More About Massage
History of Massage
Massage has been a major part of medicine for at least 5000 years, it was one of the first and most important of the medical arts and was practiced, developed, and taught primarily by physicians. It has been written about extensively in medical books since 500 b.c. and was a major topic in the first medical texts printed after the discovery of the printing press.
Artifacts have been found in many countries to support the belief that in prehistoric times men and women massaged their muscles and rubbed herbs, oils, and various substances on their bodies as healing and protective agents. Hippocrates, who developed the code of ethics for physicians, practiced massage . As you can see Massage has been around for ages............
What exactly are those knots in my Neck and Shoulders?
Tension, bruises, repetitive task aggravations, injuries, or strains in your tissues can all cause muscles to contract that surround them. Contracted muscles constrict the blood flow to the area and at the same time the metabolic activity of the contracting muscles increase, consuming more energy.
Oxygen and nutrients are burned, producing increased amounts of metabolic wastes. The available oxygen is quickly burned, and the amounts of lactic acid and other toxins collect in the tissues. That is where massage comes in and breaks this cycle by moving those collect toxins back into your circulatory system. This is also why we suggest you drink plenty of water after a massage to flush the toxins completely.
Myofascial Release
If you take away all bones, muscles, organs, cells, etc...your body will still have its shape due to the fascia that holds and connects everything together. It is a tough connective tissue that spreads throughout your entire body without interuption in a three demensional web. It has an appearance of a spider's web. Fascia surrounds, attaches to and infuses every muscle, bone, nerve, blood vessel, and internal organ. A pull or tear in any part can affect distant areas in the body. A neck injury can create a pull that reaches as far as your foot.
When the fascia system becomes tight or hardens in one area (due to injury, inflammation, disease, surgery, etc.) it can create pulls distantly into seemingly unrelated areas of the body. It profoundly influences all other structures and systems of the body. Fascial restrictions exert 2000 pounds per square inch of pressure on pain sensitive areas causing discomfort and/or limited motion. These restrictions can affect our flexibility and stability, and are a determining factor in our ability to withstand stress and strain. None of which shows up in any of the standard testing such as, x-rays, and MRI's. Many people suffering with pain and/or lack of motion may be experiencing undiagnosed myofascial restrictions.
Treatment
MFR techniques provide gentle sustained pressure into the fascial system to release restrictions which are often the cause of pain and limited motion. MFR is especially helpful in the treatment of stubborn or chronic problems that have not been resolved by traditional methods. Promoting mind-body awareness can provide access to emotions and belief systems that may have prevented permanent structural changes. Once this missing information is revealed and released, healing is complete.
Exercise
During intense training, competition, and sometimes in everyday life, muscle strength and endurance is pushed to its limits and beyond. The result may include the following :
• Increased metabolic waste buildup in the tissues
• Strains in the muscle or connective tissue
• Inflammation and associated fibrosis
• Spasms and pain that restrict movement
These are negative effects of exercise. Skillfully applied athletic massage effectively counteracts each of these conditions. It normally takes a muscle that has been stressed to a point of fatigue 48 to 72 hrs to rest and recuperate. Athletic massage can reduce the recuperation time by as much as 50%! Massage improves flexibility, reduces the chance of injury, eliminates stiffness due to excess acid buildup, and helps improve performance and sustain it longer in your workout routines. Don't forget to stretch before and after any exercise session!
Allergies
If you are like me, weather changes mean allergies and, allergies mean sinus trouble, and sinus trouble means monster headaches. Sometimes these episodes as I call mine, can debilitate the victim for up to a week or longer, stiffening muscles from the neck down into the shoulders, in addition to the headache that is causing this in the first place. Some medications meant to relieve these symptoms actually can have an adverse effect if you take too much. The episode restricts blood flow, which causes the discomfort. Massage therapy is very effective in relieving the muscle tension and headaches that accompany Allergy and Sinus trouble, increasing recovery time and getting you back to life.
Gardening
Gardening for some is very therapeutic and uplifting, however, during the winter months those muscles you use to weed, mow, etc...have been resting. Remember to stretch before any strenuous work outside and stretch afterwards too! Don't stoop, bend your knees, and use knee pads whenever possible. Drink plenty of water to prevent dehyration and remember your Massage Therapist can help with your aching muscles.
• Benefits
• INCREASES LOCAL CIRCULATION OF VENOUS BLOOD AND LYMPHATIC DRAINAGE
• STRETCHES MUSCLE TISSUE
• LOOSENS SCAR TISSUE
• INCREASES CIRCULATION TO MUSCLES AND INTERNAL ORGANS
• REDUCES BLOOD PRESSURE
• ALLOWS GENERAL RELAXATION OF TENSE MUSCLES
• REDUCES HEART RATE
• INDUCES SLOWER DEEPER BREATHING
• INCREASE METABOLISM
• HASTENS HEALING
• IMPROVES SKIN TONE
• IMPROVES MUSCLE TONE
• QUIETS THE STRESS HORMONES
• RECOVERY FROM ILLNESSES SHORTENED
• RECOVERY FROM WORKOUT OR ATHLETIC EVENT SHORTENED
• PREGNANCY , LABOR, AND DELIVERY GO SMOOTHER
• RECOVERY FROM A BAD DAY IN GENERAL
• PROVIDES MORE ENERGY TO DO THE THINGS YOU LOVE
Stress is the most common cause of ill health in our society, probably underlying as many as 70% of all visits to family doctors.
The National Safety Council estimates that 1 million employees are absent on an average workday because of stress related problems. Over 40% of worker turnover is due to :
Job Stress!
There is such a thing is good stress, believe it or not, it is called Eustress . Stress can be good when it makes us perform better, or it can be bad, Distress , when it causes upsets or makes us sick. There are many instances in every workplace that cause unnecessary distress. They range from personality conflicts to work overload. Stress related problems are carried from home to work and from work to home every single day.
Increased stress produces increased performance, initially.
Once you pass a certain point (the hump) any more stress results in decreased performance .
Though Stress can be unpleasant, it's an important and useful part of life. It stimulates learning and personal growth, and is a natural part of any important accomplishment. In fact, the most effective and the healthiest people are not those who avoid stress, but those who respond successfully to it.
Therapeutic massage is a remarkable tool for helping you cope with stress. In the short term, a deeply relaxing massage can give you a welcome break and help you feel better both physically and mentally. Over time, you can use massage to help you develop healthy and productive responses to the stressful challenges in your daily life.
The Stress response: “Fight or Flight”
Under stress your body reacts just as your ancestors did when confronted by a physical threat: you mobilize to fight or flee.
Your nervous system becomes highly activated and hormonal changes, such as release of adrenaline, prepare your body to respond to an emergency. Muscles tense for action, heart rate and blood pressure increase, breathing becomes rapid and shallow, and digestion and other maintenance functions are put on hold.
Unfortunately, fighting or running is rarely a useful response to modern difficulties. Much of our stress comes from an accelerated pace of living. Major life changes occur with increasing frequency such as moving to a new city , relationship unheavals, or changes in employment. In addition, today's stresses are often ambiguous and ongoing such as; Money worries, job expectations or personal conflicts.
Without a sense of resolution--knowing that danger has passed--your body and mind receive no clear signal that it is safe to stop, relax and recuperate. With little chance to rest and recover, you may find that your stress leads to a self-perpetuating cycle in which you become less and less able to unwind.
To wear or not to wear clothes…..
It's a Big question and gets asked a lot...... “Do I have to take off my clothes to get a massage?” “How many of my clothes do I actually have to remove?”
The most effective way to receive a massage is with all clothing removed. With proper draping a client's modesty should never be compromised. However, many people (especially first timers) are not comfortable with all their clothes removed. Your comfort is of primary importance to us at all times. You may leave on whatever you feel comfortable with, and can be assured that you will be covered at all times during your treatment.
Why have a Massage?
Do you have pain, stress, or restricted movement that keeps you from doing or enjoying the things you love? Injuries, household accidents, repetitive tasks at work and tension from everyday stresses can all cause problems that, all too often become nagging and chronic fixtures in our bodies. Massage is one of the best antidotes for stress. Reducing stress leaves you with more energy, decreases the possibility of injury and illness, and improves your outlook on life.
Massage is something good you can do for yourself that requires no extensive planning or physical exertion . Taking care of yourself in this simple way just might give you the energy and desire to pursue other healthful activities like exercise, good nutrition, or spending quality time with loved ones.
Your Massage Rights:
1. YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO REMAIN RELAXED AND REFUSE TO GET STRESSED OUT. YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO REMAIN SILENT OR TALK THE ENTIRE TIME.
2. YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO NOT EQUATE RELAXATION WITH LAZINESS.
3.ANYTHING YOU DO REGARDING MASSAGE CAN AND MAY BE IMPROVING YOUR OUTLOOK ON LIFE.
4.YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO RELEASE YOUR FEELINGS TO YOUR THERAPIST AND HAVE YOUR REQUESTS LISTENED AND ADHERED TO WHERE IT COMES TO AMOUNT OF PRESSURE AND AREAS YOU WANT WORKED ON AND /OR AVOIDED.
5. YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO THERAPIST/CLIENT PRIVILEGE IN KEEPING YOUR WORDS CONFIDENTIAL AND PRIVATE.
6.IF YOU CANNOT RELAX, TECHNIQUES AND SKILLS WILL BE DISCUSSED WITH YOU ON MEDITATION, BREATHING, AND LETTING GO.
7.YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO MOAN, YELL, SCREAM, CRY, SNORE OR SMILE.
(Am working on this one to record onto a cd in a studio)
Diaphragmatic breathing.
Most people are unaware that they are denying their muscles and their body vital life giving oxygen by breathing only through their chest. This keeps muscles tight and tense 24 hours a day thereby increasing stress and producing more pain and rapid breathing. Even after a nights sleep, you are still exhausted because the stress hormones Adreneline and Cortisol that are supposed to tense muscles in times of fight or flight never shut down. This can be such a habit that you are totally unaware of its happening.
Diaphragmatic breathing is a natural way to relax your body, control your pain, induce a restful nights sleep, and in times of confrontation or other stresses can be used to quickly effect calmness in your mind and body. Proper breathing can actually help to control negative emotions, including anger, hatred, jealousy, grief, and frustration. Simply by slowing down the rhythm of breathing, which in turn reduces the heart rate you can often eliminate, tension, nervousness, and pain altogether.
Deep relaxing breath comes from belly-breathing as opposed to chest breathing. This sends more oxygen throughout your muscles and the rest of the body. In times of intense stress, if you will stop for a moment and, take a belly breath, you will be less likely to say or do something you will most likely regret.
With a little practice and some preparation you will become very good at letting your body know that you want it to relax. Let's find a quiet place where you will not be interrupted. Turn off the lights, the TV, put the dog out, turn off the phone etc…. You may choose to designate a room in your house specifically for this purpose and a chosen time each day would be great too. You may want to decorate this room with candles, soft pillows, your favorite blanket, and whatever else that speaks peace and relaxation to you. Soft music, white noise such as a fan, doing this over and over will give you a chance to practice the breathing techniques until they become habit. Be sure to hit the repeat button on your cd player. If any of the techniques seem too difficult or uncomfortable just do the ones you can and please do not use this cd while driving.
Take a moment to get comfortable…..sit or lie down in a comfortable bed or chair, have a nice pillow under your head, loosen tight clothing or shoes that might distract you. Now let yourself sink into the surface beneath you.
Let's begin by closing your eyes and placing one hand on your chest and the other hand on top of your belly. Just notice as you breath in and out which is moving more and which is not moving at all. Notice how fast or how slow you are breathing.
Are you breathing from your chest? Is it taking too much effort to get air in? How fast are you breathing?
Now take in another breath and do not let your chest move, only allow your stomach to move. Imagine that your stomach is a big balloon and completely fill it up with air pushing your stomach hand upward. Hold that breath in now, 1000, 2000, 3000, 4000, now slowly deflate the balloon, allowing all the air to come out without effort, and hold that now..1000, 2000, 3000, 4000. Did you notice that your chest automatically followed your belly through the breath?
This can seem difficult or awkward at first, over time it will become natural and easier than chest breathing.
Now lets show your body the difference between being tense and being relaxed. I want you to tense your thighs, buttocks, make a fist, scrunch up your face, clamp your teeth together, curl your toes, tighten everything you've got and breath in while you do it and hold…1000, 2000, 3000, 4000…….now release everything you have and breath out. Repeat.
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