Education

It’s always so sad to see elderly people who’s spines are so curved forward that they can  not longer stand erect. I’ve always thought- how do they get to that point? Little did I know that the majority of people with desk jobs are in a repetitive posture that can lead to this state of affairs.

As we hunch over our keyboards in the luminous glow of the computer screen, certain muscles are tightening while others are loosening. Our spinal curvature begins to change as muscles become weak and imbalanced. For every inch our heads moves forward, there is an added strain on our cervical spine to support our cranium and this leads to pain and discomfort in the upper back and shoulders and possibly headaches.

Unfortunately I’m all too familiar with this feeling, but fortunately I work in an environment where massage therapy is at my fingertips. Registered Massage Therapists are trained to address such specific pain and tension cycles associated with ergonomics.  Through regular work on the muscles as well as corrective exercises and stretches assigned for home care, your massage therapist can correct your postural alignment. That- I must say, is a relief!

With the end of the fiscal year looming ahead- it’s the perfect time to come in for a series of massage therapy treatments to use up benefits that have gone by the way side. Booking in once a week is ideal to create a corrective program for strains and pains. While the rest of us are hunching our way through our Holiday shopping, you’ll be enjoying an early gift!

There are many different techniques involved in massage therapy. Registered Massage Therapists in Vancouver need to have studied for 3000 hours and pass rigorous exams before they can be a practicing member of the Massage Therapy Association. This means that each hand placement and nuance of pressure has medical reasoning behind it.

That’s really the beauty of massage therapy; the fact that human touch has the ability to improve our physical health and sense of well being.

One of the most effective massage therapy treatments I’ve experienced is Geo-Thermal Stone Therapy.  This treatment involves the use of hot basalt stones and cool carved marble to create shifts in blood and lymphatic circulation to the muscles.

Have you ever experienced mild aches in your muscles post-massage? This is due to the lactic acid still present in the muscle tissue. Massage therapy helps to flush this out somewhat; however, the contrasting temperatures used in  geo-thermal stone therapy ameliorates this process, resulting in refreshed muscles full of oxygenated blood.

The warmth of the basalt stones is comforting, relaxing and grounding. The cool marble may seem like the farthest thing from relaxing, however after the initial temperature transition, the cold has a soothes muscle strain and helps reduce inflammation.

So if it’s been a while since your last massage, or you’re looking to intensify your treatment- I’d highly recommend you book yourself  in for some geo-thermal stone therapy.  It’s deep therapy for stressed limbs and the perfect warming treatment during the chilly fall and winter seasons.