Therapeutic Massage by Lucy --Newsletter--Summer 2012

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Massage MultipliedBenefits of Massage Improve with FrequencyKarrie Osborn

Regularly scheduled massage has proven a powerful ally in health and wellness.

"Blessed arethose who givewithoutrememberingand takewithoutforgetting."-Elizabeth BibescoOffice Hours and Contact

Therapeutic Massage by Lucy Lucy Dean, LMT, NMT, MMTwww.massagebylucy.commassagebylucy@verizon.net* 469-231-2911* Call for your appt.Office: Tu-F: 10a-7p; Sat: 10a-4p

In this Issue

Massage MultipliedKeeping Your Back HealthyMT Straight Talk

What kind of massage client are you? Doyou make an appointment aftersomeone has given you a massage giftcertificate? Do you try to get in everynow and then for a stress-relievingtune-up? Or do you see your therapistreligiously--once a week, every threeweeks, once a month?

While getting a massage--regardless ofhow often--is incredibly beneficial toyour body and mind, getting frequentmassage treatments is even morepowerful as a healthcare ally.

"People who get massage regularlydemonstrate a reduction in pain andmuscular tension and an improvementin posture," says Anne Williams, author

of Spa Bodywork: A Guide for MassageTherapists (Lippincott Williams andWilkins, 2006).

"People regularly make a commitmentto fitness. People regularly make acommitment to changing their diet. Thedifference they'd experience if theyregularly made a commitment tomassage is mind-blowing," she says.

Stress KillerOne way in which frequent massage canimprove our quality of life is byalleviating stress. Experts say mostdisease is stress-related, and nothingages us faster--inside or out--than theeffects of stress. As stress-relateddiseases continue to claim more livesevery year, the increasingly deadly rolestress plays in modern-day life ispainfully clear.

Massage is a great way to take charge andreverse the situation. Mary Beth Braunand Stephanie Simonson, authors ofIntroduction to Massage Therapy(Lippincott Williams and Wilkins,2007), explain the benefits of massage

therapy in the simplest of terms:"Healing input influences healingoutput." They note that frequentmassage can reduce the accumulation ofstress and improve overall health. "Thebenefits of massage are cumulative," theywrite.

A consistent massage routine helps you manage stress before it causes illness.

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This being the case, it only makes sensethat those aches and pains you see yourmassage therapist for might disappearfaster, stay away longer, or even go awayaltogether with more frequent visits.Stress might never reach thosephysiologically detrimental levels wherethe immune system is suppressed or thenervous system is sent into an alarm stateif you are able to receive stress-relievingbodywork with some consistency. Notonly would your body benefit byregularly unleashing its aches and painsinstead of adapting to them, but yourmind would have time to wash away thestresses of a life lived in overdrive. Bothare critical pieces for living well.

Experts say the body and mind can learnto live more calmly, more efficiently,and more healthfully when frequentmassage shows the way. That makes for ahealthier whole, allowing us to continueto live life at its fullest, even as we dealwith each new stress or challenge.

Preventive MeasuresIn so many ways, massage is preventivehealth care. Yes, it can address injuries,scar tissue, and chronic pain, as well asprovide relief for cancer patients andreduce hospitalization for prematurebabies, among many other valuablebenefits (go to Massagetherapy.com formore information on the myriadbenefits of massage). But when thehealthy, and trying-to-be-healthy,among us seek out massage on a regularbasis, it helps us live a proactivelyhealthier life.

Since bodywork influences every systemin the body, there are enormouspossibilities created by increasing thefrequency in which you address thosesystems. It's best to discuss your sessiongoals with your massage therapist andtogether devise a plan of frequency thatmeets your needs, while taking intoaccount your therapist's best advice.

Body AwarenessAccording to Benny Vaughn, sportsmassage expert and owner of AthleticTherapy Center in Fort Worth, Texas,one of the benefits of consistent andregular massage therapy is betterflexibility. "This happens becauseregular and structured touch stimulusenhances the nervous system's sensoryand spatial processing capacity," he says.

"That is, the person becomes moreaware of their body's movement in spaceand becomes more aware of tightness orpain long before it reaches a criticalpoint of mechanical dysfunction."

Quite simply, frequent massage puts youmore in tune with your body. "Theconsistency of massage therapy over timecreates a cumulative stress reductioneffect," Vaughn says. "The personbecomes acutely aware of stress withintheir body long before it can createstress-driven damage."

He says the consistency of receivingregular massage therapy has the potentialto create a cumulative wellness effect."Ultimately when one feels good, ourwhole being follows suit on all otherlevels--i.e., decision-making is better,processing life events is better, andbeing happy is easier when you are notin pain or feeling 'heavy' or 'tight.'"

Williams says she's certain people's liveswould be changed if they could schedulemassage and bodywork more frequently."I encourage clients to commit togetting massage once a week for a monthand then evaluate the results they get,"she says. "I guarantee they will becomemassage enthusiasts for life."

Massage Can...--Alleviate low-back pain and increaserange of motion.--Create body self-awareness.--Improve muscle tone and stimulatetheir nerve supply.--Improve elasticity of skin andpromote skin rejuvenation.--Improve sleep and calm the mind.--Increase endorphin and seratoninproduction.--Reduce edema, as well as jointinflammation.--Release negative holding patternsfrom previous injuries.

Massage is a great way to beat back pain.

Keeping Your Back HealthyTips to Avoid Lasting Pain

MT Straight TalkWhat Your Massage Therapist Needs to KnowAngela England

Chances are good that, at some point inyour life, you will have back pain. Infact, 70-85 percent of Americans willexperience back pain at some point intheir lives. But even with those odds,there are still several ways to minimizeyour risk and give yourself the bestchance to live pain-free.

Several factors can cause back pain,including stress, poor posture, badergonomics, lack of exercise, arthritis,osteoporosis, a sedentary lifestyle,overexertion, pregnancy, kidney stones,fibromyalgia, excess weight, and more.

With all of these potential causeslurking, it's important to look atbehaviors that can help you prevent andavoid back pain before it starts. Here area few simple healthy back tips from theNational Institute of NeurologicalDisorders and Stroke:

--Stretch and warm tissues beforeexercise or other strenuous activities.--Practice good posture. Avoid

slouching when sitting or standing.--When standing, keep your weightbalanced on both feet.--Follow good ergonomics in theworkplace. When sitting for longperiods of time, rest your feet on a footsupport. Make sure your chair and worksurfaces are at the proper height. Get upand move around in between longsitting stints.--Avoid high-heeled shoes.--Watch your weight. Excess weight,especially around the waist, can putundue stress on lower back muscles.--Exercise. Core strengthening moves,especially, will also benefit your back.--Don't lift items that are heavier thanyou can handle. Remember to lift withyour knees, not your back. Pull in yourstomach muscles, keep your head downand in line with your straight back, anddo not twist when lifting.--Get a massage. Using therapeuticbodywork can melt pain-inducing stressaway from your back and the rest of yourbody.

Most massage therapists guide first-timeclients through an intake process thatincludes discussing health histories andother medical concerns. But talking withyour therapist about these things shouldnot end with your first massage. Beforeeach session, take a minute to speak withyour therapist about any new medicalconditions or injuries, lasting aches andpains, or any other changes in your life.Here are some of the issues your massagetherapist should know about.

Medical ChangesIt's a good idea to regularly update yourmedical record with your therapist,especially if you've been diagnosed withan illness or medical condition--such ashigh blood pressure, heart disease,diabetes, a chronic autoimmune disease,or skin allergies--or are taking any newmedications. Certain medical concerns

preclude you from receiving massage.Other conditions, such as pregnancy,simply change the way your practitionerapproaches the session.

A New or Acute InjuryMaybe you spent hours driving to adestination getaway and your shouldersache, or you stepped off the porchwrong and sprained your ankle. Anytime you have a new ache, pain, sprain,twist, or pulled muscle, mention it toyour therapist. Depending on thelocation and extent of your injury, thesession may need to be postponed or theinjury site avoided until more healinghas occurred.

Personal PreferencesThis category is less obvious, but equallyimportant. Everyone has unique

preferences and sometimes there may besomething you would like to change foryour next massage. Whether you want tobring your own music, have thetemperature adjusted, or be draped inan extra blanket, your therapist caneasily adapt as long as you communicateyour preferences.

Help your practitioner help you. Take amoment to check in with him or herbefore your next session.

Angela England enjoys doing massage, gardening,writing, and spending time with her three youngchildren.

"There are manythings in this lifethat will catchyour eye, butonly a few thatwill catch yourheart - pursuethose."-Michael Molan

Hello & happy Summertime!The heat has arrived yet again. We all want to go outside &play, but there are things to remember when you're out tohave fun. First, stay hydrated - water & gatorade - & do drinkplenty. Second, avoid pain - stretch adequately beforeengaging in physical activities. This is one of the easiest &best things you can do to avoid injuries & soreness. So 'play'outside, but take care of yourself ahead of time. Third, whenyou do succeed in over-doing your muscles - by all means,come in & see me!! I can help. And don't forget ice & Arnica.Epsom salt baths are good for soreness too, but might be alittle hard to handle in this hot time of year. If you seem to behaving annoying nausea/bloating/tummy issues in the heat,consider eating 'lighter' foods & avoid heavy meats & dishes.Salad mixings & fruit are abundant in stores in summer soadd them to what you eat. They are good for you & easier onyour digestion. Juicing is also great to do too - it just takes alittle bit of time, but, you're worth it, right? Remember: wintereat 'warm' foods & summer eat 'cool' foods. I am looking to add a few new clients, so send your friends,family, co-workers to see me & get $25/off your nextmassage after I treat them. You'll both benefit! :-)Have a very happy & safe summer! Smiles always, Lucy

Therapeutic Massage by Lucy

Georgetown Office Community17766 Preston Rd. - Dallas, TX 75252