Massage NewsSummer 2011

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Invest in Your HealthMassage Offers Excellent Return on Investment

Massage in a health investment, helping to manage stress, support wellness, and boost immunity.

The greatestway to livewith honor inthis world is tobe what wepretend to be.-Socrates

Office Hours and Contact

www.MassageTherapyCenterofPlano.comLiz Brown214-674-7215e-mail:liz@MassageTherapyCenterofPlano.comMonday-Friday 10am-8pmSaturday 10am-6pm

In this Issue

Invest in Your HealthDe-stressing the CommuteThe Appropriate Portion

"Invest for the long term" is greatfinancial advice, but it's also greathealthcare advice. Never is investing forthe long term more important thanwhen you are making day-to-daydecisions about your health. There areshort-term gains from taking care ofyour health, to be sure, but thelong-term benefits are not to beunderestimated.

You already know the value of bodywork.For all the short-term stress and painrelief you get from massage today, thereare lasting rewards you'll thank yourselffor down the road. Massage therapy as apreventive measure and part of anongoing care regimen can mean fewervisits to the doctor, as well as fewer

co-pays, prescriptions, andover-the-counter medications.Ultimately, it means a healthier andhappier you.

An Excellent ValueAs you plan the family budget, ponderhow massage therapy impacts your abilityto make good decisions, cope with extraresponsibilities, stay on an even keel

emotionally and spiritually, andmaintain harmonious relationships withcoworkers, family, and friends.

Research supports the value of massage.Massage provides many benefits,including improved concentration,energy, circulation, and self-esteem, aswell as reduced stress, fatigue, and pain.It's helpful with more acute healthconditions, also. If you, or a loved one,are already dealing with a healthcondition, massage is an even moreimportant part of your healthcareplanning.

Research shows:-- Alzheimer's patients exhibit reducedirritability, pacing, and restlessness after

neck and shoulder massage.-- Deep-tissue massage is effective intreating arthritis, back pain,fibromyalgia, and osteoarthritis.-- Fibromyalgia patients receivingmassage have fewer sleep problems andless anxiety, depression, fatigue, pain,and stiffness.

The value of bodywork runs deep, for nothing is more valuable than good health.

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-- Massage during labor appears to helpblock pain, reduce stress and anxiety,and relax muscles. Some medicalprofessionals say massage shortens labor.-- Massage can reduce sports-relatedsoreness and improve circulation, and isbeneficial in reducing symptomsassociated with arthritis, asthma, burns,high blood pressure, and premenstrualsyndrome.-- Oncology patients show less anxiety,depression, fatigue, nausea, and painfollowing massage therapy.-- Preterm babies receiving massagetherapy gain more weight and haveshorter hospital stays.-- Massage therapy is effective inreducing post-surgical pain and caneven reduce the time required forpost-operative hospital stays.

You may be trimming some extras out ofyour budget, as many Americans are.When weighing what goes and what stays,consider what an excellent value massageis, especially in relation to things thatmay be less valuable, but still cost youplenty. The price of massage hasremained stable in recent years, whilethe cost of movies, dining out, andsports events have risen. Which of theseactivities has the power to improve yourhealth and which has a better return oninvestment?

Get CreativeThere are many ways to keep massage inyour life if you use your imagination.While vacations are definitely neededright now by just about everybody, moreand more Americans are staying closerto home and taking "staycations." Howabout planning a healthy, home-basedvacation and including massage as partof your relaxation?

When it comes to gift-giving occasions,why not give and ask for massage giftcertificates? Massage makes a wonderfulreplacement for flowers that wilt,sweaters that don't fit, or another box offattening candy. Some folks buy spapackages or put together their ownoutings with a massage, a museumexcursion, or lunch at a favoriterestaurant. Mothers, daughters, aunts,and grandmothers are enjoying spastogether and massage is a key part of thepackage. These events create bondingexperiences that launch new traditionsand reinforce a healthy lifestyle.

Gift certificates for chair massage atairports are an option for wearytravelers, as is chair massage at malls forpackage-laden shoppers. If you are anemployer, consider gifting your staffwith on-site chair massage, which hasbeen shown to reduce stress andimprove performance. Just think of it asthe ultimate pat on the back for staff andone that pays you back.

Maintain Well-BeingYou may be tempted to trim yourwellness budget when economic timesare tough. Yet, a recent nationalconsumer survey showed mostmassage-minded Americans are stillcommitted to maintaining the healthbenefits they experience with massage. Itonly makes sense. The better you feel,the better job you can do of caring foryourself and your loved ones. Massagetherapy will also help families understress create healthier households, and

more focused and relaxed moms anddads. Children are sensitive and oftenpick up on tension in a household;parents who are taking care ofthemselves are more likely to provide asense of calm to their kids. This goes forcaregivers of aging parents, too.

Now, more than ever, massage shouldplay a role in reducing your stress andstrengthening your health. When peoplefeel their best, they are more able to facethe challenges difficult times present.With greater health and peace of mind,you can face difficulties with poise,clarity of purpose, and strengthenedemotional reserves.

Truly, massage is more than aluxury--it's a vital part of self-care thathas a positive ripple effect on you as youwork, play, and care for others.Investing in your health is oneinvestment that's sure to pay off.

Creativity goes a long way on your commute.

De-stressing the CommuteTurning Road Rage into Road Sage

The Appropriate PortionSmall Diet Modifications Can Mean Big Changes

The average American commuter spendsan hour a day driving to and from work.During this stressful, stop-and-go time,it's likely that blood pressure increases,adrenaline begins pumping, andmuscles constrict and tighten. By thetime you get home, you're wiped outand grumpy, and you have less to offerto those you come home to. If thissounds familiar, recognize that you havethe power to reduce commuter stress.Here are a few tips to make yourcommuter time contribute to -- ratherthan detract from -- your life.

- Employ adjustable back cushions,pillows, wedges, and lumbar supportsfor a more comfortable commute. Formore information, check outwww.relaxtheback.com.

- To successfully sidestep thelate-afternoon slump often caused bythe stress hormone cortisol, keep somehealthy snacks within arms reach.Celery, string cheese, water, and nuts --especially almonds -- are good optionsfor the drive home.

- Borrow books-on-tape/CD from thelibrary. Consider purely entertainingnovels to ease the intensity of your drive.

- Learn a foreign language. Librariesalso loan out these types of tapes andCD, too.

- Use your commute as an opportunityfor spiritual or emotional growth. Whenstressing about a traffic jam, remindyourself that it's completely out of yourcontrol. Remember, attitude iseverything.

- Practice breathing. When stressoccurs, breathing becomes shallow andconstricted. Taking full, deep breathsgives the body more oxygen, helping toregulate physical and mental function.Exhaling fully releases tension and builtup toxins.

For more ideas on achieving calm in abusy world, consider reading Serenity toGo: Calming Techniques for YourHectic Life (New HarbingerPublications, 2001) by Mina Hamilton.

Dropping a few extra pounds may meanreversing the voice in your head thatsounds suspiciously like your mothertelling you to clean your plate. Here'swhy: eating just one hundred extra dailycalories--which may come fromfinishing everything on your plate, evenafter you're full--can represent tenadded pounds in a year. Conversely, andfortunately, reducing your daily intakeby just a small amount can help youmanage and even lose weight. Followingare a few portion control tips to helpyou meet your goals.

Eat at HomeDine in, and fill your own plate. Studiesshow that most people serve themselvessmaller portions at home, but eat morewhen someone else fills their plate.

Restaurant portions have grownsignificantly in recent years, in somecases doubling, and research has directlytied obesity with regular dining out.When you dine at home, serve yourselfonly what you think you can comfortablyeat. Store leftovers in individual servingcontainers, and freeze them or takethem for lunch the next day.

Slow DownPay attention to how fast you're eating.Slowing down helps you eat less andbetter recognize when you're full. Whenyou dine out, ask your server for a box.If you continue to pick at your platewhile talking with friends, you'll sooneat the whole thing without eventhinking about it. This mindless eatingcan account for a lot of calories.

Divvy up DinnerSharing an entree with your diningpartner and ordering an extra salad is agreat way to avoid eating a large meal. Ifyou're traveling and dining alone, try anappetizer and salad.

You've heard the reports: Obesity is oneof the greatest risk factors for heartdisease, degenerative arthritis, andcancer, and it's now epidemic in theUnited States with an alarming 66percent of all adults obese.

The good news is watching yourportions, slowing down, and beingmindful of the food you consume canmake a difference. Even your motherwould agree, you don't always need toclean your plate.

Travel teachestoleration.-Benjamin Disraeli

Remain calm, serene, always in command of yourself. Youwill then find out how easy it is to get along.

Paramahansa Yogananda Yogi & guru

Massage can help you manage your stress levels. Massageis not only effective in decreasing muscle pain but lowersblood pressure and elevates mood.

Schedule your massage today.

Massage Therapy Center of Plano

614B East 16th StreetPlano, TX 75074