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NEWSLETTER>
Kailo Center Tranquility Journal
Kailo Center Tranquility Journal
Spring 2009
The Benefits of Massage: Bodywork Goes Beyond Relaxation
Along with easing stress - the No. 1 cause of disease - massage has a long list of benefits.
As you lie on the table under crisp, fresh
sheets, hushed music draws you into the
moment. The smell of sage fills the air
and you hear the gentle sound of
massage oil being warmed in your
therapist's hands. Once the session gets
underway, the daily stressors and aching
muscles fade into an oblivious 60
minutes of relief, and all you can
comprehend right now is not wanting it
to end.
But what if that hour of massage did
more for you than just take the pressures
of the day away? What if that gentle,
Swedish massage helped you combat
cancer? What if bodywork helped you
recover from a strained hamstring in
half the time? What if your sleep,
digestion, and mood all improved with
massage and bodywork? What if these
weren't just "what if's"?
Evidence is showing that the more
massage you can allow yourself, the
better you'll feel. Here's why:
Massage as a healing tool has been
around for thousands of years in many
cultures. Touching is a natural human
reaction to pain and stress, and for
conveying compassion and support.
When you bump your head or have a
sore calf, the natural response is to rub
it to feel better. The same was true of
our earliest ancestors.
Healers throughout time and
throughout the world have instinctually
and independently developed a wide
range of therapeutic techniques using
touch. Many are still in use today, and
with good reason. We now have scientific
proof of the benefits of massage --
benefits ranging from treating chronic
diseases and injuries to alleviating the
growing tensions of our modern
lifestyles.
Having a massage does more
than just relax your body and mind --
there are specific physiological and
psychological changes that occur, and
even more so when massage is utilized as
a preventative, frequent therapy and not
simply mere luxury. Massage not only
feels good, but it can cure what ails you.
The Fallout of Stress
Experts estimate that 80 percent to 90
percent of disease is stress-related.
Massage and bodywork is there to
combat that frightening number by
helping us remember what it means to
relax.
The physical changes massage
brings to your body can have a positive
effect in many areas of your life. Besides
increasing relaxation and decreasing
anxiety, massage lowers blood pressure,
increases circulation, improves injury
recovery, encourages deep sleep, and
increases concentration. It reduces
fatigue and gives you more energy to
handle stressful situations.
Massage is a perfect elixir for good
health, but it can also provide an
integration of body and mind. By
producing a meditative state or
heightened awareness of the present
moment, massage can provide
emotional and spiritual balance,
bringing with it true relaxation and
peace.
The incredible benefits of massage are
doubly powerful if taken in regular
"doses." Researchers from the Touch
Research Institute (TRI) at the
University of Miami, found that
recipients of massage can benefit even in
small doses (15 minutes of chair massage
or a half-hour table session). They also
note that receiving bodywork two to
three times a week is even more
beneficial. While this may not be
feasible, it's nice to know that this
"medicine" only gets better with
frequency.
What Massage Does
In an age of technical and, at times,
impersonal medicine, massage offers a
drug-free, non-invasive, and
humanistic approach based on the
body's natural ability to heal itself.
Following is a brief list of the many
known, research-based benefits of
massage and bodywork:
- Increases circulation, allowing the
body to pump more oxygen and
nutrients into tissues and vital organs;
- Stimulates the flow of lymph, the
body's natural defense system, against
toxic invaders. For example, in breast
cancer patients, massage has been shown
to increase the cells that fight cancer.
Furthermore, increased circulation of
blood and lymph systems improves the
condition of the body's largest organ --
the skin;
- Relaxes and softens injured and
overused muscles;
- Reduces spasms and cramping;
- Increases joint flexibility;
- Reduces recovery time and helps
prepare the body for strenuous
workouts, reducing subsequent muscle
pain of athletes at any level;
- Releases endorphins -- the body's
natural painkiller -- and is proving very
beneficial in patients with chronic
illness, injury, and post-op pain;
- Reduces post-surgery adhesions and
edema and can be used to reduce and
realign scar tissue after healing has
occurred;
- Improves range-of-motion and
decreases discomfort for patients with
low back pain;
- Relieves pain for migraine sufferers
and decreases the need for medication;
- Provides exercise and stretching for
atrophied muscles and reduces
shortening of the muscles for those with
restricted range of motion;
- Assists with shorter labor for
expectant mothers, as well as reduces the
need for medication, eases postpartum
depression and anxiety, and contributes
to a shorter hospital stay.
The benefits of massage are diverse. No
matter how great it feels, massage isn't
just a luxury; it's a health necessity.
The Wonders of Water For Skin Health and More
Shelley Burns, N.D.
Creams, nutritional supplements,
treatments, lotions, and potions. We are
always looking for the next miracle
product to keep skin looking healthy and
young. However, there is one essential,
inexpensive, and often overlooked
nutrient right at your fingertips: water.
Just as a car cannot function without oil,
our bodies cannot function without
water. After oxygen, H2O is the most
important component of the body,
responsible for 65-70 percent of its
composition. And of this, 80 percent is
dedicated to the skin.
Water is the medium for various
enzymatic and chemical reactions in the
body. It moves nutrients, hormones,
antibodies, and oxygen through the
blood and lymphatic systems, and it also
helps form the matrix of the skin.
Devoid of water, the skin becomes
dehydrated, resulting in a dry, dull
tone.
It's likely that the moment a person feels
thirsty, mild dehydration has already set
in. To keep the complexion looking
smooth and blemish-free, drink water
upon waking and continue drinking it
throughout the day at one- to two-hour
intervals.
At least six 8-oz. glasses of
water should be consumed daily and
more if you are exercising, perspiring,
and/or in hot weather. Ideally, intake
should be between ten and twelve 8-oz.
glasses of water a day. One note: Don't
increase water intake all at once, as the
kidneys and digestive system need time
to adjust. Add one 8-oz. glass every day
or every second day.
What counts toward your daily water
intake? Just the basics: water and herbal
tea. Caffeinated beverages and alcoholic
drinks are diuretics that can contribute
to dehydration, requiring even more
hydration after drinking.
Not only is water important for skin
health, it can also play a key role in the
prevention of disease. Drinking eight
glasses of water a day may decrease the
risk of colon cancer, bladder cancer,
and potentially even breast cancer.
KAILO CENTER FOR THE HEALING ARTS
JUNE MASSAGE SPECIAL OFFER
You're invited to take $15.00 off an in-office massage* during
the month of June. Offer valid through June 30, 2009.
*(Discount available for massage of 1-hour, or longer. May
not be combined with other discounts or offers, and not
available for Gift Certificate purchases.)
Please call for appointment: (914) 669-5811
A REMINDER:
June is a month for Weddings and Graduations, and Father's
Day is June 21st. A Gift of Massage is a unique way to help
celebrate these special occasions. Visit our website
(www.kailocenter.com) to view a full line of attractive Gift
Certificates, and to discover your INSTANT Gift Certificate
options.
Kailo Center For The Healing Arts
Mitchell Carlin Schulman, Ph.D., LMT
Licensed Massage Therapist
Massage Therapy By Appointment
(914) 669-5811
www.kailocenter.com
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