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Massage
Ease Sore Muscles With a Tennis Ball
Getting a massage is not always an affordable option to relieve sore muscles. I use The Stick at home but when I'm on the go it's not something I can take with me. Because of its size, a tennis ball provides on the spot muscle relief wherever you are.
Relax Already: Swap Coffee For a Massage Break
I normally think of a massage as a relaxing treat that's more likely to put me to sleep than wake me up. But the other day, a massage taught me a lesson. Craving an afternoon caffeine fix, I instead ducked into a place near my office that does chair massages.
What's the Deal With Craniosacral Therapy?
When basic massage or chiropractic adjustment doesn't ease your pain, it might be time to try craniosacral therapy. Similar to massage, a therapist applies gentle pressure to your spine, shoulders, head, chest, and abdomen to manipulate and adjust the craniosacral system — cranium (or head), the spine and the pelvis. This type of therapy is said to ease restrictions in nerve passages, encourage movement of cerebrospinal fluid through the spinal cord, and restore alignment of bones in the spine.
Active Release Therapy Is ART
While I love a massage, I have found the relaxing strokes of Swedish massages just don't penetrate the deep kinks that accompany overuse injuries from serious training. That is why I appreciate the targeted technique of active release therapy (ART). It is like no other therapeutic technique I've tried when it comes to healing a chronic injury.
Relax Already: Rolling Hip Massage
Many of you must be so excited for Winter because you get to ski, snowboard, and snowshoe. Those snowy sports are not only thrilling, but they really work your thighs and glutes. After a day on the mountain, give your upper legs a little love with this rolling hip massage.
5 Things About Massage
Often times massages can seem like the ultimate splurge, but in the end it's just as good for you as it feels.
Newsweek recently outlined a few things about massage that you may not have known, and here are five highlights:
Fit Tip: Massage Your Feet and Lower Legs Before a Run
As you may well know, running is really tough on your feet and the muscles in your lower legs. These often neglected body parts do a lot of the work and absorb most of the shock of your run. Ignore them and you can end up with cramped, achy, throbbing, or even numb feet, shins, or calves from running, which not only sucks due to the pain, but can prevent you from getting in a good workout.
Massage: Don't Get Rubbed the Wrong Way
When you make an appointment for a massage, you're expecting it to feel good, that it will release tension, stress, and ease tight or sore muscles. You should know that that's not all you can expect though. In rare circumstances, getting a massage can present health risks including nerve damage, a pulled muscle, temporary paralysis, or internal bleeding because of too much pressure.
Try It: Hendrickson Massage
I have had deep-tissue massages that have left serious bruises, but barely made a dent in my tight muscles. I have also had Swedish massages that felt like I was being tickled for 60 minutes no matter how many times I told the massage therapist to increase the pressure. Recently, I went to see a massage therapist who has studied the Hendrickson Method (formerly called orthopedic massage, but so many independent therapists use that descriptive that the man who created this technique decided to name it after himself).
Relax Already: Get an Aston Patterning Massage
With all the hustle and bustle of the holidays, it is important to make sure you fit in a little "you time" every now and again. I was given the opportunity for some serious "me time" during a recent Aston Patterning Massage (APM) session compliments of Tre Balm Beauty Boutique and Skin Care Studio here in San Francisco and let me tell you, it was much needed.
For anyone that has never had this type of massage before, APM is basically a massage technique that combines deep tissue work, massage, and movement all in one.
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