<![CDATA[Back and Bodywork Massage

<![CDATA[Back and Bodywork Massage - Blog]]>Wed, 01 May 2024 19:26:58 -0700Weebly<![CDATA[What Your Massage Therapist Knows About You After 1 Session .]]>Fri, 12 Jan 2024 20:38:19 GMThttp://backandbodyworkmassage.com/blog/what-your-massage-therapist-knows-about-you-after-1-sessionThere’s a lot they can tell about you, from your occupation to your stress levels — and even serious health conditions.

By Julie Kendrick

If just reading the word “massage” sends you into a reverie of lavender-scented candles and a best-of-Yanni playlist, you probably know how wonderful it can be to receive treatment from a bodywork professional. But while you’re lying there in a blissed-out state, do you ever wonder what your therapist is noticing about your overall health, how you’re dealing with stress and possibly even what kind of work you’ve been doing? We talked to professionals all over the country to learn what they notice during a session — and why it’s important.

What they notice when you first arrive Before you even get on the table, your massage therapist is paying attention.

“My awareness of my client starts with the initial greeting,” said massage therapist Kathryn Treat (yep, that’s her real name). “How they carry themselves tells a lot about how they use their body and where restriction, limitation or dysfunction may exist.” If your massage therapist walks behind you on the way to the treatment room, there might be a good professional reason for that. “I ask clients to walk ahead of me down the hall,” said massage therapist Dolly Wallace, who is president of the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork. “I observe their gait and look to see if shoulders are elevated, if one shoulder or hip is higher than the other, if the head is tilting right or left, or if feet either supinate or pronate.” During the intake process, therapists are alert for clues. “I take note of things like freedom of movement, symmetry, breathing patterns and body language,” said massage therapist Cindy Williams. “I also notice things like how fast or loud someone is speaking, how they’re gesturing, and whether they seem fatigued or depressed.”

What they can tell when the massage gets started.

“As soon as I start working, I can tell which areas of the body need more work by the way the muscles and soft tissue feel under my hands,” said massage therapist Kristin Coverly, also director of professional education for Associated Bodywork & Massage Professionals. “I let the body talk to me, to tell me not only which areas to work, but which techniques to use and what level of pressure to apply. What I’m feeling and all of this information my hands are receiving help me make decisions about how much time to spend in a certain area, what techniques to use and what level of pressure is appropriate and beneficial.” How you’re moving through your day will quickly become apparent to your massage therapist. “Neck, shoulders and low back are easily the biggest source of complaint for my clients, because so many of them spend large spans of their day sitting, whether it’s in front of a computer, commuting to work or watching TV,” Treat said. In addition, massage therapists often know if you’re a runner, because runners often have weak glute muscles, which Treat said is commonly known as “runner’s butt.” And if you’ve got small children at home, she can usually tell from the one-sided “hip hike.” “It’s caused by carrying kids on one hip predominantly, and it usually results in low back pain,” Treat said.

The work you do — and your stress levels — show up in your body.

Our jobs can take a toll on our bodies, which massage therapists notice. “Many times, I can guess a client’s occupation by their symptoms and findings,” Wallace said. “Long-distance truck drivers will complain of low back pain from the constant jarring of their seat due to bumpy road conditions. Athletes often experience groin pain from having overstretched adductors. Students have neck, shoulder and back pain caused by carrying heavy backpacks.” Treat also noted: “My clients who work in the trades, like plumbers, electricians, carpenters and drywall contractors, will often come in with overdeveloped forearms, low back pain and a sore neck.” On or off the job, we all experience stress. And since we’re such unique little unicorns, we carry our stress in different places. “Each client has a tell-tale stress sign that I can feel for and address during a session, whether it’s the upper shoulders, neck, low back, glutes or jaw,” Coverly said. “An important part of my job is to educate my clients about the areas that tighten when they’re stressed and encourage them to practice targeted self-care to help alleviate pain and discomfort between massage sessions.” Massage therapist Jeffrey Montoya agreed that stress patterns vary from person to person. “It’s said that ‘our issues are in our tissues, and that our biography becomes our biology,’ Montoya said. “I do notice patterns, such as how shoulder tension can be a sign that a person is burdened or feeling a lot of responsibility. People with back pain often lack a feeling of being supported in family or work. And anxiety is often associated with stomach and intestinal health issues.”

Professional bodywork can help identify more serious health issues.

It’s not all about relaxation, though, because there is a significant health-promoting component to a regular massage regimen. And some of that health-related help might be totally unexpected, thanks to a vigilant therapist. In fact, research about bodywork professionals has shown that they can play a strategic role in helping achieve timely diagnoses for many patients. The most commonly noticed potential health issues are abnormal-looking moles, or ones that change in appearance over time, especially if they’re on the back or another part of the body that isn’t usually seen. Many an eagle-eyed massage therapist has sent a client to a dermatologist for a timely diagnosis. Other issues also can arise. “If I notice lumps or adhesions that don’t have the same texture as a regular muscle knot, that’s a good reason to be seen by a doctor,” Treat said. “I had been working regularly with a client, when a lump in their neck seemed different than the others. I suggested making a doctor appointment, and it turned out they had non-Hodgkin lymphoma, thankfully caught in the early stages.” A surprisingly powerful cordless handheld back massager 10 Of The Best Back Massagers You'll Probably Become Obsessed With Their work extends beyond the purely physical, too. If you start crying during treatment, your massage therapist will understand. “Touch can sometimes trigger a long-buried memory of abuse or injury,” Wallace said. “When those memories are triggered, I’m ready to refer them to a mental health expert who can help.”

There’s value in being “seen, heard and understood.”

“People usually don’t get much time with their primary care provider, but massage therapists are spending an hour at a time with you,” noted Whitney Lowe, director of the Academy of Clinical Massage. “Our clients often develop a strong sense of trust and end up telling us things they don’t tell their primary health care provider. This can be a significant issue, because they may relay important things that change our understanding of what is really going on with an underlying pathology or complaint.” And finally, here’s a parting thought from massage therapist Angie Parris-Raney, advertising director for ABMP: “In the more than 20 years I’ve been in practice, I’ve come to understand that people just want to be heard, seen and understood, and to have their pain validated,” she said. “Sometimes, just having a safe and supportive place with someone to deeply listen can already help shift your biology. Massage therapists have a unique opportunity because we work with the entire body, and we can help support the whole being — body, mind and spirit.”

This article first appeared in The Huffington Post

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/what-your-massage-therapist-knows-about-you_l_63f4f28ae4b0a209e829e39b

]]><![CDATA[Massage and Sleep]]>Fri, 01 Mar 2019 17:29:57 GMThttp://backandbodyworkmassage.com/blog/massage-and-sleepCourtesy of the Tuck Sleep

LAST UPDATED ON JANUARY 2, 2019
Are you looking for new ways to move past your sleep troubles? The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report that a third of US adults get less than the recommended amount of sleep. Even worse, chronic lack of sleep can result in diabetes, high blood pressure, obesity, or even heart disease.
The good news: getting a regular massage might just be the answer — and an enjoyable one at that. For example, one study conducted in China found that 76% of people treated regularly with massage therapy no longer experienced symptoms of insomnia.
And dozens of independent studies found that massage can improve sleep for people with a wide variety of medical ailments, including more common occurrences like lower back pain and migraines.
Find out if massage is the right solution for your sleep woes. This article will explore the different kinds of massage therapy and which could be the best fit for you. Wave goodbye to restless nights and sleeping pills, and say hello to deeply relaxing and fulfilling massages instead.
What is Massage Therapy?Put simply, massage therapy is a treatment that manipulates the soft tissues of your bodyusing varying degrees of movement and pressure. However, the practice of massage therapy is much more nuanced than that.
Depending on the type of massage therapy you select, you can expect everything from kneading and long strokes to vibration, tapping, and application of warmth.
Massage is an age-old practice with roots in ancient China, Egypt, Japan, and Greece. Each of these ancient civilizations developed and practiced massage as a medical benefit through a wide range of techniques. They documented their practices in writing and also had schools to teach their craft.
Although these cultures practiced different variations of massage, the end result was often the same: decreased muscle tension, stress, and pain, and increased comfort and overall feeling of wellbeing.
As the word and magic of massage has spread, modern western civilization has come to embrace massage both for its health and recreational benefits. Research estimates that massage therapy was a $16 billion industry in the US in 2017.
And finding a massage therapist is more widely available than ever: doctors’ offices, private in-home practices, on-demand apps, and vacation experiences all offer an opening to try it for yourself.
The reasons for massage popularity are clear: besides the obvious recreational benefits, studies have also proven how powerful massage can be to improve symptoms of serious conditions. In fact, about 19% of adult Americans received at least one massage over the period of one year — and most did so to reap the health benefits.
Of course, no two massages are quite alike. They’re custom tailored with specific ends in mind. And even though it’s generally safe, people with specific conditions should avoid massage practices that will exacerbate any current problems.
Throughout this article, we’ll break down how massage works, along with the exceptional moments when you shouldn’t use massage therapy to improve your condition.
How does it work?Massage is made with you in mind — to improve your health and wellbeing, or even just help you feel more relaxed.
Some massage therapists will go out of their way to create an ambiance that sets the tone for an enjoyable experience. They may accomplish this through relaxing music, dimmed lighting, and pleasant scents.
You can expect a consultation with your massage therapist when you make an appointment. They’ll ask if you have any particular pains or past ailments they should be aware of before they start.
Once the general consultation is over, many therapists provide you with a space to remove your clothing so they can better massage you. When this happens, they will leave the room and allow you to change. More often than not, you’ll have a cloth or towel to cover you so you’re not fully exposed.
After that, you’ll spend between 30-90 minutes of massage either on a massage chair or a massage table. When the session is over, they leave the room so you can re-dress by yourself.
If you’re not comfortable with removing your clothing for a massage, not to worry. Some types of massage actually occur with clothing. Or, you can bring up this concern to your massage therapist and they’ll find a way to accommodate you.
What conditions can massage help treat?There’s plenty of anecdotal evidence that supports the benefits of massage. But if you’re looking for more serious evidence, there are a wealth of studies that demonstrate the link between massages and decreased pain and symptoms for various conditions.
Studies have shown that massage can help improve symptoms for a wide range of conditions, including…
Chronic conditions:

Hypertension
Asthma
Multiple sclerosis
HIV
Dementia
Fibromyalgia
Insomnia
Rheumatoid arthritis
High blood pressure
Digestive disorders

Various health problems:

Back pain
Soft tissue injuries
Migraines
Chemotherapy-related nausea

Mental health:

Anxiety
Depression
Stress

So, how does massage make a positive impact on so many different health conditions? One key: multiple studies have shown that massage therapy reduces cortisol levels and increases oxytocin levels. Cortisol is a stress hormone that supports your “fight or flight” response. When your body is exposed to it long-term, you may experience anxiety, depression, sleep problems, weight gain, and even heart disease.
Oxytocin, on the other hand, is known as the “love” hormone. Besides its regular positive side effects, its presence has been shown to benefit people with autism, social anxiety, schizophrenia, and post traumatic stress disorder.
It stands to reason that many of the studies on massage and chronic health conditions demonstrated decreased cortisol and increased oxytocin in patients, allowing them to feel less painful symptoms and heal more quickly.
For example, one study of children going through chemotherapy showed the children who received regular Swedish massage had less painful and less frequent bouts of vomiting.
Another study showed that children with autism experienced increased oxytocin levels after regular massage. They also slept better and had fewer night awakenings.
And even if you don’t experience a chronic illness but are looking for improved wellbeing or relief from pain overall, massage is an excellent option. One study showed that massage therapy helped hospital patients cope with both the emotional and physical aspects of pain.
Is Massage Therapy Safe?Massage therapy is generally a safe practice that benefits its recipients. However, if you have certain ailments or conditions — or if you’re unlucky enough to encounter a poorly trained practitioner — your massage experience can quickly go south.
For your health, you should make sure the location where you receive your massage is hygenic and includes proper and safe equipment. Nobody wants to lay down on a flimsy massage table.
Adverse side effects of massage that are more run-of-the-mill include muscle pain and soreness during the first few days following the massage. However, you can often avoid this by seeking out a certified and trained massage therapist.
Certified massage therapists generally have to go through academic study, supervised training, and a requisite amount of practice hours to obtain their license. Most states have massage therapy license requirements, with exceptions.
Unfortunately, Oklahoma, Minnesota, Vermont, Kansas, and Wyoming don’t have any certification laws on the books. However, you should still be able to find someone who has verifiable certifications regardless. If not, look elsewhere so you don’t risk injury.
Of course, there is the off chance that your massage can go awry even if you have a certified massage therapist. For example, one study showed that cancer patients risk more adverse side effects than non-cancerous massage recipients. Spinal manipulation has also produced more adverse risks, though it is still considered generally safe.
And expecting mothers can definitely benefit from a massage — however, they may risk an increased likelihood of miscarriage during a first trimester massage. Pregnant women with high-risk pregnancy concerns, a recent organ transplant, or high blood pressure should also tread carefully when considering a massage.
It’s important to research different massage types if you have a specific medical condition you’re trying to treat. As we explore more in the following section, for example, people with lupus should probably steer clear from a deep tissue massage.
What are the different types of massage therapy?Most of us are familiar with the image of a traditional massage table and oils. However, massage doesn’t fit into just one category. There are dozens upon dozens of variations, sometimes even within one subset of massage.
These different variations and methods are called modalities. Modalities have been developed to target specific problems or areas of concerns to get tailored results. We won’t list all the modalities here because there are so many, but below you’ll find 11 popular modalities that you can commonly find.
Not every modality is made for every person, but that’s why it’s so great — you can find something tailored to both your personal needs and philosophy.
1. Aromatherapy Massage
Aromatherapy massage integrates essential oils into the massage experience. The use of essential oils dates back thousands of years to ancient Egypt, where they often gave scented massages and aromatic baths.
Blending these two elements together promotes relaxation and may invigorate or energize you, depending on the types of scents your massage therapist chooses. Many therapists will consult with you first to learn which kinds of essential oils you prefer. For example, cypress is believed to relieve muscle pain, whereas tea tree is used to support the immune system.
2. Craniosacral Therapy
For those looking for a gentle and non-invasive experience, craniosacral therapy may be the right fit. If you’re shy about taking off your clothes in front of a stranger, all the better. Practitioners of craniosacral therapy will often massage you fully clothed, with light and still movements.
Specialists in this area believe that light touch helps restore the central nervous system and improve irregular sleep patterns. And unlike many traditional massages which either use a chair or a massage table, craniosacral sessions often start in a massage chair first and then move to a massage table. The therapist will also check in with you during the massage to make sure they’re giving you the right level of touch.
3. Deep Tissue Massage
Deep tissue massage focuses on relieving severe muscle tension. It’s especially effective if you have musculoskeletal disorders, postural problems, or chronic muscle pain and tension. Massage therapists often use their knuckles, hands, and elbows to really dig in.
Avoid deep tissue massage if you have inflamed joints or ailments like lupus, because the vigorous nature of the massage could worsen a flare-up. Another important note: deep tissue massage shouldn’t be confused with deep pressure massage. While deep tissue focuses on layers of muscles and fascia, deep pressure massage focuses on the entire body.
4. Hot Stone Massage
Hoping for some novelty in your massage experience? Hot stone massage stands out from the rest. The massage therapist places hot stones on the your body and often uses them to give the massage. The effect allows the therapist to go deeper while still using lighter pressure.
And of course, the correct level of heat is a great way to loosen muscle tension and increase your levels of relaxation. Hot stone massage sessions often complement a regular massage experience and don’t exclusively use stones throughout the duration.
5. Myofascial Massage
Despite its potentially misleading name, myofascial massage isn’t actually related to your face. It’s related to fascia, a tissue that holds all your organs, arteries, bones, and muscles together. Myofascial massage is designed to manipulate that connecting tissue. During a session, a therapist will locate areas on you that feel stiff and apply manual pressure. This well help improve restricted movement. Myofascial massage may also target trigger points and use stretching to help relieve pain.
6. Pregnancy Massage
Pregnancy is no walk in the park, and massage can help ease those aches and pains. Getting a massage during your pregnancy has all kinds of benefits including hormone regulation, improvement of nerve pain, reduced swelling, reduced back and joint pain, and even better sleep.
Of course, you likely won’t be able to use a typical massage table and lay on your stomach, especially after the first trimester. Pregnancy massage uses different positions to accommodate your shape. Although the practice is considered safe, it’s also best to find a therapist who is certified in prenatal massage.
7. Reflexology
Reflexology complements holistic health practices and became popular in the United States around the 1930s. The practice that involves acupressure applied to the hands and feet.
According to the Reflexology Association of America, these techniques stimulate neural pathways and support optimal functioning of the body. Reflexologists use techniques such as thumb and finger walking to stimulate reflex points on your feet, often corresponding to a related organ. This type of massage could be a good fit for you if you enjoy foot massages.
8. Reiki
Reiki has its origins in 1800s Japan, where Dr. Usui popularized the practice and taught it to his students. Unlike most of the massage types listed here, using reiki doesn’t actually involve working tissue. Instead, practitioners gently place their hands above or on your body to transmit warmth and energy.
Many people who attend reiki sessions report feeling slight tingling or heat coming from the practitioner’s hands, which culminates in a sense of relaxation and wellbeing. It’s a gentle and non-invasive practice that won’t leave you feeling sore the next day.
9. Shiatsu
Shiatsu is a form of physical therapy that integrates emotional, physiological, and spiritual wellbeing. For centuries, Chinese practitioners paired shiatsu with herbalism and acupuncture to help relieve the pain of their clients. Since then, shiatsu has become more of a practice of its own, with about half a dozen variations.
You can find therapists who specialize in barefoot shiatsu, healing shiatsu, or movement shiatsu — just to name a few. For example, barefoot shiatsu involves powerful yoga-like stretches to unwind tightness, while healing shiatsu integrates mindfulness and meditation.
10. Sport Massage
Athletes work their bodies hard, which is why there’s an entire industry around specifically-tailored sports massage. You may take advantage of a sport massage before, during, or after athletic events. This helps relieve performance-related pains, promote flexibility, and even ward off potential injuries. Massage therapists often combine massage techniques, such as deep tissue massage or acupuncture, to tailor to the athletes’ and sports’ particular needs.
11. Swedish Massage
It may be near the bottom of the list, but that doesn’t mean it’s unpopular. The Swedish massage is actually known as the “traditional” massage. If you’ve gotten a massage before, chances are high you experienced something similar.
A traditional massage therapist usually applies kneading, stroking, and friction to loosen muscular tension and increase blood circulation. The therapist uses massage oil to ease the hand strokes and movements. Before you start, you should expect a consultation to ask about your health and lifestyle and if you have any particular tough spots or areas to avoid. This massage will take place on a massage table and usually lasts between 35-60 minutes.
The practices listed above are the highlights, but by no means do they cover all forms of massage therapy. From lymph drainage to rolfing, there’s just about every kind of massage therapy under the sun to address your needs.
Where can you receive massage therapy treatment?Once you’ve decided which modality of massage best fits your needs, it’s time to find where to get one. A wide range of facilities provide different modalities, specialties, and overall vibes.
As always, it’s important to verify you’re visiting a qualified professional who is licensed and trained to perform massage therapy. Here are a few places you can find a quality massage:

Spa – Spas are one of the most classic spots to get a massage, and for good reason. They usually offer a wide range of modalities that you can also pair with other luxurious treatments such as facials, manicures, and steam rooms.
Licensed Massage Therapist Office – Attending an office with a licensed massage therapist is a sure-fire way to know you’re getting high-quality service. Although they’re not a spa, most still include a relaxing ambiance with pleasant lighting, sounds, and smells.
Chiropractor – Some chiropractors combine their practice with massage, whether they do it themselves or have a licensed and trained colleague. These two forms of therapy are known to pair well together, and often provide a powerful combination of muscular and skeletal benefits.
Physical Therapist – A trained and certified physical therapist will be most likely to tailor their practice to your medical needs, especially if you need to heal from an illness or injury. You may find them in private practices, hospitals, or at in-home visits.
In-home/On demand – You can find licensed and certified in-home practitioners through certified state board websites, or through apps as well.
Cruise ship – Cruise ships are big hubs for the massage industry, and many offer a wide range of services. However, proceed with caution: many massage therapists have told tales of back-to-back massages for hours without breaks, resulting in stressed out practitioners and lower-quality service.
Gym – Premium gyms want to provide you with the best perks — that often means massage therapists on-site. These therapists will likely specialize in physical therapy and sport massage, though some gyms are more spa-like in nature.

Massage therapy and sleepAs you’ve seen in the prior sections, massage can improve all kinds of health conditions. Of course, many health problems are deeply tied to poor sleep as well. Acute and chronic pain can disturb regular sleep patterns, cause fitful sleep, or even extend into conditions like increased anxiety and insomnia.
For that reason, the increased levels of oxytocin from massage can help improve sleep levels indirectly. Several studies have shown that people suffering from painful and even serious conditions saw better sleep after a regular massage routine. For example, one study found that back massage was both a safe and cost-effective way to improve sleep among patients with congestive heart failure.
Another study found that massage therapy reduced fatigue and improved sleep patterns of people recovering from heart bypass surgery. Participants found that not only did they sleep better, but pain in their back, chest, and shoulders decreased significantly in only a matter of days with regular massage.
And yet another study conducted in Brazil found that massage therapy helped insomnia symptoms in postmenopausal women. Researchers found that massage had the potential to work well in conjunction with hormonal therapy, and may even have the potential to act as a stand-in to prescription medications.
What’s more, a different independent study conducted in Iran found that the link between sleep disorders and breast cancer in women significantly reduced with regular massage. As with women managing symptoms of menopause, researchers suggested this could be a viable alternative to taking medications.
The studies send quite a clear message: if massage can improve sleep for people with such serious conditions as breast cancer and congenital heart failure, it only makes sense it could help people with less serious illnesses as well.
Massage is an age-old technique that can make a deeply positive impact on your sleep, health, and overall well-being. At the end of the day, it’s about finding which modality is the right fit for you.
Additional Tuck Resources

Tuck Sleep is a community devoted to improving sleep hygiene, health and wellness through the creation and dissemination of comprehensive, unbiased, free web-based resources. Tuck has been referenced by Well + Good, Smithsonian Magazine, Harvard University and by many sleep organizations across the web.
]]><![CDATA[Time for a Break... Meir Schneider, PhD, LMT]]>Fri, 16 Jun 2017 13:21:48 GMThttp://backandbodyworkmassage.com/blog/time-for-a-break-meir-schneider-phd-lmt

Do you take breaks? Real breaks? Many of us take coffee breaks or food breaks, but what about a real body-mind break? Here are some more self-preservation techniques you can try. When it’s time for your next break, go outside, get a few minutes of sunshine, exercise your eyes by looking into the distance, and breathe clean air. Consider taking a short walk. Walking backward and sideways can help loosen muscles we don’t regularly use. Move your arms up and around in a rotating motion, stretching backward. That’s a real break for your body, mind, and spirit. If all we have in front of us are the same four walls or a massage table all day, it is no wonder that the eyes begin to stiffen and the body quickly follows. Here are two specific exercises to help rejuvenate your body and mind:

The Sunning Exercise

At my school, we love to take people outdoors and do an exercise called “sunning.” We use the sun to relax our eyes and bodies and, thereby, prevent strain and injury in our backs, shoulders, and necks. To do the sunning exercise, we close our eyes, face the sun with our noses pointed directly toward it, and slowly move our heads all the way from side to side, shoulder to shoulder. It is important not to tense or lift the shoulders. When the head moves all the way to the left and away from direct sunlight, the pupils expand. When the head moves to the middle, facing the sun, the pupils contract. And when the head moves all the way to the right, they expand again. When my students practice this, we create a kind of loop—while people are moving their heads from side to side, they massage each others’ shoulders. As we sun, we allow our partner to relax our shoulders by doing a deep

and relaxing shoulder massage and we reciprocate to the next person. That sounds easy enough—there’s nothing challenging intellectually about moving the head from side to side while massaging someone’s shoulders, but 90 percent of the people have a difficult time doing it. Most of us tense our shoulders while moving our hands, because we never learned to separate and relax the shoulders or the neck from our hand movements. Sunning, done in partnership this way, not only relaxes the eyes, but also helps increase awareness of muscle isolation and reinforces that concept.

Give Your Eyes a Break, Too

As a result of nearly 45 years as a bodyworker and teacher of my Natural Vision Improvement method, I am keenly aware of the connection between our eyes and the rest of our body. One of the first places strain makes itself known is in our eyes, but most people don’t make the connection. For example, we don’t notice how much effort it takes for our eyes to look at close objects or how relaxing it is to look far away. We also don’t notice how we strain to pay attention to our central vision and neglect our peripheral vision. These imbalances lead to stress throughout our bodies. The simplest way to overcome these imbalances is to take breaks and look into the distance at least once or twice an hour. It’s best if you can go outside and look at distant treetops, over the ocean, or at the sky. If that isn’t possible, look out a window at whatever there is to see. Don’t try to focus on anything. Just let your eyes gently scan. Wave your hands at the side of your face to wake up your peripheral vision while you use your central vision to look long distance, which allows the lens of the eye to assume its relaxed position. This gives the tiny muscles of the eye a chance to rest, while improving

blood flow. It also helps to prevent cataracts, which are caused by a stiff lens. It takes considerable effort to utilize our close vision, as the eye uses muscles to bend its lens to the proper position. Tension in the eyes has a drastic effect on the rest of our bodies, and the strain there tends to be reflected in our faces, jaws, shoulders, and in virtually all our muscles. Utilizing our near vision extensively, without taking breaks, gradually builds tension and strain in the eyes and body. Over time, that tension limits circulation and can lead to stiff muscles, vision problems, and back and body pain. By relaxing the eyes, and giving them the attention they require to be healthy, we reduce the strain on our bodies. The relaxation in the eyes is reflected in the rest of the body, minimizing our strain and stress. To further relax the eyes, mind, and body, practice palming. Place your hands gently over your eye orbits—the cheekbones and forehead (don’t touch the eyeballs or eyelids)—and, with your eyes open, imagine a deep blackness. Try to do this for at least six minutes at a time in intervals throughout the day—it makes a huge difference. Try alternating between looking into the distance and palming for periods of six minutes or more to totally and completely relax your eyes before your next session of bodywork

MORE TIPS TO STOP BACK PAIN

In addition to the suggestions already provided, there are a few other things we can do as therapists for the benefit of our backs and bodies:

• Utilize a stool whenever you can while working with clients. Giving the client a nice facial and scalp massage is a great opportunity for the therapist to change positions and sit for a few minutes. • Make sure your work shoes are specifically meant for a long day of being on your feet.

• Pay attention to your surroundings. Your back, neck, and shoulders will tense up if you feel claustrophobic, tired, or overworked. Find moments throughout your day to pause and consciously lower your shoulders, practice some deep breathing, and ground yourself. • Keep moving. Try not to maintain one position for too long. When you create movement in your own body, you transfer the sense of movement through your vibrations to your client’s body. That transfer creates movement in their bodies—make sure it’s positive movement!

• When it’s time to do computer work, make sure to take a break every 20 minutes or so. Stand up, grab one ankle from behind you, and pull it up to give the front of your thigh a good stretch as you look up to the ceiling. Push your chest forward, so your neck doesn’t shorten or wrench. Open your eyes and move them in a rotating motion. Look at the four corners of the ceiling while stretching your leg backward and your chest forward. Do this for about 10 breaths for each leg. This simple stretch will make a huge difference for your back and sitting will be much more comfortable.

LEARNING FROM PAIN

It’s important for us to understand that life is movement and movement is life. Whatever stops us from moving will stop our clients from moving. If you are working on releasing the tension in a client’s back while you are carrying great tension yourself, you are going to have to work that much harder. But self-care changes the story for both client and therapist. If we treat all parts of us, and work on all parts of us, and care for ourselves first, we function at our best and are better equipped to help others do the same. Self-care is simple, free, and of amazing value. I would like to invite all of you to take care of yourselves first, so your life is fuller and happier and you ultimately can be of maximum benefit to your clients.

Meir Schneider, PhD, LMT, is founder of the School for Self-Healing in San Francisco. He healed himself of congenital blindness and developed an original holistic approach to health through a unique combination of therapeutic massage, movement, and natural vision-improvement exercises for prevention and rehabilitation of degenerative conditions. A globally respected therapist, educator, and bestselling author, Schneider’s latest book, Awakening the Power of SelfHealing, will be published by Self-Healing Press later this year. To learn more, call 415-665-9574, email info@self-healing.org, or visit www.self-healing.org.

]]><![CDATA[5 secrets your massage therapist may not tell you (but I will) by MIchelle Doetsch]]>Wed, 12 Sep 2012 14:52:25 GMThttp://backandbodyworkmassage.com/blog/5-secrets-your-massage-therapist-may-not-tell-you-but-i-will-by-michelle-doetsch
You didn’t know we had secrets, did you?? Well we do. And because it’s a holiday week, I’ve decided to write a fun and easy blog post this week. So I picked the top 5 secrets I sometimes share with my clients and today I share them with you as well.

1. Don’t apologize for falling asleep during the massage. It means that you were comfortable and relaxed enough to drift off to sleep. We take it as a compliment when you fall asleep, whether you mean it as one or not. Please don’t burst our bubble by telling us you only fell asleep because you were completely exhausted.

2. Don’t apologize If you forgot to shave your legs today. I will personally guarantee that far more women than you’d suspect don’t shave their legs every day either. If they did, I wouldn’t massage nearly the amount of stubble that I do. I massage so much stubble, in fact, that I barely register it anymore.

3. Cleanliness is next to Godliness, but you can take it too far. Please don’t shower right before walking out your door and come in with wet hair. You see, the moisture gets pulled out of your hair, into the sheet, AND into whatever additional padding that we’ve added beneath the sheet to increase your comfort (often this a lambswool-type padding). This padding stays wet for a long time. We probably only have 1 spare pad. If it gets wet we have to change it. And because many of us don’t have laundry facilities in the spaces that we rent, if two people come in with wet hair in the same day, the remaining clients may not get the additional padding at all if the first pad hasn’t dried yet.

4. It’s possible to smell too good. Believe me. Please refrain from applying perfume or cologne until after your session. Most massage rooms are small and with the door shut for 60-90 minutes, the smell concentrates until we can taste it. We really don’t like the taste of perfume. If we’re trying to ignore the taste of your perfume, you won’t get the best massage out of us no matter how hard we try to do so.

5. Timeliness is next to Godliness. It’s obviously not cool to be late; we operate a time-based business. People sign up for a timed session and we’re not going to be late for the next client, who showed up on time, just because you were late. Most therapists will still end the session at the original time and require you to pay the full fee. It’s also not cool to be more than 5-10 minutes early. Again, this is because we operate on a time basis. After each client, we have things that we must do to “finish” the previous session and get ready for the next. These include: Charting on the session we just finished (a massage isn’t finished until it’s charted), changing the table linens, resetting the room so it’s ready for us to begin a new session, drink some water, use the bathroom, have a bite to eat, and return voicemails/emails received while we were in with the last client.

So there you have it. 5 of our most important secrets.

Do you have a question that you’d like answered, but can’t quite bring yourself to ask your therapist face-to-face? Leave it in the comments and I’ll either answer it in the comments or in a blog post of its own.

Are you a massage therapist who has another secret you’d like to share? Please leave it in the comments.

And of course, don’t forget to like, share, pin, retweet, etc. You all know the drill. The handy buttons below ↓↓↓ make is super easy to do so.

]]><![CDATA[Let Your Fascia Flow - What is Fascia and Why Should You Care.]]>Thu, 17 May 2012 13:48:43 GMThttp://backandbodyworkmassage.com/blog/let-your-fascia-flow-what-is-fascia-and-why-should-you-careArticlesLet Your Fascia Flow
By Anita Boser
Originally published in Body Sense magazine, Spring 2011. Copyright 2011. Associated Bodywork and Massage Professionals. All rights reserved.

Sharon shuffled into her massage therapist's office wondering what was wrong with her muscles. After two weeks of working overtime at her job, she had resumed her normal exercise routine. Instead of the relief she expected, she left the gym with more pain and even developed a disturbing complication: tingling in her fingers. Fortunately, her therapist knew the root of the problem was the fact that Sharon's fascia was distorted.

Few people know about fascia, a three-dimensional web of support that facilitates, or inhibits, movement. Like a movie director who influences every scene, fascia coordinates every move of the body. Fascia is a thin connective tissue that wraps every muscle fiber, every muscle bundle, every individual muscle, and every muscle group. It becomes the tendon that knits into the connective tissue covering the bones. For extra coordination and strength, it forms sheets to transmit force between muscles. Nerves, blood vessels, and organs also have fascial coverings.

Healthy fascia is smooth and slippery, so muscles can slide like silk. When gummy, dense, and contorted, unhealthy fascia binds muscles and limits movement. Collagen fibers give fascia its shape and structure, which organize along lines of tension in the body.

In Sharon's case, long hours sitting at a computer shortened and thickened the fascia in the front of her chest and neck, causing fascia around the muscles in her back and shoulders to create additional fibers. Her shoulders felt tight, not because they were shortened, but because they were encased in stiff, misdirected fibers.

Common exercises--such as using elliptical and weight machines, and traditional stretching--are two-dimensional. They focus on contracting and lengthening muscles, like clenching your fist and then opening your fingers wide. This is good for muscles, but ignores the complexity of your fascial network.

Sharon's muscle-focused exercise routine reinforced the misalignment and tightness in her fascia. A more helpful approach would have been to pay attention to her posture and choose non-repetitive movements, such as adding angles to weight exercises, stretching in multiple directions, and using balance equipment.

Exercising in a three-dimensional, non-repetitive way engages more of your fascia, so the different layers can slide more freely. The Octopus Undulation exercise is an example for your hands, try it to feel the effect of non-repetitive movement and to relieve repetitive strain.

Without the coordination of an adept fascial network, movement is like a B-rated movie: stiff and awkward, lacking smooth transitions and subtle inflection. Over time it leads to dysfunction and pain. Bodywork can return fascia to a more fluid and flexible state. Showing Sharon these techniques brought her relief, as did adding variety to her exercise routine. As a result, she has regained the flow in her body.

Anita Boser, LMP, CHP, RYT, is a certified Hellerwork Structural Integration practitioner, registered yoga teacher, and author. You can download a free booklet of exercises to relieve body tension at www.undulationexercise.com. ]]><![CDATA[Don't Call It Pampering: Massage Wants to Be Medicine]]>Thu, 15 Mar 2012 22:25:52 GMThttp://backandbodyworkmassage.com/blog/donBy ANDREA PETERSEN

While massage may have developed a reputation as a decadent treat for people who love pampering, new studies are showing it has a wide variety of tangible health benefits.

Research over the past couple of years has found that massage therapy boosts immune function in women with breast cancer, improves symptoms in children with asthma, and increases grip strength in patients with carpal tunnel syndrome. Giving massages to the littlest patients, premature babies, helped in the crucial task of gaining weight.

The benefits go beyond feelings of relaxation and wellness that people may recognize after a massage. The American College of Physicians and the American Pain Society now include massage as one of their recommendations for treating low back pain, according to guidelines published in 2007.

New research is also starting to reveal just what happens in the body after a massage. While there have long been theories about how massage works—from releasing toxins to improving circulation—those have been fairly nebulous, with little hard evidence. Now, one study, for example, found that a single, 45-minute massage led to a small reduction in the level of cortisol, a stress hormone, in the blood, a decrease in cytokine proteins related to inflammation and allergic reactions, and a boost in white blood cells that fight infection.

There's been a surge of scientific interest in massage. The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, part of the National Institutes of Health, is currently spending $2.7 million on massage research, up from $1.5 million in 2002. The Massage Therapy Foundation, a nonprofit organization that funds massage research, held its first scientific conference in 2005. The third conference will be in Boston next year.

The research is being driven, in part, by massage therapy's popularity. About 8.3% of American adults used massage in 2007, up from 5% in 2002, according to a National Health Statistics report that surveyed 23,393 adults in 2007 and 31,044 adults in 2002, the latest such data available. Massage was expected to be a $10 billion to $11 billion industry in 2011 in the U.S., according to estimates by the American Massage Therapy Association, a nonprofit professional organization.

"There is emerging evidence that [massage] can make contributions in treating things like pain, where conventional medicine doesn't have all the answers," said Jack Killen, NCCAM's deputy director.

The massage therapy field hopes that the growing body of research will lead to greater insurance coverage for its treatments. Washington is the only state that requires insurers to cover massage therapy.

Research Findings

A full-body massage boosted immune function and lowered heart rate and blood pressure in women with breast cancer undergoing radiation treatment, a 2009 study of 30 participants found.
Children given 20-minute massages by their parents every night for five weeks plus standard asthma treatment had significantly improved lung function compared with those in standard care, a 2011 study of 60 children found.
A 10-minute massage upped mitochondria production, and reduced proteins associated with inflammation in muscles that had been exercised to exhaustion, a small study last month found.

Elsewhere, private insurers generally provide very limited coverage for massage. WellPoint, for example, doesn't include massage as a standard benefit in most of its plans, but employers can purchase alternative medicine coverage as an add on, said spokeswoman Kristin E. Binns. Aetna doesn't cover massage therapy as a standard benefit but offers members discounts on massage visits with practitioners who are part of an affiliated network of alternative medicine providers. Providers such as chiropractors or physical therapists, whose visits are often covered, sometimes use massage as part of their treatment.

Massage therapists charge an average of about $59 for a one-hour session, according to the American Massage Therapy Association. Treatments at posh urban spas, however, can easily cost at least three times that amount.

Most of the research is being done on Swedish massage, the most widely-available type of massage in the U.S. It is a full-body massage, often using oil or lotion, that includes a variety of strokes, including "effleurage" (gliding movements over the skin), "petrissage" (kneading pressure) and "tapotement" (rhythmic tapping).

Another common type of massage, so-called deep tissue, tends to be more targeted to problem muscles and includes techniques such as acupressure, trigger-point work (which focuses on little knots of muscle) and "deep transverse friction" where the therapist moves back and forth over muscle fibers to break up scar tissue.

Massage is already widely used to treat osteoarthritis, for which other treatments have concerning side effects. A study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine in 2006 showed that full-body Swedish massage greatly improved symptoms of osteoarthritis of the knee. Patients who had massages twice weekly for four weeks and once a week for an additional four weeks had less pain and stiffness and better range of motion than those who didn't get massages. They were also able to walk a 50-foot path more quickly.

"If [massage] works then it should become part of the conventionally recommended interventions for this condition and if it doesn't work we should let [patients] know so they don't waste their time and money," says Adam Perlman, the lead author of the study and the executive director of Duke Integrative Medicine in Durham, N.C.

Scientists are also studying massage in healthy people.

In a small study published in the journal Science Translational Medicine last month, a 10-minute massage promoted muscle recovery after exercise. In the study, 11 young men exercised to exhaustion and then received a massage in one leg. Muscle biopsies were taken in both quad muscles before exercise, after the massage and 2½ hours later.

The short massage boosted the production of mitochondria, the energy factory of the cell, among other effects. "We've shown this is something that has a biological effect," says Mark Tarnopolsky, a co-author of the study and a professor of pediatrics and medicine at McMaster University Medical Center in Hamilton, Ontario.

A 2010 study with 53 participants comparing the effects of one 45-minute Swedish massage to light touch, found that people who got a massage had a large decrease in arginine-vasopressin, a hormone that normally increases with stress and aggressive behavior, and slightly lower levels of cortisol, a stress hormone, in their blood after the session. There was also a decrease in cytokine proteins related to inflammation and allergic reactions.

Mark Hyman Rapaport, the lead author of the study and the chairman of psychiatry and behavioral science at the Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta, says he began studying massage because, "My wife liked massages and I wasn't quite sure why. I thought of it as an extravagance, a luxury for only people who are very rich and who pamper themselves." Now, Dr. Rapaport says he gets a massage at least once a month. His group is now studying massage as a treatment for generalized anxiety disorder.

Knead to Know Tips

• How can you make sure you get a good massage? Most states regulate massage and require therapists to be licensed. This usually requires a minimum number of hours of training and an exam. There is also national certification. Members of the American Massage Therapy Association must have 500 hours of training.

• Ask how many massages a therapist gives a day—and make sure you're not the 10th or even the seventh. 'It takes a lot of physical exertion to deliver a therapeutic massage,' says Ken Morris, spa director at Canyon Ranch, a health resort in Tucson, Ariz. Canyon Ranch limits its therapists to six massages in a day.

Write to Andrea Petersen at andrea.petersen@wsj.com

A version of this article appeared Mar. 13, 2012, on page D1 in some U.S. editions of The Wall Street Journal, with the headline: Don't Call It Pampering: Massage Wants to Be Medicine.

]]><![CDATA[First Post!]]>Thu, 15 Mar 2012 22:05:03 GMThttp://backandbodyworkmassage.com/blog/first-post