Postnatal massage is one of the best ways for a new mom to care for herself. With all the chores related to the care of a new baby, mom may be even more stressed and uncomfortable than during her pregnancy.
Postnatal Massage is a natural therapy designed to help relax and heal a new mother. The postnatal massage is similar and yet, very different from a prenatal massage. While both massages will relax the mother, the postnatal massage will help get the new mom’s body back into a pre-pregnancy state by focusing on toning and reducing fluid retention.
Regular postnatal massage can help with the following common ailments:
• Lower back pain
• Neck and should pain
• Headaches
• Hand and wrist pain
• Postural dysfunctions
• Depression
• Weakness and fatigue
It can also help in re-establish pelvis structural integrity, healthy lactation, toning muscles, and overall stress reduction. It can even aid in weight loss!
A variety of therapeutic massage techniques may be utilized during a postnatal massage, including Swedish and lymphatic massage. Before any postnatal massage, it’s best for new moms to consult with the massage therapist to discuss any specific aliments that the therapist should focus on.
For a mother that has delivered her baby naturally, it is generally pretty safe to go for a postnatal massage as soon as they feel well enough. For those that deliver by caesarian, a good rule of thumb is to wait at least two weeks after delivery. However, in all cases it’s best to consult with the doctor first.
Regular therapeutic massage during the postnatal period is very beneficial to all new moms. It addresses physical discomforts as well as nurtures the body, mind and soul, helping each new mom be the best they can be.
_____________________________________________________________________________________If you’re a new mom, Elements Therapeutic Massage can help you with your postpartum healing. Or, if you know a new mom, an Elements gift certificate is a thoughtful surprise. To find an Elements near you, go to Touchofelements.com.
Thursday, February 24, 2011
Monday, January 24, 2011
Alternative Benefits of a Pregnancy Massage
Therapeutic massage has been used for centuries to improve overall health, reduce stress, and relieve muscle tension. Pregnant women have often received ambivalent responses from the health community regarding the safety and purpose of massage during pregnancy. Modern investigation and research is proving that prenatal massage therapy can be a very instrumental ingredient in women’s prenatal care and should be given careful consideration.
Although most massage training institutions teach massage therapy for women who are pregnant, it is best to find a massage therapist who is certified in prenatal massage. The APA does work with any massage therapist, so it is important to ask about qualifications.
The benefits of prenatal massage or massage during pregnancy:
Studies indicate that massage therapy performed during pregnancy can reduce anxiety, decrease symptoms of depression, relieve muscle aches and joint pains, and improve labor outcomes and newborn health.
Massage therapy addresses different needs through varying techniques, one of which is called Swedish Massage, which aims to relax muscle tension and improve lymphatic and blood circulation through mild pressure applied to the muscle groups of the body. Swedish Massage is the recommended prenatal massage method during pregnancy because it addresses many common discomforts associated with the skeletal and circulatory changes brought on by hormone shifts during pregnancy.
Hormone regulation
Studies done in the past 10 years have shown that hormone levels associated with relaxation and stress are significantly altered, leading to mood regulation and improved cardiovascular health, when massage therapy was introduced to women’s prenatal care. Hormones such as norepinephrine and cortisol (“stress hormones”) were reduced and dopamine and serotonin levels (low levels of these hormones are associated with depression) were increased in women who received bi-weekly massages for only five weeks. These changes in hormone levels also led to fewer complications during birth and fewer instances of newborn complications, such as low birth weight. The evidence points strongly to maternal and newborn health benefits when relaxing, therapeutic massage is incorporated into regular prenatal care.
Reduction of swelling
Edema, or swelling of the joints during pregnancy, is often caused by reduced circulation and increased pressure on the major blood vessels by the heavy uterus. Massage helps to stimulate soft tissues to reduce collection of fluids in swollen joints, which also improves the removal of tissue waste, carried by the body’s lymph system.
Improvement of nerve pain
Sciatic nerve pain is experienced by many women in late pregnancy as the uterus rests on muscles of the pelvic floor and lower back. The pressure of the uterus spreads tension to the muscles of the upper and lower leg, causing them to swell and put pressure on nearby nerves. Massage therapy addresses the inflamed nerves by helping to release the tension on nearby muscles. Many women have experienced significant reduction in sciatic nerve pain during pregnancy through regular massage.
Although most massage training institutions teach massage therapy for women who are pregnant, it is best to find a massage therapist who is certified in prenatal massage. The APA does work with any massage therapist, so it is important to ask about qualifications.
The benefits of prenatal massage or massage during pregnancy:
Studies indicate that massage therapy performed during pregnancy can reduce anxiety, decrease symptoms of depression, relieve muscle aches and joint pains, and improve labor outcomes and newborn health.
Massage therapy addresses different needs through varying techniques, one of which is called Swedish Massage, which aims to relax muscle tension and improve lymphatic and blood circulation through mild pressure applied to the muscle groups of the body. Swedish Massage is the recommended prenatal massage method during pregnancy because it addresses many common discomforts associated with the skeletal and circulatory changes brought on by hormone shifts during pregnancy.
Hormone regulation
Studies done in the past 10 years have shown that hormone levels associated with relaxation and stress are significantly altered, leading to mood regulation and improved cardiovascular health, when massage therapy was introduced to women’s prenatal care. Hormones such as norepinephrine and cortisol (“stress hormones”) were reduced and dopamine and serotonin levels (low levels of these hormones are associated with depression) were increased in women who received bi-weekly massages for only five weeks. These changes in hormone levels also led to fewer complications during birth and fewer instances of newborn complications, such as low birth weight. The evidence points strongly to maternal and newborn health benefits when relaxing, therapeutic massage is incorporated into regular prenatal care.
Reduction of swelling
Edema, or swelling of the joints during pregnancy, is often caused by reduced circulation and increased pressure on the major blood vessels by the heavy uterus. Massage helps to stimulate soft tissues to reduce collection of fluids in swollen joints, which also improves the removal of tissue waste, carried by the body’s lymph system.
Improvement of nerve pain
Sciatic nerve pain is experienced by many women in late pregnancy as the uterus rests on muscles of the pelvic floor and lower back. The pressure of the uterus spreads tension to the muscles of the upper and lower leg, causing them to swell and put pressure on nearby nerves. Massage therapy addresses the inflamed nerves by helping to release the tension on nearby muscles. Many women have experienced significant reduction in sciatic nerve pain during pregnancy through regular massage.
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
..Once again, LIVESTRONG.com has the right idea! here is their take on the Benefits of a Sport Massage.
As an athlete, you can derive significant health and performance benefits from receiving regular sports massage therapy. Sports massage therapy is a form of massage therapy that helps athletes recover from or avoid sports-related injuries, and typically utilizes more vigorous forms of massage to facilitate muscle healing or relaxation. Sports massage therapy should be performed before and after a competition to prevent injuries and loss of mobility and maximize the life of your sporting career.
Physical Benefits
According to SportsInjuryClinic.net, the physical benefits of sports massage therapy include the following: improved blood flow and nutrient delivery to your muscles, efficient clearing of harmful metabolic byproducts, tension reduction in your fascia, reduction of your scar tissue, improved tissue elasticity and improvements in your tissue's ability to absorb nutrients, also known as micro-circulation.
The physical benefits of sports massage therapy are important for all athletes, especially those engaged in sports where physical contact and bruising are likely, such as football, rugby or ice hockey. Endurance athletes also are excellent candidates for sports massage therapy, as the long training hours and the nature of competitive endurance activities, such as running, cycling and cross-country skiing, place considerable strain on your musculoskeletal system. Sports massage therapy helps relieve stress on your joints, ligaments, tendons and muscles.
Home Ultrasound Unit Relieve Pain, Speed Healing At Home 100% Guaranteed & Dr Recommended UltrasoundCure.com
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Physiological Benefits
The principle physiological benefits of sports massage therapy include pain reduction and relaxation; two important benefits that can keep you healthy and competitive over time. Sports-related pain can result from a muscle strain, a contusion or bruise or excessive use of a muscle. Overuse of a muscle or muscle group may result in delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS), a phenomenon that's long been associated with increased physical exertion, according to Len Kravitz, Ph.D., an exercise scientist at the University of New Mexico.
A 2005 study published in the "Journal of Athletic Training," concludes that massage therapy is effective at alleviating DOMS by approximately 30 percent and reducing swelling, but it has no effects on muscle function. Muscle relaxation is another important physiological benefit of sports massage therapy. Muscles relax when they're exposed to heat, receive increased blood circulation and are stretched appropriately; all common results of an effective sports massage therapy session. A reflex relaxation also is caused when your mechanoreceptors--tiny sensory receptors that respond to pressure or changes in tissue length--are stimulated during massage.
Psychological Benefits
The psychological benefits of sports massage include a reduction in your approach anxiety, enhanced feelings of invigoration and rejuvenation and an increased awareness of your mind-body connection, according to SportsMassageTherapy.info. Approach anxiety, which is the anxiety you feel about an upcoming match or event, is a common part of sports participation.
A massage therapist skilled in the art of sports massage will know what techniques to use to help counter your anxiety. The simple act of having your body worked on can give you a psychological edge that reduces your anxiety. After you've received a sports massage, it's likely that you'll feel a little sore, but you'll also feel invigorated and refreshed, ready to compete again at your highest level. The restorative effects of massage therapy and the corresponding psychological benefits are crucial for your continued athletic success. So too is an awareness of your mind-body connection, which massage therapy supports. Massage therapy can provide you with an awareness of your body that few other therapeutic modalities can match.
Read more: http://www.livestrong.com/article/115532-benefits-sports-massage-therapy/#ixzz1ABsBexFh
Physical Benefits
According to SportsInjuryClinic.net, the physical benefits of sports massage therapy include the following: improved blood flow and nutrient delivery to your muscles, efficient clearing of harmful metabolic byproducts, tension reduction in your fascia, reduction of your scar tissue, improved tissue elasticity and improvements in your tissue's ability to absorb nutrients, also known as micro-circulation.
The physical benefits of sports massage therapy are important for all athletes, especially those engaged in sports where physical contact and bruising are likely, such as football, rugby or ice hockey. Endurance athletes also are excellent candidates for sports massage therapy, as the long training hours and the nature of competitive endurance activities, such as running, cycling and cross-country skiing, place considerable strain on your musculoskeletal system. Sports massage therapy helps relieve stress on your joints, ligaments, tendons and muscles.
Home Ultrasound Unit Relieve Pain, Speed Healing At Home 100% Guaranteed & Dr Recommended UltrasoundCure.com
Sponsored Links
Physiological Benefits
The principle physiological benefits of sports massage therapy include pain reduction and relaxation; two important benefits that can keep you healthy and competitive over time. Sports-related pain can result from a muscle strain, a contusion or bruise or excessive use of a muscle. Overuse of a muscle or muscle group may result in delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS), a phenomenon that's long been associated with increased physical exertion, according to Len Kravitz, Ph.D., an exercise scientist at the University of New Mexico.
A 2005 study published in the "Journal of Athletic Training," concludes that massage therapy is effective at alleviating DOMS by approximately 30 percent and reducing swelling, but it has no effects on muscle function. Muscle relaxation is another important physiological benefit of sports massage therapy. Muscles relax when they're exposed to heat, receive increased blood circulation and are stretched appropriately; all common results of an effective sports massage therapy session. A reflex relaxation also is caused when your mechanoreceptors--tiny sensory receptors that respond to pressure or changes in tissue length--are stimulated during massage.
Psychological Benefits
The psychological benefits of sports massage include a reduction in your approach anxiety, enhanced feelings of invigoration and rejuvenation and an increased awareness of your mind-body connection, according to SportsMassageTherapy.info. Approach anxiety, which is the anxiety you feel about an upcoming match or event, is a common part of sports participation.
A massage therapist skilled in the art of sports massage will know what techniques to use to help counter your anxiety. The simple act of having your body worked on can give you a psychological edge that reduces your anxiety. After you've received a sports massage, it's likely that you'll feel a little sore, but you'll also feel invigorated and refreshed, ready to compete again at your highest level. The restorative effects of massage therapy and the corresponding psychological benefits are crucial for your continued athletic success. So too is an awareness of your mind-body connection, which massage therapy supports. Massage therapy can provide you with an awareness of your body that few other therapeutic modalities can match.
Read more: http://www.livestrong.com/article/115532-benefits-sports-massage-therapy/#ixzz1ABsBexFh
Saturday, November 6, 2010
A Simple Massage Could Keep you From Getting Sick
Here is a great article I came across while doing my daily internet browsing. It seems like everyone is sick at the moment so I was happy to read about the positive effects massage can have on the immune system!
(NaturalNews) Massages are a great way to release tension and stress and promote relaxation. But a new study published in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine has revealed for the first time that massages also provide a measurable, therapeutic benefit to the immune system as well.
Dr. Mark Rapaport and his team of researchers from Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, Calif., evaluated 53 people, 29 of which received 45-minute Swedish massages--one of the most common forms of massage used in the U.S.--and 24 who received gentler, light touch massages. Researchers took blood samples at intervals before and after the massages and found that those who received even just one Swedish massage experienced significant, positive changes in blood composition.
"This research indicates that massage doesn't only feel good, it also may be good for you," explained Dr. Rapaport in a press release. "People often seek out massage as part of a healthy lifestyle but there hasn't been much physiological proof of the body's heightened immune response following massage until now."
Besides experiencing a significant increase in lymphocytes, the white cells in the body that help fight and prevent disease, the Swedish massage group experienced lower cortisol levels as well. Cortisol is the hormone released by the adrenal gland in response to stress.
The Swedish massage group also experienced a decrease in arginine vasopressin, a hormone linked with aggressive behavior.
"European-style massage is often used to treat back pain, sleep disorders, and other stress-related disorders," explain Bradley J. Willcox, D. Craig Willcox and Makoto Suzuki in their book The Okinawa Program: How the World's Longest-Lived People Achieve Everlasting Health.
(NaturalNews) Massages are a great way to release tension and stress and promote relaxation. But a new study published in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine has revealed for the first time that massages also provide a measurable, therapeutic benefit to the immune system as well.
Dr. Mark Rapaport and his team of researchers from Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, Calif., evaluated 53 people, 29 of which received 45-minute Swedish massages--one of the most common forms of massage used in the U.S.--and 24 who received gentler, light touch massages. Researchers took blood samples at intervals before and after the massages and found that those who received even just one Swedish massage experienced significant, positive changes in blood composition.
"This research indicates that massage doesn't only feel good, it also may be good for you," explained Dr. Rapaport in a press release. "People often seek out massage as part of a healthy lifestyle but there hasn't been much physiological proof of the body's heightened immune response following massage until now."
Besides experiencing a significant increase in lymphocytes, the white cells in the body that help fight and prevent disease, the Swedish massage group experienced lower cortisol levels as well. Cortisol is the hormone released by the adrenal gland in response to stress.
The Swedish massage group also experienced a decrease in arginine vasopressin, a hormone linked with aggressive behavior.
"European-style massage is often used to treat back pain, sleep disorders, and other stress-related disorders," explain Bradley J. Willcox, D. Craig Willcox and Makoto Suzuki in their book The Okinawa Program: How the World's Longest-Lived People Achieve Everlasting Health.
Sunday, October 17, 2010
Chocolate-Pumpkin Tart Recipe
It's my favorite time of year! With pumpkins, fall colors, crisp weather and all the wonders that the season has to offer I thought I would share a delicious pumpkin treat. This was found on marthastewart.com
Ingredients
Serves 10
* 20 chocolate wafer cookies
* 2 tablespoons sugar
* 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted, plus more for pan
* 4 ounces semisweet chocolate, melted
* 1 1/2 cups cooled Sugar-Pumpkin Puree or canned pure pumpkin puree
* 1 large egg
* 1/2 cup heavy cream
* 1/4 cup packed light-brown sugar
* 1/4 cup pure maple syrup
* 1/2 teaspoon pumpkin-pie spice
* 1/4 teaspoon salt
Directions
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a food processor, pulse cookies and sugar until finely ground. Add butter; pulse until crumbs are moistened. Using the bottom of a dry measuring cup, press crumbs into bottom (but not sides) of a 9-inch removable-bottom tart pan. Place tart pan on a rimmed baking sheet; bake until set, about 12 minutes.
2. Pour chocolate onto warm crust; spread with a spatula. Freeze until chocolate is firm, about 5 minutes. Brush sides of tart pan with butter; set aside.
3. In a bowl, whisk together pumpkin, egg, cream, sugar, maple syrup, pumpkin-pie spice, and salt. Pour filling into prepared crust; bake on a rimmed baking sheet until set, 45 to 50 minutes. Cool 1 hour at room temperature; refrigerate 1 hour (or up to 1 day).
4. Unmold tart (if sides stick, gently loosen with a knife). With two thin metal spatulas, transfer to a platter.
Ingredients
Serves 10
* 20 chocolate wafer cookies
* 2 tablespoons sugar
* 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted, plus more for pan
* 4 ounces semisweet chocolate, melted
* 1 1/2 cups cooled Sugar-Pumpkin Puree or canned pure pumpkin puree
* 1 large egg
* 1/2 cup heavy cream
* 1/4 cup packed light-brown sugar
* 1/4 cup pure maple syrup
* 1/2 teaspoon pumpkin-pie spice
* 1/4 teaspoon salt
Directions
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a food processor, pulse cookies and sugar until finely ground. Add butter; pulse until crumbs are moistened. Using the bottom of a dry measuring cup, press crumbs into bottom (but not sides) of a 9-inch removable-bottom tart pan. Place tart pan on a rimmed baking sheet; bake until set, about 12 minutes.
2. Pour chocolate onto warm crust; spread with a spatula. Freeze until chocolate is firm, about 5 minutes. Brush sides of tart pan with butter; set aside.
3. In a bowl, whisk together pumpkin, egg, cream, sugar, maple syrup, pumpkin-pie spice, and salt. Pour filling into prepared crust; bake on a rimmed baking sheet until set, 45 to 50 minutes. Cool 1 hour at room temperature; refrigerate 1 hour (or up to 1 day).
4. Unmold tart (if sides stick, gently loosen with a knife). With two thin metal spatulas, transfer to a platter.
Sunday, October 10, 2010
Light Pressure Massage is most beneficial for overall well-being.
Exciting news for the entire spa industry! When the New York Times runs an article about a new study showing that “a single session of massage caused biological changes,” it is time for our industry to celebrate!
Here is the scoop. Researchers, from a division of the National Institute of Health, conducted a study at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles in which one group of adults was given a deep-tissue massage and another group was given a light massage. Blood samples were taken before and after these 45-minute massage. The participants who received the deep-tissue massage displayed (among other favorable results) decreasing levels of the stress hormone cortisol and an increase in white blood cells, an essential part of the immune system. Those who received the lighter massage had an even greater decrease in cortisol and increase in white blood cells, as well as an increase in oxytocin, a hormone associated with contentment. The study was published in The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine.
I found it amusing that the article mentioned the researchers’ reactions to the results as “a surprise.” Well…it’s certainly not a surprise to any of us in the industry, nor to most people who have had a massage and felt the physiological effects.
Kudos to the National Institute of Health for conducting this study. Now, if they could just relate this to the fact that, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, stress helps account for two-thirds of family doctor visits (other studies show the percentage even higher), we would no doubt have people lining up outside of our doors to receive massages!
We found this facinating article through Spafinder.
Here is the scoop. Researchers, from a division of the National Institute of Health, conducted a study at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles in which one group of adults was given a deep-tissue massage and another group was given a light massage. Blood samples were taken before and after these 45-minute massage. The participants who received the deep-tissue massage displayed (among other favorable results) decreasing levels of the stress hormone cortisol and an increase in white blood cells, an essential part of the immune system. Those who received the lighter massage had an even greater decrease in cortisol and increase in white blood cells, as well as an increase in oxytocin, a hormone associated with contentment. The study was published in The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine.
I found it amusing that the article mentioned the researchers’ reactions to the results as “a surprise.” Well…it’s certainly not a surprise to any of us in the industry, nor to most people who have had a massage and felt the physiological effects.
Kudos to the National Institute of Health for conducting this study. Now, if they could just relate this to the fact that, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, stress helps account for two-thirds of family doctor visits (other studies show the percentage even higher), we would no doubt have people lining up outside of our doors to receive massages!
We found this facinating article through Spafinder.
Saturday, October 2, 2010
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