Massage and Bodywork

What happens when we're busy making other plans....

2011-08-23T17:09:00.000-07:00

It has been a long time since I have posted a blog on this site. After some difficulty I have been diagnosed with Pustular Psoriasis (which turns out to be an autoimmune disease) and this sort of sidelined life as I knew it. I am still very much involved in Massage and Bodywork but my focus has changed a bit. I have been practicing alternative massage ideas, influences and techniques to suit the body that is developing around me. I will attempt to bring up some of the alternative ideas that I have been adding to my arsenal of modalities.

Hopefully I will hit upon something motivating and interesting. So far, so good.

-MassageByMillie.com

Myofascial Release

2010-10-21T14:11:00.001-07:00

Myo
Myo is a medical prefix indicating or referring to: "Muscle".

Fascia
Fascia is a seamless web of connective tissue that is incorporated within, covers, connects, and holds the muscles and organs to the skeletal structure of our body. Fascia envelopes every structure in the body; each nerve, bone, muscle, organ of the body is surrounded by fascia. Muscle and Fascia are united forming the myofascial system. Fascia forms an integrated web that unifies the body, connecting all body parts together and giving us our recognizable shape. Fascia covers about half of the muscles attachment of the body, thus muscle tone has direct connection with the tightness of fascia.

"Myofascial release (MFR) is a collection of approaches and techniques that focuses on freeing restrictions of movement that originate in the soft tissues of the body." -Riggs/Grant

"Myofascial release is manual technique for stretching the fascia with the aim to balance the body. Fascia is located between the skin and the underlying structure of muscle and bone, it is a seamless web of connective tissue that covers and connects the muscles, organs, and skeletal structures in our body. Injuries, stress, trauma, and poor posture can cause restriction to fascia, and the goal of myofascial release is to unlock fascia restriction and restore its balance." -Terra Rosa

"Myofascial release leads to improvements in the body's structural integrity and seems also to reach underlying or hidden information in the subconscious. This provides the opportunity for patients to examine their emotional state and belief systems that may no longer be relevant and may hinder healing. This allows for self-discovery and the opportunity for change and improvement." -John F. Barnes

Myofascial release is (among many other components) passive and active stretching of the fascia within the muscles and joints, it slows down to the body's natural, intuitive rate of release. You must experience it to understand how well it can work for you. -Millie Jones

A very good description of "Esalen Massage":

2010-07-31T10:39:00.000-07:00

This description excerpt was provided by: libchrist.com/intimacy/esalen.html

"

Esalen Massage

It's So Nice To Be Kneaded

Esalen massage is a variation of a century-old Swedish Massage Developed by Esalen Institute of Big Sur,California.

Esalen Massage vs. Swedish Massage
While the strokes are similar, the philosophy and intent are quite different. Swedish massage was developed as part of gymnastics, Esalen as part of Gestalt psychotherapy.

Swedish seeks to affect specific muscles, joints and organ and relieve pain and increase mobility. Esalen does this but also seeks to help the person live more comfortably in his or her own body and integrate body, mind and spirit into a more harmonious whole person.

The strokes and manipulations of Swedish massage are for a specific therapeutic benefit. Esalen massage is set apart us a unique style because it also reflects an attitude about touching, caring, energy awareness and emotional, spiritual healing besides just physical manipulation.

Part of the attitude of Esalen is that touching is a basic need, as essential as air, food or water: that caring about others is natural; that getting in touch with one's own body leads to a more effective way of loving and relating to others, and that healing comes from within as well as from the outside.

In Esalen massage the social differences between the giver and receiver is reduced. No white uniform as a symbol of authority. Esalen massage is often practiced as an exchange - alternating between who gives and receives - and is traditionally done in the nude. However when done by professional therapists, this of course, is not done. At the hot spring baths in California where it originated, getting dressed when it was your turn to give massage seemed not only superfluous but downright silly.

In public practice Esalen practitioners usually dress very informally and the client is usually covered with a towel or sheet, but since one of the aims of Esalen style massage is to tie the parts of the body together, coverings are moved aside to permit long flowing "connecting" strokes that are among its hallmarks. In exchange groups and retreats for" (masseur/masseuses) "clothing is usually optional for everyone. Having options places responsibility on each individual rather than on some external authority, and that's what holistic health care is all about.

A" (masseur/masseuse) "who has a nervous preoccupation with keeping certain parts of the body covered conveys the nonverbal message that not all of the body is acceptable. Conversely, a receiver who cannot confidently and with trust put his or her body in the hands of a" (masseur/masseuse) "is unlikely to benefit from Esalen massage. One who is afraid to be seen nude will communicate tension to the giver and both will find relaxation difficult. People who are not comfortable around the body should not be in bodywork, just as people who don't like children should not teach kindergarten.

There is also a difference in conception of what therapy is. Sometimes it is said that Esalen "only" makes one feel good, as if that were a frivolous self-indulgence, whereas Swedish is more "therapeutic". But Esalen is intended to feel good; its creators believed in the wisdom that feeling good is good for you in body as well as emotions and spirit. Esalen" (masseur/masseuse) "believe that pleasure itself is therapeutic.

Few Esalen" (masseurs/masseuses) "practice 100% pure Esalen but use a blend of strokes and techniques for maximum physical as well as relational touch and good feelings.

Within the profession there is great diversity which provides a choice for clients. The largest massage organization, the AMTA, is very nurse and physical manipulation oriented. Emphasis in workshops is often proper draping of the body and the importance of the clean white uniform. More holistic therapists believe this is very cold and impersonal.

'Holistic' comes from the Greek 'holos', meaning 'whole'. When applied to health it means the belief that an organic or integrated whole has reality independent of and greater than the sum of its parts. In bodywork that means viewing health as a balance of physical, mental, and spiritual aspects. It does not mean treating only muscles and ignoring feelings.

Emotional Relating

-An act of physical caring expressing trust, empathy and respect.

-Unique way of communicating inner love and God's Spirit even to a stranger, without words, beyond touching and hugging.

-Nurturing touch makes people more whole, more fully ourselves and each person's hands have the power to give this joy to another.

Our Sexual "Hang-ups" And Touch

Massage has an undeserved bad reputation since it has been improperly used as a cover up for sex and prostitution. Therefore we are often hungup over massage and touching.

Touch has been shown to be a very basic human need. Skin hunger is as real as stomach hunger, yet it is so restricted by our society and equated with sex, that Americans have lost the ability to nurture through touch.

Wouldn't it be wonderful if we could openly touch and show affection without our hang-ups? Most of us were taught to express such intimacy only in sexual relationships. But intimacy doesn't necessarily include sex, any more than sex necessarily involves intimacy.

God designed our bodies for sensual enjoyment through touch but we often confuse wonderful sensual feelings with sexual acts.

Esalen massage breaks the barriers to touch and allows us to grow in a new awareness of the feeling, caring, and pleasure our bodies were meant to express to one another.

Unfortunately I do not have any contacts with Esalen therapists to refer anyone too (other than myself!). It is very popular in California and can be found in other areas. You might also check in New Age or alternative newspapers where therapists may advertise their Esalen specialty. The name Esalen Massage has now been trademarked and only those certified as Esalen therapists may use the title.

Not To Be Confused With Tantric or Sexual Massage

Some book writers have mixed Esalen style massage (often without proper credit) with sexual massage. Sometimes the properly name Esalen techniques but then don't make it clear when they shift to non-Esalen sexual techniques such as Tantra etc. With it being trademarked, hopefully people will be more careful with the use of the use of the term Esalen.

People that have experienced Esalen Massage agree that it is extraordinary. Its holistic approach is unique."

Liberated ChristiansPO Box 55045, Phoenix AZ 85078-5045

Benefits of Thai Massage

2010-07-29T12:55:00.000-07:00

Image via Wikipedia

Traditional Thai massage induced acute changes in bone formation and resorption markers, according to new research.  Researchers from the Department of Medicine, Ramathibodi Hospital, in Bangkok, Thailand, had noted that mechanical loadings by active exercise or passive low-amplitude vibration have been shown to enhance bone mass or delay bone loss, and that "traditional Thai massage might be anabolic to bone due to the application of physical loading on the body in a rhythmic fashion," according to a report published on www.pubmed.gov.  They studied the skeletal effect of Thai massage by examining the changes in biochemical markers of bone turnover immediately after the massage, the report noted. Subjects consisted of 30 healthy females aged 20 to 40 years, each of whom received Thai massage for two hours by a single therapist.  The researchers found increases in levels of serum P1NP, a marker of bone formation; and lower levels of serum CTx, a marker of bone resorption, following the massage.  "Study on the more prolonged effects of Thai traditional massage is warranted to explore its implication in the enhancement of bone health," the researchers noted.

  The research is published in the July issue (Jul;93(7):771-5) of the Journal of the Medical Association of Thailand.  Related articles  Traditional Thai Massage Beneficial for Patients with Low-Back Pain   East Meets West: The Value of Learning Asian Bodywork Therapies   The History of Thai Massage: An Oral Tradition 

Water Therapy

2010-07-28T22:03:00.000-07:00

Recently, I have been ill and tried out some water therapy which seems to have helped. So now I think I will share some things that worked to help me endure an acute attack of nausea. Please, check with your doctor first in case you have a condition that might contraindicate this therapeutic treatment.

1. I made a deep warm bath and dropped in about 15 to 20 drops of peppermint essential oil.
2. I put an ice pack on the nape of my neck right at base of my skull.
3. I put another ice pack over my solar plexus in the center of my chest right below the ribs and over the top of my
abdominal cavity (just under the xiphoid process).
4. I relaxed back in the tub and allowed the ice to sit on their respective positions for 15 to 20 minutes.

Then, I removed the ice, relaxed my head back and did some small slow circular motions in a clockwise direction making small gentle circles into the soft tissue under my rib cage moving under the left ribs with my right finger tips and along the right side of the abdomen under the ribs with my left hand. Be gentle and slow. Breathe slowly and deeply too.

When you are finished with your treatment relax in bed with some Chamomile tea to slowly sip as your appetite returns.

Try this the next time you feel nauseous and let me know what results you have.

Namaste

What is Myofacial Release?

2010-06-09T16:55:00.001-07:00

Myofascial Release

"Myo" in medical terms is a prefix that refers to muscle.

"Fascia" is a tough connective tissue that is found throughout the body. Fascia is the only substance that is present throughout the entire body. Trauma, bad posture or inflammation can cause the fascia to knit together resulting in excessive pressure on nerves, muscles, blood vessels and organs. An extremely high percentage of people suffering with pain and or lack of motion may go undiagnosed because many of the standard tests such as x-ray, myelograms, CT scans and electromyography do not reveal fascial restrictions.

Someone recently said, "Think of it this way…":

"Imagine you had a letter. It is somewhat crumpled. The letter goes into an envelope but because of the crumpling it doesn't fit precisely. Well now just imagine that the letter is the muscle and the envelope is the fascia. The covering becomes tight and will not allow the normal; elimination of muscle waste, byproducts or circulation. The buildup of these waste products and the lack of normal circulation adds another source of irritation to the muscle. The purpose of the technique is to open up this envelope and allow the muscle to return to the normal size and shape that it should have. Once the muscle has had a chance to relax the pain starts to decrease."

Myofascial Release consists of slow gentle manual application of sustained pressure to release tissue that may be trapping muscle and other tissues into a painful and less mobile position.

The intention of myofascial release is to provoke a natural body reaction called pixoelectric phenomena: the slow, sustained, gentle pressure of human touch causes soft tissues such as fascia to elongate and return to their normal relaxed state.

Massage and ALS (Lou Gehrig's disease)

2010-06-02T10:31:00.000-07:00

See the "Hand Massage" video shown in this link. It is a demonstration of a simple and easy massage that caregivers can perform. The hands consist of not only skin and bones but a huge number of muscles, ligaments and nerves. Patients report that it is comforting and they enjoy holding hands. The video is soundless and the massage technique is demonstrated twice.

ALS Care provides the patient, their families and caregivers a trusted site to consult for the answers to the challenges to living more comfortably and productively. ALS Care will make available tools to use making communicating and living easier.

(See the video on: http://www.alscare.com/hand_massage.asp)

THEN,

Check out the sentiment on Massage as quoted here from: http://als-curtisvancefoundation.org/massage.htm

"Curtis loved massage. Miraculously, a local masseuse donated her time once a week. When Curtis could breathe comfortably on his back and stomach, Cyndi would come to the house and perform a three hour full body massage. Using oils and hot treatments, she would knead deep into Curt’s muscles, relaxing them, and making Curtis feel less cramped, less stiff, and content. As months passed, the time of the sessions decreased in relation to Curt’s stamina. Eventually, Cyndi could only massage his legs, feet, arms, hands and neck while Curt sat in his blue recliner. Still, the therapy improved Curt’s mood, and physical comfort. In addition, Heidi would massage him whenever they had a chance, whether they were sitting in front of the TV, visiting with company, or getting ready to fall asleep. Also, Curtis encouraged family and friends to massage him. Many people would come to visit, and as Curtis got weaker, his muscles ached to be moved, and touched, so he would insist that those who were willing get to work! Back to Living with ALS."

Barefoot Bars and the Comfort Craft Bodywork Table

2010-06-01T07:40:00.000-07:00

Gravity Assisted Massage Blends Deep Tissue Therapy with Soothing Relaxation

Barefoot Therapy, also called Gravity Assisted Massage, borrows time-honored techniques from the Far Eastern ancient masters. As in Western massage, Barefoot Therapy combines smooth, continuous, flowing strokes with cross-fiber, acupressure and deep compression for truly awesome results.

Therapists use pressure from the feet and the weight of their bodies to bring about structural change to soft tissue, milk the muscles, open chakras and release toxins. The technique revives the body of depleted blood supply and lymphatic flow. This stimulates the body’s immune system and promotes self-healing, while providing deep relaxation.

Interested in Myofascial Release?

2010-05-27T11:55:00.000-07:00

Interested in Myofascial Release?

Check out the following web site and the excerpt below:

http://www.myofascialrelease.com/fascia_

massage/public/resources_blog.asp

John F. Barnes’ BLOG & Therapeutic Insight Article

Massage Magazine, a national and well respected publication

recently performed a survey to discover who their readers

most wanted to learn from and the topics they wanted.

John F. Barnes, PT and Myofascial Release

were at the top of their list.

MFR BLOG

View additional postings by John F. Barnes, PT on his

MFR BLOG at Massage Magazine. Have a specific question

for John? Visit www.massagemag.com

Water, water everywhere

October 21, 2009 · 1 comment

Water is a vital part of living things, especially the human

being. The following facts from my rebounding seminar

may be of interest to you.

“Over 70% of total body weight is water. Most people

know that blood, lymph, urine, sweat, and tears are mostly

water. The lungs are 90% water, the brain

is 76% water, and even the bones are 25% water.

“67% of the water in the body is inside the cell

(i.e. the intracellular fluid). The other 33% lies outside

the cells in the extracellular fluid that flows through the

fascia’s extracellular matrix.”

Scientific research on the fascial system was done on

cadavers. As we all know cadavers are brittle, so the

only focus was on the three dimensional fibrous

network and no attention was paid to the fluidity of

the body. The fascial system is the container of the fluid

and the transport medium of the fluid and all that

lies within.

I would like to quote from the 40 years of research done

in Germany. “The Extracellular Matrix and the

Ground Regulation” by Alfred Pischinger is a

fascinating book full of information about the importance

and functions of the fascia’s extracellular matrix. The

following quotes are by Dr. James Oschman

who wrote the foreword:

“The ground substance gel is composed of water,

proteoglycans and related molecules with strong collagen

fibers embedded within it.”

“Recent research also has demonstrated that the matrix

components are actually semi- conducting liquid crystals,

materials known to have a variety of remarkable

properties for transmissions, storage and processing of

information.”

“Simply stated, every function and every process of the

human body involves the fascia’s matrix in one way or

another. The reason for this is every cell in

the body is nourished by the fascia’s extracellular matrix

and all waste products of the cellular metabolism likewise

pass through the ground substance which is the actual

milieu. The matrix is also the terrain in which all

immune responses and tissue repair processes take place.”

These 40 years of research have helped to explain why

Myofascial Release is so extraordinarily effective. This is

an exciting time to be a Myofascial Release therapist.

Join us to be part of this important revolution in

healthcare!

John

1 response

Woody Haiken Thank you John for another informative

article. What came to mind as I read your post is the

work of Dr. Masaru Emoto, who did studies on how our

thoughts affect the crystallizing of water. If we are able

to affect water with our thoughts and emotions, and most

of what we are made of is water, does this give some

explanation why our traumas lead to fascial restrictions

on a cellular level? Also, would this explain why a skilled,

centered and grounded MFR therapist is able to effect

change on a cellular level? As always, John–I treasure

your insights, and value you as a teacher and mentor.

Woody Haiken, NCTMB

Myofascial Unwinding

2010-03-17T15:45:00.000-07:00

According to John F. Barnes: “Myofascial Unwinding’ is a movement-facilitation aspect of (this) Myofascial-Release approach”.

It integrates the connection of the body to the mind via the facilitation of natural body movement and stretches. This can be interpreted as a sort of body talk. The client’s body lets the client (and sometimes the therapist) become aware of the ways it needs to move (…for whatever reason the client may have embedded within their conscious and/or sub-conscious mind.) It is all a matter of trust. The therapist supports the movement of the client’s body as it moves on the table (…and “out of gravity”).

This technique allows both the client and the therapist to connect with the “healing zone” which is defined as “our intuitive, instinctive state”. It allows the brain to relax to a wave state somewhere between Alpha and Theta. Just as sleeping time is the time of healing, Myofascial Unwinding allows the individual’s sub-consciousness to initiate the healing process.

“Myofascial Release” the bodywork of the future.

2010-03-11T09:00:00.000-08:00

I just took 60 hours of training in Myofascial Release (MFR) with John F. Barnes, P.T. I found his class to be fascinating. I now find myself entreating friends to come and experience this new modality I have been studying. I have taken other courses in MFR, yet none have inspired me so much to begin working almost exclusively with this therapeutic method.

What is “Myofascial Release”?

According to: MedicineNet.com

“Myo” is a prefix denoting a relationship to muscle.

and

“Fascia” is a flat band of tissue below the skin that covers the underlying tissues and separates different layers of tissue. It also encloses muscles.

Having said that;

Mr. John F. Barnes, P.T. defines Myofascial Release as “a whole-body, hands-on approach for the evaluation and treatment of the human structure.” He goes on to explain that the focus of this particular type of bodywork is the fascial system.

Fascia is further described by Mr. Barnes as; a continuous “three dimensional web” of “slightly mobile connective tissue” just beneath the skin that “surrounds and infuses with every; organ, muscle, bone, nerve and blood vessel all the way down to the cellular level.”

This fascia is present everywhere continuously throughout the body, from the bottom of the feet to the tips of the fingers to the top of the head. With just this bit of information you begin to contemplate a notion that seems to imply that if you pull the leg, it can effect the arm and beyond.

If you are a fan of massage and bodywork, I ask you to explore two things now if you haven’t already.

1. Read:

"Healing Ancient Wounds: The Renegade’s Wisdom" - by John F. Barnes, P.T

(and)

2. Find a therapist who has studied the John F. Barnes, method of Myofascial Release and experience a session for yourself. Then, get back to me and let me know what you think.

Namasté

MASSAGE AS PREVENTATIVE HEALTH CARE

2009-09-08T07:25:00.000-07:00

Could you use a little help keeping an eye out for your health?

How often do you check that mole in the middle of your back between your shoulder blades?

How about that small patch of skin on the back of your neck that has been changing texture over the last several weeks?

Did you notice the red spot behind your knee that just appeared within the last month?

Are your ankles slowly swelling?

Let me tell you a story:

I have a friend whom I have been providing weekly massage to for years now. Recently his son started having sore ankles and asked me for massage. The first time I gave him a gentle exploratory massage just to see what I could discern. I noticed that there was a bit of swelling in his ankles. I asked him to try keeping his ankles elevated above his heart especially in the evenings while he was relaxing. The next week I came by, the swelling was worse.

I must tell you I was not immediately alerted but when I got home I started doing some reading and research as I do with all of my regular clients who develop some interesting anomaly that I am not familiar enough with. The information I read alarmed me. I did not want to be an alarmist so the next week I told the son that I did not feel comfortable giving him massage at this time and asked him to check with his doctor and specifically bring up this swelling problem which now seemed to be advancing to his knees. His father informed me that his son had just seen his family physician the week prior and was given a clean bill of health. I held off on the massage that week and explained that I was a bit concerned and would like to do some more investigation into what could be going on in this young mans system.

Within that next week unrelated events occurred that alarmed mom and dad enough to take their son to the hospital emergency ward where they found out their son had a defective aorta with an infection significant enough to put him into emergency surgery to repair the valve and start on an antibiotic program to reverse the infection.

My observation was only one of many that were not tied together yet it made me acutely aware of the role I may sometimes play in the recognition of health issues in my clients.

While diagnosing illness is not in my realm of service I am in a position to observe conditions of change that may otherwise be overlooked by the client. This may very well be the subtle clue that leads you to “acquire” an early diagnosis to a problem or condition that may even be life threatening in the long term.

Give another thought to massage as another tool in your health care regimen.

What your massage therapist sees:

2009-06-11T13:54:00.000-07:00

Do you avoid massage and bodywork because you are worried that you do not have the perfect body? ...You forgot to shave your legs? ...you are embarrassed at some particular corporeal flaw?

Your massage therapist sees you as a spiritual being of body mind and spirit. They are looking for landmarks such as; the spinous process of your C7 vertebra, the medial border of your scapula, your iliac crest or the greater trochanter of your femur. Every body is so different from every other body that finding correct landmarks to orient ones self is a challenge with each new client.

We (as massage therapists) are trying to focus the intention of our work towards creating a healing mental energy with which to focus upon your body so that your body can heal itself of whatever discomforts it may be holding on to.

A massage is a wonderful gift to yourself for all that you do and attempt to do in your daily routine. A massage is an opportunity for you to relax and enjoy the fruits of your labor. You are a precious, sentient, living being and in that respect you are to be loved, respected and handled with care. So, to be sure, we are NOT looking at things the way you, most likely, are looking at them.

So, go ahead, have a massage. Relax and enjoy!

Namaste,

Massage, Bodywork and Safety in the time of Craigslist

2009-04-22T11:09:00.000-07:00

When looking for massage services it is probably safest to use an established spa, salon or school. If in a hotel it would be safer to ask the concierge or front desk for suggestions in locating a reputable therapist in the area.

If you feel you must have a massage in a location other than an established massage practitioner’s office. Try and use a few rules to protect yourself whether you are the Masseuse or the massaged.

First, realize that unfortunately, in some circles, the word “massage” is used as a camouflage for other illegal services that do not have authorization to advertise publicly. This is part of what makes it difficult for this profession to be taken seriously in the world of Complimentary and Alternative Medicine.

Secondly, when using a computer to advertise OR locate massage services watch out for coded messages and be clear that you are not expecting or providing; “happy endings” “full service” or “full release” massage. Be aware of these “coded” messages that are sometimes used to camouflage illegal services. It is possible that providers who offer legitimate massage, have heard these terms (and in turn use them) yet are not aware of their subtle double meaning and may innocently put out the wrong message.

Thirdly, here are a few more tips provided, on The Today Show, by: Ms. Parry Aftab, the executive director of wiredsafety.org:

1. Use A Security Software Suite Everyday.
“Make sure that everyone is out of your computer and only getting the information you give them.”

2. If Meeting An Online Companion Or Client, NEVER Go Alone.
Go with friends or take someone with you.

3. Make Sure Other’s Know Of Your Actions.

4. Do Your Homework
Look into who you are meeting, Google them.
Use care in what you are doing.
Don’t do anything online you wouldn’t do offline.

When in doubt, ask questions. Be clear about your objectives.
“Prepare for the worst and hope for the best.”

Rules of Tipping

2009-04-20T08:40:00.000-07:00

We all know that waiters should get somewhere around 20 percent of the final bill. Are you feeling confused about tipping your massage therapists?

“TIPS” is an acronym for, "To Insure Prompt Service." Tipping is not mandatory.
Tipping is a way of communicating just how much you appreciated the services you have received.

Service providers should generally be tipped anywhere from 18 to 22 percent. The 10 to 15 percent tip is antiquated.

Consider that most massage therapists are paid at or below minimum wage and rely on tips in the same way as waiters and waitresses. Some massage therapists are independent contractors yet have to pay to rent the rooms in the spas and salons in which they work. Unless they are the owner of the establishment they do not receive the total of the monies paid to them for their services.

The amount to tip is generally 15 to 20%. Therefore a massage at a cost of $90.00 would receive a tip between $13.00 and 18.00. Depending upon factors such as how much you enjoyed the service, whether you are a regular customer or how effectively you feel the session has addressed your needs.

Tipping is based in the United States upon the REGULAR price of the service. Therefore if you get a gift certificate for a 20% discount, you would still TIP on the ORIGINAL price.

If you should receive a certificate or coupon for a free spa treatment, call the manager before you go and ask if the gratuity is included. If it is not, ask for the estimated value of the gift certificate, and then tip in cash based upon that amount.

Using proper tipping etiquette, the percentages of your tips do not change because of the cost of the service. Of course, you can always tip on the lower end of 10-20%, yet, if you are going to go to a more expensive salon, it is assumed that you can afford the higher pricing plus tip. If this is really a big crunch for you, then I would recommend going less often or finding a salon or spa that is more within your budget.

Question:

2009-04-18T08:11:00.000-07:00

I recently did a chair massage gig at a products convention. It was a fun job in the foyer of the facility that held the gathering. When providing massage one often hears lots of stories from the patrons.

One instance that stuck in my mind was from a young lady who was working the same event and had found her way to our little oasis. She was of European descent and commented to another member of my team on how humorous it was that Americans could not adequately distinguish between sensual touch and sexual touch. In many cases this is so true. At times, men are afraid to accept massage from a woman unless they are interested in that woman sexually and thus preventing themselves from having one of the most remarkable and pleasurable NON sexual experiences if their lives. Some men likewise cannot allow themselves to be massaged by a man for the fear that somehow this will create some sort of insinuation as to their sexual preference. Likewise, some women cannot allow themselves to relax and experience massage because they feel their bodies will be on display for critique.

Question: What are some of the thoughts that that YOU associate with massage?

Learn the ART of Massage!

2009-04-05T12:34:00.000-07:00

Massage is a wonderful ART!

2009-04-05T11:51:00.000-07:00

AARP states in it's April 2009 "Bulletin" that, Researchers have found...massage reduces pain and stress throughout the body; it may also lower blood pressure and boost immunity. But that's only if your massage partner returns the favor."

So to that I say: Learn to perform massage. Classes are fun. The "AARP Bulletin" also lists
GIVING a massage as one of "8 Surprising ways to burn 50 calories". If you weigh say a basic weight of 180lbs. you would typically only have to work giving a massage for 8 - 9 minutes to burn 50 lbs.

LEARN THE ART of Massage, today! You will appreciate what massage you now receive more in the future and learn more about your own body.

Ortho Bionomy a Visual Introduction

2009-03-01T15:35:00.000-08:00

Ortho-Bionomy a Modality of Bodywork

2009-03-01T15:20:00.000-08:00

What is Ortho-Bionomy?

Ortho-Bionomy is a gentle, non-invasive, technique based on the osteopathic philosophy and homeopathic principles of stimulating the body’s own resources for self-healing. It helps people experience comfort, balance and an enhanced sense of well-being. It is highly effective in working with symptoms from chronic stress, and pains or problems associated with postural and structural imbalances. It may be used on its own or combined with massage therapy.

Ortho-Bionomy creates an atmosphere for clients to connect with their inner wisdom by awakening self-corrective reflexes that open the door to healing, awareness and structural balance.

Who founded this bodywork?

Dr. Arthur Lincoln Pauls was born in 1929 in Laird, Saskatchewan, Canada. He is the founder of the bodywork named Ortho-Bionomy. Dr. Pauls became an Osteopath in Britain in the mid 1960’s. Arthur had a black belt in Judo and was not comfortable with the force thrust technique’s he was taught in osteopathy school, which required a great deal of skill and timing to do, without causing harm to his patients. He wanted to utilize the Osteopathic Principal “Structure Governs Function”, while still conforming to the principles of Judo “Maximum efficiency with minimum effort, mutual welfare and benefit for all.”

What happens in an Ortho=Bionomy session?

An Ortho-Bionomy session lasts typically an hour long. It is suggested that the client wears comfortable, loose fitting clothing to allow a full range of motion. The therapist works with the client to identify areas of pain, discomfort and restriction of movement as well as areas of comfort and ease of movement. Gentle movement, comfortable positioning and compression are incorporated in the session and no forceful movements are used.

For more information on this type of therapy see:

http://www.ortho-bionomy.org/faqs.aspx#faq2

http://www.ortho-bionomy.org/orthobionomy%20article%20-%20Massage%20Magazine.pdf

http://www.ortho-bionomy.org/

http://www.nmhealingarts.org/nmaha/ortho_catalog.html

(…and…)

http://www.massagenerd.com/articles_massage/massage_bio/Arthur_Lincoln_Pauls.html

Massage creates a relaxing state of mind

2009-02-22T10:06:00.000-08:00

Massage and RSD

2009-02-21T11:48:00.000-08:00

While surfing the Internet and reading interesting stories recently, I happened upon an article on Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy. They had a story on how alternative therapies were found to have helped bring relief to this painful condition. Here is an excerpt from that article:

“I heard about Dr. Kurt Vreeland, a holistic physician in Norwich, Vermont, who deals with hard-to-treat medical cases from all over the world. He believes in looking at a person’s condition, at the most basic level (the cellular level), and building them up from there. He is technically a chiropractic neurologist (he does not perform chiropractic manipulations in the typical sense), and has extensive knowledge about the nervous system in general and RSD specifically. I was impressed with his understanding of RSD, but perhaps more importantly, inspired by his personal manner, his obvious compassion, and his knowledge of where we would begin based on what I had already done.

After three years I have seen dramatic improvement in my RSD and overall health using Live Blood Cell Analysis, Applied Kinesiology and a host of other approaches. I was initially on a regimen to shore up my immune system, which was in a state of collapse when I first started seeing him. Through numerous holistic supplements (geared to helping my nervous system reprogram itself to normal, balanced settings), homeopathy, specific exercises, diet, lifestyle adjustments, in conjunction with my ongoing physical therapy and regular visits to my RSD specialist and massage therapist, and professional counseling, my improvement has been staggering.”

To read more of this eye-opening article go to:
http://www.rsds.org/4/stories/alternative_therapy.html

For all of my cat loving friends out there....

2009-02-14T00:35:00.000-08:00

Here's a wonderful article from: http://lacetoleather.com/catmassage.html

CAT MASSAGE is good therapy for both of you - you and your cat will find it soothing. Touching your cat also brings you both closer together. Touching brings down the blood pressure and increases circulation. Massaging is also a good way to find any skin or hair problems, or even a lump while it is still very small and fixable. And, by the time you are through with the free instructions below, you can make any cat a friend for life!

To give a cat a massage:Scratch behind his ear and you will have his undivided attention. Rub the entire ear - even a little stroking on the inside of the tip. Scratch the top of this head (between his ears). Go on to his other ear. Scratch the side of his face, below his whiskers. Scratch under his chin. Scratch the other side of his face.(Even a cat you just met is now melting under your touch!) Scratch his ears again, just a little. Scratch the top of his head. In a continuous and fluid motion, stroke from the top of his head down his entire back. Stroke down his back only - several times - with your hand wide open to span across his entire back. Stroke down his entire back and down the top of his tail - several times. Stroke his entire tail (with your hand all the way around it) several times. He is butter in your hands! If he lays down, offering himself to you completely, take one leg at a time and stroke it from shoulder to paw. Stroke each leg several times. Stroke anywhere else he will allow except his tummy, as this is usually seen as an invitation to play (undoing the calming effect of the massage). You have made a friend for life!

Massage and weight loss

2009-02-08T10:19:00.000-08:00

By Scott Hayward

There is no question that having a massage makes you feel great. Even having a deep-tissue, sports massage makes you feel wonderful afterwards. Massage can relieve stress, help you recover from hard physical activity or injury and even reduce anxiety, but can it help you to achieve your weight loss goals?
Research shows that massage can have a positive effect on your muscle-building capabilities and fitness levels, which in turn increases your capacity to control or loose weight.
Healthy strong muscles burn calories and give you the freedom to participate in all sorts of sports and activities that can help you burn excess calories and improve your overall fitness and wellbeing.
Massage has the following benefits that can directly influence your ability to control or loose weight:
1. Massage has been shown to improve circulation and the supply of nutrition to the muscles. Massage increases the interchange of vital substances between the blood and tissue cells, which increases tissue metabolism. After muscles are exercised, vital nutrients must be supplied to them so that they can recover and rebuild themselves. Massage maximizes the supply of these nutrients and oxygen though increased blood flow, which helps the muscles to grow and burn more calories as a result.
2. Massage improves your muscles’ range of motion and their flexibility. This allows them to maintain maximum power and performance while active, and burn the maximum number of calories in the process.
Improved range of motion and flexibility also reduces muscle soreness during periods of recovery and muscle repair.
Having a wide range of motion and maximum muscle flexibility also reduces the danger of experiencing injuries during exercise which can severely limit activity, exercise and weight loss progress.
3. Massage helps to shorten the recovery time needed between your workouts. Waste products such as lactic and carbonic acid build up in muscles during and after exercise. Increased circulation to these muscles helps to eliminate toxic debris buildup caused by these waste products and in doing so shorten recovery time.
Shortened recovery time means you can safely have more workouts over a given period of time, which in turn means that you have the opportunity to burn more total calories in your effort to achieve your individual weight loss goals.
4. Massage can also help reduce the chance of you over-training. Massage has a relaxing effect on the muscles and a sedative effect on the nervous system. By helping you to rest, which is a very important element of any exercise program, massage can reduce the likelihood of you experiencing over-training syndrome, which is known to limit your ability to build strong healthy muscles and therefore loose weight with maximum efficiency.
5. In addition to all of the above, massage may directly aid in fat loss. According to some research studies, massage is thought to be able to burst the fat capsule in subcutaneous tissue so that the fat exudes and becomes absorbed. In this way, combined with proper nutrition and exercise, massage may actually help in weight loss.
6. As we have already touched upon, massage helps prevent and heal injuries. By stretching connective tissue, massage improves circulation to help prevent or break down adhesions and scar tissue that result from muscle tears and other common muscle injuries. Massage also influences the excretion of certain fluids (nitrogen, phosphorous, sulfur) that aid in tissue repair. Fast and effective recovery from injuries means that you can begin exercising sooner after suffering an injury and getting your weight loss progress back on track.
So there you have it. Massage has a lot of benefits that can indirectly and possibly even directly aid you in achieving your weight loss goals.
Regular massage is just as important a component as regular workouts and correct nutrition in any comprehensive fitness and weight loss program, which is great news for those of us who thought that exercising and loosing weight was all hard work! Remember, weight loss is all about leading a balanced lifestyle and massage is an essential part of any balanced lifestyle.
If you haven’t had a massage lately, what are you waiting for? Get on the phone and make yourself a booking. If you haven’t had a massage before, just remember to have your massage done by a qualified massage therapist.
If you are unsure about a massage practitioners qualifications and experience, ask for referrals, professional training information, and make sure they are certified by reputable agency or institution.
And remember, have fun!
Scott Haywood is the editor of Australia's leading weight loss and healthy lifestyle website: . Weightloss.com.au is a free weight loss resource that has healthy recipes, weight loss product reviews, a weight loss business directory and a very popular weight loss forum.

Arvigo Massage

2009-01-31T11:03:00.000-08:00

Introduction to: Arvigo Massage

"The Arvigo Techniques of Maya Abdominal Massage TM are founded on the ancient Mayan technique of abdominal massage which is an external non invasive manipulation that repositions internal organs that have shifted, thereby restricting the flow of blood, lymph, nerve and chi.
Based on over thirty years of training and experience in massage, naprapathy, herbology, and spiritual healing, Dr. Rosita Arvigo developed these techniques which now bear her name. This modality incorporates a holistic approach to health care which includes massage, anatomy and physiology, herbology, nutrition, and emotional and spiritual healing. Dr. Arvigo believes that with any natural healing technique, these areas must be simultaneously addressed to promote optimal health.
Dr. Arvigo learned these techniques from her mentor, Don Elijio Panti, the great Maya Shaman of Belize, Central America with whom she apprenticed for ten years. Don Elijio believed that a woman's center is her uterus. "If a woman's uterus is out of balance, so is she," he would say. Midwives and healers of Central America agree that most female troubles are caused by the wandering womb. Don Elijio passed away in 1996 at the age of 103. Rosita also studied with Hortence Robinson, a 73 year old herbal midwife of Belize who has been delivering babies since she was 13.
The Arvigo Techniques of Maya Abdominal Massage TM address position and health of the pelvic and abdominal organs. The work is best known for the correction of the prolapsed, fallen, or tilted uterus and for the prevention and treatment of benign prostate enlargement in men, and for relief of many common digestive disorders."

Please, visit their website and let me know what you think of this modality of massage: http://arvigomassage.com/

See also:
The Arvigo Institute, LLC
77 West Street
Antrim, NH 03440
603-588-2571
atmam@tds.net

Enjoy this image of a relaxing massage!

2009-01-31T10:29:00.000-08:00

"Health and Happiness"

2009-01-30T17:14:00.001-08:00

Thursday, January 10, 2008 5:27am report on KNBC Los Angeles [knbc.com] by reporter: Jennifer Bjorkland entitled: “Health and Happiness”.

“Researchers say: If your looking for an easy way to improve your health, try doing something that makes you happy. A study of nearly 3000 people finds, those who reported happy moods, had lower levels of stress hormones and markers of inflammation in the blood. The study by: The University College, London found; there is a biological benefit to happiness and that people should spend more time doing things that make them feel good.”

Massage feels good and it is good for you. Massage therapy is effective in the control of pain, chronic or acute. It is also of use in stress reduction, in creating a sense of relaxation and well-being. It can improve circulation, recovery time and immune system function. A licensed, skilled practitioner can become an important and integral part of your health care team.

Massage and Bodywork as Preventative Healthcare

2008-12-28T16:08:00.000-08:00

Could you use a little help keeping an eye out for your health?
How often do you check that mole in the middle of your back between your shoulder blades?
How about that small patch of skin on the back of your neck that has been changing texture over the last several weeks?
Did you notice the red spot behind your knee that just appeared within the last month?
Are your ankles slowly swelling?
Let me tell you a story:
I have a friend whom I have been providing weekly massage to for years now. Recently his son started having sore ankles and asked me for massage. The first time I gave him a gentle exploratory massage just to see what I could discern. I noticed that there was a bit of swelling in his ankles. I asked him to try keeping his ankles elevated above his heart especially in the evenings while he was relaxing. The next week I came by, the swelling was worse. I must tell you I was not immediately alerted but when I got home I started doing some reading and research as I do with all of my regular clients who develop some interesting anomaly that I am not familiar enough with. The information I read alarmed me. I did not want to be an alarmist so the next week I told the son that I did not feel comfortable giving him massage at this time and asked him to check with his doctor and specifically bring up this swelling problem which now seemed to be advancing to his knees. His father informed me that his son had just seen his family physician the week prior and was given a clean bill of health. I held off on the massage that week and explained that I was a bit concerned and would like to do some more investigation into what could be going on in this young mans system. Well, within that next week unrelated events occurred that alarmed mom and dad enough to take their son to the emergency department where they found out their son had a defective aorta with an infection significant enough to put him into emergency surgery to repair the valve and start on an antibiotic program to reverse the infection.
My observation was only one of many that were not tied together yet it made me acutely aware of the role I may sometimes play in the recognition of health issues in my clients.
While diagnosing illness is not in my realm of service I am in a position to observe conditions of change that may otherwise be overlooked by the client. This may very well be the subtle clue that leads you to “acquire” an early diagnosis to a problem or condition that may even be life threatening in the long term.

Give another thought to massage as another tool in your health care regimen.

Overcoming Chronic Illness: Take the Time to Pamper Yourself

2008-12-20T08:18:00.000-08:00

Visit a wonderful site: "Overcoming Chronic Illness" Here is an article published on that site, posted by EV Satie at 10:48 AM Saturday, December 6, 2008:

Take the Time to Pamper Yourself
I know that it's been a while since my last post, but that's due to the fact that I have had many doctors appointments and many things to evaluate and consider. I am being faced with task of deciding whether or not I will have a defibrillator implanted in my chest as a precaution against sudden death. Supposedly when you have Cardiomyopathy, there is a much greater risk of dying- the problem is that none of the doctors can give me a straight forward answer as to how much higher my chances are. It makes a big difference if you ask me!
I could get into the details of all of this fun stuff, but I have decided to blog about something else entirely: pampering yourself. I was given a wonderful gift certificate for a massage for my birthday in October, and I finally made the appointment and spent the afternoon indulging in the spa experience. I used the facilities, drank the cucumber water, was treated to a special birthday bath, and then I had a wonderful massage by a very gifted masseuse. The reason that I am telling you all of this is because I feel that we all need to practice self-love and self-care regularly. Unfortunately, if you are like me, you tend to put off taking care of yourself until you think you will have the time. Or until you get all of the items on your to do list checked off. At the rate I have been going it's no wonder I don't get around to taking care of myself like this too often.
Having a massage reminded me of how much we all need to pamper ourselves. It doesn't have to be a big event- you can light a candle and sit and relax, take a long bath, go for a gentle stroll, or buy yourself some flowers. Do something enjoyable and self-loving every day-especially if you have been ill. Life is too short to keep pushing yourself and never taking the time to stop and recharge your batteries. I realize that it's a busy and hectic world we live in, but in order to thrive I believe that self-care has to be on the top of our list. If we don't make ourselves a priority then who will? I am making a promise to myself to do something that brings me joy, makes me laugh, or let's me relax everyday- can you do the same for yourself? You will be glad that you did!

Pregnancy and Massage

2008-12-16T10:59:00.000-08:00

As I was surfing the Internet I spotted a nice site called “Moms New Beginning”. It presented a nice electronic business card with the profile of the torso of a pregnant young lady. As I checked out the blog it made me start to think of the advantages of massage for mothers to be.

In the pregnancy class I took from a wonderful teacher and massage therapist; Val Guin (Who also offers many other wonderful modalities of massage training). One of the first things she brought to the forefront of my attention was the fact that, “There is no other time in a woman’s life where the body transforms itself so profoundly.” She began to display visuals showing the structural changes the female body must go through in its effort to maintain its balance. Her lecture did also explain, how the lifelong relationships between muscles, bones, viscera, tendons and ligaments are transformed during the course of pregnancy. I soon began to see the possibilities massage could offer in not only helping to keep good connections between the constantly transforming body of the mother-to-be and her changing mindset but, also to the miraculous new life that was growing inside of her.

It is well known that massage is a wonderful first remedy in helping to alleviate stress. Bodywork can be a valuable tool in the pregnant woman’s support system. Many of the aches and pains suffered during pregnancy are simply brushed aside as things simply to be expected along the course of the experience. Low back aches, sore necks and shoulders, swollen feet and hands, shortness of breath, stretch marks, etcetera are all things that can detract from the total experience. A massage therapist can assist with massage; education, exercises and information they may be able to share; which will probably help reduce some of these common complaints.

Some therapists have support systems that allow a pregnant client to actually lie face down in a prone position. Others will lye the client on her side and bolster her side, neck and head with pillows also using pillows for strategic support when sitting with the back down on the table.

It is however important to see a doctor and keep that doctor apprised as to what your wishes are. Find out if there are any complications, issues or something in your history you should know that might possibly contraindicate massage. Many therapists will not perform massage on a prenatal client until the second trimester to give the new life, time to make a strong healthy connection to the mother’s body. Make sure you are feeling relatively good and your state of mind is looking forward to receiving the work.

Know that you have choices as to what work you wish to have done and what work you may feel you are not yet ready for. It is all about being supported in your wishes and desires in the experience of your pregnancy.

Now that you have been introduced to the modality of: "pre-natal/pregnancy massage", go out there and find a qualified practitioner in your area and experience the benefits of massage along with your new child. Let me know how the experience went for you. Enjoy!

Namasté,
Jonz

Benefits of Massage and Bodywork

2008-12-01T07:23:00.000-08:00

First, let me discuss some of the basic benefits of Massage and Bodywork in general:

The True Benefits of Massage Therapy
According to Millie Jones LMT

Massage is an avenue on which we may explore the path to personal health and wellness.

When we relax and allow a trusted therapist to push, pull and manipulate our bodies it allows our body to reconnect with itself. In this way our bodies can begin to communicate to our brain some of the memories it holds. In this way we can recognize and remember events likely forgotten in the rush of everyday life. We can then allow ourselves time to reconnect with small areas of dis-ease. It is at this moment we may allow ourselves an occasion to relax [in a world that often does not allow us this time] and bring our consciousness back on the areas we need to put more focus upon in an effort to take care of and repair ourselves.

Once the body recognizes a "disconnect" or "need of correction", it will on its own begin to right the problem and start on its natural journey towards health and balance. This progression has a medical term. The name of this process is “Homeostasis”. Using this natural mechanism of the human body we can search out and find small problems before they can fully manifest into major disease.

Massage is integral to the body, mind and spirit.

When the body completely relaxes, the mind can then relax. When the mind relaxes the spirit can rise from within to higher levels. This can allow us to truly take an hour or two to go within and take a small yet powerful vacation from the life we sometimes wall ourselves into.

The spirit will slowly, with time, start to let the mind know what the body wants and needs. Thus, your path will appear and if at each fork in your passage you can make the finest choice for the greatest positive outcome for you and all around you, your spirit will begin to find gratitude for all things along your journey.

Massage therapy is useful in health assessment.

How often [any more] can a medical doctor take the time to thoroughly check your body for small [yet possibly significant] marks, anomalies, feelings and features that your body will likely display, in it’s beginning effort to inform you that something is beginning to occur? How often do you forget to tell the doctor of all the little annoyances that have occurred since your last visit? How often to YOU inspect YOUR OWN body; from top to toe, back and front?

A therapist does NOT need to actually touch every square inch of your skin for you to become aware of an area in need of your personal attention. The body is an interesting thing. Many times a pain or condition in a particular area will radiate out into another area showing lines of travel. Just bringing this to your attention can start your body on its natural journey towards homeostasis. You do not even need to mention your thoughts to your massage practitioner. You may decide to find a medical doctor, counselor, psychological therapist, best friend or other professional or trusted individual with which to share your thoughts and concerns.

*Think on these ideas and concepts and get back to me on them. I will return with more, later.

Namasté
Jonz LMT

Massage and Bodywork

2008-11-27T09:37:00.000-08:00

Massage and Bodywork

As I start my journey into Bodywork and Massage a whole new world is opening up before me. I am introduced to so many paths that at this time I do not know which way to go. At this time I would like to discuss some of the modalities of Bodywork and Massage that I am slowly being introduced to and discern how effective and accepted they are in the medical community and the real world.

Some of the modalities I would like to start discussing would be: Touch for Health and Applied Kinesiology, Arvigo Mayan Abdominal Massage, Raindrop, Reiki and Cranio-Sacral Massage.

Any thoughts you may have at any time would be appreciated.

Namaste,
Jonz