The life of a New Yorker is not exactly a day at the spa. We spend a big hunk of our lives in transit; waiting in lines, waiting for trains, waiting for the light to change. Sharing this city and these time-consuming commuter lifestyles with approximately 8 million other hasty New Yorkers does not a walk in the garden make. There are ways to deal with this high-stress, high-paced city; they range from yelling at each other to marathon running to just plain giving in to the smog and living with a perpetual cough.


I found a better way. And it's so simple, effective, and wonderfully obvious that I feel stupid for not having thought of it before. I started getting massages. A friend bought me a massage gift certificate from a local spa. In typical New York fashion, I forgot about it promptly and it was nearly expired when my friend asked "so how was your New York massage experience?" I ran home and booked an appointment for my massage for the next day.


It was amazing. Like walking into a different world. With the city still running amuck outside, I waited in a softly lit lobby listening to soothing music over the sound system until a friendly masseuse invited me into the bodywork room. She spent the next hour kneading, rubbing, and pressing my tightly wound body and mind into a relaxed, pampered, puddle of joy. Afterwards, I floated home.


The day after, I was sore all over and freaked out. After some internet research I learned this was because of toxins that had been released during the massage, which is also why my masseuse told me to drink a lot of water. I had not listened to her of course, but upon reading that without the water your system doesn't get flushed and the toxins have no where to go but back into your bloodstream, making you sick, I drank three glasses right away. I had no idea my muscles stored toxins, having taken my relative health for granted for so long. What did I have to worry about? I don't smoke, hardly drink, and get regular exercise. Isn't that supposed to guarantee you a lifetime of health and vibrancy?


Apparently not. Environment has much more to do with our health than we realize. Not only do we breathe in our environment, we eat it, sleep it, drink it; it is impossible not to take in at every turn. And unless you're living on a pristine farm miles away from automotive freeways and contaminated water supply, that means you're taking in toxins. Every breath, every day. And they leach into muscle tissue from the bloodstream, where they remain unless purged. I was shocked upon reading this but the soreness in my newly-massaged muscles assured me it was true.


I've been getting massaged regularly ever since. My body feels springy and supple, my muscles hardly ever get sore anymore, and I feel good knowing I'm consciously taking care of my body. Not to mention (and this is really the best part) that massages feel so good. How refreshing in a world where the healthy thing to do is often so unpleasant...eating raw greens, running on treadmills, drinking foul-tasting health drinks, and a score of horse-sized supplements to swallow each morning.


And when looking for somewhere to get a massage, New York City makes it about as difficult as finding a tree in a forest, so if you live in NYC you'll have no problem finding a masseuse that gives exactly the type of massage you're looking for. There's a myriad to choose from; just a few are shiatsu, deep tissue, acupressure, and lymphatic massage. NYC might not be a trip to the spa, but it has plenty of spas to choose from and there's no where else I'd rather call home. As long as I can get my massage.

Nancy Shaw, co-founder of In Touch Bodywork in Manhattan . In Touch Bodywork is a derivative company offering massage therapy, prenatal massage and reflexology in NYC. Nancy can be contacted at: In Touch Bodywork, http://www.intouchbodyworknyc.com , 133 East 58th Street , 15th floor New York , NY 10022 Phone: (212) 751-8300