Benefits of Massage Therapy ...

Massage Therapy feels wonderful but there are so many additional benefits besides just feeling good. 

Therapeutic Massage melts muscle tension and reduces pain by flushing muscles of lactic acid and other waste. Massage increases circulation to the muscles, tissues, joints and the entire body. Massage brings oxygen and other nutrients to body tissue. It is one of the best ways to increase your flexibility, mobility and range of motion as it reduces pain and stiffness in muscles and joints.

Massage Therapy encourages a sense of balance and feelings of well being in the body.

Massage therapeutic effects can include, but not limited to:

• Increases Relaxation 
• Reduces stress and anxiety
• Pain relief 
• Improves circulation 
• Reduces muscle cramps & pain 
• Increases energy 
• Relief of stress headaches, migraines 
• Reduces blood pressure 
• Strengthens immune system 
• Reduces formation of scar tissue 

Relaxation & Stress Release
Medical science now understands that most diseases are caused or aggravated by stress.  

When you hold stress in your body, it increases muscle tension and decreases circulation. Reflexology & Massage relieves tension and stress and helps you to relax. Increases the "feel good" hormones.

Help for insomnia - relaxation and stress release help promote better sleep.      

Helps relieve tension & sinus headaches -- may help migraine headaches that are often triggered by stress and tension.

Immune System
Stress can lower your resistance to colds & other illnesses. Stress is a major factor in auto-immune diseases like lupus & rheumatoid arthritis

Reflexology & massage stimulates the liver and kidneys and other glands, and help rid the body of toxins.  
         
Your whole system runs more efficiently, and you feel energized!

Helps move lymph fluid which helps to cleanse the body. A massage technique for lymph drainage can help reduce swelling in tissues and helps reduce that painful condition.

Nervous System - Reflexology & Massage balances the nervous system and the release of endorphins which results in a feeling of well-being. Increases levels of serotonin and brain chemicals to lift depression

Relaxation reduces heart rate and blood pressure.

Muscles & Circulation 
Massage therapy is one of the top therapies for pain relief of many conditions including arthritis, back pain, neck pain, achy body, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue, arm and shoulder pain, 'frozed shoulder', hip pain, sciatic pain, leg cramps and foot pain.

Massage relaxes tight & sore muscles & helps keep muscles flexible. Flexible muscles can help prevent injury. Massage improves circulation Increases blood supply to all areas of the body.

Massage can reduce lactic acid - which causes sore muscles after exercise. Massage releases "muscle knots" - the toxins and cellular waste that hurts.

Massage can relieve leg cramps, often caused by chronically tight muscles with knots that often spasm, especially at night. By relieving soreness, tightness and tension, therapeutic massage can reduce the need for pain medications. Therapeutic massage can reduce or prevent painful sciatica in the back, hips and legs.

Enables more oxygen and nutrition to get to all cells of the body. Better circulation means increased mental activity, better brain function and alertness, and better skin tone.

Cold hands and feet can benefit from the increased circulation from regular massage.

Digestion 
Chronic stress can affect your stomach, causing upset stomach, indigestion, gas, bloating, diarrhea & constipation.

Medical science recognizes that stress aggravates irritable bowel syndrome and colitis. Years ago, medical science recognized that stress was a major factor for stomach ulcers. Regular massage can reduce the need for things like alka-seltzer, antacids and other over-the-counter remedies.

Getting regular Therapeutic Massage can relieve stress, decrease the stress hormones in the blood and increase endorphins (the "feel good" hormones).

The Positive Effects of Caring Touch

News from The Touch Research Institute
"The Touch Research Institute has conducted over 100 studies on the positive effects of massage therapy on many functions and medical conditions in many different age groups. Among the significant research findings are enhanced growth (e.g. in preterm infants), diminished pain (e.g. fibromyalgia), decreased autoimmune problems (e.g., increased pulmonary function in asthma and decreased glucose levels in diabetes), enhanced immune function (e.g., increased natural killer cells in HIV and cancer), and enhanced alertness and performance (e.g., EEG pattern of alertness and better performance on math computations)." Other Clinical Studies show that massage plus aromatherapy has many wonderful benefits to the body and mind for stress relief.  Patients were people with illnesses as well as those in Hospice. The study also included research on infants, children, healthy  adults and athletes. Research showed patients who received aromatherapy massages experienced:

• Reduced anxiety
• Reduction in pain
• Improved circulation
• Reduced depression
• Greater self-esteem
• Increased vitality
• Lowered heart rate & blood pressure
• Decreased headaches
• Relief from PMS
• Reduced arthritis pain
• Improved mood and alterness
• Better mental concentration
• Increased well-being
• Decreased back pain
• Relief during menopause
• Reduced post-op pain
• Benefits to cancer patients

Phenomenal Touch^®
is both a philosophy and a variety of massage techniques. The philosophy of Phenomenal Touch is based on many principles including reverence and honoring the whole person. The Institute of Phenomenal Touch was founded by Leslie Bruder in Eldorado Springs, Co.

The specialized techniques are based on the root teachings of therapeutic massage, heat/cold therapy, acupressure, Trager therapy, anatomy, physiology, Thai Massage, Watsu, Qi Gong, Barefoot Shiatsu, holistic healing, energy work and a reverent spiritual practice. 

These unique methods are very flowing and work the body in a 3-Dimensional way using gravity, creating space and fulcrums. The philosophy of Phenomenal Touch is the basis for all of my massage and bodywork sessions from chair massage to Ah-Shiatsu Massage.

  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Relief From Sore Muscles 
(Are you a Weekend Warrior?)
 
Here in Colorado we participate in lots of outdoor activities — biking, running, hiking, climbing, soccer, baseball, tennis, kayaking, gardening and more.
 
 The downside from over-exertion is usually sore muscles, achy back, sore arms, legs and feet.
 Sore muscles are caused by excess lactic acid which is produced when we work or exercise hard. When the body cannot release it the muscle becomes sore. The heat from Hot Stone Massage is an excellent way to release lactic acid, relieve sore muscles and feel better fast! 
 
 Let my warm oiled stones gently penetrate into your achy, tired muscles and make them feel wonderful! Hot Stone Massage will relax and de-stress you and your tight sore muscles will feel like melted butter. And Reflexology feels fantastic on tired, sore or achy feet.
 
 Experience the great benefits of Hot Stone Massage and Reflexology!      
 
 Relief is just a phone call away! Call 970-204-1794 today for your appointment.               

  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

In the News:
 
Consumer Reports - endorses Therapeutic Massage & Alternative Therapies for Back Pain, Headaches and other pain.

More Hospitals Using CAM -(Complementary and Alternative Medicine) in the US
 “The number of hospitals offering complementary and alternative medicines (CAM) doubled from 7.6% in 1998 to 16.6% in 2002.” Reflexology was among the 16 CAM services assessed in the survey by the 2003 Complementary and Alternative Medicine Survey of Hospitals released by the American Hospital Association’s Health Forum. More than 1,000 hospital participated in the survey. (“Findings from the Complementary and Alternative Medicine Survey of Hospitals,” Market Wire, Chicago, October 28, 2003)

The Experience of Touch: Research Points to a Critical Role - "...being touched, new research shows, has direct and crucial effects on the growth of the body as well as the mind. "

"Touch is a means of communication so critical that its absence retards growth in infants, according to researchers who are for the first time determining the neurochemical effects of skin-to-skin contact.
The new work focuses on the importance of touch itself...The findings may help explain the long-noted syndrome in which infants deprived of direct human contact grow slowly and even die..."

"The new research suggests that certain brain chemicals released by touch, or others released in its absence, may account for these infants' failure to thrive. The studies on the physiology of touch come against a backdrop of continuing research on the psychological benefits of touch for emotional development." Article by Daniel Golbman, published in the New York Times, Feb 2, 1988.