Relax!

Relax.

I lie on my stomach on the massage table atop a soft, warm sheepskin. The candle and small light fill the room with a warm yellow glow. As I wait, I listen to my breath go in and out. The business of the day fills my head but slowly begins to melt away as I listen to the soft music of a Native American flute and drum. A calmness surrounds me. I try to take a deep breath and feel my heart rate slowing as I run through the events of the day. I hear the clock tick and think of the tasks I still have yet to do after this. The massage therapist enters and asks me how I am, where my areas of tension are. She slowly puts her hands on my exposed back and begins gentle effleurage strokes toward my lower back. Her touch is strong, yet reassuring, treating according to the pressure that I am comfortable with. I breath deeply, the tension dissipating with each movement. I go within. She tells me to let go. Go within and relax for an hour. Focus on my breath, in and out. No worries. Connect my mind with my body. I forget the stress of the day. I forget what is to be done after this. I hear my breath, in and out, slowing myself down. I focus on the therapists every move, not wanting this blissfulness to end. As she moves down my body, I am grateful for this slice of nirvana that I can be apart of . I am grateful that I have a whole hour to slow down my mind and my body. To give myself permission to receive rather than give for just a small piece of time. I feel my breath go in and out.....

If you’ve never had a massage, you simply must. Therapeutic massage is an age-old remedy and health practice. From the ancient Greek gymnasia and Roman baths to modern day spas, health clubs, and Chiropractic healing centers, massage has been recognized for its health enhancing benefits of health promotion and disease prevention.. Manual therapy, the use of our hands, has been used in many cultures to soothe aches and pains of acute injury and chronic pain. Many of the therapeutic effects of massage recognized by personal and clinical experience over the years have been supported by scientific research. In addition to the commonly known benefits of relaxation, relief of muscular tension, immune system functioning, and improved circulation, new applications are surfacing in areas of mental and emotional well-being.

I have been a Professional Massage Therapist for 7 years. My personal journey to health and well being is when I myself found relief from back pain with massage therapy while I was working as a Letter Carrier for the U.S. Postal Service. For 12 years I had a lifestyle that was causing me both physical and emotional stress. I carried the mail bag on my shoulder every day at work and as a result my body became extremely imbalanced. Clinical Massage therapy provided much needed relief for me. Because of that, I decided to share its message with others. I went to Blue Heron Academy in Grand Rapids Michigan to learn how to help others with pain and illness. I believe that optimal health can be ours by adding massage to our self-care regimen. Combining healthy lifestyle choices based on proper nutrition, exercise and a peaceful mind set, we can assist our body in repairing itself.

Benefits of Massage: SKIN, MUSCULAR SYSTEM, CIRCULATORY SYSTEM, NERVOUS SYSTEM.

* relaxes and lengthens the muscles

* firms and strengthens the muscles

* increases circulation

* lowers blood pressure

* produces calming, sedative effects

* increases range of motion

* helps injuries heal faster

* relieves pain

* promotes a sense of well-being

* improves oxygen supply to cells

* eliminates metabolic wastes

* improves Lymph action to carry toxins away

* nourishes tissues

* reduces STRESS!

Comments

[wabsenger]

Thank you for getting us started on the subject of massage. Can you get a bit more specific about the type of training a C.M.T. has to undergo in order to be certified? What would you recommend somebody do if they are contemplating their first massage? What should their considerations be?

[Jennifer Jorgensen]

This is a wonderful idea for a blog. In my mind there could not be a more pertinent topic for this day and age. Every day I see how so many of my friends, family, and neighbors have forgotten the all important link between healthy foods and a health body, mind, and spirit. The detachment we exemplify in many of our day to day activities seems to have filtered in to how we eat as well. We know to put the correct kind of fuel in our cars so they will perform well for us but many of us do not know to do the same for our bodies. We have even left ourselves blind to those who would prefer to make a monetary profit at the expense of the health of those they sell their products to. A corporate ‘buyer beware’ mentality only becomes profitable when people stop paying attention and stop asking questions. This web blog gives me hope that people are starting to ask questions again. I look forward to reading future posts.

Thanks Werner!

Jen Jorgensen

[wabsenger]

Thanks Jennifer!

This is exactly what I am hoping to achieve, for people to start asking questions. Who knows one might just stumble upon a modality which works perfectly well for them and complements their already existing Western form of health care? There are so many examples how this might work. Keep looking for more informative posts. Thanks for posting!
Werner

[massage table]

Massage gives so much relaxation to us.It works as a alternative medicine.

[Denise H Williams, LMT]

Like yourself I came to massage by way of my own chronic pain. Now I help others through medical massage and nutritional support.

Best regards from Much Kneaded in NYC