Take Care of Yourself...How? 5 Tips Anyone Can Do

You've heard people say, "You need to take care of yourself." And somehow that is supposed to fix everything?

When you are a massage therapist, your work is to help people take care of themselves. Massage therapists encourage people to take care of themselves, too. The question is HOW?

When taking care of one's self, here is a few key points:

1. Get adequate sleep - most people need between 6-9 hours of sleep per nite. People try to function on 3-4 hours of sleep, but this inhibits tissue repair and depletes the immune system among other things.

2. Stay active - take a walk instead of a drive to the mail box, or park further away from stores an walk a few dozen extra steps. Build in activites that get you out in the sun for 15-30 minutes minimum per day. Both vitamin D and exercise help to improve your mood.

3. Take your vitamins/nutrients- whether in food, bodily soaking, liquid or powder/pill form, when you are stressed your electrolytes and other essencial nutrients get used. For example, go rock climbing in a gym for an hour or two with no breakfast....you will be ravenous by the time you are done because of all the calories/nutrients you consume in that one short hour or so.

4. Eat appropriately for your daily activities -massaging is a high calorie drain nearly the same as rock climbing or other exercise. For everyone, and especially therapists, eat a good breakfast high in un-greasy protein to diminish your sugar cravings, set aside time to eat a good lunch and you will be prepared for a light dinner (so you don't feel like gorging right before bed).

5. Take time to smell the roses - when you are stressed, the body is acting like it is running from a tiger (or some animal that is trying to eat you). Your body is in fight or flight mode....

This is the equivalent to running a marathon all day every day - your body will begin to give out after a while of running full out all the time.

When stuck in fight or flight, the mind is reviewing the situation and looking for escape as if you were faced with a tiger chasing/cornering you. This is the 'racing mind' when you try to sleep. Its a fabulous function if you were to actually be faced with a tiger, because you wouldn't want to be caught napping by the hungry tiger (you probably wouldn't wake up too happy when the tiger takes a leg). But when its a test, a bill, or a paper due, its an imaginary tiger and won't actually kill you, but your body still reacts the same...

Do what you can to resolve the situation, set a timeline or accomplish what can be done today and make a ToDo list for what is waiting on tomorrow. Once everything that can be done is...

Smelling flowers and enjoying scenery, relaxed conversation, massage, down-time will help reduce that stress or take you out of fight or flight.

So schedule your massage and Take Care of yourself.

Get Your Spring Re-feng Shui On!

Its Spring! ...and getting on towards summer.
Recently I have been talking with many folks about new spring exercises and getting in shape for the summer....yep, I'm working on getting in shape for the summer too. And then there is the dreaded spring cleaning....

But every spring, I engage in Spring Re-feng Shui. Its different kind of spring exercise and spring cleaning. Its not just personal diet changes and cleaning out cobwebs that have gathered over the winter, but re-researching and changing business and household services and exercising my ability to move around furniture, pair down excesses, add in self care, and simplify my daily doings.

If you are not familiar with the term,Feng Shui (pronounced fung shway), is an eastern concept that refers to the ease of energy movement around and through all things like a stream through a landscape.

My Spring Re-feng Shui changes include daily routine, services, and self care.

Start by looking at your daily routine. This isn't about judging, but honestly note down things like: *electronics used,
*obstacles in your path,
*a feeling of 'if I did this differently I could...',
*things that cause you to lose your calm or make you irritated
...in the following activities: waking up in the morning, getting dressed, morning meal (?), morning exercise (?), out the door, and off to work.

Perhaps you could automate your lighting in the morning with timers to help you get a better start, or set out things the night before.Something as simple as adding a small, high protein meal in the morning can curb sugar cravings throughout your day.

Repeat this for each section of your day for morning, noon, and night. If you can make at least one change in one area, that is great. If you can make one change in each area, then you are really on a roll.

As far as services, for both personal, and business (especially for the business owners), with all the advancements in technology, are you using the best value service for you (or your company)? Its not always about the cheapest service. I recently changed phone services to one that was $5 more expensive per month, but if I had added all the features that are included with the new service to the service with the old company, the added charges would have been $10-15 more expensive per month. The new service adds features that reduce my time spent checking messages with voice-mail to text, and direct calls to the person best qualified to answer instead of ringing everyone's phone, or just one person getting all the calls, and has a nicer automated greeting that is customizable.

Loyalty to a service company that is not serving you well, or is just not a good fit, will cause extra effort, expense, and/or stress. Change can be difficult, but knowledge that you have looked at your options and have picked the best fit for:
*phone,
*internet,
*credit card processing,
*web hosting,
*utility services,
*etc
...will bring about a better peace of mind.

And last, but not least, self care comes under scrutiny. Diet and exercise are usually what people think of first, but I also include hygiene routine, posture, self time, and appearance.
Here again look at each of these items, but it is about looking for optimization. Leave judging for folks who enter pageants and contests.
On each of the above noted items including diet and exercise, note:
*if things are easily accessible,
*you feel rushed or skip something to 'save time',
*are unhappy with or don't care how something looks/feels/tastes,
*if you have received feedback either positive or negative from other people,
*feel like "I should be able to...."

Get friends to take pictures or use a 180/360 degree mirror to look at yourself from all sides. Look in your closet/drawers and bring out things that don't fit, or that don't get worn and make space for things that you want to wear and that make you appear more healthy and successful.

Schedule in time for yourself: a massage, exercise, reading time, cooking time, etc monthly, weekly, or even daily.

I recently went to a friends house for a barbeque, and got enlisted to help cook (it was fun), and I needed some spices to season. When I saw her spice rack, it was so very different my own spice cupboard, I realized just how much my own spice collection has changed over the last few years as I learned new cooking styles, and how to cook new foods. The little changes accumulate and produce a big overall change that may not be as apparent in the beginning, but lead to a richer experience.

Many times we continue to deal with less than ideal situations that cause us undue stress, when the solution is relatively simple. Take these Spring Re-feng Shui tips and look at your own situation and see if you can spot just one or two little things that you can make changes to. Regular yearly application of these tips can lead to profound changes in your doings and bring about a less stressed you!

Do You Know Squat?

Westernized civilizations have forgotten that the toilet and the chair are recent inventions and cause excessive wear on the pelvic floor and extra pressure on abdominal organs (slouching and etc). 

Toddlers naturally squat, but with potty training and chair training in schools, often people in the US "lose the ability" to squat by age 12. This ability to squat can be regained in a few short weeks with regular stretching - check out our Ball Stretch Homework Video.

Reducing daily pelvic floor damage will assist in the body's ability to heal and repair these areas. I highly recommend clients to research for themselves the following: squat toilets, Nature's Platform http://www.naturesplatform.com/health_benefits.html, and the history of chairs http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chair. 


There are several options available to assist in the modern water closet. The Lillipad and Nature's Platform for a reasonable sum can provide you with a quick adaptation solution for you modern loo, or even a simple foot stool kept handy can provide moderate relief. 


Hope everything comes out better!

Ball Stretch (part 2)

Continuing from the first part....

after 15 to 30 seconds, walk-roll back on the ball until you are staring at plugs/outlets in the wall. This will stretch abs, lower ribcage and some into lower abs. Your back may feel a stretch and settle while on the ball.

Walk down to first position and hold for 15 to 30 seconds. Allow your lower back to rest against the ball. You may feel a slight stretch around your sacrum or across your hips as it relaxes.  And during this entire routine your head should rest comfortably on the ball.


Walk back again and reach over your head with both arms for the floor. Note: if this is too much of a stretch for you at this time, leave out this part and try again in a few days or weeks as you limber up.
With your hands on the floor, you should be able to see the floor directly in your line of sight. Allow your hips to stretch with your feet flat on the floor. This position is well supported by the ball and if you feel comfortable or desire additional stretch, you can stretch out your legs.

And finally, walk towards your feet again back to the first position. Let your tail bone sink toward the floor.

To get back into a seated position, lift your head and press your tailbone into the ball as you walk backwards, and keep walking backwards until you are sitting on the ball again. This is the opposite of how you got down into first position. If you press your back into the ball instead of your hips/tailbone, then you will have some difficulty sitting up, but it is still manageable.

As a quick reminder:
1. Squat & stare at the ceiling
2. Roll back & stare at pictures on the wall (or wall meet ceiling)
1. Squat & stare at the ceiling
3. Roll back & stare at plugs/outlets
1. Squat & stare at the ceiling
4. Reach over & stare at the floor
1. Squat & stare at the ceiling
Done

I developed this stretch for my own self maintenance several years ago, and I hope that you find it equally relaxing and beneficial. I often use this with meditation and increase the times to 1-5 minutes per position, but only 15-30 seconds is necessary to see results within a few weeks.

Ball Stretch Homework (part1)

With a structural massage, I often give homework to help you counteract your daily activities which will, in turn, help the muscular balance last longer.

One of the easiest and most fun dailly homework that I will recommend is the Ball Stretch. The Ball Stretch is a gentle, but powerful way to counteract sitting and forward reaching activities that we do daily. The stretch will also improve your balance, and improve your leg conditioning when done correctly.

Start with a large ball, commonly called a 'yoga' ball. The main metric sizes are 55cm, 65cm, and 75cm. Pick the size that best fits you. If your height is under 5' or up to 5'3" the 55cm will be your best choice, but a 65cm not overly inflated will work. If your height is over 6' then the 75cm ball will be your best choice. For heights between 5'2" and 6', the 65cm would be your best choice. There is some
overlap because not all balls inflate to exactly the labeled sizes and also for better stability and an easier bend, it is not recommended to inflate the ball to its maximum.

Inflate your ball until it is firm but will flatten slightly when pressed on. It should be able to bounce but 'basketball-tight' is way too firm.

You will need about 6' by 3' of space. If you are concerned about balancing, place yourself within easy arms reach of a wall, bed, or couch, but not BETWEEN a wall and bed or couch so you don't roll off and get stuck between a flat surface and the ball (it's happened before).

A Bit About Stretching....

A static stretch should never hurt or feel a strong "pull". The muscles you are aiming to stretch must be relaxed and supported. For this reason, the ball is an excellent tool. Like with any tool, using it improperly will bring less than desired results and could potentially cause a minor injury, so proceed at your own risk with care and caution.

The Stretch....


Start out sitting on the ball and roll onto your back. Keep your knees above your feet and your feet pointed parallel to each other with about 6 to 8 inches between them. So you can stare at the ceiling (don't have to stare at the ceiling actually but it should be in your direct line of sight), relax your neck and chest. Relax and lower your hips toward the floor. A few inches should remain between your glutes and the floor. This is the 1st position. Remain for 15 to 30 seconds.

For the second position, walk back until your ribcage is pointed at the ceiling and the wall and ceiling junction is in your line of sight. Keep both arms supported, either on you, the ball, or by holding onto a surface for balance. Allow your chest to relax on the ball and your head to remain in contact with the ball. Your hips should remain relaxed and close to the ball.

Always walk back down to first position and remain again for 15 to 30 seconds....To be Continued...

Migraines - Where they come from (muscularly)

You don't need to know all the muscle names or chemical process by which a migraine occurs to understand the basic concept of migraines.

Migraines are caused by a number of factors and triggered by a plethora of things ranging from smells to food to stress or even blood pressure.

There are a few main principles that are at the core of understanding how the body works.

Muscles don’t push, they only contract, hold, and relax.

No muscle works without affecting other muscles.

Muscles move bones.



When your body is in a state of stress, the muscles contract and hold your body into a forward or flexed position. This position is commonly known as fight or flight. When your body is not in a state of stress, the muscles relax and hold only minor tension when needed to perform everyday actions like standing, sitting, and walking.



In the stressed state, your core muscles will contract. Not all muscles will contract equally on all sides of the body, the muscles will contract based on your dominant side or dominant hand. Not everyone who is right handed will contract in the exact same way, but the pattern will be similar.



As your core muscles contract, you will flex forward. This will shorten the muscles on the front side of your body and stretch muscles on your back just like if you ball up your fist. But unlike a fist, your head will tilt up so you can see, not unlike riding a street-style racing bicycle.



So the muscles attaching at your collarbone are pulling down, and this causes your shoulder blades to rise like a hoop-skirt, and your neck extends in a sharp arc backward pulled by contracting muscles in the back of your neck.



The force of the muscles pulling at the front of your neck and collarbone and the muscles contracting in the back of your neck put pressure on the front and back of your head. This is why these are common places for migraines to be felt. People often refer to this feeling as “the halo”. If the pressure continues, the tissue across the top of the head is pulled taught and this is where the “exploding-head” feeling comes from.

The combination of muscles contracted and holding continuously and then contracting even more when a stressful reaction is triggered can result in a migraine. In people that do not suffer from migraines, the muscles may be contracted but not to excess.

Dragonfly FAQs

Does Dragonfly do outcalls?

For massage, yes. For one client, the minimum time is 90minutes. For 2 clients, each client can get 60 minutes each, with back-to-back appointments.



For acupunture, yes, but only for a minimum of 4 or more clients at one location.

How do I schedule an appointment?Our online scheduler will show you all of our availability making it easy to book an appointment days or weeks in advance.
Only have time today? Call us during regular business hours and we will do our best to accommodate you with the times we have available. Before or after business hours, contact us via our website at www.dragonflyaustin.com/contactus.html

Is my appointment confirmed?

All appointments made online will receive an email confirmation and reminder notice will also be sent 24 hours prior to your appointment.


If for some reason we need to reschedule you, or your therapist is unavailable last minute, we will contact you as soon as possible by the information you provide us.

We do our best to be compassionate and understanding if you have emergencies, and we appreciate your understanding when life happens for us too.Online appointment scheduling is available 24 hours a day for your convienence at http://www.dragonfly.genbook.com/
Or call us during regular business hours at 512-364-0897.


I just have a question....Contact us via our website before, after or during business hours at www.dragonflyaustin.com/contactus.html

Insurance FAQs

We, at Dragonfly Wellness Center, do not bill insurance for you, but our services may be covered under your health insurance policy, PIP for auto insurance, liability from another driver's auto insurance, or may be reimburseable by your HSA.

Due to current insurance practices, we are not looking to bill insurance on your behalf for the forseeable future. Insurance companies will often delay payment or deny partial or entire payment when the service provider bills your insurance on your behalf. You are your insurance company's customer and it is in their best interest to reimburse you for covered medical expenses.

Most HSAs will reimburse for acupuncture and medical massage or preventative maintenance massage.

For your insurance to cover the services, you will need a diagnosis by a recognized western medical professional.

The services we can provide include Acupuncture, Herbs, Medical Massage, maintenance massage, and Muscle Therapy.

You will need to verify your insurance prior to treatment, pay for your services at the time of service, and submit a bill to your insurance company for partial or full reimbursement depending on your insurance policy.

Insurance usually only covers massage services that are used for therapy similar to physical therapy, not spa-like massage services. Your doctor will prescribe a treatment plan that is limited to treating your immediate condition diagnosed by the doctor and will end when the prescription is completed.
Insurance currently only covers massage therapy for conditions in which mobility and function of your body is impaired, such as spinal injuries, pulled muscles, pinched nerves, bursitis, conditions like carpel tunnel syndrome or muscle injuries. Relaxation massage, massage for muscle soreness, or pain without loss of function usually will not be eligible for reimbursement by insurance.

To verify your insurance benefits prior to treatment, you will need to call your insurance company. Often the phone number you will need is located on the back of your insurance card.

To reduce future problems, it is very highly recommended that you write down the answers to each of the following questions as you ask your insurance company the following questions.

1. Time and Date of call

2. Name of Representative

3. What are my massage therapy benefits?

4. Do I need a prescription for massage therapy services?

5. What are my acupuncture benefits?

6. What are my benefits for muscle therapy?

7. What is the insurance companies definition of 'medically necessary'? (note: it may be listed in the rehabilitation section of the policy)

8. Does massage therapy need to be medically necessary?
9. Does a diagnosis code need to be given when submitting a bill?

10. Is massage for preventative maintenance covered?
11. Does the prescription need to come from a primary care physician or can it be from a chiropractor, Naturopath, or Acupuncturist?
12. How many massage sessions are allowed per year? Is there a maximum time allowed per session?

13. How many acupuncture sessions are allowed per year? Is there a maximum time allowed per session?

14. Are the massage benefits part of a combination of rehabilitation benefits that include other modalities such as physical therapy or acupuncture? If so, how many sessions are allowed per year? As a combo, is there a maximum time allowed per session total?

15. Is there a co-pay or co-insurance?

16. What is the plan deductable? Has this been met for the year?

17. What is the remaining deductable amount, if any?

Community-Style Acupuncture vs Regular Acupuncture at Dragonfly

What is the difference between "Community-style acupuncture" and the regular acupuncture sessions at Dragonfly Wellness Center?




Answer:


Chart


Community-style    vs.     Regular   



Lower cost   vs.  Good value for session

5 needles max  vs  unlimited needles & many extras like ear acupuncture & moxa included in the session

only 1 problem per session   vs   may address multiple problems in a session

no privacy - open room w/ other patients  vs.  your own private room

you bring your own linens  vs.  we supply linens

minimal talking + 30 min in-and-out   vs.  30-45 min of consultation with first session and up to 15 min consultation with each follow-up session



Who are the best candidates for "Community-style acupuncture"?



Answer: The people who are best suited for this type of acupuncture have ONLY ONE physical problem (such as a sprained wrist), can follow directions, and has computer access to fill out the form. While we strive to maintain privacy as much as possible, you will be in a room full of other people receiving acupuncture as well. People with multiple problems like insomnia and a sprained wrist will need to schedule multiple community-style acupuncture sessions or schedule a regular session.



Why is "Community-style acupuncture" less expensive than a regular acupuncture session?



Answer: We keep the cost down by you providing your own linens, using minimal needles, you doing the consultation part online, using one big room for all clients, and keeping the session time to exactly 30 minutes.

The Right Kind Of Massage For You?

What do you think of when someone says to you "go get a massage"?  Do you think of an island retreat with someone rubbing your back with delicious smelling oils melting stress away?  Or do you think of the spartan massage table you hop on right after a big grime-filled race to work on your plantar fasciaitis?  Perhaps your mind is on being in a clinical setting with your therapist stretching out muscles to balance your hips and improve your posture?  Well surprise!! All of these are massages.  
 
With so much misleading media, many people think that the first vision is the only valid kind of massage.  How wrong they are!  The massage profession has made many positive advancements over the years being recognized by the medical community and the public as a beneficial addition to a person's health habits, and as a respected form of healing.  But how can you choose the right kind of massage for you?
 
Massage is, unlike most medical treatments, offered in a variety of settings like a clinical doctor's office, a field outdoors next to an athletic event, a spare room in a person's home, or even a lavish spa.
Thankfully the kind of massage you get has a lot of bearing on where you are getting the massage. Each of these places represent a generalization of the main focus in common types of massage.
 
Doctor's office - clinical and medical massage for injuries, surgeries, medical conditions, muscular & joint correction
 
Athletic environment - sports massage for maintenance, injuries, and soreness
 
Spare room/retail massage - general relaxation, circulation, sports maintenance, energy work, some varying spa treatments
 
Lavish spa/beauty shop - routine based Swedish massage (occasional routine deep tissue labeled massage), wraps, scrubs, hot towel, hot stone, basic aromatherapy (blends or small selection of individual oils)
 
Massage therapists gravitate to a place that offers the type of massage that they specialize in and feel most strongly about. These fields do overlap some and you may on occasion find a sports therapist working in a spa but most likely you will find them, if they overlap, in a doctor's office.
 
You wouldn't expect your manicurist to fix a broken finger or treat arthritis or carpel tunnel syndrome, and by that same token, you can't expect the massage therapist in the spa to rehab an injury or correct a joint disfunction. Spas specialize in feel-good relaxation in all their services.
Spas offering massage have strict guidelines as to how the massage will be performed so that all customers have the same experience and each time a patron returns, they get the same quality of massage no matter who the therapist is. These rules apply also to 'deep tissue' labeled massage, thus making it not a true form of deep tissue massage. 
 
Spare room and retail massage establishments offer general forms of massage, but have more freedom to customize. They run a middle ground, primarily focusing on relaxation and feel-good techniques, but will occasionally offer snippets of advanced techniques mixed in with general massage. Random routines are designed by the individual therapist primarily based on what the therapist would like in a massage on themselves. Many customers will find a particular therapist that they are fond of and will go to them on a regular basis. Deep tissue massage in these environments also follow a random routine designed by the individual therapist which also makes it not a true form of deep tissue massage. 
 
Sports massage is focused on the athlete and their sport of choice. Maintenance is done with general massage while injury work is done with advanced forms of massage. Runners generally don't usually receive lots of work on their hands, and swimmers don't receive lots of work on their feet. True advanced forms of massage are specialized to the individual, not the therapist. Deep tissue, done on an injured joint or limb, is mostly true deep tissue massage in sports massage. Sports massage maintenance can be relaxing, but it's primary goal is circulation to reduce soreness and promote muscle growth and healing. 
 
Doctor's office environments or clinics focus on health maintenance, improving injury healing, and working medical conditions. They primarily use advanced massage techniques. The massage is tailored to the individual and their condition, and in holistic centers, how that condition relates to the entire structure.
This is not the place to request a feel-good, fluffy, couples massage or a mani- pedi- combo. Swedish and relaxation techniques may be employed here for calming, anxiety reduction, and stress relief, but they are not usually a large part in every massage. Deep tissue massage is done only where needed on the body to facilitate correction and speed healing for that individual. The whole body isn't worked in the same way as a spa or retail establishment. In western theory clinics, an individual with carpel tunnel syndrome in the right wrist will result in only the right arm being worked on. In eastern theory clinics the same individual will experience the right arm, spine and hips being worked on. 
 
In conclusion, the world of massage therapy is much like a swiss-army knife tool.  It helps many problems but you have to pick the right tool for the job.  If you need a relaxation massage, spas and retail franchise massage places might be the best place to look for those.  And likewise, if you need actual therapy for chronic pain or injuries, look to more clinical settings using advanced massage techniques to find the relief you need.  Using the wrong tool for your problem will eventually lead to greater dissatisfaction or disability depending on your situation.  

Intellegent Massage

Massage has many facets and aims. Often different techniques have vastly different aims. For example, Swedish is  primarily for circulation but it also has a relaxing effect, Rolfing is for working on emotional energy trapped in muscle tissue but it also works structure to a lesser degree, and various forms of deep tissue are primarily used for muscular structure rebalancing with a pain relieving side effect.

Using any technique for other than its intended purpose can be more than ineffective, it can be extremely dangerous. Just as you shouldn't share prescription medications, not all forms of massage are safe to be used on everyone.

A massage therapist trained only in Swedish massage can not use the same philosophy to do a Deep Tissue, or Sports massage. Deep tissue is not meant to be used as a circulatory technique. In fact, using excess pressure over the majority of the body will increase muscular imbalance which will increase pain and increase the risk of injury. Trigger point therapy when used without regard to the client's activities and structure will perpetuate any issues.

Correctly used deep tissue techniques will always result in improved posture, muscular balance, and range of movement. Regular treatments will steadily return the body back to good posture. With outside maintenance and awareness, the recovery of good posture is excelerated.

A Strong Opinion Stretched Thin (part one)

Stretching is more than just a chore taught in elementary school and middle school. Stretching is good muscle maintenance, but the majority of people in western and modern cultures don't know how to stretch or what to stretch.
Stretching is vital to maintain strength, joint health, and mental health.

Strength
Activities that are repetitious in short motions will shorten muscle fibers. Activities that are common in everyday life include working in a seated position, for women carrying a purse on the forearm or hand resting on a purse carried over the shoulder, weight lifting with either free weights or most machines, driving, sitting, and many more. When a muscle is shortened it appears to be weaker than a muscle that is not shortened. For example, if you bend your arm at the elbow and bring your hand to your shoulder then try to lift a heavy object towards your shoulder, it will feel weaker than if you begin with your arm unbent. Bulky muscle, while impressive, is usually more cumbersome and less effective than lean muscle. Often body builders lose function and flexibility and this can cause pain in both the short term and long term. Body builders are often see with their arms hanging away from their sides because the muscles in their shoulders is shortened across the top of the shoulders lifting the arms outward. The same condition is seen when overweight people sit and use arm rests while working on computers, and they too cannot put their arms close into their torso without discomfort.

Joint Health
Our bodies continuously heal and regenerate. When we sustain continuous damage, or excessive damage, we can not heal quickly enough to keep up, and loss of cartilage, wear on bones, and inflammation occur. When we move, the muscles on both sides of the joint engage and bring the bones together so that the friction is increased, and we can bend at the joint with a smooth controlled motion. If the muscles do not relax in between movements or when at rest, the friction does not decrease enough to allow healing, or will cause damage in amounts that our bodies can not keep up with.

Mental Health
Happiness is as much a body movement and posture as  it is an emotion. Many studies over several decades have shown that bouncing and hopping improve mood and bring a feeling of happiness. It is nearly impossible to cry while bouncing, and is often employed when carrying babies.

Swedish Massage Equals Circulation and Motion

The most well known type of western massage is Swedish Massage. This is a staple of all massage therapy schools and one of the first techniques taught. It is a wonderful, relaxing therapy with many benefits.

Swedish Massage involves long broad strokes with medium pressure, kneading strokes, gentle shaking/jostling of tissues and limbs, and joint movements called Range-of-Motion. The pressure of the technique is light to medium firm.
Caution: Excessive pressure can cause damage to tissues or overwhelm the heart by increasing blood pressure. There is no "Deep-Swedish Massage" technique. "Deep-pressure" techniques are always used in motions opposite to Swedish Massage and away from the heart (example starting at the shoulder and ending at the elbow or wrist).

The long strokes promote circulation throughout the body by gently pushing blood back towards the heart. The increase of circulation carries nutrients and much needed oxygen to all cells within the body while returning the blood back to the organs from the limbs to remove cell waste and carbon dioxide.

The kneading strokes pump blood through the muscle tissues which can free up stagnant fluids that may be contained or trapped within the muscles. The squish and release of the muscles mimics the use of the muscles as they squish and release arteries and veins and pushes blood through the arteries and veins. The arteries and veins contain one way valves to help move the blood in one continuous loop through the body and keep the blood from flowing backwards.

Shaking and jostling relax the muscle tissues by over stimulating sensory cells within the muscles, and Range-of-Motion relax the joints and allow the synovial fluid that surrounds each joint to flow between the cartilage that covers the bones. This synovial fluid carries both nutrients and oxygen to the cells contained in each joint.

Increase of nutrients and oxygen to each cell in the body helps strengthen the immune system and repair injuries.

These techniques are safe for almost everyone with very few exceptions.

Pregnant women may receive Swedish Massage but should not lie on their stomach even and especially in the first trimester without special bolsters or pregnancy pillows that keep pressure off of the abdomen.

People with high or low blood pressure should be cautious and must inform the therapist prior to the session. People with blood clots should have the area with the blood clot avoided and all areas further from the heart from the blood clot avoided and must inform the therapist prior to the session.
People on Coumadin should not receive Swedish Massage.

Happy Holidays

The greatest gift I have ever received was to become pain-free.
By 2006 I had been in 2 car accidents, in the first one I was hit by a drunk driver and the second accident 10 years later I was hit by an oncoming car at 70mph driven by a 17yr old who was talking on a cell phone, and had two on the job injuries while working at a major computer company. I was in constant pain.

I was at the hotel testing location to take the state test for my massage therapy license when I met Michael Critz. Mike was offering free demonstrations in the exhibition hall where massage products, tools and other continuing education demonstrations were going on.
After watching a few demonstrations, I volunteered to be on the table next. It was a different experience, the stretching, some pulling, repositioning, resistive stretching, but nothing he did caused me any pain. I had been to a chiropractor, doctors, physical therapy, triggerpoint massage, deep tissue massage, swedish massage, and sent home with pain pills and muscle relaxers, but I had never had lasting relief from my pain.
When the 10 or 15 minute demonstration was over, I stood up and I didn't hurt. I could remember where the pain had been, but it wasn't sore or hurting anymore.

Its been 5 years almost to the day, and my original pain has never re-occured. I've had another accident (rearended while in stop & go traffic), and I rebalanced myself, did my homework stretching, and I still have no pain.
I'm thrilled to have learned Critz Technique and I offer it at my own business now. There's no reason for people to continue to hurt.
My greatest gift that I give is to help someone else become pain-free.