Massage By Laura

Soap and Water: Tips for Healthy Hands

Wed, 02 Sep 2009 02:05:13 GMT

With all the talk of the flu season coming, not to mention the Swine Flu, I thought that this might be something worth posting.

The multitude of soap types available to consumers today- brawny deodorant soap, delicate floral luxury soaps, handcrafted and cut soaps, liquid soaps, vegan soaps and even caffeinated soap- can transform this utilitarian cleanser from sink-top necessity to a sensual treat, a home accessory, or a thoughtful gift. No matter the shape, scent, formula or price, soaps clean the skin by removing dirt, soil, and germs from the surface and preventing the spread of diseases. The key in this cleaning process, however, isn't entirely in the soap's formula but in the friction used while washing.

The recent proliferation of products on the market can be confusing. Which one is the best? Why? Understanding soap basics will protect you from the spread of infections. A few common questions are answered below to demystify this simple process of sanitation.

Does the type of soap I use matter?
No and yes. From the standpoint of cleanliness, the amount of time you spend lathering up and washing is more important than the type of soap being used. A recent article in the Harvard Health Letter (Jan 2007) summarized that washing hands with plain old soap and water for thirty seconds leads to a drop in bacterial counts by close to 99.9 percent; most of us, though, wash for only five seconds.
From the standpoint of sensitivities to the ingredients, yes, soap matters. Common additives include moisturizers (useful for those with particularly dry skin) and fragrances (which, while invigorating or soothing to some, are inappropriate for young children or individuals prone to allergic reactions). Other chemicals, like triclosan, the active ingredient in most liquid soaps, helps kill germs, but have also been known to lead to bacterial resistance.

Do hand sanitizers clean in the same way as soap?
No. According to the Soap and Detergent Association ( www.cleaning101.com), sanitizers, which are often alcohol-based, clean the skin by killing germs on the surface, but they don't actually remove dirt. These gels and wipes are often very convenient and are available in pocket size or single-use packaging, making them particularly useful when soap and water are not available. Sanitizers destroy bacteria and some viruses, but as with other cleansers, it is imperative that all the hands' surfaces ( between the fingers, the fingertips, thumbs, front and back of hands. and under nails) are covered with the substance. More than one squirt from the bottle will usually be necessary to truly sanitize your hands.

Why is drying my hands necessary?
Dry hands are less likely to spread germs than wet hands. While alcohol-based sanitizers air dry quickly, it takes a few extra moments to dry thoroughly after washing with soap and water. Be sure to reach for a clean towel or spend some quality time with your hands under a dryer.

By Jenny Good
Body Wisdom
Body Sense Magazine
Autumn/Winter 2007

Blackberry Thumb

Wed, 02 Sep 2009 01:40:32 GMT

The huge success in the past few years of the Blackberry and other personal digital assistant (PDA) devices has led to a new injury. Margot Miller, a physical therapist and president of the American Physical Therapy Association's Occupational Health Special Interest Group, indicates that Blackberry thumb is "a catch-all phase for repetitive stress injury, causing pain and/or numbness in the thumbs and joints of the hand." Swelling, hand throbbing, and tendonitis are among the symptoms associated with using the thumb for composition of emails and prolonged instant messaging. While stretching and ice help alleviate the condition for some, massage works for others. Be sure to let your massage therapist know if you're suffering from any of these tech related symptoms.

Body Talk
Body Sense Magazine
Spring/Summer 2007

Some Serious Baggage

Wed, 02 Sep 2009 01:31:28 GMT

A lipstick - or two or three. A book. A phone. A snack and a water bottle. Maybe even a change of clothes. On a daily basis, many women carry this and more in their handbags. Bags are getting bigger, and they're just as jam packed as ever. Carrying all this weight on one shoulder is leading to stiff necks, shoulder pain, and even headaches. Increasingly, massage therapists, chiropractors and doctors are being called upon to treat the symptoms of women who have been carrying around too much too long. If you're among those who need to downsize, consider doing a bit of math: the American Chiropractic Association (www.amerchiro.org) suggests that your bag contain no more than 10 percent of your body weight. Alternating shoulders and carrying a backpack, worn on both shoulders, are other options to reduce muscle and joint pain.

Body Talk
Body Sense Magazine
Spring/Summer 2007

The economy and your stress level.

Mon, 21 Apr 2008 23:16:19 GMT

First off I can't believe I haven't posted in over a year. I do have many reasons as to why, but it won't make up for it. My husband updates his weekly...and that's just for fun. Not a good sign.

Off to the topic at hand! That would be stress and the state of things in the economy today. There's no denying that things are more expensive. Having just purchased our first house this past October (one of my many excuses from posting!) we are experiencing the joys of higher heating bills and all the other joys of having any sort of a life. So adjustments are made to help keep things running smoothly and to keep bills paid. It seems that the people I have seen have pretty much found a way to roll with the constant increases. The stress is there, but we learn to cope and keep moving forward. One way to keep yourself in forward motion is with massage.

Massage not only works the ache out of your muscles, but it also help rid your body of the toxins that build up in those muscles that cause fatigue and ache. A massage can help boost your immune system to keep you healthy while you are keeping up with your daily schedule. Massage helps to improve your flexibility and reduce the chance of injury while golfing or gardening ( both are great ways of de-stressing by the way.) Massage Therapy has had a reputation as being a "nicety" or a way to pamper yourself, which is true. However, a massage is a way to manage stress. Stress has become an acceptable part of life now. It's expected. Massage can help you take time to recharge and gear yourself up to take on the rest of what life throws in your direction.

Somewhere along the way in becoming an advanced society we decided it was better to run ourselves into the ground than to take a break. The current state of jobs and the economy dictate that as well. A report was released this year how Americans just don't take vacations off from work. The first response I had to that is that they can't afford too. Not necessarily in terms of money, but at risk of losing their job. There are other countries that require you to take vacations. I had a client who's family member worked in Poland. Her company had a massage therapist come in weekly and everyone was given a massage. The company understood that taking care of their workers means the workers take care of the company. I remember a time when Kodak took pride in their workers and the return was 3 fold. Its amazing how much has changed and not for the better.

So in times of stress be sure to take time out every day for yourself. Take a walk outside on your lunch break. Take a nap if you can ( I know they are almost all but extinct in anyone over the age of 3) or sign up for a yoga class. Of course, a relaxing and therapeutic massage is on the list as well. Not only will you feel better mentally and physically but emotionally as well.
Don't neglect yourself in exchange for burning yourself out. That's a trade off that will cost you more in the long run.

(Slowly stepping off her soapbox and heading back to work...)

That all being said, check out my website to see what's new and to perhaps buy a guft certificate for yourself...or 3 to make sure that you take the time to keep yourself healthy and keeping pace with your life!

7 years and counting

Wed, 28 Feb 2007 06:54:56 GMT

Today, I am celebrating my 7th year as a massage therapist. It's hard to believe it's been so long, but in other ways it feels like I just got started. It makes me think of the 7 year itch. It doesn't seem to apply to work though, I'm quite content! I'm also celebrating my 5th year in my office. Spencerport has been a great place for me to grow my practice. I am grateful to have such a supportive community that embraced massage therapy. As I write this, I believe we are about 6 or 7 strong in our little community. Almost as many as there are pizza places!

As far as massage goes, there is really no person who couldn't benefit. Massage helps so many people is so many ways. Having an injury is a good excuse to get a massage. You can justify it in your mind that its a necessity. An even better reason to get a massage is that it helps. At the very least it reduces stress which is running rampant. That leads to headaches, aches and pains, insomnia, depression and much more. Why not do your part in keeping yourself healthy and get a massage. You need time to recharge. It's amazing how different you can feel with just an hour of laying down in the middle of the day...or at the end of the day (that's my favorite!) Massage can do wonders for you physically, emotionally and mentally. It's one of the easiest things you can do to keep yourself well. Besides, its a nice way to pamper yourself too. You know you deserve it!

So help me celebrate my 5th & 7th anniversaries and go get yourself a massage. You'll be happy you did!

New Year's Resolutions

Mon, 08 Jan 2007 04:30:09 GMT

Every year we make them and were lucky if we make it through January before breaking them. Resolutions for a promising new year....or at least the first week. We all mean well. You start with the best of intentions then life gets in the way. Sure its a great idea to eat better and make it to the gym, but that's before you had a late deadline at work (hooray for overtime) or your kid comes down with the flu. Stuff happens and you fall back on what you know. Old habits tend to beat out new ideas in the end. That doesn't mean you stop trying.

I read somewhere ( or maybe it came from my husband and his wealth of information) that it takes most people 21 days of an activity to form a habit. So you have to stick with that eating plan, exercise plan, new hobby or new adventure for 3 weeks to make it part of your routine. So if you make it through the first week you're 1/3 of the way there!

Needless to say I haven't made a New Years Resolution in about 5 years. I give myself a theme for the year. Last year it was exercise. I don't do nearly as much as I should, but I make sure I do something everyday. Take the stairs or park in a farther spot at the grocery store. I do a lap of the mall before I'm allowed to go in an shop. (My rule-not my husbands.) Just changing one thing can help. This year is happiness. Doing things that make me happy. So I'm enrolling in yoga which does wonders for you. I have 3 clients with chronic neck tension who swear by it. I'm also adding more music to my day, which I love. Yes, I have music on all the time at work but sometimes I need to hear words with the music. Occasionally I become quite anti-new age music. It happens.

So be good to yourself, whatever that means to you. Read more. Travel more. Get more massage!
That's what a new year is all about.

Now you can buy online!!!

Sat, 21 Oct 2006 04:06:04 GMT

This evening I managed to become computer savy enough to add online shopping to my site. Now you can purchase gift certificates online through my lovely website! It's that easy. You can choose from 30, 45, 60 & 90 minute massage gift certificates. Throw them into the handy shopping cart and you are good to go! Perfect for holiday gift giving!!! (Hint Hint) I may throw an option to purchase therapeutic corn bags online. Those are great stocking stuffers!

Oh, massage gift certificates can be used for Reiki treatments as well, if you so choose.

Thanks!!!

The Wonders of the Foot Spa

Sun, 30 Jul 2006 21:08:33 GMT

Now, many of you may not be aware that the little town of Spencerport where I have my office
has been changing a bit over the past couple years. In my building alone, there is massage therapy, counseling/mediation, Reiki, and a Naturopath. The next street over from me has meditation classes and hypnotherapy. We even have our very own pottery painting shop for you to get your art therapy fix. All this in the past 3-5 years. Now that's progress!

So let me tell you about my friend Liz. Liz Bentley is the Naturopath I spoke of. Chances are you have no idea what she does. I'll admit I had no clue when I saw her name go up on the window of her office. Turns out she is a very good person to know. What Liz does is something I think everyone can use. She offers a analysis of your body's use of vitamins and minerals. With the use of her trusty machine she can analyze your saliva and urine to see how your body is operating. Is your liver not working up to par? Are you getting enough water? Is you mineral intake making you feel sluggish? All this and more she can tell you. It's awesome!

Liz also offers a foot spa which I love. I get them twice a week now. Maybe you saw a quick health update on channel 10 news about a chiropractor who offers them in Victor. What the foot spa does is help detox the body of all the crud we accumulate that can slow our systems down. Using a special filter type device, the water is charged ionically. Not an electric charge where you would be electrocuted but changing the charges of the water molecules. This causes aids the detox process. You put your feet in a lovely tub of hot water with the filter, a little sea salt is added to the water and you are off! The process takes about 45 minutes beginning to end. You enjoy a nice foot soak and watch the water. Based upon the amount of waste your cells are putting out into your system, the water changes color. The dirtier the water the healthier your cells (and you) are.

My first foot spa started with clear water, which changed to yellow to deep yellow orange to brown to black. Brown generally is related to liver and kidney production, green to your gall bladder, white for your lymph system and particles that are heavy metals.
Why get a foot spa? Why not, I say! It helps your body get rid of all the pollutants we pick up day to day. You will feel so much better. I know it made me sleepy which was wonderful since I have pretty much been running the mental olympics in my brain for the past several months.

Call and set up an appointment for a consultation with Liz (that included the analysis I told you about) and get $10.00 off if you tell her Massage By Laura referred you. You'll be glad you did! Reach Liz at 349-3330.

Massage in the workplace

Wed, 24 May 2006 05:34:37 GMT

Boy has it been a while since I've written an entry.

Let's talk business. Your workplace to be specific.

Wouldn't you love to work in a place that wanted to keep you healthy and sane? Seems like those places are few and far between. A client told me a couple weeks ago about a family member of hers who lives and works in Poland. Part of their health care program was a weekly massage for all employees. Quite a perk, huh? If only businesses in the U.S would catch on to what many other already know. Massage therapy saves companies money.

There have been several studies over the course of the past several years showing the impact of massage and bodywork on the overall health of employees. What they have found is that when employees received regular massage, work missed due to illness and injury decreased. Energy and productivity levels increased. Even company morale increased. I know that I would make darn sure that I was at work if I got a massage every week. It would have made working at the AAA much more enjoyable!

So, be pro-active with your health. Check out your health insurance and see if they offer any benefits for alternative care (ie massage,accupuncture,chiropractic, gym memberships) and take advantage of them. Health care in the US is still focused on reactive medicine ( take a few pills and call me next week) so it may take a little digging into your coverage plan. Use your health care coverage to your advantage. Make those premiums work for you!

If you think that your happy workplace would be ready,willing & able to bring massage therapy into their business, feel free to contact me. I can send information and convince that boss of yours to take good care of his hardworking folks. Who knows, maybe I'll be coming to an office near you.

5 things everyone needs to know about massage - article from USA Weekend 7/8/05

Tue, 01 Nov 2005 21:05:16 GMT

"People hold stress and deal with it differently, so their needs will vary."

In Good Hands
How can you tell whether your therapist is qualified (It's a no-no to call a massage therapist a "masseuse.") "Make sure he or she graduated from an accredited school, is a member of some professional organization and is licensed." says Mary Beth Braun, president of the American Massage Therapy Association. Thirty-five states and the District of Columbia give licenses; elsewhere,ask the therapist if they are certified nationally. To find a professional in your area, go to amtamassage.org/findamassage/locator.htm Even with a licensed therapist, heed your instincts. "If he or she doesn't leave the room when you're changing or doesn't cover you with a towel, those should be red flags." Babel says. "The therapists should tell you to take off as much clothing as you feel OK with."

You Rub my back, I'll rub yours
Despite all the licensing required, it is OK to give your loved ones the occasional back rub. "Generally, you're not going to hurt someone if you're giving them a massage at home. But don't do so for the elderly or a person with a systemic condition ( prone to blood clots, impaired lymphatic system, high blood pressure)," Braun says. Also, don't give a massage to anyone with a fever or severe cardiovascular condition." A few things to keep in mind: "The first mistake many people make is to dig into the shoulders. Start off light," Babel says. "Let the muscle melt under your hands, and work your way in slowly, then get deeper." Otherwise, there can be bruising and soreness the next day. He also recommends first warming your hands under the hot water.

Preparation equals relaxation
When you walk in for your massage, you should be ready to relax. "Coming on a full stomach isn't a good idea," Babel says. "Neither is drinking alcohol before or after." He also warns against showering just before a massage; the natural oils on your body will have been washed off, making the skin tighter. After your massage, Babel says, be sure to drink lots of water.

School rule
If you'd like to get a massage but find the typical hourly cost of $50.00 and up prohibitive, try a massage school. Most offer services by their students for a nominal fee. According to Braun, some of the nation's most prestigious massage schools include the Utah College of Massage Therapy, the Western Institute of Neuromuscular Therapy in California, the Chicago School of Massage Therapy and the Atlanta School of Massage.

Different strokes for different folks
A massage menu at a spa can be hard to interpret. Here's the 411 from the AMTA to help you choose:

Lomi Lomi is an ancient Hawaiian healing art often referred to by devotees as a spiritual massage. The therapist uses knuckle, thumb and forearm strokes to realign the body,mind and spirit.

Rosen Method involves gentle touch and verbal communication that should release suppressed emotions, and thus muscular tension. "I've had people cry, scream and freak out on the table," Babel says, "because we hold emotions and memories in our muscles. One guy I massage was shot in his leg, and he would cry every time I worked on his calf. When he finally explained he'd been shot there, it all made sense."

Shiatsu and acupressure are systems of finger pressure that treat special points along the invisible energy channels of the body.

Swedish massage involves long strokes, kneading and friction techniques on the superficial layers of muscles, plus active and passive movements of the joints.

Trigger Point Therapy involves concentrated finger pressure applied to "trigger points," which are painful, inflames areas of the musckes, in an effort to break the cycle of spasms and pain.

From the Lifestyles section of the USA WEEKEND by Natalie Ermann July 8-10 2005

Look What Massage Can Do!

Sat, 10 Sep 2005 06:10:02 GMT

Here's just a little bit of the wonderful things massage therapy can do!

Alzheimer's Disease: Slow-stroke, neck and shoulder massages helped people with Alzheimer's disease reduce the pacing, irritability, and restlessness commonly associated with this disease.

Severe Burns: In one study, burn patients were given a 20-minute massage before wound-care sessions. After five days, they reported less pain and anxiety than other burn patients.

Fibromyalgia: Fibromyalgia can cause pain, disturbed sleep, anxiety, and depression. When researchers provided patients with 30 minute massages twice a week, their pain, depression, and anxiety scores all went down - along with stiffness, fatigue, and troubled sleep.

Smoking: A group of smokers were taught how to massage their own ears or hands when they felt a craving for a cigarette. After a month, they were smoking fewer cigarettes, had improved moods, and had fewer withdrawal symptoms than a group who didn't practice self-massage.

That's just the start! A big thanks to Women's HealthSource magazine and Highland Hospital for providing this information.

Massage is for kids too!

Thu, 11 Aug 2005 01:06:33 GMT

Hello one and all.

I thought I would tackle the subject of kids and massage. Teenagers are a group that is quickly growing when it comes to getting massage. I have several teenagers in my happy client list and they are among my favorite clients. Much like yourself, I never fully bought in to the idea of teenagers needing massage because their lives are so stressed. My teenage years were much like anyone else's. I don't remember being that stressed.
Kids these days are more stressed than I ever was.

The stress of world events and the general lack of safety in most things has caused tension to rise to high levels. These days kids coming from a home with their parents are the minority. Jobs are no longer a guarentee and the number of tests a kid has to take now makes me stressed just thinking about it!

Public enemy number one with my clients when it comes to stress is homework. The amount of homework has increased requiring them to cart around many heavy books. The backpacks get too heavy to carry on one shoulder, but carrying the bag on both shoulders isn't cool...so they suffer.

As we get our kids ready to go back to school, whether its kindergarten or college, keep this in mind. Wearing your backpack on your back is not nearly as unattractive as being bent over at the waist and not being able to stand back up. It's better for your posture and will save your back!

Massage reduces stress from tests. They can rescue you from headaches brought on by homework and exams.
Massage has been found to help with ADHD and mild levels of depression. Sports injuries can be helped and insomnia soothed.

If your child is under 18, you will need to sign a permission release and are encouraged to stay on the premise during the session. With younger teens, you are welcome to even be in the room for the massage.
It gives you and your child peace of mind.

So keep this in mind as we head back to school. Even teenagers get tense and could use a massage. WE all could use one...or 12!

Cranial Sacral, Pet Massage and Gift Certificates....oh my!

Mon, 25 Jul 2005 07:03:36 GMT

Three random subjects thrown into that subject line, don't you think? Well, the first two are my courses of study at the moment. The last is a new business venture I have gotten myself into.

Cranial sacral massage is a gentle massage that has amazing results on many pesky problems. I've heard of everything from migraines to ADD has been treated with Cranial Sacral. Pretty remarkable. I've had many requests for me to learn this technique so I am getting to it. I should be offering appointments by the end of August...or sooner. Depends how fast I read!

Pet Massage??? I've had a few clients role their eyes at me over this one. However, I've had quite a few who have been asking me about it. To my knowledge, it started with equine massage. Massage therapy was used by horse trainers to help race horses keep their muscles in peak race form. Massage can elongate the muscles making for a longer stride. In horse racing, there are few things more important. Me? I'm not dealing with horses. Cats and dogs are more my speed. Yes, massage on animals does work. No, I don't work on them myself. State laws are pretty strict on who's allowed to work on animals. In a professional environment, only vets and vet-techs can handle pets. That being true, my study of pet massage will be to teach techniques to my clients to use on their little pets. I've already used them on one of my cats and it helped her digestion greatly. That sold me.

Gift Certificates are not new, even for my little business. This month I became a part of the Simply Certificates program. I'm sure you have seen their booths located at the local malls. Simply Certificates offer a generic form gift certificate that can be used at any one of the participating businesses. There are restaurants, golf courses and of course massage therapy. I know you will all want to use your gift certificate with me right?? No pressure, of course.

Next on the agenda is Infant Massage. I am looking into possibly offering classes in the near future with subjects of Infant Massage, Couple Massage, Massage Against Carpal Tunnel and TMJ, Pet Massage and possibly a course on stress reduction. If you are interested, please let me know!

Take care everyone and stay cool!!

That pesky carpal tunnel syndrome.

Mon, 20 Jun 2005 04:52:19 GMT

I'm sure the thought has crossed your mind once or twice after a long day of working in the yard or a big project at the office. Your wrists are aching and you think that you might be developing carpal tunnel syndrome. Don't jump on that bus just yet! Sometimes the muscles are tight in your forearms that press down on those nerves. If you can relax those muscles, the nerves are happier and the pain subsides. So here's what you can do to help yourself fight CTS.

CTS is generally brought on by repetitive actions. People who do the same motions day after day are more prone than those of you who had a busy week on the computer. The carpal tunnel is an actual tunnel in your wrist where the radial nerve runs through to get from your arm to your hand. When the muscles in the arm/wrist/hand get to stresses they push the nerve up against to tunnel, causing pain and numbness. You can even lose strength in your hand.

So how can you help yourself fight CTS? The best you can do is change up your routine. If you do most of your work with your right hand, try to alternate with your left. This not only helps break up the monotony, it also wakes your brain up. Using your non-dominate hand makes you pay more attention to what you are doing. So it's a two for the price of one tip!

Getting a massage ( from me of course!) is great for combating muscle strain, but you can give yourself a mini massage every day to keep your hands moving. Make a fist and use your knuckles to apply pressure to the muscles of your forearms. You might not know your own strength so DON'T PUSH TOO HARD. If you look at your arm and can see faint red streaks along your arms, that's a good pressure. You want to focus on the inside part of your arm, those are the muscles that are the trouble makers.

So, change up your work routine, give your arms a little massage and be sure to take little breaks throughout your day to rest and move. It will keep you from getting stiff and achy. You'll be glad you did!

What the heck is cranial sacral massage anyway?

Mon, 06 Jun 2005 04:07:34 GMT

Hello! Recently I asked my lovely studio audience ( also known as the clients on my email list) what types of massage they would like to see me add to my list of styles to choose from. I threw a few choices out there for discussion: infant massage, reflexology, pet massage and cranial sacral. The pet massage has seemed to draw the most questions and laughs. It does exist and it helps! Just ask my cat...if you can catch her.

Cranial Sacral is a different type of massage. No, I don't pick you up off the table and throw you around. I don't walk on your back either. It's actually a very relaxing and very gentle form of massage. It focuses most attention on just what the name says... cranial bones ( the ones that hold your brains in where they belong) and your sacral area ( the whole area of your pelvis.) Did you know you can actually move the bones in your head ever so slightly? That's only part of this wonderful massage. It has been found to help with many physical complaints such as back and neck problems but has also been said to help depression and ADHD. If you would like more info, drop me an email and I'll be sure to give you all I know.

If there is a type of massage that you would like to learn more about, email me and ask away!

For those of you playing the home game, I'm writing this at midnight which proves one of my favorite clients right. I can never seem to email anyone before 11pm. Better luck next time. Take care and be well.

My First Entry

Mon, 30 May 2005 03:08:31 GMT

My fabulous web designer fixed me up with this wonderful journal so I can let people know what's new in the world of massage therapy. I hope to keep this up to date with information of how massage therapy can help with illness, ailments and general areas of grief. Feel free to email me with any questions you may have about massage therapy or Massage By Laura. Be sure to check back for what's new! Thanks for visiting.