tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-60313222011-04-21T18:24:01.635-07:00Jen's JournalDiary of a Massage TherapistJen's Journalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02720583463014980202noreply@blogger.comBlogger201100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6031322.post-1120066942375045592005-06-29T10:36:00.000-07:002005-06-29T10:42:22.380-07:00Don't stress out...it may affect your memory! In a study by researchers at McGill University, it showed the effects of glucocorticoids on human cognitive function in older adults, young adults and children.Glucocorticoids are steroid hormones your adrenal glands release in response to stress. Although these hormones help regulate metabolism, blood pressure, and cardiovascular function, they may Jen's Journalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02720583463014980202noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6031322.post-1114721687999570362005-04-28T13:54:00.000-07:002005-04-28T13:54:48.000-07:00Lymphatic drainage is a massage technique that focuses on the lymphatic system, which is primarily made of the lymph vessels and nodes. The lymphatic system works in direct conjunction with the circulatory and digestive systems to rid the body of toxins and disease. Unlike the circulatory system, the lymphatic system does not have a muscle (the heart) to circulate its flow. The lymphatic system Jen's Journalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02720583463014980202noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6031322.post-1113450848982361262005-04-13T20:51:00.000-07:002005-04-13T20:54:08.983-07:00Here's a great new magazine to consider reading. A friend of mine writing an article for the May 2005 issue about using Feng Shui to plan (and plant) gardens to bring great energy to the outside of your home. The articles are online for your pleasure. Enjoy!Jen's Journalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02720583463014980202noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6031322.post-1109008133670722332005-02-21T09:35:00.000-08:002005-02-21T09:48:53.673-08:00Feeling guilty? Don't feel bad — that could be detrimental to your health! A recent study from the University of California, Los Angeles, found that feelings of self-blame may lead to an increase in inflammatory action in the body, which can have an adverse affect on everything from the skin's ability to heal itself to autoimmune conditions like rheumatoid arthritis.In the study, healthy Jen's Journalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02720583463014980202noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6031322.post-1107384861109138292005-02-02T14:39:00.000-08:002005-02-02T14:54:21.110-08:00Fibromyalgia syndrome is a common yet relatively newly-recognized musculoskeletal problem that recently has been the subject of many studies and reviews. Fibromyalgia is characterized by muscle tautness and muscle stiffness, accompanied by well- defined and amply described tender/trigger points, fatigue, anxiety and non-restorative sleep. There is some indication that fibromyalgia may have some Jen's Journalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02720583463014980202noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6031322.post-1106586433598127712005-01-24T09:01:00.000-08:002005-01-24T09:07:13.596-08:00Chronic back pain can shrink the gray matter in your brain by as much as 11 percent in one year, the same amount of brain density that's lost in 10 to 20 years of normal aging, according to a Northwestern University study, published in the Nov. 23, 2004 issue of The Journal of Neuroscience .The researchers found that every year of chronic pain results in a loss of 1.3 cubic centimeters of gray Jen's Journalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02720583463014980202noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6031322.post-1105573237752561272005-01-12T15:09:00.000-08:002005-01-12T15:40:37.753-08:00The piriformis is one of the small muscles deep under the gluteal muscles that rotates the leg outwards. It runs from the sacrum or base of the spine and attaches to the outside of thigh bone or femur in the hip socket. The sciatic nerve usually drapes over this muscle, but in approximately 30% of the population it runs through the piriformis muscle. If the piriformis muscle becomes tight or has Jen's Journalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02720583463014980202noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6031322.post-1105415000417384912005-01-10T19:37:00.000-08:002005-01-10T19:43:20.416-08:00Facilitated stretching is active-assisted stretching, which uses active motion and isometric work to improve flexibility and enhance motor learning in the process. The three steps involved in partner-assisted facilitated stretch are as follows:
The stretcher actively lengthens the muscle to be stretched (the target muscle) to its maximal pain-free end range. This is also called the soft tissue Jen's Journalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02720583463014980202noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6031322.post-1105326753552800652005-01-09T19:03:00.000-08:002005-01-09T19:12:33.553-08:00Is smoking cessation one of your new year's resolutions? Studies show the massage therapy can play an important role in reducing the stress and anxiety associated with nicotine cravings. The Touch Research Institute has developed a self massage to help with these cravings.
Hand Sequence
1. Massage palm by using thumb of one hand to make circular motions in palm of other hand.
2. Massage entire Jen's Journalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02720583463014980202noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6031322.post-1105158271475290802005-01-07T19:23:00.000-08:002005-01-07T20:24:31.476-08:00Forging strong social connections may help you outrun heart disease. Having a good support system of family and friends not only boosts your immunity and helps you manage life challenges more effectively, but it also may help slow the progression of heart disease, a new study reports. In the study published as Influence of social support on progression of coronary artery disease in women by H. XJen's Journalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02720583463014980202noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6031322.post-1104604185184027362005-01-01T10:11:00.000-08:002005-01-01T10:29:45.183-08:00Don't try to solve any big problems in your life if you are dealing with stress. A little stress helps keep you on your toes for short term memory-recall tasks. However, recent research shows that it makes problem-solving harder. De-stress before tackling big problems by practicing stress reduction activities, such as deep breathing or massage.
In a study conducted with the Ohio State UniversityJen's Journalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02720583463014980202noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6031322.post-1104207165499543962004-12-27T20:02:00.000-08:002004-12-27T20:13:57.043-08:00Recent studies have shown that sleep plays an important role in metabolism. One of these studies tests the hypothesis that circulating levels of leptin, a hormone that signals energy balance to the brain, are influenced by sleep duration. Leptin is a hormone produced by fat cells. It helps regulate appetite and metabolism by acting on feeding centers in the brain. High levels of the hormone help Jen's Journalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02720583463014980202noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6031322.post-1073071118040958622004-01-02T11:18:00.000-08:002004-01-02T11:32:37.843-08:00Hangovers and the New Year
There is NO CURE FOR HANGOVERS. That said, let's look at hangovers and, through understanding, see if we can survive the holiday season.
First of all, what causes hangovers? Drinking alcohol, huh? No, seriously, there is actually a theory behind it.
Dehydration is one of the main results of excessive drinking. This is because alcohol is a diuretic, which means it'sJen's Journalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02720583463014980202noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6031322.post-1070378092015571872003-12-02T07:14:00.000-08:002003-12-02T07:15:02.276-08:00It seems that massage therapy improves the sleep patterns of fibromyalgia patients. In a study on Fibromyalgia Pain and Substance P Decrease and Sleep Improves After Massage Therapy done by Tiffany Field; Miguel Diego; Christy Cullen; Maria Hernandez-Reif; William Sunshine; Steven Douglas for the Touch Research Institutes of the University of Miami School of Medicine in Miami, Florida and Jen's Journalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02720583463014980202noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6031322.post-1070204450406911992003-11-30T07:00:00.000-08:002003-11-30T07:01:43.453-08:00Repeating a yoga mantra or repetitive prayers may benefit your body as well as your mind.
Mantras are words or phrases repeated rhythmically during yoga or other forms of meditation. Recent research has revealed that repeating a yoga mantra may not only have a soothing effect on your psyche, but also it can lower your respiratory rate. A slow respiration rate may have a favorable effect on heartJen's Journalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02720583463014980202noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6031322.post-1069643033242743092003-11-23T19:03:00.000-08:002003-11-23T19:08:56.340-08:00Hydration is an important component of good health. We're all aware of some of the common signs and symptoms of improper hydration:
Headache
Weakness or fatigue
Dry mouth
Sunken eyes
Dizziness
Muscle cramping
Swelling of feet and hands
Sometimes, the root cause of some or all of these symptoms is an accompanying electrolyte imbalance. Our body's cells need proper amounts of sodium (salt) and Jen's Journalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02720583463014980202noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6031322.post-1069388611511649222003-11-20T20:23:00.000-08:002003-11-20T20:23:38.676-08:00I've been researching piriformis and gluteal muscles lately. I have plenty of clients that are having problems there. So I'm going to visit it again. Here's some information from Massage Magazine .
"Symptoms most commonly felt from piriformis syndrome include pain or paresthesia in the buttock and along the sciatic-nerve distribution, sometimes all the way to the foot. Most muscles of the Jen's Journalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02720583463014980202noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6031322.post-1068517918846595262003-11-10T18:31:00.000-08:002003-11-10T18:36:51.630-08:00Supraspinatus. Abducts the arm, which means, in layman's terms, it lifts your arm over your head. It's one of the rotator cuff muscles and the one most injured.
Trigger points in the supraspinatus can refer down the arm and into the area of the elbow. Primarily though, the pain is in the outside of the shoulder.
Falls are a common cause for injury in this muscle. Repetitive motions over the Jen's Journalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02720583463014980202noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6031322.post-1068089054145576482003-11-05T19:24:00.000-08:002003-11-05T19:24:17.470-08:00I've been reading up on Feng Shui and the use of aromatherapy with people's trigrams. I'm looking at taking some advanced classes in January in aromatherapy wraps, salt glows and massages. This fascinates me.
We're had a great Feng Shui consultant, Diana Garber, come look at some new office space we're considering. She says I'm a water or K'an type. I need Chi moving oils, like cypress, which Jen's Journalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02720583463014980202noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6031322.post-1067920403279405982003-11-03T20:33:00.000-08:002003-11-03T20:38:50.623-08:00I've been reading about the piriformis muscle again today. I have lots of clients that have piriformis problems. The piriformis is one of the six deep rotators muscles, which means it is one of six muscles lying deep under the gluteal muscles on the buttocks or hip bone. The piriformis originates on the sacrum and inserts on the top border of the trocanter, which is the top of the femur, or thighJen's Journalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02720583463014980202noreply@blogger.com