Massage Lends a Helping Hand to Detoxification

“To keep the body in good health is a duty… otherwise we shall not be able
to keep our mind strong and clear.”
- Buddha

It seems like everywhere you go these days, someone is talking about “Detoxing”, it’s all over the internet, TV, and even in our supermarkets. What is it about Detoxification that get’s everyone so energized? The truth is that there are so many pollutants in the air we breathe, the foods we eat, and even the water that we drink and bathe in, that absorb into our bodies and cause distortions in our proper bodily functions. These distortions can lead to severe medical and health problems. Detoxification is a way to purge the body of as
many of these impurities as possible so that our bodies can function better with less stress.

 

How exactly does one go about “Detoxing”, you may ask? There are many pills and drinks out on the market that promote detoxification, but most of them are only a temporary fix and don’t have lasting effects. Sweating is your body’s natural way of detoxing,so any activity that would promote sweating, such as exercise or even time in an infrared sauna, would be great at cleaning out your system. Altering your diet to eat more foods that are less processed, organically grown, and contain healthy probiotics and enzymes.

Another natural way to help with the detoxification process is with massage therapy. Massage therapy is usually a combination of strokes and movement that create a flushing action. The flushing helps to clear the muscles of any excess wastes that have accumulated and moves it to the blood stream. From the blood stream the toxins and wastes are moved to the lymphatic system, the body’s filtering system, where it is on it’s way to final removal. With the combination of regular massage, a proper diet, and the right activities, you can be on your way to detoxification for a better life and a better YOU!

Alcohol and Muscle Recovery

“I am very serious about no alcohol, no drugs. Life is too beautiful.”

 -Jim Carrey

 

    St. Patrick’s Day is right around the corner and there are several thing we think of when we think of this Irish holiday such as leprechauns, shamrocks,  and alcohol. I personally do not partake in alcohol at anytime and that’s my choice. For others, alcohol is a part of everyday life. When it comes to health and  wellness, I believe it is important that people should be aware of how alcohol can affect muscles and recovery.   

Alcohol is part of many cultures and societies of the world. Whether it’s celebrating holidays, relaxing after a long day of work, or just socializing with friends; many people like
to enjoy several “adult beverages” every so often.
    Many doctors and experts claim that having a drink a day, especially red wine, can have
positive effects on heart health. The biggest problem that many people face is that they don’t stop at one or two drinks;many people overindulge. Too much alcohol in the body
negatively affects the mind, body, and muscle recovery.
    Our bodies recognize alcohol as a toxin, the same as a low grade poison. The liver’s
job is to filter the blood of this harmful substance, but it can only do so at a slow rate. It
takes around an hour for our body to filter one “average” drink depending on size, sex,
race, & age. Any more than the allotted amount for the set time and damages start taking
place.
    According to studies from Montclair State University, alcohol impedes muscle growth
by diminishing protein synthesis and the production of Human Growth Hormone. Alcohol has also been shown to reduce Testosterone and ATP in the body. The above facts make it much more difficult for your muscles to heal and recover as well as providing essential
energy to get through the day.
    It’s important to be aware of these facts about alcohol to maintain health and wellness.
Remember that moderation is the key.

Biofreeze: A Review

“The aim of the wise is not to secure pleasure, but to avoid pain”

-Aristotle

    Many Healthcare Professionals and even many people know that one of the best ways to
recover from injury is to avoid pain as well as manage inflammation. Most of the time to avoid pain we take a pill or some other sort of oral pain reliever. In truth, these are chemicals that wreak having on our digestive system and liver.To reduce inflammation we use ice packs that usually require us to stay immobile and increases the risk of frostbite
and nerve damage. In our fast paced lifestyles and in our attempt to stay healthy, what are we to do to get the healing benefits of Cold Therapy and Pain Relievers with out all the
side effects and limiters? A good answer is Biofreeze.
   Biofreeze is a topical analgesic that is made from a USP-grade natural menthol that
helps with pain relief as well as reduces inflammation. This type of product is great for use
to recover from an injury or to help subdue pain before deep therapeutic massage and even chiropractic care. After application, Biofreeze works as a counter-irritant which means
that it’s effect overrides noxious pain signals traveling to the brain through a process
modulated between paintransmitting and non-paintransmitting neurons which is
known as “gate control”.
    In my experience, both personal and professional, I have had great results with Biofreeze. It works fast and has lasting effects with very little “medicine cabinet smell.” I
highly recommend Biofreeze for recovery and pain management; both minor and
major traumas alike.

Healing Hands for the Heart

“A loving heart is the beginning of all knowledge.”
- Thomas Carlyle

 

This time of year, with Valentine’s day around the corner, we start thinking about hearts a little more. We express love and other joyful feelings that “come from the heart,” but how often do we really consider our heart’s health and what a healthy heart can do for your body?

Due to the stress of everyday life, poor nutrition, and many other factors, our heart can reduce it’s natural ability to properly pump blood throughout the body effectively. Why is this so important? Blood contains Oxygen and many other essential nutrients that assist our body in carrying out functions to survive and perform actions. How can we prevent and maintain our heart’s
health easily and effectively ?

Massage therapy assists in relaxing the nervous system which allows the body to reduce the amount of Cortisol, a stress hormone, that the body produces. Following the reduction of the hormone, the body is calmed which allows heart rate to slow down decreasing the amount of stress and muscular fatigue on the
heart muscle it self. Another great way that massage helps to reduce the
stress and fatigue on the heart is by reducing tension in the muscle
fibers. How would this effect the heart you may ask? When tension is
taken off of the muscles blood flow increases naturally, this process takes
any additional strain off of the heart. The heart regulates it’s effort to
pump blood depending on the demand for nutrients throughout the
body and since the blood carries nutrients, if there is any interference,
the heart feels that it has to pump hard to compensate when in actuality, if we take away the interference, in this case tight muscles,blood can flow effortlessly and efficiently with less strain on the heart.
Proper nutrition, exercise, and stress management all play an important role in keeping your heart healthy, add
massage therapy in the mix and not only will you feel better, but you amplify the results of those efforts!

Holiday in Review

“Twice and thrice over,  as they say,  good is it to repeat and review what is good”

-Plato

 

So the end of the year is upon us and for many this is a time to reflect and review. I like to take this opportunity to review for a moment, but not for the whole year just the holiday. So much went on this past year that it would make this BLOG way too long. This holiday season was one of the best ever for my career and I would like to thank all my amazing clients for their loyalty and support in helping make DEFINED: Therapeutic Massage and the Healthy U radio show so successful.

Social media marketing has proven to be a great way to promote the benefits of massage therapy to the local market here in Charleston, SC. In December, I have received more NEW clients than any other month this past year.  To all my new clients, welcome to the D:TM family.  Speaking of welcoming to the family, I am pleased to announce the sponsorship of 2 local athletes! Jen Kryzanowski is a local triathlete looking to  hit the ranks Professional in 2013 and with her dedication and perseverance combined with the recovery of therapeutic massage, we are optimistic to hit that goal this year! Pete Kaasa is a amateur professional wrestler who has recently auditioned for WWE and is utilizing the many benefits of therapeutic massage to fine tune his skills and slam in to the industry! I am honored to be working with these athletes and can’t wait to help them achieve their goals!

On my personal fitness goals, I have been keeping up with workouts and even accepted a workout challenge on Christmas morning.

As a result of this challenge, I was able to raise for several charities including The Lymphoma & Leukemia Society, St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital, as  well as several other charities! Thank you to all of those who made the donations! YOU ROCK! If you would like to make any donations,  please do and email me the amount and what charity you donated to so that you can be recognized properly. Thank you in advance!

2013 holds  a lot for DEFINED: Therapeutic Massage as I am looking to expand  into retail and the distribution of  Biofreeze, China Gel, Foam Rollers, and Visalus products. I look forward to helping as many people move, feel, & BE better. To all of you out there, Have a very Happy New Year!

Another Perspective in Giving Thanks

“When you rise in the morning, give thanks for the light, for your life, for your strength. Give thanks for your food and for the joy of living. If you see no reason to give thanks, the fault lies in yourself.”
- Tecumseh

So begins the “holiday season”, a time reserved to spread happiness, joy, and  give thanks to all the many great things we have in our lives.  Sometimes we get lost in  the  stress of the holidays and the expectations of others as to what the  holiday season really means.

I’d like to take this moment to pass on some thoughts that have helped keep me grounded and things that mean the most and that I can  be thankful for in this world.

(I preface this list with a reminder that I am not a psychologist or any type of therapist. These are things that help me and have been passed down by people who I consider to be quite wise. They help me and perhaps they will help you too! )

1. My grandfather reads through the obituaries in the newspaper everyday and when you ask him why, he will  respond with “just making sure my name isn’t in here, means I’m still alive!” What I take from this is that life is important and  worth living, cherish it and make the best of the time you have here!
2. It’s not always getting the best, but making the best of what you’ve got! Be appreciative of what you have already, there are many out there who have much less.
3. Life is tough and can’t be handled alone and that is why you have family and friends. No matter what you may think, some one will always  be there for you and in my opinion that is something that can’t be appreciated enough!

All though the world may be a crazy place and can seem that there is not much to be thankful for,  think about the concepts I  spoke about above…there  is always something for which you can  be thankful.

Here’s wishing you a very healthy and happy thanksgiving to  you  and  yours!

Supplementing for YOUR Health

“Without health life is not life; it is only a state of languor and suffering – an image of death.”
-Buddha 

I often talk about how therapeutic massage can help benefit the body by helping to remove metabolic wastes and stimulating the immune system which in turn allows the body to  function better. Now what if there was a  way for you to boost all those benefits even more, would you? A natural approach to doing just that is the addition of proper vitamins,  minerals, and other supplements into your regiment.

Vitamins and Minerals occur naturally in our foods, but due to our hectic lifestyles and by not always making the right decisions with our food choices, we don’t always get the appropriate amounts that we need. Vitamins and Minerals are essential for our bodies to function properly and at optimal levels. A lack of these nutrients, or deficiencies,  can compromise the way our bodies work as well as our overall health and wellness.

What are the correct nutritional supplements that  you should be taking? That  question usually plagues us all,  but there many sources online and in our communities that  can point us in the right direction.  Companies like Nutrilite  have been around for years and not only offer high quality vitamins and minerals, but also provide representatives who are well educated and can help you make the right decisions when choosing the right supplements.

I personally like to become as well versed as I can when it comes to what vitamins and minerals do what  for the body so that not only can I become healthier, but I can suggest to my massage clients what might be good choices to help with their recovery, improve their immune system,  and optimize their over all health.

    On my radio show,  Healthy U, tomorrow (Saturday October 20th, 2012) I  will be chatting with one of my local Nutrilite representatives, JD Porcelli. We will be chatting about vitamins,  minerals, and other supplements that can boost energy and help with recovery from  workouts  and other strenuous activities. If you are  interested and would like to learn more about what supplements could help you and how to easily get a hold of them, be sure to listen in from 2-4PM EST on www.kinetichifi.com.