Health Tips from Eugene Wood Massage Therapist

Massage therapy is commonly used for relaxation and pain relief , however, it can also improve one's mental health. There is a lot of research and studies that show that massage can reduce anxiety and depression with benefits that are on par with psychotherapy. Even though depression is considered a mental health issue, a lot of the symptoms manifest in the body. Clients suffering from depression report a feeling of heaviness in their body. After a good massage, clients report feeling lighter in both their body and in their spirit. They have a feeling of living in the body and not being lost in their head and thoughts. Many times, clients will report having an insight during their session which helps them solve a problem. With this new outlook, they remember what it feels like to be calm and a relaxed state of being. When you educate the client and have them remember how good massage makes them feel, it is important to set up a schedule with them to reinforce these effects of ma...

Any time you start a new workout routine, increase your present workout routine, try a new sport or try new exercise equipment, you will likely suffer from delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS). This pain and soreness usually occurs within 12-48 hours following your workout and can last a day or two. Incorporating massage as part of your exercise regimen will help alleviate muscle soreness and speed tissue recovery. What Causes Your Muscles to Get Sore After Exercise? When you exercise, the muscles go through a lot of stress and strain. This stress on the muscle results in small microscopic tears of the muscle fibers. These microscopic tears of the muscle fibers lead to inflammation as the body repairs itself. This is natural and should resolve itself in 24 to48 hours. This soreness is telling you that the muscles are adapting to the new stress. These adaptations are making the muscles stronger so that they can perform the exercise easier the next time. If you experience soreness...

Most people know that a good massage feels good but what most people miss is that the right massage will help your mental health, too. When you become stressed, it creates anxiety. Anxiety then causes a rash of other issues from tight muscles to grinding your teeth, which causes TMJ, which can also cause tinnitus; another ailment that massage can help. All of this pain can also add to your anxiety or depression, so when you get a massage to help your muscles, you are also helping your mental health. There are many factors in everyday life that can cause anxiety; money, family and health issues just to name a few. Anxiety is not something to be ashamed of. In fact, most of us suffer from it to some extent; some people just experience a higher level at times. What happens is that anxiety causes the body to tighten up which then creates physical pain which will lead to more anxiety. It is a vicious circle that must be broken for the patient to feel relief, both physically and emoti...

Turkey, stuffing, candied yams, cranberry sauce and pumpkin and sweet potato pie are the usual must-haves for a traditional Thanksgiving feast, but it wasn't always this way. The first Thanksgiving feasts actually consisted of healthier fare such as a variety of lean meats, fresh vegetables, fresh fruits and breads and porridge made from corn. What Was on The First Thanksgiving Feast Menu? According to the only surviving documents referencing the harvest celebration by the Pilgrims and Wampanoag at Plymouth Rock in 1621, waterfowl, deer, wild turkeys, venison and Indian corn were amongst the staples for the three day Thanksgiving celebration. Archeologist's remains along with studies cookbooks, garden descriptions, a living history museum in Plymouth, Massachusetts and a foodways culinary at Plimouth Plantation further conclude that during 17th century feasts, though wild turkey was on the menu, goose or duck may have been the centerpiece of choice. Swan, passenger pig...

Fall is a great time to visit your local farmer's market. During this time, you can find an abundance of healthy root vegetables just ripe for roasting or making hearty dishes like vegetable chili, and exotic fall fruits just perfect for fresh cobblers, pies, breads and cookies. Six fun fall foods to consider adding to your diet this fall include sweet potatoes, parsnips, winter squash, turnip greens, apples and dates. Sweet Potatoes Sweet Potatoes are packed full of rich nutrients like vitamin A-which is important for healthy skin, good vision and a strong immune system, iron, fiber and anti inflammatory properties. And, you don't have to wait for Thanksgiving to enjoy them, simply boil them, mash them or roast them sprinkled with cinnamon for a sweet, vitamin packed side dish to your meal. Parsnips Parsnips resemble carrots except they are white and have a distinctive nutty, slightly sweet flavor. They are a great source of potassium and dietary fiber-which is go...

It is widely known that women benefit from massage during pregnancy. Massage after pregnancy (known as post natal massage or postpartum massage) can also offer many benefits and can be equally important to a new mother's health and wellness. Post natal massage offers relief from stress and pain, depression, as well as helping with hormone and neurochemical regulation, decreasing swelling, and improving comfort while breastfeeding. It may even help women get back their pre-pregnancy bodies more quickly. Stress Relief and Relaxation A quality massage relaxes muscles and improves circulation. In addition, the relaxation that massages offer helps the body release serotonin and dopamine, which are stress relief hormones. Not only does this relieve physical tension, but also the mental and emotional stress too. This is why massage can also help with postpartum depression, which is experienced by 10% to 15% of women. Relieving Pain Many women experience residual aches and pai...

Between disciplining the children, deadlines at work and the ups and downs of everyday life it seems everybody suffers from some degree of stress. While it is true that stress, to an extent, can actually be good for you, continuously dealing with substantial amounts of stress can leave you fatigued, irritable, and just downright sick. Stress is the chemical reaction that occurs in your body, also known as the "fight or flight" response, when you are faced with a harmful situation. Since each individual person reacts to stress differently, the effects of stress on the mind and body can vary significantly. If you've been suffering from some type of ailment and you just can't seem to put your finger on the cause, stress might be the culprit. Common Symptoms of Stress Emotional Symptoms: The emotional symptoms of stress can be quite devastating. Common symptoms include frustration and moodiness, depression, feeling overwhelmed, avoiding others and having a diffi...

All modalities of massage are therapeutic: whether to relieve stress and relax the muscles, as in a Swedish massage, or to increase the range of motion in a joint of an athlete, as in a neuromuscular massage . All massage techniques use hand (and sometimes foot, as in Thai massage) techniques, from light stroking to hard pressure; all for one purpose, to alleviate the symptoms of pain perceived by the client. For quite some time, therapeutic massage faded into the background because of all the pain relievers available. However, therapeutic massage is gaining respect from the medical community, which is why many are now returning to this more holistic treatment. Therapeutic massage offers a sense of empowerment and care that has proven helpful in reducing stress, improving the immune system, encouraging relaxation, improving posture, enhancing rehabilitation from injury or surgery, and much more. However, because therapeutic massage focuses on the entire system of soft tissues, ...

We've all been there… a few months after a bad sports injury and your doctor or physical therapist (PT) has given you the green light to pick up your sport again. Excited but cautious, you take your first swing, jog your first lap, or get back onto your bike to discover one of a few things: You're surprisingly out of shape. What once came gracefully and effortlessly is now arduous. Your motion is guarded. These are all natural responses of the body when getting back into sport post-injury. After all, you have been "out of the game" for some time. Every athlete knows that it takes a while to build back strength, flexibility, and full range of motion. It takes slightly longer to get back to that blissful feeling of free movement while practicing your favorite sport. But sometimes post-injury habits stick around. Sometimes, you find that the muscles around your injury site will simply not relax. You're guarded. Or that you just can't get back into yo...

You're smitten by coffee, accepting it as part of your daily habit, but the active compounds of coffee, especially caffeine, can keep you awake all night long. Here are 10 popular herbal teas, brews to gradually help reduce your coffee habit. 1. Chamomile Tea A tea favored by many for its ability to induce relaxation, Chamomile tea has an active ingredient, an amino acid known as L-theanine, which sedates the body. Drinking the tea in the evening can prevent insomnia and relieve muscle spasms caused by the stresses of a hard day. 2. Green Tea Green Tea is thought to reduce the risks of heart disease and cancer, green tea also acts as an agent of calm. The brew releases health enhancing antioxidants that inhibit cell damage. Other properties of green tea are its beneficial chemical factors, compounds that reduce bad cholesterol, optimizing metabolic action. 3. Peppermint Tea You can imagine peppermint flavor adding zest to your diet and energy to your metabolism. Pe...

The winter of 2013-2014 has been an extra challenging one for New Yorkers, as well as most residents of the East Coast. From New England to Florida, arctic air brought bitterly cold temperatures, lots of snow and widespread power outages to millions of people. Naturally, after enduring several months of this, everyone is eagerly looking for the first signs of spring. For many people, the appearance of the first robin, colorful snow crocus, or other tiny green shoots poking their heads through the soil, indicates that spring is near. It is the perfect time to start or renew steps to living a healthier lifestyle. Here are eight great ideas for easy changes that people can start, which will make them stronger, healthier and happier for the nicer weather ahead. 1. Make it a habit to take the stairs instead of an elevator whenever possible. It is okay to begin slowly, and gently increase your lung capacity as you get your heart pumping for a beneficial cardiovascular workout. Researc...

Many people suffer from high blood pressure and don't even realize it. Unlike low blood pressure, there are virtually no symptoms. Unless a person is going in for regular blood pressure checks, they have no idea whether it is high or not - and this is how it has earned the nickname Silent Killer. Anyone and everyone can suffer from high blood pressure. Men and women, and even children can suffer from it, which means that it's not limited to one particular group. Lower the Stress Levels Through Massage One of the main reasons that people have high blood pressure is because of stress. Salivary and urinary cortisol stress levels can increase and this leads to the higher blood pressure. Massage has been a proven way to reduce the cortisol stress levels. A massage therapist can get into the muscles and other tissues to help relieve built up tension and ensure that the hormone levels balance out. The diastolic and systolic blood pressure will then start to decrease. Through massa...