Elements Therapeutic Massage - Tewksbury

Elements of Tewksbury - UNDER NEW OWNERSHIP!!

Fri, 02 Sep 2011 06:36:00 -0500

Effective September 1, 2011 Elements Therapeutic Massage of Tewksbury is under new ownership and management. In the coming weeks you will see many great changes but your favorite therapists will still be here.

Please be sure to stop in and say hello or sign up for our mailing list on our home page. The new team looks forward to meeting all of you.

Improve Health and Well-Being by Beating Workplace Stress

Sun, 14 Oct 2012 14:24:00 -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.

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¹American Psychological Association. Stress in America 2009.

Melt Away Tax Time Stress with Three Simple Relaxation Strategies

Thu, 15 Mar 2012 10:30:00 -0500

April showers may bring May flowers, but “stress storms”, common this time of year (April 17 tax deadlines, changes in seasons, failed New Year’s resolution attempts), can leave you feeling wilted, run down and even depressed. Instead of getting caught in a storm of stress this spring, blow away the winter blues by melting tension and fatigue with regular therapeutic massage sessions that will not only nurture your mind and body, but support your overall well-being.

In today’s plugged in, always on-the-go society, stress can be found in all aspects of your life. While some types of stress can be healthy for your mind and body, a January 2012 study from the American Psychological Association (APA) revealed deepening concerns about the connection between chronic disease and stress. Research continues to show that stress can negatively impact your health by:

Weakening your immune system, leading to common colds, sicknesses and even more critical medical problems.
Disrupting sleep problems, leading to fatigue and even insomnia.
Decreasing positive moods and feelings about yourself and others, leading to depression and an overall sense of unhappiness.
Causing headaches, upset stomach or digestion, and muscular tension.
Increasing irritability, anger, anxiety and nervousness.¹

Realistically, you may never be able to completely eliminate stress, anxiety and pressure from your life, but there are steps you can start taking today to stop the vicious cycle of being showered with stress. In honor of National Stress Awareness Month this April, you can start by incorporating the following three relaxation strategies into your daily life to promote a more stress-free lifestyle.

Release Mental and Physical Tension

Therapeutic massage is a medically proven method for supporting your health and wellness. Massage can help relieve physical tension such as back/neck pain, reduce stress, increase circulation, and improve your body’s full range of motion. And, by making massage a regular occurrence on your calendar, you will give yourself a designated time each month to release mental and physical tension, lowering the risk of stress piling up to levels that can lead to negative results.

Revive and Reinvigorate Tired, Sore Muscles

Whether you are sitting in front of the computer all day, chasing a toddler around the house or training for a sporting event (or trying to be successful at all three at the same time!), it is more than likely that your hips, back and neck may feel sore and fatigued at the end of the day. By loosening these common stress carrying muscle groups on a regular basis, you can instantly de-stress your mind and body. Deep tissue massage specifically can break up scar tissue and help muscles recover more quickly so you can bounce back faster from a hard gym workout or working on a computer screen for 12 hours a day. Not only will your body feel more revived and stronger after a massage, but your mind also will be sharper, helping you maintain a more consistent focus on all of your day-to-day activities.

Take Time to Get in Touch with Yourself

Massage can help you establish a balance in your life that is not only good for your mental and muscle health, but also your body’s internal system well-being. Studies show that leading factors of medical problems and common illnesses can occur from overworking yourself, carrying too much stress and not dedicating enough time to relaxing your mind and body on a regular basis. It’s important to carve out 15 minutes a day (daily meditation), one day a week (designated “Me” time) and once a month (monthly therapeutic massage) to devote time and energy into establishing a positive mind/body connection.

By implementing these three stress reducing habits, you are well on your way to avoiding a stress storm this spring and giving yourself the opportunity to stop and take time to smell the flowers. The skilled massage therapists at Elements Therapeutic Massage are available to listen to your individual needs and will use the proper techniques to deliver a truly therapeutic experience. Call your local Elements studio today to begin experiencing all of the stress management benefits of massage therapy.

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¹Stress in America™, Our Health at Risk, American Psychological Association, January 2012.

Set the Stage for Aging Gracefully

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 13:46:00 -0600

Aging gracefully is not just a lifestyle – it’s a mind-set that focuses on connecting your mind, body and spirit for overall health and wellness. In order to embrace the golden years as a healthy and active senior citizen, it is important to take care of yourself today by adopting consistent massage, nutrition and exercise habits so you can live tomorrow and the years to come feeling restored, vibrant and pain-free.

Industry trends show that senior citizens are taking a more holistic approach to their health and well-being needs as they age. According to a recent study from the AARP and the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM), Americans aged 50 and older are discussing the use of complementary and alternative products and practices such as herbal or dietary supplements, meditation, massage therapy, chiropractic care and acupuncture with their health care providers.

The survey found that just over half (53 percent) of people 50 and older reported using Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) at some point in their lives, and nearly as many (47 percent) reported using it in the past 12 months. Herbal products or dietary supplements were the type of CAM most commonly used, with just over a third (37 percent) of respondents reporting their use, followed by massage therapy, chiropractic manipulation, and other bodywork, used by around a fifth (22 percent) of respondents. Nine percent of respondents reported using mind/body practices, while 5 percent reported use of naturopathy, acupuncture and homeopathy.¹

Revive and Reinvigorate Your Body and Soul

As today’s baby boomers jump into the next stage of their lives as retirees, golfers, travelers and pool loungers, they are turning to massage therapy for a deeper sense of mind and body relaxation, restoration and circulation. Therapeutic massage is a medically proven method for supporting overall health and wellness. The benefits of massage for senior citizens can include:

Improved range of motion and decreased low-back pain.
Increased circulation, allowing the body to pump more oxygen and nutrients into tissues and vital organs.
Exercise and stretching for atrophied muscles.
Reduced swelling and scar tissue.
Reduced recovery time from injury/surgery.
Reduced stress, the cause of nearly 90 percent of today’s diseases.
Released endorphins, the body’s natural painkiller, thereby reducing the need for medications.
Stimulated lymph flow and support for the body’s natural process of detoxification.
Enhanced production of T-Cells to boost your immune system.²

Contrary to popular belief, you do not need to wait until you are stressed or injured to get a massage. Any time is a good time for a massage. Massage is like a health-supplement or preventative care for a person's body and mind. A regular monthly massage is a great way to cope with physical or emotional stress and to keep it from causing discomfort or harm to your body.

Protect Your Skin

If it’s not properly protected from nature’s elements, your skin can be the first body part to show signs of aging. Experts agree that consistently using sunscreen throughout the year (even during the winter months when the sun may be hiding behind clouds, but skin damaging rays can still be present) is one of the most important steps you can take to help your skin look as young as you feel. There are many make ups and daily moisturizers available that include SPFs of 15 or more to provide constant skin protection throughout the day.

Another element to consider when it comes to protecting your skin is increasing the humidity levels in your home, especially during the winter, to help prevent dry, chapped skin. Using a room humidifier while you sleep and/or using a house-wide humidifier system not only helps to increase the smoothness and softness of your skin, but it also can help with reducing wintertime nasal congestion and discomfort.

Massage also can help promote healthy skin and immune systems by stimulating and activating a body’s circulation. This mind and body relaxation technique can directly benefit skin by enhancing tissue elasticity, improving circulation and joint flexibility, as well as boost a body’s immune function, alleviate life-shortening stress and create a greater sense of self.³

Fuel Your Body

Fueling your body with adequate amounts of whole grains, lean proteins, fruits and vegetables is important for healthy bodies at any age. According to the National Institute on Aging, to eat well, it’s best to incorporate foods that are high in nutrients (vitamins, minerals, complex carbohydrates, lean proteins and healthy fats), but low in calories. When determining how much to eat, it’s important to take into account age, gender and activity level. The National Institutes of Health advises that women over age 50 should consume 1,600-2,200 calories per day depending on activity level, while men should consume 2,000-2,800 calories per day.⁴

Additionally, an often forgotten fuel for our body that is important to maintaining healthy skin and bodies as we age is drinking an appropriate amount of water each day. A recent study has found that people who drink 17-34 ounces of water daily are 36 percent less likely to develop high blood sugar or diabetes. The study suggests that when you’re dehydrated, your brain pumps out more hormones that tell the liver to produce glucose.⁵

So, how much is 17-34 ounces of water? Many water bottles have liquid measurements on the side and large ones will hold approximately 32 ounces of water. Fill up your water bottle at the beginning of the day and make sure it’s empty before going to bed. This will help you keep track of consuming the appropriate amount of water for a healthy and hydrated body.

Get Your Move On

Staying active as you age is an integral component to looking and feeling good throughout your golden years. Physical activity not only keeps your body fit and strong, but it also can help maintain mental strength and sharpness as you age. To get started, most cities or local organizations have senior citizen-specific fitness courses and/or activities that you can enroll in. Some popular senior citizen exercise activities include yoga and pilates to strengthen muscles, personal training to achieve specific total body goals or swimming for low impact cardio and full body workout.

In addition to participating in common exercise regimens, incorporating therapeutic massage into your activity plan can help keep you more mobile and pain-free. Massage not only tones muscle tissue, but it also supports joint lubrication to promote ease in movement.

To age gracefully, it’s important to approach your overall health and well-being in a holistic manner that connects your mind, body and spirit. By taking an active approach to regularly scheduled massage, nutrition, skin care and exercise routines, you are preparing for the next stage of your life as a happy, healthy and active senior citizen. Call Elements Therapeutic Massage today to start your journey of aging gracefully.

XXX

Sources:

¹AARP, NCCAM. Complementary and Alternative Medicine: What People Aged 50 and Older Discuss With Their Health Care Providers. Consumer Survey Report; April 2010.

²Associated Bodywork and Massage Professionals, Healthy Aging, Body Sense, Spring/Summer 2009.

³Associated Bodywork and Massage Professionals, Healthy Aging, Body Sense, Spring/Summer 2009.

⁴National Institute on Aging, NIH Senior Health, Eating Well As You Get Older; May 2008.

⁵ Men’s Health Magazine, November 2011.

Let Your Back Pain Loose

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 13:44:00 -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.

Two Warm Winter Activities for Your Mind and Body

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 13:43:00 -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

The Best Reason to Get a Massage

Fri, 27 Jan 2012 10:57:00 -0600

Find a certified massage therapist in your area, and add some other hands-on health boosters to your day whenever possible.

It's winter, and cold and flu germs are swirling all around you. Sure, you could consume large quantities of vitamin C or slather your body in antibacterial soap to ward off germs, but there's a remedy we think you’ll like better: Get a massage. According to a study published in The Journal of Complimentary and Alternative Medicine, massages don't just feel great, they might be good for your health, too.

The authors recruited 53 healthy adults between the ages of 18 and 45 and divided them into two groups: one that received a traditional Swedish massage, and another that received a session of light touch meant to simulate a massage but without any actual massage-therapy techniques. The Swedish massages were all performed by certified massage therapists to ensure uniformity. Each participant had an IV inserted into one arm for the duration of the massage and for a few hours afterward, and blood was drawn at various intervals to measure levels of various hormones and immune system markers.

Read More: Massage Combats Chronic Pain Better Than Pills

The authors were working under the theory that massages increase the body's levels of oxytocin, or "the love hormone," which itself helps regulate levels of hormones related to stress. Yet, they found that wasn't the case. People receiving the "light touch" treatment actually experienced higher levels of oxytocin than the massage recipients. But unlike the light touch group, the massage recipients saw significant decreases in stress hormones and increases in the body's production of various cells that boost immune system response.

The benefits of massage are immediately obvious to anyone who's had one. A massage session calms you down, eases your anxieties, and even helps you sleep at night. So why shouldn't it help you battle germs? "I'm really intrigued by our findings," says Mark Hyman Rapaport, MD, professor and chairman of the department of psychiatry and behavioral neurosciences at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, who adds that he was an "incredible skeptic" about the benefits of massage therapy before doing this study. "I always wondered, what does it do that so many people claim to feel better afterwards?" he says. "We're finding that biological changes do occur as a result of even a single session of massage, and that these changes may benefit even a healthy individual."

Read More: 5 Surprising Ways to Improve Your Immunity

While it may be enough for most people to know that getting a massage makes them feel better, regardless of what the biological effects are, Dr. Rapaport says that his findings could help advance the use of massage therapy in traditional medicine, which would be good news for people looking for more options to treat their medical complaints. "Based on data that have come out of a number of the surveys, a majority of Americans would rather go to an alternative practitioner than a physician and would prefer to have an alternative to traditional care," he says. The few studies on massage therapy that have been done have focused on specific complaints, such as back pain or anxiety, he says, but his research suggests that the therapy could be beneficial to people suffering from a wider range of immune system disorders.

Read More: Docs Use Natural Remedies (But Don't Prescribe Them)

A weekly massage is good for body and mind; here's how to benefit:

• Find a certified therapist. The massage recipients in this study received treatment from certified therapists to ensure consistency and high quality. You can find one near you via the websites of the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork and the American Massage Therapy Association.

• Give yourself a hand (massage). Although full-body massages yielded the profound biological changes seen in this study, other research has found that a simple five-minute hand massage was able to lower stress levels as well. For instructions, see "How to Single-Handedly Rub Out Stress".

• Feel the love in other ways. Dr. Rapaport notes that massage recipients didn't see significant increases in oxytocin levels, but people in the light-touch group did. And as a result, those people saw larger drops in a hormone that stimulates the production of the stress hormone cortisol. There are lots of other simple ways you can increase your body's oxytocin levels, massage table or no, such as holding hands with your significant other, petting an animal, and listening to comforting music.

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

Thu, 26 Jan 2012 12:29:00 -0600

While red roses, chocolate hearts and sweet kisses typically symbolize the love expressed during this time of year, the true meaning of Valentine’s Day is taking time out of your busy schedules to focus on the relationship with your significant other. 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.

Call Elements Therapeutic Massage today to restore your body and revive your relationship while relaxing with your valentine. Elements’ highly trained massage therapists offer a variety of massage treatments, including couple’s massage sessions for you and your valentine.

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

Thu, 26 Jan 2012 12:20:00 -0600

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

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.

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Mon, 05 Sep 2011 09:05:00 -0500

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