Elements Therapeutic Massage - San Antonio

Improve Health and Well Being by Beating Workplace Stress

Sat, 02 Mar 2013 14:43:00 -0600

Continuing from February, additional tips include:

Stress Buster Two: Break Up Workday Stress with Regular Relaxation Breaks

Stress can be a huge player in reducing company productivity, employee efficiency and project accuracy. In fact, 51 percent of employees said they were less productive at work as a result of stress.¹To help combat constant workplace stress, it is important to take regular breaks throughout the day to give your mind and body the opportunity to recharge, refresh and prepare for the next task on your list. Whether it’s a short five-minute water/coffee break in the employee lounge or a longer lunch break, make it a priority each day to get away from your workstation for regular short amounts of time, interact with co-workers face-to-face and step outside for a quick breath of fresh air.

Stress Buster Three: Finish Off the Day On Time and Organized

To finish off your day stress-free, find a good stopping point on your project/task list and shut down your work around the same time each day. Humans are creatures of habit so the more consistent you are with ending your day, the less stress you will carry with you as you return home from work. To create end-of-day closure, it also is important to clean up your workspace by organizing your paperwork and leaving your work area organized and ready for the start of the next day. Since chaos breeds stress, organize your thoughts

Improve Health and Well Being by Beating Workplace Stress

Mon, 11 Feb 2013 11:17:00 -0600

Tight deadlines, never-ending multitasking, huge project piles and multi-source pressures from bosses, customers and co-workers are all too common characteristics in today’s workplace environment. Working every day in this type of environment can leave employees feeling overwhelmed, stressed and exhausted.

Workplace stress is so prevalent that 69 percent of employees report that work is a significant source of stress in their lives and 41 percent say they typically feel tense or stressed out during the workday.¹ While eliminating stress altogether is unrealistic, there are some easy day-to-day techniques that you can incorporate into your daily work schedule to help reduce workplace tension and stress. Try incorporating the following stress busters before, during and after your workday to improve your health and well-being at work and at home.

Stress Buster One: Start the Day Early Feeling Refreshed and Relaxed

As soon as the hustle and bustle of the workday begins, it is easy to lose track of time, projects and deadlines. To help get a hold of your workday before it gets out of control, push your start time 30 minutes earlier before the majority of your co-workers get into the office. Setting aside 30 minutes at the beginning of the day can give you an opportunity to reduce daily workplace stress by planning your day, getting a jumpstart on lingering project deadlines and answering any left over e-mails/last minute to-do items from the day before. By the time your company’s workday begins, you are refreshed and ready to take on the day’s challenges in a more productive and effective manner.

Good night, Sleep Tight, Its time for a restful sleep tonight!

Wed, 23 Jan 2013 10:46:00 -0600

January 23-31 Tip: Enhance Sleep Quality with Regular Massage Therapy

To maintain healthy sleeping habits and to enhance the quality of your sleep each night, it is important to incorporate consistent relaxation techniques into your lifestyle like regularly scheduled massage therapy sessions. One of the main benefits of therapeutic massage is relieving muscle and stress tension that builds up in your mind and body throughout the day. By engaging in regular massage therapy, you can enhance your sleep quality each night by establishing deep relaxation and relief for your mind and body that can carry over throughout your day and into the sleeping hours of the night.

If you need help with incorporating healthy sleep habits to unwind and de-stress your mind and body at the end of the day, give our Elements Therapeutic Massage studio a call today. Our expert massage therapists are committed to promoting your overall health and well-being, including restful and quality sleeping and relaxation techniques.

Good Night, Sleep Tight, It’s Time for Restful Sleep Tonight!

Tue, 15 Jan 2013 08:56:00 -0600

January 14-20 Tip: Breathe Easy, Relax Often

During your 30 minutes of pre-bed downtime, you can take your relaxation to new levels by practicing some self-meditation techniques such as slow deep breathing. You can choose to either rest on your bed or on a mat on your bedroom floor, dim the lights, close your eyes and practice taking a slow, deep breath that originates from your stomach versus a typical day-to-day short breath that starts in your neck region. After a few deep breathing rounds, you also can work on relaxing the tight muscles in your body by doing some light stretches to elongate your neck, back, legs and arms.

Good Night, Sleep Tight, It’s Time for Restful Sleep Tonight!

Thu, 10 Jan 2013 12:48:00 -0600

January 7-13 Tip: Lights Out Before Bed

At least 30 minutes before your determined bedtime, turn off all electronic devices (television, mp3 player, computer, eReader, etc.) to unplug your mind and body from technology and prepare for a restful night’s sleep. In today’s over wired, always connected to an electronic device society, your brain can easily become over stimulated throughout the day. Your brain needs at least 30 minutes of no technology and distractions to decompress before bed so your mind and body are prepared for a relaxed state of sleep as soon as your head rests on the pillow.

Good Night, Sleep Tight, It’s Time for Restful Sleep Tonight!

Sat, 29 Dec 2012 15:59:00 -0600

One sheep, two sheep, three sheep, four, five sheep, six sheep, roll over and start counting some more. If your normal sleep routine consists of counting fluffy white animals over and over again until you finally fall asleep, it’s time to realign your sleep routine into a more relaxed, restful experience. By incorporating the four pre-sleep bedtime tips we’ll be covering in January, you will be able to better prepare your mind and body for a more relaxing and enjoyable night’s sleep.

January 1-6 Tip: Schedule a Consistent Bed Time

Bed times aren’t just for children anymore. Adults can gain huge benefits from consistently going to bed around the same time each night. Research indicates that adults need an average of 6-8 hours of sleep per night in order for their minds and bodies to function properly. Sleep not only rejuvenates and refreshes a tired brain, but a good night’s rest also helps muscle recovery by repairing tired muscles, ligaments and body systems.

To ensure you give your body enough downtime at night to recuperate, determine what time you need to go to bed in order to log 6-8 hours of restful sleep. Set your alarm for your determined bedtime to remind yourself to turn off the television, shut down your house and head to bed at the appropriate time for a good night’s rest.

Massage + A Healthy Diet: The Perfect Combination to Balance Holiday Stress

Wed, 31 Oct 2012 11:26:00 -0500

Healthy Eating Habits:
Prepare yourself and your meals – Ensure your schedule has time for good health by planning ahead. Plan out your meals and make the trip to the grocery store or local farmer’s market early to stock your kitchen with a nutritious array of foods and on-the-go-snacks.

Manage your plate size – Try to fill only half of your plate with lean proteins (tofu, fish, chicken) and complex whole grain carbs. The other half should consist of fruits and vegetables.

Drink water – The goal here is to drink at least six eight-ounce glasses a day. This amount increases based on your activity level. Drinking water throughout the day aids your body’s detoxification process and boosts energy and digestion.

Do not skip meals – Eating smaller meals more frequently can boost your metabolism and your ability to burn calories. Be sure to eat breakfast, even if it consists of a small portion of fruit or a homemade smoothie of your favorite nutritious ingredients. Carry healthy snacks throughout the day to remedy your cravings with a nourishing solution.

Sleep – A sufficient amount of sleep can act as a mental reset button as well as help you to maintain an ideal weight by omitting cravings for both sugar and carbs. Seven to eight hours is an adequate amount of sleep for the average adult. Despite what some may believe, the attempt to recapture lost sleep on the weekends does not benefit the body as much as maintaining a consistent and healthy sleep pattern will.

Massage and The Digestive System

Therapeutic massage sessions can promote a healthy digestive system by relaxing tense abdominal and intestinal walls, as well as stimulating activity of your major digestive organs (kidneys, colon, small and large intestines) to improve circulation and waste removal. When combined with a healthy diet of fruits, vegetables, lean proteins and complex carbs, massage therapy can help regulate your bowel movements, flush out the toxins in your system and leave you feeling more energetic and rejuvenated.

Find Balance for Your Body With Therapeutic Massage
Studies have found massage helpful for stress relief and for balancing your body by aiding its ability to handle anxiety and depression, as well as boosting immunity. Massage has been shown to help regulate naturally-occurring chemicals in the body (hormones including norepinephrine, cortisol and serotonin) that are associated with stress and relaxation.

These benefits of regular massage can help you cope with stress when it’s occurring — and also develop a stronger everyday resilience to future stress.

Whether you need to release tension, reduce stress or simply relax and feel your best, regularly scheduled therapeutic massage sessions are essential for promoting your overall mind and body well-being. Regular monthly massages provide relief to people of all ages and all walks of life. It is the perfect recipe for helping you unwind and prepare yourself for a happy healthy holiday season!

Relief for Arthritis Pain

Thu, 02 Aug 2012 11:39:00 -0500

Massage Therapy for Relief of Arthritis Pain

If you are among an estimated one in five adults living with arthritis, there’s something you should know: massage therapy really works for relief of arthritis pain. Two recent studies involving arthritis of the hands and knees each concluded that massage therapy was beneficial.

Proven Arthritis Pain Relief
In 2006, the Touch Research Institute conducted a trial over four weeks for adults who had arthritis pain of the wrist and/or hand. Participants were assigned randomly to a control group for standard treatment or a massage therapy group. The latter participants got professional massage on the affected wrist/hand once a week, and were instructed to perform daily self-massage. The conclusion: the arthritis massage therapy group showed a lower level of anxiety, less pain and greater grip strength than the control group.

An article in the December 2006 Archives of Internal Medicine reports clinical findings from a similar study on osteoarthritis of the knee. Patients undergoing regular massage therapy reported less stiffness and pain and noted increased physical function in their knees.

How Massage Therapy Works
Several things happen during massage that provide particular benefit to arthritis pain sufferers:
• Joints are loosened when adhesions in muscles or ligaments are broken up
• The production of synovial fluid is stimulated, thus providing additional cushioning
• Production of natural pain-killing endorphins increases
• Spasms which cause muscle pain are reduced

Additionally, research shows that massage has overall positive effects on the body:
• Stress hormone production decreases
• Immune function is improved
• Sleep is more continuous
• Blood pressure decreases

Massage Techniques for Arthritis
Swedish- This is the kind most people think of when they hear “massage.” It involves gentle joint manipulation along with stroking, kneading and light pressure on muscles at the surface.

Deep Tissue- A deeper working of the muscles as the name implies, this technique uses slow, deep movements to remove tension in muscles. Your therapist should ask how hard you would like to be worked, and be willing to make adjustments throughout your massage.

Myofascial- The fascia is connective tissue surrounding muscles which is relaxed with the long, stretching strokes of this technique.

Trigger Point- Focused finger pressure is used to relax knots of tension that can inject pain in other parts of the body.

Reflexology- Distinct areas on the palms, soles of the feet and/or ears are rubbed to relieve tension in other parts of the body to which they are supposed to be linked.

Acupressure or Shiatsu- Similar in theory to acupuncture, these Asian techniques use concentrated finger pressure on specific body points to release the flow of energy, or qi (pronounced “chee”).

Typical Massage Therapy Session
True massage is a lot different than what is advertised in the Personals section of your local paper. Certified professionals work with healthcare providers and independently to provide arthritis pain relief. So exactly what can you expect?

At the first session, your masseur will ask you some background information about your health status as well as what massage techniques interest you. Then, you’ll disrobe as much as you feel comfortable and lie on a comfortable narrow mattress, covered with a sheet or blanket, at counter height. Your head fits face-down in a padded oval so the spine retains a natural curve.

Your therapist will reenter the room and dim the lights. Classical music or nature sounds often play softly in the background. One limb or body part at a time will be exposed and worked on, while the rest of you remains covered for modesty and warmth.

If you are interested in doing self-massage at home between treatments, ask your therapist for some tips. In general, don’t try to massage a very painful joint, or one that is swollen.

Massage Therapy Cost
If you have a referral from your physician, insurance will often cover the cost of at least some massage sessions. Expense per treatment usually runs from $30 to more than $100. Usually, your massage therapist will want to see you weekly for about four weeks, and monthly thereafter.

"Arthritis Massage Therapy: Alternative Pain Relief." Massage Therapy for Relief of Arthritis Pain. Disaboom Network, n.d. Web. 23 July 2012. <http://www.disaboom.com/rheumatoid-arthritis-ra/arthritis-massage-therapy-alternative-pain-relief>.

Anxious Bride, Come Find Relief at Elements San Antonio

Sun, 03 Jun 2012 15:36:00 -0500

As wedding season approaches us and the summer months start heating up what better way to take time for yourself than with a 55 minute massage. At Elements we will gladly help you work away your stress and worries and leave feeling rejuvenated and ready for your big day. Call us today to set up your 55 minute massage for only $49.00 or for more information on great bachelorette party ideas. Massage even makes a great thank you gift for your bridal party! 210-541-4050

Elements San Antonio Celebrates Mothers in May

Wed, 02 May 2012 13:45:00 -0500

Treat mom to something special this Mother's Day. We have 55 minute massage Gift Cards available for only $49.00. Want some quality one on one time with mom? We have appointments available for Sunday, May 13, 2012 from 9am to 7pm. Call us at 210-541-4050 to schedule, space is filling up fast.

Give mom a day she won't soon forget!

Military Monday

Mon, 02 Apr 2012 08:50:00 -0500

At Elements San Antonio, we want to take the time every Monday to honor our Military. We will discount any 55 minute massage session to $45.00 for any past or present military. Call 210-541-4050 and ask about our Military Mondays for more details.

Now open Elements Alon Town Center

Sat, 10 Mar 2012 09:26:00 -0600

We are finally open. Elements Therapeutic Massage in Alon Town Shopping Centre is the first Elements in San Antonio. We are so excited to introduce Elements to the community and show San Antonio that "Not all Massage is Created Equal."

We take pride in the quality of therapists we hire and the quality of service you will receive when you walk through our doors. Stop by for a tour of our beautiful location and book your Introductory 55 Massage Session for only $49.00

Elements Therapeutic Massage - San Antonio

Improve Health and Well Being by Beating Workplace Stress

Improve Health and Well Being by Beating Workplace Stress

Good night, Sleep Tight, Its time for a restful sleep tonight!

Good Night, Sleep Tight, It’s Time for Restful Sleep Tonight!

Good Night, Sleep Tight, It’s Time for Restful Sleep Tonight!

Good Night, Sleep Tight, It’s Time for Restful Sleep Tonight!

Massage + A Healthy Diet: The Perfect Combination to Balance Holiday Stress

Healthy Eating Habits:Prepare yourself and your meals – Ensure your schedule has time for good health by planning ahead. Plan out your meals and make the trip to the grocery store or local farmer’s market early to stock your kitchen with a nutritious array of foods and on-the-go-snacks.

Relief for Arthritis Pain

Massage Therapy for Relief of Arthritis Pain

Anxious Bride, Come Find Relief at Elements San Antonio

Elements San Antonio Celebrates Mothers in May

Military Monday

Now open Elements Alon Town Center

Healthy Eating Habits:
Prepare yourself and your meals – Ensure your schedule has time for good health by planning ahead. Plan out your meals and make the trip to the grocery store or local farmer’s market early to stock your kitchen with a nutritious array of foods and on-the-go-snacks.