Therapeutic Massage
HOW MASSAGE THERAPY IS ESSENTIAL TO A HEALTHY YOU
I love massage. From my very first massage to the one I received from a colleague last week, I have found it is always an essential part of my life. It feels great and nurtures my soul. I love giving massage because I know I’m providing comfort and healing for people. I cater massage to each persons unique issues. With today’s challenges, rest and healing is certainly a vital aspect of our health. Relaxation is often overlooked as trivial – I mean, who has time? It’s just a massage, right? Well let me tell you what a good massage can do for you!
MASSAGE CALMS YOUR NERVOUS SYSTEM AND REDUCES STRESS!
Massage calms your nervous system, decreasing stress and anxiety. You know that feeling when you finish a deadline or your family raves about the meal you cooked? That is the hormones dopamine and serotonin making you feel happy and satisfied. Massage stimulates these chemicals-that is why you feel so good after a massage. But the benefits of a relaxed nervous system go even further- regular massage lowers your risk of stroke and heart disease, as well as other ailments proven to be caused by stress.
Who wants some natural pain relief? Massage helps your body produce endorphins, which are the body’s natural pain killers, so if you have a chronic condition such as sciatica or arthritis, massage can be an effective and natural pain management tool. And regular massage therapy lowers our stress chemical cortisol, which raises your blood pressure and puts fat around your belly. With cortisol reduced and endorphins going up, you get the highest chance of staying well, sleeping great and feeling like your best self!
SWEDISH MASSAGE THERAPY NOURISHES YOUR SKIN AND INCREASES FLEXIBILITY
Most massages begin with Swedish-style, a relaxing blend of long gentle glides, kneading and stroking. It starts to work calming your nervous system right away, warms your muscles, and softens the skin and helps with skin elasticity. I love giving full body Swedish massage- it’s the greatest way to help clients really relax, and has so many benefits- one of which is increased flexibility. Gentle joint movements incorporated into your massage lubricate your joints and help you move better. As a matter of fact, a combination of Swedish massage and regular stretching is a great way to avoid workout-related injuries, and stave off stiffness if you tend to be inactive.
MYOFASCIAL RELEASE AND TRIGGER POINT THERAPY RELIEVES YOUR PAIN, INCREASES RANGE OF MOTION AND HEALS INJURIES AND CHRONIC CONDITIONS
A lot of people want a deeper, more therapeutic touch. I love Myofascial Release because it gets further into the tissues, releasing painful areas of chronic tension. This type of massage therapy usually focuses on a specific problem, such as chronic muscle pain, or injury rehabilitation. What makes it different than regular deep tissue is it focuses on trigger points, tiny painful spots in a tight muscle. Trigger points are
common in tendonitis, all sorts of neck and back problems, carpal tunnel, and after surgery or injury. Releasing these nodules sets up a chain reaction of relief, freeing muscles and helping joints to move better.
I joke with my clients that I’ve sharpened my elbows so I can really get in there. You can expect to feel some discomfort during deeper work, but it should always have an element of feeling good to it. I liken it to exercise – getting that feel so good burn. If it hurts so much you want to run out of the room, it’s too much!
After myofascial work, you can expect to experience some stiffness and soreness the next day, but you should feel a lot better in a couple days. But be patient. It took a long time for our body to develop stress patterns, so it It often takes several sessions to notice decreased pain and greater flexibility.