- Integrated Body Therapies
Christine A. Ruppert, LMT5712 Stillwell Road
Rockville, MD 20851301-231-8695
Massage
Massage, Yoga and YOU
Anyone who has ever had one knows that the feeling of relaxation and rejuvenation that you get after a nice, long massage will undoubtedly improve both your best and your worst days. Wouldn’t it be lovely if you could start each and every day with a two hour long, full body massage?
Unfortunately, most of us live in the real world where scheduling that amount of “me time” is just not practical.
Fortunately, there is an easy at home method for those of you who would like to benefit from feeling more relaxed and rejuvenated even between massages: yoga. continue reading
5 Benefits of Stress Relief for a Healthy Lifestyle
Living a healthy lifestyle can be a lofty goal to achieve. Using massage therapy to relieve stress may be the secret weapon that you need to help you achieve this goal. Massages help you relax and they relieve the tension that has built up in your muscles. Getting a massage once a month is part of a healthy lifestyle.
The side effects of stress on your body can be devastating and detrimental to your health. Below are five amazing healthy benefits to relieving stress from your body and your life through massage therapy. continue reading
Your Body’s Response is the Key to How Massage Works
Massage therapy is a wonderful form of healing art that causes major physiological changes in your body by triggering mechanical and relaxation responses.
Mechanical responses are simply the physical effects that take place when varying amounts of direct pressure are applied to the soft tissues of the body. One of the major benefits that occurs from effective massage therapy is improved blood and lymph circulation, which initiates a chain reaction of sorts. The improved circulation enhances the delivery of oxygen to the muscle cells. This, in turn, leads to reduced swelling in the tissues and also allows them to function more efficiently. continue reading
New Mom, New Lifestyle – How Massage Can Support You
A healthy, well-balanced lifestyle is multi-faceted, and must incorporate elements of the physical, mental, and spiritual. As a new mom, it is easy to feel like you are running on empty in all of these categories. Your world revolves around caring for the new bundle of joy, and your own needs quickly become secondary. However, it is essential that you nurture yourself as much as possible during this transition. While it may sound cliché, sleep when the baby sleeps. Seriously, the dishes will wait. Exercise and nutrition will strengthen your reserves, even if it consists of an apple, a protein bar, and a walk around the block. Stay connected to your support system, and consider community resources such as a new mom support group. Baby yoga and infant massage are great ways to connect with other moms while doing something healthy for yourself. continue reading
Here’s the latest research on how massage helps heal sore muscles
After vigorous exercise, a good massage feels really great. It helps to ease muscle soreness and relax away muscle tension. Massage therapists and athletes have long known that massage reduces signs of inflammation and reduces muscle tightness. Until now it was unknown how massage helps stressed muscles. However, a recent research study published in Science Translational Medicine shows how massage affects muscles at the cellular level. continue reading
Studies Show Massage is Good for Relieving Depression and Anxiety
Massage is an ancient technique for helping people to overcome physical and psychological health problems. Massage is an integral component of traditional Chinese medicine, and in the United States is a part of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM). It is helpful in promoting healing for a range of conditions, from physical injuries to emotional stress. Recent studies have shown that massage provides positive support for those experiencing depression and anxiety.
Depression and Anxiety
The National Institute of Mental Health estimates that approximately 10% of Americans suffer from some form of depression in a given year, while 18% suffer from some type of anxiety disorder. These disorders may coexist and often go untreated. Depression and anxiety can interfere with an individual’s ability to fully engage socially, and increases the risk of unemployment. They can lower the body’s defenses and make people more susceptible to diseases. continue reading
Connecting Cultures: Massage Therapy & Tui Na
Dating back to 1700 B.C., Tui Na (pronounced “twee-nah”) is an ancient Asian form of bodywork and healing. It is recognized as the precursor to most forms of Asian bodywork, and in many ways, it mirrors the foundations of Western Massage Therapy. continue reading
The Seven Best Types of Stretching
Evaluating the various types of stretching can be difficult. Fortunately I’ve got a list to help you identify the seven best types of stretching to incorporate with your massages.
Understanding and knowing the difference between each stretching technique will help you decide which will suit your specific needs. continue reading
How Swedish Massage Effects Hormone and Immune Function
Most of us experience times when we seem much less tolerant to illness and generally just feel run down. We all know that a healthy lifestyle including a nutritious diet, exercise, plenty of sleep and a decrease in stress, plays an important role in encouraging wellness. Additionally, research is beginning to show that massage is also a positive contributor to staying healthy. continue reading
4 Things You Should Know About the Benefits of Touch
From the moment you entered this world, you craved touch. Your mother and father nurtured you through touch, promising you they would be there for you. You felt secure. You felt safe. You learned to trust them, so you felt happy.
Throughout your life, touch continues to play an important role. As you age however, the availability and type of physical touch you receive may decline, but the benefits are so impressive that you should actively seek it out.
Here are four things you should know about the benefits of touch: