Linda Leigh Edwards, 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.

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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!

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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?

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