Yes, Virginia, there are some reasons NOT to get a massage.

Many clients ask me if there really are any conditions that would make massage inappropriate. My response is always a resounding "YES!" While there are many conditions for which massage is incredibly helpful (indicated), there are conditions for which massage could be downright dangerous for your health and well-being as well (contraindicated).

My responsibilities as a massage therapist extend beyond helping clients to relax and alleviate pain. The most important responsibility I have is to protect my clients from harm -- physical as well as emotional. My philosophy is simple: it is not worth an hour of relaxation or the money earned in doing so to risk your health and safety, ever.

This is why health intake forms are so important. Some people leave certain conditions or concerns off of these forms for a variety of reasons -- the two most common being embarrassment and believing that "it doesn't matter because it's only massage." Please don't hold back. There is very little regarding the human body that a well-educated & licensed massage therapist hasn't studied and demystified. The more you can disclose, the more able we will be to make the right choices for your treatment plan.

At the very least, your massage therapist needs to be in contact with your physician if she has any question about her ability to work safely in the case of many health conditions, including:

• Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) or embolism and other major cardiovascular conditions (massage increases circulation, and could dislodge a blood clot, sending it to the heart (cardiac arrest), the lungs (pulmonary embolism), or the brain (stroke)
• Stroke (once someone has had one, the risk of a repeat event increases by quite a lot!)
• Fever (massage has been shown to increase body temperature, and therefore add to the body's natural attempt at "cooking" away pathogens)
• Pitting edema (severe swelling which, when pressure is applied, an imprint remains. Tissues are "boggy." This is indicative of severely sluggish blood flow, and massage could worsen an already-overtaxed system.)
• Pancreatitis/pancreatic cancer
• Advanced liver and/or kidney disease
• Extreme emotional instability (not just "bummed out" or nervous, irritated, or stressed -- we're talking inconsolably sad, manic, or mentally unsound as you may not be able to fully understand and consent to treatment)
• Infectious/contagious diseases -- particularly skin infections or spreadable conditions (hives, poison ivy/oak, lice, herpes, rashes, etc.)
• Intoxication (along with the concern that a client would not be able to coherently consent to treatment, massage could actually increase the intoxication level by increasing circulation.

This is, of course, not a complete list of every condition considered contraindicated for massage, but it's a start. There are also considerations for conditions which are not safe to treat directly, but wouldn't necessarily mean no massage at all:

• Very recent (acute) sprains, strains, fractures, surgeries, and other injuries
• Cuts, scrapes, bruises
• Female abdomen during menses, or pregnancy in the first trimester
• Acne, boils, psoriasis, eczema, fungal infections, burns, etc.

It is extremely important to me to know that my time with you is positive and healthy in every way.

If that means postponing a treatment until I can make sure it is

the best thing for your health and well-being,

then we'll make that happen.

Be well. 

Dani 

The Lighter Side of Therapy

Many people view "spa massage" as a luxury, not therapy.

 

That doesn't have to be absolute truth.

 

Scrubs, wraps, facial massage, heat and cold therapy, hydrotherapy, Watsu (amazing water Shiatsu), and many other "spa" offerings can be immensely beneficial for us.

While it may not be deep tissue work, that doesn't mean it can't have very deep effects.

 

As I'm sure you've heard from one of your trivia-full friends, the largest single organ of our bodies is the skin. It even has its own system--the Integumentary System.

 

Encompassing. Containing. Protecting.

 

It is easily damaged--by the sun, by temperature changes, and by changes in daily water intake.

Everything we put onto our skin is soaked into our system, and everything we put into our systems affects the quality and health of our skin.

 

Exfoliation is one of the best things we can do to keep our skin smooth and glowing--especially when we drink plenty of water. (See earlier blogs about the importance of water.)

It sloughs off surface layers to reveal the new, young layers underneath.

Sugar scrubs, Salt glows, and dry brushing are my favorite methods.

 

While these are all things you can do at home, there's nothing quite like having a professional do it--to reach that spot on my back that I can never quite get to is reason enough for me!

 

Hydrotherapy can be as simple as using hot or cool wet towels, ice packs, compresses, and mist sprays all the way to performing scrubs under a Vichy shower.

Heat is much more effective when used in conjunction with water--it penetrates much more deeply, and softens muscles and connective tissue really effectively,

allowing the therapist to work smarter, not harder.

 

Finding a therapist who incorporates these treatments into her sessions (I happen to know one...) is a great way to be pampered while still feeling like you're getting the therapy too!

Tummy time isn't just for babies anymore...

Bellies. We all have them. Some are softer than others, and some are more "defined." Regardless of what sort of outer-belly we each have, they all serve the same purpose and function in day-to-day life.  Some work better than others, but no human lives without one.

 

In my work, I have found that abdominal massage is not high on anyone's list of priorities. It should be. The abdomen is a sacred space--why else would there be phrases such as "gut reaction," or "gut feeling?" It is the core, the center, the first home. Cravings, pangs, longing--we feel these things viscerally. If massage has the power to de-stress, then doesn't it stand to reason that this might be a place that could benefit greatly from therapeutic touch?

I recently read an article (which you should read: HERE, thanks to my friend Aine for finding it for me!) in which the author discussed studies that show that the neurons in our digestive tract don't only receive signals from the brain, but also communicate the other way. Not only does stress affect our stomachs and beyond, but digestive troubles can affect our mental state in the forms of depression, anxiety, insomnia, and many more!

WHAT?!?!

 

I get clients all the time who write down on their intake form that they deal with various digestive issues, including constipation, but decline abdominal massage. Of course there are many different potential reasons for this, all of which I don't presume to know--but one thought is that in this age of photoshop, there are unreal expectations put on us--women, in particular--to look a certain way, and we are afraid to be shamed if we don't. That is absolutely not to say that it is shameful to be thin, or skinny, or toned, or to want to look your best. I'm not going to get on a soapbox about it, but as a massage therapist, it would be wonderful if more clients knew that when you are on a massage table, you are equal. Equal in the number of muscles, bones, joints, etc. that make up our bodies. Equal in being human. I try to see bodies as whole. It is not my place to pass judgment, but to assist in promoting health and wellness through massage.

 

Abdominal massage can also help with low back pain, hip flexors (Psoas work is amazingly beneficial!), menstrual cramps, prenatal conditions, deep breathing, meditation, and grounding. Ask for it at your next massage! (Make sure your practitioner ALWAYS uses a clockwise motion--aiding peristalsis (the direction of digestion) rather than reversing it.)

 

Be well.
Dani

Feel your best in the Winter months ahead!

One of the best things you can do for yourself in the Winter (especially in colder climates like we have here in Colorado) is to get massage. Massage can be a great part of preventative care as well as an aide to integrating other health measures! Massage affects every system in your body--especially the circulatory system. The more massage you get, the more your body can synthesize complementary methods for better health.

 

For example--combining an increase in water intake with a bodywork session is great for getting that hydration into every muscle group through manual manipulation. When your muscles and other soft tissues know how they feel best, they want to stay that way.

 

Another great addition you can make is to add some Vitamin D to your daily routine! In the winter, even in sunny Colorado, we can lose some of the benefits from the sun. This can leave us feeling down, de-energized, and unmotivated.

Adding vitamin D combats those Winter "blahs" in amazing ways!

Visit my website to read more on the benefits of massage!
Happy New Year!

Dani Grace, LMT

Water, water everywhere.

One of the things my clients love about me is that I actually explain what I'm doing and why I do it. I also explain the advice I give for home care. Nine times out of ten I hear "I've never had it explained to me like that before and it finally makes sense!" That tenth time I chalk up to what I like to call "the massage haze" in which you are unable to respond coherently to any question asked of you, but simply smile and nod instead.

Show of hands: How many of you have ever been told by a massage therapist to "be sure to drink a lot of water."? *counting* That's what I thought. You can put your hands down now.

How much is "a lot" and why is it important, you ask? There are SO many reasons why drinking water is vital for health and wellness, especially after a massage, and more reasons are emerging all the time.
I suggest drinking at least 6-8 glasses immediately following the massage until bedtime. When you think you've had enough, drink another glass. If you go out for a night on the town, for every alcoholic drink you have, drink two glasses of water. If you drink a soda, drink two glasses of water. (You get the picture)

As to the question of why it's important, I have a few favorite answers:


1) Around every individual muscle fiber and every muscle body is a net-like structure called FASCIA. It is a continuous structure, spanning from the top of your head to the bottoms of your feet, and everywhere in between, and it comes in many different layers from the surface to the core. (Click on the link to learn more.) It can become extremely dehydrated and brittle if it does not have the water it needs to stay supple and malleable. When you get a massage, especially if your therapist incorporates Myo-Fascial Release (*ahem* I do. Just saying.) into the session, the fascia gets stretched and allows for fluid to sink in and keep it mobile. If you don't drink water after the session, you just paid for a very short-term relaxation.

Those "knots" you feel and ask your therapist to work out could be a couple of things: a build-up of lactic acid or adhesions--spots where muscles and/or fascia can become "glued" to each other or other things. When knots are "released" it is essential that you drink more water than usual to ensure that they don't build up again.

In the case of a lactic acid build-up, water helps to flush it out of the system. In the case of adhesions, massage essentially re-lubricates the tissues by introducing fluids that need to come from somewhere--which is why you need to replenish your system to continue to provide this fluid. (It's the same concept as keeping oil in your car. If you don't keep the engine tuned, it starts breaking down one piece at a time.)

2) *My favorite analogy, which is what elicits the response above--this is what I try to tell every client, so that no one walks out of a session with me without having learned something*

"The best thing massage does is not to maniuplate the muscles themselves, but to create space between the muscles so they have room in which to relax. The more water you can drink, especially in the days immediately following the massage, the longer those passageways will stay open and the longer the benefits of the massage will last." This also gives your body a chance to get used to how it feels to be relaxed and hydrated, and it will like how it feels. The body wants to be healthy and running smoothly, so all it takes is a little encouragement.

If you have any questions or comments, please add them in the comments section!

New year, new approach, new inspirations.

In this new year, it feels like time to show more appreciation of the positive inspirations in my life. I find that as positive and optimistic a person I am, that doesn't shine through when what I blog about are the complaints about things that annoy me or frustrate me, even though those things sometimes are the squeakiest wheels. 

I have so many more thoughts about what I love in life, in my friends, in my family, in my career and in myself than thoughts about what troubles me, so why give those few negatives more power? I believe it to be a toxic practice, and who wants to encourage toxicity?

No more.

What I do in my work is to essentially help other people release their troubles and to let go of pain and stress by focusing on the present, focusing on what feels good, and focusing on feeling whole and healthy. In order to do this, I also need to stay focused on these things--not only just when I am with a client, but in my day-to-day life as well.

I will be blogging about the spa industry from a very personal and positive perspective. There will be advice for clients, advice for therapists, and quite a lot of information that I have to share about the "whats," "whys," and especially "hows" in the world of massage therapy as it applies to the body, mind, and spirit.

If you have any questions that you would like to get answers to, please share them! If I am already planning an entry on the topic, I would be happy to address specific concerns and issues that you would like to know about!

Cheers,

Dani