Add getting a regular massage to your New Years list of resolutions.

Are you writing out your New Years Resolutions?
If better health is included in your list consider adding massage. With so many health benefits you can't afford to skip it off your list.

Alleviates discomfort during pregnancy.
Fosters faster healing of strained muscles and sprained ligaments; reduces pain and swelling; reduces formation of excessive scar tissue.
Reduces muscle spasms.
Provides greater joint flexibility and range of motion.
Enhances athletic performance; Treats injuries caused during sport or work.
Promotes deeper and easier breathing.
Improves circulation of blood and movement of lymph fluids.
Reduces blood pressure.
Helps relieve tension-related headaches and effects of eye-strain.
Enhances the health and nourishment of skin.
Improves posture.
Strengthens the immune system.
Treats musculoskeletal problems.
Rehabilitation post operative.
Rehabilitation after injury.

Happy and healthy New Year to you all!

Got travel woes?

Yesterday I discussed how massage can help reduce fluid retention caused by flying and consuming salty airline food.

Other areas of discomfort are aches and pains in the neck and lower back.
Next time you fly try using a pillow, a rolled up towel or blanket to support your lower back and waist. This helps to maintain the forward lumbar spine curve and lowers the pressure on the disks.
When you read on your flight hold your book at eye level. Looking down to read puts a lot of strain on your neck muscles and causes them to ache. If yours is a long flight, avoid reading continuously -- take 10-minute breaks every so often.

Carrying a heavy shoulder bag makes you lift your shoulder to hold the bag in place. That causes muscles that run from your shoulder up the side of the neck to cramp. Opt for a backpack -- it distributes the weight of your luggage more evenly. Rotate your neck and shoulders often.

Also consider scheduling a massage as soon as you are back home from your trip. Massage can help reduce the tightness in your muscles and also to maintain a good range of motion.

Feeling bloated?

If you've been traveling at this time of year, chances are you've experienced some flight delays. Worse yet you might have even stranded at an airport. Also you will undoubtedly have been sitting for long periods of time in the airport and in flight. All this and salty airline food leaves you feeling bloated right? Almost everyone experiences swollen legs seen as puffiness around the ankles or an uncomfortable tightness in the calves.
Did you know massage increases circulation so it can help reduce the fluid retention. No kidding so schedule a massage, increase your water intake and we'll have to feeling fabulous in no time ready for New Years Eve.

Get in touch with touch.

Yesterday I discussed touch and asked if it is important to you. Some of you were not sure how to answer so maybe this question will help. During your typical day are you touched by another human being or do you reach out to touch? Instead of a shoulder squeeze are you more comfortable with a handshake? I did a study today and watched people hug. I noticed some people doing a whole body hug and some people looked to keep their lower bodies apart from each other. I also noticed some different styles of hugging. There was a patting on the upper back like you’d burp a baby and I noticed a fast tapping. Some people were comfortable with simply holding the hug.
I know I don't like any baby burping or tapping. I feel like the other person just wants to get the hug over with. If you're uncomfortable with receiving a hug practice with a family member or someone you are intimate with. Remind yourself of a positive childhood memory of a hug. Have you ever wanted a hug from someone? It's OK to ask for a hug when you are in need of some comfort or reassurance. How about a massage? If you're not sure you can start out with a foot massage or a shoulder massage. Chair massage where the massage is performed over the clothes in a seated position is a great place to start. This form of massage will get you used to being touched!

Is touch important to you?

How important is touch to you? I am hoping your response is that touch is important but with more of us working in technology or alone in our home offices, I am afraid we have lost the sense that touch IS important. This saddens me as we all need touch. There are many studies confirming the positive effects of touch and here’s one.
Librarians were instructed alternately to touch and not touch the hands of students as they handed back their library cards. Then the students were interviewed. Those who had been touched reported far greater positive feelings about themselves, the library, and the librarians than those who had not been touched. This occurred even though the touch was fleeting and the students didn't even remember it!

If you do work alone, ask yourself how often you come into contact with other human beings? What is the typical relationship you have with that other human being? Is it a business or intimate relationship? If it's a business relationship when did you last give someone a hug? If you're uncomfortable with giving or receiving hugs then you won't want to miss my blog tomorrow.

Christmas morning.

I wish you a wonderful warm day filled with love and happiness. It's a time to connect to loved ones and family. To connect we can talk, write or touch each other. Touch is so fundamentally vital to life and often overlooked especially today as we use computers so much.
Ask yourself how you're doing with getting and giving touch. Consider deliberately touching others more often and see how it feels. When sitting and talking, reach out occasionally to lightly touch the other person's forearm, hand or shoulder. When a friend is tired, offer a shoulder or neck rub. Remember that when we touch, we get the benefit as well. I'll discuss this further tomorrow.

Sometimes an hour for a massage is not enough.

How come when you’re enjoying an activity the time goes too fast? It just doesn’t seem fair. I always want to slow time down and make it last longer when I am having a good time. This is apparent at the end of a massage. Just when you are starting to relax and sink into the massage table, your massage therapist gives you the bad news. “I’m done.” Worse yet, “Your session is over.” You reluctantly roll off the massage table and dress in haste in fear of a knock on the door. “Are you dressed yet?” Well with this in mind and because it’s the holiday season I have added an extra 15 minutes to your massage or spa service. Schedule this now as this offer expires on December 31st 2009. Decide how you’d like to allocate this extra 15 minutes. It could be an extra foot massage or a scalp massage. Just let us know before the session so we can tailor your 75 minutes of bliss.
Have you ever had that feeling that you didn't want the massage or spa service to end?

Share the cost of a massage with a friend.

I just got a real laugh. If you read my blog yesterday the subject line read, “I am pregnant can I get a massage?” One of my followers actually thought I was referring to myself! I have to be more aware of the impact of subject lines!
Times are tough this Christmas and we are all looking to make our money go further but still purchase meaningful gifts for family and friends. I received a call from a client requesting a gift certificate for her sister. She really wanted to gift her with an hour massage in her home but couldn’t afford the price of an hour massage. I asked her if she had another dear friend or family member who she was contemplating gifting too. When she told me yes I suggested her sister and her friend share the hour (as long as they both have 30 minutes right after each other.) My client thought that was a great idea. She was able to gift them both for the same one price. Consider this remedy this holiday. Happy shopping.

I'm pregnant can I get a massage?

Yes you can receive a massage while you are pregnant. However before you schedule your massage, please make sure your massage therapist has specialized training in pregnancy or prenatal massage.
Here are some of the key benefits of getting a regular pregnancy massage:
An hour of deep relaxation which reduces stress.
Relief from muscle cramps especially in the lower back, neck, hips, and legs.
Increase in blood and lymph circulation, which can reduce swelling.
Reduces stress on weight-bearing joints.
Improves outcome of labor and eases labor pain.
For your comfort at around 16 weeks your massage therapist will change your position from you lying on your stomach to lying on your side and make you comfortable with pillows between your knees under your shoulders.
If you have a friend or family member who is pregnant gift her with a massage for the holidays. She will certainly appreciate it! Husbands your wife will thank you too if you purchase her a series of massages.

Is massage always a good idea?

Yes for the most part massage is a good idea! However as massage increase your circulation there some contraindications and here's useful list.
You have a fever. When you have a fever, your body is trying to get rid an invader of some kind. Massage increases overall circulation and could therefore work against your body's natural defenses to fight it off.
An infectious disease. Better to stay home. You will probably infect your massage therapist.
Systemic infection.
Cancer. Cancer can spread through the lymphatic system, and because massage increases lymphatic circulation, it may potentially spread the disease as well. Simple, caring touch is fine, but massage strokes that stimulate circulation are not. Always check with a doctor first.
Severe cold.
A bone fracture, bleeding, burn or acute injury.
Liver or kidney disease.
Blood clot.
Open skin lesion or sores.
If you have any doubts at all consult your doctor and your massage therapist.

We welcome your feedback.

If you read my blog yesterday, I discussed using a communication system that helps massage therapists and clients alike communicate very clearly on pressure. The most common complaint from clients is either the massage therapist used too much pressure or not enough. If you the client are not comfortable during your session it is your responsibility to speak up! We will not be offended if you give us feedback. In fact we welcome it, so please let us know. We want your massage experience to be a pleasant one so you book another session. The more times we see you the more likely we can help your condition. Remember the benefits of massage are cumulative.

No pain no gain?

Have you ever had a massage that was so painful it caused you to tense up? Was the massage therapist's name Helga? No disrespect if you wear pigtails and your name is Helga. I just got an image of either a Russian or German massage therapist with her knee in your back! You are begging her to stop but she keeps telling you to be quiet. Based on feedback like this from clients I decided to use a number system so they could communicate with me on the pressure during the session. Let me explain. I use a number system between 0 and 10, 0 being the least painful and 10 the most painful. For massage to be therapeutic you want the pressure to be within the range of 6-8. It’s so much more effective feedback that if the pressure is a 9, it can be decreased to a 7 than to hear “Add more” or “It’s too much”. Try it next time and see if it helps!

Once a week or once a month?

How often should you get a massage? One a week, twice a month, once a month? Unfortunately this is oftentimes governed by your pocket book. Ask yourself why you scheduled your massage in the first place. Was it for relaxation or for a specific problem? If it was for relaxation there are additional ways to maintain a stress free body in between massage sessions so you can most likely schedule once or twice a month. However if you booked a massage for an injury or a pinched nerve have a discussion with your massage therapist. They will recommend when to schedule your next session. Ask your massage therapist if they would give you a discount if your purchase a series of massage sessions.
The benefits of massage are cumulative so don't expect miracles in one session. I remind my clients that if they want to get into shape they wouldn't expect to achieve their fitness goals in one session or if they visited the gym only once a month. Finally ask your massage therapist what you can be doing to help your body in between massage sessions.

Your massage question answered.

You can’t wait! You have your appointment scheduled for your massage but you have a question. You wanted to ask but you felt uncomfortable asking. Do I have to be completely naked for my massage? Do I take all my clothes off or can I leave my underwear on? We want you to feel comfortable so if you prefer to leave your underwear on please do. We all have different comfort levels so do what is right for you. We can work around your undergarments. We work on all body types of differing ages young and old and your comfort is our concern. Also please note during your massage we only undrape the body part we are working on. In other words, if we are working on your back, your legs and feet are covered with a sheet. We hope you are feeling more comfortable now and know that with each massage you will gain confidence and trust so that you will be able to fully let go!

Find a good massage therapist..

The best way to find a good massage therapist is to get a referral from a friend, family member or colleague. I have to say though with the internet most of our business comes directly from the net. Credentials matter of course and your massage therapist should be licensed and carry liability insurance. I would recommend a minimum of two years experience. What kind of massage do you need? Do you have a specific problem or injury or do you just want to relax? If you are looking for a deep tissue massage for example, make sure the massage therapist has specific training in that modality. All of these things considered, ask for testimonials from previous clients! How did you first find a massage therapist?

Clear your mind before your massage session.

Am you being rude if you don't talk to the massage therapist during my massage? Absolutely not! A good massage therapist is focused on undoing your knots and kinks. Not chatting to you. If you have any health problems or concerns that could be affected by the massage or spa treatment, let us know prior to your session to help clear the air Your massage therapist will talk to you during your session to check that the pressure is comfortable. To help you empty your mind and decompress we encourage you to breathe deeply so your mind focuses on the breath and not your thoughts. If your mind starts wandering, bring the focus back to your breath.
Ultimately it is your session so if you really do want to talk, avoid negative subjects. I have actually noticed some client’s hands clench during a session and it turns out they were thinking about something negative! Now that defeats the purpose of your massage doesn't it?

Tips to help you enjoy your massage.

Do I shower before my massage or spa service or after? The simple answer is shower before. If you have been exercising prior to your massage chances are you will have been sweating. You certainly want to be relaxed during the massage and don't want to be concerned with body odor. If you typically get a razor burn when you shave your legs, shave the day before. That way your skin won't be sensitive. Another reason to shower before and not after, is we recommend you leave the massage oils on your skin. The oils will moisturize your skin. Plan to eat a meal after your massage. You don’t want to be lying on a full stomach and drink plenty of fluids on the day of your massage to keep hydrated. Have you followed these suggestions before? Maybe you have something to add. Let us know.

Turn your home into a spa.

You’d be surprised how easy it is to turn a spare room or a corner of your living room into a spa. New clients always ask me. “I want to get a massage or spa service in my home. How much space do you need?" If your spare room is full of boxes stack them in a closet. Now that's done let’s start with the massage table. A massage table is about 6 feet long and 3 feet wide. More importantly we need walking room around the table so if you can allow for at least a couple of feet around the table, we’re in business. Is there a window in your spare room? If so, make sure you can block light out with a blind or drapes. Is the room heated? If not invest in a small space heater. If other family members are home, make sure they know you are going to get a massage so they don’t disturb you. If you are home alone, turn your home phone and mobile off. Select some relaxing music, candles and we'll do the rest. Tomorrow we will give you some tips on how to prepare your mind and body.

In home massage saves you money.

Yesterday I discussed how to get more mileage out of your massage session by scheduling it at either the end of the day or as a reward when you finish a project. Have you ever considered scheduling your massage in the comfort of your home? I started a mobile massage and spa service in 2000 after receiving countless requests for in home visits. Clients told me it’s so much easier to relax at home in familiar surroundings and knowing that once their session was over, they could slip into a robe, stay home and avoid traffic. In this economy we all want extra value and a discount. Consider an in home session as a way to save on gas and your precious time. Tomorrow I’ll discuss creating the space for your in home session.

Make the benefits of your massage last longer.

What’s the worst thing that could happen after your massage? You jump right into an activity that completely reverses the benefits of your massage. A long list comes to mind. Here goes. You jump off the massage table scrambling to find your clothes to get dressed. You check your phone for messages and return calls frantically. You have planned an event in 30 minutes which involves a 45 minute drive. I think you get my drift. When you schedule your massage please allow yourself some time to re-enter your world slowly. Better yet, schedule your massage time after your work is complete so it’s your reward for your hard work. Remember your massage should relax, de-stress and rejuvenate you for hours after your session has ended.

Massage makes you feel good.

Did you manage to take some time out for yourself yesterday? Maybe you managed to step away from the computer for 20 minutes? My aim is to encourage you to take some quality time so you can be healthy physically and mentally. I’ve discussed before in previous posts how stress affects the body and how much damage it can do. Long terms effects are high blood pressure, over taxed immune system resulting in frequent colds and worse flu. . So how does massage tie into all this? Well, massage counteracts the effects of stress. Massage lowers the blood pressure, boosts the immune system, increases the circulation and releases endorphins. Endorphins are the feel good hormones. That’s why you feel so good after a massage. How do you feel after your massage? I welcome your comments.

Put yourself first.

This may sound selfish at first but think about it. If you are stressed out you can't possibly take care of others effectively. Taking time out for you can be a simple as walking in nature for 20 minutes a day. Find your nearest park or if you're lucky enough to live close to the ocean kick your shoes off and walk on the sand. There's something so therapeutic about being outside away from the computer and phone that rejuvenates the spirit. Leave your phone in the car and resist the temptation to talk on your phone on your walk. Try it today and let me know how good you feel.