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This
Month’s Massage Newsletter
August 2008
Welcome to this month’s
article! The
year is moving right along, and autumn is just around the corner. As the end
of the year approaches, things usually grow more hectic. Remember that you
can get away from it all—at least for an hour or so—by scheduling your next
massage. A trip to tranquillity is just a phone call away!
Below, you’ll find another
recent study on how massage can help improve health conditions. It’s so
impressive to see the number of ways regular massage can improve your health!
If you have any questions about massage and a particular condition, be sure
to ask at your next appointment.
You’ll also find some
entertaining body facts and a report on current dietary habits. Remember,
massage can do more to support better health when you do your part—eating
sensibly, getting some exercise, allowing for adequate rest, etc.
As always, if you have any
questions about massage and your health, just ask! Your health is priority
number one. Until your next appointment, take care.
What’s the Best Thing About Massage?
What do you enjoy most about
getting a massage? There are so many things to appreciate from the benefits
massage can offer you. The good news is no matter which of the many benefits
you enjoy most from your massage sessions, you’re likely to experience most
or all of the gains in the following list. So, improve the quality of your
life with regular massage!
• Getting totally relaxed
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Helping your body to function more optimally
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Feeling the tension in your neck and shoulders just melt away
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Helping to boost the effectiveness of your immune system
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Melting away the stress
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Feeling better for days after each massage
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Helping your body to be more balanced
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Bringing relief to painful conditions, such as arthritis and headache pain
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Improving flexibility and range of motion in your joints
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Achieving better mental focus
•
Sleeping better
Deep-Tissue Massage Shown to Reduce Blood Pressure and Heart Rate
One of the more common health
concerns as we age is high blood pressure. It’s estimated that about
one-third of adults have high blood pressure, a condition that when left
untreated can lead to stroke, heart attack, heart failure or kidney failure.
This is why high blood pressure is often called the “silent killer.”
As reported in the May 2008 Massage
Magazine, a recent study monitored the change in blood pressure of
263 participants (average age: 48), after they each received a deep-tissue
massage between 45 and 60 minutes in duration.
Prior to the massage, baseline
blood pressure (diastolic, systolic and mean arterial) and heart rate were
measured. Following the massage sessions, blood pressure and heart rate were
measured again and compared with the baseline measures.
The results showed an average
systolic pressure reduction of 10.4 millimeters of mercury, a diastolic
pressure reduction of 5.3 millimeters of mercury, and a mean arterial
pressure reduction of 7.0 millimeters of mercury. The average heart-rate
reduction was 10.8 beats per minute.
The study’s authors said, “The
present study demonstrates a high correlation between deep-tissue massage and
reduction in blood pressure and heart rate.” This is more good news in the
benefits you can get from your massages!
Blame the potato, not the couch —
As the obesity rate has
continued to climb, scientists have launched hundreds of studies to figure
out why we’re so fat. But it turns out, the answer isn’t terribly complex: We
eat too much. Despite the frequent criticism of modern man’s sedentary
lifestyle, an analysis by a team of international researchers has found that most
people burn the same number of calories as their parents and grandparents did
decades ago. “For average people, the daily physical activity hasn’t
changed,” says biologist John Speakman of the University of Aberdeen in the
U.K. “In the time we spend watching television today, people probably
listened to radio in the 1950s and read books in the 1920s.” What’s really
changed, he tells Science, is caloric intake: larger
portion sizes, massive fat and sugar intake, and frequent snacking. — THE WEEK June 27, 2008
Fun Facts …
• In a lifetime, a person drinks about 16,000 gallons
of water.
•
The water we drink is 3 billion years old.
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The most sensitive cluster of nerves is at the base of the spine.
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One square inch of human skin contains 625 sweat glands.
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The average person opens the refrigerator 22 times a day.
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You’d have to walk 34 miles to melt away one pound of fat.
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In a lifetime, a person eats around 35 tons of food.
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The hardest bone in the body is the jawbone.
Source:
This Book of More Perfectly Useless Information by Mitchell
Symons
The
future is not something we enter.
The future is something we create.
— Leonard I. Sweet
The
content of this article is not designed to replace professional medical
advice. If you’re ill, consult a physician.
© 2008 Massage Marketing. Used with permission; all rights reserved.
The Bodyzone, LLC 2004 - 2008
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