Here are five ways you can help uplift your mental, emotional and physical well-being – all tailor-made for MTA members!
1.Take a yoga class
Yoga offers a myriad of benefits for both the body and mind. Through a blend of physical postures, mindful breathing and meditation, it builds strength and promotes overall well-being. Beyond the physical improvements, it also serves as a powerful stress reliever, providing mental clarity and emotional resilience. The meditative aspects of yoga can help produce heightened self-awareness and a sense of inner peace. MTA Benefits provides members with access to several yoga and fitness studios, all at a discounted rate. Options include The Yoga Loft, Yoga Anita and Yoga with John.
2. Book an acupuncture session
Acupuncture is a healing practice in existence for more than 3,500 years and has been reported to help treat conditions and ailments such as migraines, high blood pressure and Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS). But its benefits also extend to include stress reduction, a major component of fostering mental wellness. MTA Benefits offers discounted sessions at two practices: Denise Patnod, in Cambridge, and Emma Lee, in Northampton. Whichever practice you choose, expect to find some needed relief and a greater sense of overall wellness.
3. Sign up for virtual therapy
Each year, about 50% of adults in the U.S. who experience a mental health condition do not get care, according to the National Alliance on Mental Illness. However, virtual therapy can help combat this undertreatment through its convenience and accessibility.
The MyRosalie group plan allows MTA members to receive peer-to-peer counseling via an app. Your local association must adopt this plan for members to participate.
The individual plan through eHome Counseling allows you to enjoy virtual therapy at your convenience. Benefits include flexible scheduling, insurance partnerships, and specialized treatment for conditions like anxiety, depression, and PTSD. With this option, you go through your own insurance or pay out of pocket.
4. Learn (or try) something new
Taking on a new hobby or learning a new skill have been proven to boost mental health and make people’s lives feel more purposeful. Other great benefits include deepening your relationships with others, feeling happier and boosting self-confidence and immunity. In the Discount Directory, members will find several activities and learning resources to choose from, including pottery classes at Mudflat Pottery Studio in Somerville and PRPIL (Performance Review for Initial Licensure) at Etio, formerly Class Measures.
Prioritizing mental health during winter is crucial, and MTA Benefits offers a diverse range of discounts to help members do so. Find all the discounts listed in this article, and even more resources, at www.mtabenefits.com.
