Over the past decade, many studies have been conducted that showed the benefits of massage for pregnant women.  Massage can safely be performed by a qualified massage therapist throughout the duration of a pregnancy.  Certain types of massage, such as Swedish massage, which focuses on relieving muscle tension and improving blood and lymphatic circulation using light pressure applied to muscles, are more appropriate.  Body position during massage should be designed for maximum comfort and safety, providing support for the body in various modified massage positions.

Prenatal massage can reduce some of the discomfort and stress that is put on the skeletal and circulatory systems during pregnancy.  It can relieve back, muscle, and joint pain, and can reduce stress and anxiety.  Massage can also reduce symptoms of depression and help pregnant women to relax and sleep better.  Massage can also act on hormone levels in the body, decreasing stress hormones and increasing pleasure hormones. 

Some studies have shown that massage positively affects labor outcome and the health of the newborn.  The hormonal changes supported by massage therapy can lead to fewer complications during birth.  It is also likely that children born to women who receive massage therapy are less likely to experience pregnancy complications like low birth weight.  It is important, of course, that women who have high-risk pregnancies; pregnancy induced hypertension (high blood pressure); or have experienced pre-term labor consult with their physician about any alternative care therapies, and that they find a qualified massage therapist who is experienced in working with pregnant women that have these conditions.
By Jessica Reinhart at www.associatedcontent.com
The kids are screaming. The laundry's piling up. The boss asked you to work late - again. Sound familiar? You work hard and you deserve a break, so why not pamper yourself with a little relaxation? Look no farther than your bathroom for serenity. Soak it up in a calming bath and let your cares float away.

A little prep work will go a long way in ensuring a tranquil escape from the demands of everyday life. Use this recipe for an indulgent, soothing soak:

Make time for you

"Make a commitment to yourself", says Sarah, a massage therapist, yoga instructor, founder of the Enlightenment Center, and practitioner at the famed Mayflower Inn & Spa in Washington, CT. "Give yourself a space and a time to devote to your own care", she says. Choose a time of day when you will be free of interruptions - turn off the phone, send the kids to a friend's house, and allow yourself to fully unwind in the moment. "Relaxation will come when you allow yourself to detach and be in the present moment fully", says Sarah.

It's all about the ambiance

Illuminate your bathroom with the dim glow of candlelight and play music softly in the background - think classical, new age, ambient or instrumental.

Turn up the heat

Keeping both the bathroom and bath water warm will help to ensure a comfortable environment. The ideal water temperature is around 100 degrees Fahrenheit.

Relaxation is in the air

As the bath water runs, add 4-5 drops of 100 percent pure essential oil (avoid synthetic oils, which are manmade alternatives). Many essential oils are known for their calming properties, including lavender, jasmine, ylang ylang and rose. "But", Sarah advises, "trust your intuition on which scent you like best. That will ultimately be most beneficial to you."

Breathe

"Be conscious of your breath", advises Sarah. "Breathing helps to bring you back to a calm place. When you're focused on breathing, your mind can't be busy", she says. "Breathe deeply. Visualize inhaling through the top of the head, and exhaling through the feet."

This moment is all about you - sit back, relax and let your cares float away...even if it's just three minutes before the first knock on the door!
Massage therapy has many applications for migraines that includes preventative massage and massages that can be done during a migraine.  Lowering stress levels and relieving tension in the neck and back go a long way towards preventing headaches, as does the circulatory and lymphatic benefits of massage.  The focus today, however, is going to be on massage that can be done during a migraine.

Massage during a migraine headache should be very gentle-- deep work should be reserved for another time.  Lowered light levels are an obvious necessity in this scenario, as is a supine (lying on the back) position.  The treatment during a migraine attack should also be short-- half an hour to forty-five minutes is as long as long as one should go-- and the focus should be on relaxation.

The main areas of focus will be the head, neck, and shoulders.  The use of ice is especially helpful for relieving migraine symptoms.  Ice packs should be wrapped in towels to prevent direct contact with skin. Obviously, one would not massage an area after an ice pack application as the area would have decreased sensation.  For people who are too sensitive to receive massage on their head, neck or shoulders during a migraine attack, ice packs can be used on those areas (five or ten minutes per location) while the hands or feet are massaged.  Using reflexology points, a practitioner can work on the key areas of the body (shoulders, neck, head), without having to touch them.
#my_firstname# #my_lastname#
#my_phone#
Visit me on the web
In This Issue

News from my office
#my_firstname# #my_lastname#
#my_phone#




Your updates go here. You can change this every month or leave this information static.


A Review of the Basics
Massage has numerous benefits and we sometimes forget the very basics of why it is so good for us.  Let this video serve as a reminder to you:


At Home Facial Masks



Between trips to the massage therapist, you may want to do a little relaxing at home.  Pampering yourself can be easy and affordable when you use what you already have to create luxurious and beneficial facial masks.  Mix up a mask that meets your skin's needs, and then plan on kicking back and relaxing.  You might consider a cup of hot tea or a hot foot soak to go along with your at-home spa theme.

Dry Skin:  Mash one banana and add a five tablespoons of ground oats and a tablespoon of honey.  Apply to damp skin and leave on for about twenty minutes.  Rinse off with warm water.

Oily Skin:  Mix one egg white, half a cucumber and one teaspoon of mind in a food processor or blender and then refrigerate for about twenty minutes.  This mask can be left on for fifteen to twenty minutes and rinsed off with warm water.

Blemished Skin:  Mix chopped tomato, a tablespoon of instant oatmeal and a teaspoon of lemon juice in a blender until mixed.  Let mask stay on skin for ten to fifteen minutes and remove with a warm washcloth.

Tired Skin:  Mash five ripe strawberries, a few teaspoons of heavy whipping cream and a teaspoon of honey together an apply to face.  Leave on for half an hour and remove with a warm washcloth.
JBA Network • 311 Montford Ave • Asheville • NC • 28801