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I can't believe that spring is already upon us. Longer days, warmer weather, spring skii ng and more time outside enjoying the beautiful outdoors.
Amazingly, March 1st will mark the 9th year that I have owned The Wellness Center and have been in the industry even longer. Over the years I have seen many wonderful advances in our industry. The greatest change I have seen is with mindset. More and more individuals are realizing the benefits of wellness care vs. sick care. Your health is not something that we can take for granted anymore.
Change definitely hasn't happened overnight and the only thing that is constant is change. Change takes time in both the world and in our individual lives. Change takes conscious effort and thoughtfulness. Whether it be with diet, exercise, work or lifestyle. Sometimes we are forced to change due to a physical health, financial, environmental or emotional crisis. My hope is that we do everything in our power today to prevent damage before it occurs.
I believe that our biggest battle in the 20th century is stress. Stress is at an all time high and long term, chronic stress can compromise your immune system by 40-70%. Which then makes your body more susceptible to illness, adrenal fatigue, chronic back pain and muscle tightness, depression and even more serious issues such as heart disease, cancer, chronic fatigue and fibromyalgia just to name a few.
Here are some tips to help you manage your stress levels:
#1: Create a strong social support system
#2: Make time for yourself
#3: Honor your body
#4: Live a little and don't be too hard on yourself
#5: Let go of being perfect
#6: Simplify your life
#7: Take time for quiet contemplation or relaxation every day
#8: Nourish your body with good food, nutrition and supplements |
Get the Most Out of Your Massage
Massage is
definitely an investment. So how do you maximize your return? Follow the five
simple steps below and you will get more than what you pay
for!
1.
Arrive
early - take a couple minutes to sit quietly to start slowing down the body and
the mind
2.
Communicate with your therapist - the more
specific you can be about the intention of your session and insights into your
individual history, the more tailored your treatment will be. And please speak
up, let your therapist know if you'd like softer or harder pressure, if the room
is too warm/cool, or if you have any other concerns during the session.
3.
Breathe -
Deep breathing helps to facilitate relaxation. It is common to stop or tighten
your breath when having a sensitive area massaged. If you realize you are doing
this, simply take a deep breath to move the energy through your body.
4. Rehydrate -
Make sure
to drink plenty of water after the massage to help continue to flush toxins that
were released during the session.
5. Come in a weekly for the first month - Massage
works best over time. The therapeutic effects of massage are cumulative, so the
more often you get a massage, the better you will feel and the more quickly your
body will respond.
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Have a little one on the way?
 Pregnancy is a time of
great physical and emotional changes for every woman. As
we prepare for motherhood our bodies go through massive changes to
accommodate the life developing inside us. Our
posture shifts, our hips widen and tilt forward, our backs sway, and our
shoulders curl.Internal organs are displaced and
the space used for expansion of the lungs is occupied by another being.
Emotionally, even the most
well-adjusted among us can give way to the worry. Will
my baby be o.k.? Will I be a good mother? What
if...? What if...? What if...? It is no wonder that this
is often at best, a challenging time for most women, and for many it is
much more than challenging. It is not uncommon to
experience mild to severe pain at times during pregnancy and it is also
very common to experience emotional symptoms ranging from mild anxiety
to deep depression.
Common Physical Symptoms: - backache
- hip pain
- sciatica
- neck pain
- difficulty sleeping
- anxiety
This is where
prenatal massage comes in. Massage during
pregnancy has been proven to help with all of these conditions.It relaxes the muscles to help your body make the
necessary postural adjustments.It effectively
relieves pain and improves sleep.
Benefits of Prenatal Massage:
-
Decreases stress hormones
- Increases feel good hormones; dopamine and serotonin.
- Relieves pain
- Allows for more restful
sleep
- Decreases the symptoms of anxiety and depression
- Increases your body's immunity
Your baby becomes
responsive to touch at 7 weeks gestation, so all of the benefits are for
baby as well as mom. There are also several
studies that suggest that receiving regular prenatal massage results in
lower prematurity rates, decreased chance of low birth weight, less pain
during delivery.Mothers who have lower levels of
pain and anxiety during pregnancy also have an easier time bonding with
their baby.
But is it safe?
The short
answer is a resounding yes!Many therapists who
are trained in prenatal massage will decline to perform it in the first
trimester.The reason for this is not that it is
dangerous (in fact it is the opposite), however, since miscarriage is
most common in the first trimester, it can become a liability issue.It is always best to check with your prenatal care
provider to be sure that you have no complications that preclude you
from receiving massage, certain conditions are contraindications.In most pregnancies, as long as you have a trained
practitioner, massage is not only safe but very beneficial.If you are experiencing complications it may still be
beneficial, just be sure your therapist is certified and trained to deal
with your special circumstances.A conversation
between your doc and therapist may also be in order.
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Are you a Fan of The Wellness Center Yet? If not join to be part of our community and get last minute deals and specials only available to our fans.
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Th e Wellness Center has been honored with Channel 7s A List for TOP MASSAGE IN DENVER again in 2009!
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