| Are You a “Humpty Dumpty?”-September 2009 blog Each year new studies demonstrate what most of you already know as have experienced for yourself, that is, massage therapy keeps us healthier and reduces injury and illnesses caused by stress and exertion. Massage helps lower blood pressure, calms the central nervous system, and increases circulation to all the tissues in the body which helps removes toxins and increases the delivery of cell regenerating nutrients. Those who know this and have regular (monthly) massage, report improved energy and stamina, better sleep patterns, reduction in muscle cramps, and are less inclined to suffer from and recover quicker of colds and allergy symptoms. In-spite of all this awareness, I still get the call from the client who needs immediate pain relief from an injury or neck ache or headache. Like “Humpty Dumpty” we put them back together again and we don’t see them again until the next time they are in pain. As much as I want to help, sometimes I can’t because of scheduling because someone in pain wants help “Now” and I understand that and it bothers me when I can’t accommodate them. Most people aren’t aware of the simple changes they can make to have a body that functions better and makes them less prone to dysfunctional neck/back aches, headaches, sore feet, tired muscles. I have training in assessing movement, balance, and body structure. Helping to make you move more effectively and be less worn down by gravity. Those clients who have saught out this kind of help have been amazed by results from making changes in the way the walk, sit and go about their daily tasks. Awareness is the biggest key. The muscles don’t lie, they were designed to function a certain way and when we deviate from proper function the result is almost always those aches and pains. You don’t have to live with pain. Your Mother was right when she said “sit up straight” or “don’t slouch”. We all have gotten into bad body patterns where we are not using our muscles correctly. We hold stress in our bodies and do long term damage just simply because we don’t know any better. Maybe it wasn’t wise for Humpty to go sit on that wall, maybe he didn’t have choice like most of us who literally sacrifice our bodies for the work we do. When I work in the mall years ago, my feet ached all the time and I eventually developed “plantar fascitis”. I bought better shoes, and learne to treat my condition. I wish I knew about massage back then too. My point is, we need to do everything we can to make living in this body better for longer. One of my massage instructors tells the story of his grandpa who worked on a ranch all his life. When my teacher graduated from massage school his grandpa declared that he never had a massage and never needed one. My teacher had no answer at that time because even at 70 his grandpa worked circles around everyone and throw bales of hay around with the best of them. A few years later his grandpa needed hip replacements. Then my teacher had an answer. Massage probably could have prevented that. It would have reduced the damage that sitting in the saddle day in and out for years had done to grandpas hip joints. I recently saw a rancher walking into the store in Mesquite, wearing his jeans, boots and cowboy hat. His legs were so bowed that it was painful watching him walk. I remember playing with plastic cowboys as a child whose legs were bent just like that so they would fit on the toy horse. We often become what we do. I challenge you to take care of yourself before the “pain in the neck” sets in. To fascilitate this, I will be glad to do a free movement assessment for anyone seeking to find answers on how you can function better and with less chronic pain. |
