Healthy Living

5 Pain Relief Trigger Points You Can Use at Your Desk

The number of desk chairs advertised to support low-back health and reduce neck and shoulder pain should be an indication of the strain sitting for so many hours a day can put on your body. Sitting at a desk for eight hours a day places between 20 and 30 extra pounds of pressure on your neck and shoulders each day. Poor posture can also contribute to neck low-back pain and tightness in your hips. As our society shifts to predominately seated, desk jobs, it’s important to have strategies to support your physical well-being while you work. continue reading »

7 Ways to Improve Energy Using Massage

Massage therapy has been around for centuries. The ancient texts of many languages, including Chinese, Indian, Greek and Egyptian mention it. While the exact roots of massage therapy are unknown, it is known that getting regular massages is beneficial for the recipients. Massage can treat everything from aches and pains, digestive issues, insomnia and more. continue reading »

5 Reasons You Need Massage Today

The American Massage Therapy Association took a survey recently to find out why people get massage. What they found was that 72 percent of those surveyed claim their primary reason for receiving a massage was because it was medically advised, or to relieve stress. And growing research supports the premise that massage is very effective therapy in this regard, and there are numerous other health benefits to be had as well. Depending on what is needed, a massage can help relieve pain, improve posture, reduce stress and relax muscles.

Here are five reasons why EVERYBODY needs to get a massage: continue reading »

Massage Therapy for Back Pain

It’s a fact – almost everyone experiences back pain at some point. Back pain is a nuisance, it can prevent you from doing the things you want to do, and living the way you want to live. continue reading »

Massage for Ear Pain

Massage therapy is a natural way to help discomfort and pain in your ears that you may be experiencing. A common way for ear pain to occur is from ear infections. Massage is a great technique to reduce the pain from an ear infection. You can visit you local massage therapist who may have many strategies to address ear pain. You can also perform self-massage to experience immediate relief from ear pain and infection. continue reading »

8 Reasons Why Massages Are So Popular

by Colin Steinway

Who doesn’t like getting a massage? Over the last decade or so, there has been a
steady increase in the number of massage practices and spas in and around Sydney,
thanks to the increasing popularity of massages.

Here are eight reasons why massages have become so popular in recent years.

• Stress Buster—Massages are the ultimate stress buster. When life gets to be a little
too stressful, both your physical and mental well being suffer.

A nice, relaxing massage is a great way to relieve stress. Of course there’s evidence that

an hour or two in the gym can also help relieve stress.  In addition to sweating it out in the gym, try getting a relaxing massage to  complement and reward yourself for your hard work.

• Regroup and Re-energize—More and more corporate professionals are using massages as a way to recuperate and recharge.  A popular trend in the corporate world
is to go for a massage during the lunch break.

Taking that time for yourself to get away from your hectic work environment helps to calm your mind, melting away all the built-up tension and helping you get back to work on top of your game. …

• Health Benefits—Scientific studies have proven that receiving
massage is indeed beneficial to your health, in a number of ways.  From boosting your immunity to encouraging better blood circulation and helping you get rid of
toxins in your body, massage can do wonders for your body when done on a regular basis.

Massage also relieve pain and promote healing of sore muscles, which is why many professional athletes and sports enthusiasts choose therapeutic massages to keep their body performing at the optimum level.

• Promotes Better Sleep—If you have trouble falling asleep at night, a good massage
might be the answer to your problem. Lack of sleep can lead to a host of other complications
such as weakened immunity, depression, higher risk of heart disease and weight
gain. Massages have been proven to help you rest and sleep by increasing delta waves
(linked to deep sleep) in the brain.

• Better Posture—If your job requires you to sit down in front of a computer for long
hours, chances are your posture is being affected. You can tackle this problem by
getting regular massages. Research has shown that massages can help undo the
damage of bad posture by loosening your muscles and joints. This in turn helps you
reclaim your natural posture. A poor posture can lead to hunchback, neck and back
problems. So, if you find yourself slouching at your desk, it’s time to make a massage
appointment.

• Flexibility—As we age, we are more likely to notice that our joints ache and our body is just not able to move as it used to. Massages can combat these troublesome signs of aging by making our joints fluid, which in turn makes us more flexible and less prone to joint ache.

• Keeps Headaches Away—If you are prone to headaches, then making massage a weekly affair can do wonders for you. Regular massages will help reduce the severity of the headaches in the short run, and will help reduce the frequency of the headaches in the long run.

• Instant Mood Booster—According to a study, massage increase the levels of dopamine and serotonin (neurotransmitters linked to happiness) in the brain significantly. This means that a massage has the power to boost your mood.

And last but not the least, massage is so popular because it feels so good. Who wouldn’t love to spend an hour getting a massage, helping you loosen up and relax? Do we really need any more reason than that to love massage?

So, go ahead and make massage a part of your lifestyle. A weekly, biweekly, or even monthly, massage routine can work wonders in so many aspects of your life. Whether you’re a working professional, an entrepreneur or a stay-at-home parent, we all need a little extra attention to our bodies every now and then to keep up with our busy lives.   Source: www.theglobaldispatch.com

Massage Therapy for Cold Season

Cold and flu season is in full swing, and you know what that means – it’s time to stock up on tissues and those over-the-counter medicines you normally use to combat the nasty little germs trying to bring you down this winter. But, did you know that booking a massage therapy appointment can be just the perfect way to stay healthy this cold season? continue reading »

Why Massage?

You’ve heard your friends talk about having massage therapy, their experience and the benefits they’ve enjoyed with massage, especially on a regular basis.  So you may be wondering: ‘Should I try massage, and how might massage help me with my health issues?’  You are probably thinking: ‘Why should I even get a massage in the first place?’

Massage therapy is, simply, very good and beneficial for the body. It is much more than a one-dimensional therapy. Massage can treat specific injuries, and concurrently effects relaxation and rejuvenation throughout your physical body, and mentally/emotionally as well. Massage can be an integral part of maintaining a healthy and balanced life. continue reading »

Massage As Medicine

(by Kirstin Fawcett)

Once viewed as a luxury, massage is increasingly recognized as an alternative medical treatment. According to a recent consumer survey sponsored by the American Massage Therapy Association, 77 percent of respondents said their primary reason for receiving a massage in the past year was medical or stress-related. Perhaps it’s not surprising, then, that medical centers nationwide now offer massage as a form of patient treatment. The American Hospital Association recently surveyed 1,007 hospitals about their use of complementary and alternative medicine therapies, and more than 80 percent said they offered massage therapy. Upwards of 70 percent said they used massage for pain management and relief.

“The medical community is more accepting of massage therapy than ever before,” says Jerrilyn Cambron, board president of the Massage Therapy Foundation. “Many massage therapists now have active, fruitful relationships with conventional care providers.”

How Massage Works

All massages boil down to the same thing: the therapeutic manipulation of the body’s soft tissues using a series of pressured movements. A massage therapist uses his or her hands, elbows, fingers, knees or forearms to administer touch ranging from light strokes to deep kneading motions. Occasionally, therapists will also use a massage device.

Most people agree massage feels good. But does science support the notion that it’s good for you?

“We do not yet have a complete understanding of what happens physiologically during massage or why it works,” Cambron says. But a recent study published in the journal Science Translational Medicine suggests massage reduces the body’s production of cytokines—proteins that contribute to inflammation. Massage therapy was also shown to stimulate mitochondria, the energy-producing units in cells that aid in cell function and repair.

Plus, massage is thought to reduce cortisol levels and regulate the body’s sympathetic nervous system—both of which go haywire when you’re stressed, says Lisa Corbin, an associate professor at University of Colorado School of Medicine’s Division of General Internal Medicine.

Source: health.usnews.com

5 Reasons to Get Massage for Stress Relief

massage for stress reliefStress relief is one of the top reasons people seek massage therapy. Massage therapy has been noted for its calming, soothing and rejuvenating properties. Certain massage techniques can cure stress more efficiently than others. It is important to manage stress efficiently and effectively, because negative stress can affect all aspects of your life. continue reading »