Wellness

4 Things Your Massage Therapist Wants You to Know Post-Covid

It has been far too long since you have seen your massage therapist. And to say 2020 was a stressful year is a drastic understatement. We could all use an hour or two with a skillful therapist to work out all the stress, tension, and muscle kinks from the last year.  continue reading »

New study shows massage alleviates stress

In a new study published in the journal Scientific Reports in September 2020, researchers confirmed that the parasympathetic nervous system, which controls the body’s fight or flight response, is physically and psychologically regenerative and is especially activated through massage therapy. 

While we have all thought massage encourages relaxation and that relaxing activates the parasympathetic nervous system, these researchers set out to scientifically prove it. continue reading »

How Massage Improves Circulation

By: Kim M. Filkins, L.Ac.

There are many different types of massage. And each type has a specific purpose and benefits that are unique. While every massage can be relaxing and relieve pain and tension in the body, some of the forms of massage go even deeper than that. Lymphatic drainage massage is one example of a specialized massage technique that can benefit almost everybody. continue reading »

Self-Massage Techniques to do at Home

Massage therapy has been around for centuries and has been discussed in the ancient texts of many languages, including Chinese, Indian, Greek and Egyptian. While the exact roots of massage therapy are not known, it is known that getting regular massages can be very beneficial for those who receive them. Massage can treat everything from aches, pains and digestive issues to insomnia and more, which everyone experiences at some point in their lives.

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5 Reasons to Get a Massage This Summer

While many people think of massage as a treat for special occasions, the truth is that regular massage can be extremely beneficial, especially during the summer months. Here are five reasons why you should consider getting a massage this summer:

  1. Aches, Pains, Sprains and Strains – Regular massage helps soften and relax injured or overused muscles. Muscles being used more frequently can lead to aches and pains. Regular massage increases circulation and oxygenation, which helps the muscles heal more quickly. Massage also releases endorphins from the brain that are natural painkillers.
  2. Improved Mood / Mental Attitude – The added stress of having the kids in the house, all day, every day, during the summer months can lead to anger and frustration. Getting a massage will help the mind and body relax. Studies confirm that regular massage can be beneficial for stress. Massages increase the feel good hormones known as serotonin and dopamine, while reducing the stress hormone known as cortisol. This leads to an improved mental state.
  3. Decreases Joint Swelling – The increased amount of heat and humidity can frequently cause swelling of the joints, particularly the knees and ankles. Massage helps to decrease the static accumulation of fluids in the joints by increasing circulation. Lymphatic massage is especially good at this because it pushes fluids through the body, releases toxins in the cells and keeps things flowing to reduce swelling.
  4. Increases Immunity – With all the added activity and fatigue from running around, summer colds can be common. Regular massage increases circulation in the body and oxygenation of the cells. This can help bolster the body’s immune system, allowing it to heal faster by increasing the amount of lymphocytes in the bloodstream. Lymphocytes are white blood cells that fight off disease and infection.
  5. Lowers Blood Pressure – Regular massages can be very beneficial to the circulatory system and a person’s blood pressure. Because massage is so relaxing, it can help lower blood pressure, while also decreasing the risk of stroke or a heart attack. When stress increases, so too does the blood pressure. As mentioned before, massage is a great way to decrease stress levels.

This list represents the tip of the iceberg when it comes to why massage can be beneficial to everybody during the summer months. So whether you’re suffering from aches and pains, high blood pressure, a summer cold or joint swelling, finding a massage therapist might be exactly what the doctor ordered. If nothing else, you get a few minutes of relaxation and no worries. Who can’t use that?

The Benefits of Massage for Arthritis

Arthritis is a word that is thrown around a lot these days. Arthritis is defined as a painful inflammation and stiffness of the joints. While arthritis is frequently thought of as an old age ailment, it can actually affect anybody, even children. This debilitating disease affects nearly 48 million Americans. It reduces a person’s ability to remain mobile, it reduces their quality of life and the health care costs are staggering. But there is hope for those who suffer from arthritis. continue reading »

5 Reasons to Get a Massage This Winter

For many people, the winter months are more difficult to get through than other times of the year. With shorter days, less sunlight, colder temperatures, inclement weather and less social interaction, people tend to become depressed as the season of winter approaches. Just like our wild cousins, winter is often a time of hibernation and rejuvenation. But there are ways to combat the winter blues.   continue reading »

3 Ways to Massage Away Nausea

Massage can be an amazing tool for relieving nausea, and here are a few ways that massage can help with nausea.

Self-massage is a great way to relieve digestive irritations, cramps, morning sickness, stress-related nausea and more. Many people hold their stress in their abdomen which can lead to nausea, general queasiness, and perhaps even vomiting. By gently massaging the abdomen, nausea can be greatly reduced. The motion of the massage is important when being performed on the abdomen – generally clockwise.

Abdominal massage is especially helpful when there is digestive upset. Using a clockwise motion, and beginning at the lower left portion of the belly, gradually work up toward the ribs, then from left to right across the body, and finally downward toward the lower right side of the large intestine. This follows the natural path of the gastrointestinal tract and helps with peristalsis of the stomach and intestines. You can also find relief from nausea by massaging in the middle of the abdomen in a counter-clockwise direction. continue reading »

5 Reasons to Get a Massage This Fall

As summer weather comes to a crawl and the feeling of fall becomes more prominent, it’s important to allow our bodies to relax and recover from the hype of summer activities. For most, summer is the most active of all seasons because children aren’t in school, family vacations are more frequent (YEAH!), and the warm weather and longer days allow us to be outside more. With the busyness of our lives, it’s not uncommon for people to feel exhausted by the time autumn rolls around as our lives and routines fall back into place.   continue reading »

The Benefits of Partner Massage at Home

It’s no secret that a good massage can provide relief for sore muscles, tired eyes and even digestive upset. But have you ever considered the benefits of sharing a massage with your husband, wife or partner in your own home? 

Many people naturally rub their loved ones neck or shoulders when they are feeling stressed or in pain. But what many couples don’t realize is that providing their partner with a relaxing massage can also bring them closer together and strengthen the emotional bonds of the relationship. continue reading »