do it from center

I get asked this question nearly every day. Often I am not as articulate about the answer as I would like to be, as the answer can be somewhat confusing.

“You should get a massage as often as you want one.” This answer usually gets a laugh or at least a smile. But I do mean it. Your body is incredibly smart and knows when it needs some work. All of us choose to ignore our body’s requests for massage and touch sometimes, for a variety of reasons. However, if you feel as though you could get a massage every week and feel ten times better, that is a clear sign.

“You should get a massage at least once a month.” If you are interested in getting cumulative benefits from your massage work, once per month is the average minimum I recommend for everyone. Three weeks or six weeks may be better for you as an individual. Again, your body knows better than your massage therapist–the question is, are you listening to your body?

“You should get a massage about once a week if you are working on a particular issue which is significantly affecting your life.” Enough said.

If you’ve made a New Year’s resolution to take better care of yourself, consider regular massage therapy. And remember: I offer up to a 25% discount for anyone who is in need. There may be a therapist in your town willing to work in your budget constraints.

From November 07 through January 08, I received a complete series of 12 Kenesis Myofascial Integration sessions. Like Rolfing and other forms of structural integration, this work is more intense than massage, with longer lasting results. Though it’s not for everyone, it is actually much more accessible than I would have thought. The work also surprised me, providing more benefits than I could have anticipated. Read the rest of this entry »

Little-known fact: hearing about the Alexander Technique is what initially drew me to learn bodywork. The practitioner teaches the client better posture and movement by using words and touch. I’ve never taken a lesson, I admit, but the concept fascinates me. Having a high degree of kinesthetic awareness is necessary for dancers, and I speculated that it could help anyone move more fluidly and become more pain-free. I’ve just read a study published in the BMJ which supports that belief. The study reports that people suffering from back pain who recieved 6 to 24 lessons of the Technique achieved long-term benefits and many more pain-free days, compared to other therapies which were not as effective.

Read the research here: http://www.bmj.com/cgi/content/full/337/aug19_2/a884

When visiting San Francisco the month before starting massage school, I could not help but notice the “massage” parlors all around the city. The practice massage was completely unregulated by the state leaving each individual city/county up to the task. This left San Fran handling as an “adult” industry with other places having stricter rules than any state. Finally, the state has passed uniform legislation, bringing legitimacy to the profession, safe guards for clients, and a means to police questionable operations. This brings Cali in line with 39 other states, including D.C. that also have such legislation.

A recent study conducted by researchers at Ohio State University found that Swedish massage helped speed muscle recovery at the cellular level for rabbits who got mechanically intense exercise. This comes as no suprise to Olympic swimmers Michael Phelps & Dara Torres who both used massage as a part of their daily routines. Phelps, 23, made history by winning eight gold medals. Torres, 41, became the oldest swimmer to compete in an Olympic event and win a silver medal

Read more at the Miami Herald