According to the American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA) Consumer Survey, 72 percent of individuals surveyed claim their primary reason for receiving a massage in the previous 12 months was medical (43 percent) or stress (29 percent). A growing body of research supports the health benefits of massage therapy for conditions such as stress, fibromyalgia, low-back pain and more. Find out how you can benefit from adding massage therapy to your health and wellness routine. Massage is good medicine. Massage & Unwind. 1011 W Hallandale Bch Blvd, Hallandale Fl 33009. 305 290 1440
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Go to work - make money - pay bills
Or Go to work - make money - pay yourself first Which one of these scenarios sounds better to you? Is your life so automated that you are not realizing where your wealth is going? Unfortunately, many people are still spending there day with no clear agenda or gauge for their financial life. It is interesting how much time, energy and effort throughout ones day goes into making money and spending money- without much regard to exactly where their money is going. Most of us think in the financial order of: Paycheck > taxes >bills>other living expenses>self, but why? Why have we been taught to pay ourselves last? It is ironic to me how it appears that everyone else is getting paid but the person who earned the paycheck. When was the last time you paid yourself first, before you took care of everyone else? You may always say that you’ll up your retirement contributions (next pay period, you promise!) or stash a little extra in your emergency fund, but somehow another month passes and you still haven’t done it. This has to change. When I say pay yourself first. What I mean by this is simple, when you earn a dollar, the first person you take care of: is you. Don’t leave yourself for last. It may be getting yourself that bottle of perfume you have been wanting, investing in your health by getting a relaxing spa day that you so deserve or tucking something extra into that emergency fund. As long as you designate a portion of your income to do something that benefits you. Take a look at your earnings and decide what percentage you will pay yourself. How about a minimum of 10 percent or higher? Just do it immediately and start putting it somewhere, whether it be a savings account or an investment medium. Just start this process and look at ways this can become a positive habit for you. Pay yourself first. It is easy because if for some reason you were to go to work and your paycheck was decreased by ten percent no matter what measures you took to change it, I am sure you would live your life just as satisfactory as it is now and not skip a beat. My point is this, no matter where on the financial scale we may tilt it; there is another level for us all. Be willing this week to take wider and deeper steps in your financial life and take care of the one who matters most- pay yourself first. Stress is your body's way of responding to any kind of demand. It can be caused by both good and bad experiences. When people feel stressed by something going on around them, their bodies react by releasing chemicals into the blood. Through a combination of nerve and hormonal signals, this system prompts your adrenal glands, located atop your kidneys, to release a surge of hormones, including adrenaline and cortisol. Adrenaline increases your heart rate, elevates your blood pressure and boosts energy supplies. Adrenaline and cortisol are just two different kinds of hormones among many that the body releases as a response to stress. I could get more technical and more scientific but lets just keep it simple by saying, some hormones result in positive implications, while others result in negative implications on the body. The point is that stress results in biological changes in the human body. The truth is that there are many types of stress however the 3 main types are: Acute, episodic and chronic; which falls under all 3 categories: physical stress, Electronic and chemical:
The World Health Organization (WHO) has acknowledged environmental pollution as the underlying cause in nearly 80% of all chronic degenerative diseases. Toxic chemicals and metals have the potential to negatively impact every biological function occurring within your body. Data from hundreds of research studies over the years has shown strong correlations between various common chemical stresses and a wide range of diseases such as heart disease, hypertension, diabetes, Parkinson's disease and 37 types of cancer… There are thousands of chemicals out there. We cannot discuss, nor could we pronounce them all but here are a few examples:
Here’s what you can do to decrease your exposure to stress:
Sources and related articles: http://www.bbc.com/news/health-30574260 http://www.helpguide.org/articles/stress/stress-at-work.htm http://www.cellphonesafety.org/health/radio.htmhttp://www.cellphonesafety.org/health/radio.htm “What is the difference between deep tissue massage and just deep pressure?” There seems to be a lot of confusion about this topic so we will attempt to delve into the unclear to hopefully shed some light on the subject- ONCE AND FOR ALL!
Deep Tissue is a very specific massage treatment in which the therapist uses knuckles and elbow’s to “strip out” muscle tissue as far down to the bone as possible. Sound invasive? It is! It is definitely not for everyone. However there are millions of people out there that would never have their treatment any other way. This modality can be helpful to the following people: athletes who are considerably harder on their bodies than the average person, people who are undergoing physical therapy to aid in the breakdown process of scar tissue, (AFTER PROPER HEALING FROM THE INJURY HAS OCCURED), or anyone who has very dense tissue and thus responds better to the work. Facts get confused when we talk about deep pressure. “Deep pressure” is just what it sounds like: it is any type of massage therapy that is performed with more, or deeper, pressure. For example, I can perform a Swedish massage, (that is primarily used to relax the client) and use a heavier hand to take it from a light touch to a “medium” or “firm” touch. This fits most people but since every client is different and every therapist is different, it’s tough to really measure. Therefore, your therapist should manipulate your tissue and adjust their pressure until it is perfect for you. It is very important to ALWAYS speak up and let your therapist know if you need the pressure to be corrected, (i.e. if you need them to lighten up because it is too deep, or to apply more because it is not deep enough). Most everyone needs more pressure in some areas and less in others. This occurs because muscle tissue that contains Trigger Points is more sensitive to pressure and can be tender to the touch. What is deep tissue massage? Deep tissue massage is a type of massage therapy that focuses on realigning deeper layers of muscles and connective tissue. It is especially helpful for chronically tense and contracted areas such as stiff necks, low back tightness, and sore shoulders. Some of the same strokes are used as classic massage therapy, but the movement is slower and the pressure is deeper and concentrated on areas of tension and pain. How does deep tissue massage work? When there is chronic muscle tension or injury, there are usually adhesions (bands of painful, rigid tissue) in muscles, tendons, and ligaments. Adhesions can block circulation and cause pain, limited movement, and inflammation. Deep tissue massage works by physically breaking down these adhesions to relieve pain and restore normal movement. To do this, the massage therapist often uses direct deep pressure or friction applied across the grain of the muscles. Will deep tissue massage hurt? At certain points during the massage, most people find there is usually some discomfort and pain. It is important to tell the massage therapist when things hurt and if any soreness or pain you ecperience is outside your comfort range. There is usually some stiffness or pain after a deep tissue massage, but it should subside within a day or so. The massage therapist may recommend applying ice to the area after the massage. What conditions is deep tissue massage used for? Unlike classic massage therapy (Swedish), which is used for relaxation, deep tissue massage usually focuses on a specific problem, such as:
Deep tissue massage also received a top ranking for fibromyalgia pain. People often notice improved range of motion immediately after a deep tissue massage. What can I expect during my visit? Massage therapists may use fingertips, knuckles, hands, elbows, and forearms during the deep tissue massage. You may be asked to breathe deeply as the massage therapist works on certain tense areas. It is important to drink plenty of water as you can after the massage to flush metabolic waste from the tissues. "A woman (or man) too busy to take care of her health is like a mechanic too busy to take care of her tools"
" I am so busy at work"," I have to take care of the kids", "I am just too busy, dont have time for that"... In today's fast-paced world it can feel like we are always on. We just keep going and going trying to juggle these over-packed schedules. One can hardly find time to squeeze in a proper lunch much less even consider 1 full hour of relaxation. But what are we really doing to our bodies when we neglect the red flags it is sending us? You would be surprised to know what that lack of appetite and your inability to sleep at night is truly caused by. Can you say stress and anxiety? On second thought dont even bother, instead say relax, breathe, take a deep breath. We can all relate to being "just too busy" so here is the solution - make the time. You have to make a conscious decision that your health is as much of a priority as anything else, therefore, along with dropping the kids off, picking up mom from the doctor, faxing the memo to your co-workers, -put in get a 1 hr massage, and while you are at it, through in an extra half hour to work on that hobby that you always wanted to get back to or just spend half hour to yourself - doing nothing. Just relax. It will give you so much peace, such energy, help you to feel balanced and centered, bring back your memory and most importantly - help you to sleep better at night. The result on your health will have you singing and skipping along. Click here to book a little me time. |
AuthorWellness is a way of life for me. Massage Therapy has been my passion for over 20 years. This is where you come learn and share information that is of benefit to everyone. Welcome Archives
December 2017
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