In Touch Therapeutic Massage

In Touch Therapeutic Massage Message

Fri, 02 Jan 2009 13:43:00 GMT

Staying in Touch® Online Massage News

In Touch Therapeutic Massage 630.983.9698 becky@myintouchmassage.com

Happy New Year, and welcome to the January 2009 newsletter! Are you ready for the coming year? One of the benefits of taking time for goal setting each year is to take stock of where you are now and to make sure you are headed in the direction that you want to go with your life. When you start your planning with your own goals and dreams, you can more easily see how your personal plans interconnect with those of your family, friends, and associates.

Surely, your health and well-being should be high on your list. After all, feeling your best makes everything else in life more rewarding.

The rest of this issue covers a very important aspect of maintaining your health—handling stress. The reason stress is so often mentioned in the media is because it affects so many of us. Learn a little more about this insidious threat to your health and happiness, and how you can lessen its negative effects.

We hope your year is off to a good start, and we look forward to helping you maintain your health in the coming weeks and months. Until then, take good care of yourself!

Valentine’s Day is right around the corner.
Make that special someone’s day with a massage gift certificate!
Call to order ...

Make Your Plans for a Stress-Free Year

New year; new directions. To reach your goals for the year, you’ll want to make sure you maintain your health and a positive outlook. One major obstacle that often isn’t planned for—but really shouldn’t be ignored—is stress.

We all hear how stressful modern life can be with so much to do and so many surprises that can crop up. In the words of a song, “Life is what happens to you while you’re busy making other plans ...”

What would your life be like if you could eliminate all or most of your day-to-day stress levels? It must be a popular notion. An online “Google” search for the term “stress management” had just shy of 7-million search results, and a search for “stress relief” yielded over 5-million more.

The first point about stress is that it can be so subtle. An unexpected event alters your plans, you get behind schedule, you wonder if you’ll finish a project on time ... Before you know it, you’ve got a list of concerns lingering in the back of your mind. Your neck gets tense, and maybe your head starts to hurt. And now you’ve got a serious bout of “stress.”

The sad part is that the noticeable signs of stress—the tension and worry—are really just the tip of the iceberg. Left unhandled, stress quite often leads to illness.

So, what’s the best way to reduce or eliminate stress from your mind and body? “Massage therapy is beneficial for almost all diseases. Eighty percent of disease is stress-related, and massage reduces stress,” says Dr. Sandra McLanahan.

It can help to understand why stress shouldn’t be ignored. What actually happens “behind the scenes” in your body when you continually carry all that stress around with you?

A sudden or unexpected stressor can activate your adrenal glands, which sends adrenaline and other hormones into your bloodstream. This brings about an increase in your breathing, heart rate, blood pressure, and blood flow to the muscles. This physical response was appropriate generations ago when it was needed for our very survival, but today much of our stress is emotional. With the high number of mental stress incidents that we can experience each day, these repetitive physical responses can begin to wear out all of the body’s intricate systems.

When your stress is chronic, your body releases cortisol, a hormone designed to help the body handle a period of prolonged physical stress. This hormone is hard for the body to metabolize and consequently can lead to an immune system that becomes heavily suppressed, a damaged cardiovascular system, and a worn out endocrine system (the system responsible for handling stressful conditions). Yikes!

Stress may take its greatest toll on the nervous system. Massage can address the imbalances that stress causes in your body by stimulating the sensory receptors that interconnect and harmonize all areas of your body, bringing it back into proper balance. This brings about that sense of well-being you experience that goes far beyond the release of tense muscles.

Studies from the Touch Research Institute in Miami indicate that stress hormones consistently fall after massage, no matter what the age of the client. Workers receiving massages showed brain waves that reflect greater mental alertness, and their feelings of job stress were markedly reduced. Nighttime sleep patterns also improved. Tiffany Field, director of TRI, summarizes: “People think massage is just running hands over the surface of the body. But in stimulating the skin, we’re showing you’re overhauling the nervous system.”

When you take into account the great expense of medical care and lost time for treating illness, it makes a lot more sense to do all you can to stay healthy. And one the best ways to do that is through regular massage. Investing a little each month to rid your body of the effects of stress may well be the most pleasant way possible to stay at your best. Then, you’ll be better prepared to pursue all the plans you’ve made for the coming months. See you soon!

New survey reflects growing stress levels now being felt globally ...

Stress Propels Americans to Massage Therapy for Relief— Fifty-nine percent of Americans reported they are more stressed this year than they were a year ago, according to a survey sponsored by the American Massage Therapy Association® (AMTA®).

The current economic situation, or other factors, was found to be a source of great stress for 45 percent of Americans. Younger Americans and women have felt stressed out due to the economy or other factors. Fifty-five percent of those ages 25-34 say they are greatly stressed by the economic situation, and 51 percent of all females agree.

Massage therapy for stress reduction— People are using massage for relaxation/stress reduction more than in the past. The number one reason people say they got their last massage is relaxation/stress reduction.

This past year, 36 percent of Americans said they got a massage for stress and/or relaxation in the last five years; compared to 22 percent the previous year. Thirty-eight percent of Americans say they have considered massage to manage stress.

Each new day is a blank page in the diary of your life.
The secret of success is in turning that diary into the best story you possibly can.
—Douglas Pagels

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.

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In Touch Therapeutic Massage Message

Mon, 01 Dec 2008 20:58:00 GMT

Staying in Touch® Online Massage News

In Touch Therapeutic Massage 630.983.9698 becky@myintouchmassage.com

Enjoy Your Holiday! You probably have plenty to do in the coming weeks. The end-of-year holiday season can be one of the busiest times of the year. Hopefully, much of what you have to do involves sharing time with all the special people in your life, and as the year winds down, you’ll have time to relax and reflect on the truly important things in your life.

When you do find time to catch your breath, be sure to take a moment to consider what improvements you can make in your day-to-day life that add to your health and happiness. It’s funny how easy it is to take for granted the truly important things like your health until you wear yourself out or push yourself to the point of illness.

Whenever you need to recharge, give your health a boost, get away from it all for an hour, or unburden yourself from accumulated stress, remember that your next massage awaits!

Enjoy the rest of this issue; see you soon!

Still doing some holiday shopping? Bring a smile to your special ones
with gift certificates for a relaxing massage! Call to order ...

What Could Be Better Than a Massage?

Can you think of anything that can match massage for making you feel your best while giving you overall health support? Of course, all your lifestyle choices can make a difference in your health and how you feel, but massage is in a class by itself in helping you maintain your health.

If you do a little research, you’ll find many studies that verify massage can help you in so many ways. From anxiety and arthritis to sports injuries and stress, massage helps your body’s many complex systems to work more efficiently together.

Many health problems can develop from having your body get out of balance. One reason massage is so effective at helping you stay healthier is that it contributes to homeostasis—your body’s efforts to keep all its systems operating in harmony at the optimum levels.

So, keep in mind one reason getting regular massage makes you feel so good is that it’s helping your body to stay in a healthier balance. And when your body is doing better, it follows that your mental outlook is likely to improve.

Remember that regular massage is one of the best ways you can help yourself stay on the road to a healthier and happier life!

Now, Some Good Health News . . .

Massage therapy has health benefits — In the past, relaxation was cited as the leading motivator for getting a massage, but increasingly Americans are looking to massage therapy for medical reasons and pain relief.

Statistics from a 2006 report ... showed that 1 in 4 adults in this country say they have experienced a daylong bout of pain in the past month, and one in 10 say the pain lasted a full year or more ... Luckily, massage therapy has been shown to give considerable relief from many types of pain, and is well known for relieving stress and promoting relaxation.
— The Olympian, Olympia, Washington, Sept. 2008

Knead for speed: Study shows key role of massage — Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps got a massage twice a day in Beijing. His teammate, Dara Torres, had two massage therapists on stand-by.

And a bunch of sedated rabbits in Ohio recently had massage performed on their legs after bouts of intense exercise.

Phelps, 23, made history by winning eight gold medals. Torres, 41, became the oldest swimmer to compete in an Olympic event and win a silver medal.

As for the rabbits? They might have proved scientifically what athletes and trainers have long believed: Massage really does help with muscle recovery.
— St. Louis Post-Dispatch, St. Louis, Missouri, Sept. 2008

Short-Term Stress Affects Memory

Employers thinking of bringing massage therapy into the workplace should consider this: New research shows that short-term stress can affect learning and memory—and the beneficial effects of massage on stress are already well documented.

Short-term stress lasting as little as a few hours can impair brain-cell communication in areas associated with learning and memory, University of California, Irvine researchers have found. Severe stress lasting weeks or months has already been shown to impair cell communication in the brain’s learning and memory region, but this new study provides the first evidence that short-term stress has the same effect. The study appears in a spring edition of the Journal of Neuroscience.

The researchers identified a novel process by which stress caused these effects. They found that rather than involving the widely known stress hormone cortisol, which circulates throughout the body, acute stress activated selective molecules called corticotropin releasing hormones, which disrupted the process by which the brain collects and stores memories.
— Source: University of California at Irvine

Multitasking Backlash

You may pride yourself on the ability to juggle multiple tasks, said Jon Hamilton in NPR.com. But MIT researchers say your multitasking is a myth. You might think you’re doing two things at once, but in fact you’re just switching attention from one thing to the next very quickly, says Earl Miller, a professor of neuroscience at MIT. Because similar tasks compete for resources from the same part of the brain, one task always wins. “Think about writing an e-mail and talking on the phone at the same time,” says Miller. It’s nearly impossible.

We’ve all been on the phone with someone who suddenly seems disengaged, said Alina Tugend in The New York Times. That’s the “e-mail voice,” says Edward M. Hallowell, author of CrazyBusy: Overstretched, Overbooked, and About to Snap! But the real problem with multitasking isn’t its rudeness. Multitasking just isn’t very efficient. In fact, researchers say that we’ve grown so accustomed to multitasking that we can lose our ability to concentrate even on a single task. “We need to re-create boundaries,” says Hallowell. Stop typing and try listening. You’ll be surprised by how much you accomplish when you “single-task.”
— The Week Vol. 8 Iss. 387

The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.
— Eleanor Roosevelt

The content of this letter is not intended to replace professional medical advice.
If you’re ill, please consult a physician.
© 2008 Massage Marketing. Used with permission; all rights reserved.

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In Touch Therapeutic Massage Message

Mon, 03 Nov 2008 12:29:00 GMT

Staying in Touch® Online Massage News

In Touch Therapeutic Massage 630.983.9698 becky@myintouchmassage.com

Hello, and welcome to the November 2008 newsletter! Best wishes for the upcoming holidays! Hopefully you’ll be able to set aside some time to celebrate with those special people that give your life meaning.

Also, thank you for the opportunity to contribute to your well being. It’s so rewarding to be able to make a positive difference in someone’s life. When you feel the improved vitality that regular massage can bring to you and you’re enjoying an improved quality of life from your bodywork sessions, then we all win!

When people think about getting a massage, they often connect the need to overworked muscles or tension. One of the major reasons for needing a massage is mental stress and worry, which can lead to tension in the neck and shoulder area, headaches, and/or lower back pain. Many people are now experiencing higher levels of worry-related stress, so most of this issue shares some positive news that hopefully brightens your day and gives you a more optimistic outlook.

See you soon!

Who do you know that needs to de-stress?
Really make a relaxing difference this year with massage
gift certificates for the holiday season!
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Think Happy — Feel Better!

When faced with challenging times such as in today’s troubled global economy, it’s easy to have your attention focused on the negative news that points to an uncertain future. But dwelling on these potential threats can take their toll on your well being. What can you do to keep your quality of life high, in spite of the unpredictable world around you?

When things seem to move out of your ability to control them, it’s important to find the areas of your life you can control and can move in a positive direction. Worrying over things out of your control can only make things worse, while finding little things you can do to improve your personal life can lift your spirits and give your life a higher sense of purpose. So ask yourself: What can you do to make your life better right now?

Even simple things like taking a walk and observing some beautiful things in your environment can increase your level of appreciation and happiness.

Sometimes the best thing about challenging times is that it can help bring into focus what is truly important in your life. This can be an ideal time for you to take stock of your life and your goals and move your attention to those elements of your life that can bring you the greatest satisfaction.

Conditions in life will always be in a state of change, and how you handle these changes sets the stage for your future. There will always be things that you can’t control, but the most important things—like your outlook about life and the way you choose to spend your days—are areas you can choose.

So, take good care of yourself physically, mentally, and spiritually in the coming months and enjoy your life!

What’s Been on Your Mind?

What you think can make a difference in your life. In the November/December 2008 issue of AARP magazine, an article entitled “Find Purpose, Live Longer” by Dan Buettner shares the results of some studies that point out how our mental outlook can improve our overall health:

“A 2005 study that followed 12,640 middle-aged Hungarians found that those who felt their lives had meaning had significantly lower rates of cancer and heart disease than did those who didn’t feel this way. Another study of some of the world’s most long-lived people ... discovered that having a sense of purpose ... was a common trait in many of the world’s centenarians.

“ ‘People who feel their life is part of a larger plan and are guided by their spiritual values have stronger immune systems, lower blood pressure, a lower risk of heart attack and cancer, and heal faster and live longer,’ says Harold G. Koening, M.D. ... The benefits extend into other realms, adds Deepak Chopra, M.D., bestselling author and cofounder of the Chopra Center for Wellness in Carlsbad, California. ‘Purpose gives you fulfillment and joy,’ he says, ‘and that can bring you the experience of happiness.’ ”

Stay Healthy This Holiday Season!

Chances are you have more than ever to do in the coming weeks. More on your plate can mean more stress, and too much stress can lead to illness.

Be sure to avoid taking on more than you can handle and allow yourself some time to recuperate from your hectic schedule.

Scheduling a relaxing, rejuvenating massage is one of the best ways to reduce stress and to support your overall health. Numerous studies validate massage’s ability to help your body handle stress and to function better. And when you have many responsibilities, staying healthy and feeling your best is so important.

So, put your well being high on your list of priorities and schedule your next soothing massage. Devote a little block of time to reward yourself with a de-stressing massage session that can keep you going strong!

Live a little longer —

Can you cheat death? Yes, you can, says a new Harvard School of Public Health study of 120,000 people—at least to the extent of adding years or even decades to your life. When researchers analyzed the health records of these people over 32 years, they found that more than half of the deaths in this group could have been prevented through healthier lifestyle choices, such as exercising regularly, not smoking, not drinking to excess, and eating properly to avoid major weight gain. The study found that 44 percent of the deaths from cancer were avoidable, as were a whopping 72 percent of the cardiovascular fatalities. Even tiny changes, like walking for half an hour every day, quitting smoking, or eating more vegetables and less fat, can significantly reduce one’s risk of cancer and heart disease. Extending one’ s life, Harvard’s researchers say, is literally a matter of will. — The Week Vol. 8 Iss. 382

Happiness is when what you think, what you say,
and what you do are in harmony.
— Mahatma Gandhi

The content of this letter is not intended to replace professional medical advice.
If you’re ill, please consult a physician.
© 2008 Massage Marketing. Used with permission; all rights reserved.

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In Touch Therapeutic Massage Message

Wed, 01 Oct 2008 19:30:00 GMT

Staying in Touch® Online Massage News

In Touch Therapeutic Massage 630.983.9698 becky@myintouchmassage.com

Hello, and welcome to the October 2008 newsletter! Another year is winding down, and the hectic holiday season will be here before you know it. Hopefully you’ve been doing well and you are experiencing pleasant days.

You know, the reason for these newsletters is to provide you with interesting health information that will inspire you to have a higher quality of life. There is so much information out there today that it’s unlikely we’ll see all the things that could prove important in our lives.

With that in mind, at your next appointment please ask any questions you may have regarding your health and how massage can help you. Your health is important, so if there’s something you’ve been wondering about, please ask. See you soon!

Tell someone you care about how massage has helped you ...
or surprise them with a massage gift certificate!

When’s the Best Time for a Massage?

Massage always feels great, but there are certain times when a massage can make a big difference in your life. For instance:

• You’re about to have an important presentation, interview, etc., and you want to be relaxed and able to do your best

• You’ve just completed a physically or mentally stressful project

• You’re experiencing high levels of stress in your day-to-day life

• You have important company coming

• You’re about to have surgery or another stressful medical procedure

All of these situations, plus many more, are times you really can benefit from a de-stressing massage—for the well being of your body, mind and spirit.

Of course, when you’re able to receive your massages regularly, you’ll be one step ahead of stress and worry and able to maintain a higher level of overall health. So, be sure to take care of yourself and don’t wait too long for your next massage!

Regular Massage Can Lead to Better Health

You could consider massage therapy as the ultimate health support system. As more studies are completed, the scientific proof keeps building on the many ways massage can help you to improve your overall health. The following information is from the Mayo Clinic’s website:

Massage can relieve tension in your muscles, and most people use it for relaxation, relief of stress and anxiety, or to reduce muscle soreness. Massage can also cause your body to release natural painkillers, and it may boost your immune system.

While more research is needed to confirm the benefits of massage, some studies have found it helpful for:

Anxiety. Massage reduced anxiety in depressed children and anorexic women. It also reduced anxiety and withdrawal symptoms in adults trying to quit smoking.

Pain. Pain was decreased in people with fibromyalgia, migraines and recent surgery. Back pain also might be relieved by massage.

Labor pain. Massage during labor appears to lessen stress and anxiety, relax muscles and reduce pain.

Infant growth. Massage encouraged weight gain in premature babies and reduced the number of days they stayed in the hospital.

Children with diabetes. Children who were massaged every day by their parents were more likely to stick to their medication and diet regimens, which helped reduce their blood glucose levels.

Sports-related soreness. Some athletes receive massages after exercise, especially to the muscles they use most in their sport or activity. A massage might help increase blood flow to your muscles and may reduce muscle soreness after you exercise.

Alcohol withdrawal. Massage during withdrawal from alcohol has shown benefits when combined with traditional medical treatment by increasing feelings of support, safety and engagement in the therapy.

Immune system. People with HIV who participated in massage studies showed an increased number of natural killer cells, which are thought to defend the body from viral and cancer cells.

Cancer treatment. People with cancer who received regularly scheduled massage therapy during treatment reported less anxiety, pain and fatigue.

Self-esteem. Because massage involves direct contact with another person through touch, it can make you feel cared for. That special attention can improve self-image in people with physical disabilities and terminal illnesses. And using touch to convey caring can help children with severe physical disabilities.

Healthy Eating Tips

One of the best ways to support better health is being conscious of what and how you eat. These hints are taken from Jean Carper’s “EatSmart” column in USA Weekend, Sep. 21, 08:

• Cut Fructose. This form of sugar can turn to fat in your body with surprising speed, show new tests at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center. Researcher’s advice: Limit processed foods and beverages sweetened with fructose. Fruit is OK.

• Eat Slowly. Gulping food makes you eat more, says a new University of Rhode Island study. Women who ate slowly, compared with those who ate quickly, consumed about 70 fewer calories and felt more satisfied later.

• Drink Water. Tests by Virginia Tech show drinking 2 cups of water a half-hour before breakfast cuts caloric intake by 13% in older [people] who are overweight. More exciting: German research says water burns calories! Drinking 2 cups of water revved metabolism 24% in overweight subjects in an hour.

Great opportunities to help others seldom come,
but small ones surround us every day.
— Sally Koch

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In Touch Therapeutic Massage Message

Tue, 02 Sep 2008 09:37:00 GMT

Staying in Touch® Online Massage News

In Touch Therapeutic Massage 630.983.9698 becky@myintouchmassage.com

Hello, and welcome to the September 2008 newsletter! Are you staying busy? It’s pretty easy these days to run out of day before you run out of things you need to get done. Keeping a busy schedule can be very rewarding, as long as you can maintain your health. After all, when you have so much to do, you don’t have time to get sick or rundown.

Sometimes people delay scheduling a massage because they are so busy. If you are pressed for time, massage is more important than ever. As you probably know, regular massage can help you to stay healthier and rest better.

The way we manage our time and set priorities decides just what we are able to accomplish every week. By making massage one of your priorities, you are helping yourself to be in a better condition to get all the other important things done in your life. Make the most of your current and future health by scheduling your next massage session. You’ll enjoy your busy life more when you do!

To learn more about how important massage is to your overall health, read this month’s featured article, below. See you soon!

Nothing beats a good massage!
Surprise that special someone with a massage gift certificate!

Massage to the Rescue

We all know how wonderful massage is at relieving stress and making you feel better. But did you know that massage can aid in alleviating pain and in the healing process? Clinical research has shown that massage therapy has benefits for many serious medical conditions. To learn more, read the following excerpts from an article found on the American Massage Therapy Association’s website:

Low Back Pain
Chronic low back pain sufferers find enduring results from massage therapy, according to a study conducted by Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and the Center for Health Studies. The researchers plan to determine the specific components of massage therapy that contribute to its effectiveness.

A study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine supported the idea that massage therapy produces better results for low back pain than other therapies, including acupuncture and spinal modification.

Breast Cancer
Massage promotes relaxation and reduces anxiety in patients with varying kinds of cancer, and has proven especially effective for breast cancer survivors. Research shows therapeutic massage is an effective complement to traditional medical care for women undergoing lumpectomy, mastectomy or breast reconstruction. Pre-surgery, massage relaxes muscle tissue and increases the flow of lymph. Post surgery, women who apply specialized lymph drainage techniques from a well-trained massage therapist to their treatment may experience less pain and swelling.

In a study performed by the University of Miami School of Medicine, breast cancer patients who were massaged three times a week reported lower levels of depression, anxiety and anger. Benefits of massage after breast cancer treatment also include boosting the immune system and helping women reconnect with their bodies.

Other Kinds of Cancer
Researchers at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center asked cancer patients about the severity of their symptoms before and after receiving massage therapy, and patients reported reduced levels of anxiety, pain, fatigue, depression and nausea.

Heart Bypass Surgery
In-patient massage treatment performed after heart bypass surgery helps reduce pain and muscle spasms, confirmed by a pilot study conducted at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. Because of its effectiveness, 60 percent of the massage group in this study expressed a willingness to pay for massage therapy out-of-pocket.

Anxiety
A review of more than a dozen studies concluded that massage therapy helps relieve depression and anxiety by affecting the body’s biochemistry. Researchers at the University of Miami School of Medicine reviewed studies that measured the stress hormone cortisol in participants before and immediately after massage and found that the therapy lowered levels by up to 53 percent. Massage also increased serotonin and dopamine, which are both neurotransmitters that help reduce depression.

Migraines
In a 2006 study published in the Annals of Behavioral Medicine, massage therapy recipients exhibited fewer migraines and better sleep quality than the control group. A 1998 study published in the International Journal of Neuroscience found that massage therapy decreased the occurrence of headaches, sleep disturbances and distress symptoms in adults with migraines.

Carpal Tunnel
A 2004 study by the University of Miami School of Medicine explored the effects of massage therapy on carpal tunnel syndrome. The study concluded that carpal tunnel patients receiving massage experienced less pain, reduced symptoms and better grip strength than patients that did not receive massage.

Hypertension
Research has shown that hypertensive patients who received three 10-minute back massages a week had a reduction in blood pressure, compared to patients who tried to increase relaxation without massage.

Q: What benefits will I get from getting massage more regularly?

A: Just like most things in life, consistency really pays off when it comes to your health. When you get a massage, it helps to return your body toward its ideal state.

To stay healthy, your body is continually making adjustments. Get too hot, and you perspire to cool off; too cold, and your body concentrates its warmth inwardly to protect your vital organs, leaving you shivering.

Those soothing massage strokes help your body’s systems to function better, leaving you feeling refreshed and rejuvenated. The longer you wait between massages, the more your body can get “out of tune.” That means that many of the results from your next massage will be handling the decline your body has experienced over the weeks or months since your last massage. But when you get regular massages, you can maintain a higher “normal” condition, and each massage can help to keep you in better overall condition. If you’d like more information, please ask at your next appointment.

There is no greater joy nor greater reward than to make a fundamental difference in someone's life.
— Sister Mary Rose McGeady

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