Shoveling!

So, it's a snow day here in our area. Lots of snow, beautiful snow, a visual feast! 

But along with that comes shoveling. Here are some tips. 

• Go slowly, pace yourself! Especially if you are not used to this level of activity.
• Pick up small shovelfuls of snow at a time. In some places, I picked up snow from a top layer, then a middle layer, then the bottom layer. 
• Use your body wisely. 
• Switch it up! If you tend to shovel in one direction, trade every few minutes and use the shovel in the other direction. 
• Bend at the knees to get down low, scoop up some snow and lift with your whole body, don't just lift with your arms and shoulders.
• Stop after every 3rd shovelful or so and pause. Look up, smile, move your shoulders around, stretch out your arms or jump in the snow and make a snow angel!
• Most importantly, breath in deeply, appreciate the fresh cold air and feast on the beauty surrounding you!

Not your typical Massage Therapist!

Well, maybe there really isn't a typical massage therapist since we are all individuals with differing interests and strengths and challenges. Maybe I mean I'm not your stereotypical massage therapist. You know the ones. Those who give flowers to their clients to wear in their hair and have foot soaks and aroma-smells in the room with candle light and soft music…  I definitely can create a nice quiet, low light, peaceful atmosphere for my clients, especially if I know they are here because of stress and a little space for quiet care is what is needed - and I do love to give a nice flowing, lovely, classic swedish massage, dipping, deepening and lifting, lightening, getting in the zone… letting the client melt and drift.

Sometimes I'll do some deep tissue, working hard to rub out painful areas and sink in and spread to free up the stuck feeling a client may have, when I do all the work and the client receives. However, a session with me is more and more about integrated bodywork, often involving active engagement on the clients part. I believe actively working to create change within your own body, with my help, makes for more lasting change for your body. This is true especially if your goal is to reduce or get rid of pain, to increase your range of motion, to decrease aching and tight muscles, or for assistance in healing and recovering from injury or surgery.

In addition to being a licensed Massage Therapist, I am a certified Rossiter Coach, a level 1 certified Neurokinetic Therapy Practitioner and well on my way to being certified in Core Movement Integration. So I include much of what I am learning and studying, (with client consent.)  I find with the many approaches at my finger tips, I can more easily meet the needs of a variety of clients. These methods include powerful active stretching, gentle, aware moving or muscle/functional movement testing and resetting the brain-to-body connection. People respond differently to the different methods. We will find what will work best for you.

At your first session I will give you a confidential intake and consent form that includes questions about your medical history. I then spend at least 10 minutes, maybe up to a half hour discussing the issues you are having, asking questions that give me a better understanding of when you hurt, why you hurt, what you do that triggers the hurt. All of the questions I ask will contribute to the bigger picture that is you and your movement patterns. I may assess your posture while you stand, observe your gait while you walk, or your movements that might cause pain. A single leg stance for instance can give me lots of information about how your body adjusts and compensates to keep on functioning despite injury or minor trauma. I may check out your active range of motion and observe how you breath.

I am then likely to have you sit or lie down on the table and do some muscle tests to determine the relationships between muscles, the compensation patterns that may be causing pain elsewhere. Which, once identified, includes massage to release and actions to activate appropriate muscles. You begin to change and move better.

Or, I might have you move. I would guide your movements to bring awareness to better movement. You practice the movements, the more you move, the easier the movement becomes, the more that ease in movement becomes part of you.

Or maybe I'll have you lie on the mat on the floor and I'll step and you will stretch creating space in your body for ease of movement and to reduce pain in joints and muscles. Often there is laughter, lots of questions, a newly acquired sense of awareness, some revelations. And homework. Yes, I give homework. Remember, being active in the process, your participation and movement of your body is a huge part of healing.

For each session after your first, we quickly review any changes or shifts in awareness of your body and movements. We revisit your goals and together work towards achieving them.

So please, give me a call and set up an appointment if you are ready to work for lasting change.
Move better. Feel better.

Massage in Natick

Happy New Year! Well, it's January and for many of us it's time to make changes in our lives for better health. And who hasn't heard that one way to better health is through exercise? So, we resolve to walk more (get those steps in!) run more, get on the bike, do yoga, dance, or lift our way to better health. And that's all fine and good. But what if it starts to hurt to do your choice of activity? What if it leaves you aching or limping, or without the ability to turn your head or reach your arm behind you to put on your coat? Many people stop the activity, stop all activity that might trigger the pain. In fact, all your good, positive attempts for better health and fitness are derailed before you've really started and you might as well sit down and eat those left-over holiday sweets!

Well, I have a suggestion. 

Before you get discouraged and give up...

Before you plop back down on the couch and eat that left over cookie... 

Before you throw all your good intentions for a healthful 2015 right out the window...

... ready for it? 

 Seek out a Massage Therapist!

Did you know in Natick, where I work, at least 51 of the residents are licensed massage therapists?  And I personally know of at least 30 Massage Therapists that work in Natick. I am certain there are many more as well, as there are many establishments that have more than one therapist working.

That is a lot of caring, compassionate people with the certification and license, knowledge and desire to help you deal with aches and pain, stress and anxiety, right here in this one town! And that doesn't include the many more working in all the neighboring towns. 

Research has been shown that massage can help you let go of stress and anxiety, and for those who are beginning or increasing their fitness activity, it can support you in healing injuries and reducing aches and pain. People also receive massage to contribute to better sleep, to learn to relax or to just feel pampered! (which I think is therapeutic actually.)

Many people, 44% according to a survey conducted by AMTA in 2011, first come to get massage to deal with an injury or health issue.  Most of the clients I have, and I would think this true for others, get massage to help prevent injury and other issues that then may require medications and surgery.  I have clients who prefer to receive massage weekly. What they tell me is that regular massage allows them to function in the way they must to continue to do their jobs, to continue to think clearly and be productive. They also benefit from becoming more aware of their bodies, how they use their bodies both in good ways and in dysfunctional ways. They learn to stop doing things that result in injury and pain. Their bodies feel what it is like to be in balance and know how to achieve that more quickly.

There are many faces of massage. Every MT (Massage Therapist) has their own style, their own way of working. I don't know one massage therapist who has not received continuing education and continually work to fine tune their skills and increase their knowledge of the body. Many expand on the basic Swedish Massage and deep tissue massage by learning and becoming certified in new modalities or bodywork.  When searching for a MT, you will find many options available including: myofascial release, trigger point therapy, neuromuscular therapy, shiatsu, thai massage, hot stone and cupping. The varieties are endless! Some MT's combine degrees or certification in fitness or movement therapy into their massage practice, others may be certified in energy work or aromatherapy. Some offer 2 hour massages and others may offer short 15-30 minute sessions. Chair massage is another very effective and quick option offered by many MT's.

chair massage

core stones

So, have you ever had a massage? Have you thought about it but just haven't gotten around to it yet? Take a look at my website http://www.mybodyworksnatick.com for more information about the  bodywork I offer, or you could call 508 397-4184 to ask questions or make an appointment!

If you are either not in the Natick area or are interested in what other options are available, read on here and go here as a start to looking for a Massage Therapist near you. Better yet, ask around, ask your massage loving friends. They generally love the work of their therapist and will give you a recommendation. There are many Massage Therapists around, and we all do massage differently.  There is bound to be someone who you will click with, will support you in your goals and help you continue your good intentions for a healthy future.