|
 Subscribe!
To receive this newsletter send an email to on-277@ezezine.com.
 Minute Massage
Got an achy, stiff neck? Extended work on PCs or at a desk can cause
your neck and shoulders to tense up. For tension in the upper back, try
the following sequence:
- Cradle the base of your skull with your fingertips. Use your fingers
to massage and rub the small band of muscles at the very base of your
skull. (If you do this while laying down, you can use the weight of
your head to get deeper pressure.)
- Take your right hand and grab your left trapezius muscle (the large
muscle at the corner where your neck joins your shoulder) and squeeze.
Start with gentle pressure and work deeper as needed. Repeat on the
other side.
- Take both hands and place your fingertips near the top of the shoulderblade
close to the neck. Use your fingers to massage, pull and knead the muscles
near the base of your neck on your back.
- With one of your hands, grab the back and side of your neck on the
same side. Knead your neck with your head relaxed forward, and then
with your head relaxed backward. Repeat on the other side with your
other hand.
Remember to take periodic breaks during the day as you work at your desk
to stretch your neck, arms and shoulders.
 Rates & Hours
Expanded Hours starting in June:
Tuesday: 12 pm to 5 pm
Wednesday: 1 pm to 9 pm
Thursday: 9 am to 5 pm
Friday: 1 pm to 9 pm
Saturday: 9 am to 5 pm
*by appointment only (Call 615.294-6672)
 Gift Ideas
Massage gift certificates let us indulge ourselves or others. Imagine
giving a loved one a session on his/her birthday or your anniversary.
It's a gift that will be remembered!
Other gift ideas:
- Birthday
- Anniversary
- Engagement or Wedding gift
- Marathon or bike race completion
- Good news or achieving a key goal
- Out-of-town guest gift
- Employee achievement or recognition
|
| July 8, 2003 |
| Editor's Note |
|
Welcome to the initial newsletter for those who enjoy bodywork!
I hope you all had a wonderful 4th of July weekend.
Once a month, I will publish a short newsletter with some
information about massage. Features will include new information
about massage research, massage in the news, and benefits
of massage will be included. In addition, I'll you'll see
short description of a way to give yourself or a friend a
quick massage for a few minutes.
Please forward the newsletter to friends and family who enjoy
massage, or want to learn more about it. For additional information
on massage, see my website www.massagebyheather.com.
Features this month include Massage for Weekend Warriors,
More on Acupressure, 2-Minute Massage for Neck and Shoulders,
New Expanded Hours, and Gift Ideas.
- heather wibbels
|
|
| Massage - Relief for Weekend Warriors |
|
Each spring and summer, as the weather improves, marathons,
bicycle rides and softball leagues begin. Proper preparation
and recovery from these physically demanding events insures
safety and continued strong performance. Recovering after
the event can be challenging - especially after long events
which require stamina and strength. This remains true for
both athletes and "weekend warriors."
Massage assists in the recovery process by working on sore
or tired muscles, driving muscle toxins (lactic acid) from
the tissue and into the bloodstream where they can be flushed
quickly out of the system. Massage also stretches overworked
muscles and can be used to restore range of motion in the
case of injury. Post-event massage speeds recovery time and
assists the healing process by addressing muscle injury and
strain and working to reduce swelling and fatigue that accumulates
during long-duration sporting events. It generally includes
the following massage modalities: Swedish, acupressure, neuromuscular
therapy and passive stretching.
If you are participating in marathons, bike races, athletic
leagues or other sporting events this spring and summer, contact
Heather Wibbels at 294-6672 (or your current massage therapist)
to schedule an appointment in the first few days after the
event. Sixty or ninety minute sessions afford the best means
to work through achy and sore muscles. In addition, remember
to stretch before and after the event -- this reduces the
chance of injury. If you're unsure of the best time to receive
massage after an event, please give your massage therapist
a call to discuss the best approach. Pre-event massage can
also benefit performance, but the session is usually general,
short, and does not work the well-trained muscles too deeply
in order to keep the muscles in the same place as during event-training.
For more information on sports massage, you can visit the
link listed below::
|
|
|
More on Massage: Acupressure
Qi and Eastern Theories of Wellness
|
|
Asian theories of health and wellness that form the basis
of acupressure, tui na and shiatsu center around the concept
of energy that all beings hold. This life energy, known as
qi (pronounced "chee"), permeates living beings and the entire
universe. Within humans, energy flows in certain pathways
and patterns throughout the body - these are called meridians.
Think of them as highways of energy that run from our head
to our toes. Each meridian contains many points (acupoints)
along it that, when stimulated, can effect the energy flow
in the entire body. The meridians also intersect and can cause
change to the qi flow in other meridians.
Healthy people have a good balance and flow of qi in their
bodies. All of the acupoints are open and balanced when a
person is in perfect health. Imbalance in qi causes dis-ease.
An imbalance could be one meridian being overactive, or another
meridian suffering from a lack of adequate energy flow. Energy
blockages at the acupoints disrupt the flow of the meridians.
On each of these energy highways, the specific points act
as exit/entrance ramps to control the flow of energy. Acupressure
stimulates the points with direct finger pressure to correct
energy flow.
The way acupressure works revolves around a holistic approach
to the body-mind-spirit. In a traditional sense, acupressure
is more about wellness than controlling symptoms, although
it can be used for pain relief, muscle soreness, gastro-intestinal
issues or emotional/mental imbalance. Certain points relieve
specific symptoms as well as correcting the energy balance.
In the east, acupressure is sometimes a treatment given at
regular intervals as preventative medicine.
Acupressure can be the only modality used during a massage
therapy session, but it is more often combined with other
modalities and integrated into a full session. It is also
a modality that can be done with the client clothed and lying
on the massage table. During a session, the therapist may
hold points on the body and remain still for 30 seconds to
3 minutes. At times, she may hold two points together to focus
on the energy flow between those points or meridians. It is
a very quiet and still modality and can induce deep states
of relaxation.
For more information on acupressure, follow the links below
that refer to some sites on basic acupressure knowledge. You
can also go to www.massagebyheather.com
for more links and information on acupressure.
Acupressure Links
|
|
|
