Archive for the ‘Stress & Relaxation’ Category

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The Essentials of Massage Oils

Wednesday, May 12th, 2010

I recently met a therapist who uses EVOO in their massage practice.   Really? EVOO?!   That’s what I said.   When it comes to massage the possibilities for reducing friction in skin on skin contact(bare bones that’s what the oil is for)   are endless.   The massage therapist is looking to basically reduce drag with the fringe benefits being the properties of the oils themsselves.   In our work we can use anything from apricot kernel oil to Shea butter.    The oil, or cream in some cases, is typically a carrier oil with other good stuff like Vitamin E, aloe, and/or essential oils mixed in.   A carrier oil is the base, and is typically a natural oil derived from a plant or even a nut.   It’s important to ask your massage therapist if you know you have allergies.   The massage therapist typically bases their decision of which oil to use on how it performs when they work, and what kind of shelf-life it has.    Old oil can be a bad thing, rancid oil often reacts with the skin, not to mention smelling just plain rancid.    The massage therapist should be aware of how long they’ve been using their oil and often disposes of it entirely before it gets into the massage room.

Some massage therapists add to their oil themselves, or use blends that come from good sources.    When making blends, a massage therapist can put anything from arnica to wheat germ oil.    The blend is typically based on client goals.   Often lavender and bergamot are used for soothing and stress relief while arnica and peppermint are good for sports massage.   Peppermint?  Yes, peppermint has great qualities and while on it’s own peppermint essential oil can be a bit much for the skin to handle, a few drops in a carrier oil can help the muscles.(Click the sports massage link for a great blend.)    Be warned though, while essential oils are the essence of natural botanicals, this concentration makes them extremely potent and dangerous if you don’t know what you’re doing.

The intent behind massage oil is two-fold, assisting the massage therapist in their work and assisting the massage client in feeling great.

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Posted in Massage Therapy, Stress & Relaxation | 1 Comment »

The Shoulder and Sleep

Monday, December 7th, 2009

As a massage therapist I often hear about the shall we say “side effects” of pain.    Some of the most predominant are lack of sleep, especially among those clients with significant shoulder pain.   You may be accustomed to sleeping on your side, either directly on the injured shoulder, or leaving the injured shoulder in a somewhat lax position at the top, either of which can cause severe pain.     Unfortunately, there’s no fantastic answer for instant sleep, especially when pain is an issue.   However, there are a few things you can do that may make your rest a bit easier.

Lots of pillows is one way to go.   gather all the pillows from around the house, the couch, guest bedroom, maybe even some of those giant stuffed animals you won for your sweetheart at the fair.  I know you’re not a bird, but the pillows are to make a nest of sorts.    Give yourself some support on both sides as well as the head and leave an area in the middle not too big but enough to “sink in”.    You may have to test your bedding a few times before you get it just right.

Another method a massage client in West Springfield recommended is to sleep in a reclining chair.    While it is not recommended for sleeping in on a regular basis.   The few days it may take your shoulder to get to a point where sleep is no longer difficult in your bed will be a relief compared to other seemingly futile attempts.

As I stated earlier, there’s no simple answer, but you may have to make some seemingly drastic changes in order to ease your night-time discomfort.     If you follow the advice of your massage therapist, and take care of yourself, you should be feeling much better in no time.

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Posted in Pain Management, Stress & Relaxation | No Comments »

All that energy on Black Friday

Wednesday, November 25th, 2009

So many people converging on buildings, seeking, acting out of giving, making efforts to better the lives of others. If all days could be like this. Although, I am talking about Black Friday so it’s a bit more loaded than that. At first glance that is what it is, and what some would like for it to be. What if we were like this every day, now that would really be Worth Something.

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Gratitude Attitude

Tuesday, April 7th, 2009

Lately, I’ve really begun to see the true power of gratitude.   Currently, things have been taking off and I think it’s mostly due to the fact that I started appreciating what I had a bit more.  ALL OF IT.   The stuff and things, my own idiosyncracies,  the idiosyncracies of others, my routine both yoga and life.

I’m discovering that the more I love it, the more that it loves me back.    Even to the point of asking for things and having them happen.    I know that you can find this from any number of self-help - change-your-life-in-one-simple-step gurus out there, but you know, the funny thing is that they’re right. No matter what voice or face you put to it, being thankful actually brings you more to be thankful for.

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As yet untitled

Tuesday, April 7th, 2009

Starting with the title, always seems to trip me up.  I just realized, how can I have a title without anything written on the page.  Am I like the yoga student who is very fixed on knowing the name of the pose without taking even one second to think about its shape.   Every yoga practitioner has done this by the way, whether the moment is long or short, you’ve been there.

Can this also be what happens in those moments of  [insert un-named emotion here].   There are many different ways our emotions present themselves.  Some have a tendency toward tears, while others need physical activity to “deal with their emotions”   No matter how you deal.  Whatever way that feels right to you is what you should do.  So long as it does not have a negative impact on the ones you love.

Poor ways of dealing with emotions are those that mask the emotion or create a sort of numbing effect.    Pacifying oneself for a time can be fine, however, it is all too often that one thing leads to another and in the words of Snow Patrol “..it’s not a party if it happens every night”      The obvious are choices that are found on A&Es show Intervention, alcohol, drugs, gambling.  The not-so-obvious choices are things like cutting (it’s not about the pain), shopping(not really about having things), binging (it’s not about the food - no matter what you do with it afer) and other food-focused issues.

If you see someone or know someone with these issues, the best thing you can do generally is to give them attention.   That’s it, your time, open your ears, go for a walk, play a game, reminisce;  talking to them about their problem will not help much in most cases, that is unless they begin the conversation.

Loved ones aside, lets get back to you and me.   Are you dealing with your emotions in a healthy way?  Are you trying to influence others to deal with their emotions like you?    As a great meditation teacher once told me “Focus Inward”    It truly is amazing how when we focus on ourselves, the world around us seems to change right along with us, perhaps not always in even steps, but you’ll start to notice a shift.

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Posted in Meditation, Stress & Relaxation, Yoga, Yoga & Meditation | 1 Comment »

Restorative or Gentle?

Friday, February 27th, 2009

To some this may seem like potayto, potahto; however, these are ultimately different. Restorative Yoga generally refers to a class style which includes poses that are gentle and held for longer periods and performed with a keen focus on the nervous system.

Gentle yoga is typically the ultimate in beginner’s yoga. The poses can be performed by just about anyone, yes that means even you can do yoga.
The thought that yoga is a laborious endeavor that only includes lots of stretching and requires pretzel-like poses that make you say “Why would I want my body to DO that?”
If you’re interested in a more laid back yoga session look for these types of classes. Restorative, Gentle, and Svaroopa are all different classes that have all of the benefits of yoga.

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