enlightenMENt through Yoga

“Practice, and all is coming”

– Sri K. Pattabhi Jois

I have so many clients, especially male clients,  that come to in search of the best way to stay pain free and the simple response is to stretch more. The usual response that I get is “I don’t like to stretch, it’s boring” or “I don’t know how to do it right.” There is an easy solution to this, Yoga. I don’t practice nearly as much as I should, however; I am a huge advocate of utilizing the technique to optimize flexibility and health. To help explain the many benefits of Yoga and how it can positively effect an man’s health, I will put the following entry in the hands of Ken Immer. Ken is one of my clients and friends who hosts weekly yoga sessions catered to men specifically.

Men &Yoga

By: Ken Immer

 

I have been teaching yoga for over 10 years, and to this day, it surprises me that more men are not practicing yoga. When new men show up for their first class with me, I always ask them how they feel after my class, and the answer 99% of the time is “It’s not what I thought it was… at all.” This response can sometimes be a surprise because I may have actually talked to the guy before hand and convinced him to come check it out. Clearly, the invitation was understood and taken, but the message about what a yoga class IS often was not. The guys always say that “It was a lot harder than I expected” or “That was an amazing workout.” or “I can’t believe how relaxed I feel.” These are the messages that I want to convey: yes, it is a tough workout, you will sweat, and yes, you will feel relaxed and rejuvenated after practicing. All yoga classes, however, are not created equal when it comes to the first two, and that’s where some of the confusion comes in, but every class will always give you the last one. Which is one of the biggest reason to do it. We all could use a little less stress. The difference with the first two is your own current fitness level and attitude, and there is a yoga for everyone out there.

 

Most men believe that yoga is something soft and feminine, and it can be. But a key attribute of yoga practice is balance, so along with a feminine side, there is a stronger, harder, masculine side. Yoga was originally designed BY men FOR men’s bodies. We have a natural tendency to be stronger, and many yoga practices develop and rely on this strength, but are often omitted from yoga classes that are mostly attended by women. So, yeah, what you may have heard is sometimes true, but not always, and it depends on the style of yoga and the individual teacher. Sounds confusing, right? Well how do you get to the right class? The answer is just going to your first class and giving it a try.  However, at first it’s important to understand a little about a yoga practice. It’s a lot like any other exercise or sport. When you first start lifting weights, you don’t just go right for the 400 lb. bench press. A good trainer will first use lighter weights to help you learn good form first, and then start to add more weight gradually once you have the fundamentals. Yoga is the same. Your first beginner’s class, for most, will not be the hardest workout of your life, although if you are starting very out of shape, it will likely take some wind out of you and make you sweat, but a seasoned athlete will likely not consider it incredibly challenging. This is completely normal. Your first class is simply learning form and function. Getting used to being barefoot (did they tell you we don’t wear shoes in class?), understanding the format of the class (which often begins with a meditative ‘centering’ and some basic breathing practices, and ends with a complete, on-your-back-with-eyes-closed resting period called “corpse pose” or “savasana” (that’s the technical term, but we won’t get into that here.). Your second class, you might actually start to hear some of the more subtle cues that a good instructor will give instead of just trying to figure out how to get your foot up to the top of the mat, or sit still for as long as the teacher might ask you to. The fact is, it’s an alien world for your first several classes, but believe me when I tell you that it’s worth the investment, and if you give it the chance, you actually start to get the benefits from day 1. So what are these benefits, you ask? Greater flexibility, greater lung capacity, better balance, a truly stronger core that you can feel all the way out to your arms, and of course, there is the benefits of increased sex drive and performance, just to name a few. Once you learn some basic fundamentals, a whole new world of body awareness seems to blossom in front of your eyes. Muscles that you never knew you had start to get stronger, and at the same time, your flexibility will INCREASE, which is quite the opposite that happens with dedicated weight training. Your body becomes more efficient because the breathing exercises help to draw more oxygen into your bloodstream and your breathing becomes deeper. All of these benefits add up to a more relaxed and vital you! This is why the practice is so amazing: it will improve your overall performance in all physical areas of your life. You will sleep better, you will feel better, you will have better balance, and you will feel stronger at the core of your being. And best of all, you can advance at your own rate, attending more and more challenging classes as you feel ready.

 

Some men do well using nothing but yoga as an exercise, others will find that regular yoga practice (even only once per week) will benefit all other exercise routines and sports. So if you’re interested in achieving top performance and seeing breakthrough results in your life, yoga is the key. So the elusive, “right class for you” becomes the $64k question. How do I find a studio/teacher that is right for me? You have to ask around! Call the local studios and ask them about how their style of yoga might be for you. One of the fundamental teachings of yoga is that everyone is an individual, and there is no “one right way” to practice. This is why there are so many styles and types of yoga. Living in Charleston, we have an amazing array of styles, teachers, and methods to choose from so it may take some looking and experimenting, but remember, each class is delivering on that long list of benefits, even when you don’t feel like the particular class was “for you”. So it’s never a waste of time. There is an incredible online resource www.yogaformen.comand it’s brother facebook page that I would recommend you check out if you are ready to start exploring the yoga path. It can help you sort through the variety, and actually connect you with other men who are seeking and who have found their yoga practice. There are currently two specific “Men’s only” yoga classes in North Charleston that are offered weekly on Mondays and Thursdays, which can be great for guys who might be apprehensive to a room full of super-flexible women. Every studio in town also has a “beginner’s series” that they will offer at least monthly, and there are always at least a FEW guys in each beginner series, so you won’t be the only one.

The biggest piece of advice I can ever give a man who is giving yoga a try is to do it for at LEAST 6 weeks (1 or 2 times per week) before your make any decisions about its results. It can take this long just to get acclimated because it is so different from anything you have ever done. The reason you are considering it is because you are still looking to increase performance, right? Or maybe it’s because you simply need a form of exercise that is less dangerous and impactful than your current choice. Whatever the reason, yoga IS different, and it can be for you. All you have to do is be open minded to the possibility that it is for you.

Yoga4Men

Thursdays, 6:30pm – 7:45pm

Armory Park

5000 Lackawana Blvd.

North Charleston, SC 29405

$5-10 (donation class)

Men’s Yoga

Mondays, 6:30pm – 7:30pm

Barefoot Yoga Studio

1050 E. Montague Ave.

North Charleston, SC 29405

$15 drop in, ($12 with membership)

www.yogaformen.com

www.facebook.com/yogaformen

Optimizing Workouts with Massage

“Training gives us an outlet for suppressed energies created by stress and thus tones the spirit just as exercise conditions the body. ”
–Arnold Schwarzenegger

How many times have you caught yourself avoiding working out because you are too sore or are not getting the results that you are looking for with weight training due to the lack of that extra push? What if there was a way to get around those obstacles? Thereis a way – Therapeutic Massage!
Lactic acids build up in the muscles due to exercise leads to DOMS or delayed
onset muscle soreness, poor muscle fiber and joint movement, and difficulty in the healing of the muscles. Studies have shown that massage flushes the muscles of built up toxins, including lactic acid. Massage also loosens the muscle fibers increasing the joints’ range of motions; therefore, allowing the muscles to repair and increase in size and strength at an accelerated rate. Receiving regular therapeutic massage in conjunction with your normal workout routines will not only help the muscles heal faster, but also
significantly reduces pain and soreness. By having the ability for your muscles to recover and build strength faster, you are able to get back to training sooner and gain more of your desired results.
Studies have also shown that massage is also a great way to decrease blood
pressure and increase energy giving you a euphoric effect that will make working out more fun and more desirable. The best part of it all is that therapeutic massage is not targeted at one specific group. The benefits of therapeutic massage can be appreciated by everyone from the competing body builder to the semi-pro athlete to the everyday person trying to get back in shape and stay fit.

As Primal As Massage

“The power of intuitive understanding will protect you from harm until the end of your days.”

-Lao Tzu

Two weeks ago, I participated in the 3rd annual Primal Games which is an event that tests your strength, endurance, skill, and drive.  It’s commonly referred to as “The Caveman Olympics” because it is full of events that we as human beings should be able to accomplish because they stem from functional primal patterns. However due to evolution and modernization such as office jobs, computer interaction, texting, and much more,  many people have forgot how to facilitate these innate patterns. Participating in the games got me thinking about 2 things:

1. Do people realize how primal massage therapy is?

2. Why wouldn’t people be more apt to utilize massage therapy to help and restore these primal patterns?

Interesting thoughts I know, but let me explain my thought process here. Anyone who knows me knows that movement patterns and fitness are always on my mind and in one way or another lead to how massage could influence everyday matters such as these ideas.

Plain and simple, massage is as primal it gets! Think about it, when you hurt yourself what is the first thing you do? You rub the area to ease the pain…massage! When a child or even young animal is upset what do the parents do? They console them and pat their back or rub their head….both essence of massage. And if you want to go as far as to ask what is one of the first things we experience when we are brought into this world? The muscle contractions utilized to deliver young are a form of massage! Massage has been used all over the world dating back thousands and thousands of years because it is innate and instinctive. Touch, when applied correctly and in a positive nature, helps to heal and optimize the functions of the body. Now due to certain stigmas and taboos, massage gets a bad rep and many people avoid it like the plague not understanding that it is primal and can benefit us greatly.

Now that we understand that massage is primal lets understand how it can help return us to our primal patterns more efficiently. Posture and movement are everything in the human body. When looking at movement there is nothing more true than the old phrase, “use it or lose it.” If you do not actively move your body in the primal patterns then over time the brain will forget to maintain them as well as letting proper posture slide into a decline. Once your posture is compromise the body starts tightening up muscles and laying down scar tissue to protect itself from getting any worse, but yet if nothing is done to prevent it or reset it it will get worse. We are seeing this situation more and more everyday as people invest more time playing video games, watching TV, or stuck in an office all day and less time being active and addressing their over all physical fitness not to mention an abundance of stress coming from all aspects of life.  Enter massage! Massage at it’s simplest form acts to calm the muscular and nervous system to release tension. Massage is also utilized to break down scar tissue and align muscle fibers to promote healing, optimize posture, and restore function in the body. Seems a little to easy and to good to be true, but it’s not. As I stated before civilizations around the world have been administering massage therapy techniques to recover warriors, prepare athletes, and nurture their fellow man for centuries.

It seems very difficult to believe that people would be be so timid and reluctant to utilize massage therapy when it is so primal and can help us get back to our functional nature. It’s easy, fairly painless, and best of all it’s drug free!

To learn more or if you have any questions, just comment below…

#liveprimal

A Special Touch on Enjoying the Outdoors

“Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.”

–Ralph Waldo Emerson

With Spring upon us and Summer right around the corner the temperatures are getting more desirable and the days are longer which prompts so many of us to get out and enjoy the great outdoors. Some of us enjoy laying on the beach or being out on a boat, while others of us enjoy more intense recreation such as hiking, biking, kayaking, surfing, kiteboarding, and rock climbing to name a few. What ever way that we choose to enjoy the outdoors there is a chance of injury. If we choose to layout on the beach or boat we run the risk of sunburn and if we choose the more intense activities we run a higher risk for injuries including strains, sprains, and other muscle related mishaps. Preventative maintenance is our best option to avoid any pain and discomfort. For possible sunburns it’s easy, sunscreen. For possible injuries, let’s look towards therapeutic massage.
The main causes of most injuries related to outdoor activities are minor traumas, lack of preparation, lack of flexibility, and overused muscles. All of these causes can be easily limited through therapeutic massage whether it is for recovery or preventative maintenance. Therapeutic massage offers a combination of stretching, sports massage, and even strengthening exercises. Stretching and massage offers a way to increase our blood flow and our range of motion. Increasing our blood flow is a great way to not only warm up our muscles and make them pliable, but also to efficiently deliver nutrients and
remove wastes allowing for a quicker recovery. A quicker recovery means that we get back to the fun in the sun sooner! Strengthening exercises are great ways to keep us in a good posture and at a higher level of fitness to enjoy our outdoor activities. All three parts to therapeutic massage add up to a perfect way to avoid possible injuries.
Whether you are paddling out surfing, reaching far rock climbing, peddling faster biking, flying high kite boarding, or going the distance hiking keep in mind that the best way to avoid injuries and have the optimum enjoyment of the great outdoors is by being prepared through preventative maintenance. It may seem like a little much just to keep up with your activities but the rewards of being able to participate more often in better health and fitness are well worth your time and efforts.

Corrective Exercises, Corrected YOU!

“Correction does much, but encouragement does more.”
–Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Exercise is one of the most beneficial activities that we can do for our health and wellness, but yet we see so many people avoid this task that seems dreadful to them. There are many reasons that top the list of  why people don’t want to exercise including not enough time, boredom, pain, but most importantly people don’t really know how to do exercises properly.

Corrective exercises are exercises that are designed to not only regain proper movement but maintain proper posture as well. These exercises will create a strong foundation to build stability upon.  It is after a client has mastered the corrective exercises that they can move on to functional exercises that will help the client to move, feel, and be better.

If you would like to learn more about corrective exercising, listen in to the Healthy U radio show on www.kinetichifi.com this Saturday the 6th from 2-4pm EST. I will be chatting with Justin Price of  Aspire Fitness & Wellness who is a personal trainer specializing in corrective exercising. We will be discussing how to become more educated in corrective exercising and how it can  dramatically benefit your life.

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Healthy U Radio

“To effectively communicate, we must realize that we are all different in the way we perceive the world and use this understanding as a guide to our communication with others.”
–Tony Robbins

As you may know if you follow my blog, and if you don’t you are about to find out, that I am very passionate about providing information about health and wellness to as many people as I  can.  I really feel that as  a  society we don’t take care of ourselves as well as we need to and I don’t feel that it is because we don’t want to ,  but because many of us don ‘t know how go about it properly. As the old cliche’ goes, ” Knowledge is power”  and we need that power to achieve our goals. It is with this thought that I try to convey and teach information through my newsletters, this blog, and even everyday conversation.

I am pleased to announce that I  am able to take this passion of mine to the next level with my very own radio show, Healthy U! The first show is this Saturday the 22nd from 2-4pm and  you can listen online at www.kinetichifi.com, it’s just that easy! The show is scheduled for every Saturday at the same times. Below is the description and mission statement of sorts for Healthy U:

“Welcome to Healthy U, a show designed to promote better health and wellness.  Our health and fitness are important to our livelihood but unfortunately don’t seem to make its way on to the priority list for many people. Healthy U’s goal is to inspire, educate, and support the health and wellness of the community through research and identification of specialists’ right in our own community that provide tips and additional education. The show will be completely interactive so that the listeners and the host can discuss the latest trends in health, fitness, nutrition, and other topics that spread wellness to us and others.”

If you would like to, you can follow the action and contact me with any questions, comments,  or ideas via:

email: healthyuradio@gmail.com

facebook: www.facebook.com/healthuradio

twitter: @healthyuradio

 

Personal Training to Make a Massage Better

“Physical fitness is not only one of the most important keys to a healthy body, it is the basis of dynamic and creative intellectual activity.”

– John F. Kennedy

As you have read in a previous post, I have been investing a lot of time in studying for my Certified Personal Trainer’s program. This is a journey that started back in 2005 when if first took the CEU program from the NCSF (National Council for Strength & Fitness). Interest in this program arose because of the amount of clientele coming in to see me that were experiencing significant pain after starting a new exercise program. Most of these clients were following regiments prescribed by a  personal trainer. This concept didn’t make much sense to me because of the fact that, in my opinion, trainers were suppose to keep you safe while reaching your goals. It was shortly after this that I decided to observe several trainers as they were training clients at the gym I was working out at and noticed how a majority of them were using too much weight for their clients and not even paying attention to their form. In addition to this, I learned that most trainers in the Charleston area received their certification from a weekend online course. These findings were shocking to me, so I wanted to become more educated about the training process and how to properly execute a training program that would be safe and effective.

Back in 2005 I completed the continuing education program from the NCSF to attain the required CEUs to recertify my Massage Therapy license. I had no intention on taking the CPT (Certified Personal Trainer) exam at that time due to the fact that I wanted to focus myself on developing my massage therapy skills and not jump into a new endeavor. It wasn’t until about a year ago that I started utilizing movement pattern training as  part of my teachings to my clients to make sure that their form, while working out, wasn’t compromising their posture and distorting their muscular balance. Unfortunately, many people considered the movement patterns as ‘exercises’ and labeled them as such. Exercise instruction is outside the normal “Scope of Practice” for a  massage therapist. A Scope of Practice can be broadened with proper continued education and it was with this concept that I decided to begin my studying to achieve my Personal Trainer’s certification.

On August 16, 2012 I took my CPT exam and I am very pleased to announce that I passed and am now a certified personal trainer through the NCSF. I still have no intention on working as a personal trainer in a gym,  but this allows me to legitimately instruct corrective exercises to my clients. This aspect of my treatments will further the benefits of the work I  provide. Therapeutic massage has many benefits including breaking down muscular adhesions and scar tissue as well as re-aligning posture. Corrective Exercises allow those benefits to last longer between sessions and also provide the client with a sense of accomplishment as they are assuming a larger part of their self-maintenance in their health and wellness.
I urge people to add an element of fitness and exercise to their regular healthcare program because of the many positive benefits on the body overall. What exercises and how to do them properly are not always the easiest tasks to understand, so I highly recommend seeking the knowledge of well trained professionals. This will ensure your safety  and improve your health,  as well as help you maintain your overall wellness.

Summer Update

“I have no special talent. I am only passionately curious.”
Albert Einstein

It is  quite apparent that I haven’t been as active with the Blog as I have in the past.  Summertime is always an exciting and unpredictable time.  You can never tell how busy or slow business can get. When it’s busy, it can be tricky to get a regular Blog completed and lucky for me and the growing business, things have been busy.

In addition to the normal Summer travel that everyone likes to enjoy, business at the office  has picked up significantly and has occupied some of my normal writing time.  It also seems that my writings have become noticed by others because I have been commissioned by several magazines to write articles for their readers.   So when we look at it now, I am having to split my writing time up more between D:TM and several other publications. It’s very flattering to be asked to write for a major publication, but it doesn’t discount the importance of writing for my readers. If you have any topics that you would like me to address, leave your comments below or contact me directly at definedmassage@gmail.com.

One last thing to be aware of for the Summer is that I am currently studying to become a certified personal trainer through the NCSF. Education is essential to be good at what you do and you can never stop learning. By getting a personal trainer’s certification I will be able to better provide proper exercises routines that will strengthen the correct muscles use to correct posture and assist in proper movement. Massage therapy is only half of the solution, self-care and  proper exercise helps to maintain good health. After I become certified, I will also be able to write more articles and Blogs about corrective exercises as well that can help YOU move, feel, & BE  better!

Summer is always an exciting time for everyone and for me I am looking forward to learning more to provide YOU and the public with the valuable education about the many benefits of  therapeutic massage!

Optimize YOUR Workouts with the Right Recovery!

Beach weather is finally upon us and you know what that means, everyone wants to get their best beach body in shape and ready to head out. What this means for most is heading back in to the gym and for others it’s and increase in their workout. Either way, this can put a tremendous amount of stress on your body to the point it can cause pain and discomfort as well as limiting your ability and desire to keep up with your workouts. The most important part of a workout is the Recovery! The above Blog supplies you with 9 great ideas to help with your post-workout recovery. Follow this tips so that you can keep up with your workouts and so that you can move, feel, & BE better!

Pay close attention to #4 and #6! If you have any further questions, please feel free to comment or contact DEFINED: Therapeutic Massage (http://www.definedmassage.com)

Happy Training!

ChiroHealthWellness's Blog

So, you have finally dragged yourself to the gym; you eked out more sit-ups, push-ups, and miles today than you have in the past 5 years, and now you are exhausted, but you want to keep up your new workout regimen.  Recovery after exercise is essential to muscle and tissue repair and strength building.  A muscle needs anywhere from 24-48 hours after a workout to repair and rebuild, especially after a strength workout.  If recovery is not taken, a muscle simply will start to break down instead of build.  Here are 9 ways to make the most of your recovery hours that will keep the muscle soreness at a minimum, boost your energy level, and make your fitness goals a reality:

 

1.                  Rest.  Rest is one of the best ways to heal from illness, injury, and even from a tough workout.  So, kick off your shoes, sit back…

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Massage for Mothers and Mothers-to-Be

“All that I am, or hope to be, I owe to my angel mother.”
–Abraham Lincoln 

With yesterday being Mother’s  Day, I only feel that it is appropriate that I write about Moms and Moms-to-be. Mothers do so much for us and although they may not always show it, they go  through tremendous amounts of stress. Moms go non-stop from  organizing,  preparing, worrying, protecting,  and making sure everything is done which is beyond exhausting. In my personal opinion, there is no one that deserves a massage more than a mom! Massage will help them to relax and recover from all the hard work that they do for us.

Being a mom is tough and can be physically exhausting, we have established that, but becoming a mother can be even tougher as it has a more dramatic effect on the body! Pregnancy is a gift, a blessing, and a miracle all  in one and wrapped in physical, mental, and emotional stress bow. It is the expecting mother that can even benefit from a massage more that  just about anyone!

Massage can be very beneficial for expecting moms

There have been countless discussions about massage being good or bad during pregnancy and I’m sure I could go into great detail about all the specifics, but I will save the in depth discussions for future Blogs. I would like to take this time to discuss the general facts that massage during pregnancy is both good and bad! How is that you may ask? During the first trimester (12 weeks), a pregnant woman’s body is going through so many hormonal changes as well as physical changes that adding massage may cause  more pain and discomfort,  so it is advised by many doctors and therapists to avoid massage therapy during that time period. Another thing to keep in mind is that during that first trimester, the fetus is attaching to the uterine wall and too much movement and manipulation to that area could potentially cause the fetus to detach. After the first trimester though, many women are in the clear to receive massage to help manage pain as well as assist in a smooth and easy delivery!

Due to the amount of physical changes such as the hips expanding to make room for the growing child as well as the additional pull on the low back, muscles and bones go through sudden shifts that cause pain, discomfort,  and even unwanted swelling to a pregnant woman’s body.  All of these side effects can be easily managed with therapeutic massage and light stretching. Another great thing about massage is that it helps aid in the removal of wastes and toxins in the mother’s body which in turn makes the child’s environment a healthier  and safer one to develop.  It is always important to get clearance from a doctor prior to scheduling a massage due to a short list of contraindications that could cause complications to the pregnancy if massage is as added.

Another good thing  to know is that there are special courses that therapists can and should take to optimize treatment for an expecting mother. These courses are designed teach therapists the right positions to put the expecting mothers into to ensure comfort and safety of the child. The courses are also responsible for teaching the proper amount of pressure to use as well as places to avoid that may cause problems during a pregnancy. Make sure that if you are seeking a massage therapist to help with your pregnancy  or someone else’s pregnancy that they have adequate training and experience.

If you have questions or comments about how massage can affect pregnancy, please leave them below and I will be sure to address them in future Blogs. And to all those Mothers and Mothers – to – be….Happy Mother’s Day from DEFINED: Therapeutic Massage!