The Deep Tissue Massage Myth

Many people believe deep tissue massage is supposed to be painful in order to be beneficial. As the saying goes, "No Pain, No Gain", does not always apply to massage. In fact, many people fall into a deeper state of relaxation when they receive a deep tissue massage.

So what is a deep tissue massage? Deep tissue massage involves the manipulation of the deeper layers of muscle and soft tissues of the body. It requires the massage therapist to melt into the tissue before reaching these deep layers by warming up the superficial layers of muscle that are on top. Reaching the deep layers of muscle and soft tissue may not always be accomplished in the first session. Depending on each particular situation, the session may have to be modified in order to keep the client comfortable so they do not unknowingly or unconsciously resist the work.

Our muscles have a natural reflex reaction to resist pain. When a muscle thinks it is about to be injured, this reflex is triggered. When too much pressure is applied, for example, during a massage, the muscle or group of muscles will naturally resist the force by tightening even further. This is the opposite effect of what massage is all about. Effective massage relaxes and releases areas of tension.

Most people will naturally try to avoid painful situations. For instance, not many people look forward to going to the dentist since many people associate pain with the dentist. Receiving a massage should not be one of those instances. Everyone has a different level of comfort and tolerance for pain. Each person can perceive pain on a different level depending on their pain tolerance. When the body is experiencing pain, the body reacts through tension. During a deep tissue massage, discomfort is normal and will be felt especially if there are inconsistencies within the tissues. Discomfort is described as a "good hurt", the kind that hurts and feels good at the same time in a strange kind of way. On the other hand, pain can be described as uncomfortable and not well tolerated by the body.

There are many techniques or modalities that can fall under the category of deep tissue work. Neuromuscular Therapy (NMT) and Myofascial Release are just two that can be described as advanced deep tissue techniques. NMT focuses on creating a balance between the central nervous system (comprised of the brain, spine, and nerves) and the muscles, tendons, ligaments, bones, and joints of the body through specific methods. Myofascial Release works on stretching and lengthening the connective tissue coverings called fascia that surround every part of our internal structure including our bones, muscles, and organs. Tight fascia can cause pain and restrict joint mobility.

There are times when deep pressure is necessary and can be painful, and that is in the case of scar tissue. Scar tissue or adhesions, as they are sometimes called, are thick areas of bound up connective tissue that is created during the healing process from an injury or some form of surgery. Scar tissue work requires deep pressure in order to break up the dense nature of this tissue. However, massage therapists should work within the clients comfort level and pain tolerance at all times. If a person cannot handle a high amount of pressure, it may take several more treatments to achieve the same results as someone with a higher threshold for pain. Results will occur, only at a slower rate.

Not everyone needs or should receive a deep tissue massage. Some people simply enjoy the sensation of deeper pressure to their muscles and others prefer a more gentle touch. Someone who has never experienced a massage before may not want to request a deep tissue massage. It is the responsibility of the massage therapist to determine if a deep tissue massage is appropriate and necessary by way of a thorough health history and evaluation. A massage is only effective when the person on the table is comfortable and relaxed.

Massage Therapists: Aloe Vera - Best Remedy for Sunburn

A sunburn, the literal burning of the top layer of the skin by overexposure to the sun's rays, is best remedied by a liberal and frequent application of Aloe vera gel. It's a natural product, provides immediate, soothing relief and promotes the healing process. It's also a natural addition to any massage or bodywork therapist's practice whether you live in a sunny resort area or not.

Vacation destinations that are far more sunny than where one lives, more often than not lead to painful sunburns. It's just a fact. This is true despite the preponderance of public service announcements warning against the risk and imminent danger of skin cancers, and an overabundance of sun blocks and sunscreens available in almost every store to help prevent sunburn. Yet and still, the most frequent and unexpected souvenir brought home from a sun-filled vacation is, quite literally, a blistering sunburn. And of course, no sunburn is complete without unsightly peeling, flaking and itching skin as the epidermis recuperates from the damage.

Having grown up in Southern California, I happen to know a thing or two about sunburn ~ far more things, in fact, than I'd care to know. Specifically, I grew up in Los Angeles, where almost every Sunday and even some Saturdays of my childhood were spent at the beach. It was my mom's thing to go to the beach and relax after a tough week at work, lying on the sand with a good book while soaking up the sun's tanning rays. Our thing ~ my brother's and mine ~ was to play in the waves and dig never-ending holes in the sand. We were often asked if we were digging to China. Nope, just digging. As a result, every Sunday we returned home exhausted, and sunburned.

Each Spring, beginning in the early Sixties, for variety, my family would venture a hundred miles east to the Palm Springs desert. The desert's crystal clear azure skies, swaying palm trees, blazing hot sun, shimmering pools, with its nighttime warm temperatures and an indigo sky blanketed with a gazillion stars welcomed us. Sometimes we'd go just for a weekend, sometimes for a whole week.

My brother and I would spend our hot desert days splashing about in the pool ~ and our nights shivering in our air-conditioned motel room, slathered with the then "new" product, Noxzema, to sooth our raging sunburns. The white cream in the cobalt-blue jar was a staple in our house throughout the Sixties and Seventies. Developed in 1914 as a sunburn cream it was originally called Townsend R22. In the early Sixties it was discovered to also improve eczema, thus its new name and re-launch as Noxzema. The three main ingredients in Noxzema skin cream are camphor, menthol and eucalyptus. Camphor is a natural pain reliever; menthol is derived from the mint plant and has cooling properties, and Eucalyptus is included as a moisturizer, providing short-term, soothing relief.

We didn't have sunblock per se back then, and the only suntan lotion I remember was Coppertone, which was known at the time for its billboard ads of a little dog tugging at a little girls bathing suit bottom. It was meant to enhance sun tanning, not necessarily protect skin from ultraviolet rays. There always was a bottle of it at the bottom of the beach bag as I recall, but we rarely used it.

It's not just the obvious bright, sunny days that can scorch your skin, either. I've acquired more than my share of bad sunburns at the beach or on the water on overcast days.

As a teenager, regular attempts to damage my skin was a frequent past time. Tanning was "cool" and it was popular to use baby oil, Hawaiian Tropic oil or Coco Butter to attempt to get to that desired brown berry skin tone. Some of my friends even used regular butter! It makes me want to cringe thinking what we did to our future skin. Unfortunately, when you have ultra fair skin like mine, it's tough to get a deep tan no matter what product you use, so any of my attempts to tan were followed by ~ you guessed it ~ a painful sunburn followed by the handy-dandy Noxzema treatment.

I remember the first time I ever tried to actually "get" a suntan at the beach ~ forgoing all that adolescent digging and frolicking in the waves ~ by actually "laying out." A whole day spent patiently laying on the beach and carefully rotating my body every fifteen to thirty minutes. I've never been so bored in my life getting a "tan," and my reward for surviving the boredom? A lovely 2nd degree sunburn that blistered my skin for two weeks after. It was so bad I literally had scars for years. That was fun.

Thankfully, as the years passed, my quest for the perfect tan became less and less important, especially as more and more information became available indicating the risks associated with unfettered exposure to ultra violet rays. As I became more aware, I also became that much more cautious about my skin.

Those were days of self-inflicted skin damage I hope won't come back to haunt me someday. Now that I reside full-time in a resort area with nearly year-round sun, excessive sunbathing or getting a tan is actually no longer of interest to me both because of the potential life-threatening risk, and because of the long-term effect it has on skin quality. Living where long-time sun worshippers come to retire, I've seen what years of sunbathing, excessive and even moderate, can do to skin and I have to say, it is not pretty. I might lay out for ten or fifteen minutes every few days to get my natural dose of Vitamin D, but beyond that I'm just not interested in sun exposure unless I'm hiking or working in the yard. It's important for the body to get a natural source of Vitamin D which comes directly from the sun, so I certainly don't avoid the sun altogether, nor to I recommend doing so.

As a massage therapist in a sunny resort town, I witnessed sunburns on visitors from just about everywhere in the world. Weekend warriors suffered the most. They tried to cram a week's worth of tanning into the first day so that their second day and final was spent in misery. The sun where I live, like anywhere where there's an abundance of sun and plenty of distractions, really sneaks up on people. I would tell my visiting clients to be careful while here because the sun is so strong you can almost get a sunburn just by sitting in your living room!

No matter where you go in this area during high tourist season, you will see a multitude of truly awful sunburns. Some of the sunburns are almost comical where you can tell the person forgot to turn over, or spent too long floating in the pool, or failed to wear sunscreen while golfing or watching golf, or some other activity that leaves interesting demarcations burned onto the skin. The most difficult ones to witness are those where it's obvious the vacationer is burned to a crisp and every movement, however minute, is painful.

Working in hotel spas and then on my own, I kept running into the unpleasant situation where people would either come to a bodywork session too badly burned to actually get a massage or body scrub, or would cancel at the last minute because of their scorched skin. After too many cancellations, I saw that it was clearly a problem in desperate need of a solution.

Searching for a solution for my own sunburned clients, my first brilliant brainstorm was to give them a Noxzema application, an idea I quickly dismissed. Not only would it have been cost prohibitive, but I knew it would be too messy and a bit odoriferous with such a strong menthol, almost medicinal aroma. I also prefer a more natural and ideally, an organic product. Also, walking around with a white cream coating over your skin is not very appealing. It's common to see someone with a white nose or lips, but I think the whole body would be a bit much. So I scoured through my massage suppliers' catalogs searching for just the right application. Sadly, almost every product I found contained too many synthetics and chemicals and/or was really expensive.

Finally, I found organic Aloe vera gel ~ a product so natural and so simple. I consider it such a magic skin elixir that I integrated it into body treatments and applications to treat my clients' skin in general, but especially for sunburned clients. Aloe vera gel has also traveled with me on my own vacations to tropical locales and anywhere I know I'll be exposed to the sun just in case I ended up burnt, or for that matter, stung, or even bitten by some pesky bug.

Organic Aloe vera gel, also known as Lily of the desert due to its membership in the Lily family, has a long, long history of being a healing plant used as far back as the early Egyptians for the skin and so much more. Applied to the skin it's very soothing and prevents the skin from blistering and peeling except in cases of extreme skin damage. It also dramatically speeds up the healing process. There's so much more about the extensive healing properties of organic aloe gel that it's now the new staple in many homes for first aid purposes ~ internally as well as externally. Burns, cuts, scraps, rashes... the list goes on.

It's been said by many reputable sources, including major Aloe growers that Aloe has properties that have five primary functions. The first is that it's an antibiotic, it's also an antiseptic and a coagulating agent. It's also a pain inhibitor, and it's a growth stimulator for normal external and internal cells. What that means is that it helps accelerate tissue and skin surfaces that have been injured in some way. In addition to all that, it's also non-toxic and nonallergenic. In addition to being a detoxicant, Aloe vera has no side effects which as we all know is often problematic with synthetic drugs.

Those are some pretty impressive healing properties for a simple and readily available plant. What's not to love about a natural substance that has those wonderful properties, especially when the topic is sunburn?

Ideally, the best way to use Aloe vera is fresh from the plant. I actually know of some people in this valley who keep many Aloe plants in their yard specifically for their own medicinal use in case of emergencies and otherwise. Most people can't or won't do that, so the next best thing is a commercial organic gel, or at the very least, a non-organic Aloe vera gel. It really is a miracle plant, especially when it comes to sunburns. It's also an extremely hardy plant that can take quite a lot of abuse or neglect before it will finally succumb.

Aloe vera gel can be used successfully on clients, on yourself when you've spent a little too much time working in the yard or hiking, at a ballgame or anytime you've over-indulged in sun exposure. In my own experience, using organic Aloe vera gel on a sunburn significantly, if not completely, reduces blistering and subsequent peeling. The healing time is really abbreviated.

If you're a bodyworker in a sunny locale or vacation destination, I urge you to consider adding an Aloe vera massage, or at the very least an application, to your menu or list of services for those clients who overdo it in the sun. Who knows? You could very well be the person who saves your client's vacation! As a bonus, the amino acids in Aloe vera help soften the skin, so if you're dealing with someone who has rough, weathered skin, they will definitely feel a difference after an Aloe vera session. Even if you don't live in a sunny resort town, you will still more than likely have clients who return from their vacations with a souvenir sunburn. Offering some type of Aloe vera gel session to accelerate your sunburned clients' healing process may help your receipts

If you're planning on visiting a super sunny destination where you'll be exposed to more sun than you're used to, my best advice is to obviously bring your sunscreen ~ and use it ~ but also bring along a supply of Aloe vera gel. The absolutely best and 100% successful remedy for sunburn, of course, is to not get one in the first place. Despite every precaution, however, it's not always avoidable, so Aloe vera in your suitcase or makeup bag is an excellent travel companion ~ just in case. Unfortunately, you can't always find it where you're going, and it's really the best natural remedy to have with you, so bring it with you. Do be aware, however, that given it's a gel, you'll want to be careful how you pack it if you're flying on a commercial airline. Even if it's in its original bottle, if it's over a certain size, you won't be able to carry it on the flight with you.

If you're like me and you've experience a lot of skin damage over the course of your life, or if you live in a climate with year-round sunshine, I just can't think of a better preventive against potential skin cancers than Aloe vera gel. I won't make any health claims here beyond suggesting you check out the wonderful properties of Aloe vera for yourself, and you'll get a sense of just how amazing the Aloe vera plant is.

How You Can Become a Massage Therapist

Massage is an exquisite time to relax and be pampered. After a long, tiring day at work, your body needs a touch of comfort to free your mind of all the pressure and stress. Massage therapy is advantageous to keep the mind and body, sound and healthy. Did you ever wonder how people learn their way through your body?

Interesting thing is that massage is not done by just any other person. Extensive training is needed to learn the do's and don't in providing this unique therapeutic care. The art of massage therapy is exceptionally essential for us who are living a fast paced lifestyle. Others are even more interested in being able to give people the comfort they want. For this reason, there are those who want to make massage therapy a career and improve their skills on how to become a massage therapist.

Different massage courses

In becoming a massage therapist, there are about 80 different massage courses or modalities that you might want to specialize on. Modalities always depend on the patient's physical condition or need. Some are intended to relax, and aid the body of impairment and impurities. You must always remember that massage can refresh and revitalize body to release more positive energy that is why it is very important to be able to satisfy your client's need.

Special massage techniques are also provided for particular clients like pregnant woman, new mothers and even infants. Variety of massage courses can help improve your massage skills and provide successful treatments to fulfill the customer's demand of comfort.

Certain qualifications are necessary to be able to practice each treatment. A state licensure exam may also be needed to be able to practice massage therapy and may vary for every state or locality. Being a professional massage therapist ensures that you are knowledgeable and well trained in providing massage therapy. Another thing is that you can assure your patient's safety and be able to give them satisfactory results without any untoward incidents that may aggravate their condition.

The Difference of Physical Therapist training

Physical therapists are often mistaken to be massage therapists. Each has different trainings in terms of provision of care and therapy. Although both field uses touch as their primary intervention for pain and discomfort, physical therapist trainings are more centered on improving the condition of patients with previous disability or physical disorders. Special exercises and therapeutic massage treatments are the core remedy taught in physical therapist trainings. The end goal of physical therapist training is to ensure that your patient can easily return to their basic physical activities.

Sports Massage Courses

Sports can be very fun and exciting for those who love the outdoors so much. But many incidents of sports related injury and muscle strains are repeatedly encountered by many athletes while doing their sports activities. Sports massage is provided to help athletes prepare their bodies for their athletic activities, promote flexibility, reduce tension and fatigue, relieve swelling and most importantly prevent injuries. Common techniques used by massage therapists involve combinations of Swedish massage and Shiatsu which are specifically designed for professional athletes.

Sports massage courses are ideal to enhance your knowledge in body therapy. Applied anatomy, different injuries, intervention, and sports massage routines are included in sports massage courses which are very applicable to your practice as a massage therapist. Whatever field or technique of massage therapy you might want to choose, touch is still the key in providing successful massage treatments. Truly, the power of touch is powerful. Every single pain your body feels, whether physically or emotionally is eventually alleviated by just offering a tender touch and this simply shows any person that you really care.

How to Prepare Yourself to Pass the MBLEX NCETMB & NCETM Exam Using an Online Study Guide

Stop wasting needless time and money by not being able to pass your national massage therapy certification exam. Learn how you can get your massage therapy license fast that is required to obtain your state massage therapy license. First of all, I highly suggest that you take the nation exam as soon as possible. Don't wait long after you have graduated and then attempt to take the test. More than likely the more time that goes by the more knowledge that you learned in massage therapy school will escape your brain. Also, I highly suggest that you go over notes, read your books, look over old school exams, and read current massage therapy magazines. Sometimes students who even do this, still find it challenging to pass the national certification exam.

If you live in a state where the MBLEx is accepted, I would jump all over that. Most states do accept the MBLEx exam and offer it to all massage therapy student graduates. I have found that thousands of future massage therapists prefer the MBLEx hands down over any other exam. The MBLEx is and can be and overwhelming exam and an exam you will not pass if you think you can just take it without any preparation. Its a 200 question test that cost about $200.00. Many people fail this test and cause themselves a lot of needless expense, grief, and a feeling that is not very good for this kind of profession. I highly recommend that you get some kind of study guide, tutor book, online study practice exam, or anything else that will help you pass the national certification exam.

I have been a massage therapist and instructor for many years and have found future massage therapist simply have to prepare to pass any massage exam whether it be the NCETMB, NCETM, or the MBLEx. Please check your state massage therapy board to see what exam they will accept. Again, I highly recommend taking the MBLEx if your state offers this exam. On the day of the exam, be well rested, use good rationale when reading a question, eliminate right away the wrong answers in your mind and go with your gut feeling on questions that your are unsure of the answer. Again, if your prepared correctly, you will not have any problem passing the exam or any massage therapy exam. The massage certification exam in taken on a computer, and is a multiple choice exam. Like I said, there are many good study guides and I highly would use one for preparation. I have guided many successful massage therapists to use an online study guide that has practice exams that helps prepare you, as well as gives you the computer online feel where you will fill comfortable using a computer on the day of the exam. For more information visit the link below for successful result's in your massage therapy certification and gaining a passing score.

Massage Therapist Saves a Life!

We all know massage offers great benefits to clients, everything from physical to emotional wellbeing, but I was as surprised as the doctor, when a massage turned out to be a lifesaver. While giving my athletic firefighter husband a relaxing massage, I found a melanoma on the bottom arch of his right foot, the last place you would expect to find it. I began my career in massage therapy 15 years ago after many years working as a para-medical professional in mainstream and complementary medicine. As an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) for 19 years, I have performed CPR and other lifesaving maneuvers in my volunteer career. Imagine my surprise when my husband's dermatologist told him that I saved his life when I spotted something strange on his foot. The site was actually a four year-old fire ant bite that had healed, but changed suddenly. The discovery led to several surgeries and precautionary procedures to ensure that the 1mm thick melanoma has not spread to the lymphatic system. I, as many massage therapists and practitioners, take Continuing Education classes to keep licensure current, but the amount of education I have received while accompanying my husband, in just one visit to UW Hospital in Seattle was as "priceless" as the Master Card commercial.

"Swelling of the supra clavicular lymph nodes are often the first sign of a problem within the lymph system of the body," according to Sydney R. Lillard, MD the surgeon working with my husband, at UW Hospital in Seattle, WA. She said, "Massage Therapists spend a lot of time working in that general area with the neck and shoulders. An interesting physiology of the body is that the right node drains only the upper right side of the lymph, while the left supra clavicular node drains the rest of the entire body. Swelling or nodules in lymph nodes warrants a physical examination and medical workup by a physician," "Just because you have sun burned your ears, let's say, doesn't mean that's where a melanoma may develop. Melanoma is more likely to develop if you have had one or more bad sunburns in your lifetime may and develop anywhere on the body. Areas of the skin that may have been injured are also potential melanoma sites." My husband, fair-haired avid outdoorsmen, always wears SPF 50, so this was news to us.

What Is Melanoma? Melanoma is the most serious form of skin cancer. However, if it is recognized and treated early, it is nearly 100 percent curable. But if it is not, the cancer can advance and spread to other parts of the body, where it becomes hard to treat and can be fatal. While it is not the most common of the skin cancers, it causes the most deaths. The American Cancer Society estimates that in 2007, there will be 8,110 fatalities, 5,220 in men and 2,800 in women in the U.S. The number of new cases of melanoma is estimated at 59,940; of these, 33,910 will be in men and 26,030 in women. Melanoma is a malignant tumor that originates in melanocytes. the cells which produce the pigment melanin that colors our skin, hair, and eyes. The majority of melanomas are black or brown. However, some melanomas are skin-colored, pink, red, purple, blue or white.* In my husband's case it was a dark purplish brown, like that of a blood blister that changed to black, and grew irregular borders quite rapidly.As a precaution, doctors performed a procedure called Lymphoscintigraphy or mapping of lymph nodes to ensure the Melanoma did not spread to any of the closest nodes near where the melanoma has been removed. In the outpatient surgery, he then underwent further surgical resection of the melanoma area, and a skin grafting at UW Hospital in Seattle, WA. All of that over a tiny change in a very old injury.

Who is at Risk? Everyone is at some risk for melanoma, but increased risk depends on several factors: sun exposure, number of moles on the skin, skin type and family history (genetics).* Here are things to watch for when working with skin: Beware of these danger signs of Melanoma (skin cancer)·

• No New Moles After age 35.


• Pigment Changes of Moles.


• Moles Larger than a Pencil Eraser.


• Moles or skin growths that may bleed.


• Irregular Borders and shapes of Moles.


• Have a women and a man check your skin for changes, Women are better at seeing pigment changes, men at shape and density.


• Supra Clavicular Lymph Nodes Swelling.


• Take precautionary pictures every 3 months. Date and compare them to the next one.


• Sun Screen every time, everyplace and everywhere!

There are a number of natural sunscreens on the market, and clothing to prevent UVA/UVB damage. I have been known to pick up the phone and schedule appointments for clients if I have found something suspicious. I always follow up the appointment with a letter to their primary doctor and the client. I love what I do, and I take my responsibility very seriously. I never dreamed that I'd have to do this for a family member.

Sports Massage - Post-Event

The purpose of a massage after a major event is simply to aid the athlete to recover from the activity. This is achieved by reducing post-exercise soreness, re-establishing full range of motion and enhancing blood flow to tight muscles. The length of recovery time from strenuous competition can be dramatically reduced with a good post-event massage. Studies have found that correctly applied massage in the first two hours after activity can be critical for reducing the effect of delayed onset muscle soreness (1). Although they could not detect any change in measured physiological variables, post-event massage did lower the intensity of delayed onset muscle soreness. Post-event massage can also be employed after (heavy) training sessions as well as competition.

The primary goal of post-event massage is very similar to that of pre-event massage (2), namely promotion of circulation and to lengthen tight muscles. However, the difference is that the muscles are now in a state of congestion and fatigue following maximal effort and performance. Therefore the objective is to increase the athlete's rate of recovery by decreasing soreness and fatigue, speeding up the removal of metabolic by-products and relieving the increased tone of the muscles. Please note that the delayed onset muscle soreness is not caused by lactic acid build-up as is commonly espoused. Current research suggests that the delayed soreness may be caused by

- microtrauma of the muscle fibres

- a micro-tearing of the fascia

- the pain-ischemia-pain cycle resulting from overuse, oedema and inflammation or

- a combination of all of these.

A post-event massage is typically administered for around 10 to 15 minutes. Even 5 minutes on the legs after a City to Surf type event is beneficial. It is certainly not a full-body massage. For example, a typical post-event leg routine might consist of:

- compressive effleurage to calm the nervous system

- compression for spreading muscle fibres and also enhancing blood flow

- petrissage for easing muscle tension and

- compressive effleurage as a finishing stroke to soothe.

Depending upon the circumstances, the therapist may consider that some gentle therapeutic stretching may be appropriate.

When performing post-event massage, the massage therapist is much more likely to encounter athletes that require first aid. During the massage the therapist should watch for cuts, scrapes, blisters, bruises and mild strains and sprains. However, it should be noted that, depending on the training of the therapist, providing first aid is generally not within the scope of practice for massage therapy. When a sports massage therapist suspects that an athlete has a problem, they should seek the help of a qualified medical staff member at the event.

Although most athletes carry out a warm-down routine after training sessions, they often fail to do so after competition because of exhaustion, elation or even disappointment. An effective post-event massage can help an athlete feel better immediately following a competition. Along with a big psychological lift, it can allow the athlete to recover mor quickly. Almost all athletes look forward to seeing massage therapists at an event because they know that they will enjoy a well-deserved post-event massage.

Is Male Massage Really Massage?

Massage, it seems, can be many things to many people. Some people realize the many healing benefits that massage therapy offers, and some still equate massage with the kind that used to be done in massage parlors, the kind with a "happy ending". As one who went to massage school and became a Licensed Massage Therapist, I am more than aware of the massage establishment's efforts to distance legitimate massage therapy from the "massage parlors" of old. These were mostly fronts for prostitution, and have been outlawed in most parts of the country. These days, in almost all states, one must spend many hours (usually anywhere from 500 to 1000 hours of instruction and clinical practice) in massage school to get licensed. In school, it is made very clear to us that massages are to be non-sexual, and this is actually included in the Code of Ethics set forth by the American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA), the main governing body of massage therapy in the United States. Violating this code results in getting one's license revoked and also in possible legal action. So the definition of "massage" as it applies to a field of healthcare that is regulated could be: "Physical manipulation carried out by a licensed professional with the intent to facilitate healing."

Given this definition, "male massage" will overwhelmingly fails to meet the requirements to be considered massage, at least legally. Not many people will know what male massage actually means. Nor will they think to do a search on the internet, because most women want a woman therapist, and the same goes for men. But if you DO search for the terms "male massage", what comes up in the results are sites that cater to men looking for treatment from another man. And not only that, but these "treatments" are sexual in nature. The top results you get when you search for "male massage" are directories of massage therapists offering these services, and they're not shy about it. Most feature pictures of the therapist, topless and oftentimes bottomless, too! Those who do not know this beforehand are in for a shock.

Tinnitus Relief - Can Massage Stop That Ringing in Your Ears?

Tinnitus--ringing or other "phantom" noises in the ears--is common and usually harmless--but it can drive people crazy. It can rob sufferers of sleep, concentration, and peace of mind. There's no one cause, and no one cure.

When to See Your Doctor

According to the Mayo Clinic, you should see your doctor if your ears start ringing after a cold and it doesn't go away within a week. If ear-ringing appears suddenly, with no apparent cause, or if it comes with hearing loss or dizziness, see your doctor as soon as possible.

Can Massage Help?

If serious causes have been ruled out, and treatment from your doctor doesn't seem to be helping, you might try massage.

Yes, you read me right--massage!

Surprisingly, massage can help in some cases. There are four main types of massage to try.

Trigger Point Therapy

Trigger points are sensitive, tight muscle "knots" that can be found in any muscle in the body. They can cause a whole host of weird problems in addition to their most common effect of referring pain elsewhere in the muscle.

Researchers have found that trigger points in the jaw and anterior neck can contribute to or cause ringing in the ears. Deactivating them with targeted trigger point massage may bring relief or at least lessen the symptoms.

Trigger point therapy is a specialized form of massage, so you'll need to make sure that a prospective massage therapist is familiar with it.

Lymphatic Massage

Gentle lymphatic massage (lymphatic drainage) to the neck, jaw, head, and ear are worth trying, especially if inflammation is playing a role in the problem.

Lymphatic massage, like trigger point therapy, is a specialized form of massage that requires additional training beyond the basics of massage school. You'll need to confirm that a prospective massage therapist if trained in this particular therapy.

Myofascial Massage

Fascia is the connective tissue that's found everywhere in the body, including the face and ears. It can get tight and restricted. Myofascial massage to the big muscles in the front of the neck can help to loosen and relax the fascia of the inner ear, which might help stop ringing ears.

Most licensed massage therapists will be able to provide this form of therapy.

General Swedish Massage to the Head, Neck, Jaw, and Chest

Besides being generally relaxing and having an impact on the muscles and fascia of the face and ear, Swedish massage to specific neck and chest muscles can improve or resolve thoracic outlet syndrome, which is thought to be a cause in some cases of tinnitus. "Thoracic outlet syndrome" is simply tight muscles in certain neck and chest muscles that constrict nerves and blood vessels serving the arm and other areas.

All licensed massage therapists should be able to provide you with Swedish massage to the face, neck, head, jaw, and chest.

If nothing else, massage helps you to relax, which will make irritants such as ear-ringing subjectively easier to bear. Not to mention that it's good for your overall health, and it's enjoyable!

All these massage techniques can also be helpful in other minor ear problems such as ear pressure issues and pain with airplane landings.

You can find information about other alternative therapies at the American Tinnitus Association website.

Remember: Do not pursue any advice given here if it conflicts with the advice of your doctor, and don't continue doing it if it makes your symptoms worse.

Massage Tips - When and How Much

How much to tip a massage therapist can be a confusing thing. On one hand you have the spa massage therapist that can be put in the same group as nail technicians and hair stylists. Another group is sports massage therapists and medical massage therapists. Typically people in the medical profession don't receive tips for their services. Lastly, what if you are not from the United States? Different countries have different customs. For example, Canada reimburses its citizens for massage, thus massage is seen more as medical service versus a pampering service.

Below are listed the basic rules of how to tip a massage therapist:

Table Massage Tips Basic Rules

Massage therapist in a spa or outcall massage (at your location) - 10-20% of the total bill.

Massage therapist in a medical environment, such as Chiropractor, etc. - normally no tipping*.

Chair Massage Tips Basic Rules

Chair massage that is paid by the customer - 10-20% of the total bill

Chair massage paid by an employer or trade show - normally no tipping*.

*If you do want to tip, ask what the establishment's guidelines are. Tipping may be against the company's policies or they might not mind. Each situation is different.

What if you don't want to tip?

An exception to all of the above is when a customer doesn't want to tip and it's not a reflection on the services they received. Customers have a right to not tip because tipping is a courtesy. Many massage therapists I know are grateful for tips and don't expect them. Tipping, and how much, is ultimately the decision of the customer.

Beware Hidden Tips

Lastly, a word of caution; in many tourist areas, a spa or salon will add a tip to the bill for the customer - without asking! This is an automatic process at many places. Then, because the customer is not aware of this, the customer will add a tip to the bill not realizing they're double tipping! This is an unfortunate reality that massage customers need to protect themselves from.

Hopefully this has answered all your massage tip questions. Remember, if in doubt; ask the massage therapist or company. They will be pleased that you care enough to want to tip.

Lead Therapist Positions in Casino Massage

Casino Massage & Poker Massage Programs Require Dedicated Management Personnel

Within the Casino Massage or Poker Room Massage industry we see many companies employ the "Lead Massage Therapist" position as an economical yet flawed approach to manage daily operations. Not only is the lead therapist position one of ineffective and limited managerial supervision, but both continuity of gaming experience and operational consistency are lost all too frequently due to this position's turnover rate. Ultimately, this absence of proper supervision and control is the main source of poor customer service.

Managing the daily front-line operations of a casino massage company for over 4+ years, I have come to realize and understand the importance of a dedicated, impartial and equitable managerial staff to maintain the highest standards of customer service.

In this first article we explore one topic: Limitations of dual role, lead therapists supervising while also performing massages services. Additional related topics and points will follow in subsequent articles.

Although highly unlikely, for the purpose of this article let us assume that the lead massage therapist in question has the proven ability to lead, is a formally educated and seasoned manager, is well-versed in the finer points of conflict resolution, is completely familiar with any and all emergency procedures, and has acquired years of casino/gaming-industry specific expertise.

Even presuming the above list of impressive credentials to be accurate, we still have to ask, how much time can a lead therapist devote to supervising up to six others while also performing tableside massages for the majority of his or her own work shift? From my own experience, individual massages last anywhere from 20-40 minutes each on average and in extreme cases, therapists have been retained for the entire duration of the work shift. I have, on few occasions, monitored poker massages that have continued for more than 8 hours! Suppose that this particular massage therapist was indeed designated as the manager or as the "lead therapist". The managerial faculty during those 8 hours would effectively be reduced to zero.

While the above example is an infrequent but not unrealistic occurrence, consider an ordinary shift where the average time spent performing casino massage services consists of approximately 70% of the therapist's total time on duty. The remaining time is readily taken up by the working therapist's individual advertising efforts, records keeping, preparation for pending services, and regular breaks. Yet again, any managerial duties would suffer due to the lack of time allocated for such responsibilities.

The non-stop nature of gaming industry compels casino massage companies to operate virtually around the clock, 7 days per week, 365 days per year. The massage profession by its very nature is especially physically demanding and therefore most casino massage therapists are scheduled to work no more than 18-20 hours per week. During a 168 hour work week the number of lead therapists needed to cover all shifts would be nearly 10. Designating that many therapists as lead and then strategically scheduling them in order to cover the entire work week would surely prove to be an ineffective solution if not a nearly impossible plan.

It should also be noted that most lead therapists are commendably making every effort to maximize their earnings and therefore desire to stay as busy as possible performing casino massage services in order to do so. It's no surprise that these dual role employees are more concerned with actually performing casino massage rather than managing casino massage.

It seems a simple enough concept to understand; one cannot be tied up doing the job and be expected to supervise others at the same time. Casino massage therapists will be occupied with their job duties during most, if not all of their scheduled shifts. Furthermore, the working therapist will be confined to one small area while performing services and are not able to patrol and observe the vast sprawling span which is characteristic of the typical gaming floor.

Expanding upon this topic, we must now ask how well the lead therapist can fairly distribute the workload of customer requests for poker massage services in a timely fashion while he or she is occupied and unable to complete the chain of communication between the casino resort, the guests, and the other active massage therapists.

To give some insight as to the aforementioned chain of communication, requests for casino massage services on a busy gaming floor originate almost entirely at the guest level but are also frequently initiated by casino hosts. The request is most often communicated via telephone to the massage company's on-duty manager. Information relayed is generally comprised of the guest's personal preference for a particular therapist, the exact location within the casino for the service to be performed, the time desired for the service to commence, the number of therapists needed, and whether the service will require casino comp approval.

The lead therapist (who we have already established will be performing hands-on services 70% of the time) would not even be able to answer the request call, let alone be privy to the information needed to satisfactorily fulfill the request.

Back to our question; how well is the lead therapist equipped to deal with customer requests for casino massage services? The rather troubling answer to this question is that without any accurate situational awareness of where co-worker therapists are located within the casino, a running tally of the time remaining for each therapist's service currently being performed and the individual guest's preferences, the lead therapist will not be able to deal with customer requests very well at all. It should be obvious that in these situations, customer service levels are diminished to an all time low, and the guest will quickly associate this poor service with his or her overall gaming experience and with the property itself.

Given the above examples, it stands to reason that when the most simple and basic fundamentals and functions of management can't be accomplished through this "lead" position, it's safe to conclude that more complicated matters would be completely out of the scope of the lead massage therapist's managerial capacity. Such matters include the fair distribution of the work load, employee behavioral and disciplinary issues, customer complaints, employee conflicts, scheduling, absenteeism, emergency procedures, and all facets of player development/relations. One could also go so far as to conclude that as it relates to the casino massage industry, the lead therapist position is essentially the equivalent of having no managerial presence at all.

At this point one might ask why any poker massage/casino massage company would ever utilize the lead therapist position. The answer is simple, cost is the main factor. It's far more expensive to hire, train and employ a qualified managerial staff than it is to assign a current employee additional responsibilities. Most massage company owners realize the deficiencies, issues and conflicts associated with lead therapist positions and gamble that they will go largely unnoticed or at least unreported by casino executives, managers and casino staff who are already fully involved with their own daily tasks and duties. A better question to ask would be why any casino resort would contract with a massage company that solely employs these poor alternatives for legitimate management solutions.

Luckily, not all casino massage companies are the same. Some understand the importance of a dedicated, impartial and equitable managerial staff. They know that it's more expensive to recruit, train and retain the right people, but they realize that their reputation and customers are just that important. Few are committed to the highest standards of customer value, professionalism and ethics. Few confidently invest in experienced, quality management and staff, and are guided by an unwavering belief in the true meaning of World-Class service.

One of the many instances to illustrate the importance of dedicated managerial personnel happened when a woman playing Black Jack was overheard expressing to her dealer just how much "getting out" once a month on Friday night means to her. She sincerely confessed to him, "This is the highlight of my year. I work nearly 60 hours per week and don't have many friends in the area. Coming here for a drink and playing a few hands once a month is my little getaway. I thoroughly enjoy it!"

The empowered personnel (manager and massage therapist) made the perfect decision to politely offer a 20 minute of service free of charge. What better way to complete her overall experience than to offer a complimentary massage service? Pleasantly surprised she accepted and it goes without saying that she will not forget her gaming experience that night.

While this chance to delight the customer appears to have jumped out and presented itself, I believe it was only so clearly apparent because unlike the owners and lead therapists of many casino massage companies, this team of dedicated management personnel worked on the front-lines everyday and were accustomed to seeking and recognizing these types of opportunities.

It's only through time, experience and maintaining a constant presence on the front-lines that one can develop that 6th sense of "customer awareness". That is how to become truly in-tune with the energy of the casino resort and in-tune with its most valued resource: the resort's guests.

Massage: Helping People Recover From Stroke

One of the leading causes of death all over the world is stroke. It is defined by the Heart and Stroke Foundation as the sudden loss of brain function due to change of blood flow in the brain, blockage of a blood vessel in the brain, or the rupture of this blood vessel. Without proper flow of blood that delivers oxygen and nutrients to the brain, there is a huge chance of incurring brain damage. Suffering from stroke is one of the most unpleasant event that any family can experience. Stroke not only affects the stroke patient, but it affects the whole family as well. As such, recovery from stroke is the recovery of the whole family from a traumatic experience.

So how can massage therapy or therapeutic massage help stroke survivors in their recovery? Well, we all know that massage therapy is known to have a vast effect on the body's nervous system and circulatory system particularly through the improvement of the body's blood flow and circulation. In addition, massage is also known to help people relax, reduce stress, and decrease pain. Armed with these knowledge coupled with the mastery of various therapeutic massage techniques, there is no doubt that massage therapists can assist people in their recovery process.

In 2004, a study has been conducted to investigate how massage therapy affects stroke patients. The study was lead by the Hong Kong Polytechnic University Department of Nursing and Wong Chuk Hang Hospital also located in Hong Kong. Results showed that the group who received ten minutes of slow-stroke back massage before bedtime for seven nights had significant lower levels of pain, anxiety, blood pressure and heart rate compared with the control group. If ten minutes can do that, how much more can regular sessions of therapeutic massage affect the recovery of stroke patients?

There are different types of massage therapy techniques that can be used for stroke patients depending on their needs and condition. Two of the most popular massage therapy techniques are Swedish massage and reflexology. Other popular choices of massage treatments especially in the area of Rocky Point, New York are sports massage, deep tissue massage, and pregnancy massage.

Swedish massage, reflexology, sports massage, deep tissue massage, and pregnancy massage can be availed at a leading, and well-known massage spa in Rocky Point, NY. But of course, recognizing the fact that it is hard for some stroke patients to travel back and forth to a massage spa, the massage spa can send one of their professional massage therapist for home or hospital visit.

Suffering from stroke is not a pleasurable experience. Rehabilitation from a stroke can often take months or even years. For massage therapy to succeed in its aim of helping on the recovery of stroke patients, it must be done properly and with utmost care. Relaxing massage environment should be simulated at all times. And of course, there should be open communication between the massage therapist and the patient. It is not just the massage who ensures the success of any recovery, but who gives it. Choose a massage therapist wisely.

Massage Envy Rockpoint
346 Route 25A Suite# 106
Rocky Point, NY 11778
(631) 821-3999
http://www.massageenvy.com/clinics/NY/Rocky-Point.aspx

Do Chiropractors Work With Massage Therapists?

Chiropractic and massage therapy work very well together. So much so, that it's not uncommon for chiropractors to employ or lease space to massage therapists in their very own office.

Some people have visited a massage therapist for stress relief or to deal with a chronic neck or back pain problem. When they didn't quite get the lasting relief they were looking for, they went to see a chiropractor.

While the chiropractor can work wonders on moving the spine and returning it's normal function, some patients end up missing their regular massages. They begin to think that they are "cheating" on their chiropractor and get nervous about whether or not they should even mention their visits.

Your chiropractor will usually be very happy you are seeing a massage therapist (depending on your condition). While the chiropractor adjusts the spine to affect the nerves and the surrounding soft tissues (including the muscles), they may not be able to spend the half hour or an hour that you may need to really get our muscles relaxed.

Having a professional massage your and relax any muscle tightness and spasm will help the chiropractor's ability to give you a more relaxed, pain-free spinal adjustment. The more tense the muscles are when the doctor administers the adjustment, the less comfortable it can be.

From a long term stand point, the Doctor of Chiropractic is also happy to have the improved blood flow and relaxed muscles too. While the doctor moves the bones, it's ultimately the muscles that will end up maintaining the bones in their proper place.

If you typically spend all day sitting at the computer and your muscles tend to get very tense (like most of us), it makes sense that you'll benefit from regular massages. Your chiropractor will not object to this in most cases. Where some people experience problems is when they have a herniated disc, or other condition that involves a lot of inflammation.

When your muscles are very inflammed, a deep tissue massage may tend to increase the inflammation, making things temporarily more painful. When the muscles are more painful, they are more difficult to work with and can keep the chiropractor from being able to work on your spine to the degree that they would prefer.

Talk over any treatments that you are considering or currently doing with any health care provider. Many are okay, and don't think you're "cheating" on anyone.

Massage Therapist Can Pick Your Profession by Your Aches and Pains

As a qualified massage therapist, we are often interested, and of course, concerned at how different types of aches and pains may be associated with certain types of professions.

With the simple question to a client, "what type of work do you do" we can predict with a high degree of accuracy where the customer is probably experiencing aches and pains in their body.

The professional office worker - The professional office worker will often have issues relating to one or even both sides of their neck. Even the ear they hold the phone up to can be predicted by the associated neck pain around it that side of the neck. We know who's using an ergonomic phone or ear piece and who's not. The massage would then focus on stretching the cramped neck out. The massage would also often need to extend down to that side of the shoulder. In addition, the muscles that extend up into the skull around that ear and side of the neck would often need attention too.

A male office worker will also often have issues with their calves. The massage therapist then has to focus on stretching out extremely tight calves. This can take several time and even several sessions. This interests me as a massage therapist, because often the customer job often involves sitting for long period of time - yet their calves are as tight as one would expect to find on a long distance runner. I have a theory that the body pushes stress to the furthest point away from the heart as possible to protect the heart.

So for office workers, it's the two extremes; the neck and the calves.

Trades people - The trades person often complain of pain in the mid section; from the legs, the glute muscles and the lower back. Often these physical roles involve bending, lifting heavy equipment and machinery so the mid body is strained. The massage therapist then usually focuses on stretching the back muscles which then results in improved blood flow to the area and relief.

It interests me as a massage therapist, that my massage technique is so dependent on the type of work my clients does.

Men are from Mars - The difference between men and women when it comes to massage needs is that women tend to be 'pamper driven' and enjoy all over massage. Men seem to be driven to solve aches and pain in their body and often have certain points around their body that they like the massage therapist to focus on.

Overall, its important to understand the impact one's profession has on their body. Pay attention to aches and pains and seek a resolution. There are few nicer ways to resolve pain than a massage.

Sleep and Massage - Circadian Rhythms and Singing the Blues

Sleep and Massage therapy should be a normal part of your natural life rhythm. We have a biological clock that is called a circadian rhythm. This rhythm is what keeps us healed and whole. On a 24-hour cycle, the sleep and wake rhythms carry us through the vitality of the day and the restfulness of the night.

But what happens when you interrupt any rhythm? Pretend you are at a stunning Beethovan concert listening to a piece being performed, awaiting the crescendo. Suddenly, the music quits.

When rhythms are broken or interrupted, the result is discord and feelings of anxiousness and maybe even anger. Interrupting the circadian rhythms produces the same results. Lack of sleep can have you singing the blues all night long. Massage helps restore balance so the rhythms of your life ebb and flow in a natural pattern.

Sleep and Massage - Chronobiology and Songs of Exaltation

Chronobiology is the study of biological rhythms and that is what sleep is - a biological rhythm. When your sleep is consistently poor or constantly interrupted, it has a direct impact on your physical and emotional health. While you are sleeping, the body is preparing for another wake cycle. It is during sleep that most of the healing process takes place.

Sleep promotes immune function and restores metabolic balance. During sleep, brain proteins are increased which affects mental acuity the next day. Adequate sleep is instrumental in maintaining weight. Insomnia is a sleep disorder characterized by a severe lack of sleep.

The consequences of insomnia on your health include loss of concentration and decision-making abilities. It causes irritability and emotional instability. Many people turn to over-the-counter drugs to combat insomnia, but massage and insomnia relief is a much more natural approach to the problem. If you have insomnia and message therapy is available to you, life is about to improve drastically.

Massage therapy is a technique of applying pressure on the upper tissue levels of the body using kneading and pounding and rubbing. Sleep and massage are perfect partners, because massage activates the parasympathetic half of the autonomic nervous system for relaxation.

Massage also turns off the sympathetic nervous system which is the source of stress. In doing so, getting a massage and relieving stress create better sleep patterns. If you want to sleep and massage therapy can help, there is no reason to delay. It is a therapeutic drug-free means of reducing incidences of insomnia. Instead of singing the blues, you will be singing songs of exaltation.

Sleep and Massage - All Night Long

The daylight hours must not be long enough, because many of us use what should be sleep time to stress about problems. Massage therapy is a technique that can eliminate the physical results of the day's stresses so sleep is enhanced. There are many reasons why sleep and massage make a great match - reasons both emotional and physical.

• Lessens lower back pain







• Eases chronic fatigue syndrome







• Reduces muscle tension







• Eliminates headaches







• Lessens effects of medicinal side-effects on sleep







• Relieves stress







• Assists with weight control







• Relaxes nervous tension







• Increases blood circulation

Hospitals use physical therapy massage to help insomniacs sleep as an alternative to drugs. If you can't sleep and massage therapy sounds as if it can help, please visit your local massage therapist. She or he can help you find your circadian rhythm again.

Get a massage and sleep will be restored as a time of rest instead of a time of restlessness. You will be able to sleep all night long, waking refreshed instead of tired and tense.

How to Pick the Best Massage Therapist?

When choosing for the best massage therapist, you should never settle for those who have passed the licensure exam, check their medical experience, how they perform their service, and their etiquette as professional massage therapists. Searching for the right person for the job is not as easy as it seems for there are many different types of massage therapy methods to start your search with.

Knowing what massage method you want will help you a lot in trimming down your search by making the hunt more specific. In case you chose shiatsu, base your search only to therapists who know the art and have a good amount of working experience. The internet is a good place to start on searching for the best massage method that you would want to have as a regular medical care. A little bit of research will add up to your knowledge so that you will know what type of therapist you are looking for.

Make sure that you get your massage therapy from an accredited massage parlor and spa which only hires and uses licensed and certified massage therapists to perform the job on their patient. They know the anatomy of the human body thus reducing the risks of certain physical problems such as injuries during a massage therapy session. They also know whether a patient is qualified on having a massage therapy or not base on his or her medical records.

When you already have your list of top prospects, don't hesitate on giving them a call and asking them questions regarding their performance and the massage therapy method you want. Prepare as many substantial questions as you can, make sure that these are related to your search for the best one. As early as now you can find out who among them are professional enough just by entertaining the queries of a customer and who are more approachable and have a good customer relation.

After all of these screening, you will find out who among the many massage therapist fits your requirements. You can now start by scheduling for your first massage therapy session. Let your thought be known by sharing your opinion, likes and dislikes regarding the massage therapy method. By this, the massage therapist will know what he or she needs to do and what he or she must avoid to do during the massage therapy. Telling your massage therapist what you want to achieve or what you are expecting on your massage therapist is a good way for the therapist to know what you want for your massage session.

In case the therapist you chose doesn't meet your needs on the actual massage therapy session, feel free to look for another one who can meet your standards and medical needs. Never let your massage therapist talk you on keeping a regular session with him or her in case you are not satisfied with his or her performance. Remember that you are the one who is paying for the service, so look for someone who can give back your money's worth.

Tips to Find a Massage Therapist Job

Massage therapy is known as a form of treatment where the practitioner uses touch and also various movements for manipulating the muscles in the body of the patient. The massage therapists should complete the training program and obtain the license before they are allowed to work legally. Moreover, the practitioners can choose for working in any one of the wide variety of settings. These are ranged from the medical offices to the beauty spas. At this time, this article is going to give you several tips to find a massage therapist job. Just take a look at the tips below.

The first thing that you have to do is to check for the job postings. Actually, you can simply check the career boards online. Besides, you also need to search the classifieds section of the local papers.

The second thing is to meet with the local chiropractors. The chiropractors frequently need massage therapist for providing their patients with prescribed remedies. If you find that there is an opening for the massage therapist, you may be placed on the payroll of the doctor or you may be asked for working independently. Moreover, if you prefer to work independently, you can set your own fees. However, you should pay for the office spice and also provide your own supplies and equipment.

The third thing is to apply at the beauty spa. There are many massage therapists who start their careers by working at spa. You can prefer to become a member of the staff or just work independently. Typically, the wages at the paid position are low, although few employers pay with competitive rates.

Lastly, you need to consider about self-employment. There are large numbers of graduates prefer working by themselves. You will need to rent commercial location for your work. Besides, you will also need to determine the start-up costs to start this business.

5 Things to Know Before Booking a Massage Therapist

1. First you need to know what type of massage the therapist does. Does he/she do Swedish massage, deep-tissue massage or other kinds of massage? If you just want a relaxing message with little pain involved then Swedish massage might just fit the bill for you. Deep tissue might be a bit too intense for you. It all depends on what you are looking for. So question the therapist on the various techniques she uses. Also ask him or her, what you expect from the massage, and then he or she can point you in the right direction about the kind of massage you want.

2. Is the therapist certified to practice? He or she should be probably trained and licensed to perform massage on you. So ask for proof for his or her qualifications and training are. There is a national board that watches over massage therapists and make sure they have the right credentials. Only let one with the right credentials work on you.

3. Does the therapist have some client testimonials or contact info that they can share with you. It is wise to know what type of service others have gotten and if they have any complaints. Many times clients will not mind being contacted for their opinions. This can help you make up your mind if the therapist is right for you.

4. Check and see how long they have been in the business. Having someone work on you that has experience could increase the results you get from the massage. If they are fresh out of massage school you might want to question them further before letting them work on you. But if they have been massaging people for 1 year or more you know they have some hands-on experience. Wouldn't you feel better knowing the therapist had worked on many people rather than just a few?

5. Make sure that the massage therapist does his or her job in a sanitary manner. They should have fresh towels and hygienic supplies for your massage session. You definitely do not want to catch something from the previous client he or she worked on. If you have any concerns at all check out a different therapist.

Using the 5 things above to make your decision about which massage therapist for you to use will ensure that you have a safe and effective massage done on you. You want to receive all the benefits from massage without being harmed in any way. So do your homework and research the different therapists in your area to find the one right for you.

Keeping Musicians Pain-Free With Massage

Musicians: small muscle athletes

I once read an article about musculoskeletal pain among professional musicians. A survey of several thousand symphony musicians revealed that approximately 80% of them suffered from either chronic or intermittent pain directly related to their profession. The highest incidence was reported among the violinists. This was not surprising since they not only hold their instrument in a position that is challenging to the muscles, but they spend more time playing than any other instrument in an orchestra. Other instruments often get breaks or play only intermittently but in most orchestral pieces, the violins play most of the time.

Musicians are small muscle athletes. Their profession requires endurance, strength, and precision. The right kind of massage can help them play with less pain and more agility.

Tight muscles inhibit performance

When muscles are tight, movement is inhibited. When muscles are in pain, they become tense and there is less control. Maintaining maximum range of motion and eliminating pain allows a musician to play in comfort and can improve performance.

I've worked with a number of musicians over the years and they fascinate me. Those of us sitting in the audience marvel at their skill, but we seldom think of the endurance they must have to play for hours without a break. I once worked with a couple of conductors and, until that experience, never thought about what it must be like to stand with your arms raised in the air for a couple of hours. Try it, especially while making short, quick, precise movements. It's not easy.

Each musician is different

Each instrument has their own challenges. Horn players can get spasms in the muscles of their cheeks and lips. Violinists suffer from neck and shoulder ache. Guitarists, banjoists, and mandolin players will get pain in their forearms or elbows.

A good massage therapist who understands these problems can go quickly to the source of the pain and begin to dissipate the tension and discomfort. They cannot only help to relieve the acute pain, they can help a musician to continue to play without pain in the future.

Improve performance

Regular massage therapy really should be a part of every professional musician's life. It will improve their performance, help them to play with comfort and ease, and extend the length of their career.

The Benefits of Sports Massage - A Look at The Physical and Mental Advantages

What Is Sports Massage

It is the application of basic and treatment oriented massage techniques for athletes with the purpose of enhancing the athlete's preparation or recovery from the physical demands of training and competition.

The golden rule is "DO NO HARM". Inappropriate techniques may have a negative effect on both the athlete's physical and mental performance.

Generally the techniques are broader and less intrusive than clinical work.

Benefits of Sports Massage

The benefits may include:

• Consistency in training

• Reduction in strain and discomfort from training

• Reduction from muscle and tendon tightness

"Physiological" Effects - May Assist In:

• Improved fluid circulation

• Muscular relaxation /stimulation

• Separation of muscle from connective tissue

"Psychological" Effects:

• Encourage relaxation and readiness

• Reduce anxiety and competition stress

• Increase alertness and mental clarity

"Performance" - Related Effects - May:

• Increase energy

• Increase range of motion at joints

• Develop faster recovery post training

3 Main Categories

There are about seven to eight stages of application for this type of massage. The following are the three most common:

1) Pre-Event Performance:

This massage has primarily a stimulating effect. Generally this type of massage is performed without oil. It takes place within an hour before an event. It is done as part of the warm up process for the athlete.

2) Inter-Event:

This type of massage occurs in between same day events. This type of sports massage occurs with and without oil. The objective here is to help with the cool down process post event and stimulate for the next competition or event.

3) Post Event Cool Down:

The major focus of this treatment is drainage. It is a relaxing massage. It should be done without creating any pain.

The depth of the strokes is light to moderate. The strokes are rhythmical and broad. Generally this massage should not last longer than twenty minutes. The areas of the body to be treated will depend on the athlete's needs.

Certification

In Canada in order to be recognized as sports massage therapist you must go through a certification process. This in general includes putting time in at sporting events collecting "field" hours as well as hours in a clinical setting.

Although many schools have sports out-reaches as part of their curriculum it is important to take a recognized course through the Canadian Sports Massage Therapists Association with a certified sports massage therapist.

The opportunity to participate with professional sports teams, winter and summer Olympians, national sports teams and high level amateur sports teams increases significantly if you have your certification.

To get more specific information you can go to the CSMTA website.

Equine Massage

This massage has recently gained some popularity in the world of sports massage.

Equine sports therapy can address issues in a horse such as:

• Inhibited motion

• Shortening of stride

• Stiffness

• Showing signs of resistance

Be aware of YouTube videos claiming to be Sports Massage, but are actually treatments or rehab for sports injuries. There are several of the out there. Check out the link in the resources box for an actual pre-event demo.

Mike Grafstein SMT(C) Certified Sports Massage Therapist

Latissimus Dorsi - A Massage Therapist's Review

What is the Latissimus Dorsi? Commonly known as the lats, the Latissimus Dorsi is the largest back muscle.

Anatomy

Origins: T7-T12, the iliac crest (the front uppermost ridge of the pelvic girdle), 3 or 4 of the lowest ribs, the bottom point of the shoulder blade.

Insertions: The top of the humerus (the upper arm bone that fits into the shoulder joint)

Actions: Rotates the shoulder (which moves the arm) inward, or brings the arms closer to the body. Involved in lifting, carrying, climbing and swimming. Pushing on the arms of a chair when standing up.

Antagonist: Deltoid (the muscle at the top of the arm), and the trapezius (another large back muscle).

Common Injuries

Hanging from monkey bars, pulling yourself up with your arms.

Symptoms

A tightening of the muscle may be felt under the shoulder blade that becomes more severe on breathing.

A spasm in the lats may be attributed to the forward rotation of the pelvis. If treating the lats alone does not work, it might help to stretch the same-side iliopsoas as well.

A pain that is felt on or near a rib becoming more painful when coughing or sneezing.

Self-Care

Stretching: Lat Stretch

Stand with arms above your head, reaching as high as possible. Hold 10 to 30 seconds.

Hip Flexor Stretch

Do a deep lunge: back knee bent and on the floor, front knee bent with foot on the floor. Push hips forward while keeping the back straight. The stretch should be felt at the top of the forward leg. Hold 10 to 30 seconds.

Strengthening: Lat Pull Down

Using a Lat Pull Down machine.

Massage Techniques

The Swedish stroke, Effleurage, over the entire muscle to warm it up.

A Myofascial Release technique where the client is prone with one arm bent at 90 degrees and hanging over the side of the table. The practitioner stands at the head facing the feet and applies full hand to the lats, dragging toward the client's feet while the other hand gently pulls the client's arm toward the head, causing a stretch.

A Thai massage technique where the client lies on his/her back with arms stretch over the head. Practitioner sits above client's head facing the feet, one foot on each shoulder. Holding onto each other's wrists, the practitioner pulls and releases.