A nice benefit accompanying an education in massage therapy is learning about proper body mechanics—how to lessen or avoid physical stress and injury. Becoming aware of how you use (and sometimes misuse) your body can help you to stay healthier and to feel better between massage sessions.
Whether you are sitting or standing; pushing or pulling; or lifting and holding something, the way you use your body will influence your physical health. For instance, just keeping a wallet in your back pocket can throw your back out of alignment because of the way it changes your body mechanics when you sit.
Body positions are so important to your health. A perfect example is the strain put on your back, neck and shoulders when you look down when standing. The next time you’re doing dishes, look mostly straight ahead instead of down and see what a difference it makes.
The following information comes from a popular book among bodyworkers called Body Mechanics for Manual Therapists, written by Barbara Frye. Hopefully, you’ll find this information beneficial.
“Body awareness is where it all starts. Without it, we blindly go through our work not realizing how our movements, responses, sensations and feelings affect our health.
“Body awareness is a mindfulness of your body’s movements, responses, sensations and feelings. As you develop this mindfulness or consciousness of your body, you become aware of subtle patterns, for example, the position of your shoulders while you read, or the shifting of your weight when you stand.
“Once you become aware of your body and your habits of movement, you can begin to discover which movement habits serve you and which ones hinder and cause you discomfort, pain and injury.
“Standing is a basic and foundational position from which all other body mechanics are performed. ... Your body must continue to move or ‘sway’ in varying degrees in order to keep itself in balance, ... so don’t fight its natural movement.
“Trying to stand ‘straight’ takes your skeleton out of its natural alignment and requires your muscles to work very hard to hold a ‘straight’ posture. The next time you feel yourself trying to stand ‘straight,’ relax and allow the natural shape of your skeleton to support you.
“Whether you stand with your feet parallel to each other or with one foot forward, your legs must transmit the weight of your body down to your feet equally.
“When standing, it is important to keep your upper body vertical and balanced over your pelvis, legs and feet. ... Keeping your center of gravity over your feet lets your upper body move without restriction, allowing your shoulders, arms and hands to move freely.
“Sitting is believed to cause the majority of back pain in this country. This is due to the fact that people tend to sit in a slouched or slumped position for hours at a time, increasing the pressure on their lower back. ... Overall there is an increased risk of pain and stress to the lower and upper back as well as the neck. Sitting with your upper body vertically balanced over your pelvis allows your low back to maintain its lumbar curve, decreasing the pressure from flexion (bending of a joint). Not only does it allow your low back to relax, it also allows your entire back to keep its natural curves, reducing excessive muscular effort. ... When sitting it is important that your knees are the same height as your hips. ... Finding the right width for your legs helps maintain your stability and vertical balance, and reduces muscular tension.
“When lifting, it is very important that you get as close to the weight as possible, without losing your own stability. ... When you stand away from the weight, your back must bend and lean in order for your arms and hands to reach the weight. This puts a tremendous strain on the muscles and vertebrae of your back. It also requires the muscles of your arms and shoulders to work hard, first to reach the weight and then to lift it.
“ ‘Lift with your legs, not your back’ is a phrase commonly used when discussing the body mechanics of lifting. ... Lifting with your legs means you are using the power of your lower body to lift the weight. Instead of bending from your back and putting strain on your spine and upper body, bend from your hip joints and knees, and use the power of your legs.”
As you know, massage can help to return your body to a better functional state, as well as helping you to maintain it. These tips should help you between sessions. So, take care of yourself; see you soon!
Thursday, September 30, 2010
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
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.
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.
Saturday, September 25, 2010
Insurance News Alert! & Initiative 1082 and Workers Compensation: How it may affect you
This is being sent out to you my clients for the reason of keeping you informed on current Healthcare issues.
Uniform Medical Plan and Regence Blue Shield Change the Rules: Are You Impacted?
Click here for a link to the Fall 2010 Washington Massage Journal article on Uniform Medical Plan and Regence Blue Shields Networks. We are sending this out prior to the mailing of the Journal because we realize that this is a time-sensitive issue that may affect many of our members.
If you have questions or concerns, the following contact information may be helpful:
Uniform Medical Plan Provider Services:
Toll-free 1-800-464-0967
Local (425) 686-1246
Fax (425) 670-3199
Regence Blue Shield
Phone: 1 (800) 322-1737
Fax: (253) 573-3318
Fax: 1 (877) 367-6551
The Office if the Insurance Commissioner
http://www.insurance.wa.gov/
1-800-562-6900
Washington State Health Care Authority
http://www.hca.wa.gov/contact.html
Initiative 1082 and Workers Compensation: How it may affect you
By: John C. Peick, JD
http://www.peickconniff.com/
Initiative 1082 will completely alter the worker compensation program as we currently know it. As healthcare providers, or as potential injured worker, if this initiative passes, you will be subject to the tender mercies, not of L&I claims managers, but of insurance company adjusters. Of course, this statement presupposes you will not be excluded altogether from the new system. Read on and please pass this information to your patients, friends and colleagues. We are only 7 weeks from the election so we need action NOW!!
What is really in I-1082? Not what you might think......
· Private workers’ comp insurers are given authorization to set their own rates without approval by the Insurance Commissioner. This is unlike every other line of insurance in Washington. (section 2, subsection 4)
· Allows group business plans to set up medical networks to receive premium returns governed only by the insurance company, not safety standards or effective claims management. (section 2, subsection 7)
· Sets up standards for communication between insurers and workers under new private insurance:
- It requires insurers to notify workers within 30 days of procedures approved. It does not require insurers
- to ever make a decision or to notify workers if they deny coverage.
- Workers do not have the right to compel a decision, as they do in other lines of insurance.
- There is no requirement for insurers to communicate with employers or medical providers on any matter.
- I-1082 changes the way workers are notified of their right to appeal a decision. Insurers can show they mailed a notice but don’t have to prove you ever got it. If you moved or never received notice, it does not matter, the insured loses their rights. (section 4)
· Eliminates the employee share of the insurance premium. (section 9)
· Leaves the Board of Appeals as the only way to resolve complaints, leading to a large increase in the number of cases before the Board. And the cost, estimated at more than $40 million, will come from tax revenues, impacting funding for schools and health care. (section 11)
· Grants the insurer full discretion to decide if workers are not cooperative and to cut off benefits or deny vocational rehabilitation training without any input from authorities. (section 11)
· The new tax structure would take effect 30 days following the election. However, the new private insurance cannot be sold for at least 18 months. During this period of time employers will have to cover the entire employee share of the insurance premium. This will mean a 25% tax increase hitting small businesses while the economy is still recovering. (section 15)
· Gives insurers special rights which include the right to talk to the injured worker’s doctor all the way through the claims process and right up to the end of the appeals process. (section 10)
· Appoints a business and insurance-oriented legislative task force that requires future legislatures to accept the Task Force’s interpretations of the measure. Under I-1082, this task force is given the power to change the law to benefit insurers without the elected legislature having the authority to change it. (section 13)
There are also many consumer protections which apply to other lines of insurance intentionally excluded from I-1082:
· Under I-1082, workers’ compensation insurance would not be under the safety net of the Insurance Guaranty Act which protects workers and employers in the case of fraud or bankruptcy by an insurer.
· Similarly, the new workers’ comp insurers treatment of injured workers are exempted from all consumer protection laws and the voter approved Insurance Fair Conduct Act – even though these laws apply to auto, home, health and every other type of insurance. They are also exempt from protections for injured workers that the State or self insured employers are subject to.
· Unlike in other insurance fields, this initiative does not require insurers to have an in-state adjuster, or any in-state training to handle Washington claims. They don’t even have to maintain toll-free numbers.
· There is no way under 1082 to recapture the funding for vital workplace safety programs and vocational retraining that are currently paid for by premiums. These costs will fall exclusively on taxpayers.
All told, according to independent budget experts, I-1082 would add a total of at least $275 million in direct new taxes-- over $200 million in new workers’ comp premiums for small businesses, $30 million in increased workers’ comp premiums for governments, and at least $40 million in taxes to pay for cost shift to taxpayers for Board of Industrial Insurance Appeals.
Cultural Competency in Health Services and Care
The Washington State Department of Health (DOH) is pleased to announce a new resource to help health care providers serving diverse populations of patients. A law passed in 2006 requiring all health care providers licensed by the department to receive multicultural health awareness education and training. The Cultural Competency i Health Services and Care – A Guide for Health Care Providers is a tool in that effort.
This guide is intended to increase the knowledge, understanding, and skills of those who provide health care in cross-cultural situations. The guide is available on the DOH Web page. We hope it will broaden your awareness of health disparities, provide a better understanding of why cultural competency is important, and illustrate some of the resources available to you. There are several online resources that offer continuing education credits. There are also resources with important information and statistics on the populations you serve.
For questions about this project, please contact Kris Reichl at Kristin.reichl@doh.wa.gov or (360) 236-4985.
Uniform Medical Plan and Regence Blue Shield Change the Rules: Are You Impacted?
Click here for a link to the Fall 2010 Washington Massage Journal article on Uniform Medical Plan and Regence Blue Shields Networks. We are sending this out prior to the mailing of the Journal because we realize that this is a time-sensitive issue that may affect many of our members.
If you have questions or concerns, the following contact information may be helpful:
Uniform Medical Plan Provider Services:
Toll-free 1-800-464-0967
Local (425) 686-1246
Fax (425) 670-3199
Regence Blue Shield
Phone: 1 (800) 322-1737
Fax: (253) 573-3318
Fax: 1 (877) 367-6551
The Office if the Insurance Commissioner
http://www.insurance.wa.gov/
1-800-562-6900
Washington State Health Care Authority
http://www.hca.wa.gov/contact.html
Initiative 1082 and Workers Compensation: How it may affect you
By: John C. Peick, JD
http://www.peickconniff.com/
Initiative 1082 will completely alter the worker compensation program as we currently know it. As healthcare providers, or as potential injured worker, if this initiative passes, you will be subject to the tender mercies, not of L&I claims managers, but of insurance company adjusters. Of course, this statement presupposes you will not be excluded altogether from the new system. Read on and please pass this information to your patients, friends and colleagues. We are only 7 weeks from the election so we need action NOW!!
What is really in I-1082? Not what you might think......
· Private workers’ comp insurers are given authorization to set their own rates without approval by the Insurance Commissioner. This is unlike every other line of insurance in Washington. (section 2, subsection 4)
· Allows group business plans to set up medical networks to receive premium returns governed only by the insurance company, not safety standards or effective claims management. (section 2, subsection 7)
· Sets up standards for communication between insurers and workers under new private insurance:
- It requires insurers to notify workers within 30 days of procedures approved. It does not require insurers
- to ever make a decision or to notify workers if they deny coverage.
- Workers do not have the right to compel a decision, as they do in other lines of insurance.
- There is no requirement for insurers to communicate with employers or medical providers on any matter.
- I-1082 changes the way workers are notified of their right to appeal a decision. Insurers can show they mailed a notice but don’t have to prove you ever got it. If you moved or never received notice, it does not matter, the insured loses their rights. (section 4)
· Eliminates the employee share of the insurance premium. (section 9)
· Leaves the Board of Appeals as the only way to resolve complaints, leading to a large increase in the number of cases before the Board. And the cost, estimated at more than $40 million, will come from tax revenues, impacting funding for schools and health care. (section 11)
· Grants the insurer full discretion to decide if workers are not cooperative and to cut off benefits or deny vocational rehabilitation training without any input from authorities. (section 11)
· The new tax structure would take effect 30 days following the election. However, the new private insurance cannot be sold for at least 18 months. During this period of time employers will have to cover the entire employee share of the insurance premium. This will mean a 25% tax increase hitting small businesses while the economy is still recovering. (section 15)
· Gives insurers special rights which include the right to talk to the injured worker’s doctor all the way through the claims process and right up to the end of the appeals process. (section 10)
· Appoints a business and insurance-oriented legislative task force that requires future legislatures to accept the Task Force’s interpretations of the measure. Under I-1082, this task force is given the power to change the law to benefit insurers without the elected legislature having the authority to change it. (section 13)
There are also many consumer protections which apply to other lines of insurance intentionally excluded from I-1082:
· Under I-1082, workers’ compensation insurance would not be under the safety net of the Insurance Guaranty Act which protects workers and employers in the case of fraud or bankruptcy by an insurer.
· Similarly, the new workers’ comp insurers treatment of injured workers are exempted from all consumer protection laws and the voter approved Insurance Fair Conduct Act – even though these laws apply to auto, home, health and every other type of insurance. They are also exempt from protections for injured workers that the State or self insured employers are subject to.
· Unlike in other insurance fields, this initiative does not require insurers to have an in-state adjuster, or any in-state training to handle Washington claims. They don’t even have to maintain toll-free numbers.
· There is no way under 1082 to recapture the funding for vital workplace safety programs and vocational retraining that are currently paid for by premiums. These costs will fall exclusively on taxpayers.
All told, according to independent budget experts, I-1082 would add a total of at least $275 million in direct new taxes-- over $200 million in new workers’ comp premiums for small businesses, $30 million in increased workers’ comp premiums for governments, and at least $40 million in taxes to pay for cost shift to taxpayers for Board of Industrial Insurance Appeals.
Cultural Competency in Health Services and Care
The Washington State Department of Health (DOH) is pleased to announce a new resource to help health care providers serving diverse populations of patients. A law passed in 2006 requiring all health care providers licensed by the department to receive multicultural health awareness education and training. The Cultural Competency i Health Services and Care – A Guide for Health Care Providers is a tool in that effort.
This guide is intended to increase the knowledge, understanding, and skills of those who provide health care in cross-cultural situations. The guide is available on the DOH Web page. We hope it will broaden your awareness of health disparities, provide a better understanding of why cultural competency is important, and illustrate some of the resources available to you. There are several online resources that offer continuing education credits. There are also resources with important information and statistics on the populations you serve.
For questions about this project, please contact Kris Reichl at Kristin.reichl@doh.wa.gov or (360) 236-4985.
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
If the Shoe Fits!
The following is been shared as Food for thought! Remember, that if your feel hurt, usually your Day will not be the best!
Research Investigates: Do People Wear the Correct-Size Shoes?
by Terence Vanderheiden, DPM
So what do you think, are people wearing the correctsize shoes? I think we have all been in a pair of shoes that were either too small or too large at some point in our lives. Foot problems can occur from wearing shoes that do not fit. This article looks at research studies that attempt to answer the question, "Does the shoe fit?" If you are feeling some pressure from your shoes, learn more about how to fit shoes and foot care.
The first study looked at an older population of people (average age 82) on a rehabilitation ward. There were 65 people in the study. They measured the length and width of the patients' feet and compared that to their shoe size. The researchers found that 72% of the people were not wearing the proper-size shoes. They also found an association between incorrect shoe length and increased risk of pain and ulceration (open sore in the skin). Foot health is very important in older people because of the increased risk of falls. The researchers conclude that footwear assessment in the older population is necessary to help try and avoid pain and prevent foot problems.
The second study was larger and had 440 people in the study. The research was conducted on U.S. Veterans. They also measured the length and width of the patients' feet and found that only 25.5% of the people were wearing the proper-size shoes. That means 74.5% had shoes that did not fit properly. Shoes that did not fit properly were defined as shoes that were one size too small or one size too large, compared with the foot measurements. The researchers also found that patients with diabetic foot ulcerations (open sores in the skin) were 5.1 times more likely to have poor fitting shoes than patients without ulcerations. This study also points out the importance of wearing shoes that fit to help reduce the risk of foot ulceration.
The third study involved 100 people who had diabetes and an average age of 62 years old. The researchers compared the length and width of the patients' feet to the length and width of their shoes while standing and sitting. In this study, the definition of a poor-fitting shoe was if the shoe was a 1/2 size too short or too long and more than 1 width size different than the person's foot. The researchers found that only 24% of the people had proper-fitting shoes while sitting and that number dropped to only 20% while standing -- the feet tend to spread out more when standing. They concluded that a majority of their diabetes patients were wearing poorfitting shoes and that mostly the shoes were too narrow. Wearing shoes that fit is not as easy as it may sound.
These research studies are a small sample, but all three found that about 75% of the people they studied were not wearing shoes that fit. It is especially important for people with diabetes and neuropathy (loss of feeling) to be wearing shoes that fit. If you are not sure if your shoes fit properly, go to a shoe store with trained shoe-fitting professionals. It is recommended that you measure your feet once or twice per year. In fact, it would be ideal if you had your feet measured every time you bought new shoes.
Sources:
Burns SL, Leese GP, McMurdo ME. Older people and ill fitting shoes. Postgrad Med J. 2002 Jun;78(920):344-6.
Harrison SJ, Cochrane L, Abboud RJ, Leese GP. Do patients with diabetes wear shoes of the correct size? Int J Clin Pract. 2007 Nov;61(11):1900-4.
Nixon BP, Armstrong DG, Wendell C, Vazquez JR, Rabinovich Z, Kimbriel HR, Rosales MA, Boulton AJ. Do US veterans wear appropriately sized Shoes?: the Veterans Affairs shoe size selection study. J Am Podiatr Med Assoc. 2006 Jul-Aug;96(4):290-2.
Reprinted from About.com
The next time your not feeling well, think of your feel! Contact Massage with Style to learn how 'Reflexology' can help to make your feet and self Happy and Feeling Better!
Research Investigates: Do People Wear the Correct-Size Shoes?
by Terence Vanderheiden, DPM
So what do you think, are people wearing the correctsize shoes? I think we have all been in a pair of shoes that were either too small or too large at some point in our lives. Foot problems can occur from wearing shoes that do not fit. This article looks at research studies that attempt to answer the question, "Does the shoe fit?" If you are feeling some pressure from your shoes, learn more about how to fit shoes and foot care.
The first study looked at an older population of people (average age 82) on a rehabilitation ward. There were 65 people in the study. They measured the length and width of the patients' feet and compared that to their shoe size. The researchers found that 72% of the people were not wearing the proper-size shoes. They also found an association between incorrect shoe length and increased risk of pain and ulceration (open sore in the skin). Foot health is very important in older people because of the increased risk of falls. The researchers conclude that footwear assessment in the older population is necessary to help try and avoid pain and prevent foot problems.
The second study was larger and had 440 people in the study. The research was conducted on U.S. Veterans. They also measured the length and width of the patients' feet and found that only 25.5% of the people were wearing the proper-size shoes. That means 74.5% had shoes that did not fit properly. Shoes that did not fit properly were defined as shoes that were one size too small or one size too large, compared with the foot measurements. The researchers also found that patients with diabetic foot ulcerations (open sores in the skin) were 5.1 times more likely to have poor fitting shoes than patients without ulcerations. This study also points out the importance of wearing shoes that fit to help reduce the risk of foot ulceration.
The third study involved 100 people who had diabetes and an average age of 62 years old. The researchers compared the length and width of the patients' feet to the length and width of their shoes while standing and sitting. In this study, the definition of a poor-fitting shoe was if the shoe was a 1/2 size too short or too long and more than 1 width size different than the person's foot. The researchers found that only 24% of the people had proper-fitting shoes while sitting and that number dropped to only 20% while standing -- the feet tend to spread out more when standing. They concluded that a majority of their diabetes patients were wearing poorfitting shoes and that mostly the shoes were too narrow. Wearing shoes that fit is not as easy as it may sound.
These research studies are a small sample, but all three found that about 75% of the people they studied were not wearing shoes that fit. It is especially important for people with diabetes and neuropathy (loss of feeling) to be wearing shoes that fit. If you are not sure if your shoes fit properly, go to a shoe store with trained shoe-fitting professionals. It is recommended that you measure your feet once or twice per year. In fact, it would be ideal if you had your feet measured every time you bought new shoes.
Sources:
Burns SL, Leese GP, McMurdo ME. Older people and ill fitting shoes. Postgrad Med J. 2002 Jun;78(920):344-6.
Harrison SJ, Cochrane L, Abboud RJ, Leese GP. Do patients with diabetes wear shoes of the correct size? Int J Clin Pract. 2007 Nov;61(11):1900-4.
Nixon BP, Armstrong DG, Wendell C, Vazquez JR, Rabinovich Z, Kimbriel HR, Rosales MA, Boulton AJ. Do US veterans wear appropriately sized Shoes?: the Veterans Affairs shoe size selection study. J Am Podiatr Med Assoc. 2006 Jul-Aug;96(4):290-2.
Reprinted from About.com
The next time your not feeling well, think of your feel! Contact Massage with Style to learn how 'Reflexology' can help to make your feet and self Happy and Feeling Better!
Monday, September 20, 2010
NUUN @ Massage with Style
Yes, You ask for less sugars and I have found it!
NUUN
A PORTABLE ELECTROLYTE HYDRATION
Easier to carry and without the sugar of Gatorade!!!
In real words? imagine being out on a long run or ride, or being in the gym. rather than settle for water or buy a sugary drink from a convenience store, you just fill up your water bottle and drop in a couple of nuun tabs. by the time you’ve tied your laces or put on your pack, you’ve got a complex electrolyte drink that recharges your salts, but is refreshing and more efficiently absorbed than water alone or most sports drinks on the market.
Said simply
nuun was designed, formulated and tested to keep you optimally hydrated, wherever you are.
nuun is:
portable
nuun comes in a tough tube that is water resistant and perfect for carrying in your hand, bike jersey, pack…wherever. 1 tube = 6 litres (~1.5 gallons) – enough for a good ride or a week at the gym. and if you travel, forget trying to find your normal drink or suffering the indignity of bags of powder bursting in your luggage, a couple of tubes in your bags will get there in one piece and get you through the week of training in colorado or the pyrenees.
balanced
we spent years researching the levels of electrolytes needed for the product to be absorbed the quickest and to provide optimal salt balance to prevent cramping and maximise hydration. an editor of a major triathlon publication used nuun and had “no cramping issues for the first time ever in an ironman”.
refreshing
designed for the active palate, nuun’s got a light flavour that’s not overwhelming when you’re on the go. if you’ve ever watered down sports drinks because they’re too strong, then you’ve made them less easy to absorb; this ultimately defeats the purpose of using them. some call the nuun taste ‘tart’ and that’s probably the best description we’ve found yet, other than ‘just right’!
simple
a bottle of water, 1 nuun per 500ml (~16oz) … doesn’t matter where you are, how windy it is, how much space you’ve got – drop in nuun and you’re good to go.
nuun is not:
no energy
nuun has no carbohydrate. we did this for two reasons:
1) your choice - we believe that you are the best one to manage your carb intake. gels? bars? bananas? pretzels and fruit? your call. we’re all different so what’s right for you isn’t right for us. combining hydration and energy as all other sports drinks do is therefore counter-intuitive to us. we believe you should have the choice on how to refuel. nuun hydrates - optimally.
2) more product - sugar (the carb) is big and bulky. adding even small amounts of sugar bulks up the tabs and results in less drink. if you’re like us, you want a product that actually lasts and goes the distance for a ride/run…so there’s no sugar. with no carb, nuun is perfect for those avoiding carbs, for whatever reason. after all, why drink an energy loaded sports drink in the gym when all you really want is the hydration for spin class? and if you’re on ‘that’ diet,
ever been in a race and used powder in bags? half of it ends up on the floor; and if it’s windy or raining, you end up with half of it glued to your face. oh, and if the bags bursts, you’ve got a sticky mess in your bag and no more drink. powder’s just an outdated solution and has not kept pace with the sports and activities we do.
how much powder to use? where’s the scoop? lost the bottle to measure out the liquid? where to put the trash? not with nuun – 1 tab per 500ml/~16oz.
not fizzy
nuun is an effervescent so that it dissolves quickly and ends up properly mixed (no need for you to shake). but once dissolved, it’s not fizzy…it’s flat. in fact, this has been the hardest thing to achieve and taken us a bit of time, which is why there’s a patent pending on the process.
who uses nuun?
cyclists, triathletes, runners, hikers, yoga-bods, travelers, adventure racers, kids, rowers, motorcyclists, people at work, and anyone else 'doing stuff' while trying to stay properly hydrated. nuun is a complex hydration system that’s easy to use, but the real step forward is that it’s portable, which means you now have a solution wherever you are; in the gym, hiking, adventure racing, running, kayaking, long rides, traveling and even expeditions.
in the gym
gyms are notorious for draining you out. we used to go before/after work and if we didn’t hydrate properly, we left drained after a good class. nuun’s been great for our friends who visit gyms regularly. they keep a tube of nuun in an empty water bottle in their gym bag. at the start of each workout, they fill up at the water fountain and off they go. by the way, you should know the dangers of not cleaning out bottles after they’ve been filled with sugar solutions. nuun’s lack of sugar means you just need to rinse out your bottle and you won’t come back to a furry biochemical disaster next time you open your bag, which we think is rather clever.
bike and run
this is where it started. going out on long rides and refueling half way meant rummaging through the convenience store; often settling for something we’d never heard of, or just going with water - figuring we were on the way home. with nuun you start out with the same drink you finish with, and know that on rides off the beaten track, you have a serious electrolyte hydration source and something that works for you.
adventure racing
i don’t think we need to say much here: nuun offers a perfect balance of electrolytes to ensure the most efficient hydration and is in a sturdy, waterproof, easy-to-carry container. nuun can be used in windy conditions and even on the move, plus one tube will provide 6 litres (~1.5 gallons) of hydration. there’s no surprise that nuun’s become a staple for the adventure racers we know.
in the pool
perfect for lap swimming and now used by several swim groups and instructors we know. hydration is critical while swimming, but given the length of the workout, energy isn’t as important during the exercise. nuun’s focus on total hydration in a portable format (nestled in your bag) is perfect, especially for sea and lake swims…just add the nuun to your bottle and fill up at the fountain.
on the trails
you’re purposely not near convenience stores and often away for days. powders are difficult to carry and horrible to use in windy conditions, so this should be a no-brainer. use your water filter to refill, drop in the nuun and you’ve got the ultimate in hydration and electrolyte replacement as well as having a refreshing flavour.
globe trotting
we’ve been through our fair share of harsh travel holidays: trekking in thailand, bushwacking the outback in oz, multi-day hikes across maine, climbing in the tetons and even just visiting the hustle and bustle of hong kong. we’ve also found ourselves desperate for a drink and looking at the local offerings with no idea what they all are! in environments where the humidity and temperature are high, and you’re more interested in seeing the sights than reclining by the pool, nuun’s portability is perfect. find water, drop in nuun and get going. oh, and send us a postcard, please.
http://www.nuun.com/what-is-nuun.html
INTERESTED????
Stop by my Office and I'll send you out the door with a sample.
NUUN
A PORTABLE ELECTROLYTE HYDRATION
Easier to carry and without the sugar of Gatorade!!!
In real words? imagine being out on a long run or ride, or being in the gym. rather than settle for water or buy a sugary drink from a convenience store, you just fill up your water bottle and drop in a couple of nuun tabs. by the time you’ve tied your laces or put on your pack, you’ve got a complex electrolyte drink that recharges your salts, but is refreshing and more efficiently absorbed than water alone or most sports drinks on the market.
Said simply
nuun was designed, formulated and tested to keep you optimally hydrated, wherever you are.
nuun is:
portable
nuun comes in a tough tube that is water resistant and perfect for carrying in your hand, bike jersey, pack…wherever. 1 tube = 6 litres (~1.5 gallons) – enough for a good ride or a week at the gym. and if you travel, forget trying to find your normal drink or suffering the indignity of bags of powder bursting in your luggage, a couple of tubes in your bags will get there in one piece and get you through the week of training in colorado or the pyrenees.
balanced
we spent years researching the levels of electrolytes needed for the product to be absorbed the quickest and to provide optimal salt balance to prevent cramping and maximise hydration. an editor of a major triathlon publication used nuun and had “no cramping issues for the first time ever in an ironman”.
refreshing
designed for the active palate, nuun’s got a light flavour that’s not overwhelming when you’re on the go. if you’ve ever watered down sports drinks because they’re too strong, then you’ve made them less easy to absorb; this ultimately defeats the purpose of using them. some call the nuun taste ‘tart’ and that’s probably the best description we’ve found yet, other than ‘just right’!
simple
a bottle of water, 1 nuun per 500ml (~16oz) … doesn’t matter where you are, how windy it is, how much space you’ve got – drop in nuun and you’re good to go.
nuun is not:
no energy
nuun has no carbohydrate. we did this for two reasons:
1) your choice - we believe that you are the best one to manage your carb intake. gels? bars? bananas? pretzels and fruit? your call. we’re all different so what’s right for you isn’t right for us. combining hydration and energy as all other sports drinks do is therefore counter-intuitive to us. we believe you should have the choice on how to refuel. nuun hydrates - optimally.
2) more product - sugar (the carb) is big and bulky. adding even small amounts of sugar bulks up the tabs and results in less drink. if you’re like us, you want a product that actually lasts and goes the distance for a ride/run…so there’s no sugar. with no carb, nuun is perfect for those avoiding carbs, for whatever reason. after all, why drink an energy loaded sports drink in the gym when all you really want is the hydration for spin class? and if you’re on ‘that’ diet,
ever been in a race and used powder in bags? half of it ends up on the floor; and if it’s windy or raining, you end up with half of it glued to your face. oh, and if the bags bursts, you’ve got a sticky mess in your bag and no more drink. powder’s just an outdated solution and has not kept pace with the sports and activities we do.
how much powder to use? where’s the scoop? lost the bottle to measure out the liquid? where to put the trash? not with nuun – 1 tab per 500ml/~16oz.
not fizzy
nuun is an effervescent so that it dissolves quickly and ends up properly mixed (no need for you to shake). but once dissolved, it’s not fizzy…it’s flat. in fact, this has been the hardest thing to achieve and taken us a bit of time, which is why there’s a patent pending on the process.
who uses nuun?
cyclists, triathletes, runners, hikers, yoga-bods, travelers, adventure racers, kids, rowers, motorcyclists, people at work, and anyone else 'doing stuff' while trying to stay properly hydrated. nuun is a complex hydration system that’s easy to use, but the real step forward is that it’s portable, which means you now have a solution wherever you are; in the gym, hiking, adventure racing, running, kayaking, long rides, traveling and even expeditions.
in the gym
gyms are notorious for draining you out. we used to go before/after work and if we didn’t hydrate properly, we left drained after a good class. nuun’s been great for our friends who visit gyms regularly. they keep a tube of nuun in an empty water bottle in their gym bag. at the start of each workout, they fill up at the water fountain and off they go. by the way, you should know the dangers of not cleaning out bottles after they’ve been filled with sugar solutions. nuun’s lack of sugar means you just need to rinse out your bottle and you won’t come back to a furry biochemical disaster next time you open your bag, which we think is rather clever.
bike and run
this is where it started. going out on long rides and refueling half way meant rummaging through the convenience store; often settling for something we’d never heard of, or just going with water - figuring we were on the way home. with nuun you start out with the same drink you finish with, and know that on rides off the beaten track, you have a serious electrolyte hydration source and something that works for you.
adventure racing
i don’t think we need to say much here: nuun offers a perfect balance of electrolytes to ensure the most efficient hydration and is in a sturdy, waterproof, easy-to-carry container. nuun can be used in windy conditions and even on the move, plus one tube will provide 6 litres (~1.5 gallons) of hydration. there’s no surprise that nuun’s become a staple for the adventure racers we know.
in the pool
perfect for lap swimming and now used by several swim groups and instructors we know. hydration is critical while swimming, but given the length of the workout, energy isn’t as important during the exercise. nuun’s focus on total hydration in a portable format (nestled in your bag) is perfect, especially for sea and lake swims…just add the nuun to your bottle and fill up at the fountain.
on the trails
you’re purposely not near convenience stores and often away for days. powders are difficult to carry and horrible to use in windy conditions, so this should be a no-brainer. use your water filter to refill, drop in the nuun and you’ve got the ultimate in hydration and electrolyte replacement as well as having a refreshing flavour.
globe trotting
we’ve been through our fair share of harsh travel holidays: trekking in thailand, bushwacking the outback in oz, multi-day hikes across maine, climbing in the tetons and even just visiting the hustle and bustle of hong kong. we’ve also found ourselves desperate for a drink and looking at the local offerings with no idea what they all are! in environments where the humidity and temperature are high, and you’re more interested in seeing the sights than reclining by the pool, nuun’s portability is perfect. find water, drop in nuun and get going. oh, and send us a postcard, please.
http://www.nuun.com/what-is-nuun.html
INTERESTED????
Stop by my Office and I'll send you out the door with a sample.
Friday, September 17, 2010
Another Monthly Winner @ Massage with Style (September)
Massage with Style has another Session Winner... Kayla Boyle of Washougal, WA
CONGRATULATIONS!!!
Liz
Elizabeth 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
CONGRATULATIONS!!!
Liz
Elizabeth 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, September 16, 2010
Make your appointment online
You can now book your appointments online! By offering online scheduling you will be able to:
* Schedule 24/7: Schedule your appointment when it's convenient for you; whether that's 3 p.m. or 3 a.m.
* Manage Your Appointments: After creating your account, you can view past and upcoming appointments and even reschedule if needed.
* Schedule from Your Phone: Make appointments straight from your BlackBerry or iPhone.
* Receive Reminders: When you schedule online, you will receive an e-mail reminding you of your appointment.
Schedule Now or Create Your Account for Later with Massage with Style, www.schedulicity.com
* Schedule 24/7: Schedule your appointment when it's convenient for you; whether that's 3 p.m. or 3 a.m.
* Manage Your Appointments: After creating your account, you can view past and upcoming appointments and even reschedule if needed.
* Schedule from Your Phone: Make appointments straight from your BlackBerry or iPhone.
* Receive Reminders: When you schedule online, you will receive an e-mail reminding you of your appointment.
Schedule Now or Create Your Account for Later with Massage with Style, www.schedulicity.com
More Motion Equals Improved Health
Exercise and massage have one important element in common: they both get your body in motion. And as a general rule, more motion means improved health.
Much of the media coverage on exercise seems to focus on looking better and losing weight. These are great goals, but apparently not good enough to inspire most people to exercise regularly. More important results of being active are those that occur unseen, deep within your body.
Why is movement critical to proper health? Just consider the inner workings of your body. Like a sprawling city, you’re composed of trillions of cells that all require and generate energy. When your lifestyle includes lots of physical movement, it’s similar to a well-designed city’s traffic flow—the energy of the city is kept in motion, with everybody able to get to work on time. Deliveries of life-enhancing products get to where they need to be, renovations on older structures get completed on schedule, and the industrial waste is efficiently removed. And like a well-tuned machine, we only notice how the system is working when we get stuck in traffic.
All of these internal activities require a constant state of motion. Even while you sleep your body is hard at work, making repairs and preparing for the coming day.
So what does massage have to do with all this? The truth is that most of us don’t make the commitment to use our bodies the way they were designed to be used. Massage is a great way to put a little motion in your life without even breaking a sweat! While you relax and unwind, your body enjoys the benefits of the countless internal motions brought about by the bodywork strokes.
In Dean Juhan’s book, Job’s Body, he says, “Every part of us is continually undergoing dynamic changes, from liquid ... states to solid gel states and back again as we grow, move, learn, and age, and no single part ever changes its state without sending reverberations out to all the other parts.”
Since massage sessions are full-body treatments, you get the benefit of contributing life-enhancing motion from head to toe—without lifting a finger!
Much of the media coverage on exercise seems to focus on looking better and losing weight. These are great goals, but apparently not good enough to inspire most people to exercise regularly. More important results of being active are those that occur unseen, deep within your body.
Why is movement critical to proper health? Just consider the inner workings of your body. Like a sprawling city, you’re composed of trillions of cells that all require and generate energy. When your lifestyle includes lots of physical movement, it’s similar to a well-designed city’s traffic flow—the energy of the city is kept in motion, with everybody able to get to work on time. Deliveries of life-enhancing products get to where they need to be, renovations on older structures get completed on schedule, and the industrial waste is efficiently removed. And like a well-tuned machine, we only notice how the system is working when we get stuck in traffic.
All of these internal activities require a constant state of motion. Even while you sleep your body is hard at work, making repairs and preparing for the coming day.
So what does massage have to do with all this? The truth is that most of us don’t make the commitment to use our bodies the way they were designed to be used. Massage is a great way to put a little motion in your life without even breaking a sweat! While you relax and unwind, your body enjoys the benefits of the countless internal motions brought about by the bodywork strokes.
In Dean Juhan’s book, Job’s Body, he says, “Every part of us is continually undergoing dynamic changes, from liquid ... states to solid gel states and back again as we grow, move, learn, and age, and no single part ever changes its state without sending reverberations out to all the other parts.”
Since massage sessions are full-body treatments, you get the benefit of contributing life-enhancing motion from head to toe—without lifting a finger!
NOW AT MASSAGE WITH STYLE
The next time your in for a massage, Liz now has both Sombra and Biofreeze product available to purchase to be used between those sessions. Not sure which one to use, try both! While Sombra is perfect for those sore muscles, Biofreeze is great to use on the sore joints.
Monday, September 13, 2010
Reflexology: Cranio-Sacral Reflexology (CSR)
Cranial-sacral reflexology is a modality of Reflexology, which is a complementary therapy, that may be undertaken on its own or together with your regular medical care.
CSR is a holistic therapy that aims to help the whole individual; and to support the body’s own healing abilities. This is done by reducing stress and allowing the body to truly relax. Doing this the body can repair and recuperate.
Reflexology has been described as a specialized type of foot massage, where the reflexologist uses their hands to apply gentle pressure to specific areas on the client’s foot, like a specialized form of acupressure.
The rhythm of the cranial sacral system is fundamental to life and offers an opportunity to evaluate the health and well-being of the individual.
This unique combination of reflexology and aspects of cranial sacral therapy, Cranial-Sacral Reflexology, produces a treatment that other therapists are finding increases clients ability in alleviating their symptoms.
Many conditions including infant colic, sinus headaches, neck and back pain, whiplash injuries, and cancers of all kinds can be safely treated.
Interested in learning more, contact Liz at 'Massage with Style'.
Elizabeth 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
CSR is a holistic therapy that aims to help the whole individual; and to support the body’s own healing abilities. This is done by reducing stress and allowing the body to truly relax. Doing this the body can repair and recuperate.
Reflexology has been described as a specialized type of foot massage, where the reflexologist uses their hands to apply gentle pressure to specific areas on the client’s foot, like a specialized form of acupressure.
The rhythm of the cranial sacral system is fundamental to life and offers an opportunity to evaluate the health and well-being of the individual.
This unique combination of reflexology and aspects of cranial sacral therapy, Cranial-Sacral Reflexology, produces a treatment that other therapists are finding increases clients ability in alleviating their symptoms.
Many conditions including infant colic, sinus headaches, neck and back pain, whiplash injuries, and cancers of all kinds can be safely treated.
Interested in learning more, contact Liz at 'Massage with Style'.
Elizabeth 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
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
ENTER for a FREE Massage at Massage with Style
There has already been one monthly winner in our Free Massage Drawing... Your missing out, it's not everyday that you are offered a Massage Session for Free. Next drawing will be on the 15th of the month. Liz is 'THINKING' of you at Massage with Style!
I've been wondering...
Q: Why is it I feel great after most massage sessions, but sometimes I feel run down for a day?
A: Massage brings change to your body, and most of the time you feel invigorated and renewed after your session. When you feel less than terrific afterwords, the first question to ask is: Are you drinking plenty of pure water? The most common reason for feeling a little run down, etc. is that the massage has begun a detoxification process, and your body has released toxins and cellular waste into the bloodstream for disposal. Water helps your body to eliminate these toxins, just like the rinse cycle in the washing machine helps to remove dirt from your clothes that’s been loosened by the wash cycle. When you cut short or skip this vital step, you run the chance of letting this waste material redistribute in your body.
Water is one of the easiest health aids you can incorporate into your life. Make sure you drink several glasses every day—especially following your massage!
A: Massage brings change to your body, and most of the time you feel invigorated and renewed after your session. When you feel less than terrific afterwords, the first question to ask is: Are you drinking plenty of pure water? The most common reason for feeling a little run down, etc. is that the massage has begun a detoxification process, and your body has released toxins and cellular waste into the bloodstream for disposal. Water helps your body to eliminate these toxins, just like the rinse cycle in the washing machine helps to remove dirt from your clothes that’s been loosened by the wash cycle. When you cut short or skip this vital step, you run the chance of letting this waste material redistribute in your body.
Water is one of the easiest health aids you can incorporate into your life. Make sure you drink several glasses every day—especially following your massage!
Reducing stress
• Identify the causes of stress in your life.
• Share your thoughts and feelings.
• Simplify your life as much as possible.
• Manage your time & conserve your energy.
• Set short-term and life goals for yourself.
• Do not turn to drugs and alcohol.
• Become as mentally and physically fit as possible.
• Develop a sense of humor and have some fun.
• Get help to cope with hard-to-solve problems. (*3)
• Share your thoughts and feelings.
• Simplify your life as much as possible.
• Manage your time & conserve your energy.
• Set short-term and life goals for yourself.
• Do not turn to drugs and alcohol.
• Become as mentally and physically fit as possible.
• Develop a sense of humor and have some fun.
• Get help to cope with hard-to-solve problems. (*3)
Body facts ...
80% of your brain is occupied with keeping your body upright in space.
The human skeleton has 206 bones with many shapes, but not one straight bone.
Your two feet together contain a quarter of all the bones in your body.
During a typical day, your feet endure a cumulative force of several hundred tons.
From Body Mechanics for Manual Therapists,
by Barbara Frye © 2000
All rights reserved. Used with permission.
The human skeleton has 206 bones with many shapes, but not one straight bone.
Your two feet together contain a quarter of all the bones in your body.
During a typical day, your feet endure a cumulative force of several hundred tons.
From Body Mechanics for Manual Therapists,
by Barbara Frye © 2000
All rights reserved. Used with permission.
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
Beating Stress Before it Beats You
Let’s start off with the good news—massage is a great health aid that has been shown to reduce stress and its accompanying physical health threats. An Internet search on “effects of stress” supplied over 250,000 related articles, and most of the references in this issue are excerpted from the results. For instance:
Under severe stress, when muscles are over-worked, the body shows many weakening symptoms such as soreness, stiffness, and even muscle spasms. Heightened stress responses accumulate lactic acid in the muscle and waste air inside the body. It exhausts the body and de-motivates the mind to remain energized and active.
Under severe stress, when muscles are over-worked, the body shows many weakening symptoms such as soreness, stiffness, and even muscle spasms. Heightened stress responses accumulate lactic acid in the muscle and waste air inside the body. It exhausts the body and de-motivates the mind to remain energized and active.
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