as wasting time. And with to-do lists that seem to grow faster than bamboo, it's hard to justify giving ourselves an hour a day to just, you know, chill. But here's the thing: relaxation isn’t just about escaping your stress—it’s about giving your body the downtime it needs to reset. It’s like hitting the “refresh” button on your favorite browser, only with fewer pop-ups.

So, let's try something radical. Let’s reclaim the lost art of relaxation. Brew a cup of tea, light a candle, draw a bath, meditate, or just sit in a comfy chair and stare at the ceiling for a while. It's not wasted time; it's healing time. Remember, giving yourself an hour a day to relax is less than 1% of your day. If you think about it, that’s not much to ask for a healthier, happier, and less pain-filled life.

So, next time you're feeling overwhelmed and sore, take a deep breath, grab your favorite pillow, and give yourself permission to do... absolutely nothing. Your body will thank you, and so will I.

May your pain be relieved and relaxation be the catalyst

Jessica