The Toolbox Tour

I thought it would be cool (and helpful) to talk about all the different things I do during a massage session. When I graduated from massage school in 2009 I immersed myself into the Internet searching all things massage.  And to my surprise I discovered that there were hundreds of different massage techniques that exist.  

So the next several posts will consist of all the "Tools" that I have acquired over my massage career.
I graduated from massage school with a solid foundation in Swedish Massage and Deep Tissue.
 
Swedish & Deep Tissue...so what's the difference? 
Swedish Massage to me is the glue that holds the massage together.  It is the initial touch that begins the massage.  It is the way to anoint the body with oil or lotion using slow, long rhythmic strokes.  It warms the tissues and prepares it for deeper massage.  Swedish massage uses Effleurage (rhythmic strokes) and Petrissage (kneading, wringing and rolling)

This technique is helpful in relaxation, stress reduction, improving sleep habits, improving mood and increasing circulation in the client.  It also helps to give an overall flow to the massage session.

Deep tissue massage is how the therapist will "customize" the session to fit the needs of the client.  
Deep Tissue Massage is a more focused massage with a specific goal to relieve muscle tension using deeper and slower strokes to break down muscle adhesion.  Deep tissue massage can consist of several different techniques, main ones being cross fiber friction on muscle attachments, kneading, sifting and myofacial release.

This helps with chronic pain, muscle tension, repetitive strain injuries, and limited mobility.

When you schedule a Signature Massage at Seasons Massage Therapy you get both the benefits of a Swedish and a Deep Tissue Massage.  It is important that you talk with your therapist before your massage session to address your specific needs, pressure preference and to talk about any concerns and goals you have for the session.

So FEEL the DIFFERENCE!!! 
Schedule your Signature Massage Today! Online at 
www.SeasonsMassageTherapy.com 
or Call 319.241.2065 

National Massage Therapy Awareness = BOGO

It's National Massage Therapy Awareness Week!

It is time to share the good news of how beneficial and wonderful massage therapy is!

Here at Seasons Massage Therapy we offer several options to address your specific needs.

We offer a Signature Massage that blends several techniques to make the PERFECT session for YOU!

To encourage Massage Therapy Awareness we are doing Buy any one 75 minute massage and get one Free!  (75 minutes is the perfect amount of time to get all your needs addressed)

To take advantage of this special schedule online right HERE and use special promo code BOGOFREE. Also please take the time to fill out the special requests section so that I know exactly where your problem areas are. I want to make sure you truly enjoy your session :0).

Once you purchase your massage you will get a FREE one in the form of a Gift Certificate, redeemable at any time. SO Schedule NOW and we will take care of the rest!

OFFER ENDS OCTOBER 25th! So you better act NOW!!!

A growing body of evidence shows that massage therapy can be effective for a variety of health conditions. Massage is rapidly becoming recognized as an important part of health and wellness, and research is indicating some of what takes place in the body during massage therapy. 

The following has been provided by the AMTA

Massage Therapy for Chronic Low Back Pain

Research released in July 2011 expanded on previous studies demonstrating the effectiveness of massage therapy for

chronic low back pain. Researchers found that “patients receiving massage were twice as likely as those receiving usual

care to report significant improvements in both their pain and function”. The study was conducted over 10 weeks through

Group Health Research Institute.

Cherkin DC, Sherman KJ, Kahn J, Wellman R, Cook AJ, Johnson E, Erro J, Delaney K, Deyo RA. A comparison of the effects of 2 types of massage and usual care

on chronic low back pain: a randomized, controlled trial.Ann Intern Med. 2011 Jul 5;155(1):1-9.

Massage Therapy for Fibromyalgia

Fibromyalgia is a chronic syndrome characterized by generalized pain, joint rigidity, intense fatigue, sleep alterations,

headache, spastic colon, craniomandibular dysfunction, anxiety, and depression. This study demonstrated that massage-

myofascial release techniques improved pain and quality of life in patients with fibromyalgia.

Castro-Sánchez, A.M., Matarán-Peñarrocha, G.A., Granero-Molina, J., Aguilera-Manrique, G., Quesada-Rubio, J.M., Moreno-Lorenzo, C. (2011). Benefits of massage-myofascial

release therapy on pain, anxiety, quality of sleep, depression, and quality of life in patients with fibromyalgia. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2011:561753

​

Massage Therapy for Decreased Pain in Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients

Research published in Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice

showed that adults with rheumatoid arthritis may feel a decrease in pain, as well as greater grip strength and range of motion in wrists and large upper joints, after receiving regular moderate-pressure massages during a 4-week period. “This research demonstrates the potential value of massage therapy for the estimated 1.3 million Americans living with this chronic condition, with women outnumbering men 2.5-1

 Rheumatoid arthritis sufferers are encouraged to speak with their health care provider about the possibility of incorporating routine massage therapy into their current treatment plan to help manage painful symptoms,” says American Massage Therapy Association President Winona Bontrager.

Massage and Mental Health

 

An estimated 1 in 10 adults in the United States suffers from some kind of depression, according to the Centers for Disease Control. That’s around the same percentage of American adults who are left-handed, and yet while handedness is seen today as a quirky curiosity (or sometimes an advantage, in the case of athletes), there is still stigma and silence surrounding depression as an illness. So let’s talk: what is depression? Why is it problematic? And is there anything that can help?

What is depression?

Let’s start with what depression isn’t: a bad day, a brief period of mourning after a loss, or a pessimistic outlook on life. It consists of a period of more than two weeks of a bad mood, decreased interest in things that one normally finds enjoyable, and can also include fatigue, changes in weight, difficulty concentrating, inappropriate guilt, and even suicidal thoughts. While two weeks is the minimum length for defining depression, it can continue for months or even years.

Are there different kinds of depression?

Yes. Major depression is an episode of depression two weeks or longer that messes with your ability to function throughout the day. People can have multiple episodes of major depression throughout their lives. Postpartum depression is a depressive episode that occurs after a woman has given birth. Seasonal Affective Disorder (aptly abbreviated SAD) is a form of depression during the winter months, when there is less sunlight. Manic Depression (also called bipolar disorder) involves cycles of depressive lows and manic highs. There are also mild forms of depression that do not meet all the requirements of major depression.

What are some of the health consequences of depression?

Aside from just feeling like crap on an emotional level (entirely bad enough on its own), depression can also have other serious effects on a person’s health. People who suffer from depression are more likely to engage in negative habits such as smoking and excessive drinking. They are also less likely to get sufficient exercises, and are more likely to stop the physical activities they used to participate in. Depression can disturb sleep schedules and also negatively affect one’s professional and personal relationships, resulting in more stress, which leads to its own host of health issues. It’s a truly nasty cycle.

So why aren’t we all talking about this?

Mental illness has always been something of a taboo subject. Those with more severe problems are seen as crazy and unstable, while those with more mild issues can be accused of making it up for attention, or using the term as an excuse for ordinary laziness. Depression isn’t sexy like breast cancer (boobies!) or have the sorts of clear paths to prevention that lend themselves to awareness campaigns, like HIV. And so we’re left without the sorts of public conversations that in turn become private ones between friends. It’s easy to ask a friend if she’s taking painkillers for her broken leg. Asking her if she’s considered antidepressants? Not so much

Is there anything that helps with depression?

Absolutely, and the first step is diagnosis. (Sorry, looking up your symptoms on Google doesn’t count.) A physician will be able to speak intelligently about options like therapy, medication, and other treatments and lifestyle changes.

Oh, and you might also want to get a massage.

Massage for depression? Really?

Absolutely. Massage has been found to reduce depression and improve mood in people of all stripes, from children with HIV, to adolescents with psychiatric disorders, to hospice patients. Why does this work? Well, that’s still being researched. The what is often much easier than the why. But caring touch does seem to have a real effect on mood, whether it’s from a loved one, a massage therapist, or a favorite pet.

Of course, if you’re a regular recipient of massage, you can judge for yourself: is your mood improved after a massage? And if you haven’t received a massage lately (or ever!), this is a great opportunity. Do it for science! Or, do it for yourself. Because everyone deserves to feel better, including you.


www.SeasonsMassageTherapy.com
 

Massage Series... and why they are AWESOMESAUSE!

   Here at Seasons Massage Therapy we believe that taking care of yourself is key to living a good life.   Getting a regular massage goes hand in hand with balanced nutrition, exercise, and quality time with friends and loved ones. 
  In order to help clients get massage on a regular basis, we offer Massage Series.  Massage Series is a package of massages in groups of  3, 6 or 12.  You can get them in any increment of time, 30, 60, 75, or 90 minutes.  They are priced at a discounted rate to make a routine of maintenance affordable.  Once you purchase a Massage Series, you can use them anytime or you can also share them with your family.

 It is a really simple and a great way to keep massage a regular in your busy life...and I think that is AWESOMESAUSE!

So in honor of getting back into the routine of things, with school being back in session and a new season of life beginning, for the entire month of September when you purchase a Massage Series of 3 you will receive a FREE gift certificate for a massage to either use for yourself or give to a friend!
But wait! There's more!  When you purchase a Series of 6 you will receive 2 FREE Gift Certificates!!
And at last! When you purchase a Massage Series of 12 you will receive 4 FREE Gift Certificates!!! 

Now don't delay!  September is almost Over!!!

www.seasnonsmassagetherapy.com

Come! Bring all the empty cups!!!

Me Time.  What exactly is Me Time?  One thing I can tell you about Me Time is that it is something that we don't give ourselves enough of. 

 There are times when I feel like, "Can I please have 5 more hours today!"    Life can be so crazy, some more than others depending on your personal situation.  All in all, people and things depend on the best you possible! 

 WE are all vessles, or cups.  Is your cup empty or is it full?

Which cup do you think would be more productive in life?   What kind of you do you want your dependants to have?

Come and schedule a block of ME TIME for you!  Come and get your cup filled!

Relaxation? YES PLEASE!

I am a massage therapist and RELAXATION SPECIALIST!  I LOVE and live to help individuals relax and decompress.  That is how I make a living and from what my clients tell me, I am pretty good at it.  My most favorite sessions are the ones where the client says " I just need to relax!" 

These individuals are either of two catagories: 
  Catagory one consists of my "Desktop Warriors"
They have a very important job and do it so well, that 8 hours will go by and they realize they have been working so diligently on a project they forgot that there is a living breathing world around them.  Computers, cell phones and other devices are like another limb or vital organ that becomes a part these individuals.  But in reality they are just that, an electronic device that allows them to stay connected to their work.
    
Catagory two are my "Multi-taskers" 

Just like Catagory One, these individuals hold a very important job, they are mothers, fathers, nurturers as well as providers too in some cases.  They are caretakers of many things, but always put themselves last.  Minds are constantly moving, bodies trying to keep up.  GO GO GO! Then stop. Oh then sleep, if your're lucky!  Then get up and do all over again.

Both catagories can lead to vicious cycles of stress.  Work and needs never stop.  The demands of life keep on coming.  But your body and mind do not get younger.  You only have one of each and it is up to you to be a good steward of what you have been given. 

Two things.  For those who fall into Catagory 1...You cannot perform at your best if you do not take care of yourself!  And from my own experience of living in Catagory 2...You cannot be a caretaker if you do not take care of yourself! 

Massage is proven to RELAX those that are stressed to the core.  Massage helps to increase the happy hormones that make us feel good.  Massage and relaxation helps both Catagories above to reboot and refresh.  And that leads to better job performance and energy to keep up with the ever moving family.

Okay! Okay! I get it!  So now what do I do?  Well I thought you would never ask.  I have set aside a beautiful and inviting sanctuary just for you!  And wouldn't you know, I specialize in RELAXATION!  My treatment space is CALM and RELAXING!  I have aromatherapy if you please to stimulate your wonderful brain.   I have lovely relaxing music to calm your wonderful mind.  My goal is to help you UNPLUG from the demands of work.  My goal is to help you find the BEST you there is.  My Goal is to help you FLOW with the current of life, not be thrown and thrashed about.

I've made a place for you...now come and see and Experience the goodness.  It's good for you!

And I even made it super easy and convient to scheduel a time that fits perfectly in your life!
Just a click away from your little escape...

http://spab.kr/seasonsmassage


www.seasonsmassagetherapy.com

Ashiatsu bars, paint, furniture, oh my!

The process of opening up a Massage Practice is fun, frustrating, exciting and scary all wrapped in one.  Details, details, details is all that I have to say.  It is coming together and I am getting really excited!
 Last night I had a client come in to get a massage.  My room was still under construction and my fellow bodyworker was so gracious to lend me her treatment room while she enjoys time away at the Electric Forrest festival....LUCKY!
 I let my client get a sneak peak of my room and she said, "This is way bigger than your last room."  What a BLESSING!
The space that I am preparing is going to be so AWESOME! I cannot wait to show it off.