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.

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

Skilled touch from a trained massage therapist is not the only way to enjoy the therapeutic benefits of human contact. Recent studies show that supportive and caring touch lower stress hormones and blood pressure, while also enhancing oxytocin, a hormone thought to calm and counter stress. To read more about the study, visit read the article on usatoday.com.

A couple weeks ago, I was prepping a bucket of SWEET peppers to roast on the grill. Yum, roasted red & yellow peppers, my favorite summer bounty. Suddenly, my hands start to burn. It occurs to be that I had a bucket of Anaheim (hot) peppers next to a bucket of Carne del Toro (sweet) peppers in my truck. A hot pepper or two must have tumbled over. Unfortunately, once the “pain” kicks in, its too late to wash - the oil has already absorbed. Capsaicin is the oil in peppers that causes the burning (pain) reaction and is known to take about 2 or 3 days to naturally come out of the skin. This is time that I did not have to wait…

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An exciting new study from the University of California, San Diego, Oncology-trained Licensed Massage Therapists brought relief to those suffering from advanced cancer. According to the American Cancer Society, massage is “thought almost universally to be a beneficial therapy.  It is helpful not only physically but emotionally as well, because it soothes the soul and the mind.”  Massage cannot cure cancer, but it has been shown in several studies to improve quality of life and well-being.
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