Welcome to the July 2009 newsletter! How have you been doing? We hope you’ve been enjoying your summer and finding some relaxation time.

The reason we share information with you in this newsletter is in hopes of inspiring you to do those things that will keep you healthier and feeling your best. It’s all too easy to overextend yourself when you have other demands on your time and energy. The trick is to allot enough time in your life to maintain a proper balance.

When your life is really busy, it’s helpful if you can devote some time to activities that will keep you as healthy and strong as possible. The choices you make now will determine how you feel and what you can accomplish in the future, so reward the future you with wise choices in the present!

The beauty of massage is the number of ways it can help your body to achieve that proper balance. It even helps you to achieve other important health goals, like getting a good night’s sleep. Combined with a decent diet, plenty of water and some exercise, massage supports virtually every aspect of health—boosting both your physical health and your mental outlook. So, please keep your health a high priority and schedule that next massage for yourself! See you then.

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What Can Water Do for You?

Want an easy way to support your health? Nothing could be easier—or more refreshing on a hot day—than drinking pure water. The following information from an article in Massage & Bodywork magazine reveals the extent of health benefits available to you from simply maintaining an adequate water intake:

“Besides decreasing headaches, heartburn, constipation, fatigue and kidney stones, getting your fair share of water each day may help prevent serious illnesses including heart disease, high blood pressure, cancer and asthma. One study at the University of Loma Linda, California, showed that people who drink five or more glasses of water every day cut their risk of suffering a fatal heart attack in half. Researchers believe because water, unlike other beverages, is absorbed immediately into the blood stream, it thins the blood and reduces clot risk. This also helps moderate blood pressure because it’s easier for the heart to pump thinner rather than thicker blood. Furthermore, researchers at Harvard reported men who drank six cups of water daily reduced bladder cancer risk by 50 percent. Other studies indicate that high water intake also curbs the risk of breast and colon cancers. And even asthma sufferers have reason to gulp it down. A University of Buffalo study revealed dehydration reduces lung function and triggers bronchial spasms, especially while exercising.”

Since massage can help your body to eliminate waste and toxic materials from your system, drinking plenty of fresh water after your massages can contribute to the detoxification process.

Warming Up vs. Stretching

There is often confusion about the difference between warming up prior to massage work or sports participation and stretching exercises. The purpose of warming up is to put your muscles and joints through their range of motion before you stress them in your work activities. This reduces your risk for injury.

Stretching, on the other hand, is designed to maintain and/or increase the length of your muscles, and is most effective when you have recently used your muscles to do an activity. Both warming up and stretching increase blood flow to your muscles.

Because your muscle tissue is not as pliable first thing in the morning due to lack of adequate circulation, it is better to do specific stretching exercises later in the day to get a more effective stretch.

Source: www.massagemag.com   Reproduced from Save Your Hands! The Complete Guide to Injury Prevention and Ergonomics for Manual Therapists, 2nd Edition by Lauriann Greene, C.E.A.S., and Richard W. Goggins, C.P.E., L.M.P., © 2008 Gilded Age Press, www.saveyourhands.com.

Massage as Medicine

Massage provides many benefits, including improved concentration, energy, and self-esteem, as well as reduced stress. It’s helpful with more acute health conditions, also. If you or a loved one are already dealing with a health condition, massage is an even more important part of your healthcare planning. Research shows:

• Alzheimer’s patients exhibit reduced irritability, pacing, and restlessness after neck and shoulder massage.
• Deep-tissue massage is effective in treating arthritis, back pain, fibromyalgia, and osteoarthritis. Fibromyalgia patients receiving massage have fewer sleep problems and less anxiety, depression, fatigue, pain, and stiffness.
• Massage during labor appears to help block pain, reduce stress and anxiety, and relax muscles. Some medical professionals say massage shortens labor and hospital stays.
• Massage can reduce sports-related soreness and improve circulation.
• Massage is beneficial in reducing symptoms associated with arthritis, asthma, burns, high blood pressure, and premenstrual syndrome.
• Massage therapy is effective in reducing post-surgical pain and reducing recovery times.
• Oncology patients show less anxiety, depression, fatigue, nausea, and pain following massage therapy.
• Preterm babies receiving massage therapy gain more weight and have shorter hospital stays.

Source:  www.bodysensemagazine.com; Contributed by Nora Brunner

From a recent consumer survey:

• Of the people who had at least one massage in the last five years, 31 percent report they did so for health conditions such as pain management, injury rehabilitation, migraine control, or overall wellness.
• Eighty-eight percent agree that massage can be effective in reducing pain.
• Eighty-seven percent agree that massage can be beneficial to health and wellness.

Source: amtamassage.org

Human beings, by changing the inner attitudes of their minds,
can change the outer aspects of their lives.
— William James

The content of this letter is not intended to replace professional medical advice.
If you’re ill, please consult a physician.
© 2009 Massage Marketing.   Used with permission; all rights reserved.