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Have you ever experienced a stabbing sensation when you’ve picked up something heavy? Does your back ache when you’ve been sitting too long at your desk? Do you feel stiff after gardening or household chores? If so, you are not alone. Next to the common cold, back pain is the most common complaint heard at the doctor’s office. Research and experience show that massage is a safe and effective treatment that can help your back heal and prevent further injury. -
It takes more effort to maintain both muscle mass and flexibility as we age. Lots of factors contribute to this truth, including our high-stress sedentary lifestyle and natural hormonal changes. Which is more important to aging well? Strength or flexibility? Research shows that both flexibility and functional strength play a large role in injury prevention as well as athletic performance.
-
Knee pain is a common complaint that affects people of all ages and may be the result of an injury, such as a ruptured ligament or torn cartilage. Medical conditions — including arthritis, gout and infections — also can cause knee pain.
Many types of minor knee pain respond well to self-care measures. Therapeutic massage can help relieve knee pain. In some cases, however, your knee may require physical therapy or even surgical repair.
The location and severity of knee pain may vary, depending on the cause of the problem. -
The rise of computer use is calling attention to an increasing occurrence of repetitive strain injuries or RSI’s. Often attributed to long hours of desk work, RSI’s can develop from repeated movements during any activity at work or leisure, resulting in pain, loss of work, and decreased enjoyment of everyday life. Therapeutic massage is proving to be an effective tool for prevention and recovery from repetitive strain injuries.
-
Pain Relief
All types of massage help relieve pain caused by tense muscles, stiff joints or injuries, but Hot Stone Therapy may provide greater relief due to the intense nature of the massage.
-
Hormonal balance is necessary for us to feel and function our best. As we age, our bodies become less responsive to the hormones we produce, plus some hormone levels drop, others increase, and yet others stay the same.
The endocrine (hormonal) system is made up of organs and tissues that produce hormones; natural chemicals produced, released into the bloodstream, then used by other target organs and systems. Hormones control the target organs.
Regardless of age, hormone levels can change based on diet, stress and exercise. -
According to the National Institutes of Health, Reiki is a “Biofield Medicine” which involves systems that use subtle energy fields in and around the body for medical purposes.
The name Reiki originates from Japanese REI (spirit) and KI (energy, life force). Reiki therapy utilizes universal energy to assist the healing process. Healing can occur on physical, emotional or spiritual levels. Reiki as a modern healing method was initiated at the beginning of the 20th century by Dr. -
The soft tissues of the human body are responsible for more pain, injury and dysfunction than all other systems of the body and can range from a minor nuisance to a life changing limitation. Chronic pain, repetitive strain and restricted motion can deplete your levels of health and vitality, limit participation & performance in your activities and create a challenging environment for you to exist within.
-
The holiday season is fast-approaching and is supposed to be a time of joy and togetherness. Unfortunately for many, with that togetherness comes the pre and post holiday blues and anxiety. Whether it's from missing those who aren't or cannot be with us, the stress of getting together with family members we wish lived just a little too far to visit, the preparations, the bills, or the let-down after the festivities fade, the holiday season needs to be prepared for, mentally and physically.
-
Neuromuscular therapies (NMT) are forms of soft tissue manual therapy which are distinguished from other types of massage in that pressure is used to stimulate specific areas of muscle, often myofascial trigger points. A comprehensive program of soft tissue manipulation techniques, NMT balances the nervous system (brain, spinal column and nerves), the structure and form of the musculoskeletal system. NMT is based on neuromuscular laws that explain how the nervous system maintains homeostatic balance.
-
Why Ortho-Bionomy
One of the most frustrating parts of the work I love, is trying to relieve pain without causing pain in the process. I love EASING pain, getting to the root of a problem and correcting it. Therapists have had some wonderful tools to help accomplish that, such as Proprioceptor Neuromuscular Facilitation (PNF), active isolated stretching, craniosacral therapy and myofascial release, but you can bet that at some point trigger point work or deep tissue would be necessary, with the possibility of leaving the client sore during the work and following the session. -
“Health is wealth”- this age-old saying holds true even today.
We live in an increasingly toxic world--from the air we breathe, the water we drink, and the food we eat, we are constantly being bombarded with new toxins. Add in the toxins created from the stress of daily living, from disease processes, from cleaning products, treating your yard with pesticides and herbicides, and you can see how quickly toxicity levels can escalate. -
Did you know, there are specific Yoga poses and breathing exercises to help with allergies?
"Allergies are worsened by a stress reaction, which causes physiological responses, including the release of stress hormones and histamine, and triggers inflammation," says Jeff Migdow, M.D., director of Prana Yoga Teacher Training through the Open Center in New York as well as a holistic physician at the Kripalu Center for Yoga & Health in Lenox, Mass. -
Stress is a threat to a person's well-being, and can be accelerated by acute illness, trauma, smoking, poor diet and chronic disease such as diabetes and heart disease. The body handles stress by means of an elaborate system involving enzymes and dietary compounds including antioxidant vitamins and minerals. Stress can also reduce the body’s ability to absorb nutrients from the foods we eat and the supplements we take.
-
As you lie on the table under crisp, fresh sheets, hushed music draws you into the moment. The smell of lavender fills the air, you hear the gentle sound of massage lotion being warmed in your therapist's hands, and your body cries out for the therapeutic hands to begin their work. Once the session gets under way, the problems of the world fade into obliviousness of relief, and all you can comprehend is you never want the session to end.
-
As much an inborn mechanism as the stress response, the Relaxation Response is used to combat the negative effects of stress in a number of ways.
The Relaxation Response
In the late 1960's, in the same room in which Harvard Medical School's Walter Cannon performed fight-or-flight experiments 50 years earlier, Herbert Benson, MD found that there was a counterbalancing mechanism to the stress response. -
I’m pretty much an expert on stress and stress management. It’s true that I’m very well educated in many different types of therapeutic massage and bodywork, but recent highlights of the stress I experience include:
- For the past 3-1/2 years, I’ve been the primary care-giver to an old friend who’s been a life-long smoker and drinker. During the past six months, his health has deteriorated rapidly and my responsibilities have grown exponentially.
- Prior to this adventure, a back injury completely side-lined me for several years – not by itself, but as the straw that broke the camel’s back, so to speak.
-
Most everyone agrees that exercise makes us calm and happy, a conclusion that is supported by research. Take for instance a July 2011 Norwegian research survey that found that those who engaged in any exercise, even a small amount, reported improved mental health compared with Norwegians who never got out and exercised. A separate study, presented at the 2011 annual meeting of the American College of Sports Medicine, showed that six weeks of bicycle riding or weight training eased symptoms in women who’d received a diagnosis of anxiety disorder.
-
There are many physical, mental, and physiological benefits to regular exercise. One category of benefits is the impact that exercise has on many of your body's hormones.
1. Growth Hormone
- Stimulates protein synthesis (muscle tone/development), and strength of bones, tendons, ligaments, and cartilage.
- Decreases use of glucose and increases use of fat as a fuel during exercise. This helps to keep blood glucose at a normal level which helps you to exercise for a longer period of time.
-
Because hormones affect so many different aspects of how our bodies operate, the outward symptoms tend to be varied and nonspecific. It may feel as though you are simply tired or upset after an unusually stressful or busy week. With a hormonal imbalance, a person may suffer from anxiety, insomnia, loss of appetite, and poor concentration. Irritability and mood swings are also quite common. Hormonal balance is critical for our emotional well-being, so radical changes in the way we feel about ourselves and interact with others may indicate a problem.
-
The best way to think about the human body when it comes to food is to think of it as a machine. In fact, it is probably the finest machine ever designed and created. It has amazing and bewildering powers and capabilities. In general and in a simplistic sense, it actually requires little maintenance and is not very demanding in terms of upkeep. All it needs is water, fuel (food), rest or stress management and exercise.
A good way to think of food is that it is actually a drug for the body; think of cause and effect. -
The endocrine system is in charge of body processes that happen slowly, such as cell growth. Faster processes like breathing and body movement are controlled by the nervous system. But even though the nervous system and endocrine system are separate systems, they often work together to help the body function properly.
The foundations of the endocrine system are the hormones and glands. As the body's chemical messengers, hormones transfer information and instructions from one set of cells to another. -
We’ve all heard it, it’s been all over the news lately, and the more science delves into the physiological reactions in our bodies, the more it’s realized that: Stress does kill.
It’s not really stress itself that does so much damage, it’s our response to stress. For that reason, it is vitally important that in tough times you keep up whatever stress reduction programs work best for you, whether it’s running, Yoga, kickboxing, or getting regular massage sessions. -
Why Am I So Tired? 10 Possible Causes of Fatigue
When it's time to see a doctor about your exhaustion -- and what to try first.
This morning, you promised yourself that you'd head straight to the gym right after work. But by the end of the day, you were so beat that all you could think about is collapsing on the couch with takeout and the remote.
Why are you so tired all the time? Are you just not getting enough sleep, or could something be medically wrong?
Chronic tiredness is one of the most common complaints that bring people to their doctor, says J. -
While it's obvious that massage is a great relaxer, the true health benefits of massage therapy have not received as much scientific investigation as many other forms of treatment; but following are the results of just some of the recent research into the benefits of massage.
Physiological adjustments to stress measures following massage therapy
Source: Massage Therapy Foundation, Evanston, Illinois, University of Colorado at Denver and Health Sciences Center, School of Nursing, Denver, Colorado, University of California at San Diego, School of Medicine, San Diego, California, University of Iowa, Community and Behavioral Health, Iowa City, Iowa and Portland State University, Portland, Oregon, USA.
-
Eating vegetables is an easy way to help a poor diet become healthier. Vegetables contain a number of antioxidants that may help stop certain cancers from forming in the body.
High in antioxidants like Vitamin C, vegetables help the body repair after long bouts of illness and help to protect the body in the future. Tomatoes, for example, include Lycopene which even helps protect your eyes.
Vegetables contain high levels of water in their structures, which allows them to be generally fat free and low in calories. -
- In 2008, over 616,000 people died of heart disease. Heart disease caused almost 25% of deaths—almost one in every four—in the United States.
- Heart disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women. More than half of the deaths due to heart disease in 2008 were in men.
- Coronary heart disease is the most common type of heart disease. In 2008, 405,309 people died from coronary heart disease.
- Every year about 785,000 Americans have a first heart attack.
-
Adrenal Fatigue – is it real? Are you at risk?
According to Dr. Todd Nippoldt, MD, board-certified specialist in internal medicine and endocrinology and metabolism at the Mayo Clinic, adrenal fatigue is a term applied to a collection of nonspecific symptoms, such as body aches, fatigue, nervousness, sleep disturbances and digestive problems.
Your adrenal glands produce a variety of hormones that are essential to life. -
This ancient form of healing is now becoming an essential part of stress management programs. It reduces stress and fatigue and promotes an overall feeling of well being. This relaxing and rejuvenating massage can do wonders and improves the strength and vitality of the patient.
Circulatory massage is the preferred method for relaxation and promotion of blood flow in the body and is the most common healing method used for enhancing the proper flow of blood through the body while providing relaxation to the various muscles. -
Not only is a rich, hearty soup great comfort food in the cold of winter, the health benefits of eating soup are tremendous. A bowl of warm broth not only warms the body, but also the soul. Soup has great appeal for its convenience, low cost, and variety. Soup can not only help prevent disease, but it also adds much needed nutrition to your general diet. And most of all it's mmm mmm good!
HEALTHY AND PREVENTS DISEASE
Eating soup is a great way to add healthy vegetables to your meals. -
If you’ve ever had athlete’s foot or a yeast infection, you are familiar with fungal infections. Certain types of fungi (such as Candida) are normally present on body surfaces or in the intestine. Although normally harmless, these fungi sometimes cause localized infections of the skin and nails, vagina, mouth, or sinuses. Fungi seldom cause serious harm, except in people who have a weakened immune system or who have foreign material, including medical devices (such as an intravenous catheter or an artificial joint or heart valve), in their body.
-
Candida albicans is a yeast-like fungus which reproduces by budding and is generally found in trace amounts in the mouth, skin, intestinal tract, and vagina of normal individuals. Candida is the organism most commonly associated with mycotic (yeast or fungus) infections. Such infections are referred to as candidiasis. Ordinarily, the growth of this fungus is kept in check by the immune system and by the beneficial bacteria of the body or flora.
The symptoms of a candida overgrowth vary from person to person and fluctuate in severity, or may come and go. -
Hypertension, or high blood pressure, is often called a "silent disease" because you usually don't know that you have it. There may be no symptoms or signs. Nonetheless, it damages the body and eventually may cause problems like heart disease.
-
Support groups are important because they provide emotional support for people facing similar, tough situations. Support groups allow people to share information and openly discuss their problems without judgment, to process their feelings and to hear others talk about their situation. Participation can help people deal more effectively with their problems. The main thing support groups provide is the feeling that you are not alone.
-
Hypertension, or high blood pressure, is a serious condition affecting one in four American adults. Although there aren’t many noticeable signs of hypertension, it increases the risk of both heart disease and stroke.
Research studies continue to support massage therapy as an effective tool in managing hypertension. Researchers, in 1999, from the Touch Research Institute, the University of Miami School of Medicine and Nova Southeastern University in Florida conducted the study "High blood pressure and associated symptoms were reduced by massage therapy".
-
There is a great deal of misinformation floating around about what massage will or won't do for you. Much of that misinformation continues to be taught in massage schools. For instance: "Massage detoxifies the body".
Myth: Perhaps we should start with the definition of toxin: "a poisonous substance that is a specific product of the metabolic activities of a living organism and is usally very unstable, notably toxic when introduced into the tissues, and typically capable of inducing antibody formation".
-
Do you get enough sleep? What about exercise? If you're like most people, the answer is no.
-
Have you ever experienced a stabbing sensation when you’ve picked up something heavy? Does your back ache when you’ve been sitting too long at your desk? Do you feel stiff after gardening or household chores? If so, you are not alone. Next to the common cold, back pain is the most common complaint heard at the doctor’s office. Research and experience show that massage is a safe and effective treatment that can help your back heal and prevent further injury. -
It takes more effort to maintain both muscle mass and flexibility as we age. Lots of factors contribute to this truth, including our high-stress sedentary lifestyle and natural hormonal changes. Which is more important to aging well? Strength or flexibility? Research shows that both flexibility and functional strength play a large role in injury prevention as well as athletic performance.
-
Knee pain is a common complaint that affects people of all ages and may be the result of an injury, such as a ruptured ligament or torn cartilage. Medical conditions — including arthritis, gout and infections — also can cause knee pain.
Many types of minor knee pain respond well to self-care measures. Therapeutic massage can help relieve knee pain. In some cases, however, your knee may require physical therapy or even surgical repair.
The location and severity of knee pain may vary, depending on the cause of the problem. -
The rise of computer use is calling attention to an increasing occurrence of repetitive strain injuries or RSI’s. Often attributed to long hours of desk work, RSI’s can develop from repeated movements during any activity at work or leisure, resulting in pain, loss of work, and decreased enjoyment of everyday life. Therapeutic massage is proving to be an effective tool for prevention and recovery from repetitive strain injuries.
-
Pain Relief
All types of massage help relieve pain caused by tense muscles, stiff joints or injuries, but Hot Stone Therapy may provide greater relief due to the intense nature of the massage.
-
Hormonal balance is necessary for us to feel and function our best. As we age, our bodies become less responsive to the hormones we produce, plus some hormone levels drop, others increase, and yet others stay the same.
The endocrine (hormonal) system is made up of organs and tissues that produce hormones; natural chemicals produced, released into the bloodstream, then used by other target organs and systems. Hormones control the target organs.
Regardless of age, hormone levels can change based on diet, stress and exercise. -
According to the National Institutes of Health, Reiki is a “Biofield Medicine” which involves systems that use subtle energy fields in and around the body for medical purposes.
The name Reiki originates from Japanese REI (spirit) and KI (energy, life force). Reiki therapy utilizes universal energy to assist the healing process. Healing can occur on physical, emotional or spiritual levels. Reiki as a modern healing method was initiated at the beginning of the 20th century by Dr. -
The soft tissues of the human body are responsible for more pain, injury and dysfunction than all other systems of the body and can range from a minor nuisance to a life changing limitation. Chronic pain, repetitive strain and restricted motion can deplete your levels of health and vitality, limit participation & performance in your activities and create a challenging environment for you to exist within.
-
The holiday season is fast-approaching and is supposed to be a time of joy and togetherness. Unfortunately for many, with that togetherness comes the pre and post holiday blues and anxiety. Whether it's from missing those who aren't or cannot be with us, the stress of getting together with family members we wish lived just a little too far to visit, the preparations, the bills, or the let-down after the festivities fade, the holiday season needs to be prepared for, mentally and physically.
-
Neuromuscular therapies (NMT) are forms of soft tissue manual therapy which are distinguished from other types of massage in that pressure is used to stimulate specific areas of muscle, often myofascial trigger points. A comprehensive program of soft tissue manipulation techniques, NMT balances the nervous system (brain, spinal column and nerves), the structure and form of the musculoskeletal system. NMT is based on neuromuscular laws that explain how the nervous system maintains homeostatic balance.
-
Why Ortho-Bionomy
One of the most frustrating parts of the work I love, is trying to relieve pain without causing pain in the process. I love EASING pain, getting to the root of a problem and correcting it. Therapists have had some wonderful tools to help accomplish that, such as Proprioceptor Neuromuscular Facilitation (PNF), active isolated stretching, craniosacral therapy and myofascial release, but you can bet that at some point trigger point work or deep tissue would be necessary, with the possibility of leaving the client sore during the work and following the session. -
“Health is wealth”- this age-old saying holds true even today.
We live in an increasingly toxic world--from the air we breathe, the water we drink, and the food we eat, we are constantly being bombarded with new toxins. Add in the toxins created from the stress of daily living, from disease processes, from cleaning products, treating your yard with pesticides and herbicides, and you can see how quickly toxicity levels can escalate. -
Did you know, there are specific Yoga poses and breathing exercises to help with allergies?
"Allergies are worsened by a stress reaction, which causes physiological responses, including the release of stress hormones and histamine, and triggers inflammation," says Jeff Migdow, M.D., director of Prana Yoga Teacher Training through the Open Center in New York as well as a holistic physician at the Kripalu Center for Yoga & Health in Lenox, Mass. -
Stress is a threat to a person's well-being, and can be accelerated by acute illness, trauma, smoking, poor diet and chronic disease such as diabetes and heart disease. The body handles stress by means of an elaborate system involving enzymes and dietary compounds including antioxidant vitamins and minerals. Stress can also reduce the body’s ability to absorb nutrients from the foods we eat and the supplements we take.
-
As you lie on the table under crisp, fresh sheets, hushed music draws you into the moment. The smell of lavender fills the air, you hear the gentle sound of massage lotion being warmed in your therapist's hands, and your body cries out for the therapeutic hands to begin their work. Once the session gets under way, the problems of the world fade into obliviousness of relief, and all you can comprehend is you never want the session to end.
-
As much an inborn mechanism as the stress response, the Relaxation Response is used to combat the negative effects of stress in a number of ways.
The Relaxation Response
In the late 1960's, in the same room in which Harvard Medical School's Walter Cannon performed fight-or-flight experiments 50 years earlier, Herbert Benson, MD found that there was a counterbalancing mechanism to the stress response. -
I’m pretty much an expert on stress and stress management. It’s true that I’m very well educated in many different types of therapeutic massage and bodywork, but recent highlights of the stress I experience include:
- For the past 3-1/2 years, I’ve been the primary care-giver to an old friend who’s been a life-long smoker and drinker. During the past six months, his health has deteriorated rapidly and my responsibilities have grown exponentially.
- Prior to this adventure, a back injury completely side-lined me for several years – not by itself, but as the straw that broke the camel’s back, so to speak.
-
Most everyone agrees that exercise makes us calm and happy, a conclusion that is supported by research. Take for instance a July 2011 Norwegian research survey that found that those who engaged in any exercise, even a small amount, reported improved mental health compared with Norwegians who never got out and exercised. A separate study, presented at the 2011 annual meeting of the American College of Sports Medicine, showed that six weeks of bicycle riding or weight training eased symptoms in women who’d received a diagnosis of anxiety disorder.
-
There are many physical, mental, and physiological benefits to regular exercise. One category of benefits is the impact that exercise has on many of your body's hormones.
1. Growth Hormone
- Stimulates protein synthesis (muscle tone/development), and strength of bones, tendons, ligaments, and cartilage.
- Decreases use of glucose and increases use of fat as a fuel during exercise. This helps to keep blood glucose at a normal level which helps you to exercise for a longer period of time.
-
Because hormones affect so many different aspects of how our bodies operate, the outward symptoms tend to be varied and nonspecific. It may feel as though you are simply tired or upset after an unusually stressful or busy week. With a hormonal imbalance, a person may suffer from anxiety, insomnia, loss of appetite, and poor concentration. Irritability and mood swings are also quite common. Hormonal balance is critical for our emotional well-being, so radical changes in the way we feel about ourselves and interact with others may indicate a problem.
-
The best way to think about the human body when it comes to food is to think of it as a machine. In fact, it is probably the finest machine ever designed and created. It has amazing and bewildering powers and capabilities. In general and in a simplistic sense, it actually requires little maintenance and is not very demanding in terms of upkeep. All it needs is water, fuel (food), rest or stress management and exercise.
A good way to think of food is that it is actually a drug for the body; think of cause and effect. -
The endocrine system is in charge of body processes that happen slowly, such as cell growth. Faster processes like breathing and body movement are controlled by the nervous system. But even though the nervous system and endocrine system are separate systems, they often work together to help the body function properly.
The foundations of the endocrine system are the hormones and glands. As the body's chemical messengers, hormones transfer information and instructions from one set of cells to another. -
We’ve all heard it, it’s been all over the news lately, and the more science delves into the physiological reactions in our bodies, the more it’s realized that: Stress does kill.
It’s not really stress itself that does so much damage, it’s our response to stress. For that reason, it is vitally important that in tough times you keep up whatever stress reduction programs work best for you, whether it’s running, Yoga, kickboxing, or getting regular massage sessions. -
Why Am I So Tired? 10 Possible Causes of Fatigue
When it's time to see a doctor about your exhaustion -- and what to try first.
This morning, you promised yourself that you'd head straight to the gym right after work. But by the end of the day, you were so beat that all you could think about is collapsing on the couch with takeout and the remote.
Why are you so tired all the time? Are you just not getting enough sleep, or could something be medically wrong?
Chronic tiredness is one of the most common complaints that bring people to their doctor, says J. -
While it's obvious that massage is a great relaxer, the true health benefits of massage therapy have not received as much scientific investigation as many other forms of treatment; but following are the results of just some of the recent research into the benefits of massage.
Physiological adjustments to stress measures following massage therapy
Source: Massage Therapy Foundation, Evanston, Illinois, University of Colorado at Denver and Health Sciences Center, School of Nursing, Denver, Colorado, University of California at San Diego, School of Medicine, San Diego, California, University of Iowa, Community and Behavioral Health, Iowa City, Iowa and Portland State University, Portland, Oregon, USA.
-
Eating vegetables is an easy way to help a poor diet become healthier. Vegetables contain a number of antioxidants that may help stop certain cancers from forming in the body.
High in antioxidants like Vitamin C, vegetables help the body repair after long bouts of illness and help to protect the body in the future. Tomatoes, for example, include Lycopene which even helps protect your eyes.
Vegetables contain high levels of water in their structures, which allows them to be generally fat free and low in calories. -
- In 2008, over 616,000 people died of heart disease. Heart disease caused almost 25% of deaths—almost one in every four—in the United States.
- Heart disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women. More than half of the deaths due to heart disease in 2008 were in men.
- Coronary heart disease is the most common type of heart disease. In 2008, 405,309 people died from coronary heart disease.
- Every year about 785,000 Americans have a first heart attack.
-
Adrenal Fatigue – is it real? Are you at risk?
According to Dr. Todd Nippoldt, MD, board-certified specialist in internal medicine and endocrinology and metabolism at the Mayo Clinic, adrenal fatigue is a term applied to a collection of nonspecific symptoms, such as body aches, fatigue, nervousness, sleep disturbances and digestive problems.
Your adrenal glands produce a variety of hormones that are essential to life. -
This ancient form of healing is now becoming an essential part of stress management programs. It reduces stress and fatigue and promotes an overall feeling of well being. This relaxing and rejuvenating massage can do wonders and improves the strength and vitality of the patient.
Circulatory massage is the preferred method for relaxation and promotion of blood flow in the body and is the most common healing method used for enhancing the proper flow of blood through the body while providing relaxation to the various muscles. -
Not only is a rich, hearty soup great comfort food in the cold of winter, the health benefits of eating soup are tremendous. A bowl of warm broth not only warms the body, but also the soul. Soup has great appeal for its convenience, low cost, and variety. Soup can not only help prevent disease, but it also adds much needed nutrition to your general diet. And most of all it's mmm mmm good!
HEALTHY AND PREVENTS DISEASE
Eating soup is a great way to add healthy vegetables to your meals. -
If you’ve ever had athlete’s foot or a yeast infection, you are familiar with fungal infections. Certain types of fungi (such as Candida) are normally present on body surfaces or in the intestine. Although normally harmless, these fungi sometimes cause localized infections of the skin and nails, vagina, mouth, or sinuses. Fungi seldom cause serious harm, except in people who have a weakened immune system or who have foreign material, including medical devices (such as an intravenous catheter or an artificial joint or heart valve), in their body.
-
Candida albicans is a yeast-like fungus which reproduces by budding and is generally found in trace amounts in the mouth, skin, intestinal tract, and vagina of normal individuals. Candida is the organism most commonly associated with mycotic (yeast or fungus) infections. Such infections are referred to as candidiasis. Ordinarily, the growth of this fungus is kept in check by the immune system and by the beneficial bacteria of the body or flora.
The symptoms of a candida overgrowth vary from person to person and fluctuate in severity, or may come and go. -
Hypertension, or high blood pressure, is often called a "silent disease" because you usually don't know that you have it. There may be no symptoms or signs. Nonetheless, it damages the body and eventually may cause problems like heart disease.
-
Support groups are important because they provide emotional support for people facing similar, tough situations. Support groups allow people to share information and openly discuss their problems without judgment, to process their feelings and to hear others talk about their situation. Participation can help people deal more effectively with their problems. The main thing support groups provide is the feeling that you are not alone.
-
Hypertension, or high blood pressure, is a serious condition affecting one in four American adults. Although there aren’t many noticeable signs of hypertension, it increases the risk of both heart disease and stroke.
Research studies continue to support massage therapy as an effective tool in managing hypertension. Researchers, in 1999, from the Touch Research Institute, the University of Miami School of Medicine and Nova Southeastern University in Florida conducted the study "High blood pressure and associated symptoms were reduced by massage therapy".
-
There is a great deal of misinformation floating around about what massage will or won't do for you. Much of that misinformation continues to be taught in massage schools. For instance: "Massage detoxifies the body".
Myth: Perhaps we should start with the definition of toxin: "a poisonous substance that is a specific product of the metabolic activities of a living organism and is usally very unstable, notably toxic when introduced into the tissues, and typically capable of inducing antibody formation".
-
Do you get enough sleep? What about exercise? If you're like most people, the answer is no.
Blog
-
Have you ever experienced a stabbing sensation when you’ve picked up something heavy? Does your back ache when you’ve been sitting too long at your desk? Do you feel stiff after gardening or household chores? If so, you are not alone. Next to the common cold, back pain is the most common complaint heard at the doctor’s office. Research and experience show that massage is a safe and effective treatment that can help your back heal and prevent further injury. -
It takes more effort to maintain both muscle mass and flexibility as we age. Lots of factors contribute to this truth, including our high-stress sedentary lifestyle and natural hormonal changes. Which is more important to aging well? Strength or flexibility? Research shows that both flexibility and functional strength play a large role in injury prevention as well as athletic performance.
-
Knee pain is a common complaint that affects people of all ages and may be the result of an injury, such as a ruptured ligament or torn cartilage. Medical conditions — including arthritis, gout and infections — also can cause knee pain.
Many types of minor knee pain respond well to self-care measures. Therapeutic massage can help relieve knee pain. In some cases, however, your knee may require physical therapy or even surgical repair.
The location and severity of knee pain may vary, depending on the cause of the problem. -
The rise of computer use is calling attention to an increasing occurrence of repetitive strain injuries or RSI’s. Often attributed to long hours of desk work, RSI’s can develop from repeated movements during any activity at work or leisure, resulting in pain, loss of work, and decreased enjoyment of everyday life. Therapeutic massage is proving to be an effective tool for prevention and recovery from repetitive strain injuries.
-
Pain Relief
All types of massage help relieve pain caused by tense muscles, stiff joints or injuries, but Hot Stone Therapy may provide greater relief due to the intense nature of the massage.
-
Hormonal balance is necessary for us to feel and function our best. As we age, our bodies become less responsive to the hormones we produce, plus some hormone levels drop, others increase, and yet others stay the same.
The endocrine (hormonal) system is made up of organs and tissues that produce hormones; natural chemicals produced, released into the bloodstream, then used by other target organs and systems. Hormones control the target organs.
Regardless of age, hormone levels can change based on diet, stress and exercise. -
According to the National Institutes of Health, Reiki is a “Biofield Medicine” which involves systems that use subtle energy fields in and around the body for medical purposes.
The name Reiki originates from Japanese REI (spirit) and KI (energy, life force). Reiki therapy utilizes universal energy to assist the healing process. Healing can occur on physical, emotional or spiritual levels. Reiki as a modern healing method was initiated at the beginning of the 20th century by Dr. -
The soft tissues of the human body are responsible for more pain, injury and dysfunction than all other systems of the body and can range from a minor nuisance to a life changing limitation. Chronic pain, repetitive strain and restricted motion can deplete your levels of health and vitality, limit participation & performance in your activities and create a challenging environment for you to exist within.
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The holiday season is fast-approaching and is supposed to be a time of joy and togetherness. Unfortunately for many, with that togetherness comes the pre and post holiday blues and anxiety. Whether it's from missing those who aren't or cannot be with us, the stress of getting together with family members we wish lived just a little too far to visit, the preparations, the bills, or the let-down after the festivities fade, the holiday season needs to be prepared for, mentally and physically.
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Neuromuscular therapies (NMT) are forms of soft tissue manual therapy which are distinguished from other types of massage in that pressure is used to stimulate specific areas of muscle, often myofascial trigger points. A comprehensive program of soft tissue manipulation techniques, NMT balances the nervous system (brain, spinal column and nerves), the structure and form of the musculoskeletal system. NMT is based on neuromuscular laws that explain how the nervous system maintains homeostatic balance.
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Why Ortho-Bionomy
One of the most frustrating parts of the work I love, is trying to relieve pain without causing pain in the process. I love EASING pain, getting to the root of a problem and correcting it. Therapists have had some wonderful tools to help accomplish that, such as Proprioceptor Neuromuscular Facilitation (PNF), active isolated stretching, craniosacral therapy and myofascial release, but you can bet that at some point trigger point work or deep tissue would be necessary, with the possibility of leaving the client sore during the work and following the session. -
“Health is wealth”- this age-old saying holds true even today.
We live in an increasingly toxic world--from the air we breathe, the water we drink, and the food we eat, we are constantly being bombarded with new toxins. Add in the toxins created from the stress of daily living, from disease processes, from cleaning products, treating your yard with pesticides and herbicides, and you can see how quickly toxicity levels can escalate. -
Did you know, there are specific Yoga poses and breathing exercises to help with allergies?
"Allergies are worsened by a stress reaction, which causes physiological responses, including the release of stress hormones and histamine, and triggers inflammation," says Jeff Migdow, M.D., director of Prana Yoga Teacher Training through the Open Center in New York as well as a holistic physician at the Kripalu Center for Yoga & Health in Lenox, Mass. -
Stress is a threat to a person's well-being, and can be accelerated by acute illness, trauma, smoking, poor diet and chronic disease such as diabetes and heart disease. The body handles stress by means of an elaborate system involving enzymes and dietary compounds including antioxidant vitamins and minerals. Stress can also reduce the body’s ability to absorb nutrients from the foods we eat and the supplements we take.
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As you lie on the table under crisp, fresh sheets, hushed music draws you into the moment. The smell of lavender fills the air, you hear the gentle sound of massage lotion being warmed in your therapist's hands, and your body cries out for the therapeutic hands to begin their work. Once the session gets under way, the problems of the world fade into obliviousness of relief, and all you can comprehend is you never want the session to end.
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As much an inborn mechanism as the stress response, the Relaxation Response is used to combat the negative effects of stress in a number of ways.
The Relaxation Response
In the late 1960's, in the same room in which Harvard Medical School's Walter Cannon performed fight-or-flight experiments 50 years earlier, Herbert Benson, MD found that there was a counterbalancing mechanism to the stress response. -
I’m pretty much an expert on stress and stress management. It’s true that I’m very well educated in many different types of therapeutic massage and bodywork, but recent highlights of the stress I experience include:
- For the past 3-1/2 years, I’ve been the primary care-giver to an old friend who’s been a life-long smoker and drinker. During the past six months, his health has deteriorated rapidly and my responsibilities have grown exponentially.
- Prior to this adventure, a back injury completely side-lined me for several years – not by itself, but as the straw that broke the camel’s back, so to speak.
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Most everyone agrees that exercise makes us calm and happy, a conclusion that is supported by research. Take for instance a July 2011 Norwegian research survey that found that those who engaged in any exercise, even a small amount, reported improved mental health compared with Norwegians who never got out and exercised. A separate study, presented at the 2011 annual meeting of the American College of Sports Medicine, showed that six weeks of bicycle riding or weight training eased symptoms in women who’d received a diagnosis of anxiety disorder.
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There are many physical, mental, and physiological benefits to regular exercise. One category of benefits is the impact that exercise has on many of your body's hormones.
1. Growth Hormone
- Stimulates protein synthesis (muscle tone/development), and strength of bones, tendons, ligaments, and cartilage.
- Decreases use of glucose and increases use of fat as a fuel during exercise. This helps to keep blood glucose at a normal level which helps you to exercise for a longer period of time.
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Because hormones affect so many different aspects of how our bodies operate, the outward symptoms tend to be varied and nonspecific. It may feel as though you are simply tired or upset after an unusually stressful or busy week. With a hormonal imbalance, a person may suffer from anxiety, insomnia, loss of appetite, and poor concentration. Irritability and mood swings are also quite common. Hormonal balance is critical for our emotional well-being, so radical changes in the way we feel about ourselves and interact with others may indicate a problem.
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The best way to think about the human body when it comes to food is to think of it as a machine. In fact, it is probably the finest machine ever designed and created. It has amazing and bewildering powers and capabilities. In general and in a simplistic sense, it actually requires little maintenance and is not very demanding in terms of upkeep. All it needs is water, fuel (food), rest or stress management and exercise.
A good way to think of food is that it is actually a drug for the body; think of cause and effect. -
The endocrine system is in charge of body processes that happen slowly, such as cell growth. Faster processes like breathing and body movement are controlled by the nervous system. But even though the nervous system and endocrine system are separate systems, they often work together to help the body function properly.
The foundations of the endocrine system are the hormones and glands. As the body's chemical messengers, hormones transfer information and instructions from one set of cells to another. -
We’ve all heard it, it’s been all over the news lately, and the more science delves into the physiological reactions in our bodies, the more it’s realized that: Stress does kill.
It’s not really stress itself that does so much damage, it’s our response to stress. For that reason, it is vitally important that in tough times you keep up whatever stress reduction programs work best for you, whether it’s running, Yoga, kickboxing, or getting regular massage sessions. -
Why Am I So Tired? 10 Possible Causes of Fatigue
When it's time to see a doctor about your exhaustion -- and what to try first.
This morning, you promised yourself that you'd head straight to the gym right after work. But by the end of the day, you were so beat that all you could think about is collapsing on the couch with takeout and the remote.
Why are you so tired all the time? Are you just not getting enough sleep, or could something be medically wrong?
Chronic tiredness is one of the most common complaints that bring people to their doctor, says J. -
While it's obvious that massage is a great relaxer, the true health benefits of massage therapy have not received as much scientific investigation as many other forms of treatment; but following are the results of just some of the recent research into the benefits of massage.
Physiological adjustments to stress measures following massage therapy
Source: Massage Therapy Foundation, Evanston, Illinois, University of Colorado at Denver and Health Sciences Center, School of Nursing, Denver, Colorado, University of California at San Diego, School of Medicine, San Diego, California, University of Iowa, Community and Behavioral Health, Iowa City, Iowa and Portland State University, Portland, Oregon, USA.
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Eating vegetables is an easy way to help a poor diet become healthier. Vegetables contain a number of antioxidants that may help stop certain cancers from forming in the body.
High in antioxidants like Vitamin C, vegetables help the body repair after long bouts of illness and help to protect the body in the future. Tomatoes, for example, include Lycopene which even helps protect your eyes.
Vegetables contain high levels of water in their structures, which allows them to be generally fat free and low in calories. -
- In 2008, over 616,000 people died of heart disease. Heart disease caused almost 25% of deaths—almost one in every four—in the United States.
- Heart disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women. More than half of the deaths due to heart disease in 2008 were in men.
- Coronary heart disease is the most common type of heart disease. In 2008, 405,309 people died from coronary heart disease.
- Every year about 785,000 Americans have a first heart attack.
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Adrenal Fatigue – is it real? Are you at risk?
According to Dr. Todd Nippoldt, MD, board-certified specialist in internal medicine and endocrinology and metabolism at the Mayo Clinic, adrenal fatigue is a term applied to a collection of nonspecific symptoms, such as body aches, fatigue, nervousness, sleep disturbances and digestive problems.
Your adrenal glands produce a variety of hormones that are essential to life. -
This ancient form of healing is now becoming an essential part of stress management programs. It reduces stress and fatigue and promotes an overall feeling of well being. This relaxing and rejuvenating massage can do wonders and improves the strength and vitality of the patient.
Circulatory massage is the preferred method for relaxation and promotion of blood flow in the body and is the most common healing method used for enhancing the proper flow of blood through the body while providing relaxation to the various muscles. -
Not only is a rich, hearty soup great comfort food in the cold of winter, the health benefits of eating soup are tremendous. A bowl of warm broth not only warms the body, but also the soul. Soup has great appeal for its convenience, low cost, and variety. Soup can not only help prevent disease, but it also adds much needed nutrition to your general diet. And most of all it's mmm mmm good!
HEALTHY AND PREVENTS DISEASE
Eating soup is a great way to add healthy vegetables to your meals. -
If you’ve ever had athlete’s foot or a yeast infection, you are familiar with fungal infections. Certain types of fungi (such as Candida) are normally present on body surfaces or in the intestine. Although normally harmless, these fungi sometimes cause localized infections of the skin and nails, vagina, mouth, or sinuses. Fungi seldom cause serious harm, except in people who have a weakened immune system or who have foreign material, including medical devices (such as an intravenous catheter or an artificial joint or heart valve), in their body.
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Candida albicans is a yeast-like fungus which reproduces by budding and is generally found in trace amounts in the mouth, skin, intestinal tract, and vagina of normal individuals. Candida is the organism most commonly associated with mycotic (yeast or fungus) infections. Such infections are referred to as candidiasis. Ordinarily, the growth of this fungus is kept in check by the immune system and by the beneficial bacteria of the body or flora.
The symptoms of a candida overgrowth vary from person to person and fluctuate in severity, or may come and go. -
Hypertension, or high blood pressure, is often called a "silent disease" because you usually don't know that you have it. There may be no symptoms or signs. Nonetheless, it damages the body and eventually may cause problems like heart disease.
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Support groups are important because they provide emotional support for people facing similar, tough situations. Support groups allow people to share information and openly discuss their problems without judgment, to process their feelings and to hear others talk about their situation. Participation can help people deal more effectively with their problems. The main thing support groups provide is the feeling that you are not alone.
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Hypertension, or high blood pressure, is a serious condition affecting one in four American adults. Although there aren’t many noticeable signs of hypertension, it increases the risk of both heart disease and stroke.
Research studies continue to support massage therapy as an effective tool in managing hypertension. Researchers, in 1999, from the Touch Research Institute, the University of Miami School of Medicine and Nova Southeastern University in Florida conducted the study "High blood pressure and associated symptoms were reduced by massage therapy".
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There is a great deal of misinformation floating around about what massage will or won't do for you. Much of that misinformation continues to be taught in massage schools. For instance: "Massage detoxifies the body".
Myth: Perhaps we should start with the definition of toxin: "a poisonous substance that is a specific product of the metabolic activities of a living organism and is usally very unstable, notably toxic when introduced into the tissues, and typically capable of inducing antibody formation".
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Do you get enough sleep? What about exercise? If you're like most people, the answer is no.
Hormonal Health Profile
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