Sports Massage Therapy for Athletes

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Sports Massage is crucial for athletes, and has been for thousands of years!  The ancient Greeks used massage therapy as the primary medical treatment for athletes in the Olympic games, Egyptians carved images of reflexology/massage in temples and shrines, Ayervedic doctors in India prescribed massage as traditional holistic medical system. Asian monks used massage to increase energy levels  to regulate and fortify the functioning of the organs and stimulating natural resistance to illnesses.

So why get a massage? The main purpose of sports massage is to help alleviate the stress and tension which builds up in the body’s soft tissues during physical activity. Where minor injuries and lesions occur, due to overexertion and/or overuse, massage can break them down quickly and effectively. The massage will help prepare the athlete for peak performance, to drain away fatigue, to relieve swelling, to reduce muscle tension, to promote flexibility and to prevent injuries. Sports massage can help prevent those niggling injuries that so often get in the way of performance and achievement, whether a person is an athlete or a once a week jogger.

Sports Massage Therapy Benefits:

Stretch and lengthen muscles—–massage therapy stretches the muscle fibers, flexibility is promoted and maintained.  In order for an athlete to maintain highest, optimal competitive performance he/she  must have a high degree of flexibility.  Tight muscles are sore and cause many injuries—a nice deep massage will leave you looser and lighter.

Improves circulation—-allows muscles to recover from injury faster.  Massage kneading and deep tissue speeds recovery of muscle and tendons after hard workouts and competitions.  Massage is most effective at treating soft tissue injuries, such as sprains, strains and repetitive stress injury etc. All injuries will result in scar tissue. Scar tissue results from a tear to a usually straight and effective muscle fibre. When the muscle tissue rebuilds itself it rebuilds in a mess of fibres. These fibres are strong but are not effective for movement and it becomes more likely that the fibres around the injured mess will become strained and more likely to become injured in the future. Massage will straighten this mess of fibres to allow the fibres to rebuild in a straight line again. The result—normal functioning and it is less likely to have another tear.

Improves alignment of the body to optimize performance and eliminate wear and tear. A massage session can bring balance to the physical body and the mental—-thus goals are reached faster and easier when the body/mind are in unison.

Releases serotonin–beneficial when an athlete has been absent from his/her training due to accident or injury and helps to boost confidence and motivation. Also, promotes better sleep patterns.

These are just a few reasons to incorporate massage therapy into your sporty lifestyle– and for the last twelve years in my practice several of my athletic clients recovered from a variety of injuries and basic ailments.  Yes, massage is the best preventive medicine and for an athlete is almost the most efficient and enduring.

FYI:

For a strain or sprain then remember: RICE then MICE.

In the 24 hours following an injury you should:

R – REST. Complete rest, if you injure your right knee, keep off it (don’t keep trying it to see if it still hurts, you’ll do further damage)

I – ICE. Ice the affected areas, until it starts to go pink then take the ice off Ice the affected areas, until it starts to go pink then take the ice off

C – COMPRESSION. Firmly bandage the area to reduce swelling

E – ELEVATION – using sling or foot stool, get the injury above the heart

After the 24 hour period you should consult with a professional who may ask you to replace the R (rest) with M, hence MICE.

M – Mobilisation/massage

Vata Season: Routine with Self-Care Matters

Autumn is moving into Vata season

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Vata season (October – March) is dry and cold by its nature and it requires the opposite qualities to balance it out. The season of Autumn—moving in new directions, shedding old creating new, and often times deep contemplation. Your mind and body needs routine, balance, and nourishment. While we all start to settle into our newness (school, exercise program, new job, etc) it is important to integrate healthy nutritional habits and self care. This would include eating in season, quiet moments each day in an activity you enjoy, and regular self-massage and/or massage sessions with your therapist.

Vata can bring imbalance to our active bodies and busy minds during this time. We tend to over compensate from the lazy Summer hours and turn to rigid schedules and thinking patterns and while the best way to remedy Vata imbalance is by routine we must remember to nurture and restore.  Although we feel a sense of excitement to fresh starts, the adjustment can promote anxiousness, nervousness and agitation. We watch the warm sun fade into in the horizon—light lessens each passing day and yes the Vata blows—dry, cold, windy. The weather change can bring drastic changes in our temperament and moods. Of coarse, we all will still enjoy some warm breezy Indian Summer days, but mother nature will turn her cycle once more.  Cold, dry, windy weather increases and Vata gets imbalanced with too much dry, rough, cool and windy qualities in your body and/or environment, so the key for vata balance is to keep moist, warm and stick to the routine.

Here is my prescription which I hope brings you some relief and relaxing moments.

Nutrition: Eat more of the sweet, sour, and salty tastes and less of the bitter, astringent, and pungent ones. Avocados, bananas, mangoes, peaches, yams, pumpkins, carrots, beets, asparagus, quinoa, rice, parsnips, squashes, mung beans, almonds, sesame seeds, and ghee are all excellent Vata-pacifying foods. Basically any root vegetables will be the best. gehee is very sattvic and calming. Also, ginger and warm water is very soothing. Remember you want to ground yourself as Vata is air. Beef Stews, Chicken Pot Pie, and Roasted Turkey served with cooked root veggies and some warm tea to follow would be ideal.

Self-Care: Warm baths with Lavander oil will still the mind and warm the body. Nature walks, light reading, and soothing music. Take time each day to do an activity that nourishes your soul and that brings you pleasure and comfort. You want to surround yourself with easy, compassionate people and cozy environments. Try to avoid constant motion, chatter, and noise. As this seems like a everyday goal it is so necessary during this time of year. So, go apple picking, canoeing, visit events like fairs and museums—partake in worthy, meaningful, amusing fun and soulful places and things. And gets lots of sleep! Warm milk with nutmeg, cinnamon, and vanilla a hour before bed will help.

Lastly, come in and receive a warm, balancing massage. Treat yourself and take the time to ground, restore, and rest. Try the Shilia Stone massage–the rocks will melt way any tension and penetrate sore, tired muscles.  For centuries, Ayurvedic healers have administered this technique to bring longevity and well being to the public.  The session will also include a warm Lavender towel steam and salt scrub to exfoliate following warm herbal oil on the feet. You will leave feeling rested, grounded, and eased!

Be Good to yourself! Be Well & Happy Autumn to You and Yours!

Spring Massage and the Bountaful Bliss of Aromatherapy oils & Abhyanga

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With the arrival of Spring we all feel the need to clear, cleanse, and renew. Massage healing treatments accompanied with aromatherapy can help push out all the dead energy and replenish the body, mind and spirit. I really encourage clients to receive Abhyana and Aromatherapy together. The two combine a blissful, sacred experience.
The Abhyanga (Sanskrit word for an oil massage given to the entire body) is a great technique and guarantees to leave you rejuvenated and ready for the season of sun, warmth, and renewal. This warm herbal oil is applied in a rhythmic and flowing sequence of long strokes along the muscles and small circular strokes at the joints, rubbing warm oil onto the skin. Feel the physical and psychological tensions ease away and re-establish a sense of calm, solidarity and harmony.

During this time of year we awaken on many levels affirming our vitality and hope for growth and inner evolution. This aroma massage will clear what is no longer needed or wanted and bring in new life, energy, and awaken the cellular levels of creative spirit, inspiration, and connect us to our highest desires and purpose. The oils blended to compliment this treatment heighten the senses that have dulled from winter seclusion and harsh elements. In the session I will also incorporate sound and energy healing.

Benefits of Abhyanga:

It helps pacify Vata dosha. Because of our hectic 24/7 lives, most of us have high levels of stress, anxiety, a feeling of being overwhelmed and spaced-out, all indications of an aggravated Vata dosha. Soothing touch is very Vata-pacifying. Warm oil, being warm, smooth and unctuous, is also Vata-pacifying.

The massage also helps balance Kapha dosha. It enhances circulation throughout the body and revitalizes a lethargic body and mind.

Deep-seated toxins in the joints and tissues are loosened and released into the system for elimination through the natural toxin-release processes. Toxins in the skin are also released, leaving you with clear healthy skin.

Helps strengthen and tone the muscles. If you work out several times a week or everyday, you’ll notice that your muscles are much stronger and resilient to injury.

Helps promote balanced emotions. You will feel serene and settled, and experience the kind of bliss that you enjoy with regular meditation. The massage makes you feel youthful and vital. It Nourishes on all levels

Some additional information:
The best essential oils for this time of year are: cardamom, citronella, coriander, eucalyptus, geranium, ginger, grapefruit, jasmine, lemon, lime, palmarosa, peppermint, rose, spearmint, & ylang ylang.

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Artemisia Botanicals

Weight Loss and Massage

Does massage therapy help you loose weight? YES it does!

AND Stress can be the number one factor in weight gain!!!

First, when the body is stressed it stores more fat which lowers your metabolism level. Under stress, your body conserves fat and burns sugar instead. There are several ways in which stress can contribute to weight gain. One has to do with cortisol, a stress hormone. When we’re under stress, the fight or flight response is triggered in our bodies, leading to the release of various hormones.

Whether we’re stressed because of constant, crazy demands at work or we’re really in danger, our bodies respond like we’re about to be harmed and need to fight for our lives. To answer this need, we experience a burst of energy, shifts in metabolism and blood flow, and other changes.

It is a fact that receiving regular massage sessions can decrease or eliminate the stress and your body will naturally respond and start burning away all the “emotional” layers. And the nervous system calms, thus you start behavior changes and making decisions that promote your health and well being. You feel like taking that walk, reaching for the granola and apple instead of couching it or binging!

Second, massage therapy also gives your muscles a great workout and releases tons of toxins, which also lowers metabolism. A deep tissue massage improves flexibility and prepares the muscles for a more efficient, effective work. Your muscles lengthen and stretch and you feel more “spacious” both physically and energetically.

Finally, massage greatly improves blood flow and circulation throughout the body. This directly contributes to your metabolism rate and helps you burn fat faster. In addition, massage releases endorphins into your body. These are “feel good” chemicals that have an indirect effect on your body’s metabolism, and the more endorphins you’re naturally making the better you will feel and faster you’ll burn fat and bust away all that stress.

It is so important to take care of your body and massage therapy is one of the best methods. it soothes, restores, nourishes, and helps melt away the demanding, multi-tasking lifestyles many of us live day in and day out. so STOP and take a break……get a session, get some relaxations and shed some weight while you are at it!

For great personal trainer and nutrition info CHECK OUT www.bodyambition.com
http://www.livestrong.com/article/300069-stomach-massage-for-weight-loss

Massage is Great Relief for Restless Leg syndrome

Restless leg syndrome patients experience a feeling of burning, tingling, aching, itching, or tugging deep beneath the skin of their lower legs and sometimes in the thighs, feet, hands, and arms. Although symptom intensity and duration vary from person to person, moving the legs tends to ease the discomfort for most patients. Although there are some great medical treatments massage seems to be a great alternative for relief as well.
Over the past year my clients have noted a huge improvement and relief from their restless leg syndrome (RLS) due to massage sessions. I am going to open the idea that massage along with healthy eating habits, gentle Yoga postures, and relaxation techniques such as meditation, affirmations, and breath work are will greatly reduce RLS Why? Because all these methods greatly eliminate stress and increase serotonin and dopamine levels normalize. This not only relieves the symptoms, but a nice massage will help you get some much needed sleep, as RLS can keep you up many nights.

Clients can apply their own preventative measures rather than adding another medication or shot especially if they are already being treated for other medical conditions.

In my treatments I do a combination of trigger point therapy, deep tissue, muscle release technique, and Yoga stretches. In addition, the warm herbal oil and hot stones compliment to soothe and penetrate the sore muscles. Also a nice salt scrub and foot massage can do wonders.

Benefits from massage:

* Warms and soothes tired legs, improving blood circulation and lymphatic drainage

* Reduces any swelling or puffiness in legs or ankles

* Softens tightness and cramp and relieves muscle spasm in calves

* Stretches and strengthens muscle fibers

* Helps to break down fatty deposits and reduces cellulite

* Disperses metabolic waste products after exercise

* Improves muscle tone and reduces fatigue

* Loosens joints

* Reduces strain on lower back

* Loosens muscles before and after strenuous exercise as it flushes the lactic acid build up.

* Can break down old scar tissue

Shila Hot Stone Massage

Shilia hot stone massage is an Ayurvedic treatment developed by Karyn Chabot out of her Rhode Island campus. This ancient treatment modernized by Chabot’s own personal talents and techniques is most effective for high stressed clients as it calms the Vata, which amplifies anxiety. it brings the client into balance and grounds them into a neutral plane.

The warm stones are used directly on the muscles to provide a deeper penetration–soothing and smoothing the sore muscles. The heat diffuses the muscle and loosens the tissues and fibers. Velvety textured stones gently grip the muscle sheaths, giving way for deep tissue release. Finger-shaped stones press lightly into marma points to clear blockages.

All the stones I utilize in the treatment are from the shores of the coast here–Rockport, Gloucester and Marblehead—and a few from Cape Cod. Filled with great energy and healing qualities. In addition to the stones, crystals and tuning forks are implemented into the sessions–along with soft, soothing music to bring a flow of joy, serenity, and peace.

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The True Benefits of Massage

Massage therapy is more than a luxury. It is preventative medicine and crucial to incorporate in ones lifestyle. Massage calms your central nervous system and allows that wonderful flow of life force. as you relax, you also connect with your true self—your highest poential, your highest well being, and highest joy.

I love my work and I love to give my clients that special time to align with their true self. Whats even more rewarding is they leave my space feeling wonderful and that spreads to all those around them. the heart center is opened and the senses are awakened—for more hope, love, and possibility.

What my clients recognize is that when they can release tension and let go they find work more tolerable, family life easier, and life in general seems to flow. This is a true gift.

The benefits are equal for the physical body as well. Those everyday aches and pains, injuries, and stresses melt away. Massage increases circulation, revives tissues and muscles, and releases endorphins-the body’s natural pain killer. Increase in metabolism occurs and stabilizes the bodies natural defense. Massage also assists in shorter labor for expected mothers, as well as less need for medication, less depression and anxiety. To sum up, Massage therapy and the power of touch is definitely better than any medicine money can buy!!

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