September

Married to her husband of 18 years, Art, they have 4 beautiful children ranging from 18-4. She loves to spend any free time with her family by camping, hunting or anything that involves the outdoors. She is an active member of the East Aurora Fish and Game Club.

Today is my 18th wedding anniversary to my husband and I am sitting her in front of my computer figuring out what I want to write about in my next series. So I decided that I am going to hold off until September and share some thoughts with you.

Our society is so on the go and busy, busy, busy- do we ever take the time to stop what we are doing and look around?

Do we ever take the time and do something for ourselves? I bet that there are a few of us (or more) who are always doing something for someone else. That is our nature and we can’t help it. If we do something for ourselves, we sit their wondering what else could get done and adding it to our list or feeling a little guilty that we are doing this for ourselves. Right?

When was the last time you had a picnic with your kids? On the living room floor when it’s a rainy day? How about taking a walk with your family and seeing what is around you- the summer flowers, the smell of fresh cut grass, the chirping of the birds, the barking of a dog or just the tranquility of the earth? How about coloring with your children? How about snuggling or watching a movie with your significant other?

Hmmmm- guess what? I have and let me tell you, it opened my eyes and mind to a place that I haven’t been in awhile: to enjoy what I have and never forget it.

Why do I bring these thoughts up? I don’t know. Maybe its because I’ve been married for so long and can’t believe it to be true. Maybe its because my daughter just graduated from high school and will be starting another adventure to college. Maybe its because my son who is my fourth and last child to be starting kindergarten this year. Who knows…..

I do know that you can only take life one day at a time. You can’t miss the little things in life because they won’t be there again for you to grab. The big things can wait. So enjoy the little things in life before they fly by you and you wonder where they have gone.

Have that picnic or camping excursion in the living room if its raining or just sit and enjoy something with someone for just a little while. Sit back and close your eyes and enjoy.

Take care and Be well my friends,

Nadine

Last time we talked about the effects that massage had on the cardiovascular system. To continue with our series lets talk about the Lymphatic and the Immune Systems

The Lymphatic system consists of fluid called lymph that is circulated through the lymph vessels that are throughout our body. These vessels drain excess fluid from different areas and return it to the bloodstream. These vessels also transport the necessary Vitamins (A, D, E and K) throughout our body.

Sometimes this lymph fluid can accumulate if one of the nodes is damaged, diseased or blocked and edema (swelling) forms. If this happens- lymphedema may form. In order for the lymph to move it sometimes needs muscle contraction, pressure changes from respiration or applied pressure from massage.

When massage is applied to the lymph, it can help reduce lymphedema by promoting lymph circulation and gets rid of the formation of wastes.

Massage can also help with the following

Decreases the size of lymphedema in the area affected

Decreases weight in a client

The Immune System carries out immune responses that fight against pathogens and also fight against infections that have entered our body.

Massage may help with increasing Lymphocyte counts (White blood cells which fight against infection) and might help individuals with immune disorders.

As a massage therapist, I have many clients show for their appointments while they are sick but when they get to my office, I will send them home. Many clients are not happy about this but after explaining why I am sending them home, they understand.

Most people do not know that besides massaging the muscles of the body, that while doing this, therapists are also moving those toxins that have been stagnant in the muscles. That is why therapists will tell their clients to drink plenty of water because of all the toxins that have been moved.

When a person is ill and they go for their session of massage, not only are those toxins being moved around but so is the infection that the body is trying to fight. Normally when a client is getting their massage, those toxins are getting moved and the body is trying to recuperate those muscles that are getting massaged by healing them. Some clients have many problems and the body has to fight for the healing process because most of those muscles haven’t been used or massaged in a long time so that body doesn’t now what is going on. So they increase their healing process and this is where some clients may be sore because of those toxins that were sitting there. Hence that is why we say drink plenty of water so that you get rid of the toxins and that you are not sore.

So to get back to the ill client, while the toxins are getting moved, we said that the body is trying to repair itself so it feels better. Now add the infection that the body is also trying to fight. Mix these two together and you are going to have one client who feels worse than when they started. The client may feel better at the time of massage but within that day or the next day, the client is going to feel twice as bad as they did when they thought they were getting better.  Your body can not recuperate from so much that is going on, it needs rest to recuperate

So a word to the wise- If you are sick, do yourself and your therapist a favor   (besides spreading germs to your therapist and everyone else who shows up) Re-schedule your session,stay home and eat that chicken soup that grandma says to and your therapist will be happy that you are betterJ

Take care and Be wellJ

(next segment will be about the Nervous and the Endocrine Systems)

References: Salvo, Susan Massage Therapy- Principles and Practice 3^rd Edition

Tortora,Gerard. and Grabowski, Sandra  Principles of Anatomy and Physiology

10^th edition

My last little blurb talked about why we need to get a massage with the benefits. In the next few issues I will go a little more in depth of our different systems of the body and how it can be beneficial for us.

Besides massage feeling good when our muscles are rubbed, many people do not know that massage is also beneficial for our insides.

Effects of massage on the cardiovascular system

What is cardiovascular?

Cardiovascular has anything that deals with our hearts, blood vessels, blood pressure and circulation.

In today’s society we know that we are not the healthiest beings on this planet. We are overweight and always in a rush so we don’t exercise or eat the healthiest. This does start to take its toll and it can be dangerous. The more fat we have and the lazier we become, our hearts have to work extra hard to push that blood through our bodies. Sometimes there are obstacles in our way such as fat deposits, clogged arteries or worse, heart muscle death. Some of us have had a small stroke (CVA, TIA) and not even known it.

So what can Massage do to help with my cardiovascular system?

Well besides taking control of your lifestyle, massage can help with the following:

Improves circulation

When a Massage Therapist applies deeper strokes, the strokes mechanically assist venous blood back to the heart. If you have had a massage before, you may have notice that the therapist will start further away from the heart and massage up toward the chest area.

Decreases Blood pressure

When the blood vessels dilate, blood pressure decreases for about 35 minutes after massage.

Promotes removal of waste products

Your body gets rid of wastes many ways and one of those is through massage. When muscles are kneading and stroked, the toxins that are have been building up, need a place to go. When massage is applied, these toxins get moved through the circulatory system and out the body. This is why massage therapists tell their clients that you need to drink plenty of water after a massage to help flush those toxins out.

Reduces heart rate

This is through the relaxation response.

Look in our next issue for effects of massage on the Lymphatic and Immune systems.

When someone mentions that they just received a massage- most people have a bewildered expression on their face. Some may even say- “YOU got a massage? How can you have someone touch and rub you like that?”  There are so many misconceptions about what a massage is and this is mostly because of the media perceiving massage as something sexual instead of being therapeutic.

The benefits of massage are endless and very cost effective… it depends on what type of massage you would like to receive. Some examples are: Swedish, Neuromuscular, Pregnancy- pre- and post, Hot and Cold stone, Shiatsu, Myofascial and Sports Therapy. There are many more – it just takes a little research to see what is available.

So why a massage?

Some benefits:

Alleviate low-back pain and improve range of motion

Ease medication dependence

Exercise and stretch weak, tight, or atrophied muscles

Help athletes of any level prepare for, and recover from, strenuous workouts

Improve the condition of the body's largest organ -- the skin

Increase joint flexibility

Lessen depression and anxiety

Promote tissue regeneration, reducing scar tissue and stretch marks

Pump oxygen and nutrients into tissues and vital organs, improving circulation

Reduce post surgery adhesions and swelling

Reduce spasms and cramping

Relax and soften injured, tired, and overused muscles

While eliminating anxiety and pressure altogether in this fast-paced world may be idealistic, massage can, without a doubt, help manage stress. This translates into:

Decreased anxiety

Enhanced sleep quality

Greater energy

Improved concentration

Increased circulation

Reduced fatigue

Everyone could use a little less stress and more relaxation. A massage can just help push you in the right direction.