Hippocratic Oats

Heaven is a place on earth…

June 3, 2009 at 9:48 pm Leave a comment

Three things I wish I realized I LOVED earlier in life:

Massages:
When I won a free massage in college, I flat out refused to go. The thought of someone touching me in a dark room with candles and funky eastern music playing in the background was less than appealing. In fact, it sounded creepy. What good would it really do if someone rubbed my shoulders? I could do that myself. So when I first moved to Boston and started training in the pool 4 or 5 days a week, I was not excited when my right shoulder started bothering me. No amount of advil helped, and I was in quite a bit of pain. My coworker Tara suggested that I get a massage. I had my doubts, but after 2 days of pain that was causing sleep-less nights, I was willing to try anything. She recommended Boston Bodyworker, and I made my appointment as soon as we could locate the number. Much to my surprise, once I was on the table, I really enjoyed the experience. That Cadbury egg sized lump in back was actually a knot that could be worked out! Almost instantly the tension was gone from my neck and within the next day, my shoulder was feeling 100% better. Boston Bodyworker isn’t into setting the mood with candles and incense. Instead, the centers (located at Park street or the Copley T-stops) have a very professional atmosphere. The staff is super friendly, and the rates for clinical massages are extremely reasonable. I’ve only ever had a good experience, and I’ve always walk away feeling more relaxed and in less pain. If anyone happens to be in need of a massage, I recommend Jenny. I’ve worked with several of the therapists, but Jenny is super nice and knows what she’s doing with her hands.

Tea:
I have always been a firm believer in state-dependent learning. Studies show you should study in the same conditions that you will test. In October of 2007, I started preparing for my MCATs, and I soon realized that consuming caffeine before the exam would not be the
best plan. As you probably know, caffeine is a diuretic and the last thing one wants to do during a timed exam is use the restroom frequently. Unfortunately my favorite study spots were Starbucks and Peets, and both establishments frown upon people sitting around the
cafe without purchasing a beverage. Thus began my love affair with Tea. When I was little, I was never a fan of the sips of salada tea I would take from my mom’s mug. So I was surprised to discover as an adult, I actually LOVED the taste of tea. Iced or hot, herbal or earl grey,
green or red, I really enjoyed them all. Recently, I was introduced to Teavana, a chain that specializes in loose teas. It’s a little on the pricey side, but the quality and diversity of the teas make it worth the extra cash.

Wine:

Entry filed under: favorite things, review. Tags: .