Emotional Responses to Massage Therapy
From Digital Journal:
A therapeutic massage can have benefits that exceed many clients’ expectations. While most people seek a massage to soothe sore and stressed muscles, there are times when clients may experience an unexpected emotional release during or after their session. During a massage session, the body may experience changes at both the structural and chemical level. These changes can lead to the release of emotions, and ultimately contribute to trauma healing.
According to Milwaukee-based Licensed Massage Therapist (LMT) Angela Keeter, emotions run through the body,
“When emotions accumulate in the muscle or tissue, there are times when a massage can release this flow of energy in the form of unexpected responses. It may sound alarming, but it is a normal part of healing.”
Read more: http://www.digitaljournal.com/pr/3086309#ixzz4LlAWaAX9
Ashiatsu: Maybe feet aren’t that bad
From Kelly Steele of the Windsor Star:
I’ve never made it a secret how much I dislike feet. Anyone in my life knows the chances of getting a foot rub from me is unlikely. But, to be fair, I also don’t expect others to touch mine.
When I showed up at Fusion Massage Therapy Studio to talk to registered massage therapist Nicole Blais about her ashiatsu and bamboo therapies, I was unprepared. It had been a busy week and I didn’t have a chance to do my research.
Turns out ashiatsu isn’t the “frou frou” relaxing massage I had assumed, but rather a technique where the therapist uses her feet.
What? Yep, her feet.
Read the rest here.
Mike Hovi is Soma’s Program Director and one of Soma’s most beloved instructors
Mike Hovi is Soma’s Program Director and one of Soma’s most beloved instructors. He’s been teaching at Soma since its inception almost 20 years ago, and even between his work with the American Massage Therapy Association and his own practice, he has no plans of slowing down any time soon.
In the wake of the Summer Olympics we thought we’d ask Hovi about his experiences working at the Olympics.
When did you work at the Olympics?
I attended two different Olympics as a sports massage therapist—2002 in Salt Lake City and 2004 in Athens, Greece.
How did you get involved?
I initially heard about the application process from some contacts within the AMTA
For Salt Lake City the selection process involved was through resume, references, and a hand written letter explaining why I should be selected. I was one of 250 therapists and I worked in the Olympic Village which all countries had access to—not assigned to US team. The shifts were six hours, five days per week for two weeks.
Were you paid?
This was a volunteer position.
What types of athletes did you work on?
I worked mainly on athletes competing in bobsled, speed skating, biathletes (cross-country skiing and shooting.) I also worked on several coaches. Each therapist had to do one day a week of working with the media.
Where did you stay?
I stayed with a local family that housed five visiting massage therapist during the games.
Some interesting items:
- Cannot advertise myself or business using the term Olympics without paying a fee to Olympic Committee.
- Signed a confidentiality statement that I would not disclose the name of any athlete, coach, or media personal that I worked with at the Olympics without their written consent.
- I had to purchase own uniform.
- Massage was not sponsored directly by Olympic Committee, but they did allow a group to provide massage, and it was that group that I worked through while at the Olympics. The group was the National Coalition for Sports Massage.
- I was assigned the Olympic Village rather than a specific team or sport, so any athlete or coach was eligible to receive sports massage..
- Total Coaches and athletes were just under 6000.
What about Athens?
For Athens I stayed in a house owned by the father on a former Soma student. Travel time between house and Olympic Village was 35-40 minutes and included two bus rides and two train rides
Total number of therapists was 100 foreign, 50 Greek. There were over 16,000 athletes, coaches, and support staff that could get massage.
- Again stationed in the Olympic Village and not assigned a single team or sport.
- Worked on 74 athletes and coaches, 34 different countries, 17 different sports.
- Uniforms were provided for this Olympics
J-Lo Love Massage, Too!
As we all know, massage is not just for the rich and famous. Everyone should take good care of their bodies, and that should involve regular massages. But that being said, let’s see what the rich and famous do when they need to relax:
Jennifer Lopez:
“Jennifer Time is about me just sitting at home with the kids and being in my own body for a moment, being calm and clearing my thoughts – maybe taking a bath or having a massage when I need it or just sitting outside and staring into the sky and enjoying the fresh air. It sounds silly and simple but for me it’s something new.”
Read more about J-Lo’s relaxation techniques here.
Survive The Apocalypse, And Get A Massage!
To be sure, some celebrity trends are a little out there.
Some celebrities, like Brad Pitt and Robert Redford, spend time at a unique resort in Montana preparing for, well, preparing for the apocalypse. Obstacle courses, food preparation, and learning to live without wifi are all on the agenda. But that doesn’t mean there’s no time for pampering.
“Panic is a sure-fire way to perish in times of crisis. Paws Up familiarizes guests with a tranquil state of mind in its outdoor semicircle Spa Town. Every treatment is performed in private tents opening up to endless mountain views. The menu includes an Altitude Adjustment head and neck massage (the Northern Rockies climb up to 3950 meters so acclimation is key) and even a Montana Gold Rush Massage where guests are rubbed with oil and real gold flakes.”
Read how you can get pampered and survive the zombies here.