Massage News - Articles of Interest
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We’ve all heard the phrase “no pain, no gain,” but is it the best advice to follow when it comes to our bodies? Originating in the 1980s as an exercise motto, it promised greater rewards for the price of hard, and even painful work. Under this conception competitive professionals, such as athletes, are required to endure pain (physical suffering) to achieve professional excellence. Medical experts agree that this philosophy is wrong for exercise and may have prompted the use of steroids in order to enhance performance. Thank goodness we’ve learned a lot more about our bodies over the last 30-40 years.  Any pain or soreness your body is experiencing is like the warning light in your car. It’s letting you know that something is wrong and needs to be checked. Just like your car, the better you maintain and support your body, the less pain you’ll experience.
Why do our muscles get sore? As our muscles repair themselves, it’s common to experience a dull, aching pain. No one is immune from experiencing this pain, but the level will depend on the type of activity and how much the muscles have adapted to that activity over time. Muscle fatigue is common in exercise and occurs when you can no longer perform a specific movement. Your body uses this to signal that the muscles are too tired to continue. With muscle fatigue, the burning sensation usually fades shortly after you stop the movement. Over using your muscles involves pushing your muscles past the point of fatigue, which can lead to injury. You don’t necessarily need to strain your muscle during a workout. A muscle injury can occur when you don’t give your body adequate time to rest and recover. In general, muscle soreness is dull and mild and usually begins 24-48 hours after exercise. When the pain becomes more severe, that may be a sign that an injury has occurred or that something has been strained. This pain can indicate that the muscles were overused. Invest in yourself. Take the time to learn your body and listen to what it’s telling you. If you learn to recognize your pain threshold to identify when your body is telling you to take a break, you can prevent muscle injuries.  It is important be healthy and take care of your body. Two things most people think of when discussing a healthy lifestyle is their diet and fitness routine. These things are both important parts of living a healthy life, but how does massage fit in?
If you plan on getting a massage pre-workout, it is suggested that you go for a light massage. A light massage helps warm up the muscles and makes them more flexible. However, if you plan on working out after a deep tissue massage, you might want to think again. This can lead to increased soreness, and it can inhibit the effectiveness of the tissue work done during your massage. There are five major benefits to post-workout massages:  It’s that time of year again, Back-to-School, and Boo is getting ready to continue his education in the office. Education and proper certifications are always primary goals at Living Touch Massage. It is important to Rita that she practices the most current and accurate techniques in the massage industry. It is so important to her practice that she goes above and beyond required certifications and learns specific techniques to help clients with a variety of conditions. Continuing her education and maintaining her certifications allows her to meet the needs of a broader range of clients and truly make an impact on their lives. From her education, she gains increased knowledge, a better understanding of old and new techniques, and an increased skill level. This helps her create the best possible experience for her clients.
Rita is currently nationally certified by the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork. To have received this certification, she must demonstrate a mastery of core skills and knowledge, pass an NCBTMB standardized exam, uphold the organization’s Standards of Practice and Code of Ethics, as well as continue her education. Rita is already experienced and trained in Swedish massage, deep tissue massage, Myofascial massage and release, therapeutic, relaxation, restorative, prenatal, and chair massage. For more information on all specialties, view all Our Services. |
