During the COVID-19 pandemic massage therapy may or may not be available  depending where you live.  When services like massage are shut down we can think of alternatives and do the next best thing from our homes.  Foam rollers are easy to come by and many people already have one stuck in a closet somewhere.  Now is the time to find that foam roller and put it to use. 

Why foam roll

Foam rolling is a form of self-myofascial release, or self-massage, that rids the muscles of adhesions and makes connective tissue more pliable.  By foam rolling any given muscle, blood flow increases to that area which allows better mobility.  Muscles that have been worked, say from hiking, may feel some soreness the next day so foam rolling helps with recovery of those taxed muscles and may have them ready to use again sooner than if the muscle wasn't rolled. 

Fascia is a thin layer of connective tissue covering every muscle. Adhesions may be present and can...

We need balance in order to live a happy and healthy life.  Think of everything that takes your time and makes up your life.  Whether it’s work life, home life, eating healthy vs. eating what makes you happy or doing for others without neglecting yourself, it can be a struggle to find balance.  Life runs more smoothly and happily when there’s balance.  Achieving balance isn’t the easiest thing, but there are five ways to introduce more balance into your life and get things going in the right direction. 

1) Prioritize

Prioritizing and scheduling can be a great practice to start introducing more of a sense of balance to your life. We all have busy lives and long to-do lists.  The only way we’ll ever get everything done and find balance in our lives is by prioritizing what needs to be done, when to do it and scheduling our days. 

The tricky part is deciding what is important.  In some cases, your work may take priority...

Spending time alone isn't easy for some people.  Those who thrive with human interaction (the more people around the better) don't always know how to let quiet surround them.  As a massage therapist I'm sure you've had a client on the table who talks and fidgets throughout the session.  One of my longest standing clients took 2 whole years before she could lie quietly on the table and not "help" me by moving limbs.  These very cerebral people with cerebral jobs take some time and coaching to learn to receive massage and use the time to decompress and feel their body.  Massage time is a great opportunity to be alone with your thoughts, tune in to how different parts of your body feel and come out feeling refreshed.       

What quiet allows

In this world of cell phones it's rare that we unplug for more than a few minutes of the day.  The convenience these handheld computers bring also disrupt our quality time with others and...

Times of Change

Needless to say COVID-19 has changed the way we live.  Mask wearing in California among other states is common place.  So much so that a local boutique is advertising summer dresses with matching face masks and my laundry area has masks hanging to dry.  As if these visual reminders aren't enough, social distancing means we can't interact with friends and family like we used to.  Eating has been moved to outdoors and family members who fall in the high risk category refrain from physical contact like hugging.  Parents with newborns are being more careful which means family can't always visit and meet the new addition.  Handshakes and other physical contact is not a risk some chose to take.  All of this can lead to feelings of melancholy or downright depression.  Self care is always an important topic for massage therapists but during this time it's imperative to do what you need to stay mentally fit.     ...