| May 11, 2026 |
NatNews |
ISSUE 217 |
MASSAGE THERAPY OFFERS PHYSICAL + MENTAL HEALTH BENEFITS
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It might be time to make time for a regularly scheduled massage. Massages offer several benefits, including improved circulation, decreased muscle stiffness and joint inflammation, strengthened immune response, faster post-workout recovery, improved mood, decreased anxiety, and increased energy. But they don’t need to be reserved solely for treat yo’ self days. Dallas-area resident and massage therapist Liza Lott said she generally recommends a massage frequency of every two to four weeks, especially for individuals who work out on a consistent basis. “When you’re active, massage becomes more like body maintenance—helping with recovery, tightness, and overall movement,” she said. And as Lott pointed out, lying down on the massage table can also be quite an eye-opening experience for some individuals. “Massages can help with muscle tension, recovery, mobility, sleep, and stress,” she said. “A lot of people don’t realize how much tension they are carrying until their bodies finally relax.” Massages can help with conditions such as depression, digestive issues, nerve pain, headaches, scar tissue, and fibromyalgia. Recent research also indicates that massage therapy adjusts the way the body and brain communicate, resulting in several additional psychological and mental health benefits. Those who routinely get massages may also notice improvements in their postures as a result of the loosening of tight muscles, breaking up of adhesions, and restoration of their bodies to their normal positions. Dallas-area resident Steve Bergsman said he would prefer to have a massage every two weeks but typically does so every four weeks. “I have a desk job, and I have a bad habit of sitting in certain positions for hours on end,” he said. For Bergsman, this monthly experience is more than simply a way to find relaxation and relief from his workday physical setup. |
“In addition to getting tight areas loosened, massages are an independent assessment of areas I need to work on myself—either rolling, stretching, or strengthening,” he said. Some individuals might be hesitant to incorporate massage therapy into their routines because of worries pertaining to pain, discomfort, or other factors involved. As Bergsman noted, though he has seen the same massage therapist for multiple years, getting a massage isn’t a lifetime commitment of any sort. “A good therapist will work with you to understand your issues and will control the pressure appropriately,” he said. “There is nothing wrong with giving things a shot. Try it, and if you don’t like it, then you don’t have to go back.” Bergsman acknowledged that massages aren’t for everyone, but there are certainly other options for those seeking relief for muscle tension or pain. “An alternative is to go to someone who does dry needling, which is also something I’ve had great success with in the past,” he said. There are a variety of massage options, including Swedish, hot stone, deep tissue, aromatherapy, sports, reflexology, Thai, and several others. Different individuals have separate goals and preferences regarding their massages, so what works for one person might not be the most suitable choice for someone else. “There’s not one type that’s best for everyone,” Lott said. “The best massage is one that’s customized to what that person’s body needs at the time—whether that’s relaxation, recovery, or tension relief.” For those concerned about massages being painful, it’s important to communicate with the massage therapist if changes need to be made to the amount of pressure or if one is experiencing too much discomfort. “It doesn’t have to hurt to be effective,” Lott said. “The session can always be adjusted to your comfort level so that you can relax and still get the benefits.” |
DID YOU KNOW?
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Built in 1908, Holler House (located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin) is the oldest sanctioned 10-pin bowling alley still operating in the U.S. |
WHAT KIND OF TRAVELER ARE YOU?
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Not everyone is like Dorothy Gale and willing to settle for the notion that the heart’s desire can simply be found in one’s own backyard. According to UN Tourism, approximately 1.52 billion international tourists were recorded around the world in 2025, with Europe serving as the world’s most sought-after destination region, recording 793 million international tourists last year. Different individuals like to travel in different styles, whether contingent upon personalities, situations, travel purposes, or other contributing factors. When Dallas-area resident Alexis Derrow visits a new place, she prefers to plan out her trip and have an itinerary to follow. “I’m a sight-seer, and some sights can’t be seen on certain days,” she said. “I like to have my game plan. I also plan ‘rest.’ I usually only plan two big things plus one rest per day. If I need a whole rest day, I’ll rework the itinerary.” Derrow said she enjoys taking part in touristy activities in places she hasn’t previously been, though she will occasionally add in some unknown adventures. “If I’m single, I’ll hop on Bumble and get a local to take me for a drink,” she said. Derrow added that she does have three specific tasks for each new place she visits. “I go to McDonald’s—international McDonald’s is wild,” she said. “I take public transportation—this is where you see locals. And I go to mass. I’ve done English-language mass with a bunch of Chinese people in France. It was wild.” Not all travelers like to know what is in store for them when they visit different parts of the world, though. Unlike Derrow, Dallas resident Carolyn Fan said she prefers to have no schedule or itinerary when she ventures to another city, state, or country. “The best adventures are usually spontaneous for me,” she said. “I usually have one or two things that I would love to see when I’m there and maybe a couple of other things that would be cool, but it’s not the end of the world if I don’t get to see everything.” Fan said her favorite aspect of travel is the opportunity to meet new people and experience different cultures, and being on a rigid schedule could create unwanted obstacles. “I feel like if I am open to try new things without an itinerary, I’ll be able to experience more of that,” she said. “I love talking to strangers and learning more about the way of life in a certain place. Usually the tourist stuff does not interest me as much as really getting to know a place.” And Fan said the best location for her to do so might not be the first one that other people would think. “This may be very strange, but my favorite place to go in a new city is a supermarket—just to see what people eat and whatever everyday life is like for them,” she said. “I also love going to a park or a bakery in that city and trying local cuisine and seeing how people interact in daily life.” Fan added that she does enjoy seeing one or two famous aspects of an area, but she does not think it’s necessary to go to every single museum or landmark. She simply wants to be out and about and explore a place that is relatively unknown to her. “I think the best way to travel is to spend the least amount of time in the hotel or hostel where you’re staying,” she said. “Honestly, the absolute best way to travel is to stay with someone who lives there and hang out with them and their friends.”
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Fan said her favorite trips have been the ones she’s taken by herself, noting that solo travel forces her to make friends with new individuals and talk to people she doesn’t know. “It’s great because then you learn so much more about a place than originally planned,” she said. “I traveled to Columbia by myself and had an absolutely amazing time meeting new people and experiencing a new culture. The friendships I made during my time in Columbia resulted in me being able to go visit my friends and other countries. I also was able to live in Europe for a year, which was quite memorable, being able to experience everyday life in Germany while befriending a lot of people.” For Derrow, she said her most cherished trip was one she took to London during high school with her parents. “My mom is a super planner, and we did everything,” she said. “We got to see the Magna Carta. Bath was cool—just Roman Baths in England.” Derrow said other notable trips were those she experienced with her parents by her side, including in her adult years. “It was similar for Hawaii—my mom just planned a ton of stuff,” she said. “And New York a few years ago. I got to check off almost all of my things on my New York bucket list. I still don’t have the top of the Empire State Building. Sigh.” Though Derrow might still be working on ensuring that she sees and experiences all she hopes, she said there are certainly plenty of benefits added to her life from the exploring she has already been able to do in areas outside of those most familiar to her. “I think it helps to see what’s good and bad about the world and appreciate what you have back at home,” she said. “I enjoy seeing things that are really old and getting a sense of the genius of man—how sophisticated these building techniques were, done without computers or electricity.” Derrow added that it is especially beneficial for Americans to venture to other parts of the world and experience sites and surroundings to which they are not accustomed while also sharing their own culture with others. “You’re able to see really beautiful things in a way you can’t see in the U.S. because they don’t exist—it’s too modern,” she said. “It helps with understanding how young America is and explaining to Europeans how big it is. You’re doing a little cultural exchange. You think being an American is not that interesting, but people are really curious.” Similarly, Fan noted that the perks of traveling and experiencing new places include learning about how people live different lifestyles in different parts of the world, which can help a person be more open-minded. “Studies have shown that as you age, time seems to go by faster because people get in the monotony of doing habitual activities,” she said, “but being in a different environment while traveling really slows time down and keeps the lasting memory that is not just the mundane everyday life.” Fan said journeying to other areas also allows individuals to become more aware of truths and falsities they have heard about certain places or cultures. “It makes you more open to the world,” she said. “I tend to wonder what life is like if you were born in that country, instead. I do think if people traveled more, it would help make them more open to other cultures and more accepting of others.” WEEKLY PHOTO OP     .jpg)  The NatNews photography staff failed this week, but thankfully, Rocky Keith (and her mom, Lucy) showed up as the real MVP |
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