- Stress affects the nervous system and EVERY other bodily system.

- Chronic stress contributes to a weaker immune system -- which means you get sick more often.

- Research tells us that negative emotions like anxiety, depression, fear, grief, doubt and worry affect your nervous system and actually cause chemical changes in the body that are detrimental to your health.

- Deep negative emotions (conscious or unconscious) and very high stress are often present in persons with cancer.

- Stress is a major factor in high blood pressure and heart disease.

- Stress can aggravate many conditions and illnesses, including
- Headaches including migraines
- Heartburn
- Ulcers, irritable bowel (IBS)
- PMS
- Muscle pain & tension
- Sinus pain and congestion
- Asthma
- Carpal tunnel
- Fibromyalgia
- Chronic fatigue
- Nervousness, anxiety and panic attacks.

-- Stress causes muscle tension which reduces blood supply to the muscles.

-- Reduced blood supply to the muscles can cause frequent and painful muscle cramps, especially in the legs and feet.

-- Tight and tense muscles can cause sciatica in the hips and legs.

-- Tight and tense muscles reduces flexibility, movement and range of motion.

-- Chronic muscle tension can cause or aggravate muscle cramps, PMS, tension headaches, neck and back pain, and a wide variety of digestive problems, including indigestion, diarrhea, irritable bowel syndrome, heartburn, constipation.

-- Reflexology, massage, Reiki and other body therapies are holistic ways to promote wellness, relax, and de-stress.

-- Deep relaxation benefits your immune system.

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From the News
Chronic Stress: Feels Bad, Is Bad
"Plenty of studies have suggested that stress can make you sick. Now scientists may have identified one reason why: interluken-6 (IL-6) a chemical associated with such illnesses as heart disease and some cancers. Recently Ohio State University researchers compared 119 men and women caring for spouses with dementia to others who weren't carrying the same burden. Over six years, levels of IL-6 increased four times as much in caregivers as in the other participants. Chronic stress, the study authors say, seems to age the immune system prematurely."   "Health", October 2003, "The Power of Living Well", p. 126.

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Relaxation - So Important For Your Immune System
First, the Bad News — Studies show that chronic mental & emotional stress including anxiety and depression result in a weaker immune system – more colds, and other illnesses. Stress is also a major factor in high blood pressure, sleep problems, headaches, muscle pain, abdominal pain, diarrhea, constipation, indigestion, heartburn and other digestive problems. Managing stress in a positive way is vital to the function of your immune system, staying well & feeling your best.
Now, the Good News — Clinical studies show that massage and reflexology are valuable therapies for wellness. They not only help you relax, but help decrease heart rate and blood pressure, and most importantly, increase the number of white blood cells (the illness fighters) in your body. Massage also releases endorphins – the ‘feel good’ hormones, which reduce anxiety, promote relaxation & feelings of well being.

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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.               

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Articles and Information
by Mary Axelrod, NCMT, RMT, CR
  -Nationally Certified, Registered Massage Therapist, Certified Reflexologist
 - Phenomenal Touch Massage Practitioner
 - Member of Associated Bodyworkers and Massage Professionals
- Associated Reflexologists of Colorado

How Massage Can Help Relieve Migraine & Tension Headaches - click here (pdf file)
Relief From Sore Muscles (Are you a Weekend Warrior?)
Benefits of Using Therapeutic Grade Essential Oils
Have A Massage Party in Your Home! Call for details

Good Circulation — Why it’s Important
Every minute of the day your blood is busy bringing oxygen and nutrients for maintenance and repair to every single cell of your body. Circulation also brings antibodies and hormones, and removes cellular wastes, toxins and inflammation.
Good circulation is critical for energy, brain function, blood pressure, heart function, metabolism, digestion, immune function, and every other bodily process. Good circulation is absolutely vital to health and the healing process, from muscle stress after exercise, to healing after an injury.

Tight or sore muscles, which are often caused by stress, restrict circulation. And soreness in muscles after exercise is often caused by an excess of lactic acid that the body is unable to remove from the muscle tissue. Hot Stone Massage and Reflexology are wonderful ways to increase circulation in the entire body, as well as target particular areas of need. Hot and cold therapy is very effective for improving circulation, muscle relaxation, releasing tension & feeling great. Experience the benefits of Hot Stone Massage and Reflexology!

**Reflexology and massage are not a substitute for standard medical care.
Please see your doctor for any medical condition.

How Massage Helps You Cleanse & Detoxify for Better Health
Massage is not only a great way to feel good. Did you know Massage, Reflexology and Aromatherapy can help to cleanse & detoxify the body? Cleansing is a vital component of good health. The lymphatic system and the blood are like the housecleaning system of the body. Blood, pumped by the heart is circulated throughout the body bringing vital oxygen & nutrients to every cell. Lymph fluid moves through cells and tissues collecting toxins, cellular & metabolic waste & viruses, bacteria. Since the lymphatic system has no pump like the heart, the lymph fluid moves very slowly. Swelling or cold in the hands and feet can indicate poor circulation and reduced lymph flow. As we age, circulation and metabolism slow down and toxins are not released as fast. If our natural filters (liver, kidneys, lungs) are congested they are not operating efficiently and they are unable to clean the waste and toxins from blood. Then the toxins circulating in the bloodstream are carried to all the cells in the body instead of vital oxygen and nutrients. The good news is that Massage and Reflexology with warm and cool stones greatly increases lymph as well as blood circulation. It is particularly beneficial for the legs and feet, where circulation must move against gravity. Therapeutic aromatherapy also helps bring oxygen to the entire system, cleanse the liver and blood, and boost the immune system. Massage, Reflexology & therapeutic Aromatherapy -- what a great way to de-stress, increase circulation, feel great and help detoxify and cleanse the body! Experience the benefits of Hot Stone Massage and Reflexology!

Incorporating Massage Therapy into your current personal health care plan is an integral part of maintenance for good health and overall well being as well as prevention of problems in the muscles and joints.

The Benefits of Massage Therapy ...
Therapeutic Massage melts muscle tension and pain by flushing muscles of lactic acid and other waste and increasing circulation. It is one of the best ways to increase flexibility, mobility and range of motion as it reduces pain and stiffness in muscles and joints.
Massage improves circulation by bringing oxygen and other nutrients to body tissue. 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
• 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!

Reflex points on the feet (or hands) correspond to glands, organs and tissues in the  entire body. So a Reflexology Session is like getting a whole-body massage!

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 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).

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In the News:

Consumer Reports (August 2005) endorses Therapeutic Massage & Alternative Therapies for Back Pain, Headaches and other pain.

Drink More Spring or Filtered Water to Improve Every Facet of Your Health - by Dr. Joseph Mercola  www.mercola.com
"You’ve heard it repeatedly: make sure you drink at least eight 8-ounce glasses of water per day. The key words are “at least,” because, unless you are a child or the size of a child, you need more water than that. The rule of thumb is, for every 50 pounds of body weight you carry, drink one quart of bottled spring or filtered water per day. The average person weighs 150lbs, so they should drink three quarts per day. A 200lb person should drink a full gallon per day. Athletes should drink even more than that. Follow these guidelines and you’ve adopted one of the most crucial health habits." 

Hospitals Using 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)