Happiness is Contagious

Happiness is Contagious

Maybe mom was right. Research suggests that surrounding yourself with friends and family who are happy can actually increase your own happiness.

Scientists at Harvard University and the University of California, San Diego, found that emotions, particularly happiness, have a viral effect in how they spread from one person to another. For every happy person in your physical social network, you have a 9 percent chance of increasing your own happiness. The effect is more pronounced the closer someone is to you geographically, and it does not seem to include electronic communications. The study, "Dynamic Spread of Happiness in a Large Social Network," can be found online in the British Medical Journal (www.bmj.com).

This is especially good news considering the potential health benefits of happiness and positivity. A study published in Stroke magazine has indicated a "significant association" between optimism and a reduced risk of stroke. This is in addition to studies that have linked optimism to a healthier immune system, faster wound healing, and a lower risk of heart disease. While the exact cause of the benefits is not clear, one theory is that optimistic people are more likely to take care of their health. In addition, there is hope that teaching optimism could become part of a preventative program for various conditions.

What's one way to get happy? Try massage! Exposure to stress, a contributing factor to unhappiness, over a long period of time can increase the rate of neural degeneration and increase the risk for Alzheimer's disease. Luckily, a study from Umea University in Sweden has shown that just five minutes of massage has the potential to lower stress, and 90 minutes of massage has a tremendously positive effect on stress levels. Get massage, get happy, and cheer up your friends and family!

 

 

Member

Ready to #feelbetter?

You're just a click away from a wicked good massage!

Book Now!

May Flowers-Life Hack

April Showers Bring 5 Flower Hacks What do you get when you combine soda, vodka, apple cider vinegar, hair spray & bleach?  Some incredible ways to preserve your flowers this season. Sure, April showers bring May flowers, but mother nature went a tad over board with it this April.  So how well are you prepared…

Read More

#FeelBetterBoston Recap

#FeelBetterBoston Recap The inaugural #FeelBetterBoston Massage & Community Wellness event over Marathon weekend left people with a smile on their face and genuine appreciation for all that was provided. We knew this being the first time we held such an event that we would be competing with the likes of the infamous BAA Expo and other…

Read More

How Do You Roll??

How Do You Roll?? Are Foam Rolling Advocates Stretching the Truth? Foam rolling is one of the most common means of self-care for so many people.  It has been thought to provide many benefits such as enhanced performance, improved flexibility and speed, pain reduction and muscle recovery. Often it is referred to as a self-massage technique,…

Read More

On the Mend

On the Mend As we quickly approach the holy grail of running events, the Boston Marathon, we start to see a rise in our battered and beaten road warriors.  Overuse conditions from months of increased training, acute injuries from falls on slippery roads and chronic aches and pains, all result in the patient surrendering to…

Read More

Life Hack: Watch the SB LIII on TV, but LISTEN on the Radio

Life Hack: Watch the SB LIII on TV, but LISTEN on the Radio So, our beloved Pats are back in the big game again. I’m not going to relay stats and numbers that drive home the dynasty known as the New England Patriots. We are all aware of them. However, if you want to enjoy…

Read More

Cortisone Injections: Yay or Ney?

Cortisone Injections: Yay or Ney? As massage therapists, we often see patients who have been struggling to find an answer for a particular pain problem. Some of these cases are acute (sudden onset) where others may be chronic (reoccurring over a long period of time). It is not uncommon to have a patient ask us…

Read More

Chiropractic Care at The Boston Bodyworker

Chiropractic Care at The Boston Bodyworker We are excited to announce the arrival of Dr. Jean Kelly of Momentum Healthcare to our office. Dr. Kelly has been practicing in our building for the past 10 years and has been a friend to The Boston Bodyworker for almost 20 years. We are honored to have her…

Read More

Spine Health: Don’t Ignore It!

Spine Health: Don’t Ignore It! The new year always provides us with the feeling of having a clean slate. Let’s face it, most of us don’t take very good care of our spines. 2019 can be the year that your resolutions come true. This lack of care can lead to physical discomfort and make us…

Read More

Life Hack: Drink Tea

Life Hack: Drink Tea With the rainiest and most dreary Fall in recent time behind us and winter now in full swing, the need for us to provide optimal care for ourselves is high. Despite American’s love affair with coffee, tea is really the more versatile of the beverages. Most of us reach for a…

Read More

Life Hack: Forward Head Posture

Life Hack: Forward Head Posture How many times in the course of a day do you roll your shoulders and neck around to alleviate “the spot” in between your shoulder blades. There are several reasons for the discomfort you are experiencing, but one way to resolve this is to do what is known as a…

Read More