In 2015, healthcare spending in the U.S. topped $3 trillion dollars annually; more recent statistics indicate that the costs of care continues to rise with a per capita expense of approximately $10,345 per (Centers for Medicare and Medicaid [CMS],2015; Alonso-Zaldivar, 2016).  Per the Centers for the Disease Control (CDC), approximately 75% of healthcare costs is directly attributed to the onset of chronic diseases (2015).  Chronic illnesses can be mitigated by eating nutritiously and being physically active; for most individuals affected, preventative health education initiatives can aid in reducing health disparities (CDC, 2015).

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Welcome to the Touch Wellness website and blog page.

We’ve been in the workplace wellness industry for over 20 years. Along the way, we’ve had many conversations with our clients and amongst ourselves in regards to workplace wellbeing and general health. Everybody is interested and wants to talk about it! Whether you’re a friend, colleague, client, an HR executive, or someone interested in the topic of health and wellness, you might find useful and interesting information here.

In the coming months, you will discover valuable, insightful advice offered by contributors to this blog, including massage practitioners, chiropractors, personal trainer, alternative health practitioners, and more.

The inescapable notion of a health blog is this: it applies to everyone. All of us deal with health concerns to a degree; it is the reality of being alive. Even the young and healthy will inevitably face health issues. The written contributions outlined in this blog will serve all people, as we examine our lifestyles; the impact of our choices, and how to be empowered around our health. 

For me, this wake-up call occurred two years ago when I came down with sudden, acute pain in my left shoulder that had me debilitated for a couple of weeks. I was healthy, strong, and active. I coached people on workplace ergonomics and performed 30-50 chair massages weekly. I experienced first hand that absence of pain does not equal health. I became that client that says, “I woke up and there was this pain!” Except, I knew better than to believe that it was “the way I slept”. There were some signs I was ignoring for months because I was in this, “go go go” mindset, pushing my body to do things just because it can. Because I was not paying attention to my body, I had an illusion that all was well, when in actuality, I was a walking time-bomb. I know I’m not the only one because I hear this kind of thing almost daily amongst my clients as well as friends, even before that bomb goes off.

Eventually I discovered that pushing yourself while dealing with daily stress over an extended period of time only invites illness, and even injury. When stress and lifestyle are left unchecked, inevitably, there is always a price to pay. Admittedly, as a business owner and a first-time mom, I still struggle with this.

Touch Wellness was founded on the basic premise that touch is an important part of one’s wellness. It has been widely established that platonic touch — being physically connected — is a basic need, and is a necessity for a healthy life. Yet, many people still do not receive enough beneficial touch in their lives. We all know the benefits of practicing mindfulness, as well as getting enough exercise & eating right — these are commonly understood to be important parts of a healthy lifestyle. Yet it is human touch — one that require another person — that deeply nourishes us on a physiological level, and elevates us to optimum health. So here we are.

Thank you for visiting our blog. We hope you enjoy our posts!