by Fitman007 | Jan 16, 2018 | Remedial Massage
Massage for varicose veins. Varicose veins are fairly prevalent amongst the general population. Genetics can also play a significant role in whether or not you will develop varicose veins during your life. When the valves in the veins do not close properly as the veins become dilated then the blood can flow into superficial veins which cause them to dilate further. If there is continued constriction of blood flow in the veins to the heart (eg from constant standing) then the blood can pool in the legs and the veins can lose their elasticity. The result is the bulbous thick veins. However, with suitable training and approval of client’s doctors, massage can provide benefit for those who are affected by this condition, as my partner has discovered. My approach to this condition is using massage strokes that are short and of light pressure, more aimed at promoting local circulation and/or lymphatic drainage. Strokes such as petrissage, deep tissue frictions, stripping and cross-fibre are never recommended. After treatment I will elevate the legs to promote venous return.
by Fitman007 | Jan 9, 2018 | Remedial Massage
I love a brand new year, getting in-touch with our inner self.
One of the powerful tools that can promote many health benefits is massage, especially if you love training.
Massage is generally considered part of complementary and alternative medicine. It’s increasingly being offered along with standard treatment for a wide range of medical conditions and situations.
Studies of the benefits of massage demonstrate that it is an effective treatment for reducing stress, pain and muscle tension.
While more research is needed to confirm the benefits of massage, some studies have found massage may also be helpful for:
• Anxiety
• Digestive disorders
• Fibromyalgia
• Headaches
• Insomnia related to stress
• Myofascial pain syndrome
• Soft tissue strains or injuries
• Sports injuries
• Temporomandibular joint pain
Beyond the benefits for specific conditions or diseases, some people enjoy massage because it often produces feelings of caring, comfort and connection.
Despite its benefits, massage isn’t meant as a replacement for regular medical care. Let your doctor know you’re trying massage and be sure to follow any standard treatment plans you have.
Some forms of massage can leave you feeling a bit sore the next day. But massage shouldn’t ordinarily be painful or uncomfortable. If any part of your massage doesn’t feel right or is painful, speak up right away. Most serious problems come from too much pressure during massage.
The take-home message about massage
Brush aside any thoughts that massage is only a feel-good way to indulge or pamper yourself. To the contrary, massage can be a powerful tool to help you take charge of your health and well-being, whether you have a specific health condition or are just looking for another stress reliever. You can even learn how to do self-massage at home. Speak to me further when you next visit.
by Fitman007 | Jul 28, 2017 | Remedial Massage
In my clinic during Winter you have been guaranteed a warm experience, with the use of our woolen heated underlay and the use of the wheat pack
With the help of a wheat pack, you can stay warm as well as ease the pain of sore muscles.
The major benefit of a wheat pack is of course its ability to ease pain. This is largely due heat therapies ability to dilate the blood vessels.
This process increases the flow of oxygen and nutrients to the muscles, helping to heal the damaged tissue. Heat stimulates the sensory receptors in the skin, which means that applying heat to the lower back will decrease transmissions of pain signals to the brain and partially relieve the discomfort.
Post treatment, a combination of heat therapy and adequate hydration can reduce next day soreness dramatically.
by Fitman007 | Jul 17, 2017 | Remedial Massage
One of the most common questions I get asked is “How do I lose weight with Pilates?”. The simple truth is that our body is like a Calorie Bank, that either adds or withdraws from our fat deposits based on the amount of calories we consume (deposit) versus the calories we burn off (spend). If we are consuming more calories than we are burning off then we will be adding to our fat deposits over time. If we are burning off more calories than we are consuming then we will be withdrawing from our fat deposits and gradually losing weight. So any exercise you do will be helping you burn off more calories and helping you get the results of weight loss. Having said that we can maximise the weight loss power of our exercise with a few key ingredients.
Increase Muscle Tone
Pilates is a form of resistance training that helps you build long lean muscles. Pilates will improve your muscle tone, improving both your overall strength and endurance. Improved muscle tone is one of the key ingredients for weight loss. Muscles burn more energy (Calories) than fat, therefore the more lean muscle mass your body contains the greater the calorie burning ability you have. Improving your muscle tone will help boost your weight loss efforts tremendously.
Fitness (Cardio) Training
Cardiovascular training incorporated within your exercise schedule will be of great benefit. Cardio exercise is your main tool for burning calories and losing weight. We incorporate Cardio exercise as an essential part of in our Pilates sessions for our clients wanting to manage their weight. Reformer classes in particular will pump your heart rate up, as we use compound exercises, utilizing also the tower to assist in improving muscle conditioning as well as improving fat burning. Utilizing the jump board will also boost the amount of calories you are burning in one session. The general recommendation is to get at least 30 minutes of Cardiovascular exercise per day. However the days your are not performing Pilates (incorporating cardio and resistance training) you should aim for 45 to 60 minutes of pure cardio, such as walking, jogging, swimming, cycling, whatever you enjoy doing and can maintain at a sufficient level of intensity and duration.
Spinlates ( combination of 30 mins spinning followed by 30 mins reformer) is a fantastic tool to help boost your cardio and conditioning training.
Contact Charell if you wish to chat further about this session.