Education

Recently I had the opportunity to attend a seminar concerning proper etiquette when interacting with deaf individuals. It was interesting and enlightening and I think the best part of it all is that since then I have stepped past my insecurities of embarrassing myself and made friends with a deaf person.

Years ago when I was in college at Jacksonville State University I remember sitting in the cafeteria watching and listening to the table of deaf students during lunch breaks. I always chose a seat near them because the constant flurry of hands and expressions, as well as all the noise they made, fascinated me. I even lived in an apartment complex with some of the deaf students, but I could never bring myself to befriend anyone. Mostly because I was scared of the unknown factors.

How would we communicate? What if I don’t understand them or they don’t understand me? Do I need to learn sign language?

I didn’t know so I just watched from afar. Now I realize I was somewhat stalkerish and it was probably good no one noticed. I’m glad that I now have some of the paralyzing questions answered and though I still don’t sign I can have a conversation with a deaf person and not be scared out of my wits about the prospect.

The seminar was given by Alabama Department of Rehabilitative Services and it was completely free. So if you, like I was, are dumbstruck by the idea of communication with someone who communicates differently, give them a call and ask about their next seminar.

***Harvest Moon Massage is Decatur, Alabama’s Exclusive Provider of Ashiatsu Oriental Bar Therapy, Ashi-Thai and Bamboo-Fusion Massage

Here at Harvest Moon Massage Therapy & Reflexology we are Lite(ing) it up Pink for the month of October in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness.

***Harvest Moon Massage is Decatur, Alabama’s Exclusive Provider of Ashiatsu Oriental Bar Therapy, Ashi-Thai and Bamboo-Fusion Massage

I realized recently after talking with some massage therapist friends that I don’t do a very good job of educating my clients on the benefits of regular massage. After careful examination, I realized it’s because I never want my clients to feel like I’m trying to upsell to them. I have an intense dislike of pushy salespeople trying to sell me things when I already know what I want.

So in order to better prepare myself and share with you, gentle reader, the following is why I and some other very knowledgeable people think it is important to make massage a regular part of your health and grooming regimen.

I think the most important benefit of massage is relaxation. Our society does not value it; instead opting for longer days, shorter nights and higher and higher levels of stress. For some, relaxation is a state they can no longer obtain and the lack of regular rest and relaxation, i.e., stress, wreaks havoc on the body.

A study in 1999 by the Touch Research Institute at the University of Miami School of Medicine and Nova Southeastern University in Florida gave us proof that massage reduces blood pressure. The risks of high blood pressure are long and scary and while more research is needed to explain exactly what mechanism of massage causes the reduction, I think we can all agree that however it works, it’s a good thing.

Other studies have resulted in benefits such as a reduction in stress hormones in the blood stream, alleviation of depressive symptoms and a better immune system response. In my opinion, these four benefits are so interrelated that once you get a response from one the others follow along. And these are just a sampling of the benefits that have been proven by studies.

Fortunately, it’s not just the massage industry researching the benefits of massage. The American Diabetes Association now recognizes that stress reduction helps with the absorption of insulin.

And we haven’t even talked about massage and pain reduction yet. Massage improves circulation to the muscles, circulation promotes healing, and pain dissipates as healing occurs. This is a simplistic explanation of the pain cycle, but you get the picture. Another study recently proved that muscles recover quicker after strenuous exertion when massage is incorporated.

All good things, dontcha think? So when was your last massage? Mine was too long ago.

***Harvest Moon Massage is Decatur, Alabama’s Exclusive Provider of Ashiatsu Oriental Bar Therapy, Ashi-Thai and Bamboo-Fusion Massage

I have heard and read for years that it’s important to stretch before you exit the bed in the morning. Most of the reasons given have to do with blood flow and getting the blood that pools in the extremities out of the legs and arms and back into the core of the body.

Then I ran across “The Fuzz Speech” and this new approach to the importance of stretching and movement kind of smacked me upside the head. I knew about the “stuckness” that happens after injury or prolonged disuse of the body. As a massage therapist, I see these kinds of body issues every day in my clients. As a part-time desk jockey, I have struggled with these kinds of body issues for years. But I had very little visualization into what the anatomy and physiology behind it was.

I’ve never heard of this “fuzz” before and I am fascinated.

So the following video is a talk given by Dr. Gil Hedley about this stuff he calls fuzz that grows between what I understand is the fascial sheaths of muscles (perhaps it is part of the fascia?). The fuzz grows while the muscles are still, i.e., while we sleep or spend hours hunched in front of our computers or vegging on the couch. Enough fuzz and you realize you’re stiff and have trouble getting going again. Even more fuzz and it becomes strong enough to cause restrictions in movement. This is the point where I typically see a new client.

The solution to the fuzz? Movement, period.

As someone who struggles daily with getting enough activity and movement, I found this to be pure genius. It shores up my resolve to move more, to stretch more, to get more of the E-word.

So since I’ve told you all about it, perhaps you would actually like to see the video? Just a word before you view it, there’s cadaver footage in the video. In case you’re sensitive to that kind of thing, you might want to just listen.