Massage

The Effects of Muscle Tension and How Massage Can Help

massage-1015568_640Many people brush off muscle tension as being nothing more than the body’s response to stress, assuming it has no real impact on their health. But the truth is that muscle tension, especially chronic cases that persist for weeks or months on end, can affect the body in more ways than just one. continue reading »

Benefits of Massage Therapy for Office Workers

office_workers_400Does your job require you sit at a desk for all or most of the workday? It is not uncommon for those with desk jobs to experience chronic back pain, circulation problems and other issues that can arise from sitting on a computer 40 hours a week. If you are dealing with chronic pain, don’t worry, you aren’t alone. Fortunately, massage therapy is an excellent way to relieve pain, improve posture and get you back on the road to better health. continue reading »

Treating Water Retention With Massage Therapy

drops-of-water-578897_640Do you suffer from water retention? Our bodies contain a network of vessels that are designed to drain fluid from nearby tissue, flushing it back into the bloodstream. Known as the lymphatic system, it plays a key role in the our bodies ability to regulate internal fluid levels. But it’s not uncommon for the lymphatic system to become overwhelmed or affected by other circumstances that decrease the efficient function of this system. The good news is that most cases of water retention are minor and pose no serious risk to a person’s health. With that said, it can still trigger some pretty unpleasant symptoms. Some of the most commonly reported symptoms of fluid retention include the following: continue reading »

Massage Therapy May Lower Blood Pressure

blood-pressure-949092_640While most people seek massage therapy for its relaxing, stress-reducing benefits, it may also be a beneficial treatment for managing high blood pressure.

According to the American Society of Hypertension (ASH), as many as 1 out 3 adults in the U.S. have high blood pressure (known medically as hypertension). If left unchecked, high blood pressure can lead to a wide range of health problems, including kidney disease, heart attack and stroke. Excessive pressure on the arteries and organs stresses them, and subsequently leaves them vulnerable to disease. continue reading »

Can Massage Therapy Relieve Chronic Pain?

chronic-pain-11-11-15It’s estimated that more than 100 million US adults suffer from chronic pain conditions. While everyone will experience physical pain at some point in their lives, most cases are temporary. With chronic pain, however, the debilitating pain signals last for long periods at a time, often for weeks, months or even years.

Unfortunately, far too many people treat their pain by masking it with painkillers. Whether it’s ibuprofen, acetaminophen, or prescription drugs, painkillers such as this only mask the pain for a brief period of time. Furthermore, painkillers create unpleasant and potentially dangerous side effects like damage to the stomach and liver. A safer and more effective approach to treat chronic pain may come from massage therapy. continue reading »

Improve Your Circulation With Massage Therapy

heart-665186_640There are a number of reasons why poor circulation happens. Common health issues that Americans face like obesity, diabetes, heart conditions and arterial issues can all lead to bad circulation. Our circulatory system is designed to transport oxygen-rich blood throughout the body, supplying it with the nutrients it needs to remain healthy. When blood becomes stagnant, however, certain problems may arise. continue reading »

Massage Therapy May Relieve Chronic Headaches

headache_640Most people seek massage therapy for its relaxing, stress-reducing properties. While it’s certainly effective for this reason, massage has dozens of other uses as well, one of which is to relieve the symptoms of chronic headaches.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), headaches are among the most common types of nervous system disorders. Nearly half of the US population has experienced at least one in the past year, with many people experiencing several per month. Headaches are characterized by pain originating in the head/or neck, often lasting anywhere from15 minutes to 3 hours or more. continue reading »

5 Ways To Lower Your Cortisol Levels (Without Drugs)

spinach-091415Do you experience stress on a day-to-day basis? The feeling that we describe as “stress” is actually the result of elevated levels of cortisol, a steroid hormone that’s produced in the adrenal kidneys. When there’s more of this hormone flowing through your body, you’ll feel greater stress and anxiety as a result. So, how can you lower your cortisol levels? continue reading »

Massage as Education

Someone recently asked me if, in addition to attending classes in massage therapy, I also   receive massage. My answer: YES! ABSOLUTELY! NO QUESTION ABOUT IT!

My very first massage was a life-changing event for me. Right then and there, I heard my inner voice (a wise old soul) tell me that this was “what I was meant to do”. Within months, I enrolled in a massage therapy training program, and embarked on a fascinating, yet previously unimagined, journey into this new phase of my life. This was some 30+ years ago.

As we learned the nuts and bolts of massage therapy, we practiced on each other and I received various forms of touch at least twice weekly. I made a commitment to myself that from then on I would continue getting massage regularly. Since I graduated, I have carved out a time for myself weekly, biweekly, or at least once a month for my massage, and I give it priority in my schedule.

Massage has always been a learning experience for me, whether I am giving or receiving it. Not only does it relieve my aches and pains and coax me into being centered and relaxed, massage also deepens my awareness and understanding of my self and my body.

During my sessions, I am attentive to how each stroke or technique, along with how and where it is applied, may affect me at that particular time. I notice how my therapist puts the parts of each session together to achieve a particular effect. This enables me to understand and imagine how clients may experience, in their own body, the various forms of touch I use. My self-observation, along with the client’s communication (both verbal and nonverbal) guides me toward choosing massage approaches and adaptations that will best serve this person, and will encourage a healing and beneficial experience for them.

In summary, while I have been privileged to study with many innovators and masters of specialized bodywork programs over the years, receiving massage itself is an education for me. I consider it equally important as any classroom instruction I may engage in. As my body ages, I find it increasingly vital and helpful to receive massage therapy, as it provides me with greater physical ease and awareness, and a growing appreciation for my self in this/my body

Fewer $$$ Better Care

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Massage Therapy Reduces Health Care Costs
Research conducted by John Dunham & Associates (JDA), a leader in the field of tax
and regulatory economic impact studies, found that integrating massage therapy into
medical care can reduce health care costs. The American Massage Therapy Association
(AMTA) has released the research to reinforce the relationship between massage
therapy and costs of care.
Patient Savings
“The research findings indicate that integrating massage therapy into ongoing care has a positive outcome for patients and in many cases lowers health care costs,” said Jeff
Smoot, AMTA President. “The information in this study can help support a national
dialogue on the detailed cost effectiveness of massage therapy and provide a starting
point for conversations among patients and their health care providers.”
Significant Cumulative Savings
  1. When the total number of treatments is analyzed cumulatively across approximately 66 million outpatient services, the research indicates that private insurers could save as much as $4.55 billion in costs annually, if they were to cover massage therapy nationally.
  2. For individuals, the benefits of massage therapy accrue when taken as part of a comprehensive treatment system, and the data indicate that visiting a massage therapist in place of additional hours at the hospital or doctor’s office, or substituting massage in place of some other treatment, is where the savings truly emerge.
  3. A growing number of medical centers throughout the U.S. now fully integrate massage therapy into patient care, including the Mayo Clinic, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Duke Integrative Medicine program, Cleveland Clinic and the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute.
Economic Impact of Massage Therapy
The economic impact of massage therapy is significant in the U.S. It is estimated to be
an $11.7 billion industry in 2014. U.S. consumers continue to seek out professional
massage to support their health and wellness goals. According to the annual 2014
American Massage Therapy Association Consumer Survey, between July 2013 and July
2014, roughly 32.6 million adult Americans (15 percent) had a professional massage at
least once.