Welcome to 2005!

Instead of making resolutions for the new year, my husband and I make a set of predictions for the coming year. We include guesses for ourselves, our family and close friends. We usually only get about 50% or fewer correct, but we have a lot of fun imagining what the coming year will bring.

I'm excited about a class I'll be teaching at University School of Nashville this winter as part of their Evening Classes fundraiser. So many people express interest in learning how to massage a friend or family member, I'm teaching a class instructing students how to give a neck and shoulder massage.

This month, I want to cover timing your massages to get the most benefit out of them. Sometimes, the timing of your massage with respect to other events in your life is as important as getting the massage itself. In addition, I'm covering self-massage for headaches, and including more information about reflexology.

Enjoy!

- heather wibbels (615.294-6672)

Should you get your massage just before or after that big deadline? Before or after a vacation? Our lives are broken up by deadlines, special events and periods of high stress, and massage can work wonders to reduce stress and improve health. However, getting a massage at the wrong time can reduce the benefits reaped from the massage. Here’s a list of common events and occurrences, and the best time to get a massage for each:

Publishing or Project Deadlines
While you should be getting massage regularly through any period of high stress, you will get the most benefit from your massage if you time it just after your big deadline. Although getting a massage just before your deadline sounds like a good idea, and feels good during the session, once you leave the session and get into that final drive before the deadline, your body tightens back up quickly in response to the sudden resumption of stress. Schedule a massage just after a deadline or publishing project so that you can take the benefits of the massage with you when you leave and hang on to that relaxation and reduction in stress for more time than it takes you to drive back to your office.

Vacation
The best time to get a massage in relation to a vacation depends on your personality type and the type of travel you’re undertaking. If you’re the type of person for whom getting ready for the vacation is stressful, time-consuming and rushed, don’t plan a massage just before you leave. You will feel rushed during the session, and won’t be able to relax while thinking about all the things you have left to do before you leave. If, however, you are laid back about vacations, and don’t tend to rush about just before them, getting a massage is a great way to start your time off. You also want to consider the type of travel. If you are driving or flying for a long period of time, it will be better to get a massage once you get to your vacation location or when you return home. Getting a massage and then sitting still for a long time causes the muscles to stiffen up – so even though you felt great when you got on the plane, you’ll feel stiff and tense when you disembark. If you are staying home or taking only a short ride to your destination, consider a massage at the start of your vacation as a great way to get the mind and body relaxed and ready for the time off.

Wedding
Getting a massage a week before the wedding is preferable to getting a massage the day before your wedding. Getting a massage a week before your wedding may help take the edge off the stress you feel just before all the final details and plans fall into place. But, getting a massage the day before the wedding may feel rushed and the massage feel like just another thing to cross off on your to do list. Consider scheduling a massage for a day or two after your wedding so you aren’t rushed and so you can truly enjoy your session and melt into the table. A side note for brides: If you get a massage on your wedding day, go before you fix your hair and makeup. As careful as massage therapists are, there's always the chance for oil or lotion to get into the hair during a massage. Visit your therapist first, then your stylist.

Injury
If the injury is muscular in nature and is not inflamed, try to see your massage therapist as soon as possible. If the injury requires stitches and/or a physician’s visit, check in with the doctor to see how soon you can receive massage. Massage should not be used over open wounds or stitches, but it is beneficial in releasing adhesions and restoring range of motion once the wounds are healed.

Long-term Caregiving
Many clients go through periods where they are the primary caregiver for an elderly or sick parent, partner or child. Oftentimes, we get so wrapped up in taking care of our loved ones, we forget that we need to be healthy in order to continue to care for them. For this reason, it is important for caregivers to get regular massage while caring for their loved one. Getting the time to relax and unwind from the stress of a long-term illness is critical in keeping healthy both physically and mentally.

Pregnancy
While massage is contraindicated during the first trimester, regular massage during pregnancy benefits the mother and the fetus. Most pregnant women get massage once every three to four weeks in months four through eight, and increase frequency to every other week or every week in the last six weeks prior to the due date. Because massage helps the body adjust to the strains of pregnancy, it is a excellent method for staying healthy during pregnancy. Note that woman in high-risk pregnancies should seek a massage therapist certified in pre-natal massage.

More on Massage: Reflexology
Why is a foot massage so relaxing?

Reflexology works on the theory that all parts of the body are reflected in the hands and feet. This means that working specific places on your hands and feet have an effect on other parts of the body. There are ten vertical zones (five on each hand and foot) and within each zone there are reflexes (locations) that correspond to organs or areas of the body. When these reflexes are worked, pressed or massaged, they cause positive change in the area corresponding to the reflex. For example, if a client has sinus issues or allergies, the sinus reflex (tips of the toes) can be worked to relieve some of that congestion.

Some reflexologists maintain that reflexology has been around since the time of the Egyptians. However, the modern roots of reflexology come from the past 100 years. In the early 20th century, zone theory was a new and exciting concept. The idea behind zone theory is that palpation and massage of specific places of the body have an analgesic effect on other parts of the body. Vertical and horizontal zones on the hands and feet seemed to be cause pain relief and healing in other parts of the body. Eunice Ingham, a physical therapist, made a key breakthrough – the reflexes on the feet mirrored the placement and location of organs. This meant that specific places relating to the stomach, lungs, kidneys, liver, etc., could be identified and used in treatment. She traveled the country to demonstrate and teach reflexology to people to treat themselves, thus popularizing reflexology.

How does it work? There are some theories that reflexology works by stimulating nerve endings in the feet and hands that run through or branch out to different parts of the body. Other people compare it to the energy meridians in acupressure. Quite honestly, there hasn’t been a solid scientific explanation that has been agreed upon by reflexologists and the medical community. So, we don’t really know the physiological mechanism through which reflexology works, except through experiential evidence. Massage therapists and reflexologists have found reflexology to be an effective means to treat various illnesses and symptoms in the body. Please give me a call if you'd like to know more about reflexology or have a session focused on reflexology (615.294-6672)

The following sites contain more information about reflexology:

• International Institute of Reflexology
• International Academy of Advanced Reflexology
• Pacific Institute of Reflexology