What is Diaphragmatic Breathing?

By Tim Rhodes, RMT

Diaphragmatic Breathing is all about breathing more with the diaphragm and less with upper chest or accessory muscles. This can be achieved through simple breathing exercises focusing on inhaling through the lower torso and abdomen to break the habit of overusing the upper chest and neck. Overuse of these accessory muscles often leads to long-term discomfort, neck pain and frequent headaches making it even harder to break the pain tension cycle. Breathing patterns are habitual. It is very apparent when clients practice meditation or yoga by the way they take their first breath on the table. Those who know how to breath effectively are often more ready to release muscle tension in their body making the work of a therapist more effective. Changing habits involve a degree of discipline and guidance. Guidance could be through Soma Yoga, Meditation or frequent visits with a health care practitioner that works well for your individual needs.

Tim Rhodes, RMT, www.courtenaymassagetherapy.com

Massage for Pain Relief

By Sydney Reaburn

The traditional approach to understanding chronic pain has always separated the mind and body – viewing them as functioning independently of one another. New research on pain is helping us understand that this is not true. It is becoming more and more apparent that all individuals respond differently to pain depending on biological, psychological and social factors. Some examples of psychological and social factors include cognitive function, activities of daily living, environmental stressors, interpersonal relationships, and even previous treatment experiences. This is very exciting research as it tells us that an interdisciplinary approach to treating chronic pain is most effective. Massage therapy plays an important role in the management and treatment of chronic pain as it has been proven to decrease the stress hormone cortisol, reducing anxiety and stress. Massage also helps release endorphins (the body’s natural painkillers) which help mask pain and provide a sense of well-being.

Sydney Reaburn, RMT, www.courtenaymassagetherapy.com

Massage Therapy for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?

By Randi Noyes RMT

CTS is described as compression to the median nerve within the carpal tunnel. The carpal tunnel being the space between the carpal (wrist) bones and the transverse carpal ligament which lies beneath the skin on the inside of your wrist. The medial nerve shares this space with the tendons of the muscles that flex your wrist and fingers. Symptoms include numbness and tingling and/or a burning sensation in the thumb, index finger, middle finger, and half of the palm on the thumb side, and a loss of dexterity in that hand. Causes of CTS include injury with swelling of the wrist, overuse of the forearm muscles, and position of the wrist while sleeping. Massage therapy can be a great non-invasive way to treat CTS. Your massage therapist will help you to discover the reason for your CTS, provide appropriate hands-on treatment, provide you with instructions for self-care, and refer you to another practitioner if necessary.

Randi Noyes RMT, CourtenayMassageTherapy.com

Kundalini Yoga for Vitality

By Wendy Anderson RYT, Yoga-10 Studio

Through kundalini yoga, energy increases! With increased awareness, we make the right choices for ourselves on a consistent basis and less energy is used for worry and fear. This alone gives us much-needed vitality. You begin to feel revitalized, as the poses, breath work, and mantras bring prana (life energy) to your body, activating and balancing the glandular system. This impacts our brain chemistry, improving our moods, hormones, and reaction to stress. Through consistent practice, your body/mind retains a memory of what you have learned and you are able to access this neutral energy when needed. Your mind becomes calm and you feel focused and clear. Vitality and focus bring self-confidence, and the ability to see things in perspective and not get easily stressed. We may face the daily challenges in life and be joyful about whatever comes our way.

Wendy Anderson RYT, Yoga-10 Studio
CourtenayMassageTherapy.com

Massage for Athletic Performance

By Willie Muller, RMT

How does Massage Therapy help with athletic performance?

The benefits of Massage Therapy have long been recognized by top-level athletes as well as “weekend warriors “. So what are the physiological effects?

• Massage greatly affects the cardiovascular system. It helps with dilation (increase in diameter) of blood vessels which in turn work to move blood more efficiently and therefore promotes circulation
• Massage encourages venous blood flow back to the heart which enhances blood flow to deliver fresh oxygen and nutrients to the tissues and help with removal of waste and toxins
• Because of the relaxed state you are in after a massage treatment you will experience a drop in heart rate
• Massage especially affects the muscular system. The increased and enhanced blood circulation relieves muscle tension, decreases soreness (DOMS), speeds up recovery time and helps to increase range of motion and flexibility
• Massage aids to decrease inflammation after a strenuous workout and promotes growth of mitochondria (the energy center of our cells).

What about the psychological effects?

• Massage helps activate the parasympathetic nervous system by increasing dopamine and serotonin levels and decreasing the stress hormone cortisol to help with stress and tension relief as well as managing pre-event anxiety

Sports Massage can be categorized into various types:

1. a) a short, stimulating, fast paced treatment as a pre-work out or pre-race warm up to get you ready to function at your optimum
2. b) a more relaxing treatment post- work out or post- race to assist in recovery

Benefits of Massage Therapy to the aspiring athlete are manifold as it will improve your performance and speed up recovery. Regular, weekly massage treatments will (just like exercise) have a cumulative effect and should be part of any serious training program.

Willie Muller RMT
CourtenayMassageTherapy.com

Massage with Graston Technique

By Willie Muller, RMT, Courtenay Massage Therapy

Graston Technique® (GT) is an innovative, evidence-based form of instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization (a variation of cross fibre friction massage) that enables clinicians to detect and effectively break down scar tissue and fascial restrictions, as well as maintain optimal range of motion. GT is clinically proven to achieve faster and better outcomes for acute and chronic conditions such as Achilles tendonitis, MCL/LCL sprains, AC sprains, edema reduction, thoracic outlet syndrome, scar tissue adhesions, carpal tunnel, adhesive capsulitis, IT band syndrome, lumbar strain, and plantar fasciitis. GT is designed to minimize discomfort; however, some post-treatment reactions, like reddening of the skin, superficial bruising, and some soreness, are normal. A typical treatment consists of:

1. Warm up of the treatment area,

2. Graston Technique instrument-assisted soft tissue manipulation,

3. Stretching,

4. Strengthening/rehabilitation exercise.

Willie Muller, RMT, Courtenay Massage Therapy, CourtenayMassageTherapy.com