May 2, 2012 in Emotional Healing, featured, Massage Therapy by empoweringwellness

Emotional Healing, Tissue Memory and Bodywork – What Happens and Why It is a Good Thing

Eastern medicine and thought have long ago made the connection between our body and our mind. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) takes this idea one step further with the view that we are all connected to the earth and the surrounding universe. Most Native and aboriginal cultures recognize the mind / body connection as well as the deeper connection to the universe. Somehow we in the West fell off that wagon, and it’s only now that we’re trying to get back on.

In his groundbreaking book, “Healing Ancient Wounds – A Renegade’s Wisdom,” author John Barnes describes how injuries and trauma encountered in life affect our minds as well as our bodies. He describes how during treatment of the body, all kinds of feelings and sensations can be released. These sensations may include shaking, pain, tremors, and emotions. Barnes says that feelings are released by triggering what he calls “tissue memory.”

Our body responds to triggers brought on by our five senses: sight, smell, taste, sound, and touch. These are called “proprioceptive triggers.” Powerful images of tragic events such as those that occurred on September 11th, can bring you back to that moment. You may vividly recall exactly where you were and what you were doing. Songs or music may also produce triggers. For me, the old Glenn Miller classic “Moonlight Serenade,” brings me back to my wedding day. All of the emotions, the excitement of that first dance with my wife come flooding back to me. More than 20 years later, the images, emotions and memories associated with that song are still as strong as they were on the day I was married. And all it takes is a song!

Similarly, when fascia (the densely woven connective tissue that surrounds every muscle, bone, nerve, artery and vein as well as all of our internal organs including the heart, lungs, brain and spinal cord) is released through touch, tissue memory can also be triggered. What is especially interesting about fascia is that it is not just a system of separate coverings. It is actually one structure that exists from head to foot without interruption. As such, each part of the body is connected to each other. This is one reason why pain may occur in other parts of the body, away from the area of the original trauma.

When an area injured during trauma (whether it is an accident, abuse, invasive surgery) is released, all of the feelings, emotions, and sensations that you experienced during the initial event may also be released. The same fear, the same pain, the same anxiety may resurface, just as intensely as when the original trauma occurred. At the subconscious level, this is what your body has been feeling all along. In order to fully heal, these sensations must be fully felt so that they can be released.

In her book, “A Patient’s Guide to Understanding John F. Barnes Myofascial Release,” physical therapist Cathy Covell writes:

Fully feeling these sensations is easy to say, but not always easy to do. Remember that the sensations can feel as intense as they did during the initial trauma itself. Many times these sensations that occurred during the trauma were overwhelming, which is why we didn’t release them in the first place. One of our self-defense mechanisms that automatically take over when we are overwhelmed with pain, fear, etc. is to leave our body. What I mean is that we can become completely numb and stuff the pain and emotions. It can seem just as overwhelming when the tissue memory is triggered again.

A sensitive therapist, within the therapeutic environment, can help a client fully connect mind and body, and help the client to safely release the sensations associated with the trauma. It is only through this kind of release that you can truly heal. Unless you completely let go, your body continues to experience the trauma at a subconscious level. If the body doesn’t release, restrictions can form in the fascia, creating chronic pain and making it worse over time. The added stress on your body may also compromise your body’s immune system, which can lead to other forms of illness.

Within the therapeutic environment, with a competent and sensitive therapist, you have the ability to release and clear the pain and trauma of the past. When we fully let go of the pain of our past, we can embrace life in the present, and experience the love and beauty of living in the moment.

April 30, 2012 in Massage Therapy by empoweringwellness

Oh, my aching back – massage therapy and back pain

Everyone that I know has experienced back pain at one time or another in their life. It’s one of the main reasons clients come to see me. So, in today’s blog post, fellow ABMP member Karrie Osborne writes about how massage therapy can help reduce that pain in your neck – your aching back!

Whether it’s a pulled muscle from yoga class or an afternoon basketball game, or a long-term pain caused by injury, most of us will come to know the beast that is called back pain. In fact, when it comes to low-back pain specifically, researchers say that 70-85 percent of the population will experience it at some point in their lives.

Causes of Pain. Experts say the cause of back pain can be the result of several factors. High on the list is stress. When our body is stressed, we literally begin to pull inward: the shoulders roll forward and move up to the ears, the neck disappears, and the back tightens in the new posture. “It’s an armoring effect,” says Angie Parris-Raney, a Denver-based massage therapist who specializes in deep-tissue massage and sports therapy. “That protective mode, with the muscles in flex, can even result in visceral problems,” she says, where the pain also affects internal organs.

In addition to stress, poor posture, bad ergonomics, lack of exercise, arthritis, osteoporosis, a sedentary lifestyle, overexertion, pregnancy, kidney stones, fibromyalgia, excess weight, and more can contribute to pain.

Geoffrey Bishop, owner of Stay Tuned Therapeutics in Flagstaff, Arizona, says mechanics is the main cause of back pain that he sees in his practice. “It’s mechanics, including repetitive use and ignorance about preventative postures, and neglect by employers and employees to provide rest and recovery.” The past also plays a part, he says. “Old injuries and traumatic events, left untreated and unresolved, seem to dictate where stress lands in the back as well.”

Massage Offers Hope. Those who suffer with back pain know there are no easy answers for chasing the pain away. Physical therapy has proven effective for some sufferers, as has chiropractic and acupuncture, but massage therapy is also making a name for itself when it comes to providing relief. In fact, research has shown that massage can be a great friend to the back-pain sufferer.

“Massage therapists have long treated low-back pain safely and effectively,” says Les Sweeney, president of Associated Bodywork and Massage Professionals. “They have done so less expensively and less invasively than is possible with other treatments.”

In fact, a study by the Group Health Research Institute in Seattle found that massage was more effective at treating low-back pain than medication. Patients who received massage once a week for 10 weeks were more likely to report that their back pain had improved, and improvements were still present six months after the study. Other research from the University of Miami School of Medicine and the Touch Research Institute showed that massage can decrease stress and long-term pain, improve sleep and range of motion, and help lower the incidence of depression and anxiety that often accompanies back pain.

For Parris-Raney’s clients, the length of pain relief provided by massage therapy varies depending on the condition they are experiencing. Getting on a regular massage schedule, however, has really helped her clients manage the back pain, she says. When they go past their normally scheduled appointment, “their bodies know it’s time to get a massage again.” Whether it’s just helping clients get through the day, or reminding the stressed-out office worker to breathe, Parris-Raney says massage can play an important part in back pain relief.

Whitney Lowe, owner of Oregon’s Orthopedic Massage Education and Research Institute, says the benefits of massage for back pain depend on the primary cause of the pain. “If it is predominantly muscular pain, then massage has a great deal to offer in reducing pain associated with chronic muscle tightness, spasms, myofascial trigger points, or those types of problems. If it’s something caused by a joint alignment problem or compression on a nerve, for example, then the role of massage might be somewhat different, such as helping to address the biomechanical dysfunctions, but not really being able to get pressure off the nerve itself.”

Massage Works. When it comes to back pain, there are a lot of options out there. Ultimately, massage, and its myriad benefits, might be a viable answer. For back pain sufferers, Parris-Raney says massage can work wonders. “Massage can help relax the body, relax the psyche, and improve a client’s range of motion and circulation to the affected tissues,” she says. Not only can massage help directly with the pain, but it can also make life a little easier, too. “Massage lets you tap into the parasympathetic system,” she says, “and tap into all the good hormones that help you sleep better and help you handle stressors along the way.” All of that helps in building a healthier back and a happier you.

Benefits of Massage. From stress relief to skin rejuvenation, the benefits of massage are extensive. When it comes to managing back pain, however, there are some specific benefits touch therapy can offer:

• Improved circulation. With increased circulation comes faster recovery time for sore, overworked muscle tissues.
• Increased release of endorphins. The prevalence of these natural painkillers is boosted every time you have a massage. This can only help in managing pain.
• Improved movement. Range of motion and flexibility both get a boost with massage.
• Increased relaxation. When you relax, your muscles relax, thereby calming the pain.

If you are suffering from back pain or from other chronic pain, take the first step. Schedule a session with me today.

April 9, 2012 in Essential Oils, featured, Massage Therapy, Wellness by empoweringwellness

Lomi Lomi massage – a true mind-body experience

When people first experience my bodywork, they often comment that they have never experienced anything like it before. Like many massage therapists, I combine a wide range of techniques to meet the needs of my clients on any given day. During each session, I am likely to combine essential oil therapy, energy work (both Reiki and Cranial Sacral) with a wide range of Western and Eastern massage techniques.

Of all of the different massage techniques to which I have been exposed or in which I have been trained, two techniques have influenced me profoundly. My first experience with massage was more than 30 years ago, when I had my first ever massage at the Esalen Institute, located just south of Monterey, CA. For years, I thought that this was the way all massage therapy was done. It wasn’t until I moved back to Washington, DC that I discovered Swedish or western massage was quite different from the nurturing, integrative and flowing massage that is a characteristic of Esalen massage.

When I became a massage therapy student, I learned the traditional Swedish style of massage. But, I was determined when I began my own practice that I would integrate much of what I experienced at Esalen into my own work. And then, I discovered Lomi Lomi, a Hawaiian form of massage and that changed the course of my work forever.

Lomi Lomi is more than a physical technique. Lomi Lomi involves a holistic approach to the person and seeks to heal and promote wellness in body, mind and spirit. In the Hawaiian language Lomi Lomi literally means “to and from,” referring both to the massage motion as well as to the healing energy that passes between the practitioner and the receiver. There are various kinds of lomi massage including “polole lomi,” the mother’s gentle hand; “oluea lomi,” harmonizing body, mind and spirit; and “oluli lomi,” igniting the life force.

Lomi Lomi is part of a broader Hawaiian belief system that embraces the body, spirit and healing. Therefore it traditionally includes the elements of prayer, breath and energy, rooted in the ancient Hawaiian philosophy known as Huna. It relaxes the nervous system, increases circulation and creates a tangible sense of well being. It is useful for maintaining health, and relieving pain from injury and debilitating illness.

What is it like to experience lomi lomi? This video provides an excellent example of a typical Lomi Lomi session.

Lomi Lomi differs from other forms of massage in many ways. It is an experience that overwhelms the mind with sensations and at the same time communicates an acceptance and a nurturing of the inner self. Most massage techniques work on only one level, usually the physical such as in remedial massage. Massage is often used in stress management but not necessarily addressing or transcending the cause of the stress. Lomi Lomi changes the way you think, feel, move and breathe.

Some of my clients request a full Lomi Lomi session. But, even for those who don’t I incorporate many of the same techniques into a massage session customized specifically for the client. Lomi Lomi is the “dance of massage,” and is just as wonderful to give as to receive.

Aloha!

March 26, 2012 in Body image, Emotional Healing, Massage Therapy, Wellness, Women's Health by empoweringwellness

Massage Therapy and Cancer

As I write this post, a dear friend of mine is struggling with cancer. She has bravely fought the disease for more than 5 years now. So, my heart and healing thoughts go out to here as I type this. She has been a regular client of mine and I know that she has benefited from nurturing, caring touch.

There’s no doubt that cancer patients can benefit from massage therapy. In fact, bodywork can serve as a nurturing healthcare option during the stressful, doctor appointment-ridden time of oncology management.

“Cancer treatment places a heavy toxin load on the body, which massage can help eliminate,” says Gayle MacDonald, author of Medicine Hands: Massage Therapy for People with Cancer. “However, too much too fast may be more than the client’s body can comfortably handle. Skilled touch is beneficial at nearly every stage of the cancer experience, during hospitalization, the pre- or post- operative period, in the out-patient clinic, during chemotherapy and radiation, recovery at home, remission or cure, and in the end stage of life.”

The benefits of massage for these clients include improved blood circulation, equalized blood pressure, and help with fatigue and nausea. The place to start is by consulting with your physician and your massage therapist. For those who are two to three months out from treatment, bodywork that can be used includes lymph drainage therapies, trigger point therapy, neuromuscular therapy, myotherapy and myofascial release, among others. It’s better to wait before receiving deeper work.

While hospitalized, some appropriate techniques include cranial -sacral therapy, polarity therapy, Reiki and Therapeutic Touch. MacDonald says no matter how severe the treatment’s side effects, there’s always a way to administer some type of bodywork. According to massage therapist and former oncology nurse Cheryl Chapman, while it’s important to receive touch from a qualified practitioner who has worked with cancer patients before, “Touch is always appropriate–there isn’t anyone who is untouchable.”

If you or someone you love is battling cancer, consider massage as a therapeutic, nurturing choice to help navigate this difficult journey.

March 9, 2012 in Massage Therapy, Wellness by empoweringwellness

Does Massage Have to Hurt to Help?

Client “A” says, “I like really deep work. I don’t a like massage unless it hurts. I like to really feel it.”

Client “B” says, “I really don’t like deep tissue massage. It hurts too much.”

And that pretty much sums it up. Clients and therapists alike seem to be completely divided on the issue. I have heard stories from people who have given up on massage because their session was so uncomfortable. I have heard from people who have actually sustained injuries during a massage. I know therapists who definitely agree with Client “A,” and they want to work as deeply as possible all the time.

So let me provide my perspective and tell you exactly where I stand on this topic.

While some massage techniques may be uncomfortable, associated pain should NEVER be unbearable. Never. Ever.

Therapists today use many different techniques or modalities. Some techniques such as Swedish massage use light to medium pressure. There are deeper treatment techniques such as Neuromuscular Therapy and Myofascial Release. These modalities use very specific techniques for treating chronic pain. While these techniques may cause discomfort, the client should never experience unbearable pain.

When I was a student studying massage therapy, one of my instructors very aptly described the optimal pressure as working at the “sub-threshold of pain.” What does this mean?

One way to define this level of discomfort is to use a pain scale when communicating pressure. On a scale of 0 to 10 (0 is no pain and 10 is debilitating pain), the pressure must stay within a range of 5 to 7. This level of pressure may be uncomfortable when treating a trigger point or tender area, but the client should still be able to keep the muscle relaxed and not have to tense up. Again, the purpose of these treatments is to relieve pain and dysfunction in the muscles and fascia. So, while working to accomplish relief, some discomfort is expected, but it should be no more uncomfortable than the painful problem being treated.

Communication between a therapist and client is of the utmost importance. During deep tissue treatments, you should expect your therapist to constantly check with you on the level of pressure being used. As a client, do not be afraid to say that the pressure is too hard. Whatever level of pressure you are comfortable with is going to do you the most good. Too much pressure will cause bruising and will have no benefit. It will also cause your muscles to contract, in order to protect you from injury, so the therapist would be fighting against the muscle instead of working with it.

If anyone has received a painful massage and has decided not to try massage again, I urge you to reconsider. Ask around for input from family or friends that have had a positive experience with massage. Don’t give up on massage therapy because of one bad experience. If you have muscular pain or dysfunction that massage could help, give it a try. Go into your massage with confidence, and insist on appropriate pressure from your therapist.

March 8, 2012 in Massage Therapy, Wellness, Women's Health by empoweringwellness

Breathe Into Your Massage

My clients lead very busy lives. And when they come in for a session with me, they bring the stress of their lives into the room. So, how do you, as a client, let go of that stress, so that you can enjoy and receive the benefit of healing, supportive touch? One way is to breathe into your massage. I’ve written about the importance of proper breathing before. Today, fellow ABMP colleague Cathy Ulrich shares her insights on how to make the most of your massage session through mindful breathing.

Mindful Breathing Enhances Bodywork Benefits

During her massage, Elaine was having trouble relaxing, continually talking about all of the stressors in her life. I took a deep breath and asked her to do the same. Suddenly, her body relaxed and I finally felt her respond to the work I was doing. So, what shifted with that simple suggestion?

In The Moment
Elaine was thinking about the stresses in her life instead of where she was at the moment. She was in a safe space, receiving gentle, supportive bodywork. And yet she couldn’t relax. By simply asking her to be mindful of her breath, she immediately felt her body and became present with me in that space.

Many meditation traditions use the breath to quiet the mind. With mindful breathing, we’re suddenly thrust into an awareness of our inner spaces and a feeling that we actually do live in a body.

Reduce Pain
One of the first things expectant mothers learn in natural childbirth classes is breathing techniques to help control labor pain. By consciously breathing during contractions, they learn to shift the feeling of pain to just sensation.

Elaine came to see me because she had chronic pain in her foot, knee, and hip. Often chronic pain sets up as a vicious cycle of muscle tightness, impaired blood flow, and more pain, even in areas distant from the original problem. When I asked Elaine to send her breath to the foot, she changed her feeling of pain to simply sensation and this opened a door that allowed me to change the holding pattern in her tissue.

Of course she couldn’t physically breathe into her foot, but the imagery of sending warm, healing breath into her foot from the inside while I worked on it from the outside changed her relationship to the pain.

Try this simple technique yourself. As you tune into your breath, notice your body. Is there discomfort or pain? Breathe in, and think of filling your lungs with healing oxygen. Now breathe out, and imagine sending this warm, healing oxygen directly to the place that hurts. Continue gently breathing into the area for a few minutes. What does it feel like now?

Relieve Stress
When I worked with Elaine, I noticed that the more she talked about her stressful life, the shallower her breath became. She was breathing high in her chest in short, rapid breaths. Her mind had transported her back to her stressful life, even though she was in a place where she was supported and encouraged to take a break from that stress, putting her body into a fight-or-flight response.

One clear manifestation of this is rapid, shallow breathing. While stress can produce this breathing pattern, the good news is that we can consciously change the breathing pattern and reduce the stress. It works both ways.

As I asked Elaine to slow her breathing and take deeper breaths, the tension in her face softened. Her body relaxed on the table as if she were sinking into the padding. Her feet became warmer, a sure sign that her circulation had changed and that her nervous system had switched from fight or flight to the calming mode of rest and digest.

Try this for yourself. The next time you’re feeling stressed, stop for a moment and notice how you’re breathing. Is your breath high in your chest? Is it fast and shallow? Now, gently invite your breath to slow down. Start to pull breath into your lungs by letting your belly relax and expand as you inhale. Spend a few moments with yourself and your breath and look at the stressful situation again. Does it seem so bad now?

Your Massage
Receiving a massage does involve participation on the client’s part. While the practitioner is the expert on the bodywork, the clients are the experts on their bodies. In our culture, the client/therapist relationship is often a check-your-body-at-the-door affair. But so much more can happen when the client works with the therapist.

The next time you go for a massage, try these suggestions to achieve mindful breathing and enhance the benefits of your session:

- As you settle onto the table, feel the weight of your body on the table and begin to notice your breath.

- Feel your breath moving of its own accord. Where is it most noticeable? Bring into the spaces that feel less full (without effort–just invite).

- When your therapist starts working, notice the pressure and rhythm. When your practitioner lets up on the pressure, breathe in. When she/he applies pressure, breathe out.

- If your practitioner comes to a tender area, pay special attention to your breath. Work with the tenderness on the exhale, imagining that you’re breathing out the pain.

- As your therapist works on different areas, imagine your breath moving there to meet her. Send your breath wherever she is working. Let her work on the outside, you work on the inside.

- Notice the changes as the massage progresses. Notice your thought patterns. Notice your comfort level. Notice your stress (and how it melts) as you send breath to the various areas of your body.

- When your session is complete and you sit up, notice how your breath feels. What do you notice about your body, the room, the light?

Why not use the life giving force of breath to make your next massage an even more beneficial experience.

Just breathe.

Give yourself the gift of healing, loving touch. Schedule your next massage session today!

February 22, 2012 in Massage Therapy, Wellness, Women's Health by empoweringwellness

De-stressing your commute – turning road rage into road sage

Today, a client arrived a few minutes late for her appointment. She got stuck in traffic due to the tremendous amount of construction that’s going on all over the greater Washington DC metro area. She was able to calm down after a few minutes, and once her session began, she was able to let go of the stress of her commute. But, it got me to thinking about how difficult commuting can be, and how much stress it causes in our daily life.

The average American commuter spends an hour a day driving to and from work. During this stressful, stop-and-go time, it’s likely that blood pressure increases, adrenaline begins pumping, and muscles constrict and tighten. By the time you get home, you’re wiped out and grumpy, and you have less to offer to those you come home to. If this sounds familiar, recognize that you have the power to reduce commuter stress.

Here are a few tips to make your commuter time contribute to — rather than detract from — your life.

Employ adjustable back cushions, pillows, wedges, and lumbar supports for a more comfortable commute. For more information, check out www.relaxtheback.com.

To successfully sidestep the late-afternoon slump often caused by the stress hormone cortisol, keep some healthy snacks within arms reach. Celery, string cheese, water, and nuts — especially almonds — are good options for the drive home.

Borrow books-on-tape/CD from the library. Consider purely entertaining novels to ease the intensity of your drive.

Learn a foreign language. Libraries also loan out these types of tapes and CD, too.

Use your commute as an opportunity for spiritual or emotional growth. When stressing about a traffic jam, remind yourself that it’s completely out of your control. Remember, attitude is everything.

Practice breathing. When stress occurs, breathing becomes shallow and constricted. Taking full, deep breaths gives the body more oxygen, helping to regulate physical and mental function. Exhaling fully releases tension and built up toxins.

For more ideas on achieving calm in a busy world, consider reading Serenity to Go: Calming Techniques for Your Hectic Life (New Harbinger Publications, 2001) by Mina Hamilton.

Of course regular massage therapy and bodywork can definitely help you to manage the stress of your daily commute. So, invest in yourself and in your health, and book a massage today.

February 15, 2012 in Massage Therapy by empoweringwellness

Expecting Moms Embrace Massage – Pregnancy Massage Contributes to Nine Healthy Months

This morning, one of my clients went into labor. This is one of the happiest times for me, as my client had been seeing me regularly throughout her pregnancy. Massage during and after pregnancy has so many benefits. Today we are joined by a colleague of mine, Hope Bentley from the ABMP. Hope has put together a short article on the benefits of prenatal, or pregnancy massage.

During pregnancy physical and emotional changes cascade throughout the body. Nausea, fatigue, swelling, heartburn, headache, and emotional turbulence are just some of the symptoms that come with the territory. Fortunately, massage can help ease these issues, so that the mom-to-be can focus on what’s most important: her baby.

The First Trimester
In the first trimester I see a lot of cases of nerves,” says Megan O’Connor, a New York-based certified prenatal massage therapist. “Massage can give reassurance.” This is largely because newly pregnant women may experience a range of emotions–elation, anxiety, contentment, and even fear–made more poignant by the hormonal changes that accompany pregnancy. Fortunately, massage therapy can help ground an expecting mother and ease the emotional roller coaster that comes with pregnancy.

But is massage safe in the first trimester? According to Susanrachel Condon, founder of Niara Healing Arts Massage Therapy and Perinatal Support Systems, “It is absolutely safe and can be very beneficial for an expecting mother.”

Having said that, there are some precautions to take when considering prenatal massage. If it is a high-risk pregnancy or there’s a history of complications–diabetes, high blood pressure, miscarriages, placenta previa, preeclampsia, or any other medical condition–a midwife or doctor should be consulted before scheduling a massage. In addition, it is very important for pregnant clients to speak openly with their massage therapist about any concerns or issues.

On the other hand, bodywork techniques like shiatsu access the meridians used in acupuncture, including trigger points that can relieve nausea. According to O’Connor, a good therapist will also teach a mother-to-be how to activate the trigger points herself, as most nausea treatments are more effective when applied at least three times a day. Techniques such as this can be a great relief to a woman navigating the early days of pregnancy.

The Second Trimester
A woman in her second trimester may begin to have trouble with circulation, sometimes because the baby’s weight begins to pinch the major veins in the mother’s legs. Poor circulation can cause swelling of the extremities, headaches, and exacerbated carpal tunnel syndrome. Massage will increase circulation and help create space in the body to relieve the pressure from the baby’s weight. Condon explains that weight gain and joint laxity can cause women to feel off balance and clumsy. Massage can relax the muscles around the joints and ground and balance a pregnant woman.

The Third Trimester
As the baby grows heavy in the final trimester of pregnancy, major changes are likely to occur in the musculoskeletal system, and massage can become even more essential.

“A lot of women feel discomfort in their lower backs because the womb is moored to the sacrum, which is that triangle of area at the base of the spine,” O’Connor says. “The weight of the womb pulls on that mooring and can be very uncomfortable.”

Women may also experience discomfort in their abdomen. As the baby grows, the mother’s muscles are stretched, her organs are compacted, and her lungs are compressed. Massage can minimize or prevent abdominal muscle tear, a complication that happens with some women. A practitioner can also help reposition the baby to alleviate discomfort and ease breathing.

And when labor finally begins, massage can help facilitate the birth, perhaps especially appealing for women considering natural childbirth.

On the Table
But how exactly does a pregnant woman–complete with enormous tummy and tender chest–receive a massage? Many prenatal massages are given with the pregnant woman on her side, semi-reclined, briefly on her back, or on a specially designed pregnancy massage table, and often with a network of pillows for support.

Condon explains that prenatal massage is not simply a regular massage except in a different position. A qualified prenatal massage therapist will know the changing physiognomy of a pregnant woman and will tailor the massage to the needs of the client.

Postpartum Massage
Now that baby is here, mom needs a massage more than ever. Says O’Connor, “I think postpartum massage is extremely underrated.”

After baby arrives, bodywork can help a new mother ease back into her body again, relax sore muscles, address any abdominal muscle strains or tears that occurred during pregnancy, and cope with the life changes and lack of sleep that come with a new baby. In addition, the uterus will sometimes linger low in the abdomen instead of returning to its proper place. A Maya abdominal massage therapist can help restore the uterus to its proper position.

Nursing moms may feel reluctant to book a massage due to leaking breasts, but O’Connor says not to worry. “Women shouldn’t be concerned about massage while they’re nursing, even if they feel like an uncapped fire hydrant!” she says. Practitioners will accommodate nursing women, with proper draping and towels.

Pregnancy is an important time that needs to be honored, and prenatal massage plays an important role. As the body goes through miraculous changes, bodywork facilitates pregnancy and helps the expectant mother stay comfortable, connected, and healthy.

January 16, 2012 in Wellness by empoweringwellness

A Walking Workout

Having Fun, While Burning More Calories!

Imagine the lone hiker, backpack laden with sleeping bag and bedroll, wielding a well-worn walking stick as she climbs the side of a snow-covered mountain. For centuries, trekkers have used walking sticks, partly as a defense against attacking wildlife, partly to aid in balance, and partly as support on long, arduous climbs. But in recent years, many hikers have replaced the single wooden walking stick with hiking poles.

Held in both hands and used to distribute weight more evenly through the four limbs, wilderness hikers have found poles invaluable for safety, efficiency, and comfort on long hikes. What wilderness hikers have known for some time now is that walking poles are a great way to relieve pressure on knees, ankles, and the back. They encourage better posture and provide a total body workout by engaging the upper body.

Now, hiking poles are showing up in urban areas as fitness walkers discover the benefits they provide. Nordic walking–similar in technique to cross- country skiing–is a great way to get a whole body workout, increase oxygen consumption, and burn more calories than regular walking or even speed walking. This total body workout burns 40 percent more calories and consumes 25 percent more oxygen. Poles can be purchased at most outdoor sporting stores, along with rubber tips for use on paved paths.

Technique
Adjust your poles to approximately 70 percent of your height and loosely secure the straps around your wrists. Hold the poles at an angle behind you so they propel you forward with a slight bend at the elbow. Use an opposite hand-and-heel motion as you walk–right heel strikes as left pole tip contacts the ground. And you’re on your way! Don’t be shy with your poles. Remember: You’re burning 40 percent more calories.

Read more about Nordic-walking.

Reward yourself after your walking workout with a relaxing, soothing massage! Schedule your session today!

January 10, 2012 in Aroma Touch Therapy, Energy Work, Essential Oils, Massage Therapy, Wellness, Women's Health by empoweringwellness

Complementary and alternative medicine – some basics

Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) refers to healing modalities that don’t fall into conventional Western medical philosophy, including bodywork, acupuncture, herbology, homeopathy and mind/body techniques. CAM is becoming a more familiar term as approximately 125 million Americans suffering from chronic illness — arthritis, back pain, hypertension, and depression — look for solutions that conventional medicine can’t provide.

“Complementary” modalities are used together with conventional medicine, such as utilizing aromatherapy to lessen a patient’s discomfort following surgery. “Alternative” modalities are used in place of conventional medicine, such as using herbs to treat stomach upset rather than taking pharmaceuticals. And the merging of alternative and conventional medicine is referred to as “integrative medicine,” connoting the idea of combining the best of both healing philosophies.

CAM is continually gaining the respect of the Western medical system, as indicated by the nearly 100 medical schools now offering courses in alternative therapies. The University of Arizona is an exceptional model of such a school, offering the nation’s only postgraduate, two-year Program in Integrative Medicine (PIM). Founded in 1994, PIM is designed to teach small groups of physicians how to integrate holistic modalities into their practices. These doctors are committed to a fundamental redesign of medical education including such principles as:

- Appropriate use of conventional and alternative methods to facilitate the body’s innate healing response

- Consideration of all factors that influence health, including mind, spirit, and community

- A philosophy that neither rejects conventional medicine nor accepts alternative medicine uncritically

For more information and research about CAM, visit the nonprofit Alternative Medicine Foundation.