Monthly Archives: June 2009

Massage Vs Chocolate Treats

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09_06_2-chocolates_webLadies, the debate rages on. I know the decision is a difficult one…….but maybe I can help resolve the potentially stressful internal conflict that just won’t go away. Chocolate or Massage?

Lets look at some of the pros and cons:

  1. Massage  makes for more” Me” time. Chocolate pleasures are more ephemeral.
  2. Massage is healthy for you. Chocolate  anti-oxidants taste the best.
  3. The effects of the Massage can last up to a week. Me and my chocolate are as one; who cares about next week.
  4. Massage is an expensive treat. Chocolates can be an expansive treat depending on how many you have.
  5. Massage can leave you sore. Chocolates can make you bigger.
  6. There are good Massages and bad . Most Chocolates are pretty good.

Ladies, don’t fret. We are not going to resolve this today. In the meantime, why not get both.  Start with a Massage followed by a Chocolate.

Out of touch but not out of sight

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One of the benefits of being a Massage Therapist for over Seventeen years is that you get a great “feel” for people. For example, you can tell when someone wants to distance themselves from you. The person will place obstacles in between you and them. Attempt to hug such a person, and you will literally get the “cold shoulder”.

To illustrate my point, I visited a local bank in Rancho Cucamonga to cash a check, issued by one of their customers. The entrance and exit both had two sets of doors, with a space between them,where you were forced to remain, unable to move forward or retreat; you were locked in under bank control. To get into the lobby, you had to be buzzed in. Once I was admitted inside, I was allocated to a teller.  She requested two forms of ID, my social security number and my thumb print. The teller was acting defensively, and I was feeling like I had done  something wrong.  The bullet- proof doors and the bank security policies did not make me feel  more secure.

Presumably,all of this stuff was installed to improve theft prevention, but a thought crossed my mind; it acted like an obstacle between the banker and the customers. Maybe they do not want to face their customers. Imagine that. Bank managers concerns about hoodlums with guns robbing their banks is real enough, but why stop there? A video of a Bill Moyers interview with former bank regulator, Bill Black, demonstrates where the real security efforts ought to be made.

Bill Black, a regulator, during the Lincoln Savings bank scam, pointed out that the best way to rob a bank…..is to own a bank. Bankers don’t want to face their customers, because they are rightly ashamed, and by distancing themselves, they have become out of touch with the real pains they have caused to others.

When one bonds, forming meaningful relationships, our society becomes a whole fabric that cannot be torn apart. We do this by staying in touch.

It’s better to give than receive…Pet Massage

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Hey, did you know that  petting your pet  not only feels good, but produces positive health effects?

Studies have shown that just petting the kitty or pooch can slow down your heart rate and blood pressure. It can also lower your cholesterol levels. Other studies show faster recovery times from illness.

Of course, you have to want a pet and be willing to take care of your new family member. Otherwise, you’re going to create more stress in your life.  I do prefer dogs, but I love my cat, too. My pet fish, “Hydro”, passed away last year.

My cat receives regular Massage; she loves getting the back of her neck and ears gently rolled between my fingers. Does your furry family member (cat or doggy) enjoy being massaged?

Rancho Cucamonga has an animal shelter.    http://www.rcpets.info/

Stretching Basics… bend don’t break!

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Nobody enjoys stretching; we’d rather just compete. However, that’s one big reason athletes get hurt. Afterward, the rehab can take a long time, and any athlete will tell you it is frustrating  not being out there competing. So, a few pointers on stretching.

  • Before you stretch, warm your muscles up…..If you’re at home, take a warm shower. If you’re at the gym, do the  activity you planned, only do it at 1/2 to 3/4 speed. Do this without any contact. So take a few layups, short jumpers if you’re hooping for example. The key is to do the activity slowly; this allows for blood to get into those muscles. When they are warm, they are less likely to tear or perform poorly, which might lead to an injury.
  • Once the muscles are warmed up, it is time to stretch.  Be sure to “hold” your stretch for a minute or so. Count to Sixty, otherwise you probably won’t stretch the muscle long enough.  Do this for each muscle group involved. Also, no bouncing, hold the muscle in a sustained stretch. Focus on how the muscle feels and on your breath. This will help the stretch and get you focused and ready to play.
  • Stretch the muscles used in the activity, focus on the ones that give you trouble.
  • Whatever your game, go out and perform.

Be flexible like Gumby, like Bob Hayes

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bob-heyesDuring my Massage training, we would regularly volunteer at sporting events.  One time, we were at a track event with some heavy hitting corporations, like Exxon.  Anyway, you could see these middle-aged executives competing, but one stood out; he seemed to be simply floating above the track. Later, I found out the athlete was Bob Hayes, ex- Olympian, ex- Dallas cowboy wide receiver.  The difference between Bob and the other athletes was stark. The other guys seemed to be struggling, taking short, choppy strides while Bob took long, smooth, seemingly effortless strides. He easily destroyed his competition. Not only were his legs more flexible, but, also, his hips, shoulders and neck. He was so relaxed

The difference was flexibility. Keep that in mind when you want to cut corners and skip your stretching. Now the original Gumby

Massage Touch a luxury?

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In many circles,  Massage is viewed as a luxury. Being touched feels good, for most of us, but we could live without it, right? Well, as it turns out, no.

Even as late as 1915, in hospitals and orphanages, a mysterious illness was running rampant. Infants were dying at rates between 90%-99% within the first year of  being admitted. Those who managed to survive were left permanently damaged.  Their bones did not grow properly, they were underweight, uncoordinated, and had compromised immune systems.. All these symptoms, and more, were associated with physical starvation.  Oddly, these infants were not starved at all, At least, not for food.

As it turned out, the Hospitals, in their ultimate wisdom,  reflecting on the best science of the time, decided that, because of the importance of  maintaining a germ- free environment, the babies would be handled only as much as necessary. As a consequence of this forward thinking, babies  died, with great frequency.  The disease was properly named “Merasmus” which meant a “wasting away”.  This touch deprivation looked exactly like physical starvation. There was an immediate, drastic improvement, once nurses and other caregivers handled and played with the infants.

So, maybe you believe we have advanced past that primitive stage of understanding the importance of touch. I have my doubts. Take, for example, our children. Teachers are no longer allowed to hug the children in some schools. So, do you think this practice “protects” our children? Read what Lenore Iskenazy has to say on Free-Range-Kids in an article entitled “school devises drastic solution”.

The need for touch does not just disappear as we age.There exists another hidden killer………..Stress, literally, will shorten your life.  Unlike animals who can experience stress and move on, humans have trouble turning the stress switch off. The longer the stress button remains on, the shorter your life.  Massage can turn that switch off. More on stress later. Touch a luxury? You bet your life! Here is some independent research.