Issue link: http://cp.revolio.com/i/57427
After I receive my paycheck for teaching in a rural community, I pay my rent, then spend the rest on extras, though sometimes even toilet paper can be considered an extra on my salary. Luxuries are often put off to the side by people like me, who live a hair above the poverty line. The point is that taking care of myself can be a diffi cult thing to do; my membership at the gym is limited to free trials, my groceries are not organic, and the scratches on my prescription glasses I purchased four years ago have made me a little cross-eyed. I'm happy, though, mostly because of one extra I consistently turn to: massage therapy. KARMA COMES AROUND Chronic back problems have left me somewhat hobbled, but apparently all of the good deeds I've done in the classroom left karma with no choice but to give me a taste of the good life: you see, I have a friend, Kathleen, who is a massage therapist. She is an amazing individual who has introduced me to new worlds—one of those being the power of touch. RURAL TEACHER GETS A MASSAGE As a teacher of English, it is tough to offer up my services to people around me. Unless someone is editing a resume or needs a person to instruct an unruly group of teenagers, I am fairly useless. Kathleen has never had this problem. Everyone loves to get a massage. I have been able to give her a few laughs over the course of our friendship, but the fi rst time she offered to give me a one-hour massage, I realized I was on the better half of this exchange. It was a great situation for me. I had never been to her studio before, and, to be honest, I was a little embarrassed about the fact that I'd never actually had a massage. This plagued me at fi rst, but as soon as she began the session intake, where she asked about my health history, I realized how professional the experience was going to be. When she opened the entrance to her massage room, it felt like my blood pressure dropped 100 points. The room was perfectly lit and shared hints of sage and lavender incense; Tiki decorations silhouetted the Massage therapy involves more than just rubbing down a body. Simply relaxing in this seclusion is as therapeutic as a day at the beach. " Which word best describes how you feel after a massage? Results taken from Massagetherapy.com poll Relaxed 59% Healthier 23% Energized 13% Emotional 3% Body Sense 5