Experience - enhanced relaxation - try Hot Stone Massage

Here comes the sun
Here comes the sun, and I say
It’s all right.

Little darling, it’s been a long cold lonely winter
Little darling, it feels like years since it’s been here
Here comes the sun
Here comes the sun, and I say
It’s all right...
Here Comes the Sun
George Harrison, The Beatles, 1969

George Harrison got the transitional nature of spring right in this song, capturing the essence of what spring means, particularly to temperate weather starved Winnipeggers in April.

Speak to almost anyone at this time of year, and they talk about being tired. They’re, and we’re, are all tired - of most everything as we wait for the puddles to dry up and the buds to appear. How do we shed this tension and regain our peace?

Maybe it’s time to do something a little bit different.

Have you ever tried Hot Stone Massage - to gently release your tension, and experience enhanced relaxation?

This is the practice of placing smooth heated stones on various areas of the body, as the centre piece of massage treatment.

Introduced some 5,000 years ago by the Hindus of India, this type of massage was used to promote both relaxation and health. Similar techniques were employed in ancient Japan and China. In Hawaii lava rocks were warmed. While in North America, hot stones played an integral role in Indigenous sweat lodges.

Today Hot Stone Massage is increasing in popularity as the massage choice for:

• relieving stress
• promoting deep relaxation
• easing muscle stiffness
• reducing chronic pain
• boosting blood circulation.

The massage treatment uses a combination of warmed stones and massage techniques which may include long strokes, kneading and rolling. Heat from the stones penetrates the skin, promoting better blood flow which in turn releases toxins. A deeper relaxation of the muscles is created, than can be achieved through standard massage.

To appreciate the full benefit of this type of massage, it is recommended that you take an appointment between 60 and 90 minutes in length.

Wishing you - the joy of spring in the air, and a spring in your step!

Much love,
Academy Massage Therapy

Spend too much time sitting? Sports Massage is likely the answer!

It’s here! Spring has finally arrived. You can almost smell it in the air, see it in the melting snow banks, and sometimes even end up with a booter.

And if you have a desk job, which sees you sitting for eight hours or more a day, the coziness which you may have felt in your warm, comfortable office chair during the winter - may start to feel restrictive.

Of course we all know that getting up from our chairs on a regular basis - is encouraged. Some companies spring for standing desks. And a coffee break may now mean a sniff of outside air, as well as a quick walk or jog around the block.

These are all great initiatives to make, as the change in season motivates us to do more.

In addition to the new steps which you are taking as the weather improves, at Academy Massage Therapy we have just the massage to support you with the slumped posture, sore shoulders and stiff neck that come from too much work-related sitting in a single position for hours on end.

It’s the Sports Massage!

How is it possible that a Sports Massage would benefit someone who is sedentary and not sporty, you may ask?

While our Registered Massage Therapist (RMTs) work to relieve the stiff, sore and achy muscles of athletes, the same type of massage also benefits the stiff, sore and achy muscles which are experienced by people who spend many hours sitting at their desks.

Specifically Sports Massage can assist with:

• increasing mobility - massage restores the movement of muscles, increasing their
functionality

• reducing pain - by getting stiff muscles to move again and making them more pliable, the muscles regain their natural functioning, which reduces muscle pain

• relieving stress - increased mobility and the reduction of pain results in the decrease of stress throughout your entire body

• improving overall efficiency - with more mobility, less pain and a diminished level of stress, you will be able to focus at the tasks and the matters at hand - at work and at home.

“For people whose work environments see them at their desks on a daily and ongoing basis, it might be a good idea to schedule regular massages to combat the impact of that environment on their bodies,” notes Debby MacKenzie, owner of Academy Massage.

“Our front counter staff would be happy to help you develop a regular massage routine, which supports what you do on your own.”
“Massage,” says Debby, “Just do it for you.”

Love from
Academy Massage Therapy

Deep Tissue Massage - when is it what you need?

As the popularity of massage treatment continues to grow in Canada, in addition to having heard about Swedish Massage, which stands as the most popular, you may also have heard of Deep Tissue Massage.

This massage therapy focuses on realigning the deeper layers of muscles and connective tissue, and is particularly beneficial in response to tight and tense muscles resulting from sprains, strains and sports injuries, or over-worked areas of the body such as stiff necks, lower back tightness, sore shoulders or legs.

Before your massage begins, it is important to discuss the focus of your treatment with your massage therapist. Your Deep Tissue Massage can involve your entire body, or focus on just one problem area.

And during the course of this massage treatment it is also important to let your massage therapist know if the pressure which is being applied is too intense, or too light.

As the Healthline Newsletter explains, the techniques involved in a Deep Tissue Massage see the application of a sustained amount of pressure through the use of slow, deep strokes - targeting the inner layers of your muscles and connective tissues. This massage technique assists with breaking up the scar tissue that forms following an injury, and also reduces the tension in the muscles and surrounding tissue.

While some of these same strokes are used in Swedish Massage Therapy, in Deep Tissue Massage the movement is somewhat slower, and the pressure which is applied is deeper, and always focuses on the areas of tension.

It is thought that this treatment may further promote faster healing because it increases blood flow to the affected area, while at the same time reducing inflammation.

People who have found themselves to have benefited from Deep Tissue Massage, according to the Healthline Newsletter include individuals with:

• sports injuries
• fibromyalgia
• plantar fasciitis
• high blood pressure
• sciatica
• tennis elbow

Want to find out just a bit more about Deep Tissue Massage? The perfect time for a consult massage therapy treatment is on Tuesday or Wednesday mornings.

It’s near spring! - make hydration fun

Doing it for you - means that in addition to having regular massages - post massage hydration becomes as important as the massage itself.

We’ve all heard it before - but it’s still worth repeating - 60% of the human body is comprised of water.

According to the “Functions of Water: Health Benefits”, Everyday Health, “Your body uses water in all its cells, organs, and tissues to help regulate its temperature and maintain other bodily functions. Because your body loses water through breathing, sweating, and digestion, it’s important to rehydrate by drinking fluids and eating foods that contain water.”

So while hydration is important for the everyday proper functioning of our body, it’s very important after you’ve had a massage

Working and kneading the muscles during a massage, pumps fluid out of the soft tissue, into the circulatory system. Massage further relaxes the tension, also releasing the circulatory pathways and allowing nitrogenous metabolic waste into the system. Everything heads to the kidneys, and the bodily fluids need to be replenished.

But what if you don’t like water? In fact there are many ways to enjoy it. Check out this week’s hydration recipe which focuses on spring and summertime ingredients.

Minty Watermelon Wave

Ingredients:

3 cups chilled watermelon, cubed
squeeze of fresh lime juice
1 sprig mint
1 cup coconut water
1 cup ice

Instructions:

Place all of the ingredients into a blender.
Blend until smooth.
Enjoy!




Here’s to more fun hydration recipes in the coming months. Meantime drink lots of water everyday and particularly on massage day - to stay healthy!

Much love,
Academy Massage Therapy

Do it for you ... Academy Massage Therapy we’ve got your back!

So let’s say that you’ve decided - this year, you’re going to do it FOR YOU, and that includes having regular massage treatments.

Or, maybe regular massages are already an intrinsic aspect of your routine.

And then there’s the in-between-er, you know, the person who goes for a massage - sometimes.

No matter which of these three categories you’re in - as we continue our wellness commitments to ourselves in 2019 - it’s always good to review the important steps which will make your massage be the best that it can be FOR YOU.

Please consider the following:

Scheduling your massage
schedule your massage treatment for a time when you’ ll not feel rushed - either arriving at your appointment, or leaving.
coming to your massage in a relaxed frame of mind will help you to fully embrace the benefits of the treatment.
giving yourself down time after your appointment will allow you time to drink plenty of water, and for your body to absorb the oils used during the treatment.

Pick your massage treatment
if you aren’t certain about the type of massage treatment that will help you the most, explain your situation to our experienced front desk staff.
Academy Massage Therapy offers many types of treatments, which address different parts of the body, and a multitude situations.

The day of your massage
avoid eating a large meal 2 to 3 hours prior to your massage treatment. You don’t want to arrive for your appointment feeling uncomfortably full or bloated.
wear loose, comfortable clothing without a lot of buttons or zippers. Be certain to wear comfortable shoes as well.
if you’re planning a workout, on the day of your massage, complete that prior to your appointment. That’s the best way for your tired muscles to get the most out of your treatment.
remember there is actually some risk to working out after your massage, because strenuous post-massage activity will strain the muscles you’ve just relaxed, and there is a chance that you’ll injure yourself.
should time permit, have a warm shower just prior to your treatment. This will assist in loosening your muscles, and make your feel more relaxed.
don’t wear perfume or aftershave on the day of your massage treatment. Strong scents can be overwhelming. Additionally, part of your massage treatment may include essential oils, perfume or aftershave could compete with their soothing, healing effects.

After your massage treatment
plan ahead, and bring a refillable water bottle with you.
drink lots of water.
post massage hydration will help flush out the toxins released during your massage treatment. It will also help rehydrate your muscles.
it is best not to drink caffeine after your massage, as it has the tendency to tense the muscles.
herbal tea is a great choice if you prefer something warm.

Have any additional questions? We’d love to hear from you, and have the opportunity to provide you with additional information. Call us for more info, or to book a massage treatment appointment at 204-489-5050.

See you soon!

Love,
Academy Massage Therapy