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Two-Way Street
Communicating with Your Massage Therapist

By Sharon Leonard

People get massages for a variety of reasons. Perhaps you’re seeking stress relief from the weekly work commute or your wanting to cleanse your body of toxins. Or maybe massage is helping you recover from a sports injury or surgery. Whatever your reasons, it’s absolutely important that you explicitly communicate to your therapist the reason you made the appointment. Otherwise you run the risk of not getting what you want.In addition to explaining any wellness requirement, you also need to clarify your comfort needs during the session so that you feel completely at ease. Most practitioners work to create an appropriate environment with elements such as the temperature, music, aromatherapy, and table setting. But if anything makes you uncomfortable, feel free — or rather, feel responsible — to say as much. Your therapist is as interested as you are in making sure you get what you want from the massage, and building a communicative partnership is key. Remember, communication is a two-way street.

Sandy Anderson, owner of Relaxing Moments Massage in Reno, Nevada, asks at the beginning of each appointment, “What is the focus of our session today?” — whether it’s the client’s first or 21st appointment with her. The therapist needs to know your wellness context. Even if she has your health history, circumstances — and bodies — are always changing. Perhaps you were traveling for the last two months spending significant time in cramped seats on airplanes. Maybe you’re training for a marathon race, logging numerous miles each week. Or, a more likely scenario, you’re stressed and feeling emotionally tapped out.Furthermore, it’s important she or he knows about your massage preferences that just make your massage more pleasurable, such as getting extra work on your feet or ending the session with a face massage. Perhaps it’s important to you to have the therapist “stay connected” by keeping her hands on you rather than, for example, going from your feet to your shoulders. By simply letting her or him know of any such information can vastly improve your session.

The Setting

 

 

 

“I have designed my treatment room to offer a basic comfort level based on my professional experience,” Anderson says. “But I need the client to tell me if something is not to her liking. For example, I have provided a small fountain that I thought provided soothing background sounds, but two of my clients have requested that it be turned off because it made them feel as though they needed to run to the restroom.”One important amenity issue that should be discussed by the client and the therapist is massage-table comfort. “I use a heated table covered with a sheet and a blanket because as the active therapist I need the room temperature lower than what is comfortable for the client,” Anderson says. “Then I ask the client what adjustments she might want me to make.” Even if your therapist doesn’t specifically ask about the temperature, background sounds, aromas or whatever other subtle amenities in the room, if there’s something that’s making your massage less than great, be sure to discuss it with your practitioner.

Conversation can sometimes be a point of contention. Because some clients like to talk during a session while others prefer silence, Anderson believes it’s up to the client to dictate this aspect. She does not inhibit talking nor does she initiate conversation if the client is silent. If you want to tactfully make certain your therapist is not overly conversational, it is appropriate to say something like, “You will find that I am not very talkative. I just like to totally relax during this time.” While your practitioner may communicate aspects of the massage, don’t necessarily take this for her trying to make conversation.Angie Parris-Raney, owner of Good Health Massage Therapy in Littleton, Colo., believes it’s very important for the therapist to explain her actions so the client is not surprised. “Whether I’m easing a first time massage client’s apprehension by explaining I will only be uncovering one part of the body at a time or I’m doing a rehabilitation treatment for injury, illness or surgery, I have learned from experience the client wants detailed information on what is going to happen,” Parris-Raney says. “It is also helpful if she tells me how she feels about what I am doing. Is the stroke too deep or too light? Does she want me to use a slower or faster pace?” If you are unclear about an expectation or a procedure, even if it is something as simple as, “Where is the safest place to put my jewelry?” feel free to ask.

Pain is a Sign - Your Body is Telling you Something!

Let’s face it, we live in a high stress culture that has constant demands.  Pursuing a career, family life, house chores, holidays, vacation planning the list can go on forever.  Eventually we start to experience headaches, tension and pains throughout our body.  The pain is an indicator or “sign” that something is wrong and the problem wont go away until we take direct action to resolve it.  The pain could leave for a few days or weeks but eventually it returns and keeps nagging us to get help.

Here are a couple of interesting statistics that even surprised us when we researched the numbers.

- 90% of all visits to primary care physicians are for stress-related complaints.

- Over 50% of lost workdays are stress related which keeps about 1 million people per day from attending work.

- Health care expenditures are nearly 50% greater for workers who report high levels of stress.

Reducing your stress will improve your health.  A balanced lifestyle is important to creating and maintaining your health. Are you ignoring your aches and pains hoping they will go away?  Have you taken some time for yourself to quiet the mind and relax the soul?  Listen to your body and get help reducing your stress today.

Somatic Semantics - What Exactly is CAM?  

Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) refers to healing modalities that don’t fall into conventional Western medical philosophy, including bodywork, acupuncture, herbology, homeopathy and mind/body techniques. CAM is becoming a more familiar term as approximately 125 million Americans suffering from chronic illness — arthritis, back pain, hypertension, and depression — look for solutions that conventional medicine can’t provide.

“Complementary” modalities are used together with conventional medicine, such as utilizing aromatherapy to lessen a patient’s discomfort following surgery. “Alternative” modalities are used in place of conventional medicine, such as using herbs to treat stomach upset rather than taking pharmaceuticals. And the merging of alternative and conventional medicine is referred to as “integrative medicine,” connoting the idea of combining the best of both healing philosophies.

CAM is continually gaining the respect of the Western medical system, as indicated by the nearly 100 medical schools now offering courses in alternative therapies. The University of Arizona is an exceptional model of such a school, offering the nation’s only postgraduate, two-year Program in Integrative Medicine (PIM). Founded in 1994, PIM is designed to teach small groups of physicians how to integrate holistic modalities into their practices. These doctors are committed to a fundamental redesign of medical education including such principles as:

–Appropriate use of conventional and alternative methods to facilitate the body’s innate healing response,
–Consideration of all factors that influence health, including mind, spirit, and community,
–A philosophy that neither rejects conventional medicine nor accepts alternative medicine uncritically.

For more information and research about CAM, visit the nonprofit Alternative Medicine Foundation’s website, http://www.amfoundation.org/.  

Interested in an Inspirational Journey? Visit Dr. Suzanne Nixon’s website for information on her therapeutic program that offers a way for individuals to reconnect, reclaim and renew from within.

Take a multivitamin that contains B vitamins – November 30, 2009

Take a multivitamin that contains B vitamins. The B vitamins folic acid, B6 and B12 are related to cognitive function.

If you swallow your vitamin supplements with your morning coffee, you may be missing out on possible health benefits. Take them with food for the best results. Vitamins A, D, E and K are fat-soluble, requiring the presence of some fat (think good fats, such as the omega-3’s found in flax seed) in the gastrointestinal tract for optimal absorption.

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Bodywork Treatment Proves Successful

By Cathy Ulrich

It started as a vague feeling of numbness in her thumb and first two fingers, then progressed slowly to a definite tingling that woke her several nights a week. “It’s not so bad on weekends when I have a chance to rest my arms, but it’s now getting in the way of things I like to do at home,” says Marie, who spends long hours during the work-week typing at her computer keyboard. “I love to knit and cook, and I’ve had to curb these activities, as well. “Diagnosed with carpal tunnel syndrome, Marie displayed the classic symptoms: soreness in her forearms, pain in her hands at the end of a long day at the computer, and a feeling of tightness that had spread from hands and wrists all the way to her elbows. And recently, she’d been getting headaches.

Marie has a couple of different options for treating the problem. “My doctor tells me he can operate, but the surgery isn’t always successful,” she says. “He recommends I try bodywork first.”

Because Marie does the same motion in the same way many times a day over a long period of time, she has literally worn out the tissues involved in that motion. This type of injury — called a repetitive strain injury, or RSI — creates tiny tears in the fibers of the soft tissues of the body. While they don’t immediately cause loss of function, these micro-tears set up conditions for chronic inflammation that will eventually manifest as pain, soreness, tightness, tingling, and burning.

CTS

The hand and wrist combination work together as an amazing, mechanical anatomical wonder. Imagine a set of ropes and pulleys that travel from the elbow through the wrist to the fingertips. The muscles reside in the forearm, moving the fingers via long tendons that run through channels in the wrist. The nerves that send and receive sensory and motor information from the brain run alongside the tendons through these same channels. When bending or straightening a finger, these tendons slide back and forth, just like cables. When continually working at a keyboard and using the same motion in the same position thousands of times a day — like millions of Americans do — the cables begin to wear. And just like threads in a rope, some of the collagen fibers will tear. This process progresses until enough fibers are torn that the body develops inflammation in the tendons and sheaths. Swelling ensues, which pinches the nerves, producing the classic symptoms of tingling, swelling, and even loss of grip strength.

The Bigger Picture

Can Bodywork Help?  

A recent study conducted at The Touch Research Institute at the University of Miami School of Medicine looked at the efficacy of bodywork in treating carpal tunnel syndrome. Researchers found that after the completion of four massage sessions, the participants experienced an improvement in grip strength and a decrease in pain, anxiety, and depression. Participants also showed improvement in specific medical tests used to diagnose carpal tunnel syndrome. This landmark study verifies what bodyworkers have observed clinically for years: Massage — and especially deep tissue techniques, such as Thai massage,  — can reorganize the connective tissue fibers, break up scar tissue, and reduce or eliminate the cause of inflammation. Soft tissue work helps realign these tiny fibers of the tendons and sheaths, and the body can then heal itself — and ease or even eliminate carpal tunnel syndrome.

Bodywork to the entire arm, shoulder, and neck will also free soft tissues where hidden tightness can contribute to the problem. Soft tissue inflammation can travel through the continuous connective tissue framework from fingertips to head and even cause headaches — as was the case with Marie. Massage can restore these tissues to normal function.

Other Considerations
In addition to bodywork, it’s important to evaluate postural habits, work station positioning, and movement patterns. When workers become so focused on their work that they forget their bodies, they tend to maintain positions that contribute to the cause. It’s important to identify several ways and several positions to accomplish the same thing. Moving the mouse from one side to the other, even during the same day, can help prevent fatigue and tissue failure. Wrist rests and keyboard trays are important, and a regular stretching routine is essential.

Finally, along with exercise and good nutrition, include bodywork as part of your regular health maintenance program. Regular massage reduces connective tissue inflammation and prevents scar tissue from forming. Movement education, such as the Alexander Technique, Feldenkrais Method, structural integration, and Trager Approach can help correct postural issues that also contribute to the problem. Bodywork is a treatment of choice to keep carpal tunnel syndrome from slowing you down.

 What Do Your Feet Say About You?

During the warmer months feet, that are hidden away are suddenly on display in sandals, flip flops, and other warm-weather footwear.

Why is foot pain common this time of year?

Well, first, new shoes can often cause blisters and calluses until their fully “broken-in”.

In addition, summer shoes tend to be significantly less supportive than shoes worn in colder months.

If you are suffering from foot pain (even mild to moderate), there are a couple of quick steps—no pun intended!—that you should take:

• Make sure all your shoes fit well.

If shoes are rubbing, pinching, or causing calluses and blisters, that’s a clear sign that the fit is not good.

• Avoid shoes with no support.

Many flip-flops and sandals are flat with absolutely no support whatsoever, which can cause pain in the arch and heels.

However, there are many summer shoes on the market that do have support. Talk to a reputable shoe dealer who specializes in quality shoes; he or she can tell you which brands suit your feet.

• If you continue to be troubled by recurring foot pain, schedule a massage appointment.

Often times, poor posture or muscular imbalances can cause foot or ankle pain.  And, many times, this pain is actually radiating or caused by tight muscles in other areas.

Massage therapy is a great way to overcome that.

So, don’t ignore foot pain. Remember to be nice to your feet.  Schedule a Body Massage and consider adding a Soothing Foot Massage for either 30- or 60-mins.  Schedule online or call 703-430-8660. 

 “Streeetch Your Way To Good Health”

When you talk about fitness and exercise, many people ignore one important aspect of a healthy fitness regime.

While it’s important to get enough cardiovascular and weight bearing exercise every week, it’s also extremely important to stretch.

That’s right!

No matter what your age or activity level, stretching should be a part of your daily routine.

What’s so great about stretching?

Well, as we age we have less range of motion in our joints, and our muscles also become tighter. If you are like many people, at one time or another you’ve probably bent over to pick up something you’ve dropped and realized you’re not quite as limber as you used to be!

People who stretch, however, enjoy the benefits of more limber muscles and joints.

One of the best things about stretching is that just about anyone can do it. You don’t have to be incredibly fit to stretch, nor do you have to have tons of time.

As a matter of fact, there are relatively few excuses not to stretch!

So when should you stretch?

Try in the morning after you get up, as well as right before you go to bed. Stretch while you are watching television, at your desk or computer, or even while doing chores like making dinner or folding laundry.

If you participate in cardiovascular or weight bearing exercises, stretch both before and after your workouts to keep muscles and joints warm, limber, and injury free.

In addition to keeping joints and muscles in good shape, there are other benefits to stretching. Stretching enhances muscle coordination, and also increases blood circulation.

This increased blood circulation increases energy levels. Finally, stretching just feels great!

So be kind to your muscles and joints and add stretching to your fitness routine. Our Traditional Thai massage.is perfect for stretching.  We actually stretch your body for you without you having to do any of the work.

Remember, regular massage helps to ensure that your muscles are functioning at their best.  You can schedule your next appointment for a massage at 703-430-8660 or online. 

Touch of Asia in Sterling, VA has the right massage therapy appointment for you.

Updated UV Index Shines Light on Rays

A crucial warning system has been recently updated for your skin’s protection. In compliance with the World Health Organization, the Environmental Protection Agency and the National Weather Service revamped the UV Index, a system created to alert people about the level of harmful ultraviolet (UV) light rays from the sun. Overexposure to UV rays can cause wrinkles and premature aging, skin cancer, cataracts, and immune system suppression.Many factors influence the strength of UV rays: UV light is stronger in the summer, at higher altitudes, and in areas closer to the equator. It’s also stronger at midday, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., when the sun is directly overhead.

The new UV index ranges from 0-11 with guidelines as follows:
0-2: low. Minimal exposure for the average person, but watch for reflected UV from snow and water.
3-5: moderate. Stay in the shade during midday. Cover-up outside.
6-7: high. Wear a hat, sunglasses, and a sunscreen with a minimum sun protection factor (SPF) of 15. Avoid midday sun.
8-10: very high. Take extra precautions, and avoid midday sun. Wear protective clothing.
11: extreme. Take all precautions, seek shade, and avoid midday sun. If possible, stay indoors.

 As part of its daily forecast, the National Weather Service publishes the UV index for each area of the country. Click here and enter your zip code to find your UV index for the day. 

The Weather Channel, as well as most local TV stations, include the UV index in their weather forecast.