Linda Leigh Edwards, LMT

Clients sometimes ask about different types of massage and what would be best for them. If they are new to massage therapy, haven’t had a massage in a while or seeing a new massage therapist for the first time, a medical history will help the therapist decide what techniques to use. Also taken into consideration is the client’s preference or tolerance to pressure and their desired outcome from the massage. For some it is pain relief or easing muscle soreness but for others it may simply be relaxation.

 Here’s a brief overview of four overall categories of therapeutic massage based on desired outcome.

 1) Relaxation: Includes Swedish, Aromatherapy, sugar scrubs, etc.

2) Corrective: Includes Deep Tissue, Myofascial Release, Medical, etc.

3) Conditioning: Includes Sports Massage, Resistance Stretching. (Seeks to improve the texture, flexibility, and strength of healthy soft tissue with the overall goal of enhancing performance and endurance)

4) Energetic: Includes Shiatsu, Reiki, other forms of energy work.

 w8ds.com/lmt

Sports massage is one of the most popular massage specialties as clients’ fitness activities lead them to natural methods of pain relief and improved athletic performance. Anyone who routinely stretches their physical limits through movement such as running, cycling, hiking, swimming, tennis, strength training and aerobics can benefit from a massage.

Just a few of the benefits of sports massage are:

Improved Athletic Performance. This is achieved in part by increasing flexibility through stretching, releasing antagonist muscles and releasing trigger points which rob muscles of energy. Massage improves range of motion & shortens recovery time between workouts.

Event Preparation & Recovery. Pre-event massage is normally shorter (10-15 minutes) than a regular conditioning massage, and focuses on warming-up the major muscles to be used, and getting the athlete in a good mental state for competition. It improves tissue pliability, readying the athlete for top performance. It also relieves conditions which may cause injury. Pre-event massage enhances circulation and reduces excess muscle and mental tension prior to competition. Post-event massage helps an athlete recover from soreness thereby allowing them to continue workouts without feeling sore. It is geared toward reducing the muscle spasms and metabolic build-up that occur with vigorous exercise.

Don’t be shy when asking about your massage therapist’s background training and credentials. A well trained sports massage therapist will have a solid understanding of anatomy and physiology principles that allow them to accurately assess and treat using proper techniques.

w8ds.com/lmt

Stress is commonplace in today’s busy lifestyles. Stress contributes to such life-threatening problems as heart attack, stroke, depression and infection, as well as chronic aches and pains and obesity. Massage is one way to relieve stress.

Some common reasons people give for NOT getting massages are the expense, they have no time or were not comfortable with the idea of having a massage.

On average, massage therapy costs approximately $1.10 per minute and you can choose the length of time and type of massage. Most of us can easily spend $50 dining out one evening, buying weekly coffee and snacks, or regularly consuming alcohol. Studies show that people who are stressed are more likely to spend money on things they don’t need or consume unhealthy foods as a means of trying to de-stress. These are not healthy alternatives.

Take a look at some of these recent stress statistics, courtesy of the American Psychological Association (APA Survey 2004).

—62% of Americans say work has a significant impact on stress levels.
—54% of workers are concerned about health problems caused by stress.
—45% of workers say job insecurity has a significant impact on work stress levels.
—One in four workers have taken a mental health day off from work to cope with stress.
—Alcohol and overeating are commonly used to cope with stress.

Massage is one of the oldest forms of healing. It is a drug-free and non-invasive way of helping to relieve pain, stress and tension. It can help you cope better with stress and has shown to be effective in helping to reduce anxiety.  So much of the research on massage therapy suggests that when there is a reduction in stress levels following a massage, we in turn will feel less pain, are less depressed and anxious, less fatigued, and have less difficulty falling asleep (The Touch Research Institute). Massage releases endorphins that calm the peripheral nervous system. It increases circulation and speeds up the removal of toxins from the body. Massage reduces levels of the stress hormones cortisol and adrenaline.

Many massage therapists offer packages to make getting regular massages more affordable. If stress is getting the better of you, why not try a massage. You’ll be glad you did!

w8ds.com/lmt

The Universe we live in has a natural rhythm. Physicists have found that the Earth vibrates at about 7.83 cycles per second. Scientists refer to this rhythm as the Schumann Resonance or the pulse of the Earth itself. As human beings living in this Universe we are part of this rhythm. We are surrounded by this vibration, this natural energy field. When we are aligned with the vibration we are in-tune. But just as a musical instrument or vehicle can get out of tune, so can we.

Some signs of being out of tune are worrying too much, having trouble focusing, watching the clock, becoming easily irritated, feeling fatigued or achy and having little excitement in your life. You’ve stopped dreaming about possibilities and lack spirit.

When you are in-tune your body feels good, you seldom worry, you are focused on goals and enthusiastic about life. Time moves freely, you have high hopes and others want to be around you. You feel full of life and vitality. There’s excitement in your life and you want to get out of bed each morning.

Take a look at your life. Are there areas that are not running smoothly? The parts of your life that are not flowing need your attention. For some it takes illness or disease to wake them up to start paying attention to their bodies. If your vehicle was riding rough you’d take it for a tune-up. If your computer was sluggish and slow you’d have it serviced. We give attention to these material items and yet abandon ourselves. You are so much more valuable than the car!

Just as nature heals and renews itself we too have an innate ability to heal ourselves naturally and keep our body and spirit in-tune. Getting in-tune with your natural energy and vibration will help balance all aspects of your life.

It is not selfish to take care of yourself. When you are healthy, energetic and free of pain you will be able to enjoy life and give more to those around you. A world of energy awaits you! What are you waiting for?

w8ds.com/lmt

According to the Arthritis Foundation, fibromyalgia is defined as a syndrome characterized by long-lasting widespread pain and tenderness at specific points on the body. The term “fibromyalgia” means pain in the muscles, ligaments and tendons. Although not defining characteristics, sleep disturbances and fatigue are also integral symptoms of fibromyalgia. Fibromyalgia affects approximately 3-6 million people in the U.S., mostly women, according to lead author Tiffany Field, PhD, a researcher with the Touch Research Institutes in Miami.

Various studies geared to fibromyalgia patients concluded that many fibromyalgia symptoms — pain, stiffness, fatigue, depression — can be relieved with massage therapy. Now, researchers say they understand why. Massage alters the sleep pattern, which reduces levels of the chemical messenger for pain (substance P).

Previous studies have shown that exercise, stretching and relaxation therapy can also provide relief for people with fibromyalgia. In a five-week study, 20 adults with fibromyalgia received either massage therapy or relaxation therapy twice weekly. The massage was a combination of several types, all using moderate pressure. People in the other group went to progressive muscle relaxation sessions.

“Both groups showed a decrease in anxiety and depressed mood immediately after the first and last therapy sessions,” writes Field.

The big difference showed up in their sleep, she adds. Only the massage therapy group reported an increase in hours of sleep and a decrease in their sleep movements, as well as lower levels of the chemical messenger for pain or “substance P.”

Did you know a major benefit of massage is that it boosts the immune system? It does this by increasing activity level of the body’s natural “killer cells”.  Something to consider during cold and flu season!

Here are just a few more benefits of therapeutic massage:

—Helps relieve stress and aids relaxation
—Helps relieve muscle tension and stiffness
—Provides greater joint flexibility and range of motion
—Enhances athletic performance; Treats injuries caused during sport or work
—Reduces muscle spasms
—Strengthens the immune system
—Promotes deeper and easier breathing
—Fosters faster healing of strained muscles and sprained ligaments; reduces pain and swelling; reduces formation of excessive scar tissue
—Improves circulation of blood and movement of lymph fluids
—Reduces blood pressure
—Helps relieve tension-related headaches and effects of eye-strain
—Enhances the health and nourishment of skin
—Improves posture
—Strengthens the immune system

(Source: AMTA (American Massage Therapy Association )

Schedule a massage through the end of the year at an introductory offer of $50 for one full hour, a savings of $20! Or purchase a package of 3 one hour massages and get one free! Use them all for yourself or as gift certificates for those you love.

There’s no denying the power of bodywork. Regardless of whether we call it pampering, therapeutic or renewing or whether we use it for stress relief, pain management or a luxury, massage therapy can be a powerful ally in your overall health and wellness.

It has been estimated that more than ninety percent of disease is stress related. And perhaps nothing ages us faster, both internally and externally, than lots of stress. While eliminating stress in this fast-paced world may seem impossible, massage can help manage stress. Some of the benefits are: decreased anxiety, better sleep quality, more energy, improved concentration, increased circulation, less fatigue, just to name a few!

Research continues to show the enormous benefits of touch—which range from treating chronic diseases, neurological disorders, and injuries, to alleviating the stress of everyday life.

Getting a massage can do you a world of good. And getting massage frequently can do even more. This is the beauty of bodywork. Taking part in this form of regularly scheduled self-care can play a huge part in how healthy you’ll be and how youthful you’ll remain with each passing year.

Schedule a massage through the end of the year at an introductory offer of $50 for one full hour, a savings of $20! Or purchase a package of 3 one hour massages and get one free! Use them all for yourself or as gift certificates for those you love.

Also, remember to exercise and eat well!

http://w8ds.com/lmt/

W8DS Cycling Consignment, Cycling Training and Web Hosting.