Goddess of Transformation Center

Vol 1. Issue 3

stress relief

reduced muscle tension

pain relief

more restful sleep

improved circulation

healthier joints

improved posture

quicker recovery from illness and injury

fewer headaches

restored humor

increased energy

improved outlook on life

For Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Massage Therapy can help		Research is showing that massage decrease the discomforts of fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue.
Sometimes life circumstances and genetic predispositions can result in the development of a chronically painful and exhausting condition like fibromyalgia or chronic fatigue syndrome. Massage therapists have been working with these for years. Because Massage has been shown to reduce stress hormones and the chemical messenger for pain, called "substance P," massage can be very effective in reducing the discomforts of these conditions. The emotional distress associated with fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue often increase the effects of stress like muscle tension, indigestion, and pain. Massage therapy triggers "the relaxation response," a natural function of the nervous system that reverse these effects. And the latest research demonstrated that massage increased hours of sleep and reduced movements during sleep, providing relief for one of the major complains of both fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue.

What's the latest scoop? Research showing stellar results Research on massage therapy is providing its benefits!!! Here are a few of the many completed and on- going studies.
Reduced stress and improved range of motion.	Decreased anxiety and improved body image.	Pain Relief.	Reduced premenstrual symptoms.
Dance students were assigned to a massage or relaxation therap group. The massage group received 30-minute twice weekly massage. The relaxation group performed guided muscle relation exercises. Both groups reported less anxiety, improved mood and less upper body pain, but only the massage group showed a decrease in the stress hormone cortisol and an improvement in the range of motion in the neck and shoulders.	A report published in a 2001 issue of Eating Disorders: The Journal of Treatment and Prevention, showed that massage decreased anxiety and poor body image for women with anorexia. The women received 30-minute twice-weekly massage.	Sufferers from chronic low-back pain benefited in a study completed in 2000. Massage eased pain, reduced depression and anxiety, and improved sleep and range of motion.	Women with premenstrual symptoms enjoyed a boost in mood and a decrease in anxiety, pain and water retention symptoms after receiving a series of massage therapy treatments.

	Especially for runners
	If you have an injury, massage can help Running is a strenuous activity -- and one that pays off by building strength, and boosting overall physical and psychological health. That said, most runners will have a least one injury in their running carreers. Regularly stretching the calf muscles helps prevent injuries. Massage is also a very effective way to boost conditioning and prevent injuries.
	How Does massage help?	If you have an injury.
	In between strenuous training workouts and events, massage allows the muscles to relax, which helps build healthier tissues. To begin with, relaxed muscles don't produce as many waste products that irritate tissues. And when tight, bunched muscles relax and lengthen, they don't press as much on surrounding structures which helps restore circulation, allowing the increased flow of nutrients and natural pain- relievers to the stressed area. Finally, relaxed muscles allow the body to heal the tiny tears and other "micro-traumas" which can result from strenuous exercise.	Shin splints, Achilles tendinitis, and calf muscle strain are some of the more common injuries people can experience over the lifetime of their running careers. Unfortunately, one of the most effective treatments is rest, although running in deep water can sometimes be continued. If you have an injury, there's a good chance you need new--or different--shoes. Massage treatments for running injuries is very specific work and often works best when it is frequent and gentle, especially in the beginning. After a period of rest and a series of treatments the pain should ease, and you can resume your running program, stronger than ever.

Give yourself a massage Special "rubs" for your legs. Try these moves in-between massage sessions, especially after working out. If you want to rub with oil, try adding a little essential oil of eucalyptus, peppermint or rosemary, no more than 10 drops of plant oil to an ounce of massage oil. NOTE: If any of these moves are painful, discontinue and seek your physician's advice and approval for professional massage.
1. Sitting on a chair or on the floor, begin by using both hands to squeeze and release the upper thigh. Work downward toward your foot. Work the front, back and both sides of the full length of both legs.		2. Roll the calf muscle back and forth between the heels of your hands. Work both legs from the knee to the ankle in a rhythmic motion.
3. Pressing deeper into the muscles, make circles with your fingertips of the heel of your hands, working up and down both legs.

	Aromatherapy and massage
	How massage therapists use essential oils
	Aromatherapy is the use of pure essential oils distilled from a wide variety of plants. They are blended with "carrier" oils like almond or grape seed for massage. The combination of skilled touch and aromatherapy can bring about deep relaxation and encourage the body's self-healing capabilities.	Essential oils distilled from plants are used in massage to enhance relaxation
	Essential oils are always diluted because their high concentration can cause skin irritation. Massage therapists add about 10 drops of a potent and highly volatile essential oil to an ounce of carrier oil.
	Favorite essential oils used for relaxing "aromassage"
	Loved by many through the years, lavender is calming, nourishes the skin, and promotes sleep. Peppermint is a mood booster and feels wonderful if you have a sniffle or feel a little blue. Lemon is a refresher that can give you a lift when you feel tired and sluggish. Try lemon when the weather is getting you down. Rose, Called the "queen of flowers" by the Greek poet Sappho, promotes an overall sense of well-being, improves dry skin and is used with the very ill or depressed because it soothes and nurtures the spirit.

Communicating with your therapist is essential to getting the best massage for you	It's your massage
	Partnering with your massage therapist
	An effective massage session requires a partnership.	Help yourself relax
	I, as the massage therapist, am in charge of giving you, my client, the best massage possible. And you are in charge of relaxing the best you know how in whatever ways work for you. To do that I need you to communicate what feels good and what doesn't.	Try ignoring the usual concerns about yawning or stomach gurgling. These are to be expected, even welcomed, during sessions because they indicate your body is letting go of tension. And, don't be surprised by a sudden emotional outburst-- these are issues that you've been holding back on and need to release.
	A lot goes on in a massage therapy session	After your massage
	The first thing that we tend to think of is pressure. Do you sometimes feel like shrinking away from a touch that's too deep or too fast? Do you ever feel frustrated because the technique feels too light, too heavy, or not where you want the massage. If you say so, I can easily adjust to meet your needs. I have a lot of tricks up my sleeve.	After your massage, you can do a few more things to extend the benefits for your good health and relaxation. Drink a lot of water or clear liquids -- though, of course, water is best! This helps carry away waste products that can be released from your muscles during a massage. That's good news because it can help relieve and even prevent soreness and fatigue.
	If you are too cold, it is easy to turn up the heat or get you another blanket. If you are uncomfortable on the table, you can move into another position or I can get you extra padding -- we can even move to another table -- even the massage chair. If you don't like an oil or lotion, I have others on hand that you may like better. Would you like the music louder, softer, changed -- or turned off completely?	If you are a little sore afterward, or if the massage didn't relieve all your aches and pains, take a hot shower or hot bath with Epsom salts when you get home. Don't forget to relate your experience in your next session, so the pressure can be adjusted it need be. And try to keep up an exercise program, keeping in mind that you don't have to be a super-athlete. Walking for one-half hour several times a week, taking a yoga or tai-chi class, or moving to music around your living room will keep your circulation moving, can help prevent achiness, and keep your muscles oxygenated and engaged.


Your newsletter on massage! See inside: Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue: Massage Therapy The Latest Scoop: Research on Massage Therapy Massage Therapy for runners Between-therapy self-massage Aromatherapy and Massage Partnering with your massage therapist

Physician recommend massage

A survey reported in the Archives of Internal Medicine 2002:162 showed that pysicians use and recommend massage more than any other complementary and alternative medical treatment. Out of 751 physicians, 24% used and 48% recommended massage therapy.

After Olympic runner Deena Drossin developed a severe case of Achilles tendonitis that prevented her from competing in the Sydney 2000 Olympics, she began receiving regular massage treatments. "Massage, stretching, diet, and rest are the four components that allow you to get the most out of training," Drossin said.

--The Denver Post, May 2001

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