Since skin is the medium in which the massage therapist works to create a healthier client, it’s a fitting subject to address. What an amazing role skin plays in your health! If your primary skin concerns have been what SPF rating your sun screen has, read on and gain a new appreciation for an old friend—your skin.
What responsibilities your skin has!
A partial list of your skin’s duties include:
~ Providing a waterproof barrier that protects you from invasions of foreign substances and from excessive fluid loss
~ Regulating your body temperature—using sweat glands to cool you with perspiration and blood supply to raise or lower your temperature as needed
~ Playing a supporting role in your body’s immune system
~ Excreting wastes—Sharing the
functions of the lungs and kidneys, the skin expels impurities from the body via perspiration
~ Contributing to the regulation of blood pressure. The skin’s blood-vessel network, capable of storing and releasing blood as needed, is as important as the heart for proper circulation
~ Being a vital sensory organ
In the human embryo, the sense of touch is the first to develop, beginning in the sixth week. While your other senses are limited to your head (sight, hearing, taste, smell), your sense of touch is gathering information from every inch of your skin. Every minute of the day, your skin is monitoring your environment with its approximate 640,000 sensory receptors and is capable of wakening you from a deep sleep should it sense an abnormal situation. Additionally, it offers such a variety of information—your skin differentiates itchy and tickling sensations, hot and cold, various degrees of pressure, and all manner of pain and pleasure sensations.
Another of the skin’s sentry duties includes monitoring what is allowed to pass through its pores. With great selectivity your skin accepts nourishing substances while rejecting toxins, and expels metabolic waste while retaining beneficial substances—all simultaneously!
Skin is among the most adaptable tissues in the body. It can become calloused, having little feeling or remain thin and extremely sensitive.
Skin is in a constant state of renewal. A person living to the age of 70 will go through about 850 skins—each new skin reflecting the ongoing changes of aging. As the years roll by, the skin’s tissue continues to lose moisture, resulting in the thinner, drier and more wrinkled skin of the aged.
When injured, specialized cells found in the skin have the capability to begin the healing process by manufacturing strands of connective tissue that fill the wound. Your skin really knows how to take care of you!
Monday, June 28, 2010
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
Research: Reflexology and Other CAM Therapies Reduce Pain in Hospital Patients
Non-traditional therapies relieve pain among a wide range of hospitalized patients as much as 50 percent, according to a first-of-a-kind study in the Journal of Patient Safety.
The study shows that an inpatient integrative medicine program can have a significant impact on pain in an environment where pain management continues to be a major challenge, and traditional medications can have negative consequences.
“Roughly 80 percent of patients report moderate to severe pain levels after surgery,” says Gregory Plotnikoff, M.D., one of the study’s authors and medical director of the Penny George Institute for Health and Healing at Abbott Northwestern Hospital.
“We struggle to provide effective pain control while trying to avoid the adverse effects of opioid medications, such as respiratory depression, nausea, constipation, dizziness and falls.”
The study included 1,837 cardiovascular, medical, surgical, orthopedics, spine, rehabilitation, oncology, and women’s health patients at Abbott Northwestern between January 1, 2008, and June 30, 2009. They scored their pain verbally on a zero-to-ten scale before and after treatments.
The treatments included non-pharmaceutical services and mind body therapies to elicit the relaxation response including:
* acupuncture
* acupressure
* massage therapy
* healing touch
* music therapy
* aromatherapy
* reflexology.
The study, “The Impact of Integrative Medicine on Pain Management in a Tertiary Care Hospital” was published March 5 in the Journal of Patient Safety.
“Earlier studies narrowly focused on whether specific integrative therapies manage pain in either cancer or surgical patients,” says Jeffery A. Dusek, Ph.D., research director for the George Institute.
“Our real-world study broadly shows that these therapies effectively reduce pain by over 50 percent across numerous patient populations. Furthermore, they can be clinically implemented in real time, across, and under the operational and financial constraints within an acute care hospital.”
Dusek says future research will focus on defining appropriate intervention doses, duration of pain relief, and developing profiles of which patients are most likely to respond to nonpharmacologic treatments. Reductions in total hospitalization costs, medication use and adverse events will be quantified in future prospective research using the electronic medical record.
“I think we will find that integrative approaches to pain management during the hospital stay will improve patient satisfaction and outcomes, and we will see cost savings from patients using fewer drugs and experiencing fewer adverse events,” said Lori Knutson, RN, BSN, HN-BC, executive director of the George Institute.
Article found at:
Continuum Wellness News
Body, Mind & Soul Wellness
Dated: 3/29/2010
The study shows that an inpatient integrative medicine program can have a significant impact on pain in an environment where pain management continues to be a major challenge, and traditional medications can have negative consequences.
“Roughly 80 percent of patients report moderate to severe pain levels after surgery,” says Gregory Plotnikoff, M.D., one of the study’s authors and medical director of the Penny George Institute for Health and Healing at Abbott Northwestern Hospital.
“We struggle to provide effective pain control while trying to avoid the adverse effects of opioid medications, such as respiratory depression, nausea, constipation, dizziness and falls.”
The study included 1,837 cardiovascular, medical, surgical, orthopedics, spine, rehabilitation, oncology, and women’s health patients at Abbott Northwestern between January 1, 2008, and June 30, 2009. They scored their pain verbally on a zero-to-ten scale before and after treatments.
The treatments included non-pharmaceutical services and mind body therapies to elicit the relaxation response including:
* acupuncture
* acupressure
* massage therapy
* healing touch
* music therapy
* aromatherapy
* reflexology.
The study, “The Impact of Integrative Medicine on Pain Management in a Tertiary Care Hospital” was published March 5 in the Journal of Patient Safety.
“Earlier studies narrowly focused on whether specific integrative therapies manage pain in either cancer or surgical patients,” says Jeffery A. Dusek, Ph.D., research director for the George Institute.
“Our real-world study broadly shows that these therapies effectively reduce pain by over 50 percent across numerous patient populations. Furthermore, they can be clinically implemented in real time, across, and under the operational and financial constraints within an acute care hospital.”
Dusek says future research will focus on defining appropriate intervention doses, duration of pain relief, and developing profiles of which patients are most likely to respond to nonpharmacologic treatments. Reductions in total hospitalization costs, medication use and adverse events will be quantified in future prospective research using the electronic medical record.
“I think we will find that integrative approaches to pain management during the hospital stay will improve patient satisfaction and outcomes, and we will see cost savings from patients using fewer drugs and experiencing fewer adverse events,” said Lori Knutson, RN, BSN, HN-BC, executive director of the George Institute.
Article found at:
Continuum Wellness News
Body, Mind & Soul Wellness
Dated: 3/29/2010
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
Breathe Easy ...
Do you often think about breathing? Most people don’t, assuming as an “automatic” activity their breathing will take care of itself. It may be true that your body will make sure to take its next breath, but how can your awareness of your breathing benefit you? Does how you breathe affect other aspects of your health?
Many of your health concerns can be connected to how you breathe. After all, it is the mechanism that provides every cell in your body with life-giving oxygen. When your ability to breathe properly is compromised, you can expect some physical problems to develop.
In spite of the fact that breathing is an automatic function of the body, many people don’t breathe as nature intended. Often the cause is stress or tension. Such influences in our lives can become habit, leading the “automatic” process of breathing to be done improperly.
One of the most common habits is shallow breathing—breathing that focuses in the upper lungs and uses the muscles in the neck and upper chest area. In their book Breathe In, Breathe Out, authors Drs. Loehr and Migdow state, “Research has shown that slowing down and deepening our breath shifts us from the stress response to the relaxation response; this slows the heart, normalizes blood pressure, increases blood flow to the digestive system, deepens sleep, increases energy, focus, concentration, and memory—optimal breathing not only helps prevent or cure disease, it raises performance levels in school and sports.” That’s a pretty good list of benefits for just making sure that you’re breathing properly!
Why does abdominal (deep) breathing provide you with all these health advantages? Due to gravity, the lower portion of your lungs has a higher rate of blood flow. So your lungs and heart don’t have to work as hard and your circulatory system profits from this efficient means of oxygenating the blood. Deep, slow breathing is shown to release endorphins (the body’s natural pain suppressors) that bring about a feeling of relaxation and general well-being—a benefit you also get from massage.
As you incorporate better breathing into your life-style, try to do what you can to get as much fresh air as possible. In today’s society, with so many forms of air pollution, this can be a challenge. Your body will benefit from your efforts!
For information on how massage can help your breathing, read the article on the back page.
Massage Therapy and Breathing
Learning to breathe more naturally can benefit your health and well-being. Massage can help you breathe easier and more efficiently.
Breathing properly involves more of your body than you may realize. Tension in any area of your body can make it very difficult to breathe relaxedly. Try to take a slow, deep breath while tightening the muscles in your feet or your hips. Now try it again with all your muscles relaxed. You should notice quite a difference in your ability to breathe easily.
Shallow breathing can lead to muscle dysfunction in several areas of your body, such as the neck and upper chest.
Your regular massage sessions can help to relax and normalize muscles throughout your body that can facilitate improved breathing. And in turn, your adoption of better breathing techniques can help to prevent a build-up of tension that leads to tight muscles, etc. When you maintain a regular schedule for massage, you will probably notice you feel much better on a day-to-day basis and experience fewer recurring physical complaints.
You can strengthen your results by including regular exercise and slow stretching in your regimen. If you’d like more information, please ask at your next appointment.
Try this breathing technique from Breathe In, Breathe Out ...
Abdominal Breath: Natural Breath
1. Lie on your back or stand or sit comfortably and place your hands on your stomach (abdomen).
2. Inhale slowly and deeply, letting your abdomen expand like a balloon.
3. Let the abdomen fall as you exhale slowly, releasing old, stale air.
4. Inhale easily. Feel your tummy expand again.
5. Press the air out as you contract, as you pull in your abdomen while exhaling.
~~~~~
For every new person that any of my clients refer, that makes an appointment, I will give you and your friend a discount of $5.00 off your appointments. What it looks like - New Client $5.00 off appointment ... You $5.00 off appointment!
Forward to a Friend, you will both win!
Many of your health concerns can be connected to how you breathe. After all, it is the mechanism that provides every cell in your body with life-giving oxygen. When your ability to breathe properly is compromised, you can expect some physical problems to develop.
In spite of the fact that breathing is an automatic function of the body, many people don’t breathe as nature intended. Often the cause is stress or tension. Such influences in our lives can become habit, leading the “automatic” process of breathing to be done improperly.
One of the most common habits is shallow breathing—breathing that focuses in the upper lungs and uses the muscles in the neck and upper chest area. In their book Breathe In, Breathe Out, authors Drs. Loehr and Migdow state, “Research has shown that slowing down and deepening our breath shifts us from the stress response to the relaxation response; this slows the heart, normalizes blood pressure, increases blood flow to the digestive system, deepens sleep, increases energy, focus, concentration, and memory—optimal breathing not only helps prevent or cure disease, it raises performance levels in school and sports.” That’s a pretty good list of benefits for just making sure that you’re breathing properly!
Why does abdominal (deep) breathing provide you with all these health advantages? Due to gravity, the lower portion of your lungs has a higher rate of blood flow. So your lungs and heart don’t have to work as hard and your circulatory system profits from this efficient means of oxygenating the blood. Deep, slow breathing is shown to release endorphins (the body’s natural pain suppressors) that bring about a feeling of relaxation and general well-being—a benefit you also get from massage.
As you incorporate better breathing into your life-style, try to do what you can to get as much fresh air as possible. In today’s society, with so many forms of air pollution, this can be a challenge. Your body will benefit from your efforts!
For information on how massage can help your breathing, read the article on the back page.
Massage Therapy and Breathing
Learning to breathe more naturally can benefit your health and well-being. Massage can help you breathe easier and more efficiently.
Breathing properly involves more of your body than you may realize. Tension in any area of your body can make it very difficult to breathe relaxedly. Try to take a slow, deep breath while tightening the muscles in your feet or your hips. Now try it again with all your muscles relaxed. You should notice quite a difference in your ability to breathe easily.
Shallow breathing can lead to muscle dysfunction in several areas of your body, such as the neck and upper chest.
Your regular massage sessions can help to relax and normalize muscles throughout your body that can facilitate improved breathing. And in turn, your adoption of better breathing techniques can help to prevent a build-up of tension that leads to tight muscles, etc. When you maintain a regular schedule for massage, you will probably notice you feel much better on a day-to-day basis and experience fewer recurring physical complaints.
You can strengthen your results by including regular exercise and slow stretching in your regimen. If you’d like more information, please ask at your next appointment.
Try this breathing technique from Breathe In, Breathe Out ...
Abdominal Breath: Natural Breath
1. Lie on your back or stand or sit comfortably and place your hands on your stomach (abdomen).
2. Inhale slowly and deeply, letting your abdomen expand like a balloon.
3. Let the abdomen fall as you exhale slowly, releasing old, stale air.
4. Inhale easily. Feel your tummy expand again.
5. Press the air out as you contract, as you pull in your abdomen while exhaling.
~~~~~
For every new person that any of my clients refer, that makes an appointment, I will give you and your friend a discount of $5.00 off your appointments. What it looks like - New Client $5.00 off appointment ... You $5.00 off appointment!
Forward to a Friend, you will both win!
CranioSacral Therapy Part II
What conditions does CranioSacral Therapy address?
* CranioSacral Therapy strengthens your body’s ability to take better care of you. It helps alleviate a range of illness, pain and dysfunction, including:
Migraines & Headaches
Chronic Neck & Back Pain
Motor-Coordination Impairments
Stress and Tension-Related Problems
Infantile Disorders
Traumatic Brain & Spinal Cord Injuries
Chronic Fatigue
Scoliosis
Central Nervous System Disorders
Emotional Difficulties
Temporomandibular Joint Syndrome — (TMJ)
Learning Disabilities
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
Orthopedic Problems
Many Other Conditions
* Information provided by The Upledger Institute, Inc. ®
The content of this newsletter is not intended to replace professional medical advice. If you’re ill, please consult your physician.
* CranioSacral Therapy strengthens your body’s ability to take better care of you. It helps alleviate a range of illness, pain and dysfunction, including:
Migraines & Headaches
Chronic Neck & Back Pain
Motor-Coordination Impairments
Stress and Tension-Related Problems
Infantile Disorders
Traumatic Brain & Spinal Cord Injuries
Chronic Fatigue
Scoliosis
Central Nervous System Disorders
Emotional Difficulties
Temporomandibular Joint Syndrome — (TMJ)
Learning Disabilities
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
Orthopedic Problems
Many Other Conditions
* Information provided by The Upledger Institute, Inc. ®
The content of this newsletter is not intended to replace professional medical advice. If you’re ill, please consult your physician.
Research Shows Benefits of CAM and Reflexology for Pain Relief
by Barbara and Kevin Kunz
Pain reduction is a significant result of reflexology work. Thirty-four studies show positive outcomes for reflexology work ranging from "significant difference in" pain to "reduction in" pain. Now a new study homes in on the potential for complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) practices including reflexology to help ease pain for hospital patients.
The study found CAM practices reduced pain as much as 50% for hospitalized patients. The research was conducted by Penny George Institute for Health and Healing at Abbott Northwestern Hospital in Minneapolis between January 1, 2008, and June 30, 2009. Some "1,837 cardiovascular, medical, surgical, orthopedics, spine, rehabilitation, oncology, and women's health patients" received "non-pharmaceutical services: mind body therapies to elicit the relaxation response, acupuncture, acupressure, massage therapy, healing touch, music therapy, aromatherapy, and reflexology."
What's new is the focus of a study of pain reduction and CAM practices on a hospitalized patient population as a whole. "'Earlier studies (which) narrowly focused on whether specific integrative therapies manage pain in either cancer or surgical patients," says Jeffery A. Dusek, Ph.D., research director for the George Institute.'" Reflexology studies of pain among hospitalized patients follow this trend. The fifteen such studies were conducted among cancer and post-surgical patients or pregnant women in labor.
Dr. Gregory Plotnikoff, medical director of the Institute and one of the study's authors notes that "'We struggle to provide effective pain control while trying to avoid the adverse effects of opioid medications, such as respiratory depression, nausea, constipation, dizziness and falls.'"
Jeffery A. Dusek, Ph.D., research director for the George Institute notes, "Our real-world study broadly shows that these therapies effectively reduce pain by over 50 percent across numerous patient populations. Furthermore, they can be clinically implemented in real time, across, and under the operational and financial constraints within an acute care hospital.
"Dusek says future research will focus on defining appropriate intervention doses, duration of pain relief, and developing profiles of which patients are most likely to respond to nonpharmacologic treatments. Reductions in total hospitalization costs, medication use and adverse events will be quantified in future prospective research using the electronic medical record.
"'I think we will find that integrative approaches to pain management during the hospital stay will improve patient satisfaction and outcomes, and we will see cost savings from patients using fewer drugs and experiencing fewer adverse events," said Lori Knutson, RN, BSN, HN-BC, executive director of the George Institute."
It is unclear who provides reflexology services at the hospital. No reflexology studies were cited in the bibliography for this study.
Pain reduction is a significant result of reflexology work. Thirty-four studies show positive outcomes for reflexology work ranging from "significant difference in" pain to "reduction in" pain. Now a new study homes in on the potential for complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) practices including reflexology to help ease pain for hospital patients.
The study found CAM practices reduced pain as much as 50% for hospitalized patients. The research was conducted by Penny George Institute for Health and Healing at Abbott Northwestern Hospital in Minneapolis between January 1, 2008, and June 30, 2009. Some "1,837 cardiovascular, medical, surgical, orthopedics, spine, rehabilitation, oncology, and women's health patients" received "non-pharmaceutical services: mind body therapies to elicit the relaxation response, acupuncture, acupressure, massage therapy, healing touch, music therapy, aromatherapy, and reflexology."
What's new is the focus of a study of pain reduction and CAM practices on a hospitalized patient population as a whole. "'Earlier studies (which) narrowly focused on whether specific integrative therapies manage pain in either cancer or surgical patients," says Jeffery A. Dusek, Ph.D., research director for the George Institute.'" Reflexology studies of pain among hospitalized patients follow this trend. The fifteen such studies were conducted among cancer and post-surgical patients or pregnant women in labor.
Dr. Gregory Plotnikoff, medical director of the Institute and one of the study's authors notes that "'We struggle to provide effective pain control while trying to avoid the adverse effects of opioid medications, such as respiratory depression, nausea, constipation, dizziness and falls.'"
Jeffery A. Dusek, Ph.D., research director for the George Institute notes, "Our real-world study broadly shows that these therapies effectively reduce pain by over 50 percent across numerous patient populations. Furthermore, they can be clinically implemented in real time, across, and under the operational and financial constraints within an acute care hospital.
"Dusek says future research will focus on defining appropriate intervention doses, duration of pain relief, and developing profiles of which patients are most likely to respond to nonpharmacologic treatments. Reductions in total hospitalization costs, medication use and adverse events will be quantified in future prospective research using the electronic medical record.
"'I think we will find that integrative approaches to pain management during the hospital stay will improve patient satisfaction and outcomes, and we will see cost savings from patients using fewer drugs and experiencing fewer adverse events," said Lori Knutson, RN, BSN, HN-BC, executive director of the George Institute."
It is unclear who provides reflexology services at the hospital. No reflexology studies were cited in the bibliography for this study.
Monday, June 21, 2010
Craniosacral Part I
This issue will cover a remarkable technique that can help your body to function better and improve your overall health. Because it affects one of the essential functions of your body, a CranioSacral session can bring about many unexpected health benefits.
Simply stated, your body’s main job is to keep everything in balance. If you get hot, your body perspires; if you get sick, you get a fever to fight the invading virus. The better all your systems are functioning, the more effective your body should be at keeping things in a balanced, healthy state.
CranioSacral Therapy addresses the functioning of a vital system in your body that can have a major impact on your overall health. Consequently, the scope of health benefits you can get from your sessions is very broad.
The accompanying article will give you an overview of the therapy and how it can help you to reach your health goals. The best way for you to realize fully what it can do for you is to experience a CranioSacral session for yourself. Please feel free to call with questions, and to schedule an appointment. See you soon!
Craniosacral Therapy — for better health
If your goal is to maintain the highest level of health possible, you should really enjoy discovering the many benefits of CranioSacral Therapy. Read on to learn more about one of the great health revelations of modern times.
The craniosacral system consists of fluid and membranes that surround and protect the spinal cord. It includes the bones from the skull (the cranium) down to the tailbone (the sacrum). This system influences many body functions, and an imbalance can adversely affect the development of the brain and spinal cord, which can result in sensory, motor and neurological dysfunction.
CranioSacral Therapy encourages your body’s natural mechanisms to improve the functioning of your brain and spinal cord, lessens the negative effects of stress, and enhances your general health and resistance to disease.
The discovery ...
The discovery of the function of the craniosacral system began in the early 20th century with Dr. William Sutherland, an American osteopath, observing that the joints in the skull (called sutures) appeared to be designed to facilitate movement. Common belief at the time was that these joints were fused into permanent positions at maturity. He later observed that there are different rhythmic tidal motions in the body. His medical training taught that any restriction to a natural physiological movement will lead to a reduction in the function of that area.
Moving ahead to the 1970s, Dr. John Upledger observed the craniosacral rhythm while assisting in a surgical operation. He was given the task of holding still the membrane that surrounds the spinal cord (the dural membrane). He found it very difficult to hold this area still and discovered that it moved in a rhythm of 8-10 cycles per minute. This experience inspired the journey that led to his discovery and development of CranioSacral Therapy.
The session ...
During a CranioSacral session, the therapist applies a very light pressure (about the weight of a nickel) to monitor the rhythm of the craniosacral system to detect potential restrictions and imbalances. Using gentle manual techniques, the practitioner releases those problem areas, relieving any undue pressure on the brain and spinal cord, and resulting in a central nervous system free of restrictions — and a body returning to its greatest levels of performance.
The gentle techniques used in CranioSacral Therapy are aimed at bringing ease to the body and helping the body’s own healing potential to influence the affected areas, thereby encouraging a return to optimal functioning. The person receiving the therapy remains comfortable and in control — and may feel a deep sense of relaxation combined with sensations of heat, tingling, and pulsation during the session.
It’s fairly common to have symptoms in one part of the body manifest elsewhere. For instance, a condition felt in the hip may arise from a problem in the neck or head. One of the benefits of CranioSacral work is the relief of these seemingly unrelated distortions.
Because of its gentle nature, CranioSacral Therapy can be performed at times when more forceful therapies would be too invasive. Consequently, everyone can benefit from this treatment. Those who have received sessions report a feeling of ease, comfort and relaxation long after the session.
How does it work?
CranioSacral Therapy is based on the understanding of the human energy field and how to achieve the proper flow and balance of this energy — the goal being the development of spinal flexibility, ease of the nervous system, and improved general health and well-being.
To understand what’s happening, you need to know something about fascia —the membrane material that permeates the body. If you removed the hair, blood vessels, organs, bones, nerves, muscle fibers, and fluids, fascia would be what remains. It includes the ligaments and all the membranous material that surround and connect all our organs, bones and muscles. In the embryo, fascia forms from a single fold. So fascia is a single structure, holding together in functional relationship every part of the body.
Being one structure, if fascia in one part of the body loses its flexibility due to mechanical inhibition or toxic or malnourished environment, it may affect any other part or system. Inflammation tends to cause normally free-sliding fascial layers, such as those that surround the spinal cord, to bind together. Fascia under tension is always trying to pull the body back to its natural state of great ease. One of Dr. Upledger’s great insights is that the body knows in full detail and with total accuracy exactly what it needs to do, and what assistance it needs, to return to this state of ease.
CranioSacral Therapy is the tool that enables the body to “re-set” itself and pursue its job of maintaining the highest level of health possible.
References: CranioSacral Therapy 21 years on, by John Page; The Upledger Institute, Inc.
Simply stated, your body’s main job is to keep everything in balance. If you get hot, your body perspires; if you get sick, you get a fever to fight the invading virus. The better all your systems are functioning, the more effective your body should be at keeping things in a balanced, healthy state.
CranioSacral Therapy addresses the functioning of a vital system in your body that can have a major impact on your overall health. Consequently, the scope of health benefits you can get from your sessions is very broad.
The accompanying article will give you an overview of the therapy and how it can help you to reach your health goals. The best way for you to realize fully what it can do for you is to experience a CranioSacral session for yourself. Please feel free to call with questions, and to schedule an appointment. See you soon!
Craniosacral Therapy — for better health
If your goal is to maintain the highest level of health possible, you should really enjoy discovering the many benefits of CranioSacral Therapy. Read on to learn more about one of the great health revelations of modern times.
The craniosacral system consists of fluid and membranes that surround and protect the spinal cord. It includes the bones from the skull (the cranium) down to the tailbone (the sacrum). This system influences many body functions, and an imbalance can adversely affect the development of the brain and spinal cord, which can result in sensory, motor and neurological dysfunction.
CranioSacral Therapy encourages your body’s natural mechanisms to improve the functioning of your brain and spinal cord, lessens the negative effects of stress, and enhances your general health and resistance to disease.
The discovery ...
The discovery of the function of the craniosacral system began in the early 20th century with Dr. William Sutherland, an American osteopath, observing that the joints in the skull (called sutures) appeared to be designed to facilitate movement. Common belief at the time was that these joints were fused into permanent positions at maturity. He later observed that there are different rhythmic tidal motions in the body. His medical training taught that any restriction to a natural physiological movement will lead to a reduction in the function of that area.
Moving ahead to the 1970s, Dr. John Upledger observed the craniosacral rhythm while assisting in a surgical operation. He was given the task of holding still the membrane that surrounds the spinal cord (the dural membrane). He found it very difficult to hold this area still and discovered that it moved in a rhythm of 8-10 cycles per minute. This experience inspired the journey that led to his discovery and development of CranioSacral Therapy.
The session ...
During a CranioSacral session, the therapist applies a very light pressure (about the weight of a nickel) to monitor the rhythm of the craniosacral system to detect potential restrictions and imbalances. Using gentle manual techniques, the practitioner releases those problem areas, relieving any undue pressure on the brain and spinal cord, and resulting in a central nervous system free of restrictions — and a body returning to its greatest levels of performance.
The gentle techniques used in CranioSacral Therapy are aimed at bringing ease to the body and helping the body’s own healing potential to influence the affected areas, thereby encouraging a return to optimal functioning. The person receiving the therapy remains comfortable and in control — and may feel a deep sense of relaxation combined with sensations of heat, tingling, and pulsation during the session.
It’s fairly common to have symptoms in one part of the body manifest elsewhere. For instance, a condition felt in the hip may arise from a problem in the neck or head. One of the benefits of CranioSacral work is the relief of these seemingly unrelated distortions.
Because of its gentle nature, CranioSacral Therapy can be performed at times when more forceful therapies would be too invasive. Consequently, everyone can benefit from this treatment. Those who have received sessions report a feeling of ease, comfort and relaxation long after the session.
How does it work?
CranioSacral Therapy is based on the understanding of the human energy field and how to achieve the proper flow and balance of this energy — the goal being the development of spinal flexibility, ease of the nervous system, and improved general health and well-being.
To understand what’s happening, you need to know something about fascia —the membrane material that permeates the body. If you removed the hair, blood vessels, organs, bones, nerves, muscle fibers, and fluids, fascia would be what remains. It includes the ligaments and all the membranous material that surround and connect all our organs, bones and muscles. In the embryo, fascia forms from a single fold. So fascia is a single structure, holding together in functional relationship every part of the body.
Being one structure, if fascia in one part of the body loses its flexibility due to mechanical inhibition or toxic or malnourished environment, it may affect any other part or system. Inflammation tends to cause normally free-sliding fascial layers, such as those that surround the spinal cord, to bind together. Fascia under tension is always trying to pull the body back to its natural state of great ease. One of Dr. Upledger’s great insights is that the body knows in full detail and with total accuracy exactly what it needs to do, and what assistance it needs, to return to this state of ease.
CranioSacral Therapy is the tool that enables the body to “re-set” itself and pursue its job of maintaining the highest level of health possible.
References: CranioSacral Therapy 21 years on, by John Page; The Upledger Institute, Inc.
Friday, June 18, 2010
16th Camas Washougal Annual Ducky Derby Sunday July 25, 2010
Reaching out to all across the country.
Want to help support our local Rotary projects, well now is the time. Tickets are only $5.00 and it gives you a chance to WIN a 'Grant Prize ' 1 week plus airfare for two in a Condo in Hawaii. Donated by Riverview Community Bank and Camas Washouagal Rotary.
This supports our service projects, SHARE House, Santa's Posse, Meals of Wheels, School Backpack Project, Dictionary Project, Student of the Month, Interact Club (at 2 local High Schools), Polio Eradication, Tanzania Water Project, College Scholarships and more.
I only have 20 tickets left.
More your checks out to: Camas/Washougal Rotary
Mail to:
Elizabeth A Stiles
attn: Ducky Derby
1700 Main Street, Suite 204
Washougal, WA 98671
Thanks you for your support.
Liz Stiles
CW Rotary member
Want to help support our local Rotary projects, well now is the time. Tickets are only $5.00 and it gives you a chance to WIN a 'Grant Prize ' 1 week plus airfare for two in a Condo in Hawaii. Donated by Riverview Community Bank and Camas Washouagal Rotary.
This supports our service projects, SHARE House, Santa's Posse, Meals of Wheels, School Backpack Project, Dictionary Project, Student of the Month, Interact Club (at 2 local High Schools), Polio Eradication, Tanzania Water Project, College Scholarships and more.
I only have 20 tickets left.
More your checks out to: Camas/Washougal Rotary
Mail to:
Elizabeth A Stiles
attn: Ducky Derby
1700 Main Street, Suite 204
Washougal, WA 98671
Thanks you for your support.
Liz Stiles
CW Rotary member
Father's Day
What Are YOU Doing for Your Father's Day?
Take your pick of one of the following specials and both you and Dad will have a GREAT Father's Day!!!
* Buy Dad an hour and you get YOUR for only $39!
* 90 minute session for the price of an hour
* Come in with Dad for an hour or longer massage and you both get 20% off.
Just book your appointments and bring this add with you.
Offer good until 7/1/2010.
Take your pick of one of the following specials and both you and Dad will have a GREAT Father's Day!!!
* Buy Dad an hour and you get YOUR for only $39!
* 90 minute session for the price of an hour
* Come in with Dad for an hour or longer massage and you both get 20% off.
Just book your appointments and bring this add with you.
Offer good until 7/1/2010.
Saturday, June 12, 2010
Reiki: History and Ancient Art of Healing
History
Researchers had looked deeper into the matter of where Reiki started, in an effort to unearth the true origin of Reiki and how it came into existence. There are books and formal writings that refer to Reiki as a Tibetan or Buddhist way of healing.
However, a lot of modern Reiki masters will say that their art was discovered and developed by the Japanese meditation expert, Dr. Mikao Usui. To settle things, it is best to resolve these seemingly two different histories of Reiki to determine where this effective art of healing truly originated.
It was believed that the concept of energy healing was used thousands of years ago. Recent discoveries have shown that it was widely performed in ancient Tibet. Tibet had seers who used visualization, sounds, and symbols to summon the universal healing energy and provide treatment for certain diseases. However, there is no physical proof that can be recovered from this concept which can be compared to modern conception of the practice of Reiki.
In the late 1800's. Dr. Mikao Usui, a Japanese educator and meditation master, came up with the concept of modern Reiki called the Usui Reiki.
This discovery actually occurred as an accident. When Dr. Mikao Usui was at Mt. Kurama attending a 21-day meditation course, he was able to open up his crown chakra. At this point, he successfully unleashed an insurmountable amount of energy. This led him to the discovery of Reiki and the use of symbols in relation to the universal life energy.
What he had rediscovered could be the same type of energy that wasand is used by Tibetan monks centuries ago and in some belief today. When Dr. Usui left Mt. Kurama, he was inspired by this power and began teaching his students about it.
This is how Usui Reiki began. Over time, Dr. Mikao Usui's lineage continued with several Reiki masters following his footsteps and continuing his teachings. The instruction of Usui Reiki continues even to the present day.
Usui Reiki uses at least four major symbols to summon energy, control it, and channel it to the recipient for healing. These symbols are distinct to Usui Reiki and can only be practiced under the Usui Reiki system. There have been other types of Reiki developed since then. Some of them work independently from Usui Reiki. Others are regarded to be an advancement or development of what Dr. Mikao Usui had started.
Usui Reiki is taught in different levels and students are given titles after completing each level. Every aspiring Reiki practitioner or master has to start with Level I training where they are introduced to the concept of Reiki up until they are able to connect to the Universal Life Energy. This energy is the focal point of the movement. Level II Reiki gives the student the power to practice Reiki professionally. Level III is when the students are able to become masters. This will enable them to teach other students in the art of Usui Reiki.
Reiki may seem to be a very complex concept. But Reiki can actually be learned in a few days. In fact, there are now methods of teaching Reiki remotely. These types of self-help, self-attunement processes may be completed in as fast as 24 hours.
Ancient Art of Healing
Reiki is the process of healing using the power of energy. It is very much different from conventional healing therapies. Because in a Reiki, there are no medicines or tools needed to heal diseases. All a practitioner has to do is to direct energy towards the body through the hands and the power of meditation.
Reiki and Reiki Healing are relatively the same. However, the concept of healing is broader than that of therapy, which usually pertains to the practical applications of healing. To receive Reiki, all you have to do is to go to a Reiki practitioner and allow him or her to conduct sessions on you.
Reiki works by transferring energy from the practitioner and directing it towards the patient. The energy is summoned through the proper visualization of Reiki symbols known to contain energy. However, these symbols are simply representations of the energy - it is not the main source of the healing power itself.
Our bodies are governed by energy. That energy can either be free flowing, or are stuck in certain points. The ultimate life energy source, which is called the Universal Life Energy, is the main foundation of Reiki. The whole idea of this art is to control that enormous energy, using it to heal, improve, and balance one's self as well as others.
Reiki is known to improve one's spiritual, physical, and emotional well-being. It has the power to initiate deep relaxation and help relieve a person from all his pains and sufferings. After a therapy session, the patient's energy balance is restored. At this point, the body's natural healing process commences.
Reiki can provide enormous help to patients, especially to the terminally ill. If all conventional medicines and healing methods fail, Reiki can step in and help improve the quality of that person's life. The Reiki therapy is widely used these days in aiding people with cancer, autoimmune diseases, and multiple sclerosis for them to manage their diseases better.
It can also help in addressing addictions, mental concerns, and emotional problems. Those who are suffering from episodes of depression, anxiety, and panic attacks can benefit greatly from this therapy as well. It can also help eliminate bad and destructive habits such as drugs, alcohol, and smoking.
A Reiki session is normally a full-body treatment procedure. It can last for 30 minutes or more, depending upon the capabilities of the practitioner. After this, the treatment will be directed towards the exact area of the problem and the energy will be made to flow through that spot for another 10 minutes.
It is normal to feel warmth or a tingling sensation on certain points of the body during the Reiki session. In this session, the client is usually asked to lie on a mat, table, or couch. The practitioner will then place his/her hands on or above the client. Through his/her hand movements, energy is channeled from the body's chakras, starting from the head and working its way down. It will move to dissipate all the bad elements that are causing diseases and spiritual concerns in the client.
Researchers had looked deeper into the matter of where Reiki started, in an effort to unearth the true origin of Reiki and how it came into existence. There are books and formal writings that refer to Reiki as a Tibetan or Buddhist way of healing.
However, a lot of modern Reiki masters will say that their art was discovered and developed by the Japanese meditation expert, Dr. Mikao Usui. To settle things, it is best to resolve these seemingly two different histories of Reiki to determine where this effective art of healing truly originated.
It was believed that the concept of energy healing was used thousands of years ago. Recent discoveries have shown that it was widely performed in ancient Tibet. Tibet had seers who used visualization, sounds, and symbols to summon the universal healing energy and provide treatment for certain diseases. However, there is no physical proof that can be recovered from this concept which can be compared to modern conception of the practice of Reiki.
In the late 1800's. Dr. Mikao Usui, a Japanese educator and meditation master, came up with the concept of modern Reiki called the Usui Reiki.
This discovery actually occurred as an accident. When Dr. Mikao Usui was at Mt. Kurama attending a 21-day meditation course, he was able to open up his crown chakra. At this point, he successfully unleashed an insurmountable amount of energy. This led him to the discovery of Reiki and the use of symbols in relation to the universal life energy.
What he had rediscovered could be the same type of energy that wasand is used by Tibetan monks centuries ago and in some belief today. When Dr. Usui left Mt. Kurama, he was inspired by this power and began teaching his students about it.
This is how Usui Reiki began. Over time, Dr. Mikao Usui's lineage continued with several Reiki masters following his footsteps and continuing his teachings. The instruction of Usui Reiki continues even to the present day.
Usui Reiki uses at least four major symbols to summon energy, control it, and channel it to the recipient for healing. These symbols are distinct to Usui Reiki and can only be practiced under the Usui Reiki system. There have been other types of Reiki developed since then. Some of them work independently from Usui Reiki. Others are regarded to be an advancement or development of what Dr. Mikao Usui had started.
Usui Reiki is taught in different levels and students are given titles after completing each level. Every aspiring Reiki practitioner or master has to start with Level I training where they are introduced to the concept of Reiki up until they are able to connect to the Universal Life Energy. This energy is the focal point of the movement. Level II Reiki gives the student the power to practice Reiki professionally. Level III is when the students are able to become masters. This will enable them to teach other students in the art of Usui Reiki.
Reiki may seem to be a very complex concept. But Reiki can actually be learned in a few days. In fact, there are now methods of teaching Reiki remotely. These types of self-help, self-attunement processes may be completed in as fast as 24 hours.
Ancient Art of Healing
Reiki is the process of healing using the power of energy. It is very much different from conventional healing therapies. Because in a Reiki, there are no medicines or tools needed to heal diseases. All a practitioner has to do is to direct energy towards the body through the hands and the power of meditation.
Reiki and Reiki Healing are relatively the same. However, the concept of healing is broader than that of therapy, which usually pertains to the practical applications of healing. To receive Reiki, all you have to do is to go to a Reiki practitioner and allow him or her to conduct sessions on you.
Reiki works by transferring energy from the practitioner and directing it towards the patient. The energy is summoned through the proper visualization of Reiki symbols known to contain energy. However, these symbols are simply representations of the energy - it is not the main source of the healing power itself.
Our bodies are governed by energy. That energy can either be free flowing, or are stuck in certain points. The ultimate life energy source, which is called the Universal Life Energy, is the main foundation of Reiki. The whole idea of this art is to control that enormous energy, using it to heal, improve, and balance one's self as well as others.
Reiki is known to improve one's spiritual, physical, and emotional well-being. It has the power to initiate deep relaxation and help relieve a person from all his pains and sufferings. After a therapy session, the patient's energy balance is restored. At this point, the body's natural healing process commences.
Reiki can provide enormous help to patients, especially to the terminally ill. If all conventional medicines and healing methods fail, Reiki can step in and help improve the quality of that person's life. The Reiki therapy is widely used these days in aiding people with cancer, autoimmune diseases, and multiple sclerosis for them to manage their diseases better.
It can also help in addressing addictions, mental concerns, and emotional problems. Those who are suffering from episodes of depression, anxiety, and panic attacks can benefit greatly from this therapy as well. It can also help eliminate bad and destructive habits such as drugs, alcohol, and smoking.
A Reiki session is normally a full-body treatment procedure. It can last for 30 minutes or more, depending upon the capabilities of the practitioner. After this, the treatment will be directed towards the exact area of the problem and the energy will be made to flow through that spot for another 10 minutes.
It is normal to feel warmth or a tingling sensation on certain points of the body during the Reiki session. In this session, the client is usually asked to lie on a mat, table, or couch. The practitioner will then place his/her hands on or above the client. Through his/her hand movements, energy is channeled from the body's chakras, starting from the head and working its way down. It will move to dissipate all the bad elements that are causing diseases and spiritual concerns in the client.
TMD: A Pain in the Jaw
Jaw pain is the most common kind of musculoskeletal pain after low back pain, affecting about 20 million Americans. And fittingly, it has a jaw-breaking name: temporomandibular disorder (TMD).
The jaw hinge connects the lower jaw (mandible) to the temporal bone on each side of the head. Sometimes this joint hurts, clicks, and/or locks painfully. Jaw muscles may become sore, making it hard to chew. Pain may radiate to the facial and neck muscles, the head, ears, and teeth; it may persist around the clock.
Causes and controversies
There are many theories about the causes of TMD. Some of the obvious ones are injury to the jaw or arthritis in the joint. Genetic factors may play a role. Some dentists blame grinding or clenching the teeth (bruxism), especially at night, or dislocation of the disk that cushions the jaw joint. Emotional stress is often cited as a cause of both teeth grinding and TMD. Gum chewing, nail biting, and eating chewy foods or crunchy candies might also contribute, as may bad posture, particularly thrusting the chin forward, which can strain the neck and jaw muscles. TMD is hard to diagnose and treat, probably because it may be a lot of different problems that vary from person to person.
First step: self-care
• Try over-the-counter pain relievers; apply hot or cold compresses to the jaw. Massage your jaw muscles and temples.
• Eat soft foods; take small bites. Give up hard and chewy foods, like bagels and dried fruit, for a while. Don’t chew gum.
• Do gentle jaw stretches. Slowly open and close your mouth. Let your jaw hang slightly when you are not chewing, swallowing, or speaking.
Next step: professional care
• If the pain persists, consult your dentist. In the past, correcting malocclusion (teeth that don’t fit together properly) by grinding down a few tooth surfaces was regarded as a good treatment, but more recent research suggests it may not help TMD much. Though its benefits for TMD are also questioned, mouth splints (worn while sleeping) may help stabilize the bite and eliminate nocturnal tooth grinding. If you try a splint, a low-cost athletic mouth guard may work as well as a custom device.
• If stress is contributing to your TMD, professional counseling may help. TMD may respond well to relaxation training, biofeedback, and distraction therapy. Small but well-designed studies have found that acupuncture can be useful, too, at least in the short term.
•See a Massage Therapist that has been trained to do IntraOral Massage. This is a special training which requires an addendum added to the Practitioner's Washington State License. This addendum shows that the Practitioner has been trained and that the state accepts that special training.
If you have questions concerning TMJ contact me at 'Massage with Style' and I'll be more that happy to share what Massage can do.
Elizabeth (Liz) A Stiles, BS, LMP, MR
Massage with Style
1700 Main Street, Suite 204
Washougal, WA 98671
PH: 360 844-5973
FAX: 360 844-5974
email: liz@massagewithstyle.com
The jaw hinge connects the lower jaw (mandible) to the temporal bone on each side of the head. Sometimes this joint hurts, clicks, and/or locks painfully. Jaw muscles may become sore, making it hard to chew. Pain may radiate to the facial and neck muscles, the head, ears, and teeth; it may persist around the clock.
Causes and controversies
There are many theories about the causes of TMD. Some of the obvious ones are injury to the jaw or arthritis in the joint. Genetic factors may play a role. Some dentists blame grinding or clenching the teeth (bruxism), especially at night, or dislocation of the disk that cushions the jaw joint. Emotional stress is often cited as a cause of both teeth grinding and TMD. Gum chewing, nail biting, and eating chewy foods or crunchy candies might also contribute, as may bad posture, particularly thrusting the chin forward, which can strain the neck and jaw muscles. TMD is hard to diagnose and treat, probably because it may be a lot of different problems that vary from person to person.
First step: self-care
• Try over-the-counter pain relievers; apply hot or cold compresses to the jaw. Massage your jaw muscles and temples.
• Eat soft foods; take small bites. Give up hard and chewy foods, like bagels and dried fruit, for a while. Don’t chew gum.
• Do gentle jaw stretches. Slowly open and close your mouth. Let your jaw hang slightly when you are not chewing, swallowing, or speaking.
Next step: professional care
• If the pain persists, consult your dentist. In the past, correcting malocclusion (teeth that don’t fit together properly) by grinding down a few tooth surfaces was regarded as a good treatment, but more recent research suggests it may not help TMD much. Though its benefits for TMD are also questioned, mouth splints (worn while sleeping) may help stabilize the bite and eliminate nocturnal tooth grinding. If you try a splint, a low-cost athletic mouth guard may work as well as a custom device.
• If stress is contributing to your TMD, professional counseling may help. TMD may respond well to relaxation training, biofeedback, and distraction therapy. Small but well-designed studies have found that acupuncture can be useful, too, at least in the short term.
•See a Massage Therapist that has been trained to do IntraOral Massage. This is a special training which requires an addendum added to the Practitioner's Washington State License. This addendum shows that the Practitioner has been trained and that the state accepts that special training.
If you have questions concerning TMJ contact me at 'Massage with Style' and I'll be more that happy to share what Massage can do.
Elizabeth (Liz) A Stiles, BS, LMP, MR
Massage with Style
1700 Main Street, Suite 204
Washougal, WA 98671
PH: 360 844-5973
FAX: 360 844-5974
email: liz@massagewithstyle.com
Thursday, June 10, 2010
Chair Massage
Nothing beats a massage to help you feel your best. And now, it’s easier than ever to make massage a regular part of your health regimen, thanks to the massage chair. This issue covers many of the benefits seated massage makes available to you.
Seated massage’s greatest benefit to you is convenience. A seated massage session can be done fully clothed and requires no lotions or oil. This means you can receive massage virtually anywhere or anytime. You don’t have to worry about oil residue getting on your nice clothes if you get a massage during a workday. Nor do you need a private space or the added time required to disrobe for a traditional table massage.
Nothing is more important than maintaining your health. Feeling your best makes it possible for you to do everything life requires of you. Now it’s easier than ever to take positive steps to contribute to your well being with regular seated massage sessions.
Read on to learn more about how seated massage can help you. Please feel free to call if you have any questions. See you soon!
Massage with Style
360 844-5973
Schedule online: Massage with Style Washougal, WA http://www.schedulicity.com
Seated massage — anywhere you like!
People have enjoyed the many benefits of massage for thousands of years. Thanks to the recent introduction of the massage chair., you can now get the benefits of massage without lotions or oils, or needing to remove any clothing.
Although some forms of seated massage have been practiced over the years, the “massage chair” you see today was just introduced in the 1980s by David Palmer. His goal was to offer a means of making massage more available to people everywhere — in the workplace, stores, parks, etc. — so more people could discover what massage could do for them.
Having a chair ergonomically designed to position the recipient’s body properly for bodywork has enhanced the results obtainable and made massage much more accessible to a receptive public. As reported in Massage Magazine, “Sitting in a massage chair opens up the back muscles, relieves strain on the neck and provides a gentle respite for eyes usually glued to a computer monitor. Even 15 minutes of massage to the neck, back, arms and hands can increase circulation, returning energy levels and helping keep the body injury free.
“According to Palmer, most office-related physical symptoms can be attributed to loss of circulation. Tight muscles caused by stress and sitting behind a desk all day, especially at a work station that is not ergonomically designed, can impede blood and lymph flow through the body. The result is mental fogginess, decreased energy and susceptibility to repetitive stress injuries, like carpal tunnel syndrome. ‘When chair massage is used preventively, if you have problems it allows you to maintain a homeostatic balance that prevents the little problems from getting worse,’ Palmer said.”
Chair massages can reduce stress, pain, and fatigue. They also can alleviate symptoms of depression, improve function of the immune system, and increase workers’ ability to concentrate.
Other benefits include:
• Aids detoxification
• Improves circulation
• Relieves tight or sore muscles
• Improves range of motion
One of the goals of chair massage is to prevent health problems through regular sessions. Stress is the cause of most illness, so the simple act of regularly reducing stress through massage helps you to remain in better health. More doctors are prescribing massage to help patients manage stress and pain; chair massage makes it easier than ever to get those needed massages regularly.
The workplace is one of the areas seeing the greatest growth for chair massage. Businesses offering massage as an employee benefit include FedEx Corp., General Electric Co., Home Depot, JCPenny Corp., and Yahoo, while many more companies are inviting massage therapists on-site as an employment perk, as well.
The health benefits received by the employees equate to less absenteeism and happier workers. According to a report by the American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA), “Studies clearly show that if employees are healthy, they’ll use less in health insurance benefits and be more productive.
“Focusing on the job and being more productive as a result of getting a massage during the workday was a common theme among survey respondents. The Container Store has massage therapists on-site at its corporate headquarters in Dallas twice a month. ‘Our employees strive to accomplish a lot of work every day, and a chair massage is a great way to rejuvenate them for the rest of the day,’ says Audrey Robertson, public relations manager.”
Find out for yourself what a chair massage can do for you; call for an appointment today!
MASSAGE WITH STYLE
1700 Main Street, Suite 204
Washougal, WA 98671
Schedule online: schedulicity.com
A recent AMTA report included these findings:
• The Touch Research Institute at the University of Miami (TRI) has documented the positive effects of massage therapy on job performance and stress reduction. The research indicates that a basic 15-minute chair massage, provided twice weekly, results in decreased job stress and significant increase in productivity.
• A growing number of businesses and organizations offer massage in the workplace, including the U.S. Department of Justice.
• At Boeing and Reebok, headaches, back strain, and fatigue have all fallen since the companies started bringing in massage therapists.
• More than 80 companies, including many Fortune 500 companies, are using massage therapy to counter such ills as musculoskeletal problems, stress and poor ergonomic design of furniture.
• By including 15 minutes of free massage therapy once each week, the Calvert Group, an investment firm in Bethesda, MD, reduced its turnover rate to 5% in an industry where the norm is 20%.
Chair massage is an ideal way for someone to discover the benefits of massage. Call today to schedule an appointment or to learn more!
“Massage therapy is beneficial for almost all diseases. Eighty percent of disease is stress-related, and massage reduces stress.” — Sandra McLanahan, M.D.
Seated massage’s greatest benefit to you is convenience. A seated massage session can be done fully clothed and requires no lotions or oil. This means you can receive massage virtually anywhere or anytime. You don’t have to worry about oil residue getting on your nice clothes if you get a massage during a workday. Nor do you need a private space or the added time required to disrobe for a traditional table massage.
Nothing is more important than maintaining your health. Feeling your best makes it possible for you to do everything life requires of you. Now it’s easier than ever to take positive steps to contribute to your well being with regular seated massage sessions.
Read on to learn more about how seated massage can help you. Please feel free to call if you have any questions. See you soon!
Massage with Style
360 844-5973
Schedule online: Massage with Style Washougal, WA http://www.schedulicity.com
Seated massage — anywhere you like!
People have enjoyed the many benefits of massage for thousands of years. Thanks to the recent introduction of the massage chair., you can now get the benefits of massage without lotions or oils, or needing to remove any clothing.
Although some forms of seated massage have been practiced over the years, the “massage chair” you see today was just introduced in the 1980s by David Palmer. His goal was to offer a means of making massage more available to people everywhere — in the workplace, stores, parks, etc. — so more people could discover what massage could do for them.
Having a chair ergonomically designed to position the recipient’s body properly for bodywork has enhanced the results obtainable and made massage much more accessible to a receptive public. As reported in Massage Magazine, “Sitting in a massage chair opens up the back muscles, relieves strain on the neck and provides a gentle respite for eyes usually glued to a computer monitor. Even 15 minutes of massage to the neck, back, arms and hands can increase circulation, returning energy levels and helping keep the body injury free.
“According to Palmer, most office-related physical symptoms can be attributed to loss of circulation. Tight muscles caused by stress and sitting behind a desk all day, especially at a work station that is not ergonomically designed, can impede blood and lymph flow through the body. The result is mental fogginess, decreased energy and susceptibility to repetitive stress injuries, like carpal tunnel syndrome. ‘When chair massage is used preventively, if you have problems it allows you to maintain a homeostatic balance that prevents the little problems from getting worse,’ Palmer said.”
Chair massages can reduce stress, pain, and fatigue. They also can alleviate symptoms of depression, improve function of the immune system, and increase workers’ ability to concentrate.
Other benefits include:
• Aids detoxification
• Improves circulation
• Relieves tight or sore muscles
• Improves range of motion
One of the goals of chair massage is to prevent health problems through regular sessions. Stress is the cause of most illness, so the simple act of regularly reducing stress through massage helps you to remain in better health. More doctors are prescribing massage to help patients manage stress and pain; chair massage makes it easier than ever to get those needed massages regularly.
The workplace is one of the areas seeing the greatest growth for chair massage. Businesses offering massage as an employee benefit include FedEx Corp., General Electric Co., Home Depot, JCPenny Corp., and Yahoo, while many more companies are inviting massage therapists on-site as an employment perk, as well.
The health benefits received by the employees equate to less absenteeism and happier workers. According to a report by the American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA), “Studies clearly show that if employees are healthy, they’ll use less in health insurance benefits and be more productive.
“Focusing on the job and being more productive as a result of getting a massage during the workday was a common theme among survey respondents. The Container Store has massage therapists on-site at its corporate headquarters in Dallas twice a month. ‘Our employees strive to accomplish a lot of work every day, and a chair massage is a great way to rejuvenate them for the rest of the day,’ says Audrey Robertson, public relations manager.”
Find out for yourself what a chair massage can do for you; call for an appointment today!
MASSAGE WITH STYLE
1700 Main Street, Suite 204
Washougal, WA 98671
Schedule online: schedulicity.com
A recent AMTA report included these findings:
• The Touch Research Institute at the University of Miami (TRI) has documented the positive effects of massage therapy on job performance and stress reduction. The research indicates that a basic 15-minute chair massage, provided twice weekly, results in decreased job stress and significant increase in productivity.
• A growing number of businesses and organizations offer massage in the workplace, including the U.S. Department of Justice.
• At Boeing and Reebok, headaches, back strain, and fatigue have all fallen since the companies started bringing in massage therapists.
• More than 80 companies, including many Fortune 500 companies, are using massage therapy to counter such ills as musculoskeletal problems, stress and poor ergonomic design of furniture.
• By including 15 minutes of free massage therapy once each week, the Calvert Group, an investment firm in Bethesda, MD, reduced its turnover rate to 5% in an industry where the norm is 20%.
Chair massage is an ideal way for someone to discover the benefits of massage. Call today to schedule an appointment or to learn more!
“Massage therapy is beneficial for almost all diseases. Eighty percent of disease is stress-related, and massage reduces stress.” — Sandra McLanahan, M.D.
Analysis of Cancer Studies
Being we are just finishing up on another year of being part of our local 'Relay for Life' event, I felt that just a bit of alternative information dealing with Cancer would be in order. The articale below was put together by Reflexology Researchers and writers, Barbara and Kevin Kunz. They are both leaders in the Alternative Healthcare Industry of Reflexology. The following is being posted for all of those readers who are interested in Cancer Research and the use of alternatives such as Reflexology.
Analysis of Reflexology and Cancer Patients
by Barbara and Kevin Kunz
A review of thirteen studies conducted in six countries (US, Korea, UK, Italy, Japan, Switzerland) showed that cancer patients experienced significant improvements and changes in each category researched. Common complaints (pain, anxiety, nausea, vomiting, and fatigue) for those undergoing chemotherapy were ameliorated. In addition, improvements were seen in vital signs, mood, and foot fatigue. Results were immediate following a ten-minute session in one study and a thirty minute session in another.
Those undergoing palliative care reported results from reflexology work: feeling "relaxed," "comforted" and achieving relief from some of their symptoms. All of those in the study recounted improvements in quality of life: appearance, appetite, breathing, communication (doctors), communication (family), communication (nurses), concentration, constipation, diarrhoea, fear of future, isolation, micturition, mobility, mood, nausea, pain, sleep and tiredness.
Want to learn more? Contact me at 'Massage with Style' liz@massagewithstyle.com
Analysis of Reflexology and Cancer Patients
by Barbara and Kevin Kunz
A review of thirteen studies conducted in six countries (US, Korea, UK, Italy, Japan, Switzerland) showed that cancer patients experienced significant improvements and changes in each category researched. Common complaints (pain, anxiety, nausea, vomiting, and fatigue) for those undergoing chemotherapy were ameliorated. In addition, improvements were seen in vital signs, mood, and foot fatigue. Results were immediate following a ten-minute session in one study and a thirty minute session in another.
Those undergoing palliative care reported results from reflexology work: feeling "relaxed," "comforted" and achieving relief from some of their symptoms. All of those in the study recounted improvements in quality of life: appearance, appetite, breathing, communication (doctors), communication (family), communication (nurses), concentration, constipation, diarrhoea, fear of future, isolation, micturition, mobility, mood, nausea, pain, sleep and tiredness.
Want to learn more? Contact me at 'Massage with Style' liz@massagewithstyle.com
Monday, June 7, 2010
Brushing Up on Healthy Skin
With skin playing such an important role in your health, you want to keep it in good condition. One tool you can use at home is skin brushing. Employed throughout history, skin brushing offers several benefits:
• Assists exfoliation—
Inactive, aging skin does not shed dead cells as readily as does youthful skin
• Stimulates physiological functions– Aids lymphatic drainage of the skin (lymph helps to cleanse the body) and increases blood flow. Also brings about a relaxing effect and decreases muscular tension
• Benefits mature skin—
Sweat gland and oil gland function tend to decrease with aging. Skin brushing stimulates these glands and helps to restore moist, supple skin
• Promotes skin beauty—
By exciting the underlying skin regions that provide nutrients and moisture to all layers of the skin, regular skin brushing helps to regenerate the fibers that keep the skin healthy. It can help to alleviate cellulite as well.
Of course, your regular massages can help keep your skin healthy—and what a great way to make sure all those sensory receptors are doing their job!
• Assists exfoliation—
Inactive, aging skin does not shed dead cells as readily as does youthful skin
• Stimulates physiological functions– Aids lymphatic drainage of the skin (lymph helps to cleanse the body) and increases blood flow. Also brings about a relaxing effect and decreases muscular tension
• Benefits mature skin—
Sweat gland and oil gland function tend to decrease with aging. Skin brushing stimulates these glands and helps to restore moist, supple skin
• Promotes skin beauty—
By exciting the underlying skin regions that provide nutrients and moisture to all layers of the skin, regular skin brushing helps to regenerate the fibers that keep the skin healthy. It can help to alleviate cellulite as well.
Of course, your regular massages can help keep your skin healthy—and what a great way to make sure all those sensory receptors are doing their job!
Friday, June 4, 2010
The Other Side of Massage
In our Western civilization, we focus much of our health attention on the physical side of life, but the human experience is a package deal. Often referred to in alternative health circles as body, mind and spirit, our lives are a composite, with each part of the equation affecting the whole.
In this issue, let’s examine the other side of the picture that’s so often overlooked—the emotional benefits of massage therapy.
As stated earlier, when a problem arises in our lives, we usually focus on the physical aspects. There’s no doubt that if you are ill or in pain, your mental and emotional outlook suffers as well. It’s hard to focus on your goals and enjoy life when you don’t feel your best. In order to handle these situations (hopefully before they grow beyond minor difficulties), you should strive to keep all sides of your life—your body, mind and spirit—functioning at their best.
Regular massage is an ideal vehicle to keep you on the road to good health. It can affect positively so many aspects of your life in such a short time. Consider how it can affect the emotional/mental side of life both directly and indirectly. Since a physical complaint can affect you mentally as well, you can expect to enjoy some mental relief when massage relaxes tense muscles or calms you.
On the other side of the equation, how often do your worries and concerns actually create the physical tension that is experienced as a nervous stomach or felt in your back or shoulders?
Underlying these physical/mental connections that we experience as tension, headaches, sensations of gloom, etc., is an interesting phenomenon that affects us all. To function every day with the many sensations that are in the environment, you tend to tune out some stimuli and focus on other stimuli. For example, when you absorb yourself in a book, you can tune out conversations and other distractions around you. If you were unable to tune out some of the stimuli, you would be overwhelmed continually and find it nearly impossible to accomplish anything.
On the flip side of this coin are the stimuli that you choose to regard as so important that they can monopolize your attention. These are things that are often considered as threatening to your survival. For instance, rats can learn to ignore a flashing red light in their cages. But when a shock is administered shortly after the light is turned on and is repeated a few times, the rats will pay close attention to the light as it apparently threatens their survival. As time goes on, they will begin to experience the same anxiety when seeing the light without experiencing the shock.
Much of the chronic mental stress we experience can be created and maintained like the rats’ light in the cage. A bad experience catches your attention, and you focus on it expecting the danger to repeat itself.
These two mechanisms are both useful to our survival—up to a point. You can learn to tune out a stimulus that you should be paying attention to, or you can focus on a situation (like the rats’) that creates mental stress
unnecessarily.
When you are receiving regular massage, you are incorporating a new set of stimuli that can alter these inappropriate tendencies and create new responses that are more fitting. Massage can reawaken those areas that have been out of commission and can quiet those overly sensitized areas by providing pleasant sensations that can abate the fear of the expected pain.
These mechanisms are operating continually, affecting greatly how we function. From the above information, you can see how this can contribute to your mental/emotional state, as well as your physical well-being.
So, the next time you reach the end of your massage feeling mentally cleansed and refreshed, you’ll know the reason why! It’s another great reason to make sure your regular massage sessions remain a priority in your life. Take good care of yourself; see you soon!
Reference: Job’s Body by Deane Juhan
In this issue, let’s examine the other side of the picture that’s so often overlooked—the emotional benefits of massage therapy.
As stated earlier, when a problem arises in our lives, we usually focus on the physical aspects. There’s no doubt that if you are ill or in pain, your mental and emotional outlook suffers as well. It’s hard to focus on your goals and enjoy life when you don’t feel your best. In order to handle these situations (hopefully before they grow beyond minor difficulties), you should strive to keep all sides of your life—your body, mind and spirit—functioning at their best.
Regular massage is an ideal vehicle to keep you on the road to good health. It can affect positively so many aspects of your life in such a short time. Consider how it can affect the emotional/mental side of life both directly and indirectly. Since a physical complaint can affect you mentally as well, you can expect to enjoy some mental relief when massage relaxes tense muscles or calms you.
On the other side of the equation, how often do your worries and concerns actually create the physical tension that is experienced as a nervous stomach or felt in your back or shoulders?
Underlying these physical/mental connections that we experience as tension, headaches, sensations of gloom, etc., is an interesting phenomenon that affects us all. To function every day with the many sensations that are in the environment, you tend to tune out some stimuli and focus on other stimuli. For example, when you absorb yourself in a book, you can tune out conversations and other distractions around you. If you were unable to tune out some of the stimuli, you would be overwhelmed continually and find it nearly impossible to accomplish anything.
On the flip side of this coin are the stimuli that you choose to regard as so important that they can monopolize your attention. These are things that are often considered as threatening to your survival. For instance, rats can learn to ignore a flashing red light in their cages. But when a shock is administered shortly after the light is turned on and is repeated a few times, the rats will pay close attention to the light as it apparently threatens their survival. As time goes on, they will begin to experience the same anxiety when seeing the light without experiencing the shock.
Much of the chronic mental stress we experience can be created and maintained like the rats’ light in the cage. A bad experience catches your attention, and you focus on it expecting the danger to repeat itself.
These two mechanisms are both useful to our survival—up to a point. You can learn to tune out a stimulus that you should be paying attention to, or you can focus on a situation (like the rats’) that creates mental stress
unnecessarily.
When you are receiving regular massage, you are incorporating a new set of stimuli that can alter these inappropriate tendencies and create new responses that are more fitting. Massage can reawaken those areas that have been out of commission and can quiet those overly sensitized areas by providing pleasant sensations that can abate the fear of the expected pain.
These mechanisms are operating continually, affecting greatly how we function. From the above information, you can see how this can contribute to your mental/emotional state, as well as your physical well-being.
So, the next time you reach the end of your massage feeling mentally cleansed and refreshed, you’ll know the reason why! It’s another great reason to make sure your regular massage sessions remain a priority in your life. Take good care of yourself; see you soon!
Reference: Job’s Body by Deane Juhan
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