Thursday, May 9, 2013

Massage as a Complementary Therapy for Arthritis

From:  sturgisjournal.com


Massage has been relieving pain and stress since ancient times. In fact, the Greek physician Hippocrates called medicine “the art of rubbing.” According to an American Massage Therapy Association survey, about 48 million U.S. adults received massage therapy between July 2009 and July 2010.

Benefits: “Most of all, people with arthritis will notice greater joint mobility, range-of-motion, and less pain and inflammation,” says Kim Turk, director of massage services at Duke Integrative Medicine in Durham, N.C. “Arthritic joints are often inflamed and filled with fluids. Massage pushes those fluids into the lymphatic system, which then flushes them into the body. So, there is often a visible reduction of fluid on the joint, especially in the knee.” Turk is involved in a National Institutes of Health (NIH) study that compared people with OA who had massages once or twice a week for either 30 or 60 minutes. “The study found that one hour once a week was optimum in relieving pain and improving function,” she says.

“When people with RA or OA have a flare, it’s important that a massage therapist not work too aggressively,” 

Posted by:  C. Sackman, Indigo Eco-Spa at Stevenswood.com

Saturday, May 4, 2013

Benefits of Massage for Stress Reduction

We all know that certain types of constant stress in our lives is not healthy.

But did you know that recent evidence indicates that physical changes associated with stress may be one of the leading causes that contribute to heart disease and cancer.

In addition, stress can create and/or exacerbate many physical and emotional conditions such as chronic fatigue, digestive upset, headaches, back pain, high blood pressure, and risk of stroke.

Also stress can lead to depression, followed by anxiety, and even panic attacks!!!

A recent study conducted by Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, California recruited 53 healthy adults and assigned them to receive deep tissue, Swedish, and light touch massage. The researchers found that a single session of massage caused biological changes.

Volunteers showed significant decreases in levels of the stress hormone cortisol.  They also had an increase in white blood cells that are part of the immune system.

What this study shows is that receiving massage actually activates the body on an internal level to respond and correct the physiological imbalance caused by stress in our lives.

By confronting stress on a number of fronts, the benefits of massage for stress relief include relaxation of muscles, an increase in circulation, and reduction in stress related pain.

Once your stress level is reduced, you can reclaim the energy you once enjoyed, and experience a refreshed body and mind.

Article by:  Walter Lopez, Licensed Massage Therapist, Stevenswood Indigo Eco-Spa,
Stevenswood.com

Thursday, May 2, 2013

Experience the Benefitws of Healing Massage Therapies

From:  Galaway Advertiser, May 2, 2013

Experience the many wonderful healing benefits of massage therapy — an ancient art of natural medicine practised for thousands of years


If you are having difficulty sleeping, frequent headaches, feeling anxious, or have low energy levels, massage can help.




Reiki Healing:
Reiki is a Japanese technique used for stress reduction inducing relaxation and promoting healing. When our ki (life force energy) is blocked, we become ill and find it difficult to cope with stress. A treatment feels like a wonderful, glowing, radiance that flows through and around you. Reiki treats the whole person including body, emotions, mind, and spirit, creating many beneficial effects that include relaxation and feelings of peace, security, and wellbeing.
Reiki is a simple, natural, and safe method of spiritual healing and self-improvement that everyone can benefit from. It has been effective in helping a wide range of illnesses. It also works in conjunction with all other medical or therapeutic techniques to relieve side effects and promote recovery.

For a menu of spa treatments, we invite you to visit:  http://stevenswood.com/spa/spa-menu/
C. Sackman, Spa Director, Stevenswood Indigo Eco-Spa