Friday, May 20, 2016

Massage and Positive Body Image

Massage and Positive Body Image - Academy Massage Therapy - Massage Therapist Winnipeg
The sad truth today is that many people possess a poor self image. Striving toward perfection seems to be the norm, inspired by the media and its fascination with celebrity and today's "in" look. Quick weight reduction techniques and radical plastic surgery seems to be favored methods for achieving one's ideal appearance goals. Yet not only are these costly procedures, often they still do not achieve one's desires and can even result in irreparable damage, both physically and psychologically. While most everyone wants to look his or her best, there is a deeper component that must be addressed.

Body image is our psychological representation of our physical self. Poor self image is one of a number of symptoms associated with mental health issues. This can lead to a variety of problems such as anxiety, depression, anorexia and bulimia. Negative thoughts can grow to a point where one chooses isolation over social interaction, resulting in a pattern of self-harming behavior - and even thoughts of suicide.

Massage has been recognized as a therapeutic tool to help people become more relaxed and feel better about themselves. Massage therapy by a skilled therapist can help one become relaxed into accepting and being aware of our body shape, releasing whatever negative feelings we may have toward it. As well, massage can build a nurturing and supportive connection with our body. Massage increases circulation, helping to improve skin condition, as well as toning and strengthening muscles. The relaxation of massage will help ease tensions from your body and gradually your self-esteem will improve, releasing a healthy new perception and appreciation of who you are.

Academy Massage invites you to visit our office and discover all that there is to feel good about - yourself.

Friday, May 13, 2016

Massage and Respiratory Issues

Massage for Respiratory Problems - Academy Massage Therapy - Massage Therapist Winnipeg
You likely have discovered through our monthly blog postings the many positive benefits one can receive through regular massage treatments. Massage has been proven effective in relieving both physical and emotional discomforts, ranging from soothing aching and injured muscles to alleviating stress and tension. But another benefit of therapeutic massage is how it can work to de-stress the respiratory system. This is particularly important at this time of year as many people are prone to develop springtime allergies. But other more serious existing conditions such as asthma, bronchitis and emphysema might be further aggravated by allergens, pollutants and, of course, smoking. The symptoms range from shortness of breath to chest pains and often can be disabling. Massage can help lessen the severity of these problems by deepening and stabilizing your breathing patterns. Massage therapy also helps relieve the buildup of congestion in your lungs; helps to increase your heart action, which stimulates the blood flow both to and from your heart, thereby encouraging the flushing of waste. Massage fosters the absorption of oxygen. In this regard, with regular massage treatments, people have reported a decrease in their asthma symptoms, as well as overall less difficulty breathing.

To achieve the proper benefits that massage can have on your respiratory system, the therapist will focus on the muscles around your torso, including the diaphragm (which is your primary respiratory muscle) and the intercostal muscles (between the ribs). This therapy impacts the respiratory system by increasing pulmonary functions, permitting an ease of breathing through the loosening of tight respiratory muscles. This freedom from constriction allows the lungs to expand and contract without inhibition. The ability to inhale and exhale will not be restricted, thus enabling the intake of oxygen to enter without distress and likewise permit the easier removal of carbon dioxide.

A relaxed respiratory system slows the number of breaths you take per minute. If your respiratory muscles aren't constricted, your lung capacity will increase, allowing you to inhale longer and deeper breaths rather than the shallow breaths associated with various respiratory ailments. As well, as more oxygen is introduced into the bloodstream, your body's circulation is improved. For those who complain of non-allergy shortness of breath (known as dyspnea), regular massage can help increase the intake of oxygen and help to prevent further episodes from occurring.

Today many people suffer from asthma or other respiratory ailments (which has become especially prevalent in children). Regular massage offers a therapy that lessens the dependency on inhalers and asthma medications.  Specific massage techniques increase fluid discharge by loosening the congestion of mucus and phlegm from the lungs and bronchial tubes when particular tapping or tapotement techniques are performed on the back. However, such a procedure should be recommended by a physician and performed by a trained therapist who has knowledge of your medical history.

At Academy Massage, our licensed therapists will work with you to complete a detailed evaluation that ensures the treatment prescribed is what is best suited for you.