The Ill Effects of Stress

Experts estimate that 80-90% of disease is stress related. Though stress starts as emotional, such as pressures from work or family and instant stresses such as car accidents, it often can turn into physical issues. Stress can affect the body by raising your heartbeat, headaches, upset stomach, diarrhea, and lower your immune system. According to webmd.com, stress is linked to high blood pressure, abnormal heartbeat (arrhythmia), blood clots, hardening of the arteries (atherosclerosis, coronary artery disease, heart attack and heart failure, neck, shoulder, low back pain, pain menstrual periods, low fertility, erection problems, feeling cranky, frustrated and tired to name many of the physical issues. As you can see, ignoring stress, not dealing with it and finding ways to release your stress will make you sick! Maybe you might not notice it right away, yet eventually stress will get your attention when you are in the doctors office finding out what is wrong.


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Massage, Aura's, Spirits and Natural Health, It's What I Do

Most of my blogs talk about pain relief and ways to help your body.  I realized I've never really blogged about  the variety of things I've done besides just massage.  I started out doing massage going on 9 years ago this year.  It's been lots of fun and I love what I do!  I've been able to help people heal, help people get rid of headaches, migraines, various body pain and help people lower their stress.  Such a blessing and joy!

Besides massage, I've also done quiet a few other things.  Some of it is a bit out there and what I jokingly call the woo woo stuff as many people have that scientific/non-belief mind to where they won't believe me of the things I've done and seen.  With massage, I've been fortunate to massage many, many types of bodies.  Anything from the personal trainers, fit fireman, stroke victims with half body paralysis to largely overweight clients and everything in between.  Honestly, I don't care what you're body looks like when I massage you, I just want to do my best and make you feel fantastic and amazing!  I have also massaged animals.  I've worked on dogs, cats and even a horse.  It's amazing how receptive and in tune animals are to massage!

Some of the other things that I have done and worked with are flower essences, energy work, auras, homeopathic and natural medicine.  This is where the woo woo stuff comes in.  I have seen peoples auras, I have seen spirits or ghosts and I have worked with peoples unseen body energy and helping them heal a physical issue.  Ya, I know some of you are thinking you can't see ghosts or auras.  Yet, I don't really care whether you believe me or not, I know what I have seen and I can give you detailed descriptions of them.  I can tell you about the plaid shirt one spirit wore, or the orange and bright purple aura's I've seen. I've used and have helped people find the right remedies for flower essences.  These are (literally) the essences of flowers and plants that you take to help you deal with all kinds of emotional issues that we all go through.  Though I am nowhere near a homeopathic doctor or natural homeopath, I have studied a lot about about natural medicine and try to help clients with conditions and what I think might help them, or refer them to the right people.  So now you know a little bit more about me and the other that I work with and maybe could help you with.

For more information on Heavenly Healing Mobile Massage, please visit my website . Learn something new daily, connect with me on Facebook or follow me on Twitter.

Natural Relief for Headaches

Many structures in and around the head are capable of producing headaches.  Headaches are a very common problem and are experienced by nine out of ten people.  Headaches are categorized into many different types such as migraines, stress, tension and cluster, which are based primarily on the symptoms they produce.  Because many headaches are caused by tension and dysfunction of the muscles and joints around the head, massage is an effective source of relief for many headache sufferers. They are also one of the many reasons people seek out regular massage.  Massage treatment of headaches uses gentle and natural methods as opposed to medication. 

A few ways to prevent headaches are:
   -   Drink water regularly as dehydration can cause headaches.
   -   Avoid foods that may trigger headaches such as caffeine, alcohol or chocolate and/or your own food allergies that you know can cause your headaches.
   -   Maintain good posture while sitting, standing and even sleeping.
   -   Avoid prolonged postures by taking a break or stretching.
   -   Exercise regularly to reduce stress and maintain overall wellness.

For more information on Heavenly Healing Mobile Massage, please visit my website . Learn something new daily, connect with me on Facebook or follow me on Twitter.

Chiropractic Care: Hand in Hand with Massage

I've been asked many times by clients my opinion on whether they should see a Chiropractor and what the benefits.  My opinion is that Chiropractic care goes hand in hand with massage.  Chiropractic and massage therapy used in combination, form a powerful healing approach that addresses your pain on many different levels. Whether your pain is the result of traumatic injury, overuse or stress, these two therapies can speed your return to a pain-free and productive life.

Back pain, neck pain and headaches are just a few of the painful and most commonly seen conditions that send most people to a chiropractor.  Misalignment's in your body, called subluxations, can pull on your muscles and disrupt the nerve transmissions, especially in the spine which houses nerves affecting the entire body.  The resulting pain can be at the site of the subluxations as well as places elsewhere in your body, which can also include numbness and tingling in various areas.  Many clients who I see at the chiropractic office I work in will complain of one area of pain and when I massage another area of their body are surprised to feel tension and soreness in other areas.  What they don't realize is when the body is out of alignment this pulls on many of the surrounding muscles as well as causing havoc in the nervous system creating the pain in the body.  Over time these tight, inflamed muscles and fascia (band of fibrous connective tissue enveloping, separating, or binding together muscles, organs, and other soft structures of the body) suffer poor circulation which prevent muscles from lengthening completely.  Sometimes these tight muscles can compress the nerves and cause severe pain.  Plus your tight muscles and shortened fascia can pull your joints right back out of alignment again and this puts you right back to where your started.  In pain!

In general, massage increases circulation to the whole body as well as to the areas of pain. This reduces painful swelling and inflammation and promotes healing by removing waste products and bringing nutrients to your tissues. Like a sponge absorbing water, both fascia and muscles begin to soften and lengthen.  Which in turn helps hold your adjustments in place, decreasing your pain and putting your body back towards a state of health.

For more information on Heavenly Healing Mobile Massage, please visit my website or follow me on Twitter.

Will it Hurt?

There are the rumors I'm sure you've heard of people feeling sore, bruised or even hurt after a massage and you don't want to be one of those people. Can all of this happen with a massage? Yes, you can be bruised. Yes, you can be sore. Yet, no is the answer for most massages. There are many factors into answering that question.

Some styles of massage work deep into the muscles, sometimes stretching is involved and even body re-posturing which can make you hurt both during and after a massage. This is not to say one of those styles may not work for you and your body, they just work differently. Sometimes even a relaxing massage may make you sore. My last massage, which is usually not a deep tissue as it's not what I like, did hurt. However, I asked for it. I needed a certain area of my body to be worked on with deep pressure and it did hurt! Yet mostly this is not the style I choose for me. It's up to you what style you choose for you.

Can you bruise from a massage? Yes. Some people bruise easily, like myself. Some people may have bruises prior to a massage forgetting that it's there and blame it on the massage. Also, some bruises may be brought up to the skin surface from the massage and weren't noticeable prior. And yes, sometimes the therapists do go very deep and will bruise you whether a purposeful deep tissue or by not knowing what they are doing. If for any reason you are hurting and you know the massage isn't the style to hurt please, please speak up. Like any industry, there are those that do not know what they are doing and they can and will hurt you. They may have taken the classes yet they don't understand the body as well as the clues it will give you when you are hurting someone.

There is a key thing to do after a massage that can help avoid some of the after-pain and that is to drink water. Water will help flush out the toxins that have been pushed around from a massage. When the toxins haven't been flushed out they have a tendency to accumulate back throughout the body and you may experience soreness as well from not doing this simple thing. For some people they can get headaches after a massage. So please with any type of massage make sure you drink more then your normal daily amount of water to help flush out the toxins and the pains.

As you can see this is not a question that has a definitive yes or no answer. If you are worried about some of these issues, talk with your therapist. If they don't listen find someone who will. After all it is your body.

For more information on Heavenly Healing Mobile Massage, please visit my website or follow me on Twitter.

Does Stress Cost Your Company Money?

Yes, stress does cost your company money and time and the numbers are really staggering. Per the American Institute of stress website, consider these statistics:

• 40% of job turnover is due to stress
• Repetitive musculoskeletal injuries like carpal tunnel syndrome have become the nations leading workplace health cost and account for almost a third of all Worker's Compensation award
• In California, the number of Workers Comp claims for mental stress increased almost 700% over eight years and 90% were successful with an average award of $15,000 compared to a national average of $3,420

Companies all over are looking for answers to reduce costly stress related absenteeism, low morale, reduced productivity and employee turnover. Supporting and encouraging individual health is a wise investment in your companies bottom line.

For more information on Heavenly Healing Mobile Massage, please visit my website

The Self-Indulgence of Massage

Do you feeling guilty about getting a massage? Does it seem self-indulgent and selfish? Massage actually has many important benefits to your physical and mental health. It can help you maintain your emotional, mental and physical well-being, especially when it is part of your health plan. It addresses a variety of health conditions, with stress-related tension being the most common. Massage therapy offers a natural, non-invasive, drug-free and humanistic approach based on the body’s natural ability to heal itself.

Benefits of Massage

• Relaxing: Massage calms the nervous system and promotes a sense of peace.
• Soothing: Massage eases tension and anxiety.
• Healing: Massage stimulates the lymphatic system, which carries away the body’s waste products.
• Improves breathing: Massage calms the body as a whole, which in turn quiets the lungs into its more natural state of breathing.
• Improves circulation: Massage improves blood circulation which delivers oxygen and nutrients to the cells.
• Eases tension, stiffness and pain: Massage prevents and relieves muscle cramps and spasms.

For more information on Heavenly Healing Mobile Massage, please visit my website

Prescription for Stress Relief

We know how much stress affects our body and our health. Serious health issues including high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease and even certain cancers, according to doctors, have been linked to chronic stress. It can also contribute to difficulty sleeping, headaches, digestive problems and back pain.

When you receive a massage, it activates the nervous system and sends the mind and body into a state of rest and recovery, as well as giving you the much needed stress relief. And relieving your stress can and will be beneficial for your long-term health without the unhealthful side effects that modern medicine treatments can have. Maybe your next prescription should be a massage.

For more information on Heavenly Healing Mobile Massage, please visit my website

Are you Drinking Enough?

How do you know if you are drinking enough water? "A good test is to look at your urine," points out Cleveland Clinic nutritionist Andrea Dunn. "If it’s clear or pale yellow, you’re doing a good job of staying hydrated. But if it’s intense yellow or gold, you probably need to drink more water."

But not everyone likes water. Many people prefer soft drinks, fruit juices, sports drinks, coffee and other drinks. All these drinks can help quench your body’s thirst for fluids, but they typically contain 100 calories or more per serving. "The best alternatives to water are diluted fruit juices, and non-fat or skim milk" explains Ms. Dunn. "But these drinks shouldn't supplant water. Take note of how much sugar is in these alternatives. Sugar slows down the rate at which fluid is absorbed into the body. If you have trouble drinking water because you don’t like the taste, try adding a twist of lemon or lime or a splash of fruit juice. And cold water tastes better."

Ms. Dunn notes that while bottled waters are very popular, tap water works just as well and is more economical. It's also safe. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulates tap water and requires that it be analyzed for chemicals and bacteria. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which regulates bottled water, doesn't require that it be analyzed for these substances. In addition to water and other drinks, many foods are also good sources of water. Juicy fruits like oranges, grapefruit, grapes, watermelon and apples can help keep you healthy and hydrated. Carrots, tomatoes, tuna, yogurt, cottage cheese, soups, rice and pasta also contain plenty of water.

"The key is to think and drink small amounts," suggests Dunn. "The easiest way to stay hydrated is to drink a half-a-cup of water (four ounces) each hour you’re awake. When you get in the car, take along something to drink. When you sit down to watch TV, have something to drink. When you go to a meeting, take along something to drink." All the little sips will add up at the end of the day.

For more information on Heavenly Healing Mobile Massage, please visit my website.

Does Stress Have a Consequence?

Stress. A part of everyones' lives, whether it be a large part of your life or small part, we all have it. Experts estimate that 80-90% of disease is stress-related, and 40-80% of doctor visits are stress-related. So you can see that stress can and will have a negative effect on your body. Stress can bring on anxiety and anxiety attacks, high blood pressure, headaches and migraines, heart disease, depression, chronic fatigue, insomnia, ulcers, colds and other serious problems such as eating disorders, drug addiction and alcoholism.

How can massage help avoid some of these issues? First off, it's a natural treatment. Massage helps us remember to relax and bring about positive changes mentally and physically. It can help decrease anxiety attacks, headaches, migraines and improve your immune system and circulation. It can help you sleep better and relieving insomnia which just that in itself can be stressful for many people. It reduces fatigue and gives you more energy to handle stressful situations.

Massage is medicine, it's a natural medicine. The 'father of medicine' Hippocrates, used massage techniques to treat many medical conditions. He stated that "anyone wishing to study medicine must master the art of massage." It's just too bad that his philosophy is not widely used. If we all received massage on a daily, weekly or even monthly basis our world would be a much happier place.

Massage is not just a Luxury!

Most people think massage is a luxury or pampering. They might think that it's something that only 'rich' people do or it's something to treat yourself to once a year or even less. Yet, most people are looking for ways to live a balanced life, to relax and reduce stress and that is exactly what a massage is about. Massage is a fantastic tool to include in your life to help you live in balance.

A massage is not about luxury... it's about re-charging your life, letting go, re-newing your body and mind into a peaceful place and learning how to take care of yourself. Massage is about your health: both your physical and your mental health. A massage doesn't just 'feel good' it helps your body recover from injuries, illnesses and of course stress. Massage has been proven by scientific research to be beneficial for many chronic conditions including:

• Low Back Pain
• Fatigue
• Headaches/Migraines
  
• High Blood Pressure
• Depression and Anxiety
  
• Strengthens the Immune System
• Relieve Stress

It also helps reduce recovery time for many medical conditions such as:

• Arthritis
  
• Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
• Fibromyalgia
• Asthma and Bronchitis
• Insomnia
• TMJ

When you think of massage in this way, it helps eliminate the thought that it's a luxury or a pampering moment. Now you can see that benefits of massage and the medical benefits that it can and will have for both your mind and body. Again, massage is a fantastic tool to include in your life to help you live in balance.