Elements Therapeutic Massage - Southpark

Massage Helps with Health Conditions at Every Age

Fri, 01 Feb 2013 14:15:00 -0600

As regular readers of our blog know, the research continues to pour in showing the health benefits of massage. The AMTA recently published an article discussing the positive impact of massage on pre-term infants, those with high blood pressure, cancer patients and more.

Read the full article here.

Massage and Brain Cancer

Tue, 08 Jan 2013 08:49:00 -0600

Regular readers of our blog know that the evidence from research about the benefits fo regular massage continues to grow month by month. A recent study published in medical journal covering treatments that provide supportive care to patients with cancer found that twice weekly massage for 4 weeks dramatically reduced signs of illness-related distress to levels associated with not being ill. The reduction showed immediately and increased as the total number of massages increased suggesting the effect of regular massage was cumulative. Interestingly, signs of distress started to increase again when massage was discontinued. Read the article here.

Regular massage doesn't feel good, it is good for you!

Massage: Not Just an Indulgence

Wed, 12 Dec 2012 15:03:00 -0600

We all know how great massage feels, especially one that is customized to address the needs you have for that particular session. The change of state from before to after is one of the main attractions. But as frequent readers of our blog know, the evidence from medical research continues to pile up on the many health benefits of receiving regular massage.

Here's an excerpt of an article on this very topic from the North County Times in San Diego, CA that makes this point quite well:

“I used to feel guilty about getting a massage,” said Carmel Valley’s Brady Nielsen. “But I’d come out of my sessions with less aches and pains, feeling refreshed and much better able to handle my kids and work and everything else.”

Nielsen isn’t just imagining these benefits.

There’s growing research by organizations like the Mayo Clinic and the National Certification Board of Massage and Bodywork confirming that massage helps with stress and anxiety, depression, pain, blood pressure and immunity.

It’s used to help infants sleep through the night, treat sports-related injuries and assist with psychological issues, such as anxiety or depression.

“According to studies coming out of Miami, there isn’t a medical condition out there that hasn’t benefited by massage being part of the treatment,” said Dr. Richard Gold, the president and senior instructor at the International Professional School of Bodywork in Kearny Mesa.

Gold, who specializes in Eastern Bodywork, said there are hospital wings in China that are dedicated to massage therapy to help everyone from cancer patients to new mothers.

And, he says, the idea of a massage as a luxury treatment is more of a modern point of view.

“Massage is one of the oldest forms of medical care,” he said. “So you can say people are reclaiming what was already there.”

Throughout history, massage therapy has been used to help with everything from neurological and gastronomical issues to obstetrics and orthopedics.

If you haven't had a massage in a while, now is the time to get back in the habit. How many things out there that are so good for you and so enjoyable too?

Click here to read the full article.

Research Shows Stress Can Shrink Key Parts of the Brain

Wed, 05 Dec 2012 12:03:00 -0600

Researchers at Yale University recently published a study showing that stress can actually causes physical changes in the structure of the brain and how it functions. It's one more piece of evidence showing that stress is an underlying cause for many different diseases and health conditions.

Fortunately, research also continues to show that massage is a great way to relieve stress and that regular massage can have a beneficial impact on your health.

Here is an excerpt to an article about the study with a link to the entire article following:

NEW HAVEN, Conn. (CBS Connecticut) - A new study has found that living a stressful life may lead to shrinking in important parts of the brain.

Researchers at Yale University saw reductions in the amount of gray matter in parts of the brain that control physiological and emotional functioning in those who endured significant amounts of stress.

According to a press release on Yale’s website, the study observed over 100 healthy participants by conducting magnetic resonance imaging scans while they answered questions about potentially traumatic life events, including the losing of a loved one, job or home.

“They found that even the brains of subjects who had only recently experienced a stressful life event showed markedly lower gray matter in portions of the … area of the brain that regulates not only emotions and self-control, but physiological functions such as blood pressure and glucose levels,” the release stated.

You can find the entire article here.

Massage For Regular Health Maintenance

Thu, 15 Nov 2012 08:32:00 -0600

New Survey Shows Consumers Seek Massage For Regular Health Maintenance Primary reason individuals receive massage therapy is for medical reasons

Recent results from the 16th annual consumer survey conducted by the American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA) reveal more consumers are incorporating massage therapy into their regular health and wellness regimens to assist with medical conditions. In fact, 75 percent of individuals claim the primary reason for receiving a massage in the past 12 months was medical (43 percent) and stress (32 percent) related. Medical reasons include pain relief, soreness, stiffness or spasms, injury recovery, migraines, prevention, and general well-being.

To view the multimedia assets associated with this release, please click:

"The findings from this year's survey display a growing sense of awareness among consumers about massage being an effective tool for a variety of health conditions," says Cynthia Ribeiro, AMTA president. "Physicians are recommending massage therapy to their patients for stress-related tension, pain relief and injuries, as well as to help maintain overall health and wellness." The survey results, released in conjunction with National Massage Therapy Awareness Week (NMTAW), October 21 - October 27, indicate that 87 percent of individuals view massage as being beneficial to overall health and wellness.

Given the distinct consumer understanding of the health benefits of massage, an increasing number of people are consulting their physicians about massage therapy, with 50 percent stating that their doctor has either strongly recommended or encouraged them to get a massage. This suggests consumers and healthcare professionals regard massage as a viable option to address health concerns.

"A growing body of evidence shows that massage therapy can be effective for a variety of health conditions and massage is rapidly becoming recognized as an important part of health and wellness," said Dr. Keri Peterson, board certified internal medicine physician. "Many of my patients come to me with chronic pain including back and knee pain, as well as migraines and injuries after exercise.

I am now referring more people than ever to meet with massage therapists as an alternative, before considering surgery or prescribing prescriptions." Supported research shows that massage therapy can improve quality of life in patients with fibromyalgia, reduce inflammation of skeletal muscle acutely damaged with exercise and help relieve chronic lower back pain. In addition, research supported by the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) shows that a 60-minute Swedish massage once a week for those with osteoarthritis of the knee significantly reduced their pain.

According to the AMTA survey, consumers recognize the role massage therapy has in pain management, with 89 percent of respondents viewing massage to be effective in reducing pain. In general, almost 30 percent have used massage therapy at some time for pain relief.

During National Massage Therapy Awareness Week (October 21 - October 27), AMTA massage therapists across the country will promote the benefits of massage for health and wellness through massage demonstrations, education events, special client promotions, social media posts and other awareness activities. Consumers are encouraged to visit AMTA's Find a Massage Therapist free national locator service, available at

. This locator allows people to find professional members of AMTA, who meet both association qualifications and state/local requirements to practice.

SUMMARY OF SURVEY DATA 75 percent claim their primary reason for receiving a massage in the past 12 months was medical (43 percent) and stress (32 percent) related 50 percent who have ever had a massage, received it for medical reasons including soreness, stiffness or spasms; to relieve or manage stress; for prevention or to improve quality of life; injury recovery; to keep fit or healthy/wellness and to control headaches or migraines 50 percent said their doctor has either strongly recommended or encouraged them to get a massage 89 percent believe massage can be effective in reducing pain 87 percent recognize massage can be beneficial to health and wellness 44 percent say medical benefits would motivate them to have a massage About AMTAThe American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA) is a professional association of more than 56,000 members. AMTA professional members have demonstrated a level of skill and knowledge through education and/or testing and must meet continuing education requirements to retain membership. AMTA provides information about massage therapy to the public and works to improve the professional climate for massage therapists. The association also helps consumers and healthcare professionals locate qualified massage therapists nationwide, through AMTA's Find a Massage Therapist free national locator service available at

Read the article at

http://www.cnbc.com

1649rprecht@amtamassage.org Caroline DowdyEdelman(312) 240-2801caroline.dowdy@edelman.com SOURCE American Massage Therapy Association

Self Massage Techniques to Rejuvenate from Activities

Wed, 31 Oct 2012 10:12:00 -0500

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Self Massage Techniques to Rejuvenate from Activities

Massage techniques for neck and lower back

Gardening, collecting leaves, and housework, are all sometimes necessary activities, but the prolonged bending over and muscle strain can lead to neck and lower back pain that isn’t so enjoyable. The following tips demonstrate massage techniques that alleviate neck and lower back pain caused my common activities.

Neck massage: Place your right hand on your left shoulder with your thumb firmly placed against the base of the neck. Move the thumb slowly back and forth along the base of the neck while applying pressure. After a few minutes, tilt the head towards the side of the neck you are massaging in order to shorten the muscle and provide an even deeper massage. Switch hands and repeat the motions on the other side of the neck.
Don’t just stop massaging at the neck, rather follow the muscle all the way around the neck and up behind the ear and the back of the head.
Lower back massage: Place two tennis balls inside of a tube sock. Lie on the floor with knees bent and lower back supported. Place the tube sock just above the sacrum (the large, triangular bone at the base of the spine) so that one ball is positioned on each side of the spine. Roll back and forth slowly using your arms and legs for support.
How to treat an acute strain: If a muscle is stained from over exertion, it is important to apply ice to the muscle throughout the first 72 hours in order to decrease the swelling. A moist heating pad can be applied afterwards to ease the muscle.
Massage long strokes, following a body part until you hit bone where the origin of the muscle lies.

4 Massage Techniques to Boost Your Golf Game

Thu, 04 Oct 2012 07:46:00 -0500

Sports massage therapy has become increasingly popular among athletes. For those trying to get the last of their golf games in before it gets too cold, we offer a few tips to enhance your golf game through massage.

Despite being a low-impact sport, golf can be physically and emotionally demanding. Here are some simple tips for golfers looking to enhance their game and de-stress the body and mind:

Pre-game massage: Though many people think massages are intended for after physical activity, relaxing before heading out on the green can make a marked difference in your game. It’s important to invigorate and loosen those muscles before working them, especially with the repetitive twisting and torqueing in golf.
Golf club hand massage: Golf clubs aren’t just for hitting the ball. In between holes, use the rubber end of a golf club for a quick hand massage. Apply pressure to the base of the thumb and your palm; make circles with your hand in that area and move it around to hit all the pressure points.
Mid-game foot massage: A quick foot massage on the course can go a long way towards keeping you relaxed. With your shoes off, start with a golf ball on the ground while seated on the golf cart or standing. Roll your foot forward and backward slowly; apply enough pressure to feel a pulling but not enough that you are in too much pain; then roll your foot side to side. Next place your heel on the ball to make circular motions; finally cross your leg over the left ankle and take the ball and roll it up and down the arch of your foot; repeat with the left foot.
Post play recovery: After a long day of golf, it’s important to get your muscles back in balance. Back and shoulder muscles are shortened on one side due to the repetitive motion of the golf swing, and tight hamstrings, especially in men, can play a tug of war with your back leading to lower back pain. Post-game massages help golfers avoid achy muscles and get back to the next round in tip top shape.

Massage & a Healthy Diet: The Perfect Combination to Balance Stress

Thu, 04 Oct 2012 06:57:00 -0500

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

Eating healthy is never an easy task. Get an early start to forming your healthy eating and de-stressing habits this season by calming your digestive system and balancing your body with these quick tips.

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.

More than a luxury: massage offers physical as well as mental benefits

Tue, 18 Sep 2012 13:57:00 -0500

Tips to Get the Most Out of Massage

Thu, 13 Sep 2012 09:17:00 -0500

Tips to Get the Most Out of Massage

As health care costs continue to increase, consumers are looking towards alternative therapies to treat pain and stress. According to the American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA), 44 percent of adult Americans who received a massage between July 2010 and July 2011 received it for medical or health reasons compared to 35 percent the previous year. However, many consumers still have misconceptions about massage and how to make the most of their experience. It’s to be expected – there’s a sense of vulnerability when it comes to getting a massage, and many are reluctant to seek clarification.

Get the most out of your massage by following these simple tips:

Speak up! At restaurants, we’re quick to request dressing on the side. At the drycleaners, we’re not afraid to ask for extra starch. Yet when it comes to receiving a customized massage, many consumers are hesitant to ask for what they want. It’s essential to clearly communicate your goals, so don’t be afraid to tell a massage therapist to spend more time on a certain area, or to alter their technique to be more gentle or firm.
Undress to your comfort level: The customer has free range to undress as much, or as little, as he/she likes. Modesty is always accepted, so if you feel most comfortable in shorts and a T-shirt, wear it!
Talk….or Don’t: You can chit chat during the treatment or be still, as you choose. The massage therapist will follow your lead.
Rehydrate: Even though you’re laying still while receiving a massage, your muscles are being worked and they need to recharge. Always drink plenty of water following a massage. An hour-long massage works your muscles similar to that of an hour spent at the gym.
Tip Appropriately: The general rule of thumb is to tip 15 to 25 percent. If using a coupon or packaged deal, tip on the original price of the massage.

Benefits of Using Massage Therapy to Treat TMJ

Wed, 15 Aug 2012 10:44:00 -0500

Contributed by Sandra K. Anderson, BA LMT ABT and Jolie Haun, PhD LMT

Have you ever wondered what inspires research in massage therapy and bodywork? Often, it starts from the work of practitioners who write case reports illustrating their experiences with clients and patients.

A case report is a detailed description of a practitioner's work with a client who has a condition which is addressed by a specific therapy or intervention. It also includes a review of published literature about research on issues similar to the client's. Both the practitioner's work with the client and the research literature can form the foundation for further scientific investigation.

This month, we at the Massage Therapy Foundation (MTF) are presenting a case report published in the International Journal of Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork in 2011. "Changes in Temporomandibular Joint Dysfunction Following Massage Therapy: A Case Report" was written by Melissa Joan Pierson, MT, and won a Silver Place Award in the Massage Therapy Foundation's Student Case Report Contest in 2010.

Most massage therapists have likely had clients with temporomandibular joint (TMJ) dysfunction as 65% to 85% of Americans experience symptoms during their lives. Symptoms include pain and muscle spasms in the head, mandible, neck and shoulder muscles; headaches; earaches; clicking noises or deviations when the mandible moves; limited ability to open the mouth; and dizziness. Causes of TMJ dysfunction include whiplash, bruxism, malocclusion, anxiety, stress, trigger points and postural dysfunction.

Treatments for TMJ disorder include splint therapy, analgesics, surgery, stress management, acupuncture, trigger point therapy, hydrotherapy and massage therapy. Data from focus groups and surveys of people with TMJ disorder suggest people experience frustration with conventional treatment, but are often satisfied with complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) treatments, especially massage therapy. However, literature regarding the effectiveness of massage therapy on TMJ disorder is limited and shows varying degrees of success, warranting more research on the topic. Pierson's case report is important because it shows the benefit of a treatment plan with detailed measurements of the outcomes associated with TMJ disorder.

Pierson's client was a 26 year-old female student who had TMJ disorder seven to ten years prior to the massage treatment series. There was no reported known cause of TMJ for this client. Her symptoms were pain, decreased range of motion, clicking and crepitus. She was a busy, stressed student who had sought treatment from a dentist and a TMJ specialist. Eating soft foods, stretching and following guidance on reducing stress decreased the majority of her symptoms, but when her stress levels increased, her symptoms returned. The client's goals from massage therapy were decreases in pain, muscle tension, stress and restrictions in the neck and facial muscles.

The treatment plan consisted of an initial assessment followed by ten treatments, with re-assessments midway through the series and afterward. Each assessment included a postural assessment using a plumb line and range of motion (ROM) and orthopedic assessments of the neck and TMJ. Pierson also conducted pre-treatment interviews which included questions about location of discomfort, duration, frequency, intensity and quality of pain, and aggravating and relieving factors.

The sessions lasted 45 to 50 minutes, and included intra-oral massage (with gloved hands) consisting of compression on the medial and lateral pterygoids to release trigger points and muscle tension and gentle stripping. Myofascial release was then performed on the neck muscles and pectoralis major to correct the client's rounded shoulder posture and release pressure on her jaw followed by stretching. The sternocleidomastoid was picked up and twisted to release trigger points and tension. Kneading, stripping and trigger point release through ischemic compression were also used on neck muscles. These techniques were done to relieve pain, increase blood flow to the muscles and elevate endorphin levels to further reduce the client's pain and stress. Shiatsu was performed on the client's scalp to restore and maintain the body's energy balance, prevent the buildup of stress and decrease pain.

Because studies have shown that 60% to 90% of patients with TMJ disorder have an improvement in symptoms after using only self-management techniques, self-care was essential to the client's treatment plan. The client performed daily exercises involving retraction to decrease forward head posture. To keep the jaw muscles from clenching, the client compressed and stretched masseter and temporalis musces, and performed self myofascial massage over pectoralis major. She also applied heat and ice alternately to painful areas. Starting three weeks prior to the treatment series, the client kept a daily journal recording her stress, pain and muscle tension levels; the amount and quality of her sleep; self-performed home care, daily activities and diet.

Overall, the treatment series was successful, yielding an increase in the client's ability to open her mouth maximally and range of motion in her neck and a decrease in muscle hypertonicity, pain and stress. Pierson states these results could be due to several factors - the client's compliance with home care, using evidence-based techniques and frequent sessions with no long breaks in between.

For greater accuracy in measurements, Pierson acknowledged that other tools could have been used. For example, a goniometer could have been used to measure the range of motion of the mandible. Instead of relying on the client's comments, valid and reliable measures could have been used to assess the client's mood, stress, concentration and patience. Also, during postural observation and resisted ROM assessment, more quantifiable measurements could have been used instead of the terms "mild, moderate, or severe."

This case report is valuable for several reasons. Because it details the techniques Pierson used on the client, massage therapists can use the information for their own clients with TMJ disorder. This case report warrants further study to investigate the benefits of massage therapy for TMJ disorder. And just as important, this case report may provide inspiration for other massage therapists to conduct and author case reports about their experiences using treatments with their clients.

http://www.massagetoday.com/mpacms/mt/article.php?id=14578

How Massage Therapy can Give you an Active, Healthy Summer

Wed, 01 Aug 2012 09:25:00 -0500

http://www.jsonline.com/sponsoredarticles/fashion/how-massage-therapy-can-give-you-an-active-healthy-summer8059781010-158453265.html

For many people, summer means fun in the sun that includes outdoor activities like running, hiking, biking and team sports. But an active lifestyle can take a toll on the body and bring about aches and pains from muscles and joints that haven't been utilized during the fall and winter.

"There are a number of ways to keep your body healthy during the summer. However, one often overlooked but beneficial component for a healthy lifestyle is massage therapy," says Amy Wiltgen,massage therapy instructor at Everest College - Merrionette Park. "Even the simplest relaxation massages will decrease stress and improve circulation, reduce fatigue, and help keep your muscles, bones and connective tissue in good working condition."

Wiltgen offers some tips for choosing a massage therapist this summer and maximizing the experience:

Find a professional. The first step is to find professional therapists who are licensed and insured, and have a certificate of professional training in their specialty or procedure. "Perhaps most helpful is to get a personal recommendation from a friend or look for testimonials or reviews on websites," says Wiltgen. "Also look for academic credentials, such as a diploma from an accredited program."

Ask questions and describe health issues. When you call for an appointment, have questions ready to get a good sense of your compatibility with and the professionalism and personality of the therapist.

Communicate. Upon arriving at the appointment, make sure to let the therapist know your health history and any preferences for depth of pressure, room temperature, choices in music and allergies to oils or lotions. Don't be afraid to speak up to ask the therapist to make any adjustments during the massage.

Relax. It's important to relax. Let your mind and body go to enjoy all the benefits of the massage. "Breathing normally helps facilitate relaxation," says Wiltgen. "People often stop or limit their breathing when they feel anxious or a sensitive area is massaged."

Avoid pain. A common misconception is that the massage has to hurt to feel good. "Whether it's a professional giving a massage, or a friend or family member, communicate any discomfort immediately," says Wiltgen.

Stay hydrated. Be sure to drink extra water before and after the massage to help flush toxins from the body and make sure muscles are properly hydrated.

"Having a massage on a regular basis can be a powerful ally in your health care regimen, and will help keep you at your optimal best all summer long," adds Wiltgen.

Massage therapy effective for knee osteoarthritis, chronic low back pain and fibromyalgia

Sat, 16 Jun 2012 12:57:00 -0500

http://www.news-medical.net/news/20120521/Massage-therapy-effective-for-knee-osteoarthritis-chronic-low-back-pain-and-fibromyalgia.aspx

A growing body of evidence shows massage therapy can be effective for a variety of prevalent health conditions, including the pain of osteoarthritis of the knee, inflammation after exercise, chronic low back pain and fibromyalgia. Massage is rapidly becoming recognized as an important part of health and wellness, and research compiled by the American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA) indicates some of what takes place in the body during massage therapy.

The Pain of Osteoarthritis of the Knee

Research supported by the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine shows 60-minute sessions of Swedish massage once a week for those with osteoarthritis of the knee significantly reduced their pain. This study, which involved a total group of 125 subjects over an eight-week period, is the latest published research study indicating the benefits of massage therapy for those with osteoarthritis of the knee.

Inflammation After Exercise

Research through the Buck Institute for Research on Aging and McMaster University in Hamilton, Ohio indicates massage therapy reduces inflammation of skeletal muscle acutely damaged through exercise. The study provides evidence for the benefits of massage therapy for those with musculoskeletal injuries and potentially for those with inflammatory disease. Specifically, evidence at the cellular level showed massage therapy may affect inflammation in a way similar to anti-inflammatory medications.

"This is a new type of research, which can lead to more information on how massage affects muscle," said AMTA President Cynthia Ribeiro. "We encourage more research on the benefits of massage therapy and how and why massage produces the benefits indicated by research."

Chronic Low Back Pain

Research published in the Annals of Internal Medicine expanded on previous studies demonstrating the effectiveness of massage therapy for chronic low back pain.

"This is the latest step in understanding the positive outcomes for reducing chronic low back pain with massage," said Ribiero.

Researchers found patients receiving massage were twice as likely as those receiving usual care to report significant improvements in both their pain and function. Massage patients also said they reduced the amount of over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medications they took. The study, which took place over 10 weeks, compared both relaxation massage and "structural massage" therapy and found no difference in the results from the type of massage given.

Fibromyalgia

Research published in the international journal Evidence Based Complementary & Alternative Medicine demonstrated massage-myofascial release techniques improved the response to pain and the quality of life in patients with fibromyalgia. This latest study shows real promise in understanding the effects of massage therapy to relieve symptoms of fibromyalgia. Specifically, the study found reductions in sensitivity to pain at tender points in patients. The research also found that immediately after treatment and one month after the massage program, anxiety levels, quality of sleep, pain and quality of life were still improved.

SOURCE American Massage Therapy Association

Gift Card Specials

Wed, 23 May 2012 16:05:00 -0500

Can you believe we've been open 1 year already?

Saturday, May 26 we will be celebrating our One Year Anniversary. Stop by the studio for some light refreshments and take advantage of our One Day Only / In Studio Only - Gift Card Specials!

Two 55-minute Gift Cards for only $98! It's a perfect time to stock up on gifts for all those important occasions! Remember, Father's Day is right around the corner! What better gift to give then the Gift of Wellness and Relaxation!

Give a Gift - Get a Gift ---- As an added bonus - we will be giving the person that comes in to purchase gift cards a free upgrade on their next massage! (One per purchaser please!)

Save the date! We look forward to seeing you!!!

Shape Up Your Summer Body

Wed, 02 May 2012 16:12:00 -0500

Moms spend most of their waking hours as caretakers – taking care of running a busy household, juggling work and family schedules, and caring about the health and happiness of friends, family members and even clients. Many times, though, caring for others is done at the expense of caring for themselves.

In celebration of Mother’s Day this month, it is time to start taking care of all the mothers out there who run their minds and bodies thin in an effort to care for everyone and everything that is important to them and their families. Caring for mothers starts with giving them the relaxation and rejuvenation they deserve with frequent massage therapy sessions tailored toward helping them reach their mind and body goals this summer.

To help moms get their bodies and minds ready for summertime activities, regular massage can be an excellent tool for repairing, reinvigorating and reshaping a women’s body. Whether you are striving to trim down winter’s last pounds or tone your body for fun summertime activities in the sun, massage can produce positive results for losing weight and firming up your body. It is time to bring in the massage troops to shape up your body and rejuvenate your mommy spirit.

Waist Reduction: Scientific studies have linked massage therapy with a reduction in cellulite, as the firm pressure of a typical massage may aide in breaking up fat capsules in the body’s tissues, enabling the body to absorb and shed cellulite. Massage also can have a positive effect on weight loss efforts by reducing the production of cortisol (high stress hormone) in your body. When you are stressed out, it can be difficult for your body to lose weight, even if you are eating healthy, as cortisol inhibits the body from releasing fat and toxins.

Positive Attitude: Incorporating massage into your health and wellness regimen can also transform a weight loss program from a dreaded experience to a more positive one. Instead of focusing on cutting out your favorite foods and depriving your body to meet your desired body shape, massage can turn the experience into a rewards-based environment that is focused on caring for your body and rebuilding the mental and physical pieces you may have lost over time.

Body Cleanse: Deep tissue massage techniques can help cleanse the body by helping eliminate toxins that can collect in your muscles after strenuous exercise. Massage also is an excellent agent for minimizing toxic attitudes that can weigh down your self consciousness and self esteem. The relaxing environment of a therapeutic massage not only motivates your mind and body to achieve wellness goals by energizing your attitude, but it also can establish a winning attitude that can set you up for accomplishing anything you focus your mind on.

Repair Muscles: Sports massage is a key element to soothing common muscle aches and pains caused from increased activity during the spring and summer months. As your activity levels increase, you may not always stretch, ice, heat or rest your tired muscles as often as you should. Regular monthly massages can provide the tune up that your body needs to stay up and running.

All mothers and women in general, want to look good and feel good about their bodies. Massage is the solution the help you accomplish both – but the secret is receiving regular massage therapy sessions. Start taking care of your mom today by giving her the gift of massage this Mother’s Day. If you are a mother, you don’t have to wait until your kids or spouse are clued in on the benefits of massage. You can start adding yourself to the list of things and people you take care of by scheduling monthly therapeutic massages for yourself for the rest of the year.

So, come celebrate your motherhood this Mother’s Day with Elements Therapeutic Massage. The skilled therapists at Elements can tailor a monthly plan for helping you accomplish your body shape and health goals this summer. Call your local studio today to begin shaping up for summertime fun.

Renew

Sun, 04 Mar 2012 11:20:00 -0600

According to WebMD, 30 to 80% of the adult American population suffers from occasional tension headaches and approximately 3% suffer from chronic daily tension headaches.

Read about the relationship between stress and tension headaches and 5 important ways to help prevent stress from building up.

https://www.amtamassage.org/uploads/cms/documents/sp12_clienthandout_web.pdf

Two Warm Winter Activities for Your Mind and Body

Thu, 23 Feb 2012 09:21:00 -0600

With warm weather on the horizon and spring break trips teasing you from afar, you may find yourself this time of year searching for ways to warm your mind and body in preparation for your upcoming springtime adventures. Sipping hot cocoa by the fireplace has helped get you through the cold months so far, but hot yoga combined with therapeutic massage can help you close out the bone-chilling winter season feeling restored, vibrant and pain-free.

Hot Yoga: Stretch and Strengthen
The winter season can bring some unique challenges for the mind and body. From a reduction in sunlight to a sense of overwhelm from unmet New Year’s resolutions, increased workloads and a reduced desire to exercise outside as temperatures drop and icy conditions abound, the end of winter can leave you feeling chilled, tired, stiff and cranky. Instead of sulking your way through to the first day of spring, take this time of year to build strength and flexibility, tone your muscles and detoxify your mind and body in the relaxing indoor environment of a hot yoga studio.

Research from Boston University has shown that yoga can have greater positive effects on a person’s mood and anxiety levels than walking and other forms of exercise.¹ These positive mental attributes to yoga can be especially beneficial this time of year as depressed moods and low spirits can be common conditions.

Hot yoga in particular can have positive effects to seasonal mood swings and stiff muscles by putting your mind and body in a warm, uplifting state due to the room’s environment. Minimum temperatures in hot yoga studios can range from 85-105 degrees. One of the most common forms of hot yoga, Bikram, hosts a room with a minimum of 105F degrees and 40 percent humidity. According to Bikram, the purpose of keeping the yoga room at these temperatures and conditions is to:

Protect the muscles to allow for deeper stretching.
Detox the body by opening pores to let toxins out.
Thin the blood to clear the circulatory system.
Increase heart rate for a better cardiovascular workout.
Improve strength by putting muscle tissue in optimal state for reorganization.
Reorganize the lipids (fat) in the muscular structure.²

Massage Therapy: Warmth and Relaxation
Long, cold winters can make you feel lethargic, stressed and chilled to the bone. One of the most effective ways to remove the deep chill of winter from your body is to warm your muscles and your mind from the inside out with a therapeutic massage session. Massage is one of the oldest healing arts with Chinese records dating back 3,000 years documenting its use for healing body ailments. Millions of individuals use massage today to help relieve the stress and tension of everyday living so they can live a more reinvigorated, vibrant and pain-free lifestyle.³

From the minute you walk into a massage therapy room, you are greeted with comfortable warm lighting, soft soothing music and a heated massage table layered with blankets. This warm, relaxing environment jump-starts the process of taking the chill and tension out of your muscles and body. There are numerous types of massage techniques available, but one of the most common forms for relaxing and healing stiff, sore muscles in the winter is a deep tissue massage. Using long, slow strokes, therapists gradually increase pressure throughout the massage to reach and loosen your deepest layers of muscle tension and soreness. Warming your body from the inside out, deep tissue massage helps increase blood circulation, relieve chronic tension and break down the knots that can build up deep within your muscles. Often, a light lotion or oil will be applied to allow your muscles to be warmed up and massaged without causing excessive friction to the skin. The lotion or oil also works to hydrate your dry winter skin.

In addition to the physical benefits, massage also allows you to take time out of your fast-paced, hectic lifestyle to stop, focus and balance your mind with your body. By adding a combination of massage and yoga into your lifestyle, you are taking the first step to overall happiness by warming your mind, body and soul. A recent study found that people spend 47 percent of their waking hours thinking about something other than the activity they are doing, which can cause a state of unhappiness for the mind wandering individuals.⁴

Yoga and massage therapy are the perfect complements to rebalancing and refocusing your mind and body’s happiness as both practices focus on reducing stress, increasing blood circulation, promoting flexibility, improving sleep patterns, relaxation and mental focus, all of which are favorable outcomes for closing out the winter season. Restore your mental and physical well-being by incorporating massage and hot yoga into your regular health and wellness regimen. Call Elements Therapeutic Massage today to begin warming and relaxing your mind and body.

XXX

Sources:

¹ The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 2010.

² Bikram Yogo Web Site, www.bikramyoga.com.

³ Associated Bodywork & Massage Professionals

⁴ Science, November 2010

Alternative Therapies Gaining Popularity

Sun, 05 Feb 2012 13:06:00 -0600

http://www.foxcharlotte.com/news/nc-news/Alternative-Therapies-Gaining-Popularity-with-Hospital-Patients-137230953.html

Alternative Therapies Gaining Popularity with Hospital Patients

CHARLOTTE, N.C. - Garret Kester is at CMC-Mercy, recovering from hip replacement surgery. He's managing pain with the help of aromatherapy. Kester likes the alternative and doesn't rule out the possibility of continuing it at home. He says, "If it looks like it helps, yes, absolutely."

Registered nurse Laurie Nixon likes to be able to offer the treatment to patients. She says, "Absolutely, absolutely, we see it work."

Down the hall at CMC-Mercy is the massage therapy room. Pippa Purcell says her patients like the sessions so much, they often return as paying clients. She says, "We get letters, we get cards, we get people who come back in here and get massages here."

"Our sense is that the demand is there from our patients and the community," says Dr. Dael Waxman. He oversees Patient Centered Programming at CMC-Mercy. Last year, the hospital was Planetree Designated, the first in North Carolina. It means highly personalized, integrative care for mind, body and spirit.

Research shows in addition to patient satisfaction, alternative therapies decrease length of stay and more. "There's reduced requests for pain medications, there's reduction of anxiety so they're a lot calmer for their therapies and their treatments," says Waxman.

At Presbyterian Cancer Rehab and Wellness, alternative therapy in the form of personalized exercise is underway with survivors like Carol Grier, who battled breast cancer. She says, "This has been so helpful for me in terms of dealing with the anxiety and stress, some of the aftermath of that and picking life back up."

The facility offers yoga and massage for cancer patients, too. "They don't have any negative side effects to this treatment expect for feeling fabulous when they leave from massage," says manager Tara Ballard.

Most insurance doesn't yet cover these alternative therapies but Ballard says that doesn't deter people. "Most people don't mind paying out of pocket, they're gonna look for it here or outside in the community," says Ballard.

Grier loves the combination of traditional and alternative therapy and is pleased more hospitals are responding. She says, "I really think it's about time, I really do!"

For more information on Presbyterian, go to http://www.presbyterian.org/site/our_services/cancer_services/cancer_rehabilitation/

CMC-Northeast, University and Main also offer alternative therapies like acupuncture, pastoral psychotherapy and healing touch. For more information on CMC, go to http://www.cmc-mercy.org/

Valentine's Day on a Dime: 12 Fun, Relaxing Gifts to Keep the Spark in Your Relationship Year Round

Sat, 21 Jan 2012 13:01:00 -0600

Showing your valentine that you care about his/her happiness and well-being doesn’t have to happen only once a year, though. An inexpensive way to revitalize your connection and reinvigorate your relationship is to show your valentine that you love him/her year round with monthly love notes.

Monthly love notes are easy make-at-home gifts that can be as simple as 12 sticky notes with couple activities listed on each one. On Feb. 14, you can spread the sticky notes around the house and have your significant other collect them before ending the love hunt at a candlelit dinner set for two. Or, monthly love notes can be as elaborate as a bound sentimental book with pictures of you and your valentine on each page, followed by your favorite love quotes and a date activity. The options are limited only to your creativity!

Having trouble coming up with 12 love note ideas to keep the flame of your relationship burning strong throughout the year? Try the following fun, relaxing and inexpensive ideas to spark your creativity.

1. Kick Your Feet Up: Treat your valentine to a relaxing evening by propping up his/her knees and feet on a comfortable pillow and rolling a tennis ball or golf ball forward and back on the arch of the foot, followed by side to side. Complete the foot massage by placing the ball on the heel and make circular motions. Make sure to remind your valentine to relax, enjoy and breathe.

2. Chocolate and Bubbly: Dip some strawberries in chocolate (or purchase them pre-dipped) and pair with your significant other’s favorite bubbly beverage. Enjoy this sweet dessert during a quiet winter evening in front of the fireplace or on the deck during a warm summer sunset.

3. Extra Z’s: With daily commitments piled high, sleep can sometimes seem like a long lost friend. Give your valentine the gift of snooze with a sleep in late love note. You wake up with the kids, feed them breakfast, keep them entertained and fulfill family obligations until your valentine is ready to get up. Just make sure to have a cup of coffee ready for them when they rise to make this gift the perfect start to your valentine’s day.

4. Quality Snuggle Time: Enjoy an uninterrupted evening of quality time with your valentine by turning off all electronics and locking them in the office. Rather than checking in with your social media friends or texting your pals, check in with you valentine with some one-on-one conversation, snuggling and relaxation time.

5. Light a Candle: Spice up your evening at home with a candlelit home-made dinner set for two. Pull out the linen napkins and the holiday china to serve your valentine’s favorite meal.

6. Sit Back and Enjoy a Hand Massage: Have your valentine pick a favorite chair and begin massaging at the base of the thumb by applying circular pressure using the eraser end of a pencil. Hit all the pressure points near the thumb, and then gently move to the web area between the thumb and first finger. Repeat the circular movements, moving to the padding between each finger at the palm. Massage both the palm and side of each hand, reminding your valentine to relax and breathe.

7. Sunset Picnic Time: Pack your favorite picnic foods, grab your bikes on a weekend evening and pedal off into the sunset. Stop halfway to enjoy your picnic goodies, the sun slipping below the horizon and the company of your valentine before heading home.

8. Breakfast in Bed: Who doesn’t enjoy their morning coffee and eggs in the comfort of their bedroom? Surprise your valentine with all of his/her favorite breakfast treats served in bed.

9. Sports Mania: Put on your valentine’s favorite sports team attire and set up a reservation at your local sports bar for the two of you to sit at the best seat in the house during the big game – the table with all TVs visible from every angle.

10. Get Your Groove On: Many communities host free concerts of local and popular bands throughout the summer months. Load up your lawn chairs, a blanket and snacks for some snuggling under the stars while listening to great local music.

11. Hit the Trails: Hiking/walking is a great activity to breathe in fresh air, exercise your legs and share some one-on-one time with your valentine with limited interruptions.

12. Knock Out the Knots: Most couples have achy necks, shoulders and bodies resulting from too many hours leaning over computer desks, doing household chores and horsing around with the kids. Reduce you and your valentine’s stress and muscle tension by scheduling a couple’s massage therapy session.

Take the time this year to reconnect with your significant other by celebrating Valentine’s Day year round. Whether it’s the relaxing touch of massage or preparing a special home-made meal surrounded by love and candlelight, personalized monthly love notes are the perfect gifts to show your valentine that he/she is special. Spark your creativity and spark your relationship during this year’s Valentine’s Day holiday.

Let Your Back Pain Loose

Thu, 12 Jan 2012 09:00:00 -0600

It doesn’t matter whether you are a desk jockey, athlete, construction worker, stay-at-home mom or retiree, you will more than likely experience some level of back pain and discomfort throughout your life. Researchers and doctors agree that low back pain is one of the leading major health problems in today’s society. With cooler temperatures and less than favorable conditions, back pain can be even more present this time of year as snow shoveling duties, icy sidewalks and extreme winter sports can be the norm.

According to industry reports, 70 to 85 percent of people in the U.S. experience low back pain some time in their lives. Each year, 5 to 10 percent of the workforce misses work due to low back pain and almost 10 percent of all patients are at risk for developing chronic pain and disability.¹

Back Pain Triggers

One of the most frustrating characteristics of back pain is its ability to sneak up on you when you least expect it. You bend over to pick up your toddler from the bathtub and an unexpected pain shoots through your back and shoulders. You end the day feeling great after going on a weekend bike ride with buddies or playing a friendly flag football game with family, but wake up the next morning with your back muscles as stiff as an iron rod. Or, you may have spent the day in a long board meeting with few scheduled breaks and by the time you get your exhausted body to bed, all you can do is toss and turn because of a dull constant pain buzzing throughout your neck, back and shoulders. Sound familiar?

Industry statistics indicate that 97 percent of non-specific back pain problems are triggered by outside influences such as muscle strains, awkward movements, staying in a static position for too long, or when the combination of minor stresses occur together. The most common reported causes of low-back pain include:

Heavy Physical Work
Bending
Twisting
Lifting
Pulling and Pushing
Repetitive Work Patterns
Static Postures

Back pain usually is discovered when causes like the ones listed above are combined with an individual’s poor body stability, tone, flexibility and balance.²

Back Pain Remedies

So, what types of remedies should you use to combat back pain? Experts suggest taking a holistic approach to reducing back pain incidents by keeping your body fit with proper exercise and diet, using relaxation techniques such as massage and yoga, and enlisting proper posture practices such as ergonomically correct computer stations, strengthening core muscles and sleeping on your back or side with pillows supporting your knees and back.³

Massage

As an accepted part of many physical rehabilitation programs, massage therapy has proven beneficial for many chronic conditions, including low back pain. Massage offers a drug-free, non-invasive and humanistic approach to combating back pain based on the body's natural ability to heal itself. A 2011 study compared structural and relaxation (Swedish) massage techniques, and found that both types of massage worked well to remedy chronic low back pain with few side effects. The study also found that massage helps people with back pain function better even after six months, which can help support their ability to work, take care of themselves and be active.⁴

For those who use massage as a preventative measure to back pain or to manage daily back stress, one massage a month is common. Weekly massage sessions may be necessary for injury relief or to relieve chronic neck or back tightness that interferes with your daily life. If this is the case, weekly sessions are essential in order to build on each week's improvements in healing until the desired results have been achieved.

Yoga

The backbone of yoga practice and purpose is increasing an individual’s flexibility, while lengthening and strengthening a body’s muscles and mind’s focus. In relation to alleviating back pain specifically, recent studies have revealed that yoga classes have been linked to better back-related function and diminished symptoms from chronic low back pain. In one of the largest U.S. yoga studies to date, back-related functionality improved and symptoms were diminished with yoga at 12 weeks, while clinical benefits such as reduced use of pain medications lasted at least six months.⁵

Balance and Stability

Another common remedy to combat back pain is adding balance and stability moves to your daily activities. There are various poses and stability exercises that target your back muscles and core, but three simple balance movements that can get you started include: Bird Dog (extending your opposite hand and leg while on your hands and knees); Superman (extending both arms and legs while lying on your stomach); and Plank (holding your body off the floor by leaving your forearms and toes touching the floor). Start by holding each movement for 10 seconds and increase your time as you become stronger.

At some point in your life, you will more than likely experience some level of back pain. Whether it’s spending too much time hunched over your computer, shoveling heavy loads of wet, dense snow, or taking a wrong turn down a steep mountain ski run, back pain has a way of creeping up on you. The key to alleviating back pain is to take a holistic approach to treating and preventing your muscle aches and strains. By using a combination of the relaxation, flexibility and stability building techniques described above, low back pain can become a thing of the past, allowing you to live a healthy and active lifestyle. Call Elements Therapeutic Massage today to begin living a restored, vibrant and pain-free lifestyle.

XXX

Sources:

¹Buselli P, Bosoni R, Buse G, Fasoli P, La Scala E, Mazzolari R, Zanetti F, Messina S. Trial Abstract for Effectiveness evaluation of a SMATH System, October 2011.

²Chaitow, Leon. Massage & Bodywork Magazine, June/July 2006.

³ Buford, Darren. Massage & Bodywork Magazine, August/September 2001.

⁴ Group Health Research Institute. Annals of Internal Medicine, July 2011.

⁵ Karen J. Sherman; Daniel C. Cherkin; Robert D. Wellman; Andrea J. Cook; Rene J. Hawkes; Kristin Delaney; Richard A. Deyo. A Randomized Trial Comparing Yoga, Stretching, and a Self-care Book for Chronic Low Back Pain. Archives of Internal Medicine, 2011.

Bust through the Resolution Rut by Focusing on Overall Health, Well-Being for the New Year

Thu, 05 Jan 2012 07:39:00 -0600

With the hustle and bustle of the hectic holidays in your rear view mirror, the never-ending possibilities for a healthy and happy new year are on the horizon. To grasp the unlimited potential the New Year can bring, people can be as frantic about New Year’s resolutions as they were on Black Friday racing to purchase the top toys on last year’s holiday guide.

Statistics show that almost half of American adults make one or more resolutions each year. Although many resolutions fall to the wayside shortly after the journey begins, research shows that making resolutions can be useful, as people who explicitly make resolutions are 10 times more likely to attain their goals than those who do not.¹

Make Resolutions Likely to Stick

The key to making resolutions that you can live by is to keep it simple. Write down two or three goals at most and set benchmarks for achieving the goals so you can enjoy incremental successes along the way. According to a resolution list from the U.S. government, many of the most popular resolutions fall within the category of overall health and well-being.² Whether your resolution this year addresses reducing stress, increasing fitness, losing weight or improving sleep, the following tips will help you combat the resolution rut and keep you on the road to achieving overall health and wellness for the New Year.

Start Your Mornings with a Dose of Mental Health and Physical Relaxation

To establish a lifestyle routine focused on healthy living and well-being, it is important to start your day with some easy and simple mental health and physical relaxation exercises that focus on preparing you for whatever obstacles you may have to tackle during the day. By combining stretching/yoga poses with meditative breathing and positive thinking, you are well on your way to the road of living a restored and vibrant life.

Clear the Mind and Relax Your Body: Before rolling out of bed to greet the morning sunrise, take a few minutes of long, deep breathes to clear out the cobwebs from the night before and prepare your mind for a productive, stress-free day. By focusing on the positive aspects of what you plan on accomplishing for your day, you are setting yourself up for a happy and healthy mental wellness day. Research from the Mayo Clinic has indicated that health benefits from positive thinking may range from increased life span and reduced risk of death from cardiovascular disease to lower rates of depression and distress, better psychological and physical well-being, and improved coping skills during hardships and stressful times.³
Balance Your Body, Balance Your Life: To get your day started off on the right foot, begin your morning routine with some quiet meditative and muscle relaxation time. In as little as five minutes, you can loosen your back, neck and leg muscles with common yoga moves such as child’s pose, downward dog and standing tree.

Power Down Your Brain at Night to Reset and Revamp Your Mind

Ending your day on a relaxing note will promote overall health and well-being by creating an environment focused on recharging your mind and body. At least an hour before going to bed, make it a habit to turn off all technology – television, phone, e-mail, Internet, social media, music, etc. This will help you power down your brain at night to prepare your body for a restful and fulfilling night’s sleep. Another key component to resetting and revamping your mind is ensuring that you allow yourself an adequate amount of sleep each night. When you get home from work, set your alarm clock for whatever time you need to go to bed to ensure 7-9 straight hours of shut eye. When the alarm goes off at night, you should be in bed ready for sleep. An adequate amount of sleep will help you have a more energetic, productive and healthy attitude during the day.

Refuel with Weekly Appointments with Friends and Fitness

Work, family and personal everyday commitments can leave your mental tank empty and craving some “ME” time. Refuel your tank by picking one stress relieving activity that you enjoy and schedule it on your calendar on a weekly basis. This could be as simple as reading a book/magazine for an hour, arranging a coffee date with a friend, volunteering or playing racquetball. By taking time out for yourself on a weekly basis, you are fueling your tank of self worth and demonstrating not only to yourself, but to your friends and family, that your mental health is important enough for you to set time aside each week for emotional and mental fulfillment.

Similarly, it is important to fuel your body by incorporating fitness activities into your weekly routine. Physical activity not only helps your body’s fitness levels, but it also is an excellent source for preventing and managing stress. Whether it’s taking your dog for a 30-minute walk, going for a jog, biking the kids to/from school, taking fitness classes or swimming laps, consistent activity is good for not only relieving stress in your muscles/body, but also the stress in your mind.

Restore and Revitalize with Monthly Massage Therapy Sessions

To keep your mind and body aligned and working in sync, monthly massage therapy sessions are important to restoring and reinvigorating your overall health and well-being. Massage therapy addresses a variety of health conditions, the most prevalent being stress-related tension. Some of the most common massage therapy techniques include:

Deep Tissue Massage: Focuses on chronically tight or painful muscles, repetitive strain, postural problems or recovery from injury.
Swedish Massage: Focuses on relaxation, stress relief and overall health and wellness.
Hot Stone Massage: Specializes in easing muscle tension without deep pressure.
Trigger Point: Focuses on highly localized muscle knots where the body holds tension and carries stress.

As you sit down to make your resolutions this year, it is important to focus on reasonable and attainable goals that are easy to incorporate into your everyday life. By using the daily, weekly and monthly tips in this article, you will be well on your way to not only making resolutions that will stick with you throughout the year, but also help you establish a well-rounded lifestyle focused on overall health and wellness. Resolutions are a journey, so enjoy the ride this year to a healthier and happier you. Call Elements Therapeutic Massage today to begin revitalizing your health and well-being for the New Year.

XXX

Sources:

¹ University of Scranton. Journal of Clinical Psychology, Volume 58, Issue 4, 2002.

² USA.gov, Popular New Year’s Resolutions, October 2011.

³ Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, May 2011.

Keep Your Whole Body in Tip-Top Shape While Traveling this Winter Season

Wed, 09 Nov 2011 08:26:00 -0600

The winter traveling season is upon us, which can mean overbooked flights, sharing cramped spaces with a lot of different people, increased exposure to wintertime colds and viruses, sleeping in various beds and eating high caloric rich foods. With all of these variables stacked against you, it can be quite a challenge to keep you and your family healthy and pain free while traveling this winter season. To help keep your muscles and immune system in tip-top shape this winter season, it is important to incorporate stretching and massage techniques before, during and after your travels.

A recent study published in The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine examined the effects of Swedish massage therapy on the body's hormonal response and immune function. Researchers found that participants who received Swedish massage had a significant decrease in the hormone arginine-vasopressin (which plays a role in regulating blood pressure and water retention) and concluded that Swedish massage produces measurable biological effects and may have a positive effect on the immune system. Rapaport MH, Schettler P, Bresee C. The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine. 2010;16(10):1–10.

Prepare Your Body Pre-Trip with a Regular Exercise Routine and Massage Therapy Sessions

Maintaining your normal activity level during vacation and especially during the holidays can create quite a challenge, so it’s important to maintain your exercise level before leaving on your trip to keep your muscles engaged and loose. Stick with your routine exercise and stretching regimen up until a day or two before you leave for your trip. Also, book a relaxation massage like Swedish massage to lengthen muscles, as well as prepare your body and mind for a relaxing and healthy trip. Massage is not only important to loosening your muscles, but it is equally important to boost your immune system, as massage stimulates the lymph system (the body’s natural defense) against toxic invaders.

Incorporate Massage and Stretching Techniques While Enjoying Your Holiday Travels

Hitting the Highway for Family Vacation Fun: If you are traveling by car this holiday season, you will inevitably make pit stops along the way, especially if you are traveling with children. Instead of sitting in your car during bathroom and gas stops, get out of the car to stretch your legs, back and neck. Simple stretches such as toe touches, neck rotations and lunges can do the trick or you can even run/walk laps around the rest stop to incorporate some cardio as you loosen your body.
Jet Setting Across the Country: If your holiday traveling plans find you boarding a plane, there are a few simple tips for keeping your body flexible and active at the airport and during your flight. Prior to boarding your flight, walk up and down the concourse to stay relaxed rather than sitting in front of the gate until the plane boards. While at the gate, grab your nearest wall to lean against for stretching your legs, calves and back. The National Academy of Sports Medicine suggests that you slowly move into a stretch with light force and hold for 30 seconds to lengthen muscles. They suggest these common stretches for increased flexibility: hip flexor stretch, wall chest, kneeling lat stretch and inner thigh stretches.

While in-flight, use a neck pillow to stabilize your neck muscles, especially if you plan on catching a nap while in the air. When the pilot turns off the seat belt sign, take a stroll to the back bathroom area and stretch your hamstrings, shoulder and back muscles. Just make sure to stay out of the way of the flight attendants and their beverage carts!

Maintaining Proper Nutrition and Hydration During Your Travels: Whether you drive or fly this holiday season, it is important to drink plenty of water and eat healthy during your trip. The recommended daily water consumption is typically 64 ounces per day so bring a water bottle with you to keep track of how much water you consume. It also is helpful to your body’s digestive and immune systems to pack healthy homemade snacks in the car, rather than eating high caloric and sodium rich foods that are typically found in gas stations and fast food establishments in airports and along the highways.
Enjoying Hotel Amenities: If your travels find you staying in a hotel, your body may be in luck if you choose to enjoy the hotel amenities. Water can be your friend when experiencing tight muscles, especially if your room has a massage shower head for loosening tight neck and back muscles. Don’t be afraid to hop into the pool and swim a few laps to work out muscle kinks throughout your body and hot tubs are key for providing relief to specific areas of pain. The hotel fitness center also can be a great place to visit to stay active during your trip. Most will at least have stretching posters you can follow for a total body workout.

Revive and Rejuvenate your Tired Body with Post-Trip Massage Therapy

Traveling can take quite a toll on your mind and body, especially when it’s coupled with holiday season family gatherings, an abundant amount of holiday dinners and treats, and the inevitable stress associated with extended family dynamics. All of these factors can leave you feeling physically exhausted and mentally spent upon returning from your holiday family vacation. Before leaving on your trip, you can combat the negative effects of traveling on your body by scheduling a therapeutic massage session for the week after your return so you can quickly restore your mind and body in preparation for resuming your normal everyday life.

Call Elements Therapeutic Massage today to begin preparing your muscles and immune system for a healthy and successful winter traveling season.

Hot Stone Massage Promotes Healthy Body, Warm Heart during the Cold Winter Months

Thu, 03 Nov 2011 10:34:00 -0500

Seasons change, colors change and moods can change as old man winter blows out summer’s warm, sunny weather and replaces it with cooler temperatures, shorter days and less sunshine rays. Prepare your mind and body for the changing seasons this year by incorporating hot stone massage into your overall health and wellness regimen. This wintertime favorite massage technique can help combat the negative effects that less sun and cooler temperatures can take on your body by warming your muscles and your mind from the inside out.

Warm Muscles Make Way for a Healthy Body

According to the 2007 National Health Interview Survey, an estimated 18 million U.S. adults and 700,000 children had received massage therapy in the previous year. People use massage for a variety of health-related purposes, including relief from pain, rehabilitation from sports injuries, reduction in stress, anxiety and depression, as well as to increase relaxation and your body’s general wellness.

Hot stone massage in particular is best for easing muscle tension without deep pressure, thereby being an excellent treatment for deep muscle strains and tight muscle knots associated with stress and/or injury. This massage therapy technique has been around for hundreds of years and is routinely used for increasing your body’s circulation, which allows the body to pump more oxygen and nutrients into tissues and vital organs. All of these traits can be especially beneficial for individuals who suffer from arthritic conditions or stiff muscles and joints, which typically is more bothersome as the weather temperatures become bitter and cold in the winter months.

Warm Attitudes Make Way for Happy Times

Hot stone massage also can help combat the mental doldrums that old man winter can blow your way by creating a deep sense of calmness and relaxation. By putting your mind at ease, hot stone massage can leave you feeling energized and ready to tackle any challenges you may face during the hustle and bustle of the winter months.

As the holiday season rolls in and hectic schedules become the norm, hot stone massage can help create a meditative relaxing effect that balances the health and well-being of your mind and body. This popular massage technique enhances a regular deep tissue or Swedish massage session by incorporating hot, smooth stones on specific trigger points throughout your body. The leading purpose of using these stones in your massage therapy session is to open up your body’s energy channels, thereby significantly reducing muscle tension and improving relaxation throughout your mind and body.

Revive and rejuvenate your mental and physical well-being during the cold winter months by trying a hot stone massage therapy session. Call Elements Therapeutic Massage today to take the chill out of the air and your body this winter season.

Prepare Your Body for Winter Activities with Stretching and Massage Therapy

Thu, 27 Oct 2011 09:14:00 -0500

Staying fit during the winter holiday season comes with a long list of unique challenges and obstacles, but staying injury free can take even more of an effort when you introduce new, winter-specific activities like skiing, skating and sledding into your fitness routine. Before the winter activity season is in full swing, take steps today to warm up and loosen your muscles so you can hit the slopes or the rink pain free, as well as minimize after-activity soreness and fatigue.

Warm Up and Engage New Muscle Groups during the Pre-Season to Stay Injury Free

Before carving fresh tracks down the slopes this winter or lacing up your skates to hit the rink with your kids, it is important to incorporate a combination of regular stretching and therapeutic massage sessions for an active and injury free winter season. The key to keeping active during the winter months and staying off your family’s injured list is to focus on body flexibility and lengthening your muscles in the pre-season. Many of the popular wintertime activities (skiing, snowboarding and skating) physically impact your lower body, thereby creating a need for you to focus your stretching and strength efforts on hip, hamstring and trunk/lower back flexibility.

According to the National Academy of Sports Medicine, there are two common types of stretching – static stretching and dynamic stretching – that are good for promoting overall flexibility. Research indicates that holding a static stretch for 20-30 seconds allows your muscles time to relax and elongate, thereby increasing joint range of motion. Dynamic stretching on the other hand includes low intensity exercises that mimic sport specific movements. These types of stretches are good for warming up your body prior to a sports activity, as they help increase circulation, reduce muscle tightness and help your nervous system’s ability to contract muscles forcefully.

To kick off your winter pre-season regimen, it’s a good idea to combine consistent stretching sessions with routinely scheduled monthly massages 8-12 weeks prior to the start of your favorite wintertime activity. Regular therapeutic massages prior to your desired activity allow your body to release the toxins found in tight muscles, while increasing overall flexibility and circulation. Additionally, your massage therapist can assess and monitor your body’s flexibility range, while suggesting specific stretches and other techniques that will focus on lengthening and strengthening your body’s problem areas.

Remedy Your Winter Aches and Pains with Regular Massage Body Work

As the snow begins to fall and the barometric pressure takes a dive south, your body faces some unique challenges, especially as you get older and recovery times for muscle injuries and overuse get longer. Even when you focus on preparing your body for winter wear and tear before the season starts, there still may be an unfortunate event where you will become injured or experience some sort of ache and pain associated with muscle overuse and fatigue.

Lower back pain, in particular, is a common injury culprit in the winter as you can overdo it shoveling snow, incorrectly bending over to push your children’s sleds or accidently slipping and falling on ice covered sidewalks. In fact, research indicates that 70-85% of the population will experience low back pain at some point and lower back pain is one of the most common and costly musculoskeletal problem in modern society. Luckily, research supports that massage therapy can minimize pain and disability, while increasing the speed of return to normal function. Massage specifically is beneficial for patients with subacute (lasting four to 12 weeks) and chronic (lasting longer than 12 weeks) non-specific low-back pain, especially when combined with exercises and education. Furlan AD, Imamura M, Dryden T, Irvin E. Massage for low-back pain. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2008, Issue 4. Art. No.: CD001929. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD001929.pub2

Additional research from Group Health Research Institute, the University of Washington in Seattle, the Oregon Health and Science University in Portland, and the University of Vermont in Burlington revealed that massage therapy has helped reduce pain and improve function more rapidly than usual medical care in people with chronic low-back pain. Back pain is a health problem that affects millions of Americans and is the most common medical condition for which people use complementary and alternative medicine practices, such as massage therapy. Cherkin DC, Sherman KJ, Kahn J, et al. Annals of Internal Medicine. 2011;155(1):1–9

Whether you are preparing yourself for family fun winter activities or recovering from a wintertime sports injury or accident, therapeutic massage sessions combined with a consistent stretching regimen should be your go-to strategy for minimizing aches and pains this winter season. Call Elements Therapeutic Massage today to schedule your winter pre-season massage therapy sessions.

Elements Wellness Night

Sat, 24 Sep 2011 10:37:00 -0500

http://touchofelements.com/southpark/specialevent

Visit our website to find out more about this special event happening Friday, September 30 from 6pm to 8pm.

Add Massage to Your Summer Training Regimen for Increased Health and Wellness

Sun, 17 Jul 2011 12:37:00 -0500

Whether you are a seasoned marathoner, weekend warrior, activity enthusiast or your ultimate goal is to finish your first 5k, incorporating massage into your summer routine will not only revive your health and well-being, but get you to the start (and finish!) line healthy and happy.

According to 2010 research published by the National Strength and Conditioning Association, using massage to support a healthy lifestyle dates back to early civilization, and is a commonly used technique today for the management and prevention of sport injuries. Massage also has been used to successfully increase flexibility and provide a greater range of motion. J Strength Cond Res 24(7): 1917-1924, 2010.

To help prepare you for your active summer lifestyle, consider the following tips for feeling restored, pain free and vibrant as you trade in your suit and high heels at the end of the workweek for athletic gear and fun-filled weekend adventures.

TREK DOWN THE TRAINING TRAIL

Just as every training program lays out a master plan for you to succeed in your big summer race, event or tournament series, don’t forget the most important element of any training schedule: recovery. When coupled with regularly scheduled recovery days, therapeutic massages help your body repair your tired, tense muscles and relax your training-focused, wired brain. A highly skilled massage therapist can be an extremely valuable member of your training team by helping you reduce the risk of injury, flush out toxins from your body, lengthen and stretch tight muscles and minimize the longevity of injuries.

Experts agree that if you treat common overuse injuries (sore ankles, tight back, sore shoulders and tight hamstrings, for example) with massage as soon as you feel the first muscle tweak or pain, you will be more likely to keep your training schedule on course, while setting up your body and mind for a successful summer event.

Suggested Massage Techniques during Training: Deep Tissue Massage or Sports Massage

LOOSEN UP PRE-EVENT JITTERS

Before you lace up your shoes and pack your gear for your big summer event, prepare your muscles for the strain and intensity of the planned activity by scheduling a therapeutic massage 2-3 days prior to the event date. The goal of this massage is to release tension in your muscles without leaving them sore, as well as reduce any pre-event stress or anxiety so that you can maintain a positive mental focus on race day. Your massage therapist will loosen any last minute muscle kinks and warm up muscles to prepare you for a successful event.

Suggested Massage Techniques Prior to Event: Swedish Massage

CELEBRATE YOUR EVENT SUCCESS

You’ve trained hard, raced hard, played hard and now it’s time to treat yourself to an after-event massage. Instead of waiting in a 25-person deep line for an on-site post-event massage that only lasts five minutes, schedule at least an hour long massage a day or two following your event. The goal of this massage is to help your muscles recover from the strenuous activity, as well as improve your body’s range of motion and reduce any spasms or cramping that may have been caused by the event. You will be better hydrated 24-48 hours following the event and will have more time to enjoy the fruits of your labor as your mind and body relax and unwind through the healing touch of a highly skilled massage therapist.

Suggested Massage Techniques Following the Event: Deep Tissue Massage

To learn more about the benefits of therapeutic massage visit Elements Therapeutic Massage Southpark located in the Sharon Corners Shopping Center across from Southpark Mall. Beginning 7/21 Fox Charlotte's Carolina Savers will feature half off 30 and 55 minute sessions.

Aching Back? Try Massage for Chronic Pain

Wed, 13 Jul 2011 10:27:00 -0500

In the latest study comparing the benefits of adding massage to usual care for lower back pain, researchers report that massage improved pain symptoms and allowed patients to function better than those who didn't get massage.

That's good news for the eight out of 10 Americans who will, at some point in their lifetimes, experience the excruciating spasms of back pain that can send people to bed for days, if not weeks.

It's also helpful news for doctors. Even though it's common knowledge that an old-fashioned muscle-kneading is a great way to relax and reduce pain, the new findings give that notion some clinical teeth. Having such data in hand is critical for doctors who are discussing options for pain relief with their patients. "We have a huge number of people who get medical tests and treatments for back pain, and we have a huge problem with opioids," says Dan Cherkin, senior research investigator at Group Health Research Institute in Seattle and lead author of the study. "In spite of all that, we're not better off in terms of addressing back pain. In fact, the problem is getting worse."

In the study, published in the Annals of Internal Medicine, Cherkin and his group recruited 400 people with chronic back pain. The participants' pain was typical of the kind that most of us experience: the result of wear and tear on muscles, or from being tensed up in front of a computer for too long. The researchers excluded those whose back pain was due to injury or a disease like cancer, in order to study more everyday types of back problems.

The participants were then randomly assigned to one of three treatment groups: relaxation massage; structural massage, which is more akin to physical therapy and focuses specifically on problem areas; and usual care only. The usual care group simply continued on whatever treatments they were already receiving, whether that included painkilling drugs, back exercises, yoga or any other therapy except massage. The other two groups also continued with usual care, but added massage on top of it.

Participants received massage once a week for at least an hour. After 10 weeks, both massage groups reported lower disability scores, as measured with a questionnaire that asked participants about how much pain and impairment they experienced during their daily activities like climbing stairs or getting up from a chair. Participants filled out the questionnaires at 10, 26 and 52 weeks.

On average, the massage groups recorded disability scores that were 2.7 points lower than the usual-care group. The massage patients also said they functioned better than those who weren't massaged at 10 weeks. Six months after the treatments, the difference between the massage and non-massage groups had shrunk, but those who received the treatment still reported feeling slightly better than the controls.

Was it massage that really helped, or did the mere anticipation of a relaxing massage confer some type of placebo benefit? That's possible, but Cherkin notes that whatever the mechanism, massage appears to work. "We need alternatives to what isn't working in treating back pain," he says. "Massage is one of those alternatives."

The participants in the study had all tried existing therapies but couldn't find relief for their pain. The fact that massage made a difference when added to existing treatments may shift the way back pain is currently treated. And it couldn't happen sooner: a recent report by the Institute of Medicine found that untreated or inadequately treated pain affects 116 million Americans and is a "public health crisis."

"The important thing isn't so much that massage is an effective treatment," says Cherkin, "but that the study illustrates that a variety of things are safe and helpful for people who haven't gotten help from other treatments. So rather than telling patients after the usual things don't work, 'Sorry, there's nothing we can do for you,' we should tell them that there are a lot of things available to treat their pain, 'Let's talk about which one you think might be most helpful to try next.'"

For doctors, having a controlled trial that documents the benefits of massage — this one was funded by the National Institutes of Health's National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine — can help inform discussions about pain-relieving options. "There are always options, and there is always hope," says Cherkin.

Grand Opening!

Fri, 27 May 2011 10:54:00 -0500

A former naval officer is opening an Elements massage franchise in the Sharon Corners shopping center near SouthPark mall.

The store will be the city's first Elements, joining a crowded massage scene with dozens of studios and spas of all types, independents and franchises. Elements owner Mark Little, who has lived in Charlotte for about 10 years, said what will set his franchise apart is a focus on therapeutic massage.

The health benefits of a good deep tissue or Swedish massage more than justify the expense, Little thinks. Similar to Massage Envy's (which has a half-dozen stores in Charlotte) business model, Elements has a membership option, offering discounts for monthly massages.

Little's Elements massage has a grand opening today, Friday, May 27. The business is offering discounted massages and Father's Day specials. Little says he plans to open two more massage stores in south Charlotte over the next two years.

Republished from: http://obswhatsinstore.blogspot.com/2011/05/new-massage-franchise-opens-at-sharon.html

Speed Up Postpartum Healing With Postnatal Massage

Thu, 07 Apr 2011 00:00:00 -0500

Postnatal massage is one of the best ways for a new mom to care for herself. With all the chores related to the care of a new baby, mom may be even more stressed and uncomfortable than during her pregnancy.

Postnatal Massage is a natural therapy designed to help relax and heal a new mother. The postnatal massage is similar and yet, very different from a prenatal massage. While both massages will relax the mother, the postnatal massage will help get the new mom’s body back into a pre-pregnancy state by focusing on toning and reducing fluid retention. Read more

Regular postnatal massage can help with the following common ailments:

Lower back pain
Neck and should pain
Headaches
Hand and wrist pain
Postural dysfunctions
Depression
Weakness and fatigue

It can also help in re-establish pelvis structural integrity, healthy lactation, toning muscles, and overall stress reduction. It can even aid in weight loss!

A variety of therapeutic massage techniques may be utilized during a postnatal massage, including Swedish and lymphatic massage. Before any postnatal massage, it’s best for new moms to consult with the massage therapist to discuss any specific aliments that the therapist should focus on.

For a mother that has delivered her baby naturally, it is generally pretty safe to go for a postnatal massage as soon as they feel well enough. For those that deliver by caesarian, a good rule of thumb is to wait at least two weeks after delivery. However, in all cases it’s best to consult with the doctor first.

Regular therapeutic massage during the postnatal period is very beneficial to all new moms. It addresses physical discomforts as well as nurtures the body, mind and soul, helping each new mom be the best they can be.

If you are a new mom, Elements Therapeutic Massage can help you with your postpartum healing. Or, if you know a new mom, an Elements gift certificate is a thoughtful surprise. For more information on how postnatal massage can help your, or to order a gift card or to schedule a message call Elements Therapeutic Massage in Charlotte at the Sharon Corners Shopping Center at (704) 556-2006.

Benefits of Massage Improve With Frequency

Thu, 07 Apr 2011 00:00:00 -0500

What kind of massage client are you? Do you make an appointment after someone has given you a massage gift certificate? Do you try to get in every now and then for a stress-relieving tune-up? Or do you see your therapist religiously—once a week, every three weeks, once a month?

While getting a massage—regardless of how often—is incredibly beneficial to you mind and body, getting frequent massage treatments is even more powerful as a healthcare ally.

“Practicing massage therapists know that people who get massage regularly demonstrate greater improvement and notice a reduction in pain and muscular tension, as well as an improvement in posture,” says Anne Williams, author of Spa Bodywork: A Guide for Massage Therapists (Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 2006) and education program director at Associated Bodywork & Massage Professionals.

“People regularly make a commitment to fitness. People regularly make a commitment to changing their diet. The difference they’d experience if they regularly made a commitment to massage is mind-blowing,” Williams says.

STRESS KILLER

One way in which frequent massage can improve our quality of life is by alleviating stress. Experts say more than 90 percent of disease is stress-related, and nothing ages us faster—inside or out—than the effects of stress. As stress-related diseases continue to claim more lives every year, the increasingly deadly role stress plays in modern-day life is painfully clear.

Massage is a great way to take charge and reverse the situation. Mary Beth Braun and Stephanie Simonson, authors of Introduction to Massage Therapy ((Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 2007), explain the benefits of massage therapy in the simplest of terms: “Healing input influences healing output.” They note that frequent massage can reduce the accumulation of stress and improve overall health. “The benefits of massage are cumulative,” they write.

This being the case, it only makes sense that those aches and pains you see your massage therapist for might disappear faster, stay away longer, or even go away altogether with more frequent visits. Stress might never reach those physiological detrimental levels where the immune system is suppressed or the nervous system is sent into alarm state if you are able to receive stress-relieving bodywork with some consistency. Not only would your body benefit by regularly unleashing its aches and pains instead of adapting to them, but your mind would have time to wash away the stresses of live lived in overdrive. Both are critical pieces for living well.

Experts say the body and mind can learn to live more calmly, more efficiently, and more healthfully, when frequent massage shows the way. That makes for a healthier whole, allowing us to continue to live life at its fullest, even as we deal with each new stress or challenge.

PREVENTIVE MEASURES

In so many ways, massage is preventive healthcare. Yes, it can address injuries, scar tissue, and chronic pain, as well as provide relief for cancer patients and reduce hospitalization time for babies born prematurely, among so many other valuable benefits (got to MassageTherapy.com for more information on the myriad benefits of massage). But when the healthy, and trying-to-be healthy, among us seek out massage on a regular basis, it helps us live a proactively healthier life.

Since bodywork influences every system in the body, there are enormous possibilities created by increasing the frequency in which you address those systems. It’s best to discuss you session goals with your massage therapist and together devise a plan of frequency that meets you needs, while taking into account your therapist’s best advice.

BODY AWARENESS

According to Benny Vaugh, sports massage expert and owner of Athletic Therapy Center in Fort Worth, Texas, one of the benefits of consistent and regular massage therapy is better flexibility. “This happens because regular and structured touch stimulus enhances the nervous system’s sensory and spatial processing capacity,” he says. “That is, the person becomes more aware of their body’s movement in space and becomes more aware of tightness or pain long before it reaches a critical point of mechanical dysfunction.”

Quite simply, frequent massage puts you more in tune with your body. “The consistency of massage therapy over time creates a cumulative effect,” Vaughn says. “The person becomes acutely aware of stress within their body long before it can create stress driven damage.”

He says the consistency of receiving regular massage therapy has the potential to create the cumulative effect of feeling well and felling better. “Ultimately when one feels good, our whole being follows suit on all other levels—i.e., decision-making is better, processing live events is better, and being happy is easier when you are not in pain or feeling ‘heavy’ or ‘tight’.”

Williams says she’s certain people’s lives would be changed if they could schedule massage and bodywork more frequently. “I encourage clients to commit to getting massage once a week for a month and then evaluate the results they get,” she says. “I guarantee the will become massage enthusiasts for life.”

MASSAGE CAN

Alleviate low-back pain and increase range of motion.
Create body self-awareness.
Improve muscle tone and stimulate their nerve supply.
Improve elasticity of skin and promote skin rejuvenation.
Improve sleep and calm the mind.
Increase endorphin and serotonin production.
Reduce edema, as well as joint inflammation.
Release negative holding patters from previous injuries.
Stimulate lymph circulation and enhance immunity.

Schedule a massage with one of our massage therapists right here in Charlotte today! Call us at (704) 556-2006.

Hospitals Embracing Massage

Fri, 12 Oct 2012 14:13:00 -0500

According to the latest American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA) industry facts, almost 10 percent more people received massage for a medical or health reason. Forty-four percent of adult Americans surveyed who had a massage between July 2010 and July 2011, received it for medical or health reasons as compared to 35 percent the previous year. Of the people surveyed who had a least one massage in the last five years, 40 percent reported that they did so for health conditions such as pain management, injury rehabilitation, chronic pain management or overall wellness. As more people--especially baby boomers--request these services, and have the discretionary income to pay for them, hospitals and other health care providers are taking notice and making changes to the services they offer.

Finding a Career

"Massage in a hospital setting is ideal," said Edie Black, a registered nurse and licensed massage therapist working at Connecticut Children's Medical Center. "As I provide massage therapy to inpatients at our hospital, I see my patients finding a deep sense of relaxation, pain relief and an increase in body awareness."

Black paints a positive relationship between patients and the massage therapists. "Due to the nature of the hospital setting, each patient benefits differently. Our hospital has one floor dedicated to children with cancer and blood disorders and the majority of massage consults are found there. Some [patients] are looking for pain relief as they recover from surgical procedures such as amputation or reconstruction after tumor removal. Some are anxious about the hospital and the painful procedures they have experienced," said Black. "The massage therapist can help by offering that ‘safe' time, not only for the patient but for the family as well."

Elizabeth Schroeder was hired by Children's Mercy Hospital in Kansas City in 2008 as an Occupational Therapist in 2008 and became more interested in complimentary therapies such as massage while she was in school. "I had been researching why the therapeutic use of touch was benefiting the patients I was treating. As I found more evidence-based research in massage, I spoke with my supervisor at the hospital regarding becoming licensed and she was very supportive. Schroeder has been a licensed massage therapist for a little over a year now.

Schroeder says "pain related conditions are the most frequent referrals: idiopathic arthritis, juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, and neck, back or joint pain. I do use massage frequently with ADHD, Autism Spectrum Disorders and Sensory Processing and Modulation Disorder." The survey also found that 59 percent of massage consumers surveyed said they would like to see their insurance cover massage therapy.

Educating Doctors and Consumers

According to the AMTA survey, massage therapists received an increase in referrals from health care professionals, with the number of nurses recommending massage doubling in 2011 and 96 percent of the massage therapists surveyed receiving at least one referral every six months from a hospital or medical office. The survey shows that, on average, massage therapists received about four referrals per month, twice as many as in previous years.

There is also a growing body of research that therapists can point to--and other health care professionals are noticing--that shows the positive benefits and effectiveness of therapeutic massage. Recent studies have examined the effects of massage in dealing with a variety of specific health conditions such as cancer related fatigue and pain, low-back and chronic neck pain, lowering blood pressure, reducing the frequency of headaches, boosting the body's immune system and even easing the symptoms of alcohol withdrawal.

"Our patients and their families have provided positive feedback, including scheduling their planned admissions for treatment around the days the massage therapist is available," said Black. And hospitals are taking notice of the demand. The Mayo Clinic in Minnesota offers a hospital based massage therapy course for therapists who want to join the hospital health care team. The program is divided into three modules and takes two months to complete and requires completion of a 500-hour minimum massage therapy program. The Mayo Clinic states that "through the course, participants will gain an enhanced understanding of the utilization of massage therapy and integrative medicine in the acute care hospital setting. Participants will experience self-care exploration, a team-based approach to integrative health care and scope of practice, navigation and documentation in a medical record, establishing therapeutic relationships and treatment planning." This program is only offered twice a year and is limited to 12 students to ensure that therapists receive close one-on-one instruction and a more comprehensive experience. The Mayo Clinic campus includes extensive facilities including an outpatient complex and research areas, in addition to the well-known hospital. Placement for therapists completing this instruction is very good, according to the Clinic.

True Integration

For those already working in hospitals, they know they are a part of an integrated health care approach to wellness for their patients. At the Children's Mercy Hospital, Schroeder sees this integration first hand. "I am in contact with every patient's doctor regarding plan of care and progress toward goal directed therapies. Specifically for pain-related diagnoses, I am frequently in contact with the patient's psychology support systems. In all of these relationships...I find these providers to be open and willing to see the effects of massage as a modality used in treatment."

Candace Linares has been a massage therapist for 19 years and has worked in the hospital setting for the last seven years. In her experience, the doctors and nurses she works with ask for massage therapists on a regular basis. "I believe there is a reliance and confidence regarding massage services to assist patients' special health concerns," she said. As hospitals and doctors become more aware and accepting of the benefits and effectiveness of massage therapy, and as a greater number of patients continue to request these services, the demand for more massage therapists who are ready and able to become competent and contributing members of the health care team will continue to grow.

http://www.massagetoday.com/mpacms/mt/article.php?id=14656

Mama’s Secret Recipe to a Stress-Free Holiday Season

Wed, 10 Oct 2012 15:34:00 -0500

What do you get when you start with an over-scheduled holiday schedule, mix in winter break for the kids and end-of-year work deadlines for the parents, add in-laws visiting and staying at your house, beat in financial pressures to complete your holiday gift list, and top it off with sprinkles of cold, dark, long winter days? The result of this typical holiday recipe is burnt out parents, over tired children and an unsettling household that is bubbling with constant chaos.

If a holiday season full of stress, hectic schedules and total exhaustion sounds all too familiar for you and your family, it is time to re-write your family’s holiday recipe this year to include plenty of doses of health, wellness, relaxation and rejuvenation to fuel an enjoyable, family-centered holiday season. The secret recipe to a stress-free holiday includes the following key ingredients.

Begin with an Organized Schedule

Holiday schedules can quickly get out of hand when you try to be everywhere and do everything at one time. Before the holidays get into full swing, sit down with your family and make a list of the “must-attend” events like school performances and holiday work parties, a “maybe” events list such as local community festivals, and a “save for next year” list for events that may not be a good fit for your family this year. By prioritizing and organizing your family’s schedule ahead of the holidays, you can reduce the risk of over committing yourself and your family when you are in the middle of the busy holiday season.

Stir in Simple Holiday Tradition for the Whole Family to Enjoy

With so many great ideas from Pinterest, holiday magazines and television talk shows, holiday craft projects can quickly become overwhelming and intimidating. Before getting your elbows deep in pounds of gingerbread dough and legs tangled in rows of popcorn strands, take a deep breath, relax and pick only one meaningful holiday project this year to create lasting family traditions. Remember, the actual project isn’t as important as the time spent as a family making holiday memories together. And, don’t worry about making a big mess either – accept that messes happen with projects and make family clean up part of the overall project. This helps eliminate the stress of gooey project leftovers and spills falling on only one family member’s shoulders (usually mom or dad!).

Mix in Perspective and Continually Add True Reasons for the Season

With last minute holiday sales, coordinating family travel plans and juggling winter break activities, it is easy to lose sight of the true reasons for the holiday season. Whatever your family celebrates this holiday season, make sure to keep the purpose of the season at the forefront of your holiday activities. Maintaining a focused perspective can help eliminate the common holiday noise and pressures that can end up causing unnecessary stress on you and your family.

Substitute Consumer Chaos with a Slimmed Down Holiday Gift List

Finding the latest and greatest technology gadget on the market or the hottest toy on the top gift lists can quickly become exhausting and de-motivating. Instead of spinning your wheels racing your shopping cart down store aisles or frantically navigating your mouse during an online cyber sale, reduce the “stuff’ on your holiday gift list and increase the “meaning” of one or two heart-felt, genuine gifts. If you have a large family and are overwhelmed financially and mentally trying to buy for everyone on your list, suggest that your family set up a gift giving exchange system where each person in the family is responsible for giving a gift within a certain price range to only one other family member. This easy system can help eliminate going overboard in the gift category and reduce New Year clutter of gadgets and toys that only end up collecting dust after the holiday season ends.

Skip the Abundant Sweets and Treats of the Season

Holiday sweets and treats can be delicious this time of year, but too much of a good thing can stress your body’s internal systems and leave you feeling mentally tired and irritable. While skipping sweets altogether during the holidays is unrealistic, make it a priority to pace yourself throughout the season by being mindful of portion control and eating sweet treats that are only available during the holiday season.

Top Off Your Holiday Season with a Special Treat of Therapeutic Massage

When it is all said and done, those who survive the hectic holiday season with the least amount of physical and mental stress are the ones who understand the importance of taking time out for yourself during and after the activity-packed holiday season. Topping off your holiday season with a therapeutic massage session is a key ingredient to releasing the stress and tension that builds up in your mind and body during the holidays. Massage therapy addresses a variety of health conditions, the most prevalent being stress-related tension. A therapeutic massage will provide you with increased levels of relaxation and rejuvenation so you can close out the holiday season stress-free and ready for new adventures as you embark on the New Year.

Whether you need relief from pain, release of tension, reduction of stress or simply want to relax and feel your best during the holidays this year, Elements Therapeutic Massage is committed to promoting your overall health and well-being this holiday season. The expert massage therapists at Elements Therapeutic Massage can help you establish a stress-free lifestyle during the holidays and into the New Year by offering a drug-free, non-invasive and humanistic approach to well-being through a truly therapeutic massage experience. Call your local Elements studio to start living a healthy holiday lifestyle full of wellness, relaxation and rejuvenation.

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

Wed, 10 Oct 2012 15:30:00 -0500

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 following four pre-sleep bedtime tips, you will be able to better prepare your mind and body for a more relaxing and enjoyable night’s sleep.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Improve Health and Well-Being by Beating Workplace Stress

Wed, 10 Oct 2012 15:23:00 -0500

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.

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 and priorities before heading out the door by making a task list for the next day. By physically preparing your workspace and mentally preparing your mind at the end of each day, you are setting yourself up for a more productive and stress-free work environment.

Ongoing Stress Buster: Regular Monthly Massages Lead to Stress-Free Living

To keep your mind and body aligned and working in sync, monthly massage therapy sessions are important to restoring and reinvigorating your overall health and well-being at work and at home. Regular monthly massage provides relief and relaxation to people of all ages, occupations and workplace environments. Massage therapy can address a variety of health conditions, the most prevalent being stress-related tension. Some of the most common massage therapy techniques include:

Deep Tissue Massage: Focuses on chronically tight or painful muscles, repetitive strain, postural problems or recovery from injury.
Swedish Massage: Focuses on relaxation, stress relief and overall health and wellness.
Hot Stone Massage: Specializes in easing muscle tension without deep pressure.
Trigger Point: Focuses on highly localized muscle knots where the body holds tension and carries stress.

Today is as good of a day as any to start taking steps toward living a more stress-free life at work and at home. By incorporating the above stress buster tips into your daily work environment, combined with regularly scheduled therapeutic massages, you will be on your way to increasing your productivity and efficiency at work, while improving your overall health and well-being. The expert massage therapists at Elements Therapeutic Massage can help you get started on establishing a stress-free lifestyle at work and at home by offering a drug-free, non-invasive and humanistic approach to well-being through a truly therapeutic massage experience. Whether it is to provide relief from pain, release of tension, reduction of stress or simply to relax and feel your best, Elements Therapeutic Massage is committed to promoting your mind and body’s health and wellness.

¹American Psychological Association. Stress in America 2009.

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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.