Professional Massage~

[Swami Chihuahuananda]

Originally Posted by Silvergirl

Hey Dar. I have a question -- about the foam roller? Where do you find the kind that you use for your knee? Might come in handy for my back, hips, and other parts. I have been using a fist-sized superball I found at Toys R Us for accupressure work on my spine where I lay on the floor and position it underneath the area that needs it. Works quite nicely, too.

I don't remember just where , but maybe Amazon. It's hard to work knees, I'll tell ya !. I use my fisted knuckles when it gets bad, along the side, and fingers, and a lot of elbow grease . The roller is good for legs , hips, butt, parts of the back .

Okay, here...it's a 'Triggerpoint performance ' roller , and the label says www.tptherapy.com . It's about 13" long , tubular fiberglass , 5" diameter, with a black rubber pad covering , that has different kinds of grooves. Not a cheapo unit, maybe $40 or something . I like the ball idea; sounds good for spot work on the low back !

Ha! , the label doesn't really say what the post says it says ! tptherapy.com is the place to go , or follow the SF link

[vitalspark]

The other day I read that everyone should go for massages because it's good for your self-esteem and self-worth. To be touched so closely by someone else and not in dark lighting, or not hiding any of you, is good for the soul. I like that idea because it's so true. I don't think I've ever felt so exposed, but now I feel much more comfortable and at peace when fetting a massage.

I started going for massages about two years ago. I injured my back a few years ago and after going through so many hours of physio and having pain go away, come back, go away, come back, I finally went for massage. And I was so glad I did. I go for only the deepest tissue massages. It helps my body to feel whole again. If I could afford it, I'd go every week! I find places that offer cheaper massages are not as deep and therapeutic as paying a good amount for them.

[Tobi]

I agree. It's nice to treat yourself to a professional massage sometimes, especially if you use your body a lot (or even if you don't!) muscles can get very knotted-up. Trapped emotions can be stored in these tightened areas, and sometimes a massage can release them, so that's always a small side-effect to be accepting and understanding about.

I haven't had a massage for ages. But I did quite a few sessions with a chiropractor last year for bad lower back and sciatica. There was no real 'massage' involved, but somehow it helped, and part of the helping/healing effect was that my instincts felt that someone cared about my physical pain, and was soothing me....

[Silver]

Originally Posted by vitalspark

The other day I read that everyone should go for massages because it's good for your self-esteem and self-worth. To be touched so closely by someone else and not in dark lighting, or not hiding any of you, is good for the soul. I like that idea because it's so true. I don't think I've ever felt so exposed, but now I feel much more comfortable and at peace when fetting a massage.

I started going for massages about two years ago. I injured my back a few years ago and after going through so many hours of physio and having pain go away, come back, go away, come back, I finally went for massage. And I was so glad I did. I go for only the deepest tissue massages. It helps my body to feel whole again. If I could afford it, I'd go every week! I find places that offer cheaper massages are not as deep and therapeutic as paying a good amount for them.

Yep, although where I go, they keep the lighting low, but it can be adjusted to how you want - plus they light candles if you want, and have soothing music piped in throughout the offices (it's a chiropractor's place).

Btw, thanks DAR for the info.

[vitalspark]

Yep, although where I go, they keep the lighting low, but it can be adjusted to how you want - plus they light candles if you want, and have soothing music piped in throughout the offices (it's a chiropractor's place).

That sounds so nice! Sometimes at the place I go they have nice music but it would be nice if they dimmed the lights and had candles. The way their office is set up is that there is skylights everywhere so I imagine it would be ideal to go at night when it's dark to have more of an experience.

[Deidre]

Originally Posted by psychoslice

Vocational, mmmm, I never heard that name before, no I studied Naturopathy, for five years.

Hello...I know you.


As for massage...I LOVE GETTING THEM REGULARLY. Yes, I meant to shout that. I just feel so great from a deep tissue massage once weekly, it's done wonders for me. Finding a valuable MT is worth gold.

[Deidre]

I had a massage on Friday it was ammmmazing, as always. Love my MT!! It truly is not a luxury, I find it to be a necessity...I feel and sleep better, I work out a lot so it helps with my overall health and wellness goals. I highly recommend finding a quality MT, and trying to go at least once per month :)

[Found Goat]

For some time now I've been seeing an RMT who specializes in myofascial release, and recently I put to this woman the question of why it is her technique is so unlike the descriptions others have used regarding this form of treatment, since what I've experienced on the massage table is neither 'intense' nor 'painful' in the least.

In fact, the myofascial 'therapy' I've received has been so exceptionally soft and gentle on the skin that as one seeking a more vigorous approach, I have since sought out another practitioner, with this RMT being kind enough to refer me to another therapist in the same clinic.

According to said RMT, myofascial massage needn't be aggressive in order for it to work and heal the (hypothetical?) fascia (tissue, by the way, of which it is said cannot be detected via imaging). Curiously, she does not manually focus on the indicated trigger points themselves but tends to place her hands and fingers, for example, practically everywhere on the back except where the problem knots are. Nor does this professional masseuse exert hardly any elbow grease whatsoever, which I find somewhat frustrating, considering I pay this person $70 per only 30 minutes of her time; a fee I think you'd all agree is quite outrageous and that ought to be covered by healthcare.

What I'm after at this point is some deep-pressure rubbing, akin to your typical Swedish massage, even though I've found the overall effects of myofascial release to be generally helpful in temporarily alleviating muscle tension. (I have come to the conclusion that said tension in the shoulders and upper back is chronic and may have something to do with body posture.)

Interestingly, when I requested of this therapist that she concentrate on the knotted areas specifically, and for her to please apply a bit of effort this time, she politely refused and told me this wasn't her style. That's when she told me that what she practices is an acquired taste, not to everyone's liking, and recommended I try one of her colleague's treatments, in which actual (and blessed) kneading is employed.

This myofascial therapist has been practicing for about forty years and considers her technique more advanced than your average RMT and yet has had other clients also complain of the treatment being far too featherweight. Basically, aside from a few seconds of applied skin rolling (my favorite part, feels so good), what she does is limited to a simple light pressing of the hands/fingers seemingly everywhere on the back but where the sensed muscle tension lies, and holding them there for a minute or so, upon slowly moving them around to various other locations -- without ever, much to my chagrin, focusing on the indicated area itself; an omission intended as if only to get my goat.

I am told by her that fascia runs pretty much all throughout the body and because it's all connected, that what may seem counterintuitive to the recipient (i.e. light touching to parts of the body other than the sore spot) is actually a roundabout way of improving the health of the tissue. (Hmmm.)

Personally, after several sessions of this unconventional form of myofascial release, I am not entirely convinced of this purported therapy myself and wonder just how much pseudoscience is involved, if any.

[Miss Hepburn]

I'm figuring RMT means registered, bec your area does not require licensing.
Go with what you like, I say. I want Deep Tissue Massage by whatever fancy name or workshops the LMT
in my area has gone to.

$70 for an hr is more reasonable to me...more IF the person knows what they're doing and listens to
what I want her to concentrate on...AND doesn't really look at the clock...goes well over the hr...bec she
cares and is a healer first, not a rigid I hr person.

If they give me some kind of talk about a light to medium pressure is better...they are not for me...and i feel
they have never had a chronically tight muscle.. so have no idea that I want to take a hammer to myself ...
like I would do to tenderize a steak!

I ask if they ever do Trigger Point with a T-bar?
PS I dont have those problems like I did many yrs ago from injuries.
Oh, the Physical Therapy I have had from accidents...now, then, I can go, in loose clothing, to a guy. :)
And insurance pays.

If someone is wondering I never go to a male anymore, don't ask.