Sha Zen Massage Ann Arbor

By Jackie Waters If you suffer from chronic pain, you’re well aware of that before an official diagnosis. But something about being diagnosed with a chronic pain condition can trigger an extra bit of fear and stress. If you’ve recently been told you have a condition, you’ve also been told that it could be something you live with for quite some time. You may be asking yourself where in the world do I start? Here are some tips for how to begin to cope. Don’t be afraid of exercise The stronger your muscles and the more flexible your joints, the less your chronic pain will affect you. Good ol’ fashioned exercise is the only tried and true way to achieve [...]

The word “sciatica” can sound scary if you don’t know exactly what it is. I know from personal experience, having suffered from it during pregnancy. If you’ve landed on this page it’s probably because you are suffering from, or are worried you might have sciatica. First let me say, you are not alone. Your pain can likely be managed and sciatica does not have to be as scary as it seems. While sciatica is painful to deal with, it’s rarely a permanent condition and can almost always be treated non-invasively. Only severe cases require more in-depth treatment options. The best news I have is that you likely already have common tools within your own home that can help relieve your [...]

DISCLAIMER: It is understood that these techniques are for the purpose of education and contributing to the well-being of the individual.  These home care activities are designed with prevention as the primary goal and are not to be used as treatment modalities.  These Home Care activities are not intended to take the place of treatment by licensed medical professionals.  The publisher and author disclaim any liability or loss, personal or otherwise, resulting from procedures in this program. Do not continue with any of these Home Care activities if you experience any Sharp Pain!!   Self Care Stretching Table of Contents Hip Flexor Stretches (Psoas, Iliacus, Quadriceps) …………………………………………………………………… 1 Hip Flexor Stretches with Ball (Psoas, Iliacus, Quadriceps)……………………………………………………. 2 Leg / Hip [...]

By GAIL ROSENBLUM , STAR TRIBUNE April 18, 2017 - 8:55 AM That’s really up to you, says our expert, Cari Pelava, who answered a few embarrassing questions we posed so you wouldn’t have to. Client time is healing time, and you’re paying for it. If the therapist asks questions such as “How does this feel?” or “Is this too much pressure?” that’s good. But chitchat outside of that is unnecessary. The client should never feel the need to entertain the therapist. If you want quiet time, say so. How do I tell my massage therapist to shut up? “I’d really like to relax and be quiet now.” If they don’t shut up, you can end the session and just [...]

Author: Anita Shannon, L.M.T. Photo Courtesy of Anita Shannon Cupping therapy, or vacuum therapy, can be used for a variety of applications, from head to toe. One special focus is the head, neck and face, as these are often areas of pain and dysfunction. Headaches, sinusitis, temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders, lymphatic issues, chronic inflammation, and surgical preparation and recovery are common concerns for many people who come to see massage therapists. Massage to Facilitate Drainage Many traditional and effective massage techniques gently traction the neck and necessitate upward movement to the occipital ridge. Integrating downward movements into massage of the head, neck and face can enable the drainage of cranial lymph and add an enormous benefit to soft tissue [...]

How to Prolong the Benefits of Bodywork By Barbara Hey A massage works in wonderful ways, easing stress and pain, calming the nervous system, increasing circulation, loosening tight muscles, stimulating internal organs, and enhancing skin. The multiplicity of physiological responses sends a simple, clear message to the mind: Massage feels good. Of course, you want to hold on to that just-had-a-massage feeling -- total body relaxation, muscles relaxed and at ease, and fluid movement restored -- for as long as possible. But how long that bliss lasts depends on the state of your body. If you're suffering from chronic pain or recovering from injury, then it may take more sessions and perhaps different modalities before optimal health is restored. If [...]

One in five Americans are impacted by seasonal change Massage therapy has shown to improve mood and elevate energy levels People looking to fend off the winter blues may find relief by integrating massage therapy into their health maintenance routine. Shorter days and colder temperatures leave many Americans feeling depressed and lethargic, yet studies show that regular massages improve mood and reset circadian rhythms, leading to better sleep and more energy. Seasonal Affective Disorder, or SAD, is recognized as a major depressive disorder with seasonal patterns. A less severe form of seasonal mood disorder, known as the winter blues, impacts an even larger portion of the population. Combined, the two disorders affect as many as one in five Americans, and may [...]

By Karen Menehan December 2, 2016 A new report indicates the U.S. has a big problem with sleep deprivation—a problem that has “a significant effect” on the American economy. Why Sleep Matters—The Economic Costs of Insufficient Sleep, released Nov. 29 by RAND Corporation, quantifies the economic losses due to sleep deprivation among workers in five different countries: the U.S., U.K., Canada, Germany and Japan, according to a press release. The U.S. topped the list with the most workdays lost to bad sleep, and the biggest financial loss—up to $411 billion; it was followed by Japan, then Germany, the U.K. and Canada. We all know what a restful night’s sleep feels like compared with one that is restless; sleep supports physical, [...]

By Barbara Hey A massage works in wonderful ways, easing stress and pain, calming the nervous system, increasing circulation, loosening tight muscles, stimulating internal organs, and enhancing the skin. The multiplicity of physiological responses sends a simple, clear message to the mind: Massage feels good. Of course, you want to hold on to that just-had-a-massage feeling -- total body relaxation, muscles relaxed and at ease, and fluid movement restored -- for as long as possible. But how long that bliss lasts depends on the state of your body. If you're suffering from chronic pain or recovering from injury, then it may take more sessions and perhaps different modalities before optimal health is restored. If massage is part of your regular [...]

A growing body of research indicates massage therapy can benefit the immune system, especially important during winter months. People looking to fend off cold and flu as the winter months arrive should speak to a massage therapist about prevention strategies. Regular massages have been shown to make the immune system stronger, according to studies. “Researchers working with patients with compromised immune systems have found massage therapy can improve how the immune system functions,” said Jeff Smoot, 2015 President of the American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA). “Those same benefits can translate to people seeking to fight off the common cold, flu and other seasonal illnesses.” Massage therapy increases the activity level of the body’s white blood cells that work to combat [...]