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Recap – Stretching Class

1 Comment 09 February 2010

For those of you who missed the stretching classes, or those who just want a reminder, I’ve decided to post a recap. Listed below are some of the benefits of stretching, and some useful tips for you. Stretching is such a great way to relieve stress, prevent tight muscles, and improve your workouts. However, most people never take the time to stretch. Try to incorporate a basic stretching routine into your daily life for just two weeks. You’ll notice a world of difference!

Benefits of Stretching:

· Improved posture

· Beneficial for arthritis

· Relieve back pain

· Prevent injury and muscle tears

· Increase Flexibility

· Improve Circulation

· Increased range of motion

· Great for relaxation and stress relief

Tips for Stretching:

· Warm your muscles before stretching them. Don’t stretch cold muscles. Walk or do some light aerobic work to warm them up.

· Ease yourself into the stretch. Relax and don’t push or bounce. You should feel a stretch in the muscle, but not pain.

· Hold for 15-30 seconds.

· Keep your breathing soft and consistent in a normal rhythm during the stretch.

· Trying closing your eyes, and exhale as you ease into the stretch focusing on overall relaxation.

· Don’t rush it, stretching should be a time to slow down and relax. Don’t worry if you’re not as flexible as you think you should be, this isn’t a competition!

Here are some great online resources for easy stretches that anyone can do! These sites include some good visuals, but be sure to modify them to your own flexibility level. As with any exercise program be sure to talk to your doctor if you have any questions about your limitations especially if you’re had any knee or hip surgeries.

Great slideshow of stretches from WebMD
This is another great resource for beginning yoga stretches.

For those of you looking for the monthly myth debunking don’t worry it’ll be posted next week!

General Health, Massage Therapy, Mental Health

Massage – Legitimately Beneficial?

1 Comment 10 October 2009

Massage – Legitimately Beneficial?

By Lisa Owens

Receiving a massage from a licensed massage therapist has been shown to be beneficial in many ways. Until recent years some health professionals have been skeptical of the many benefits of massage. Those doubts have been discussed in a recent article by Dr. Gupta from Time.com’s Fit Nation. In the article he discussed some of the recent research on the benefits gained from receiving a massage from a licensed Massage Therapist.

One study done by the University of Colorado Denver School of Medicine focused on advanced-stage cancer patients. They found that those who were massaged by a trained therapist had less pain, and improved mood than patients who were touched in a manner similar to massage, but not by a licensed massage therapist. Dr. Jean Kutner who works with many cancer patients noted that massage may help increase mood simply because of the nature of the physical touch. She says that those who are ill don’t get normal human contact in their daily lives. Their contact is usually limited to medical procedures, and that is why massage can be a welcome, and healing touch.

In his article Dr. Gupta, a neurosurgeon, contributes the mental benefits of massage, such as decreased depression, to biochemical factors. It is the same concept as the runner’s high. Muscles are stimulated, circulation is increased, and chemicals are released during a massage in a way that is similar to exercise. Secretion of neurotransmitters such as serotonin and dopamine are increased, and the stress hormone cortisol decreases. These factors along with many others make massage beneficial at any age. There are many types of massage techniques, and each one has a different goal, and focus that helps to relieve different issues. Finding the right massage technique for you can be a great boost to your health. Massage on it’s own, or with other medical procedures works for many to relieve stress, soreness, chronic pain, and other health concerns.

See our directory for a list of licensed Massage Therapists in the Utah Valley area.

Recap – Stretching Class

Tips for Stretching:

Massage – Legitimately Beneficial?

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