Massage & Stress Management
Hello, everyone! I’m Elise.
I’m a Remedial Massage Therapist and I have recently joined the wonderful team at Naturally Massage & Wellness.
Can you believe it is already February? It doesn’t take long for our schedules to fill up, whether it is long work hours, family or study commitments, or the impending busy festival season.
It can sometimes feel as though there aren’t enough hours in the day!
One thing that many of us don’t account for in our busy schedules is looking after our mental and emotional health.
So often, we put everyone and everything else first, and then find ourselves trying to catch up on our own energy and happiness throughout the year.
This can leave us feeling stressed and can even lead to more serious concerns such as burn-out.
We can also experience physiological concerns associated with stress, including muscle tightness and pain.
Over the past few years, I have experienced many physiological and emotional problems associated with stress.
Thankfully, I have been able to make some lifestyle changes, including scheduling in regular massages for myself.
I love having this dedicated time in my schedule to help manage stress and look after my physical health.
I am sharing my experiences with you, in case you have been feeling a little overwhelmed, or are experiencing muscle pain or tightness that we can help you with.
Massage therapy can assist us to manage our feelings of stress, and associated muscle pain and tightness.
This treatment method has been demonstrated to help us reset our nervous and emotional states to better be able to heal, rest and recover.
Remedial massage, in particular, is effective in addressing many ongoing pain concerns, such as sore neck and shoulders, tightness in the back and sore legs.
If you think that you or someone you know could benefit from a massage, give our friendly team a call to discuss your concerns and book in.
We can help you to prioritize looking after yourself in 2020.
I look forward to meeting you, to help you feel better and move easier.
Elise Marchant
Dip. Rem. Massage
The Top 5 Benefits of Hot Stone Massage
Hot Stone Massage is an ancient technique which has been developed and perfected over centuries into it’s current practice.
Smooth stones made of basalt volcanic rock are warmed up in water in advance, and the basalt stones retain heat well, which means long-lasting warmth during your massage!
Your massage therapist will incorporate them into almost any massage treatment, from Swedish (relaxation) massage, remedial massage, deep tissue massage and sports massage.
They can be used for the entire duration of the massage, or used intermittently.
The result is a soothing and deeply relaxing massage, but what else is great about Hot Stone Massage?
Read on to find out our top 5 benefits of hot stone massage!
1. Achieve Ultimate Relaxation
Heat is a natural relaxant. It sends signals to the brain, telling the mind to relax.
This, in turn, tells the body to relax, allowing your muscles to loosen up and for muscular tension to be released.
For those feeling stressed or suffering from anxiety, hot stone massage may be very beneficial.
It can help to reduce stress and anxiety as it promotes deep relaxation.
Hot stone massage is the ultimate relaxation massage.
2. Relieve Muscular Aches and Pains
Hot stones can be incorporated into most types of massage, including remedial massage.
As heat promotes relaxation, your muscles relax, making it easier for your massage therapist to work through your muscles to relieve tightness, aches and pains.
Remedial massage is a firm to deep pressure massage which focuses on releasing tight muscles and the tension in the surrounding structures.
Sometimes the muscles can be so tense, that they are difficult to work through.
The use of hot stones may provide an extra layer of relaxation that is sometimes needed to be able to effectively ease sore muscles.
Our therapists are already well respected in the community for being able to provide amazing results in freedom from pain and tightness.
The use of hot stones adds another amazing element to the high-quality treatment you expect from us.
3. Improve Circulation
Massage has been shown to improve circulation in the body, and the heat provided by hot stones can help to improve circulation even more!
As the heat from the stones penetrates the muscle tissues, your blood vessels may open more.
The result is improved circulation, as more oxygen is able to reach your muscles, improving their functionality and easing muscular discomfort.
4. Energy Healing
A great hot stone massage not only benefits the body; it may also benefit the mind.
Traditionally, hot stones have been used for energy healing, during which they are placed on key energy points of the body.
The muscle is warmed and energy is released, further improving your body’s natural healing.
5. Promotes Better Sleep
This ultimate relaxation massage may help to improve your sleep!
Not only can massage help to promote getting to sleep by getting rid of the ‘wired and tired’ feeling of your body, but it can also improve the quality of your sleep.
This means you may have a far more restful sleep, and feel more energised and alert when you wake up!
Don’t miss out on our amazing deal this Winter.
This August receive
$10 OFF One Hour Winter Warmer Massages!
Treat yourself to a one hour full body massage including warmed oil, hot stones and our doTERRA ‘On Guard’ Essential Oil with Clove & Cinnamon to improve circulation & help ward off seasonal threats!
JUST $85 this August (SAVE $10)
Save time click here to Book Online
Select “Winter Warmer Massage”
*Private Health Fund Rebates apply*
The Top 8 Things You Can Do To Banish Pain At Your Work Desk
How would you feel if you could implement some quick and simple fixes at work to relieve the loading on your body that causes tightness and pain?
Does this sound familiar? You get to the office, sit at your desk and work starts. The phone starts (and sometimes doesn’t stop), you’ve been clacking the keyboard endlessly, and before you know it the day has gone.
Time is a paradox, the day can seem like its dragging and then suddenly it’s coming to an end and there’s so much work needing to be done. And, to make things worse, your back, neck and shoulders have been stiff and achy, that burning feeling between your shoulders is driving you nuts and to top it off your head hurts… when is the weekend going to be here?
So, how do we minimise the strain on the body while you’re at work?
Thankfully, there are several things to take into consideration that can make your work day less arduous and much more comfortable.
1. Desk setup
First things first – the most important thing you should check is the ergonomics of your work station. If your chair and desk are not ideal for your height, then this can create a lot of postural tension as you will need to slouch or arch to sit at your computer.
If your computer monitor is too high or low this will also cause the same problem.
Is your screen in front of you or off to the side, or do you work with multiple screens? Are they set up to avoid sitting in an over-rotated position?
If your keyboard is sitting on a surface that is too high, you may find yourself hunching and rounding your shoulders just to be able to type.
Ideally, you should be sitting in a position that allows an upright position with shoulders back and down and a slight chin tuck rather than rounding towards your screen.
Getting an ergonomics assessment by an Occupational Therapist can further help to fine tune your work station.
2. Laptop Users
Perhaps you use a laptop rather than a desktop.
Laptops are ultra-convenient for those that need them, in fact, my main computer is a laptop. The best thing I have found to make working away for hours at a time is to sit at my desk, rather than on the couch or at the dining table.
This is common practice with laptop users and I see so many tight backs and necks from those who adopt this work position.
Further to this, I have added a wireless keyboard and mouse, so that the laptop screen is at a comfortable distance from my face, avoiding the inevitable slouch. These are relatively inexpensive and you can find a decent wireless combo for around $30.
To finish off my workstation I have purchased, for roughly $30 again, a laptop stand. This angled tool raises the laptop to a comfortable height, so once again I don’t have to look down at my screen, which will create a lot of tightness and pain.
3. Headsets Are Not A Fashion Accessory
One of the most common issues I find with office workers who are also on the phone a lot is that the tightness that builds up on one side of their neck and into the same shoulder from holding the phone between their ear and shoulder for long periods while they type or write down information.
This creates long term neck issues and headaches but thankfully is an easy fix.
Using a headset at work frees your neck and shoulders up so that you can type away in a better postural position. When I recommend this to my clients who are in this category, they notice immediate improvement and unburdening of their neck and shoulders, and a reduction or elimination of their headaches.
Try this low-cost option for yourself and notice the difference immediately.
4. Now You See Me
Check the lighting in your workspace.
Is it low mood lighting that makes you tired, your eyes straining to see the words on the screen, lulling you into a tired postural slump?
Or is it so bright and glaring that your retinas are burning and you need to shield your poor eyes with sunglasses?
Getting the lighting comfortably bright will help to reduce eye strain and headaches.
5. The Eyes Have It
Perhaps eye strain is forcing you to round your body to get closer to your screen and is part of the reason you are getting tightness in your upper body and headaches.
If the lighting is not an issue, have you considered getting your eyes checked at the Optometrist?
I have had several clients that updated their glasses prescription or got glasses for the first time, and that was all that was necessary to allow them to sit comfortably without straining their bodies at their desks.
6. It’s Getting Cold In Here
Some workplaces have very efficient cooling, and there always seems to be someone who loves to keep the place cooler than is comfortable… perhaps they came from a country that doesn’t see the temperature rise above 20 degrees!
Some air vents have been inconveniently installed directly above work stations… who put that thing there?!
In any case, cold air blowing on the back of your neck while you are sitting in the same position for a while can seize up the muscles of your back and neck.
Perhaps talk to the self-proclaimed “controller of the air-conditioning” (you know the one) and find a comfortable happy medium… or start wearing a scarf to work.
7. Put Your Feet Up
If you’re like a lot of people who have their legs tucked back under their chairs, then you will also notice tightness in your lower back, hips and legs (hamstrings and calves), which contributes to rounding of the upper body and the stiff jolt to a standing position every time you need to leave your desk.
Your feet should ideally be directly underneath your knees (90 degrees), or placed on a footrest in front of your chair.
This raises your knees in a more relaxed and comfortable position and it also allows you to sit in a more upright posture, which reduces the curve and strain in your lower back.
8. Break The Cycle
As I said at the beginning of this article, the day can feel like its dragging, and then suddenly 8 or 9 hours have gone by and you may have gone to the toilet once or grabbed a quick bite (which may even be at your desk).
Set yourself some regular computer alarms to remind you to get up and get a glass of water (try to keep it away from your desk just so that you have to stand up and move to get one), have a quick stretch, etc.
Whenever you stop and move, you break the cycle of tension that builds up from being in the same position for hours on end.
Hopefully there are some tips in this article that you can adopt today to make your workday feel much more comfortable.
And remember… nothing gets rid of that built up tension better than a Remedial Massage.
During April and May – when you book in 4 massages of any length, you will receive your 4th massage at half price! (book 4x 30min massages and your 4th 30min massage is 50% off; book 4x 60min massages and your 4th 60min massage is 50% off… you get the idea). The 4 appointments must be booked in advance for the offer to apply.
With 7 amazing therapists to help you out, we’re ready to give you the help you may desperately need!
Save time click here to Book Online
Author: George
About me: I am a Remedial Massage Therapist, Personal Trainer and Natural Health practitioner with 20 years’ experience. I am passionate about helping clients to overcome pain and injuries and focus on educating clients to help them regain control of their lives.
Office Workers – Is your sitting posture causing you back pain, neck pain and headaches?
Do you sit at a computer clacking away on the keyboard for hours on end?
Do you feel pain and stiffness kicking in by the end of the day? Perhaps it’s even started to develop from the beginning of the day lately.
Being stuck in front of a computer screen from 9-5 (or even longer these days) is the reality for a lot of people. This can ultimately cause slumps in posture and the tightness and pain associated with these positions: lower back pain, stiffness and aching (or a burning) feeling between the shoulder blades, neck tension and restriction and headaches that can range anywhere from back of the head, one side of the head to the entire head. These pains can be dull and achy with brain fogginess, or sharp shooting pains that travel to the eyes (one or both sides).
Does this sound familiar?
The good news is… we can help!
These are symptoms we help people with daily, and at Naturally Massage & Wellness we are dedicating April and May to OFFICE WORKERS – unsung heroes that keep the world going, tucked conveniently away behind your computer screens… This one’s for YOU!
The 4 things you can do to reduce your pain and help you to function at your best are:
- Stretching – I know this is what everybody advocates and you’re probably sick of hearing everyone say it… but maybe you just don’t know what to do. Coming soon – quick and easy to follow guide to stretching that you can do at your desk to break the cycle of tension and help keep you going through those tough times.
- Strength – Poor posture is developed over time where certain muscles become stronger, tighter and shorter than their balancing pair. Coming soon – a quick, easy to follow and focused guide to strengthening posture for office workers.
- Supplementation – Deficiency can also be causing a tightness build-up in your body, by not providing the body with the essential components required for function. Coming soon – a guide to supplementation for pain and tension relief.
- Massage – When you’re tight, restricted and in pain nothing is worse than battling the day. And nothing is more frustrating than not knowing what to do to relieve the symptoms. Massage is the quickest and easiest way to reduce the tightness in your muscles, increase your mobility, reduce loading on your neck and base of your skull and lift the fog in your brain. We specialise in removing the cause of your pain and restriction and guiding you in a personalised approach to work for you (this one we can deal with right now!).
Office Workers… we got your back… literally – I can hear the groans at my dad joke ;p
During April and May – when you book in 4 massages of any length, you will receive your 4th massage at half price!
Book 4x 30min massages and your 4th 30min massage is 50% off
Book 4x 60min massages and your 4th 60min massage is 50% off… you get the idea
The 4 appointments must be booked in advance for the offer to apply.
With 7 amazing therapists to help you out, we’re ready to give you the help you may desperately need!
Save time click here to Book Online
Author: George
About me: I am a Remedial Massage Therapist, Personal Trainer and Natural Health practitioner with 20 years’ experience. I am passionate about helping clients to overcome pain and injuries and focus on educating clients to help them regain control of their lives.
Remedial Massage Testimonial – Naturally Massage & Wellness
Naturally Massage & Wellness Testimonial after Remedial Massage Therapy session
Lower Back Pain
Experiencing pain in the lower back area is common.
It can be caused by sitting for long periods at a computer, physical labour, a sporting or exercise injury, undertaking repetitive movement such as constant bending over or standing in one position for long periods or it might just be poor posture.
Neck Pain & Headaches
The cause of neck tightness, stiffness, pain or limited range of movement can be varied. Common causes of neck pain can be:
Are you suffering from sinus pain?
Our massage therapists can help.
We offer a 30 minute Sinus Massage which can help with a range of different conditions.