Anyone who follows me on
Twitter probably recognizes the name
Massage Lizard, as I tend to tweet about her semi-often. Allow me to introduce my friend, Megan O'Connor, the extremely talented massage therapist behind it all.
Due to back problems, I've been getting massages since I was about 13, and Megan is honestly one of the best massage therapists I've ever had. I try to schedule a massage once a month with her, and I always feel significantly better when I do. To make it even better, she comes to YOU, so afterwards you can just relax at home instead of having to get back in your car to fight traffic. So glorious.
In addition to being an expert on massage, Megan is also quite well-versed in overall health, vegetarian restaurants and LA in general...she's been here almost 10 years! She is always sharing inspirational tips on her
Facebook and
Twitter pages, so I decided to interview her to share some of those great tips with you.:-)
1.) What made you decide to become a massage
therapist?
Massage therapy had always been something I
was interested in but had never had the time or opportunity to pursue it until
I lost my job in 2009 during company budget cuts.
2.) What do you love most about your job?
I love the fact that I am helping people feel
better. It is literally hands-on,
instant gratification for a job well done.
Doing something for the benefit of others has always been one of my
career goals.
3.) What are the benefits of getting massages (besides feeling amazing)?
There are many benefits from getting a
massage. Besides relieving pain and
tension it increases blood flow and lymphatic circulation (improving immunity),
increases range of motion and flexibility, decreasing anxiety, releasing
endorphins and improving skin condition.
These are just part of the positive impact massage provides. To get more in-depth, here is a good
overview.
4.) If someone isn't able to get regular massages, what are other things they
can do to get some of the same benefits?
1.
Stretch, stretch, stretch. Most of us do a lot
of repetitive motions throughout the day so it is good to set aside at least 10
minutes a day to stretch.
2.
Stay
active. Make sure you are making time
for exercise and to break a sweat. It
really does your body and mind good!
3.
Shoulder and neck tension are common so when
you are home you can use a tube sock with rice in it to heat in the microwave
for a couple minutes and place around your shoulders to help relieve some of
the pain.
4.
When you are driving you can place a tennis
ball between you and your seat, gently pressing against it where you feel tight
or a knot in your back or shoulders.
5.
Drink a lot of water. I cannot stress this enough. It is not only
good for your muscle health but for an overall healthy, happy body.
6.
Make sure you are getting enough
electrolytes, magnesium and calcium.
These are important for muscle health.
7.
Practice deep, abdominal breathing. A good breathing exercise is to inhale for a
set number of counts (say 4) and exhale for double the time ( 8 in this
instance). It is amazing what a few deep
breaths can do.
5.) What are your favorite things to do to stay
active and healthy in LA?
I have many!
I love taking ballet, kickboxing, spinning, Pilates, and yoga
classes. I take ballet classes at a
studio in Hancock Park from an ex-Balanchine and Fosse dancer. Gold’s Gym in Hollywood has great
cardio-kickboxing class and spinning classes.
For yoga, Kundalini is my favorite.
A good friend of mine teaches a weekly class on the rooftop of their art
studio in Downtown. I also enjoy going
for a hike or run outdoors, especially by the beach, in the Santa Monica
Mountains, Hollywood Resevior or up in Griffith Park. There are many 10k races in the area to
choose from that are fun to participate in and train for . A bike ride along
the boardwalk in Venice and Santa Monica is a refreshing workout. The Santa
Monica stairs off of 4th street are a great workout like no
other. To swim laps, the Santa Monica
College pool is my favorite.
6.) What are your favorite restaurants in LA?
I love food! I am always trying new
restaurants and in search for new favorite vegetarian-friendly
restaurants. My current favorites are
Café Gratitude on Larchmont, M Café on Melrose, Sage Vegan in Silverlake,
Manchego in Santa Monica, Samosa House in Culver City, Native Foods in Culver
City, Casa Vega in Sherman Oaks, Moa’s Kitchen on Melrose, Chan Dara on
Larchmont, Wurstkuche Downtown, Taverna Tony in Malibu, Inn of the Seventh Ray
in Topanga Canyon, and Katana on Sunset.
7.) If someone from out of town was
spending the weekend in LA, what do you suggest they do/see?
Oh this is a tough one since it depends so
much on the person and their interests and goals for the trip. I can definitely recommend some of the gems I
have found here: Huntington Gardens,
Getty Villa in Malibu, Paradise Cove in Malibu, Getty Center, GriffithObservatory, Yamashiro Farmer’s Markets/ Gardens/ Restaurant, Standard rooftop
Downtown, concert at the Greek Theater, hike to the Hollywood sign up BeachwoodCanyon, Queen Mary, Santa Monica Farmer’s Market on Sundays, and Glenn Ivy HotSprings in Orange County just to mention a few …
8.) What advice do you have about finding your 'dream job'?
It is so important to listen to your gut
instinct and follow your passion and interests.
This may involve taking classes, interviewing people in a field of
interest, networking, researching, perusing your hobbies and finding new
ones. You never know what will turn up
and the opportunities that will present themselves.
I've lived here for over 3 years, and there are many things in there that I haven't tried yet... ha. Putting those on my to do list (as well as scheduling a massage with Meg). To schedule a fantastic massage for yourself, contact Megan at 310-498-0027 or massagelizard@gamil.com.
And, as a little "
thank you for reading" gesture (our blog just reached 25,000 page views! Holla),
you can get
$10 OFF any Massage Lizard service
when you mention 'A Tale of Two Cities'. (Sorry non LA-ers... I guess this just means you should come visit my wonderful city and get a wonderful massage while you're at it.) ;-)
xoxo,
Annie.
