Why is it that generally, when we talk about taking a time out, and encourage self-care… it’s directed at women?
Self-care & wellness really is one of the rare spaces where women dominate the culture, while men still face countless gender-based stigmas and barriers to entry.
Where does this stem from? Perhaps a lot of men think that if they are taking time for self-care, they are losing time on productivity.. and that goes against what society tells us is ‘masculine’.
And perhaps the wellness industry also plays it’s part in this, with most self-care messages and communication targeted to women.
Research has shown us that men are less likely than women to reach out when they are struggling physically or mentally. And despite all the evidence suggesting the many benefits of self-care and wellness practices, there still remains a stigma that men who make time to look after their needs are somehow weaker than the rest.
A call to self-care
We are thankfully seeing the trend slowly changing, with inspirational male role models in the wellness space emerging like Rich Roll, Russell Brand & Dr Gabor Mate, addressing and discussing all sort of subjects related to wellness from nutrition, sports, yoga, mental health and spirituality.
Stress is a growing epidemic in our society, and research has shown what damaging effects it has on our minds and bodies. We ALL need to take care of ourselves, and it’s about time that we normalise self-care for ALL genders, and encourage everyone to be their best self.
“I can take care of very little when I’m not taking care of myself”
We’ve interviewed a couple of our male clients, to get a better understanding of how they feel about the subject, and how incorporating self-care into their lives has helped them.
David
What wellness practices do you attend at Sanya?
I do regular craniosacral sessions with Denis, private breathing and meditation sessions with Larissa and swimming in Sanya’s very peaceful pool.
Did you always feel worthy of self-care?
Yes.. I believe it is a personal upgrade to feeling good about one’s self!
How have these self-care practices helped you?
I am definitely a calmer person and have learnt how to deal with stress better. More positive thinking and have more positive interactions with people.
What words of encouragement do you have for men who may need a push to incorporate self-care into their routines?
It’s best to incorporate self-care wellness routines to avoid getting sick either mentally or physically, rather than realising it too late to fix!
Peter
What wellness practices do you attend at Sanya?
I do regular deep tissue massage, craniosacral therapy, float tank sessions & use of sauna.
Did you always feel worthy of self-care?
I would say it was something I had to learn to appreciate and understand the benefits of. To be fair I’ve always enjoyed the use of a Sauna and the ability to relax in a Spa – I nonetheless mostly viewed it as a one-off “pampering” exercise or as an intimate setting that allowed me to connect with others, more often than not using days at the spa as gifts or as couple-time. It is only recently that I appreciate the benefit of being more consistent with wellness practices. I now view it as a part of a work-hard, play-hard balance to my life and really feel that it complements keeping my body active as well as my mind more able to switch between different modes of being.
How have these self-care practices helped you?
Encouraged by my wife, Emma, we had started a practice of going to Sanya around twice a month, mostly on Fridays. This helped us mark the end of the week and start the weekend relaxed while also taking time to touch base following our session, which we normally took at different times specifically to have that 40mins-1hr of time alone to regroup. I am convinced that our ability to bracket the stress of work or chores really helped us to truly connect and was of significant impact in allowing us to get pregnant (well at least Emma did! :).
It also helps me on a personal level in a more unexpected way – Sanya has this beautiful library of books and I often pick up a random one after a massage or float tank session. Somehow my brain is more willing to take in the wisdom of some of the authors and I often find myself referring to a short passage I read as a guide for my week or discovering books I then decide to buy and delve into. I find that the overlap of the spa element with a more holistic wellness element that Sanya provides is really interesting in this way.
What words of encouragement do you have for men who may need a push to incorporate self-care into their routines?
Start small. Decide what would be most effective for you to do as a morning or evening routine – and stick to it. Either that, or go all out! Start a wellness course, sign up to a class, or book consecutive massage sessions for a month. Either way, just go for it.
In my experience, the people you care for most will be thanking you for taking the time to find yourself.
.
If you’re looking to treat a father or father figure this father’s day, we have a super special offer which includes a float & massage www.sanyamalta.com/offers. Otherwise, you can opt for an open gift voucher that can be used on any of our wellness services www.sanyamalta.com/gift-cards.
