Sleepless Nights

My favourite time of year is Autumn. It signifies change for me. The sun, the colours across the sky, the temperature outside and children back to school. Even our thoughts begin to change. We start thinking of what we need to begin our cold weather season with; putting our flower beds to sleep, a new exercise program, warmer clothing, crock pot recipes, stews and Christmas holidays.

One common theme I hear in the clinic is sleepless nights. It's very common during seasonal changes. Our body has to accommodate the change in daylight and the change in temperature.

I like to go easy on myself and pick a day during this change in season where I just slow down and stay in bed a little longer, whether I'm sleeping or not. I'll take an hour and a half walk outside and look at the leaves on the trees changing colour and falling off their branches.  I'll pay particular attention to the colour in the sky, as there is less yellow and more white. I feel the cool air on my face and hands. It may sound silly to some, but I'm letting my body know that the season is changing and we're alright with that. During this day I'll start to plan my schedule for the winter months, making sure I have fun stuff and Massages too! And to top it off I take a long soak in the tub.

Taking the time to welcome in the new season allows us to ease the stress of change and have better nights with longer sleeps.

Wellness to you,


Jeanne

Education with Cross Words

As an RMT I have a certain amount of upgrading and standards I have to maintain. It isn't always easy to take the time out of work to attend classes. For one, the cost and two, my clients hate it when I have to postpone their regular treatment times. So, I try to look for other sources and I've found a great way to review terminology through this cross word puzzle book, Medi-Cross by John McLeod, RMT. It also initiates research and review of topics I don't use on a daily bases but should be familiar with.

I was working through it on Sunday morning and found some of it to be pretty difficult so, I ended up taking it to work with me and continuing through it between clients. Before I knew it, I was having a hard time putting it down.....I should know the answers and now I need to find out! Getting my colleagues involved is great fun too!

Wellness to you,

Jeanne

Frequently asked Questions

As a Massage Therapist I expected questions about Massage Therapy; What's it good for? Can it help with....? Where did you get your training? Do you use oil and what type? What if I have allergies?

Instead, I'm listing here the top five questions I get asked by new and existing clients and I'll answer them as well.


1.  Do you have to have strong hands to do Massage?

Yes and No. While we train as Massage Therapists in school our whole body becomes conditioned to do the physical work. Having strong hands helps prevent us from tiring easily during our days work but  a soft touch is much more effective in helping a body heal.

2.  Can you do a house call in the evening just before I go to sleep?

No I can't. I appreciate you may have difficulty sleeping and that's why you're coming in for Massage Treatments but, I need to sleep too. Having regular Massage Treatments will help your body to return to a natural relaxed state and this is only part of your strategy of care. Implementing other sources of help i.e. Epsom Salt bath and consulting with your family Doctor, is important.

3.  Can you come in at 7:00am just for me?

No I can't. Your health is important to me as my health is also important to me. I also appreciate that you're trying to schedule yourself as best you can, as is I. I also appreciate your business that's why I do my best to accommodate you within my schedule. I start work at 9:00am to give myself some personal time in the earlier part of the morning.

4.  If I refer a friend or family member can I get a free massage?

Sorry, not at this time. Do you get a free car wash when you tell your friends where you go for that? Does your Dentist give you a free cleaning when you refer your friends? Does your lawn care guy give you free fertilizer? Does No Frills give you free groceries? Does your Accountant do your taxes for free? I do appreciate your referrals because it allows me to continue my work and not have to look for another job. But please know that this is my livelihood and please don't ask.

5. Why don't you work on Sunday?

Because I need a day off.

I hope this helps Massage Therapists and massage recipients alike. Setting boundaries is really very important for our own well being. 

Have a wonderful Sunday! I'm going golfing.

Wellness to you,

Jeanne

Long Walks and Chocolate Cake

One of my favourite massages to give and receive is a relaxing one. I'm a true believer in the affects of stress in our life. Many people don't like to admit that stress is difficult to deal with or that the illness they have started with a stressful situation. Life happens to us all and some of it is wonderful and some of it isn't but, all of it does put a certain amount of stress on us. How do we deal with it? This is a very important question.

You think you're gearing up for a great party after a long week of hard work, to loosen up a bit. But you stay up late, the music is loud, you eat too much and drink too much. Then, the next day you sleep in to catch up on lost sleep. All this loosening up has put your body into a stressful mode that will probably take a few days or more to recover.

One of my favourite reads on stress is The Stress of Life by Dr. Hans Selye. He's a pioneer of medicine and stress. In his book he describes the affects of stress and gives some data on research and also talks about how to deal with stress.

So, to de-stress I took a long walk this morning and focused on my breathing and being aware of my surroundings. It was cold. I noticed the red in the sky and the mares' tails in the clouds. If you're a sailor you'll know that this means rain tomorrow. Let's see if the Weather Network and Breakfast Television gets it right!

And to top it off, I had a slice of chocolate cake! What do you do to de-stress or "chill-lax," as my nephew would say?

Wellness to you,


Jeanne

Teenagers Need Massage Too

I recently worked with a teenager who revealed being high-strung about school, peers and his future. He said he was leaving his future up to good karma but he felt compelled to leave school and run away from his peers. Neither of which he could do because his parents just wouldn't let him.

I suggested a one hour, full body relaxation massage. He was so full of emotion and tension it was difficult for him to receive touch at all. He jumped, twitched and wiggled as if refusing touch. I covered his back with the sheet and placed my hands in a soft and static position atop his shoulders. I remained there for about five minutes after which time I was able to begin a light massage over the sheet.

When the massage was over he seemed much more relaxed and said he would return home for a nap. He came back once a week for three more weeks and each week he felt improvement. By the second treatment he was able to receive the massage a little better and by the third, he relaxed as soon as he went prone on the table.

He said he was ready for school and ready to face his peers again.

Wellness to you,


Jeanne

Easy on the Pressure

I recently had someone tell me that she just loved her Massage Therapist and she's been seeing her for about a month. She's inspiring and friendly and always has hot towels ready but she always uses too much pressure. So, she's looking for a new Massage Therapist. When I asked her about telling the Therapist to ease up she said that she did, but that didn't change anything.

I wondered then about how the conversation and communication went. There is definitely a time for deeper and heavier pressure however, if that pressure feels uncomfortable it's really important to get your Massage Therapist to lighten up on that amount of pressure. What's the point in having a massage if all you're doing is contracting those muscles that are already compromised.

Sometimes an area maybe particularly tight and almost any kind of pressure may feel uncomfortable, even painful. In this case it's important to tell your Therapist what you're feeling. We all tolerate pressure and pain differently and your Massage Therapist may not always know how you perceive it.

Take the time to communicate what you are feeling as far as the pressure goes and you maybe able to stick with the same Massage Therapist that you know. After all, we are here to help you feel better and I'm sure if a Massage Therapist is aware the pressure they're using is causing discomfort they'd ease up immediately.

Wellness to you,

Jeanne

Walking Dogs

Jolie

Walking dogs can be a very rewarding job in many respects. You get fresh air and exercise! You meet other friendly people and their dogs and you can make good money too!

After a days work you feel like you've done something worth while! You sit in your chair with a cool glass of water and the daily newspaper. Within minutes you need to stand and stretch your back and legs. You rub your neck and your wrist and hand feels tight too.......

Walking dogs is also very demanding on your body. You may have a dog that takes you for a walk! Yikes! All this tugging and pulling on your joints; wrist, elbow, shoulder, neck, spine, hips, knees, ankles and toes. Yes, all the joints in your body! Then, all the power you use with your muscles to hold the dog(s) back while trying to restore stability amongst the chaos and excitement can really put your body through the wringer.

At the end of the day remember to take a warm epsom salt bath and book your Massage Treatment.

Wellness to you,


Jeanne

photo courtesy of Joy Ridge Ranch

Nutrition

I often get asked questions on nutrition and although it isn't an area I specialize in, it was part of the Massage School curriculum.  I do my best to answer questions and find the answers.

As a runner, one of my resources for motivation and nutrition happens to be Runner's World . At first I was looking for guidance on distance training and running shoe fittings, but I found a whole resource.

Be sure to check it out soon.

Wellness to you,

Jeanne

30 Minute Massage Goes A Long Way

Some people shy away from a 30 minute massage but you can feel like you've just taken a power nap
and the tension just melts away. There's much to be said about that 30 minutes.

Humming Bird De-Stressing

If it's tired and sore feet, tight neck and shoulders or a sore low back, a quick half hour massage to that area can give you the relief you've been craving.

If you normally have a one hour massage to maintain a healthful state at least once a month, the added half hour for spur of the moment relief puts you in better shape. Don't wait until your next scheduled appointment to take care of that. Feel better today!

Even after a particularly stressful day - instead of racing home to turn on the TV or heading to the Pub, try a 30 minute de-stressing massage. You'll feel like your Therapist just took the world off your shoulders. Your body will thank you.

Also, if you're on the look out for a new Massage Therapist, a 30 minute massage is a great way for you to get to know a Therapists' touch. After all it is about touch, and we all have our preferences.

Wellness to you,

Jeanne

Knowing How It Happened

I got a call from my dad the other day asking for a neck and shoulder massage. I was surprised, he never asks for massage, so I asked him what happened. He said that he didn't think anything happened.
Upon further questioning, together we came up with the possibility that playing golf everyday may have something to do with it.

I find it quite often in practice that many clients have difficulty knowing the cause of their complaint. "Sometimes things just hurt when you reach my age," is one comment I received from a forty-eight year old male client. And there are times I have to sit and recount the current events in one's life that lead up to this painful situation. Do people forget what just happened? Are they trying to forget? Sometimes aches and pains do creep up on us but it's still important to know what you're doing and what went wrong and what causes the pain we feel.

Recalling what happened, when it happened and what you did immediately after is all important information that will help you and your therapist deal with your painful area better. Sometimes the information might be old, for example twenty years ago you fell on the ice and sprained your wrist. Today, you have an ache in your shoulder that appears to have come from nowhere. Maybe one incident has nothing to do with the other and maybe it does. I don't believe in "nowhere".

The more information your Massage Therapist has about your complaints the better they are able to help you.

Wellness to you,

Jeanne

Types of Headaches

Primary Headaches are the actual cause of the pain i.e. tension headache and migraine.
Secondary Headaches are caused by other sources of pathology i.e. hypertension and trauma to the head.

In most cases I see clients with Primary Headaches where muscles of the head and neck are tense.  I work on the muscles at the side of the head, temporalis and the forehead, frontalis.  Also, the neck muscles usually involved are the three scalene muscles, sternocleidomastoid, levator scapula, splenius capitis, tapezius and eight small muscles together called the suboccipitals.

Many of the muscles in the neck are attached to the upper ribs and therefore assist in breathing. So, it's important to take deep, slow breaths and relax. This alone can reduce a headache.

There are many triggers for headaches and recognizing them is the first step in avoiding and treating headaches. Emotional stress, lack of restful sleep, fatigue, poor posture, jaw pain and food allergies are common triggers of headache.

For more information on Headaches visit this website:

The International Headache Society


Wellness to you,


Jeanne

Massage Therapy for Headaches

Don't be surprised if your Massage Therapist doesn't work on your scalp when you have a headache.  Depending on the severity of your pain, massaging your neck and scalp can make your headache feel worse.

There are several types of headaches and many causes for them. On top of that we all experience pain differently. I don't normally see clients with very severe and acute headaches, mostly because they're at home in bed taking medication. After a day or two of rest a massage can really help with releasing the tension in the surrounding muscles.

Normally a headache can leave the muscles on your scalp, neck, shoulder and arms quite tight, from the guarding of pain. Your Massage Therapist will usually focus on these areas to help reduce that tension and in time with regular appointments you'll experience fewer headaches.

Join me tomorrow where I'll write more about the types of headaches.

Wellness to you,

Jeanne

Learning Curve

Well, I'm back from a four day vacation and thought that I may have gotten a few things done before leaving, i.e. pre-scheduling Posts. It obviously didn't work for me.  I'll try again until I get it and hopefully never miss another day.

We all need a break from our everyday routine. It restores and freshens our passion for what we do. I find that sometimes it's better for me to visit another city for a couple of days and do things I wouldn't normally do in my own town. And when I return home, I can hardly wait to get back to my work!

Did I pre-schedule a massage for myself before I left on vacation? You bet!

Wellness to you,

Jeanne

A Simple Foot Massage

Sometimes I'll finish off a Relaxation Massage with the feet and most of my clients will comment on how much they love their feet massaged. I usually hear big sighs and long exhalations while I'm working on the feet. They do take a beating after all.

All those tiny muscles holding all the bones of the feet together get contracted and sore. Just a soak in warm water and a light self massage will loosen the tension and create better circulation.

 It's also a great bonding experience with a loved one!

Wellness to you,


Jeanne

Doing Nothing Feeling Free

Feel the Freedom

It's been a wonderful summer so far and everything is going great.

It's easier to think that between work, life at home and the hot summer days that we are having some down time. But come Monday morning are you really feeling refreshed and ready to start the week off again?

I've heard time and again, "we had a great weekend at the cottage. We got so much done in the yard and the dock fixed up. We cleared all the rocks off the shore and....."

Well, that just sounds like a lot of work to me. Does anybody really know how to just have an empty schedule with absolutely nothing to do? Can you  just sit and listen to yourself breathe?

When I give a Massage I like to get into my zone. I pay attention to the needs of the body I'm working on. My hands follow the body's needs. This way I give the person on the table a chance to do nothing but listen to their own breathing and feel their body expanding and contracting, relaxing deeply with each exhalation. After a while your body learns to slow down on its' own. You begin to find your limits and soon you find yourself doing nothing at the cottage.

Wellness to you,


Jeanne

photo by me.

Self Care

Coming in for a massage on a regular basis whether it's weekly, bi-weekly or monthly there's still time between appointments for you to take care of yourself.

We do feel our daily activities in our body and a good stretch helps relieve some of that tension. A twenty minute soak in the bath with Epsom salts helps loosen tight muscles. And fifteen minutes of just sitting quietly in a meditative state releases the grip life has you.

One of my favourite things to do at the end of a long day is use my Thera Cane. It's an S shape plastic apparatus with knobby ends. I put one of the ends on my shoulders and gently press down. It works on those tight and tired shoulders of mine. I can also use it down my back on either side of my spine to work on my tired erector muscles. After standing all day and using my body to work on yours my Thera's nice to come home to.

To learn more about the Thera Cane go to: www.theracane.net

Wellness to you,

Jeanne

Vastus Medialis Returns

Getting Started is all about me learning to Blog about Massage Therapy. The youtube video I tried to upload about the Vastus Medialis didn't work. I spent a good part of my day trying to figure it out and so this is my second attempt. Fingers crossed..........

What I like about youtube is that once you do a search similar videos are recommended. So I would suggest that once you finish watching this one, go into youtube and find others that will help guide you through various exercises to strengthen the Vastus Medialis.

This next video shows how to use tape to support the strained quadriceps muscles. Tape helps the muscle to heal and gives it support during exercise.

Wellness to you,


Jeanne

Pets Need Massage Too

My three year old cat, Mercer loves to get an early start on his day. And if he can beat the sun coming up that suits him  more so. Scratching the side of my bed, chewing on the Ivy and making a nuisance of himself in order to get me up is even better. This way he gets his early breakfast then off he goes to watch the squirrels and birds from his backyard window.

On a rare occasion Mercer will hop up into my bed and nestle up beside me.....demanding a massage. He never stays too long although in his time it may feel like a whole hour has past.

I start under his chin and work around to his cheeks. Then leading to the back of his neck I use the palms of my hands and massage down both sides of his spine. I repeat this a couple of times then go up to his shoulders using my thumbs, massage in small circular motions down each leg. Not all cats, but Mercer enjoys massage between the pad on his paw and his toe pads too. I repeat this in his hips and hind legs. Then by some natural instinct or mind reading, Mercer will turn over and expose his belly as if to say, here too please. I use a very gentle lifting technique here by cupping my hand over his entire chest then work my way down to his abdomen.

Usually by this time he's already fallen back to sleep if not, only half conscious. His mood becomes tender as he stretches a far reach and rubs his whiskers against me as if to say, thank you.

Our pets can be really rough on their body through their playing about. And as they age they can have arthritic aches and pains just like we do. At times they too get emotionally down about stuff going on in their life. A massage can really give them the lift they need and a wagging tail every pet owner loves to see.

Wellness to you,

Jeanne

Quadriceps Group

Yesterday I wrote about a cycling injury to the Vastus Medialis. This is a single muscle that works in conjunction with three others; Vastus Lateralis, Vastus Intermedius and the Rectus Femoris. As a group known as the Quadriceps or Quads work to extend the leg at the hip and the knee.

In cycling this group of muscles helps power your down stroke.

The Vastus Medialis is easily located by it's tear drop shape on the inside of your knee. It also helps in stabilizing your knee cap (patella).

I've attached a video from youtube showing an exercise to strengthen the Vastus Medialis. I hope you find it helpful.


<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/lqmkmVG6q2E?rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Wellness to you,

Jeanne

Massage and Injury

As an avid cyclist, I belong to a local cycling club who takes us out into the rolling hills of the country side. The views are spectacular and some of those hills, intimidating. At times we cycle for 100kms and  reaching speeds into the 40kms/hr on the flats. The group can range of up to 30 or 40 riders at a time and one can really get boxed in.

It's always an enjoyable time with the added bonus of getting a great workout and burning calories! However, there are the rare occasion where injuries occur. On a recent outing we were climbing  a fairly steep hill when suddenly one of the cyclists veered off to the left and cut in front of another cyclist  causing her to make a sudden and awkward stop. She said she immediately felt pain in her knee.

Once we got back to our vehicles we got ice on her knee. I palpated and tested the range of motion in the painful area and discovered the Vastus Medialis aka inner, lower thigh or quad had been strained.

I did a light massage to the quads and hamstring muscles to passively stretch out the muscles and prevent further guarding, slightly increase blood and lymph flow to help with a speedy recovery and reapplied ice to decrease further swelling.

Two days later I made a house call finding the strained quad almost completely healed. The cyclist, Cheryl had been resting, icing and applying Arnica to her knee. I gave her a complete, full body massage emphasizing her low back, gluteal muscles and legs. These are the areas that were affected most during the cycling incident. After the massage we iced the recovering vastus medialis and left Cheryl to rest a little longer.

The quicker we aid an injury the quicker we'll be back out to our activity.

Wellness to you,


Jeanne

Feeling Great with Massage

We always feel great after a Massage! Tired, relaxed, like jello.....like having a nap. Then why not make it part of the things we do in our life.

A friend of mine told me that she goes for Massage when she feels stressed or when she gets a gift certificate but when I suggested she have a Massage on a regular basis she asked why. What else is it good for?

I asked her how she feels after a Massage and she said, "I feel great after a Massage." Need I say more. However, to answer her question about what else Massage is good for:

headaches
muscle soreness
stiff joints
circulation
immune boost
scar tissue
skin health
tendonitis
injuries
stress
The list is endless

The point is, if you do feel great after a Massage then please do make it part of a regular routine. Once you make it a habit your body becomes healthier. Your brain signals wellness to all parts of your body with regular Massage treatments.

Wellness to you,

Jeanne

All About Massage Therapy

Eric's super challenge to blog for 31 days! Deadline was Aug 15th and it took me three days to get it sorted. That's ok by me.....trophy or not.

The challenge still stands for me.

The idea is to blog about Massage Therapy however, that really is all encompassing. Meaning, there's a lot to blog about!

I will definitely take you through why Massage is great for everyone but I'll also blog about injury and recovery and how Massage can help you through stressful times too.

If you haven't had your first Massage yet, I'll tell you why you should and why you should make it a habit.

There's a beginning to everything. Please join me on my new beginnings and laugh as much as you like. It's all so new to me too.

Cheers,
Jeanne