  |
|
|
|
Sylvia Carlson's BlogPosted by Sylvia Carlson There is a wave of interest in using laughter to heal, to reduce stress, and to live well. Programs such as Laughter Yoga have been gaining popularity these past few years. The Oprah Winfrey Show even had a segment on how Laughter Yoga helped Oprah's make-up artist, Reggie. He was sent to one of Jeffrey's Briar's Laughter Yoga workshops because of his constant complaining, and he came back laughing. Research shows that laughter is good medicine and good for the body and mind. I know how I feel after a good belly laugh. It's a great way to forget about all your worries and problems. I, for one, watch Ellen. Ellen makes millions of people laugh every day and keeps them all just a little bit healthier and happier. Want to become a certified laughter leader? Join The World Laugher Tour . Read more ... Stress Reduction Thru Humor Posted by Sylvia Carlson The American Cancer Society Journal (August 15, 1998) found that one-third of cancer patients used reflexology as an alternative therapeutic approach. Research studies on foot reflexology and foot massage for cancer patients:
Read more - Breast Cancer and Reflexology Posted by Sylvia Carlson Most people think that a foot massage is the same thing as foot reflexology, but there are some really big differences. For one thing, when you have a foot massage, typically oil or lotion is used so that you have the gliding effect over the skin. You never use oil or lotion for foot reflexology, because what you need is a bit of friction in order to get under the skin to affect the reflex in the foot. A foot massage can make you feel better, can help you relax, can be done by most anyone, but it cannot affect the body in quite the same way as foot reflexology. Foot reflexology is an ancient healing practice that can help balance the body and can help to reduce pain and tension in quite remarkable ways. Reflexology is a very specific technique that does not include rubbing the skin, but rather walking the thumb and fingers much like an inch worm with pressure and holding techniques to affect the reflex in the foot. Reflexologists are trained and certified. It takes quite a bit of practice to get the right feel for this technique. Posted by Sylvia Carlson We haven't even really scratched the surface of our understanding about what happens to our bodies in the long-term if we are faced with a life of chronic stress and pain. If pain isn't effectively managed in the short term, it can become a vicious cycle that can essentially lead to many other health problems. Scientists have shown how the brain is affected both chemically and physically by the constant assault of stress and pain. We know that some diseases are the direct result of lifestyle. Perhaps some of the diseases we get in later life are the result of pain and stress. How do you get a grip on pain and stress? I have been thinking a lot about this topic lately. It's so easy to talk about stress management and relaxation techniques. It's so easy to talk about it, but to actually incorporate this into one's lifestyle is another thing. We live in a world that doesn't value being still. We live in a world that values action. But if you are faced with chronic stress and pain, you don't have much choice if you want to have a life beyond that. It all comes down to quality of life. Posted by Sylvia Carlson If you have ever known anyone with chronic pain, then you know that relief from this pain really comes as a blessing because it permeates through every part of your life. Relief from pain allows you the freedom to breathe again, to move with ease, to think more clearly, to have moments of joy, to smile again. I have known many people in my life who have had to endure the misery of chronic pain. Through massage, many find relief. Here is an interview with a remarkable woman who offered to share her experiences on the benefits of massage and how massage helped her to grow and revel in those moments when she was without pain. Read more - Benefits of Massage Therapy, a personal interview. Posted by Sylvia Carlson Is Massage Gaining Popularity? The American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA) is a professional association of more than 55,000 members. In a recent AMTA survey, more than 39 million Americans received a massage last year. Compared to 10 years ago, 25 million more Americans each year are receiving a massage. Common reasons for having a massage? The AMTA's survey suggests:
Popular or not, massage has many benefits. Massage can help both physically and mentally. Posted by Sylvia Carlson I really like Jack Kornfield's sentiments and wisdom in "An Opening Bow". It speaks of the benefits of being mindful. Here is an excerpt: "That is how I began to learn that the true task of spiritual life is not found in faraway places or unusual states of consciousness; it is here in the present. It asks of us a welcoming spirit to greet all that life presents to us with a wise, respectful and kindly heart. We can bow to both beauty and suffering, to our entanglements and confusion, to our fears and to the injustices of the world. Honouring the truth in this way is the path to freedom. To bow to what is rather than to some ideal is not necessarily easy, but however difficult, it is one of the most useful and honourable practices. To bow to the fact of our life's sorrows and betrayals is to accept them; and from this deep gesture we discover that all life is workable. As we learn to bow, we discover that the heart holds more freedom and compassion than we could imagine." Read more about how being mindful can reduce your stress and improve your mood - Posted by Sylvia Carlson THE BIOCHEMICAL EFFECTS OF MASSAGE A survey of the research on the effects of massage therapy suggests that massage can help reduce stress, anxiety and depression. It has been suggested that massage causes the body to release and suppress certain chemicals in our body. Researchers suggest that massage can:
Read more - Massage for Depression and Anxiety Posted by Sylvia Carlson Alternative therapy is a term used to describe a health practice that is used as an alternative or in place of traditional or conventional medicine. As the name suggests, complimentary health is a term used to describe a health practice that compliments or is used together or in conjunction with traditional or conventional medicine. Complementary and alternative health practices and therapies can include anything from massage and reflexology to herbs and supplements, homoeopathy, nutrition. Some of the well known branches of alternative and complimentary health include Chinese medicine, chiropractic, naturopathy, acupuncture, homoeopathy, reflexology, aromatherapy, massage and bodywork, ayurvedic medicine, and nutritional medicine. Posted by Sylvia Carlson If something can heal, can it also harm? Does something as seemingly benign as a massage have the potential to cause harm? What about all the different alternative and complimentary health practices that we espouse to be "natural". We equate natural with safe and pure and therefore not harmful. But, that's not all true. I know for myself, I've had some experiences with pure and natural products that burned my skin. It is possible to overdose or have an adverse reaction to herbal products, and it is possible that you may have an adverse reaction from a certain type of massage. I believe in the old adage: "everything in moderation" but also listen to your gut. Not every alternative practice is going to be right for you. Not every alternative health product will help you. We are all very much individuals and have different reactions and responses. Posted by Sylvia Carlson The Canadian Touch Research Center Touch is an interesting topic. In North America it is often the brunt of our jokes. When I travelled to South America, I really noticed how much people touched each other there. I mean, how many people hug and kiss their co-workers every single day? How many people shake hands with the waiter? Hug someone every single time you say hi or goodbye? How many people communicate by touch? It was kind of overwhelming at first, and then when I left, I found it quite alienating to be back in Canada where people just don't touch each other that often and under the same circumstances. Want to help out some researchers? Take this Touch and Psychological Health Survey @ - The Canadian Touch Research Center Posted by Sylvia Carlson Massage Therapy Research on Preterm Infants Preterm Newborns Gain More Weight
Read more ... Massage Therapy: Healing Touch Posted by Sylvia Carlson I'm a researcher by nature. I believe in finding out all you can about something before trying it. I have to say though, that when I became a massage therapist, my intuitiveness and gut feelings were greatly enhanced, almost to the point of being uncomfortable. I think I try to blend the two now because there is much to be gained by both. Massage therapy research can tell us a whole lot about the body responds to different techniques as well as to how it can respond to induced relaxation. We can perhaps find out what the best course of treatment will be for specific conditions rather than having to experiment to find the best method. Massage therapists by nature and by profession rely a great deal on intuition because we are a feeling being and when involved in a touch profession, our senses are heightened. Our Intuition can tell us a great deal about what to do and how to do it, but we live in a world that needs cold hard facts to make it believable. Read more about what these organizations are doing to provide us with that information. Massage Therapy Research Organizations Posted by Sylvia Carlson Most massage therapists have formal training. They learn the basic strokes and techniques. Typically, while in school, massage therapists learn the same standardized method of massage, but they will develop their own unique style eventually. Many massage therapists learn a variety of massage techniques and out of that will evolve their own unique style. It's inevitable. There are no two people who can perform the exact same massage and have the exact same response. This says something about the validity of research, but more importantly, it says something about what we bring to the table. When I finished massage school, I felt that every protocol I had learned for a specific health condition was a good model, but in real life, people are far more complex and bring with them far more than just a sore leg or a sore back. Some of the techniques worked. Some of them didn't. Some of them needed to be adapted to the individual on the table. Massage techniques evolve out of necessity because even though we all have the same structure and anatomy, we all come from different places and what works for one may not work for another. Posted by Sylvia Carlson MASSAGE TECHNIQUES Read about MASSAGE TECHNIQUE ORIGINS This is a list of some of the massage therapy techniques that have developed over the past 5,000 years. Acupressure, Jin Shin Do® Acupressure, Shiatsu Massage Acupressure, Tuina Alexander Technique AMMA Therapy® Aromatherapy Massage Body-Mind Centering® Bonnie Prudden Myotherapy© Breema Bodywork CranioSacral Therapy Deep Tissue Bodywork Feldenkrais® Geriatric Massage Healing Touch Hellerwork Kinesiology Kripalu Bodywork Manual Lymph Drainage® Myofascial Release Neuromuscular Therapy On-site Massage Ortho-Bionomy® Polarity Therapy Pregnancy Massage Reflexology Rolfing® Rosen Method Rubenfeld Synergy® Method SHEN© Therapy Shiatsu Soma Neuromuscular Integration® Structural Integration Swedish Massage Thai-Style Bodywork Therapeutic Touch Touch For Health® Trager® Bodywork Trigger Point/Myotherapy Tuina Watsu (Water Shiatsu) Posted by Sylvia Carlson Try this free Interactive foot and hand reflexology chart to learn more about where the points on your feet and hands refer to your body. To learn more on how to, check out these reflexology books by Barbara & Kevin Kunz: Posted by Sylvia Carlson How this happens is much the same as when you reach out to a friend who is hurting and you touch their hand or shoulder and a tear might come quite involuntarily. It happens because what is sitting in waiting, needs to be released, and the right circumstances and the right person will elicit a release. Our bodies store our experiences. Often a sore shoulder is much more than simply a tight muscle. Read more ... Emotional Release Discussion Posted by Sylvia Carlson EMAIL QUESTION: I just read your short article on Tendonitis and Massage Treatments. At the end, you cited an article that discussed recent studies and deep friction massage. I'm currently in the process of looking for more citations such as that which cite studies about the benefits of massage especially in regards to ankle problems and was wondering if you had any further citations that you could share with me? If so, an email with those would be wonderful! I'll share briefly why I'm on this quest. I am a firm believer in alternative therapies. The gentleman that I am dating, injured his ankle at work almost a year ago and is still having issues with it. I have suggested several times that he approach his doctor about possible alternative therapies such as physical massage, acupressure, etc. This week he took me to his doctor appointment so that I could help him raise this question. While in the room with a workman's comp insurance lady and the doctor, I listened to the doctor saying that there was nothing showing up on the X-ray but he could feel inflammation in the ankle area so he would prescribe some anti inflammatory medication and wait three weeks before considering some type of exploratory surgery. At that point, I presented the concept that before doing invasive types of treatment like the surgery, would it be possible to try an alternative therapy other than what has already been tried. The insurance lady laughed out loud and the doctor said that he had no objection to it being tried but that there was no muscles in the ankle to have deep tissue massage or anything like that done on and that there is no clinical study evidence of that being beneficial all the while he had a smirk on his face like he was laughing about it to himself. Personally, I was shocked at the whole experience as I am more used to the physicians’ I deal with actually listening to what I have to say as well as respecting my choice of treatments. This is not a doctor of his choice due to this being a work related issue. I guess my quest is really to try and find information that supports my position that this is a relevant treatment option to consider and really would like to locate some clinical study information that supports that as well. Anything that you could help with would be appreciated. EMAIL RESPONSE: Thanks for your email. I have not much in the way of citations for you, but I have a few links that will help you in your search. I have utilized massage: reflexology and accupressure for ankle problems with good success. Whenever I have had an injury to an area, I utilize massage or reflexology or accupressure because it improves circulation to the area so that all the nutrients can go to the area of injury and help to heal it faster. It also helps to reduce inflammation, and when there is no inflammation, there is no pain. That's the bottom line. There are muscle attachments in the ankle and this is where deep friction massage works best where there are muscle attachments, not necessarily muscle bellies. I too have heard the sneering and laughter from doctors and insurance people. Years ago, I had one insurance person wanting to discontinue massage for a client because all it was doing was "making her feel better". And I replied: Isn't that the point? Needless to say, therapy continued. Your boyfriend will have to find what works for him, of course, but there are many avenues to try before surgery. I have included a number of links for reference to ankle problems, but also for alternative treatments and some good massage therapy resource sites. Principles of Orthopedic Massage and their Application to Ankle Sprains National Centre for Complementary and Alternative Medicine Read More ... Massage Benefits GOT A QUESTION? START A DISCUSSION or EMAIL ME Posted by Sylvia Carlson I am collecting anecdotal stories of the work of massage therapists. If you are a massage therapist, or know of a massage therapist who has either helped you or someone you know, why not share your story here and let others know about the many benefits of massage. I am making this section a regular feature on this site, so please Email me if you want to participate. Posted by Sylvia Carlson Anxiety plagues us all. There are a number of ways to effectively deal with and manage stress, tension and anxiety. Whether you take the conventional approach or the alternative approach, you will find a myriad of methods and tools to choose from. If you happen to be a fidgeter, you might want to check out these spinner rings at anxietyspinnerrings.com or check out the blog on Anxietyrings.com. Read more: Anxiety and Massage Therapy Posted by Sylvia Carlson We often don't take the time to really appreciate the contributions of those who have paved the way for us. Mike Hinkle took it upon himself to create the Massage Therapy Hall of Fame to do just that. Check out: Massage Therapy Hall of Fame 2006 inductees The Mission Statement for the annual World Massage Festival - To honor those that went before, to educate the general public about massage, to educate therapists about modalities and to have fun. |
|
|
|
