It may seem obvious, but your massage therapist really looks at your skin. Massage therapists are trained to observe a person’s skin for cuts, bruises, rashes, and anything unusual before touching it. And this observation doesn’t just stop at first glance. Throughout the course of your session, your massage therapist will keep an eye out for anything on your skin that seems out of the norm, and if warranted, may refer you to a dermatologist or other health-care professional for evaluation.

My friend Ellie and I were driving to the beach when she asked me to pull over. She was experiencing sharp pain in her chest. We stayed quiet as she put her hand to her heart and focused on her breathing. The pain eased and then stopped within a few minutes. I suggested going to the emergency room, but Ellie insisted she was OK. Earlier that day, Ellie had shared the details of a daughter in crisis, a relationship that was bringing up unresolved issues, and her mother’s mental illness and steep decline in a nursing facility.

After exercise, Sharon was leaving the gym with more pain, and had developed a disturbing tingling in her fingers. Fortunately, her massage therapist knew the root of the problem: Sharon’s fascia was distorted.

I used to sit at the edge of the ocean to find my rhythm. When planning my annual vacations, it was the water that called me--not so much to be in it, but to be by it. Maternal and soothing, the comings and goings of the tide was my "reset" button--you know, the one that allows you to deal calmly again with the world. Along came twins, and my exotic vacations were replaced with ventures closer to home. Being in a land-locked state, sitting by the ocean was no longer an option. How was I going to hit my reset button now? The answer was right in front of me--massage.