do it from center

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

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.

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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I often find that it is easy for me to hold up to my obligations to other people but I can easily excuse away that yoga class, detox bath, or other self-care opportunity. It also seems when trying to schedule with a client or friends, if is “just a exercise class” you are canceling, it is not so much a big deal. What if you had an appointment with the most important person in the world? Would you cancel your appointment with _insert_important_icon_here_ to have lunch with a friend or schedule a client for emergency pre-ski trip massage? I doubt it.

Guess what? YOU are the most important person in the world. No matter how trivial the “appointment” don’t waiver unless absolutely necessary. Self care (or preventative medicine, if you prefer) is one of the most valuable investments of time.

Now, go… set that appointment for a walk in the park, yoga class, dance lesson, massage, facial, hot bath, or early night with a good book! Not only do you deserve it, your health & well being depend on it!!