September 2014 – Wellness Focus

You Might Be a Great Massage Therapist If…

Ever wonder if you have what it takes to become a massage therapist? People are called to this career at different times in their lives. Some when they’re young, others when they are ready for a midlife career change. Whatever the reason, becoming a massage therapist can be one of the most rewarding (emotionally and financially) decisions you’ll ever make.

Massage therapy is a $20 billion industry. US consumers visit massage therapists more than 230 million times a year. Growth in the profession is off the charts. Not everyone is cut out for massage therapy, though, but YOU might be!

Here are just few qualities shared by successful massage therapists. If two or more than describe you, you should find out more!

You like to help people. This is quality #1. The profession is all about making a positive difference in the body, mind and spirit of your clients. If you are someone who is giving and caring, or someone who wants to learn to be more giving and caring than you already are, this profession will be a great fit. If this quality isn’t in your personality, you should probably move on to another profession.

You like to have an option to work anywhere, anytime. Your main tools are your knowledge of massage therapy and your hands. Those two things are with you always. With proper certification you can work ANYWHERE. In most cases, you can also have a lot of control over when you work–much more so than a standard 9-5 worker. Continue reading “You Might Be a Great Massage Therapist If…”

You Just Ran a 10K, Now What?

If you listen to research, the answer is simple: get a massage. A 2013 study reported in the International Journal of Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (ISSN1915-257X) polled athletes about their beliefs about and experiences with massage after running a race.

The study included 745 individuals who had completed a 10K running race in under an hour, and tested perceptions about post-race massage. The study showed that 91% of participants who had experienced massage before agreed that massage would benefit muscle recovery following the running race and more than 80% of those who had never had a massage believed it would be beneficial.

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Childhood Trauma and Massage

Trauma is a “stressful event or events that are ongoing or unpredictable that result in overwhelming feelings of fear, anxiety, and helplessness”. Trauma can be caused by natural disasters/events (like tornadoes, earthquakes, fire, flood, explosion) or physical, psychological or emotional injury caused by abuse, neglect and/or willful misconduct.

Everyone responds to traumatic events differently. Children, for example, sometimes deal with trauma is they simply freezing and become unresponsive, their “fight or flight” basic instincts are engaged. Hearts pump, breathing goes rapid and shallow, hands perspire, stomachs tighten. Children lack the ego strengths and cognitive emotional inhibitors necessary to cope with trauma, so they respond with physical hyper-arousal (like ADHD), emotional numbing or reactivity, startle responses, all which can lead to neuro-endocrine abnormalities and developmental delays.

In adults, response to trauma can include aches and pains like headaches & backaches, sudden sweating or heart palpitations, changes in sleep patterns, enhanced startle reflex, fear, anxiety, grief, hyper-alertness, irritability, mood swings, shame, guilt and more. It’s pretty clear that trauma has significant impact on physical and emotional wellness.

Long term effects

In some cases, in both children and adults, trauma can lead to PTS (Post Traumatic Stress) which manifests itself in flashbacks, intrusive thoughts or nightmares, avoidance and emotional numbing, and physical symptoms like elevated heart rate. Those symptoms can be long lasting.

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What is Deep Tissue Massage, Really?

What is deep tissue and how is it beneficial?

Many people think “deep tissue” means “huge amounts of pressure” and “it should hurt a lot”. The fact is, deep tissue really means neither of those. True deep tissue work is a type of massage therapy that focuses on realigning and invigorating layers of muscle and connective tissue that are deeper inside the body. With deep tissue, the therapist can use specialized techniques to reach muscles positioned “under” or “behind” surface muscles.

Deep tissue is especially helpful for chronic aches and pains and issues like a stiff neck and/or shoulders, sore upper back, low back pain tight leg muscles, and more.

According to the August 2005 issue of Consumer Reports magazine, 34,000 people ranked deep tissue massage more effective in relieving osteoarthritis pain than physical therapy, exercise, prescription medications, chiropractic, acupuncture, diet, glucosamine and over-the-counter drugs.

What happens during the session?

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Massage Therapy for Inflammation After Exercise

Skeletal muscle injuries are among the most common and frequently disabling injuries sustained by athletes and “weekend warriors” alike. Massage therapy is commonly used for physical rehabilitation of skeletal muscles to manage pain and promote injury recovery. Current research also suggests an additional benefit to massage after injury–a reduction in inflammation and swelling.

A major study conducted by the Buck Institute for Research on Aging and McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario indicates that massage therapy reduces inflammation of skeletal muscle acutely damaged through exercise. The study provides evidence for the benefits of massage therapy for those with musculoskeletal injuries and potentially for those with inflammatory disease, according to the lead author of the research.

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Laziness is a Choice

Have you ever noticed that laziness fuels more laziness and activity fuels more activity?

Whether it’s dealing with a family matter, pursuing a professional goal, picking up your socks, or managing your own wellness, it’s easy to procrastinate, delay, justify and deny yourself right into a big pile of inactivity.

For many people, stress from making big decisions or dealing with an ongoing stressful situation creates a level of discomfort and confusion in our minds and bodies. The burden of inaction weighs heavier than we think on the nervous system and on just about every other body system. You can feel guilty for being lazy, especially when you naturally compare yourself to others who you see as decidedly not lazy. It can take a lot of energy to suppress feelings and it takes a lot of work by your body to resist the temptation to transfer inaction into muscle aches, pain, and a general lack of wellness. That’s why when we’re lazy, we get more lazy. Our system just finally says “oh well” and gives in.

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Six Reasons to Try Yoga

It’s not a fad, but a lifestyle. Yoga can have significant positive physical and mental effects for people of all ages.

Yoga is an ancient practice. Originating in India more than 500 years ago, the term yoga means “to unite”. It’s the journey of learning about yourself and your body that makes yoga more effective for some than just a trip to the gym.

Yoga uses asanas (postures), focused concentration on specific body parts, and pranayama (breathing techniques) to integrate the body with mind and mind with soul.

Here are six great reasons to give it a try. Continue reading “Six Reasons to Try Yoga”

SVMTG & FNS Partner for Member Wellness

It’s official. Silicon Valley Massage Therapy Group (SVMTG) will now offer customized sports massage inside the awesome Fitness Never Sleeps (FNS) Training Center. FNS provides a holistic approach to fitness and wellness in a supportive environment that fosters positive energy and a friendly spirit.

FNS is way more than your average fitness center, they offer unlimited access to group training, 1-on-1 personal training, nutritional coaching, top of the line equipment and focused and dedicated coaches. Their results are amazing and their members motivated and enthusiastic about continual improvement in their own health and wellness.
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Massage Therapy for Headaches

An estimated 45 million Americans suffer from chronic headaches, and whether the headache is tension-related or a full-blown migraine, massage therapy may help.

Chronic headaches are one of the most common complaints made to healthcare professionals each year. Headaches are most often treated with over-the-counter or prescription medication. While these treatments are effective, they can be a temporary solution for a chronic problem.

Most headaches fall into one of two categories: tension and migraine. Tension headaches can be caused by stress, dehydration, muscle spasms, trigger points, eye strain, hormonal changes, neck misalignment, or TMJ.

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Pre- and Post-event Sports Massage

The role of massage in supporting and enhancing athletic performance is growing. Is there a difference in pre- and post-event massage?

Sports massage is different than the therapeutic or relaxation massage you might be used to. Sports massage is usually performed on a client dressed in loose clothing and involves applying therapeutic massage and stretching to assist an athlete’s performance or speed recovery from an activity. The type of sports massage you receive is based on your goal and when you get your massage in relation to the event.

Pre-Event massage is usually 10-30 minutes long and generally happens the day of and prior to the event. The focus is on preparation for high-intensity activity not to correct dysfunction or reduce stress. Therapists will use compression, kneading, ROM & active stretching, vibration and tapotement–all performed at an “up-tempo” pace. Remember, the goal is get the athlete AMPED UP. Continue reading “Pre- and Post-event Sports Massage”