Massage therapy is a hands on manipulation of the soft tissues, tendons, ligaments, and joints. It has been used for thousands of years for relaxation and to promote good health of both mind and body. It is also an alternative health option to help alleviate the discomfort associated with everyday and occupational stresses, muscular overuse and many chronic pain syndromes.Results are greatest when lifestyle changes and stress management techniques such as diet and yoga are used in conjunction with massage.
Chinese Massage (Tuina) is a therapeutic treatment involving deeper manipulation than traditional Swedish Massage. It works on the energy channels (meridians) and acupressure points using the same principles as acupuncture and Shiatsu.
A wide variety of techniques are used in Chinese Massage. While applying a sequence of both hard or soft, faster and slower, general or precise manipulations, the practitioner is able to balance the Qi energy , blood, and internal organs.
Many health problems result from blockages of the Qi energy and congestion of internal organ function. These blockages cause a build-up of toxins, swelling of tissues and muscles, leading to pain and eventually ill-health. During treatment, the proper system functions are re-established and damaged tissues begin to recover.
This form of bodywork works holistically treating the mind through the body and vice-versa, leaving the client with a deep sense of physical and mental relaxation, revitalization, and well-being.
Chinese Massage is a recognized form of medical treatment for a wide range of health problems. Almost anyone will benefit from receiving Chinese Massage, but areas in which it has been found to be particularly effective include:
Pregnancy is a time of change. Your entire body adapts to the new life growing inside of you . It also places strong demands on your body.
Pregnancy massage is a wonderful way to relax, increase your energy , and relieve discomfort during your pregnancy. It is specifically designed for the pregnant woman to assist in the continuing changes in her body.You will be comfortably supported with pillows or cushions during your massage, and may even find yourself lying face down for the first time for a while. In later pregnancy, you can get a complete massage comfortably supported in a side-lying position
Studies indicate that massage therapy performed during pregnancy can reduce anxiety, decrease symptoms of depression, relieve muscle aches and joint pains, and improve labor outcomes and newborn health
Studies done in the past 10 years have shown that hormone levels associated with relaxation and stress are significantly altered, leading to mood regulation and improved cardiovascular health, when massage therapy was introduced to women’s prenatal care. In women who received bi-weekly massages for only five weeks, hormones such as norepinephrine and cortisol (“stress hormones”) were reduced and dopamine and serotonin levels were increased (low levels of these hormones are associated with depression). These changes in hormone levels also led to fewer complications during birth and fewer instances of newborn complications, such as low birth weight. The evidence points strongly to maternal and newborn health benefits when therapeutic massage is incorporated into regular prenatal care.
Edema, or swelling of the joints during pregnancy, is often caused by reduced circulation and increased pressure on the major blood vessels by the heavy uterus. Massage helps to stimulate soft tissues to reduce collection of fluids in swollen joints,hands feet and ankles, which also improves the removal of tissue waste, carried by the body’s lymph system.
Sciatic nerve pain is experienced by many women in late pregnancy as the uterus rests on muscles of the pelvic floor and lower back. The pressure of the uterus spreads tension to the muscles of the upper and lower leg, causing them to swell and put pressure on nearby nerves. Massage therapy addresses the inflamed nerves by helping to release the tension on nearby muscles. Many women have experienced significant reduction in sciatic nerve pain during pregnancy through regular massage.
In the postpartum period, nature sets about undoing in eight weeks what it took nine months to create. Though it may be difficult, it is as important to care for yourself now as during your pregnancy. Postpartum massage can help you handle the physical demands of caring for a newborn by reducing tension and increasing energy. It can speed healing of hemorrhoids or an episiotomy by increasing circulation. Psychological massage can nurture and comfort you whether or not you are experiencing postpartum depression.
Field, T. (1999). Pregnant Women Benefit From Massage Therapy. Journal of Psychosomatic Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Mar;20(1):31-8.
Field, T. (2004). Massage Therapy Effects on Depressed Pregnant Women. Journal of Psychosomatic Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Jun;25(2):115-22.
Heimlich, Patti, RMT, CD, ICCE, The Benefits of Massage During Pregnancy, Labor & Postpartum. www.expectantmothersguide.com/library/houston/massage/htm. Article accessed online 10/18/2007.
Howell ,Julie, NMT, PMT, Prenatal Health Through Massage Therapy: For Women and Their Babies. www.newlifejournal.com/decjan03/howell/01/03/full.shtml. Article accessed online 10/18/2007
Soft Tissue Pain Therapy is a unique non-surgical treatment that combines Therapeutic, Deep Tissue Massage, Soft Tissue Release and Active Isolated Stretching techniques to provide permanent relief from acute and chronic soft tissue pain.
Yes and no…it is a form of bodywork, but unlike many styles of massage therapy given for general or relaxation purposes, Soft Tissue Release is a much more specific neuromuscular therapy for correcting muscular imbalances, accelerating healing of muscular injuries and quickly eliminating chronic pain
As a form of sports massage, athletes are discovering there's no faster way to restore muscular strength and flexibility after an injury.
The essence of the approach is a method of applying pressure to a muscle at the same time the muscle is being stretched. This coordinated movement has a correcting effect on all muscular imbalances, including injured areas where scar tissue has formed.
The secret to the success of the technique is that it is not just another way of manipulating your muscles - it is a way of communicating with your nervous system. The rhythmic pressure appeals to the language of your nervous system, enlisting it in reprogramming your muscles. "engaging muscle memory" is what this is called. Think of it as pressing the reset button on how your muscles should normally be - not too tight, not too loose.. Trauma or injury to the body triggers the inflammation process and causes your muscles to shorten, resulting in loss of flexibility and pain.
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Don't worry, you don't have to endure pain to get out of pain! Do expect to move around more than you would in a relaxation session - the special stretches and movements are part of what makes this technique so effective. You will also learn some of these stretches along with self-care techniques, which you can do on your own to accelerate and maintain your progress.
Soft Tissue Release is often surprisingly effective in bringing permanent pain relief from the following problems:
As we age, our muscles become increasingly less flexible. This can cause pain and dysfunction.
Active Isolated Stretching (AIS) is a specific method of stretching and lengthening muscles, fascia, and connective tissue. It is used to improve flexibility and enhance athletic performance. The basic premise of AIS is to increase the ability to move a joint through full range of motion without discomfort or pain often accompanied by regular stretching.
The effectiveness in alleviating pain, and recovery from surgery make AIS an effective treatment modality. It is used successfully with spinal cord injuries, severe spasticity, osteoporosis, scoliosis, arthritis, and many other (orthopedic, neurological and sports related) chronic conditions that are difficult to solve.
Doctors, therapists, personal trainers, and athletes use AIS to increase the body’s potential to heal and increase performance. It is (also) endorsed by the National Institute of Health (NIH).
Isolating a muscle group rather than stretching multiple muscles and diluting the emphasis on the primary target. Holding each stretch for 2 seconds then releasing the contraction to prevent muscles from tightening further. Completing about 10 repetitions to the stretch movement, progressively releasing tension and lengthening in a gradual manner
We all know how stretching is good for us, but what is the proper way to stretch? Should you hold a stretch for at least 30 seconds or bounce up and down to get a good stretch? The answer to both is a resounding NO, as most of today’s research is saying that this form of stretching can actually lead to injury. Active Isolated Stretching is a vast improvement over most stretching programs. It relaxes and warms muscles as they stretch, as opposed to stretching cold and tense muscles using many techniques.
Reducing stress is the first step toward better health. Reflexology, due to its profound relaxing nature, helps to promote balance of the physical, mental, and emotional aspects of your entire body.
It is a science based on the premise that there are zones and reflex areas in the feet which correspond to all the glands, organs and systems of the body. Applying pressure with the thumbs to these reflex areas stimulates body organs such as the kidneys, liver, intestines, and lungs to eliminate toxins, improving circulation, reducing body tension leading to total body relaxation.
Congestion in any part of the foot mirrors tension in a corresponding part of the body. Thus when you treat the big toe, there is a related effect in the head, and treating the whole foot can have a healing effect on the entire body.
An increasing number of people and health professionals are using reflexology. This type of drugless(safe and natural) therapy brings relief to a wide range of acute and chronic conditions and has many beneficial and lasting effects.
