~~Spring Fever~~

Spring Fever has taken Savannah by storm with an avalanche of pollen! :-) Boost your immune system with a massage! Drink plenty of fluids especially water and 100% fruit juice. Vitamin C, echinacea and garlic are excellent supplements for boosting immunity also.





I've been on my hands and knees spring cleaning. What about you? Dusting? Organizing? Don't forget to watch your body mechanics with lifting, squatting and get up and down off the floor. Keep twisting to a minimal and use those large leg muscles to do the heavy work not your back. Take breaks and stretch to keep joints limber and loose. If you do "tweak" something, make sure you get in for a massage soon! The quicker the response, the quicker the recovery.



Whether you are spring cleaning, working out in the yard, out in the boat, etc, staying hydrated is important for every cell and organ in your body. Lean muscle tissue contains about 75% water by weight. Blood contains almost 70% water, body fat contains 10% water and bone has 22% water. Skin also contains much water. The human body is about 60% water in adult males and 55% in adult females. Even if you don't feel thirsty, you should be drinking lots of water. Most research recommends 8 glasses a day, but new studies have found that to be truly hydrated, we should be drinking 50% of your body weight in ounces daily.

Hope you can all get out and enjoy this beautiful weather! Be safe~ be smart~ be careful! Lots of love

Just a few benefits of massage

This is a concise outline on the effects of massage with more details to follow! Please feel free to post any questions you may have...

THE PHYSICAL EFFECTS OF MASSAGE

• enhance tissue repair
  
• improve connective tissue health
• stimulate sensory receptors in skin
• increase superficial circulation
• remove dead skin
• facilitate healthy scar formation

• promote good joint function
• promote optimal joint flexibility and range of motion
• promote proper skeletal alignment
• "milk" metabolic wastes into venous and lymph flow
• promote specific and general muscle relaxation
• relieve myofascial trigger points
• release myofascial adhesions

• stimulate parasympathetic nervous system (i.e. relaxation response)
• reduce pain
• enhance body awareness
• release of endorphins

• increase general and local circulation
• enhance venous return
• reduce blood pressure and heart rate
• increase red blood cells in circulation

• increase lymph fluid movement
• improve immune function via stress reduction

• encourage diaphragmatic breathing
• relax muscles of respiration
• promotes good structural alignment and rib cage expansion
• digestion improved with relaxation
• enhances circulation to kidneys
• reproductive function improved with relaxation

• improve growth and development in infants
• relieve muscle pain from tension and poor circulation
• deactivate myofascial trigger points
• trigger complete relaxation response

THE PSYCHOLOGICAL EFFECTS OF MASSAGE

• increase mental clarity
• reduce anxiety
• facilitate emotional release
• promote feelings of general well-being
  

Massage Therapy Etiquette by Ms. Emily Post :)

For all of you who have never had a massage, I have decided to take off my massage therapist "hat" and become a first time client. I actually had my first massage during the first day of massage school 4 years ago. It can be a nervous and anxious experience because expectations are unknown.
Most places will want you to fill out a medical history form that may take 5-10 mins so you probably want to get to your appointment before the allotted time. The massage therapist should come out and greet you with professionalism and politeness. They will proceed to bring you to the treatment area and explain what will happen next. The key to massage is just try to relax, take nice deep breathes and communicate with your therapist what kind of pressure you prefer and if you have any specific areas you would like him/her to work on (i.e. feet, head, face, etc.). A professional massage allows you undress, but keep on whatever undergarments make you feel comfortable. The area that is being worked on is the only area undraped. The pressure should be in your comfort zone and if it is not, you should let your therapist know right away to deepen or lighten the intensity. The first appointment for any person is going to be a learning experience for both client and therapist. If you continue to see the same therapist, they will learn more about your body (i.e. where you hold your stress) and can adapt the massage to what you need or want. A "good" therapist won't do a "cookie cutter" massage, the exact same thing every single time. After (and even before) a massage, your body must be well hydrated especially if you prefer deep tissue massages like I do. The next day you might even be a little sore. It just means that you need to drink more water and maybe take some Ibuprofen or Aleve. If you ever have any questions, always feel free to ask your therapist. He or she should dictate the massage atmosphere to what you want. If you want to talk, talk. If the music is too loud, please let your therapist know. I always think that it's better to know then to not know! Getting a massage is a wonderful gift of health and wellness that should always be enjoyed and loved!

Valentine's Day=the "Super Bowl" for massage therapist

This weekend is our Super Bowl!
Every other day of the year is just a warm up to Valentine's Day.
Chocolates, roses and champagne...oh my!
This girl will be helping couples relax and romance bloom Friday through Monday (Monday is President's Day, a holiday for some people) at Sweetwater Spa in downtown Savannah. Lots of light Swedish massages for our happy couples to enjoy!!!!

What will you be getting for your sweetie?
chocolates? (nah, she doesn't need them)
flowers? (they just die)
jewelry? (we all have too much)
flat screen TV? (that's what YOU want)
GET HER A MASSAGE and she will love you forever!

Care for a trip to Hawaii?!!?

Lomi-lomi is a traditional massage of the natives of the Hawaiian islands. Different styles evolved from within families. Typically a tutu (grandmother) or other respected family member was the keeper of the tradition. It's modern form was popularized by Aunty Margaret Machado of Kona, Hawaii in the 1970-80's. A lomi-lomi massage consists of pressing and squeezing techniques performed with the fingers, palm and elbow. Kukui nut, macadamia or coconut oil is typically used for long flowing strokes as the recipient lies on a mat, or in a modern times, a massage table. Associated methods include baths, bone adjusting techniques and prayer. Lomi-lomi is based in traditional Hawaiian culture and emphasizes letting go of stress, unconditional love, and opening the heart to harmony, acceptance, and healing.
In 1874, Nordhoff described a wellness massage called lomi-lomi performed by the natives of the Sandwich Islands: "to be lomi-lomied you lie down upon a mat, or undress for the night, if you prefer. The less clothing you have on the more perfectly the operation can be performed. To you thereupon comes a stout native with soft fleshy hands, but a strong grip, and beginning with your head and working down slowly over the whole body, seizes and squeezes with indefatigable patience, until in half an hour, whereas you were weary and worn out, you find yourself fresh, all soreness and weariness absolutely and entirely gone and mind and body soothed to a healthful and refreshing sleep (Murrell, 1890, p.10)." Now, this description doesn't sound too appealing to me. What I picture is a deserted beach where palm trees sway and the lapping of the ocean is music to my ears. The soft breezes caress my face as the Hawaiian massage therapist relax and sooth me to a "healthful and refreshing sleep". Anyone care for a trip to Hawaii? :-)

BABY~BABY~BABY

Prenatal massage (or pregnancy massage) is becoming more and more popular as doctors, nurses, ob/gyns and the general public are educated to the many physical, mental and emotional benefits of massage. A woman's body is changing hormonally, structurally and posturally as it nurtures, carries and prepares to deliver a baby. Connective tissue softens, upper and lower extremities can swell and pregnancy posture compensates for the large belly as hormones and emotional stress can reek havoc on an otherwise "easy" pregnancy. Massage is great for overall relaxation, but can also address and help ease the above symptoms. Contraindications for prenatal massage is nausea, morning sickness, fever, bleeding, diarrhea and/or vaginal discharge. I only perform pregnancy massage after the first trimester. There can be too many complications during the first three months and miscarriage can be common. Positioning is easy for mom in side lying because that is the way she sleeps. Pillows are placed between the legs and one up by the arms for "hugging". There are a few spots to avoid on the body around the ankle and hand because they can induce labor according to Chinese medicine.
Massage can also be utilized during labor, delivery and recovery. Studies have shown that it will decrease anxiety and labor pain and the need for medication. Doulas (massage therapists with specialized training in pregnancy, labor and delivery) can work side-by-side with mid-wives for a safe natural deliveries. Six to eight weeks after a c-section, massage can help a c-section scar heal quicker and with less binding. Infant and toddler massage is taught to parents for tactile and kinesthetic stimulation for healthy growth and development. In NICU (neonatal intensive care units), massage helps increase the recovery time for preterm, cocaine exposed, HIV exposed and other high risk babies. It has been shown to decrease tension in infants and toddlers, help them learn to relax, bonding time between kid and parent, aides in digestion and elimination, improves sleep and calm colic. Research and studies only confirm that massage can be a beneficial, therapeutic treatment on anyone at any age in almost any situation.

Love a pregnant lady? BUY THEM A MASSAGE. Love your kid? massage them! :-)

Brrr it's cold outside! Time for a hot stone massage...

I had little experience with hot stone massage, but the more I use them, the more I love them! There is nothing like the feel of warmth, the smooth hard stone and the pressure of the therapist's intuitive hands. The basalt stone, which is high in iron, maintains the heat for a few minutes after being submerged in water in a warmer/heater for about an hour. The heat warms and relaxes the muscles and/or allows the therapist to apply deep pressure. They also improve circulation and calm the nervous system. I like to use the stones as just an addition to my massage. I don't tend to place the stones all over body like the picture above because they tend to cool fairly quickly. The contraindications for hot stone massage are pregnancy, people with infectious disease, rashes or open wounds, immediately after surgery and immediately after chemo or radiation. Hot stone massage should not be done over anyplace where inflammation is present. The most challenging part is the temperature of the stones. ALWAYS let your therapist know if the stones are too hot or even too cold! Most stones massages are 60 to 90 minutes long and run between $80 and $190 dollars (which is unfortunate in my opinion because it makes it less available to everyone secondary to cost). The reason for the cost is the pain and hassle of hand cleaning each stone and the extra training involved with learning the correct procedures for hot stone massage. Everyone should experience a hot stone massage at least once in their lifetimes~ it's something you will never forget! A heaven of warmth with relaxation and pain relief....