Your Health Is Worth MillionsJan/Feb 2013

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Invest in Your HealthMassage Offers Excellent Return on Investment

Massage is a health investment, helping to manage stress, support wellness, and boost immunity.

Everything youdo can be donebetter from aplace ofrelaxation.-Stephen C. Paul

Office Hours and Contact

Nourishing Massage Located Inside Richfield Holistic Wellness Center Dana M. Brandt, LMT216-513-8464www.akronmassage.co

In this Issue

Invest in Your HealthHappiness is ContagiousMassage for Seniors

"Invest for the long term" is greatfinancial advice, but it's also greathealthcare advice. Never is investing forthe long term more important thanwhen you are making day-to-daydecisions about your health. There areshort-term gains from taking care ofyour health, to be sure, but thelong-term benefits are not to beunderestimated.

You already know the value of bodywork.For all the short-term stress and painrelief you get from massage today, thereare lasting rewards you'll thank yourselffor down the road. Massage therapy as apreventive measure and part of anongoing care regimen can mean fewervisits to the doctor, as well as fewer

co-pays, prescriptions, andover-the-counter medications.Ultimately, it means a healthier andhappier you.

An Excellent ValueAs you plan the family budget, ponderhow massage therapy impacts your abilityto make good decisions, cope with extraresponsibilities, stay on an even keel

emotionally and spiritually, andmaintain harmonious relationships withcoworkers, family, and friends.

Research supports the value of massage.Massage provides many benefits,including improved concentration,energy, circulation, and self-esteem, aswell as reduced stress, fatigue, and pain.It's helpful with more acute healthconditions, also. If you, or a loved one,are already dealing with a healthcondition, massage is an even moreimportant part of your healthcareplanning.

Research shows:-- Alzheimer's patients exhibit reducedirritability, pacing, and restlessness after

neck and shoulder massage.-- Deep-tissue massage is effective intreating arthritis, back pain,fibromyalgia, and osteoarthritis.-- Fibromyalgia patients receivingmassage have fewer sleep problems andless anxiety, depression, fatigue, pain,and stiffness.

The value of bodywork runs deep, for nothing is more valuable than good health.

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-- Massage during labor appears to helpblock pain, reduce stress and anxiety,and relax muscles. Some medicalprofessionals say massage shortens labor.-- Massage can reduce sports-relatedsoreness and improve circulation, and isbeneficial in reducing symptomsassociated with arthritis, asthma, burns,high blood pressure, and premenstrualsyndrome.-- Oncology patients show less anxiety,depression, fatigue, nausea, and painfollowing massage therapy.-- Preterm babies receiving massagetherapy gain more weight and haveshorter hospital stays.-- Massage therapy is effective inreducing post-surgical pain and caneven reduce the time required forpost-operative hospital stays.

You may be trimming some extras out ofyour budget, as many Americans are.When weighing what goes and what stays,consider what an excellent value massageis, especially in relation to things thatmay be less valuable, but still cost youplenty. The price of massage hasremained stable in recent years, whilethe cost of movies, dining out, andsports events have risen. Which of theseactivities has the power to improve yourhealth and which has a better return oninvestment?

Get CreativeThere are many ways to keep massage inyour life if you use your imagination.While vacations are definitely neededright now by just about everybody, moreand more Americans are staying closerto home and taking "staycations." Howabout planning a healthy, home-basedvacation and including massage as partof your relaxation?

When it comes to gift-giving occasions,why not give and ask for massage giftcertificates? Massage makes a wonderfulreplacement for flowers that wilt,sweaters that don't fit, or another box offattening candy. Some folks buy spapackages or put together their ownoutings with a massage, a museumexcursion, or lunch at a favoriterestaurant. Mothers, daughters, aunts,and grandmothers are enjoying spastogether and massage is a key part of thepackage. These events create bondingexperiences that launch new traditionsand reinforce a healthy lifestyle.

Gift certificates for chair massage atairports are an option for wearytravelers, as is chair massage at malls forpackage-laden shoppers. If you are anemployer, consider gifting your staffwith on-site chair massage, which hasbeen shown to reduce stress andimprove performance. Just think of it asthe ultimate pat on the back for staff andone that pays you back.

Maintain Well-BeingYou may be tempted to trim yourwellness budget when economic timesare tough. Yet, a recent nationalconsumer survey showed mostmassage-minded Americans are stillcommitted to maintaining the healthbenefits they experience with massage. Itonly makes sense. The better you feel,the better job you can do of caring foryourself and your loved ones. Massagetherapy will also help families understress create healthier households, and

more focused and relaxed moms anddads. Children are sensitive and oftenpick up on tension in a household;parents who are taking care ofthemselves are more likely to provide asense of calm to their kids. This goes forcaregivers of aging parents, too.

Now, more than ever, massage shouldplay a role in reducing your stress andstrengthening your health. When peoplefeel their best, they are more able to facethe challenges difficult times present.With greater health and peace of mind,you can face difficulties with poise,clarity of purpose, and strengthenedemotional reserves.

Truly, massage is more than aluxury--it's a vital part of self-care thathas a positive ripple effect on you as youwork, play, and care for others.Investing in your health is oneinvestment that's sure to pay off.

Surrounding yourself with happy people is healthy!

Happiness is Contagious

Massage for Seniors Bodywork Improves Quality of Life

Maybe mom was right. Research suggeststhat surrounding yourself with friendsand family who are happy can actuallyincrease your own happiness.

Scientists at Harvard University and theUniversity of California, San Diego,found that emotions, particularlyhappiness, have a viral effect in how theyspread from one person to another. Forevery happy person in your physicalsocial network, you have a 9 percentchance of increasing your ownhappiness. The effect is morepronounced the closer someone is toyou geographically, and it does not seemto include electronic communications.The study, "Dynamic Spread ofHappiness in a Large Social Network,"can be found online in the BritishMedical Journal (www.bmj.com).

This is especially good news consideringthe potential health benefits ofhappiness and positivity. A studypublished in Stroke magazine hasindicated a "significant association"

between optimism and a reduced risk ofstroke. This is in addition to studies thathave linked optimism to a healthierimmune system, faster wound healing,and a lower risk of heart disease. Whilethe exact cause of the benefits is notclear, one theory is that optimisticpeople are more likely to take care oftheir health. In addition, there is hopethat teaching optimism could becomepart of a preventative program forvarious conditions.

What's one way to get happy? Trymassage! Exposure to stress, acontributing factor to unhappiness, overa long period of time can increase therate of neural degeneration and increasethe risk for Alzheimer's disease. Luckily,a study from Umea University in Swedenhas shown that just five minutes ofmassage has the potential to lower stress,and 80 minutes of massage has atremendously positive effect on stresslevels. Get massage, get happy, and cheerup your friends and family!

Almost 35 million Americans are age 65or older, and about 2,000 more reachthis age every day. As the U.S.demographic shifts to an olderpopulation, it's important to find waysof helping our elders maintain theirhealth and vitality. Massage for seniors isgaining importance as an alternativetherapy to increase quality of life, andmany massage therapists are gettingspecial training to better serve thisgrowing population.

Seniors' Special NeedsWhile similar in technique to otherforms of massage, geriatric massageconsiders the special needs of theelderly. The specialty trainedpractitioner knows about positioningfor greatest comfort and will often havethe client rest in the same position forthe entire massage. Mobility challenges

may dictate the massage be done in a bedor wheelchair. The therapist may alsowork both sides of the body at the sametime to enhance body awareness, or onlywork hands and feet, if the clientprefers. Sessions may be limited to 30 to45 minutes, as older clients often dobetter with shorter, more frequent,massages.

The geriatric massage therapist is awareof health issues associated with aging andhow to safely work with this type of clientand with associated physicians.Consequently, the practitioner is able toindividualize the massage service basedon the client's health, mobility, andcomfort level.

Benefits of Geriatric MassageA recent study conducted at the Weaver'sTale Retreat Center in Oregon looked

at the effects of massage for elderlyclients. The results of the two-year studyshowed that participants experienced adecrease in breathing rate of 50 percentand an improvement in range ofmotion, posture, body awareness, skincolor, and muscle tone. Furthermore, itis well documented that caring touchbenefits emotional well-being in seniors-- a population at greater risk ofsuffering from depression.

Massage therapy can add to the quality ofa senior's life, both physically andemotionally. Consider booking a sessionfor someone you love, and make adifference in their life.

Those who bringsunshine into thelives of others,cannot keep itfrom themselves.

James M. Barrie-James M. Barrie

I want you to stop and think when the last time you didsomething for yourself and your health.

Did I ever tell you that your health is worth millions?

I'm here to bring harmony to your mind, body and spiritthrough a nourishing massage.

I look forward to seeing you soon!

Sincerely,Dana M. Brandt, LMT

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