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Massage + Depression

depression man's hands to head

By Michelle Vallet, May 28, 2014

We’ve all had days where we feel sad or blue. Nobody can be happy all of the time, and changes in mood, feelings of sadness sometimes, are perfectly normal. For some people, however, these feelings are more persistent and severe, interfering with everyday activities, lowering energy levels and interrupting sleep, for example. When these feelings begin to take over and noticeably change a person’s quality of life, seeing a mental health professional—and getting a depression diagnosis—can be the first step in getting the help they need.

For many who suffer, the solution most talked about is psychotherapy, where a person sees a trained mental health professional to talk (and perhaps be prescribed medication). But that approach doesn’t always work equally well for everyone. Now, people are also beginning to better understand how a combination of treatment options can be beneficial, and massage therapy is showing some promise in helping people better handle this condition.

Defining Depression

Perhaps one of the most difficult things about depression when talking about ways to help people who suffer is that arriving at a simple, straightforward definition of depression is next to impossible. Depression, unlike some other medical conditions, is seemingly fluid in nature, meaning the cause(s) and how symptoms manifest are often unique to the individual and can be a secondary complaint of another primary health condition, such as Alzheimer’s, for example, or other mental health issues. In other words, my depression isn’t your depression isn’t someone else’s depression.

That’s not to suggest, however, that there aren’t guidelines around diagnosing depression. Some people might think that depression is simply someone who is sad, but there’s a lot more to this condition than simply feeling down. Yes, sadness and unhappiness are definitely indicators of depression but, according to the Mayo Clinic, so are anger and irritability, loss of interest in activities that were once enjoyable, sleep disturbances, changes in appetite, cognitive problems, as well as physical pain, such as back pain or headaches.

There can also be different types of depression. For example, some women experience depression both during pregnancy and after delivery, while other people may be affected seasonally or have anxiety that accompanies the depression.

Massage

The Benefits of Massage

When you ask exactly how massage therapy works to benefit people with depression, the most accurate answer is “we don’t yet know.” But that’s not to say the benefitsaren’t real, and some, like Christopher Moyer, PhD and assistant professor of psychology at the University ofWisconsin–Stout, posit that massage therapy may work in similar ways as psychotherapy. “The size and effect of massage therapy on trait anxiety and depression is virtually the same as that routinely found in the research studies of psychotherapy for those same conditions,” he explains. “Typically, both take place in a private setting and are based on a ‘50-minute hour’ for the length of the session. Repeated sessions on a weekly schedule—orsimilar—would be a traditional or common pattern when the goal is long-term reduction of anxiety or depression.”

The other striking similarity is that both are dependent on an interpersonal relationship founded on trust. “Some psychotherapy researchers think that the existence of the trustingrelationship—sometimes referred to as the therapeutic bond, or as the working alliance—isthe most important component of psychotherapy’s effectiveness,” Moyer says. “And the same may also be true for massage therapy, though this is something that needs to be researched.”

Remember, too, that depression isn’t just mental health issues—some of the symptoms manifest physically, too. “Depression is considered a mental illness, but one feels it in the body as well, a sense of heaviness in the corporeal,” says Alice Sanvito, a massage therapist and owner of Massage-St. Louis in St. Louis, Missouri. “The physical experience of massage can change the physical sensation of heaviness to something lighter and can restore the feeling of living in one’s body again instead of being lost in one’s head.”

Moyer suggests something similar. “It’s tempting to say that yes, psychotherapy ought to have the greater potential to help because it ought to provide the person with skills and insight that reduce anxiety and depression, and that help the person avoid them in the future,” he explains. “And who is to say that massage therapy doesn’t do something similar to that? It’s possible that receiving massage therapy gives a person a kind of insight, in that it reeducates the person as to how their body and mind ought to feel when they are relaxed, healthy, less anxious and less depressed.”

There’s also the potential that—similar to chronic pain—some of the value of massage therapy for people with depression comes from interrupting the pattern of symptoms on a regular basis. “Each time one interrupts the pattern and experiences calm, it’s easier to remember what it’s like to live in a more normal state, gives one hope that it is possible,”Sanvito suggests.

The problem, however, is defining what regular means. Although research seems to suggest that more than one massage therapy session is more beneficial for people dealing with depression, beyond that, the information available gets fuzzier. “We do not yet have clear information on how many sessions of massage therapy, or in what pattern or frequency, are optimal or necessary,” Moyer explains. “Weekly sessions would be a good place to start. Then, depending on the response to treatment, that schedule could be adjusted as deemed necessary.

What You Need to Know

The constant in all of this is that there is no constant, meaning that massage therapists working with clients who suffer from depression need to educate themselves about the condition. In fact, Moyer believes all massage therapists should have some familiarity with both anxiety and depressive disorders because both are so common today.

Assess. Although an argument could be made that things are changing—you see more commercials dealing with mental health conditions, for example—the reality for many of these people is that mental health issues may carry a stigma. So, massage therapists can’tassume that clients who might be suffering from depression are going to offer this information up themselves. Some people, too, might not be aware they’re suffering from this disorder, so being aware of how depression can affect a person—as well as what some of the major symptoms are—may be helpful.

Obviously, you need to stay within your scope of practice, but that doesn’t mean you can’t—or shouldn’t—look for indications that current and potential clients might be dealing with depression.

Intake. Going hand in hand with assessment are your intake policies. Again, some clientsaren’t going to tell you they are being treated for depression, so being proactive about asking them is a good idea. Similar to how you ask for other health information during the intake process, you can ask clients if they’ve been feeling anxious or depressed. Or, add questions about feelings of depression to the intake form clients complete before a massage session.

As with assessment, you need to make sure you are staying within your scope of practice. “When I suggest that massage therapists should inquire about anxiety and depression as part of intake assessment, I am not suggesting that they change their practice or conduct themselves more like a social worker, psychologist or psychiatrist,” says Moyer. “Rather, I am highlighting how intake assessment is an unrivaled opportunity to gather information that can be helpful to clients.”

Be realistic. You also need to understand what massage therapy both can and cannot offer. Particularly if you have clients who are specifically seeing you for help dealing with depression, you need to be realistic about results. “Massage is not a magic bullet to relieve depression,” Sanvito says, “but having a temporary break in the sense of physical and emotional heaviness one feels is a great relief.”

The key here is to remember that these clients are most likely seeing other health care professionals for treatment, and so massage therapy is one approach your clients might be using to handle the symptoms of this disorder. “It should also be noted that massage therapy should not be used as a stand-alone treatment in serious cases, at least not at present,”Moyer cautions. “Medication and psychotherapy both have a much larger and stronger evidence base supporting their effectiveness. For serious cases, massage therapy should probably only be used as an additional treatment.”

Keep current on research. Although definitive research on how massage therapy works for clients who are dealing with depression is limited, staying current on what is available is imperative. Remember, too, that although we might not know exactly how massage therapy works, there are some strong studies available today that illustrate massage therapy can be useful in helping reduce feelings of depression.

Network with mental health professionals. In order to effectively work with clients who are suffering from depression, being networked to other health care professionals they may see for treatment is a good idea. “Such interprofessional relationships allow clients to be referred when needed, and also open up the possibility for coordinated care,” explainsMoyer. “It is an exciting possibility that anxiety and depression might be able to be treated most effectively, at least in some cases, when a client is receiving psychotherapy from a mental health expert and also receiving massage therapy from a massage therapist.”

When looking to build relationships with mental health professionals, remember that you need to be armed with up-to-date information on the ways in which massage therapy can benefit their patients, as well as have a basic understanding of depression. Again, a solid understanding of research is going to be imperative, and don’t let the limited number of studies on the subject deter you from reaching out. “I suspect there are many mental health professionals who would welcome the opportunity to learn more about the effectiveness of massage therapy,” Moyer says, “and to have another treatment option for their patients to add to other well-established treatments.”

As we continue to learn more about depression, the ways in which this condition can be treated are also expanding—and massage therapy is showing some real promise in being a good addition to the already existing treatment options.

Originally published here: http://www.amtamassage.org/articles/3/MTJ/detail/2942

What To Expect After a Brazilian Wax

woman on a beach putting suncreen on and smiling

If you’ve never had a Brazilian wax, you may be tentative because you don’t know what to expect afterward. Or maybe you’d like some suggestions to make the aftermath a bit easier. While most women experience only mild redness or irritation, there are some other problems that may occur.

The bikini area skin is naturally very sensitive. Waxing is putting a very hot material on this already sensitive spot and abrasively removing hair from the root. So for newbies and veterans alike, here are some ways you can help minimize the negative after-effects.

Things to Avoid After a Brazilian Wax to Reduce Irritation

Sun

First, stay out of the sun after the waxing. The area is extremely sensitive to sun exposure, often leading to hyperpigmentation or the darkening of the skin pigment. After the first 24 hours, make sure the area is protected by sunscreen. Sun protection designed for babies or specifically for the face is ideal.

Heat Moisture

Next, avoid excess heat moisture to the area for the first 48 hours. What this means is staying away from saunas, steam rooms, whirlpools, or hot tubs that can irritate the vulnerable skin. A hot shower is fine, what we’re talking about here is something that is trapping hot water or heavy moisture against the skin for an extended period of time.

Heavy Exercise

Related to the heat moisture, sweat can irritate the freshly waxed skin and should be avoided for the first 24 hours. Likewise, any repetitive exercise that would cause rubbing of the area against either clothing or itself can result in irritation and possibly broken skin that may lead to infection. Gotta throw sex into this category as well. Avoid positions that involve rubbing, or convince your partner to take a 24-hour break. (maybe have it done on a Sunday so he’s too busy watching football!)

Tight Clothing

As mentioned above, if the skin is sensitive, allow the area to be free of tight clothing or materials so there is no irritation from the fibers or your own movements.

Exfoliating Scrubs or Cleansers

Ouch! The skin already has been exfoliated to the max with the wax, so give it a day or two to cool down before you use any exfoliating scrubs or cleansers.

Brazilian Wax Discomfort Remedies

You tried those hints but you still have problems? Try the following.

Irritation

Baby powder lightly tapped on will soothe irritated skin. Don’t use baby oil as it could clog the pores. Likewise moisturizing creams. However, avoid baby powder if you have any actual broken skin. You don’t want anything getting into an open wound.

Pain

Waxing is never without pain, but if yours isn’t subsiding, try pain relievers like ibuprofen. For immediate results, and while in the comfort of your own home, try sitting in a cool bath or using ice cubes in a washcloth on the area. Pat dry with a soft cloth.

Rash or Broken Skin

Accidents can happen, leading to broken skin with a little bit of blood, or a rash may develop. Keep the area clean and use Polysporin once a day for 3 days. Do not use Neosporin, it contains neomycin that can be harsh or cause allergic reactions. The rash shouldn’t last more than a week and you should see normal healing.

Ingrown Hairs

A good esthetician will hunt down and remove any ingrown hairs at the time of treatment, but some may result afterward. After your 24-hour hiatus from exfoliating, resume exfoliating the area to ensure oils and skin don’t build up and result in future ingrown hairs. You can also use acne wash pads. A quick pass of the bikini area with acne medicated pads will help prevent ingrown hairs!

Don’t try this at home!

Your best bet for a positive bikini waxing experience is to see a licensed esthetician. Not only does their training ensure you experience the least amount of pain, but you’ll be in a clean, safe environment where the procedure is done right.

A bikini wax is a great way to remove unwanted hair and give you a clean, smooth look.

Massage can do that?

maan's shoulders massage can do that

What You Might Not Know About How Massage Can Help You

By Rebecca Jones – Originally posted at http://www.abmp.com/textonlymags/article.php?article=605

You know all about the relaxation benefits of massage—there’s no better tonic for tired muscles or flagging spirits. But you may not know about some of the other amazing benefits of massage, especially when it’s a regular regimen. It has a lot of positive payoffs you may never have thought about.

Massage Can Make You a More Productive Worker

Researchers have found that massage tends to lower the body’s production of cortisol, a stress hormone that suppresses the immune system. Block cortisol and the body’s so-called “natural killer cells” are freer to attack any incoming germs before they can establish a beachhead in your body. Along with a health-saving regimen of hand washing and preventive care, regular massage can go a long way toward keeping you sniffle-free. And fewer colds mean fewer sick days, which means you can get more done.

Massage Can Make You a Better automobile Driver

Your driver’s ed teacher was right: never, ever change lanes without looking both in the rearview mirror and physically looking over your shoulder. Yes, twist and turn that neck for safety’s sake. Most rearview mirrors have a blind spot, and countless accidents occur every year when drivers unknowingly move into the path of another car. One study from the United Kingdom found that the number of crashes caused by blind spots rose 50 percent between 2009 and 2011, probably because of a thickening of the metal structures between the front and back windows in an effort to make cars structurally safer. It makes the cars safer, but it also makes the blind spots larger.

Now think about what happens when a stiff neck makes turning your head painful. Fortunately, a massage can improve blood flow to the stiff area and will provide the nutrients needed for quick recovery. Your neck will feel better, and you’ll drive more safely as a result.

Massage and weight loss

Massage Can Help You Lose Weight

Starting an exercise regimen takes mental discipline, but it also takes a willingness to endure some pain. That’s because after any strenuous workout, muscles get inflamed, and that leads to soreness. Suffering through a bout of aching arms, calves, shoulders, and thighs might just drive the faint of heart back to the couch.

Researchers at the Buck Institute for Research on Aging in California and the  McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario, recently studied men’s muscles after they exercised on stationary bicycles. They found that when the men had their legs massaged after a workout, they suffered less soreness the next day. The reason: massage seems to inhibit the activity of cytokines, which are proteins that cause inflammation, while it promotes the growth of mitochondria, which produce energy in the cells.

Less soreness means fewer excuses to skip a workout, which can help you stick to your exercise routine and see the results you seek.

Massage Can Make You a Better Dancer … Or Tennis Player … Or Golfer

The reason has to do with proprioception—the body’s innate sense of the relative position of all its parts. Police conducting field sobriety tests may ask drivers they suspect of being under the influence of alcohol to close their eyes and touch their nose. People with normal proprioception can usually do this pretty accurately. Those who’ve had too much to drink cannot, because alcohol impairs proprioception.

Some massage therapists are trained in an advanced form of flexibility therapy called proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF), which can help clients learn safer, more natural ways to move their bodies. But even basic massage techniques have been shown to improve the mind-muscle link, therefore increasing an individual’s fine and gross motor control. Massage alone won’t earn you a spot on Dancing with the Stars, but it can help you be more adept and ditch your two left feet.

Massage Can Make Food Taste Better

OK, it won’t technically make the food taste any different, but it certainly can improve your digestion. Who relishes a feast when it’s followed by indigestion and a bloated feeling?

Massage has been shown to encourage the release of enzymes that break down food once it’s been consumed. This not only makes digestion easier, but also increases the absorption of nutrients. Massage also encourages the release of antioxidants, which neutralize acids in the stomach. Finally, it increases peristalsis, the involuntary contraction of the muscles that moves food through the intestines, reducing the chance of constipation.

If you’re prone to indigestion or abdominal discomfort, tell your massage therapist. He or she may know specific massage techniques that can be especially beneficial to you.

Massage Can Lower Blood Pressure

Massage cannot magically unclog narrowed arteries or reverse cardiovascular disease, but it can help relieve stress, and managing stress is an important step in controlling blood pressure.

A number of studies point to the ability of gentle, relaxing Swedish massage to lower blood pressure. For instance, a 2011 Iranian study looked at 75 prehypertensive women. Some of the women received 10–15 minutes of Swedish massage three times a week for 10 sessions, while those in the control group did not. Based on the results, investigators concluded “massage therapy was a safe, effective, applicable, and cost-effective intervention.”

In 2010, researchers from Dillard University in Louisiana wondered whether therapeutic chair massage and instruction in diaphragmatic breathing might help lower blood pressure in African-American women. This is an especially at-risk group, with an estimated 44 percent suffering from hypertension, according to the American Heart Association. The study found decreased systolic blood pressure levels in these women for a week following a massage.

Warning: not all massage is likely to lower blood pressure. Some types, such as trigger point or sports massage, may actually increase blood pressure. If you have high blood pressure, talk to your doctor about how massage can fit into your overall wellness strategy.

Massage Can Make You smile

You probably leave each massage session with a smile on your face, but you may be surprised to learn just how long it can last. Evidence suggests that massage therapy can relieve symptoms of depression, and, in turn, perhaps coax a grin during tough times.

In 2010, Taiwanese researchers investigated randomized controlled trials of massage therapy in depressed patients. Based on the results, they concluded that massage therapy has “potentially significant effects” in alleviating depression. The findings, reported in the Journal of Clinical Psychology, indicate that the improved emotional mood brought on by massage might be due to stress reduction and relaxation, by bonding between therapist and client, or possibly by promoting the release of oxytocin, a hormone noted for its ability to induce feelings of optimism and increased self-esteem.

More study is needed to determine just why massage seems to be such an effective antidepressant, but this much is clear: massage can put a smile on your face, and that’s better than a frown any day.

Rebecca Jones is a Denver-area freelancer and frequent Body Sense contributor. Contact her at killarneyrose@comcast.net.

10 Secrets Your Massage Therapist Knows About Your Body

esthetician-touching-clients-face-with-both-hands-over-their-eyes

Whether you’re an uninhibited veteran or a skittish first-timer, there are physical secrets you can’t hide from me, your massage therapist. The good news is they’re pretty much universal. It doesn’t matter whether you’re shaped like an apple, a pear, or a bottle of pomegranate juice. Leave your underwear on, if it makes you more comfortable. The truth will still come out.

1. No one’s face is symmetrical. I’d love to clamber onto the shoulders of Michelangelo’s David to see what he looks like from the angle I enjoy from the head of my massage table. From that vantage point, we’re all Picassos, our eyes and nostrils more chaotically placed than you might imagine. I guess morgue workers have similar access to these sorts of upside-down facial realities, but I’ll stick with live flesh.

2. Nothing is immune to gravity. Breasts fall, bellies lose their elasticity, and those of us lucky enough to survive our first three or four decades have more dewlaps than an iguana. Rather than attempting to outfox the natural progression of time with painful, expensive procedures and injections, revel in the elegance of biology.

3. Sight is not the only sense that matters. The softest, most wonderful-feeling flesh I ever touched belonged to an 80-year-old competitive swimmer…who finished last in every race he entered. He seemed happy enough, hopping onto the table for a complimentary sports massage after every heat. He took care of himself, and it showed…in a nonvisual way. Other favorite clients smell really good or laugh like delighted hyenas when we discover a muscle they’d forgotten they had.

4. Scars are badges of experience. This includes the stupid ones, like that circular exhaust pipe burn on your calf, a souvenir of an aborted day trip in Bali, when dressed in shorts and flip-flops you rented a scooter you didn’t know how to operate and took it for a spin. Every picture tells a story…every scar suggests there’s a story waiting to be told.

5. A deep breath is truly beautifying. Whether you’re releasing the countless pesky irritants of an average day or passing through a doorway to profound emotional release, you look great doing it.

6. Ditto good posture. Not everyone is capable of this. Working with a first-time client, I sometimes think, “Oh, you poor thing, I bet you played college football” or “I bet your job required you to stand in high heels eight hours a day for some twenty-odd years. These hands-on insights allow me to tell teenagers to stop slumping without fretting that I’ve become an old fusspot. (Did I just straighten your spine? Hooray! I’m magic!)

7. Your embarrassment is endearing. Farting is natural, especially when your abdomen’s being probed in a therapeutic way. And knowing that most boners are beyond their owner’s control, I refrain from taking them personally, unless you start agitating for a “complete release,” also known as a “happy ending.” (I hate to ruin your fairy tale, pal, but that’s not where our story’s going…today or ever.)

8. Silicone breasts and patchy hair plugs do not inspire tenderness, but the motivations and insecurities behind them do. Don’t be ashamed if you clicked on this article, secretly hoping for scientific proof of a miracle berry with the power to erase cellulite, acne, and all evidence of sun damage. Deep down, we’re all children, longing to believe.

9. Your brain is a much better liar than your body. We tell each other—and ourselves—all sorts of whoppers in our desire to save face, minimize our true feelings, or shirk responsibility. Our mouth may pay these untruths lip service, but there’s a puckered forehead, stiff buttocks, and bunched-up trapezius that would beg to differ.

10. Your body craves affection. Past experience, the difficulty of daily interactions, and suspected ulterior motives can convince us that others are best kept at arm’s length, but simple, compassionate touch is a gift your body will gladly receive. I know you’re only here because you screwed up your neck, but as long as you’re paying for it, there’s no shame in savoring every aspect of the experience.

By Ayun Halliday

Sen Line Therapy + Thai Massage FAQs

massage-therapist-helping-a-thai-massage-client-do-a-back-bend

What Are The Benefits of Thai Massage?

Did you know that we offer Thai massage in Springfield, MO, at Precision Wellness? Learn more about the benefits of Thai massage in the article below, and then give us a call to schedule your own Thai massage! Our licensed and trained massage therapists focus on areas of the body that need more work, and vary the strength from light touches to deeper tissue massage, as well as more demanding stretches. The key is to feel relaxed and comfortable, even if Thai massage is challenging your body at times.

Health Benefits + FAQs of Thai Massage

Thai Yoga massage is an ancient technique; a therapist specifically trained in the art stretches your body with assisted yoga poses. This massage technique focuses on energy points, called “sen.” When the massage therapist stretches your body, she also presses and massages along the sen lines.

How does Thai massage improve circulation + lymphatic drainage?

A Thai massage works in similar ways to regular yoga poses. As you hold a pose, your blood slows to targeted areas. When the pose is released, circulation flows back into the area. Better circulation and oxygen levels can improve mental clarity, mood, energy levels, and quality of sleep.

Some positions, including the plough, shoulder stand, and spinal twist, are particularly effective with circulation. Inverted poses can help with lymphatic drainage.

How does Thai massage help joint + muscle tension?

To release muscular tension, the Thai therapist presses feet, hands, thumbs, knuckles, and fingers into certain points while holding you in a stretch. This helps relieve areas of stress and tension.

More oxygen and greater detoxification promote greater mental clarity and enhances mood, energy levels, and quality of sleep. The kneading, rocking, and static pressure of Thai Massage alleviate tension in joints and fascia. 

How does Thai massage help stress?

By manipulating your muscles in a Thai yoga massage, emotional and mental stress are released. Thai massage includes meditation, which also helps you to relax and better manage your stress.

Movements that massage, stretch, and create pressure are a way of maintaining internal balance and connecting the body, mind, and beyond in harmony, releasing energy along the way.

How can Thai massage boost a body’s immune system?

By invigorating the nervous system through massage and relaxing toxins with improved circulation, you may increase your immunity to disease.

A boosted immune system is considered one of the benefits of Thai massage — some yoga devotees believe that practicing yoga poses can improve your body’s immunity and lead to longevity!

Just imagine: Lying in a dimly-lit room, surrendering to the here and now, allowing your body and mind to flow as slow, methodical movements lull you into a restful, centered state, disengaging from the hubbub around you and sensory overload of life, gives you the space and time to let go of stresses and strains.

Book A Thai Massage Now

7 Reasons to Get a Facial

woman's face with clay mask being applied

There’s a wealth of information about skin care that’s readily available to us at the click of a mouse. That more than likely means your bathroom is already filled with products—peels, masks, scrubs, etc.—that can give you a serious deep clean. But while it’s great to practice good skin care, that doesn’t necessarily mean you should be skipping out on seeking professional help. And even though you may not suffer from severe acne or other chronic conditions, your complexion will still benefit from the attention of a trained esthetician.

“Getting a facial is important to understand how your skin works and how it reacts to stress, hormones, and the elements,” says Regine Berthelot, the treatment manager at Caudalie Spa in New York City. “People with problematic skin should book a monthly facial. At the least, getting one every season is recommended to keep the skin balanced.”

We asked our favorite experts exactly why we should all be booking an appointment (and fast). Here’s what we learned.

1. Facials can actually clear your pores. “A professional treatment will fully cleanse your skin in a way that you simply can’t at home,” insists Dr. Marko Lens, a dermatologist and founder of skin care brand Zelens. “Think about it this way,” offers Kate Somerville, founder of the eponymous beauty brand, “You brush and floss your teeth twice daily, but you still need to go to the dentist a few times a year for optimal health.” Facialists normally utilize a safe and gentle steam to really open your pores and allow them to breathe. It’s a don’t-try-this-at-home kind of cleansing.

2. If something’s wrong, you’ll find out why. “Your skin changes over time depending on age, weather, and even hormones,” Somerville explains. “It’s a good idea to have an expert who can help you address those changes, identify skin conditions, and educate you on how to treat them.” If you have great skin now, don’t trust that it will last forever! For example, lots of girls suffer from eczema in the winter and simply blame it on dryness. Not treating a serious condition can lead to long-term skin damage!

3. You’re popping your zits wrong. Don’t lie. We know you do it. (And we do, too.) But every time you squeeze a pimple, you’re risking acne scarring and dark marks. “Regular, professional extractions will help keep the skin clear,” Somerville insists. “It will also help prevent long-term damage you might be causing at home.” You may even find that booking a regular appointment will eliminate any reason to pick and pop yourself. “Facials are essential to prevent imperfections,” adds Dr. Lens.

4. It’s better than the beauty counter. You know when you go to a beauty store and someone tells you what to buy based on looking at your skin under fluorescent lighting? That’s not how we should be purchasing things. “A knowledgeable, licensed esthetician will provide personalized skin recommendations and a regimen that will address your individual concerns.” The best way to know your skin is to examine it, cleanse it, treat it, and then assess it. Once you’re on a great regimen, the esthetician will update it by season. It’s like having your own concierge!

5. There are some things you just can’t DIY. “You will never have the right products at home to get a professional effect,” insists Dr. Lens. (Take that steam machine as a prime example!) “We utilize light therapy, using blue and red LED, to eradicate the bacteria that cause inflammation during breakouts,” says Somerville. “It’s also been proven to reduce pore size, stabilize oil production, and promote healthy cell growth.” Unless you’ve got big bucks and the proper degree, you can’t get that kind of treatment at home!

6. You’ll find your happy place. “Facials are so much more relaxing than a DIY,” says Dr. Lens. In fact, Berthelot uses a mix of high frequency, massage, and hot towels to maximize the pampering experience! Everyone knows stress can cause skin issues, so a facial can cure any breakouts and give you reason to take a few deep, cleansing breaths.

7. Confidence is key. “I struggled with eczema for years,” says Somerville, “and I’ve seen every skin concern imaginable in my clinic. I know exactly what it’s like to regain skin health and feel confident. You should feel comfortable in your own skin!”

So, what are you waiting for? Call and schedule your next facial at Precision Therapeutic Massage and Esthetics in Springfield, MO today.

Your Pre-Wax to-do List from Precision Therapeutic Massage and Esthetics

dripping wax

Bikini season is upon us and in-spa waxing services are the number one choice for getting bathing-suit ready skin. To make sure your waxing experience is the best experience possible, here is a pre-wax to-do list!

1Seek out a pro! Sure, there are plenty of at-home waxing kits that promise to remove hair but, a professionally trained esthetician will be able to ensure that your waxing experience is as safe, quick and painless as possible. Using an at-home kit means taking risks and can leave you with irritated skin, burns or even less hair than you mean to end up with.

2Let your hair grow! You may be tempted to tidy up in-between waxing sessions, but allowing your hair to get on a growth cycle is what the professionals recommend. It means a less painful wax experience as your hair will get finer, thinner and grow more sparse. At the very least, allow for two-weeks of hair growth. Waxing works best when there is at least a quarter inch to a half inch of hair.

3Check your ingredient labels! Avoid exfoliants for at least 48 hours before and after you wax and stop using retinol products 3-5 days beforehand. Both remove dead skin cells and leave your new, top layer of skin more sensitive. Waxing is already an exfoliant as it clings to both hair and dead skin cells so applying it to a new, more sensitive layer of skin makes for a more painful process.

4.  Prepare for a little pain. Although using a professional esthetician means receiving the most pain-free experience possible, they are still pulling your hair out. You should still expect some discomfort. Taking a a pain reliever prior to your appointment can help.

5. Avoid an irritation situation. Steer clear of coffee and alcohol for 24 hours before your appointment as both can sensitize skin, increasing the potential for pain and irritation. Wear loose-fitting clothing and avoid letting your skin come into contact with any potential irritants.

Now that you know how to prepare, you can give us a call to schedule your next wax at Precision Therapeutic Massage and Esthetics in Springfield, MO.

Massage and Weight Loss

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Weight Loss and Bodywork | Helping You Meet Your Goals
By Genevieve P. Charet

Originally published in Body Sense magazine, Spring/Summer 2010. Copyright 2010. Associated Bodywork and Massage Professionals. All rights reserved.

Massage–anything this good must be fattening, right? Wrong! Scientists now confirm what massage therapists have always known: massage can be a powerful and effective weight-loss tool. By improving your body’s resilience, aiding muscle nutrition and flexibility, and supporting your mental and emotional well-being, massage can take your weight-loss plan to a whole new level.

The relationship between massage and weight loss is the result of many subtle improvements working together, including better injury prevention and healing.

Jeff Wooten, founder of YourBodyMechanic.com, explains: “Massage helps to heal existing injuries by breaking down scar tissue and other adhesions. This creates a more functional muscle and improves joint integrity.” Massage therapists also work to improve your flexibility and range of motion. This makes you less likely to hurt yourself, meaning more productive and pain-free hours in the gym. But the benefits don’t end there.

When you receive a massage, you’re directly impacting the circulatory system. By constantly moving blood to body tissues, your massage therapist increases the amount of oxygen and nutrients your muscles receive. This soothing cycle eases you into much-needed rest and relaxation time.

Deneen Rhode, a massage therapy instructor who teaches fitness classes, says, “The qualitative style of Swedish massage relaxes the nervous system and takes the body into what is known as the parasympathetic nervous system. The parasympathetic state is very restorative to the body–it is where the body needs to go to heal itself.” When you accomplish this through massage, it means you’ll need less recovery time between workouts and that you can move your fitness routine full speed ahead.

Jeff Mann, the regional manager for Cortiva Institute Schools of Massage Therapy, knows this firsthand. With experience as both a massage therapist and personal trainer, he has seen the way massage can help clients drop pounds and keep them off. “Massage to weight loss is like the padding on a steering wheel–you can do without it, but it makes it a lot easier and more comfortable to hang on to.”

Make It Work For You

Losing weight isn’t easy. Thankfully, it’s simple to incorporate massage into the healthy lifestyle you’re building. It’s a good idea to have a special consultation with your massage therapist about your new goals and fitness plan so that treatments can be customized to your body’s specific needs.

Meredith Nathan, director of massage at Pulling Down the Moon in Chicago, says there are some specific questions you should be prepared to answer. For example, “If you’re following an exercise routine, how has it affected your body? Are there any particular areas of tension or discomfort? Where do you tend to gain weight first? How is your digestive health? Is your lifestyle relaxed or stressful?” The more information you can provide your therapist, the better your results will be–and this extends to your medical history. During your intake process, inform your massage therapist about any health problems, surgeries, medications, and even recent minor illnesses you’ve had. Anything your doctor needs to know, your massage therapist needs to know as well.

”Generally, massage on a healthy [client] should be no more that 90 minutes; 60 minutes is the most common,” Rhode says. Weekly massages are ideal, but you can reap plenty of benefits from monthly visits, too. Your massage therapist will work with you to set a specific schedule of appointments that fits with your workout routine, as well as your finances. Don’t be concerned if your MT wants to see you more often at the beginning of your plan–this is normal, and helps him or her to get to know your body’s way of handling stress and exertion.

Don’t Be Shy

While it’s natural for anyone to feel a little self-conscious at first about undressing for a massage, overweight clients often have major anxieties about disrobing. If you’ve put off massage therapy because you’re embarrassed about your body shape, take heart: massage therapists are sensitive to your concerns and don’t want you to feel ashamed. Thom Lobe, MD, founder and director of Beneveda Medical Group in Beverly Hills, says, “Massage therapists are just that–therapists. They are used to seeing all shapes, sizes, and conditions of the body. A well-trained massage therapist has an entirely clinical perspective, no different than any other health-care worker. The fact is, when I give a massage…what the body looks like isn’t even in my conscious thoughts.”

Throughout the course of a massage, clients are discretely draped under a sheet, with the therapist only uncovering the body part being worked on. Of course, you can always wear swim attire or undergarments during your massage, although they can hamper the full therapeutic effects your therapist offers. Remember, rest easy in the knowledge that your massage therapist has been trained to nurture and help you without passing judgment. Nathan adds that massage therapists “do not expect to work on bodies that are already in perfect health; rather, we get excited about supporting our client’s journey toward better health.”

The Power of Touch

While it’s easy to overlook your emotional health when planning a new diet and exercise regimen, it’s the primary factor determining your weight-loss success. Along the path to fitness, the role of massage in supporting your mental and emotional health may be a critical component. Massage is a calorie-free reward; a way to treat yourself without guilt. Your massage therapist also acts as a cheerleader who celebrates your victories with you and helps keep you positive and committed.

“The more professionals you have on the team, the better,” Wooten says. “The worst thing to do, in most cases, is attempt to get into shape on your own.” Adding a massage therapist to your weight-loss plan is a great way to tell yourself just how serious you are about taking this step.

Massage is a powerful way to love, respect, and nurture yourself. When you love yourself, you won’t engage in unhealthy lifestyle choices. Rhode calls this “the power of touch”–the unique ability that touch has to make us feel safe, comfortable, and at peace. “Very often, those who are obese or overweight become less social and isolate themselves. They become disconnected from others. They may experience less touch in their lives in general,” Rhode says. This disconnect continues a downward spiral of low self-worth and unhealthy living. Massage is a great way to fill in that gap and rebuild a healthy life from the ground up. “I’ve learned that there are no perfect bodies,” Nathan says. “All bodies are unique and have unique needs. All bodies deserve to be nurtured.”

Regular massage is all about reconnecting with your body and getting back into yourself. As you continue to take time out to relax and care for your body through regular appointments, you’ll naturally become more aware of your body’s needs and more motivated to meet them. It’s all part of a greater picture of health and fitness, one that Wooten says, “is a journey, and not a destination.”

Your massage therapist wants to help you build a bridge between mind and body that will last a lifetime. So update your massage from guilty pleasure status to indispensable health habit, and reap the benefits in the form of a fitter, happier you. You’ve earned it.

Genevieve P. Charet is a Chicago-based freelance writer, copy consultant, and food blogger. To read more about her, visit www.genevievecharet.com.

Massage and Allergies

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Allergy Basics

According to the American Academy of Allergy, Asthmas, and Immunology, allergies affect more than 50 million Americans, making it the country’s fifth most chronic disease, third among children.

We spend around 7.9 billion dollars a year on treatment—about 4.5 million on direct care and 3.4 billion on indirect care, including lost work.

Allergies are, in the simplest sense, the body overachieving. “Your immune system is reacting to things it shouldn’t be reacting to,” says Leonard Bielory, MD, director of the Asthma & Allergy Research Center at New Jersey Medical School. “Your body goes on high alert against normally innocuous substances, like cat hair, pollen, or peanuts.”

In this reaction, the body’s mast cells, which are loaded with chemical-like histamines and other granules, break open and release these substances, which in turn hurt the body. The result can be everything from life-threatening anaphylactic shock to the more benign runny nose, foggy thinking, and low-grade chronic cough. Of course, you can suffer in many other ways as well, including gas and bloating, eczema, sinusitis, earaches, headaches, and even joint pain, migraines, and depression.

Relaxing the Symptoms

Many Americans rely primarily on conventional treatments, including antihistamines and steroids, both of which can have some adverse side effects. Massage therapists, however, can help relieve some allergy symptoms by reducing stress, increasing circulation, releasing muscle tension, and reprogramming the body’s panic reaction, which can exacerbate symptoms.

“It’s not to take away from the biological, inflammatory component of the disorder,” says Rosalind Wright, MD, a pulmonist on staff at the Harvard Medical School. “But if you use complementary modalities, including massage therapy, you could optimize the results.”

Few studies researching massage therapy and allergy relief exist, but we do know massage helps with stress, as shown in the 1992 Touch Research Institute study where 30-minute body massages on depressed adolescents decreased saliva cortisol levels.

And stress definitely impacts allergies. A 2008 Harvard Medical School study co-authored by Wright showed that mothers-to-be who expose their unborn children to stress may increase these kids’ vulnerability to allergies and asthma.

Wright says that these stressors act like “social pollutants” breathed through the body, influencing the body’s immune response. “Just as you can breathe in an allergen like dust mites or ragweed, you can breathe in stress,” she says. “You take it into your body and it operates in similar types of pathways.”

So just getting clients to relax may help their allergies. “Most experienced massage therapists know the immediate relief from sinus congestion that can result from just lying face down,” Lies says. This position gives you a chance to work on the upper back and shoulders, where many sinus trigger points are located.

Getting More Specific

Roy Desjarlais, a massage and craniosacral therapist, and vice president of clinical services at the Upledger Institute says that calming the muscles around the clavicle and neck area is also helpful in mitigating the fight-or-flight response brought on by allergies, along with its concomitant symptoms, such as hiking the shoulders, holding the breath and tightening the throat. “Anything that works with upper chest and neck will … engage an area relating to the reticular alarm system, which is the system in our autonomic nervous system that responds to fear and anxiety,” he says.

Specifically, Desjarlais recommends working the sternoclemastoid muscle, pectoralis major and minor, the subclavius, and all the posterior neck muscles going into the occipital muscle. You choose the type of strokes, he says, as long as they’re calming. “This is where the art of massage comes in,” he adds.

Desjarlais also recommends referring to a simple reflexology chart to activate the trigger points on the feet for the thymus gland, the master gland for the immune system, and the pituitary gland, the master gland for the endocrine system.

The head offers its own relief, too.

“When muscles tighten up around the head, it restricts blood flow and closes up sinuses,” says Lies. A simple head massage can help loosen these muscles.

Another technique that can help allergies is lymphatic massage, which can help reduce inflammation, remove toxins and support the immune system. “The lymph system is the system best suited to move those accumulated protein molecules and other wastes out of the area,” says Roger Hughes, a therapist and certified Dr. Vodder Method of Manual Lymph Drainage practitioner.

He’s had successes over the years working with long-time allergy sufferers, including children with food allergies who also have frequent ear infections. In the Vodder method, the strokes are light. “Forty percent of the lymphatic system is right under the skin,” Hughes explains. “Therefore, light, pleasurable, rhythmic touch is the mainstay of the Vodder method.”

Also, one-third of the lymph nodes are in the neck. Hughes begins his sessions there, where he says he’s “opening the lymph faucet.” Although Hughes encourages therapists to honor the practice of referring to certified practitioners of lymph drainage for expert treatment, “working with mindfulness, presence, and intention is more powerful than people realize,” he says. “You’re helping that person let go of himself, and let go of unconscious tension. This, in turn, will let all the fluids in the body—the blood, lymph, and nerves—flow more easily.”

Desjarlais agrees and says setting an intention is a practice like meditation—to continually bring yourself back to the issue at hand. It’s a practice he brings to his work in craniosacral therapy, an osteopathic discipline that uses specific techniques to move the cerebral spinal fluid and to calm the nervous system.

Other craniosacral techniques impact the immune system through the endocrine glands and increase overall fluid exchange, all very helpful in allergy relief. Craniosacral therapy also helps to change some deeply patterned responses.

“Sometimes the reason we react to an allergen is habitual—we get grooved neurologically and physiologically, and sometimes when we break these groove reaction cycles, the body doesn’t react to the allergens anymore,” says Desjarlais.

This happened to Desjarlais himself, who had a longtime allergy to shellfish that caused his throat to swell and his stomach to cramp.

Now, he can eat shellfish with only a mild scratchy throat afterward.

Part of the beauty of craniosacral work is that even taking beginning courses can allow you to incorporate some of the techniques into your practice. “Anyone can apply it to their own work,” says Desjarlais.

Massage and allergies can go quite well together!

Benefits of Regular Massage

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Making the Most of Your Massage and How to Prolong the Benefits of Body Work

A massage works in wonderful ways, easing stress and pain, calming the nervous system, increasing circulation, loosening tight muscles, stimulating internal organs, and enhancing skin. The multiplicity of physiological responses sends a simple, clear message to the mind: Massage feels good. Of course, you want to hold on to that just-had-a-massage feeling — total body relaxation, muscles relaxed and at ease, and fluid movement restored — for as long as possible.But how long that bliss lasts depends on the state of your body. If you’re suffering from chronic pain or recovering from injury, then it may take more sessions and perhaps different modalities before optimal health is restored.

If massage is part of your regular health regimen, then it’s more likely the effects will endure. In other words, the effects of massage are cumulative, like any healthy habit. The more often you get a massage, the greater and longer-lasting the benefits.

Massage Frequency – How often you receive massage depends on why you’re seeking massage. In dealing with the general tension of everyday commutes, computer work, and time demands, a monthly massage may be enough to sustain you. On the other hand, if you’re seeking massage for chronic pain, you may need regular treatments every week or two. Or if you’re addressing an acute injury or dealing with high levels of stress, you may need more frequent sessions. Your situation will dictate the optimum time between treatments, and your practitioner will work with you to determine the best course of action.

“You need to consider how you felt before the session and how you felt after, and then look at how long you maintain that,” says Pieter Sommen, the chair of the eastern department in the Swedish Institute School of Massage Therapy in New York.

In general, experts say “regular” is preferable, but how regular depends on your situation. While daily massage would be delightful, practical considerations such as cost, time, and physical need likely determine the frequency of treatments. “It’s best to maintain a schedule,” says Eeris Kallil, CMT, a shiatsu instructor at the Boulder College of Massage Therapy in Colorado. “That way the body becomes conditioned and prepared for session at specific intervals.”

Maintenance – Whether you get a massage weekly, monthly, or just every once in a while, the following habits can maximize and extend the afterglow of treatment.

Water – One bit of advice you’ll hear over and over again is to drink plenty of water after a massage. Bodywork — no matter the particular modality — releases toxins, such as lactic acid and carbonic acid, that need to be flushed from the body. Massage also promotes circulation, increasing blood flow and oxygen and stimulating the lymphatic system, which helps rid the body of pathogens. After-massage hydration supports these functions, helping to eliminate released impurities, sooner rather than later.

Stretching – Another helpful habit is stretching between massages to maintain joint mobility, prevent muscles from tightening up again, and keeping the life energy flowing. This may mean doing yoga or whatever specific or full-body stretches suggested by your practitioner. After a shiatsu session, for example, your practitioner may recommend “makko-ho” stretches, a series of six exercises designed to keep energy circulating. “This series of stretches take anywhere from 5 to 10 minutes a day, but really help keep the chi flowing through the body,” says Kallil.

Exercise – Working out can also help maintain the benefits of massage, and this habit should be continually cultivated. However, if you’re receiving massage therapy to help speed muscle strain recovery, you may need to ease up on the exercise for a while and give the body time to heal — particularly if you’re recovering from a strenuous body-pummeling training regimen. “You don’t want to over-work your body,” says Kallil. That is, if running is taking a toll, try something more gentle and meditative such as swimming, walking, or tai chi.

Body Awareness – After a massage, respect how your body feels. If your body seems to ask for rest, give in to that demand. This may mean backing off the to-do list, taking it easy, moving slower, and perhaps doing less for a while. And don’t allow yourself to get fatigued because it will undermine the effects of massage. Get sufficient sleep to allow the body to absorb the effects and regain vitality.

Diet – Finally, since you’ve just rid the body of toxins, support the body’s renewed state by adhering to a healthy diet rich in fruits and vegetables, which will continue the detoxification process. Lay off the espresso and all adrenaline-challenges for a time — which would short-circuit relaxation anyway — and enjoy the calm.

The benefits of massage are many, including: increasing circulation, allowing the body to pump more oxygen and nutrients throughout the body; stimulating lymph flow and boosting immunity; relaxing overused or tight muscles; increasing joint mobility and range of motion; reducing recovery time after strenuous workouts or surgery; and relieving back pain and migraines, just to name a few.

After receiving a massage, clients feel rejuvenated, relaxed, and refreshed. By opting for a few lifestyle choices, you can extend these benefits and get the most out of your massage.

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