Staying in Touch®
Hello, and welcome to the September 2024 newsletter! Fall: the busy season — As summer winds down, be ready to pick up the pace as autumn activities appear on your calendar.
Many people experience increased feelings of stress at this time of year; experts call it “autumn anxiety.”
These experts say some causes of this anxiety may be due to beginning a new school year, the looming stress of the holiday season, or possible regret from not having achieved desired goals over the summer.
This is an ideal time to de-stress with your next massage session and get prepared for the upcoming busy season.
The main article in this month’s issue is a nice reminder of the many health benefits you can experience from your regular massages. Bodywork can contribute to virtually every aspect of your well-being, so keep it a priority for a better life!
The second article discusses the importance of remaining active to keep your heart healthy.
Have a great month; see you soon for your next massage!
Say “I really care about you!” with the gift
of health — a massage gift certificate!
Experts say you need a massage. Here’s why this time-honored practice is so beneficial
by Allison Palmer
Massages may seem like a special way to spoil yourself once in a while. And while they are certainly luxurious, massage therapy is actually a time-honored practice that can offer you an array of physical and mental health benefits.
From reducing stress to improving sleep quality, massage can help transform your wellness routine. We asked experts to share their insights into the versatile benefits of massage, to hopefully inspire you to start exploring how it can help you feel your best every day.
Massage away anxiety and stress— Dr. Tom Ingegno, who specializes in acupuncture and Chinese medicine, highlights the significant impact of massage, noting that massage therapy can substantially reduce anxiety and improve quality of life across all demographics.
This effect is largely due to massage’s ability to activate the parasympathetic nervous system to put it in “rest and digest” mode. During this state, the body normalizes neurotransmitters like serotonin and dopamine, which are the cornerstones of mood stabilization and stress reduction.
Adding to this, Dr. Haley Parker, an acupuncturist and herbalist and Director of Clinical Operations at VUIM Clinic, points out that regular massage therapy can significantly lower cortisol levels. Cortisol is the body’s primary stress hormone, so this reduction not only promotes a sense of calm but also leads to an overall improvement in mental clarity and emotional stability.
The tactile sensation of massage encourages a deeper connection between the mind and body. Your overall emotional well-being will gain as much from a massage as your muscles.
Post-massage sleep can’t be beat— Sleep difficulties are another common struggle that can be supported with regular massage. Ingegno referenced a 2016 study published in the Journal of Physical Therapy Science, which suggests that massage can improve sleep quality, particularly in postmenopausal women. In addition to better sleep, massage also helps alleviate joint pain and persistent fatigue, which are challenges for many people as they get older.
Parker supports the validity of this benefit, emphasizing that massage therapy can regulate sleep patterns by increasing feelings of relaxation and reducing insomnia. Sleep has an enormous impact on mental and physical health, making massage an essential tool for those battling with poor sleep quality.
All-natural pain relief— When it comes to how you physically feel in your body, massage therapy shines as a natural remedy for pain. Parker elaborates on this, telling us that regular massage can improve conditions such as arthritis, fibromyalgia and lower back pain by promoting blood flow and reducing muscle tension. This pain relief is achieved without the need for medication, making massage an ideal option for anyone seeking natural therapies.
Plus, Ingegno notes that massage therapy’s ability to lower cortisol while increasing serotonin and dopamine levels is closely linked to its pain-relieving effects. This connection underscores the dual benefits of massage for both physical pain and mental health. ...
Massage therapy offers a wealth of physical and mental health benefits — it’s easy to see how this time-honored practice can be a powerful tool on your wellness journey. Whether you’re looking to relieve stress, improve sleep, or simply enjoy the therapeutic touch, regular massage can be a key component of your healthy lifestyle regardless.
Source: www.miamiherald.com
Any activity is better for heart health than sitting — even sleeping!
Engaging in any kind of activity is more beneficial for your heart than sitting around doing nothing, new research reveals. Interestingly, this “activity” can even include sleep!
A study by the British Heart Foundation (BHF) represents the first of its kind to examine the link between daily movement patterns and cardiovascular health. ...
“The big takeaway from our research is that while small changes to how you move can have a positive effect on heart health, intensity of movement matters,” says Dr. Jo Blodgett in a media release. “The most beneficial change we observed was replacing sitting with moderate to vigorous activity—which could be a run, a brisk walk, or stair climbing—basically any activity that raises your heart rate and makes you breathe faster, even for a minute or two.”
The study discovered that the greatest benefits to heart health came from time spent in moderate to vigorous activity, followed by lighter activity, standing, and then sleeping. Just five minutes of higher-intensity activity had a noticeable positive impact on heart health. ...
“This study shows that replacing even a few minutes of sitting with a few minutes of moderate activity can improve your BMI, cholesterol, waist size, and have many more physical benefits,” says Professor James Leiper. ...
Just replacing half an hour of daily sedentary behavior with moderate to vigorous exercise can lead to significant physical changes like a one-inch reduction in waist size. ...
The study is published in the European Heart Journal.
Source: studyfinds.org
Life consists not in holding good cards but in playing those you hold well.
— Josh Billings
The content of this article is not designed to replace professional medical advice.
If you’re ill, consult a physician.
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