Think Pink

October is Breast Cancer Awareness month. Although it is nearing the end of the month, I wanted to bring attention to this very important cause. So, let's talk boobies.

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Detection

Did you know that breast cancer not only impacts women, but a small percentage of men as well. Sure, guys' breasts are usually smaller than women's, but the tissue is the same as well as the lymphatic system that runs in that general area. So, even though this sounds odd, encouraging the men in your life to perform self examinations could be beneficial.

Speaking of self examinations, it has been proven that this method is the best for detection of breast cancer. Who knows your body better than you do? It doesn't have to be a huge production. Some would suggest just to check each breast carefully during your shower for lumps, skin mutations and any other oddities. You can also check in your make-up mirror when getting ready  for work in the morning or when brushing your teeth for bed. That said, just looking is not enough. Seeing is not always believing-take it from me. Sometimes lumps cannot be seen, but will be noticeable to the touch. Regardless, make it a part of your routine. If you do this often enough, you will notice the smallest of changes, which could lead to an early diagnosis. Early diagnosis is the key with combatting breast cancer. So, don't be embarrassed or ashamed: it is your body, be proud of it. Self examination is not the only diagnostic tool available out there.

Of course there is the dreaded mammogram. Just think of it as a necessary evil. It's a small bit of your time that, in comparison to fighting breast cancer, is really insignificant. If you are set against having this procedure done, why not find a clinic that uses dogs to sniff out cancer? Yes, they have those. Amazingly, the dogs are actually quite accurate, it's less invasive and they can usually detect cancer early. However, some doctors will say that nothing is better than a mammogram. So, do your research before selecting a diagnostic tool.

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Prevention

Most certainly diagnostic tools could be considered part of preventative measures, but there are some other small steps you can take that could make a difference.

Underlying the breast tissue and back into your armpit there is a very delicate system called the lymphatic system. This closed circuit system runs throughout your entire body and is a part of your immune system. It has its own fluid called Lymphatic fluid and has little clusters called lymphatic nodes-sounding familiar? This system is quite close to the surface and is very sensitive. Massage therapists can be trained in lymphatic drainage, a gentle technique that assists the flow of lymphatic fluid. There are many reasons for using lymphatic drainage, but one reason is to move stagnant fluid out of an area and move in fresh, nutrient rich fluid. Because of restrictive clothing, such as bras, or lifestyle, the fluid can become stuck, but there are ways to help this fluid move along.

Let's talk bras. There is some controversy on this topic and I do not claim to be a bra expert, but I have chosen to, for the most part, wear wireless bras. It has been noted in some studies that the under wires of bras press on the sensitive lymphatic vessels and congests that area. Some believe this can contribute to the development of breast cancer. The best part is that specialty bra/panty  stores have picked up on this trend and you can now get cute, wireless bras from stores like La Sensa and Victoria Secret. I would know; that is where I bought mine from. That said, sometimes a bra with an under wire is necessary, but I try not to wear them as often as I can.

Another way to free up that congestion potentially  caused by wearing bras with under wires, is going braless whenever possible. Don't wear bras to bed and if you are home relaxing, take the bra off. Give your body time to breathe. Bras are man made contraptions, do you really think we are meant to wear them constantly? It's the same with shoes. Studies have proven that wearing shoes all of the time causes major foot/back problems. Why would it be any different with bras? And don't get me started on the back/spine problems bras cause in women.

Saunas have also been thought to help move stagnant lymphatic fluid. The only problem is that women go in with bathing suits  with under wires in them and that defeats the purpose. Again, your body needs to breathe and your sweat needs to be able to escape unhindered. So, use the sauna with non-restrictive clothing.

Bouncing on a mini trampoline is also beneficial. It not only assists with water retention, but the percussive action created when bouncing acts as a pump squeezing and then releasing, which propels the lymphatic fluid through the system. Exercising in general that uses the pectoral muscles, like swimming for example, can also create this action, but again non-restrictive clothing must be worn in order to reap the benefits.

The last option I have written about in length before. Most people won't be comfortable with it, but breast massage is incredibly beneficial. It can be performed over the sheets if you are uncomfortable and the nipple should never be massaged. Some people opt to get nipple covers and have the massage be performed without the sheet. If you choose to go this route just remember that it is your massage and you should be comfortable. Breast massage essentially accomplishes the same thing bouncing on a mini trampoline does, just very effectively. When I was in massage college, I had it done and was amazed at the results. The most obvious and amazing result was that my  breast tenderness before my menstruation cycle disappeared. When deciding whether or not to have breast massage, phone around and ask massage therapists if they are trained in breast massage. Ask if they are comfortable performing it and whether or not they do it on a regular basis. Always pick someone you are comfortable with. In Ontario, they should have you sign a special release form stating that you agree to the breast massage. This form is to protect you and the therapist. If at any time during the massage you feel uncomfortable, you can terminate the session. This goes for any massage treatment.

However you may choose to prevent and/or test for breast cancer, just know that it is a very real condition that can impact anyone of any age. There are definite ages when the cases become more common, but don't think that just because you are young you do not need to perform self examinations.

October is incredibly busy with breast cancer awareness campaigns, fundraising and events. Use the search engine of your choice and see if there is anything locally that you could attend. Maybe you would like to support the cause by purchasing various breast cancer merchandise. Practically all of the breast cancer awareness sites have products for sale; everything from pink ribbons to pink dog leashes. Just know that if you do choose to participate or purchase something, that you are involved in something that has or will   impact your life. If a woman herself has not had breast cancer, she knows someone who has.

So, bottom line: take care of your boobies.

Massage Monday: Pregnancy

In light of yesterday being Mother's Day, I thought I would cover the benefits of massage therapy for pregnant women. I will address some of the precautions that must be considered as well.  The program that I graduated from had a brief but informative section of class devoted to the proper techniques of massage with relation to pregnancy and what sorts of health conditions to be aware of. Some massage therapists enroll in a completely separate course that focuses entirely on pregnancy. I believe the course is a weekend long intensive hands on and book learning course.  Pregnant women are asked to come into the course in order to be "bodies" for the learning massage therapists. If you or someone you know is pregnant, massage could be an excellent way  to relieve some of the physical symptoms that may be experienced. If massage is the route you choose, feel free to ask your potential massage therapist whether or not he/she have taken the pregnancy course. If he/she has not, don't hesitate to ask for a referral to someone who does if that is what makes you most comfortable. Also, don't be offended if he/she refers you to one without you asking. The therapist may feel uncomfortable treating pregnancy as he/she may not have very much experience in this area. Often when a therapist refers a client it is because the therapist has the client's best interest at heart. So, how does massage help?
In the first trimester, a massage therapist will stay away from performing deep massage over the low back or near the abdomen. This is because first trimester pregnancies are so touch and go the therapist does not want to do anything that may compromise the pregnancy. That said, women who are in their first trimester can lie on their stomachs during the massage and light-VERY light-massage can be performed on the low back. Other than these two areas during the first trimester, massage can continue as usual. In the second and third trimesters deeper pressure can be applied to the low back and most women who are pregnant will probably need this work done. With the centre of gravity moving to where the baby is, the back and legs become over worked. Massage therapists should not perform any aggressive joint mobilisations during pregnancy due to the hormone relaxin being released, preparing the body for the baby's delivery.
Relaxin causes all of the muscles/ligaments/tendons to loosen or "relax" so that the body can change shape. This in itself is kind of amazing, but if joint mobilisations are performed during this time, joint capsuls-or where the joints fit together-can be over stretched or misshapen and the likelihood of these joints returning to normal is lowered. I personally would not send a client to a chiropractor during pregnancy, but that is my opinion and other professionals may disagree with me. My position is based on the explanation above. However, if an emergency occurred where only a chiropractor's work would be effective, then I would explain the situation to the client and let her make her own decision.  After pregnancy a visit to a chiropractor is probably needed, but the release of that hormone has decreased and the risk of creating loose fitting joints is decreased.
During the last trimester the positioning on the massage table may change in order to make the expectant mother as comfortable as possible. So, instead of lying on your tummy and being sore, the therapist can have you lie on your side propped up by a bunch of strategically placed pillows. If a client needs to lie on her back during the second and third trimesters, a pillow will be placed under the right side to prevent the baby from squishing an important artery. At first, this pillowing feels strange, but eventually it becomes more comfortable. In class we had to practice our positioning and also had to experience it so that we knew what we were putting our clients through. As said before though, if you are not comfortable, tell your therapist and he/she can reposition you. The massage is always about your comfort.
A few things to keep in mind when talking with your therapist about your pregnancy are:
-how far along are you (This information makes it possible for your therapist to treat you properly and safely).
-whether or not you have the onset of pregnancy induced high blood pressure (Massage increases circulation and so may increase high blood pressure if the proper techniques are not used. Massage can be modified for high blood pressure, so don't stop going if you develop high blood pressure).
-what positions are most comfortable for you (This will allow the massage therapist to ensure he/she puts you in a comfortable position, which is imperative for a successful massage).
-If you are not showing, make sure to tell your massage therapist. (Again this allows the therapist to make the necessary adjustments to ensure you have a healthy pregnancy. I.E. If your therapist is certified in Aroma Therapy and he/she usually administers a treatment with essential oils, it is important to tell him/her about your pregnancy as some essential oils can induce labor).
Massage can reduce stress and in turn that can  decrease high blood pressure, headaches and other physical manifestations of stress. As a pregnant woman, you will more than likely  be stressed. So don't forget to take a few minutes for yourself and relax. Massage will help with this.
A technique called "lymphatic drainage" can assist with water retention issues. The technique is incredibly light and is quite relaxing. The feather-light strokings moves the lymphatic fluid along and can help with some of that trapped fluid. This technique may increase your need to pee, so please don't feel embarrassed to tell your therapist that you have to go. He/she should stop the treatment as many times as you need so that you may relieve yourself.
Massage can also help with your low back pain. When your centre of gravity shifts with the growth of the baby, the backs of your legs-or your hamstrings-become over extended with the forward tilting of your pelvis. Your therapist should work on your low back, depending on which stage of pregnancy you are in, and then stimulate your hamstrings. This stimulation technique causes the hamstrings to contract and it should help them shorten a bit again. The therapist should address the fronts of your thighs-or your quads-as these will have done the opposite to your hamstrings and shortened. They need to be lengthened to relieve some of your low back pain. If you enjoy heat, then heat can be applied to your quads to assist them to  loosen up. A caution that must be taken into consideration though is that a deep heat is not placed over the abdomen-we don't want to cook the baby. Heat should not be placed   over the low back during the first trimester as this is a sensitive stage of pregnancy.
Massage is excellent for women who are pregnant. I know a lot of women who have received a great deal of relief from massage during pregnancy. There are definitely things to be taken into consideration when receiving massage therapy during pregnancy, but I illustrated these precautions so that you would understand better why massage therapists do the things he/she does when you are pregnant. I believe that people should have  power over his/her own bodies and knowledge is power. A lot of pregnant women have expressed to me that as soon as her "bump" starts showing her body no longer belongs to her as it is the baby's and complete strangers feel he/she have the right to "pet" it. Nobody knows your body better than you do, especially a pregnant body. The more information you have the better equipped you will be to make decisions about it. So, enjoy your pregnancy and remember to take time for yourself. :)

Massage Monday: Sciencey Stuff

"What do you have a blood pressure thing for?" A friend asked me Saturday night when he walked into the living room and saw my blood pressure cuff sitting on the Hope chest my Grandpa made for me.
"I have to take my client's blood pressure." I explained. He paused and thought about it.
"You know how to do that?" I was a bit baffled, but then stopped to think about where he was coming from. Up until I moved down here he had not really been exposed to massage therapy and I had to remember that a lot of people's opinion of the therapy is still a bit outdated.
In Ontario, the powers that be, like the College of Massage Therapists of Ontario and various other organisations have been working hard to solidify massage therapy's validity as a scientific and therapeutic practice. In the eighties the word "Masseuse" was replaced with "massage therapist" in an attempt to differentiate massage therapy from massage parlors. Licensing and regulatory boards have also been implemented in order to change the reputation of massage therapy. The curriculum for massage colleges in five out of the ten provinces of Canada was also readjusted in order to address more science related material. It was hoped that by making these changes to the education that perspective massage therapists and the massage therapy industry as a whole, would gain more respect and some over due acceptance as a viable form of therapy.
The program I attended was a 2200 hour program that ran over a course of 18 months. We were bombarded with Regional Anatomy, Anatomy and Physiology, Neurology, Pathology and other such courses all of the way through. In Regional Anatomy we learned everything from what kind of joints our body has, how they move and how they are constructed to the itty-bitty parts that are on a spinal vertebrae. In the second Regional Anatomy course we took we spent half a semester learning the venous system, including what vessels run into what and who they supply. Anatomy and Physiology taught us about each vital organ system of the body, its parts and functions and many other things. We even learned the layers of the eyeball and ear. I'm pretty sure I'm not going to be massaging someone's retina, but I can tell you where it is, what it does and all of its neighbours' positions and functions. Neurology was incredibly in-depth as well and Pathology was my favourite course, but probably one of the hardest ones because of all of the information available. In one Pathology lecture we covered the structure of skin cells, five different kinds of skin cancers and their manifestations. Plus, close to twenty different types of skin conditions ranging from common Acne to weird conditions that could or could not be contagious via touch.
Basically, the Anatomy classes we were taught are the equivalent of pre-med. At one point I could tell you the name of almost every muscle in the body, its action, whether it was a helper/mover/stabilizer (with more sciencey names of course), what direction the fibers ran, its attachment points and which muscles worked with or against it. During clinic nights, which was once a week, a supervisor-already licensed massage therapist-would come into your cubicle where you were working on a client and ask you questions. You were graded on your knowledge of the Anatomy of the condition you were working on, your technique and other relevant information the supervisor could glean in a five minute visit. Even with all of the question asking, you were expected to keep massaging your client and ensure your client care was still good. It was an incredibly intensive program, but I'm glad I was educated at that particular college because I know I am well equipped for the real world of massage.
If you walked into a cubicle a common sight would be pens, lotion bottle/holster, clipboards, extra pillows, heating packs, towels and yes a blood pressure cuff and thermometer. Before every new client we were required to take their blood pressure. We were taught what a high blood pressure was and were expected to report it to the supervisor if it was over 130/90. There were times when I had clients whose blood pressure was so high, I had to refuse treatment. I had to suggest that they go to see their physician and have their blood pressure checked and that they could only come back with a note from their doctor when it had been regulated. There was another time I had to tell a client to go see his/her physician because he/she had been experiencing migraine-like pain for a month and a half and nothing was helping-including some very heavy pain killers. I had to refuse to massage someone because they had just taken a high dose of pain killers right before treatment. A classmate had a client walk in four hours after receiving a suspected concussion from a hockey accident. She had to refer him to the emergency room because he was in such bad shape. I also had a client whose Diabetes was so bad he/she could not feel me touching his/her toes or fingers. All of these cases required decisions on my part that I would not have known how to deal with without the extremely detailed education I received. I knew that massage therapy was science based, but I really had no idea until I went through the program. There are different considerations for each client and particular do's and don'ts based on specific conditions. Even within the same condition or situation, techniques have to change in order to benefit the client. For example, I would not massage a woman who is nine weeks pregnant the same way I would someone who was 29 weeks along. The physiological changes in the body require specific attention and again, without the science background I now have, I would not be prepared to make those decisions or understand why I made those decisions.
So, just for future reference, most massage therapists are quite knowledgeable in the sciences, depending on what program they have gone through of course, and NEVER call a massage therapist a Masseuse. :)

Massage Monday: T-Touch

Have any of you ever wanted to bond better with your dog? Maybe you have a high strung dog or a senior dog who just needs a bit more TLC. T-touch is definitely a good way to go. This post is written completely from experience as I do not have any certification with T-touch: it was something we learned at guide dog school that I think is beneficial for any dog owner. If my descriptions are not clear enough, there are graphic demonstrations that can be found through your preferred search engine.

T-touch is a type of massage that is performed on dogs. There are other kinds of dog massage out there and you can take courses that would go into greater detail. These courses would also allow you to sell your trade as a dog massage therapist, but as I said above, a dog massage therapist I am not. :)

T-touch is a simple series of strokes that a handler performs on their dog in order to encourage relaxation and bonding. Touching and talking to your dog develops trust between dog and handler and therefore promotes healthier relationships. T-touch can be done either silently or with quiet, soothing remarks made by the handler. The first step is to create a relaxed environment, free from distractions. When I was at Leader Dogs for the Blind, we were encouraged to practice T-touch in our rooms with our dogs lying comfortably and quietly on their sleeping mats. We had single occupancy rooms and so it was easy to find quiet time.

After you have your spot picked out, let your dog settle in. You may have to start the first few sessions with the dog on leash in order to keep him or her from wandering off before you can get started. The key is never to force your dog, but in the beginning they may be more interested in licking your face and hands than staying put. Without physically forcing them into a down, or sitting on them to stop them from moving, gently convince them that this is a good thing. Perform the strokes slowly and gently even if they aren't quite sure at first and would rather sniff about. If your dog is good at a down stay, try giving this cue and then administering T-touch.

Now that you've got your spot and you are not sitting on your dog, let's go through the strokes of T-touch. You can use all of these, pick the ones you are most comfortable with or, most importantly, use the ones that seem to relax your dog the most. The easiest of the strokes is performed with the dog lying down. The handler starts with their palm flat and fingers relaxed. With the relaxed hand, the handler starts the stroke at the top of the dog's head and very slowly draws the hand down the dog's body, stopping at either the base of the tail or the end; depending on what your dog likes. It's like you are petting your dog, but very slowly and with one smooth stroke from nose to tail. The key to this one is the speed. If you do it too quickly you would stimulate the dog instead of relaxing him or her and the dog could become more energetic. The pressure you use is completely up to you and your dog. Experiment with differing levels of pressure. Maybe your dog likes a firmer touch because he or she is ticklish,  or perhaps your dog likes feather, light touches. You can even move in a smooth, slow stroke from the dog's shoulder/hip down the legs to the paws. This particular maneuver works well on Glacier. It makes him pass right out.

Another technique you can use is kind of like hair pulling, but it is not aggressive. You can very gently take hold of the dog's fur close to the roots between your thumb and fingers and gently pull. Some dogs like this, some don't. Glacier was kind of impartial to it. You don't have to go in any kind of pattern; just move around the dog's body tugging lightly on their fur. Make sure you get close to the roots though as that keeps this technique from being painful. If you want to know what it feels like, pull your own hair. Test it on yourself until you know what feels nice and then try it on your dog.

You can also do something similar to your dog's ears. You are not pulling the fur, but gently tugging on the ears. You start at the base of the ear and very gently run the ear through your fingers from base to tip. Again, the key is slowly and gently. Lightly squeezing different parts of the ear between your thumb and forefinger can work as well. Again, experiment with the pressure, but remember that the dog's ears are sensitive and he or she probably won't like a whole lot of pressure.

The last technique is a basic stroke that goes in a counter clockwise motion. This stroke is a bit more complicated in that it requires a bit more concentration on the part of the handler to remember to finish the stroke. I always had to think more when performing this technique. Your fingertips are held loosely together and you let your hand fall wherever it wants to on the dog's body; behind his or her ear, on top of the head, above the tail Etc.  Then you make your full counter clockwise circle with a semi-counter clockwise circle to finish the stroke off. So it's like you make the circle and continue half way  around again. On the face of the clock you would make your way from 12 to 12 and keep going in one fluid motion from 12 to 10ish. Does that make sense? :) The pressure you use is completely up to you or your dog, but remember with all of these techniques that we are trying to relax our dogs. Fast, vigorous strokes will stimulate the dog and he or she probably won't like techniques that are performed too deeply.

Learning T-touch at Leader Dogs for the Blind was a great addition to mine and Glacier's training experience. It really helped us bond. It got him used to my touch and voice and the day he fell asleep while I was performing T-touch, I knew he trusted me. I think the key is to enjoy what you are doing and let yourself relax as well. Don't worry if you only do it for five minutes or twenty. Just do what works for you. If five minute sessions throughout the day fits your schedule better, then go for it. If you know you can sit down and designate a half hour once a week, or every day, do that. It's your time together so take advantage of it. :)

Getting to Know Glacier: Picture Perfect

Usually today would be Massage Monday, but since it is our week to get to know Glacier, I will save Massage Monday for next Monday. I thought a few photographical illustrations of my big, yellow guy would be fitting: you even get a glimpse of Jetta.  :) So here they are.

Glacier's favourite chair!

Jetta & Glacier  having a rest with me!

Glacier's 1st Xmas with his new bone!

Glacier on the cat walk (new winter booties)!

I want to hold you're hand mom!

Baby Glacier , courtesy of  his puppy raisers!

1st picture of baby Glacier with puppy raisers family pet!

Massage Monday: Breast Cancer Awareness

Before you read on, just know that today's topic may be sensitive to some.
Breast cancer is something that can effect everyone. There is a common misconception that men cannot get breast cancer, but this untrue. It is true though, that men do get it less frequently than women. In October you can see the pink ribbons of Breast Cancer Awareness month everywhere, but is this something we should only think about once a year? I don't think so, so that is why I have decided to make breast tissue health the focus of today's post.
There are several preventative measures that people, particularly women, can take in order to reduce the chances of getting breast cancer. The first most important one is communication and awareness. When I was a young teenager-I think they are called Tweenies now-my Mom sat down and talked to me about breast cancer and what I needed to do in order to either prevent or catch it before it was too late. I feel that this openness on my Mom's part made me comfortable in discussing it and even in researching breast tissue health. I remember broaching the subject with friends in university once and many of them being uncomfortable talking about it. Me being me, kept pushing the subject and it soon came out that most of the women who were uncomfortable, had not had the opportunity to talk about it when they were girls. Not talking about breast tissue health does not make breast cancer go away. It's not one of those things where if you don't talk about it then it doesn't exist.
The next important preventative measure is something that most women have been introduced by physicians, nurses and maybe even their Sex Education teachers; the self examination. Not all breast cancer can be caught through self examination, but it definitely improves the odds. Who else knows your body better than you? If you're uncomfortable with it, that is fine. It's not a subject you need to bring up at the dinner table,
"So I did my monthly self exam today..."
It doesn't have to be that blatant. The bottom line is, just do it.
The next preventative measure is still under going research, but it's something to consider. Some research would suggest that the under wires on bras restrict the lymphatic system, clogging it and contributing to breast cancer. The lymphatic system is a very sensitive system that can actually be addressed through lymphatic drainage techniques that a massage therapist can perform. The therapist would most likely have taken a course specific to lymphatic drainage. The lymphatic system is incredibly important in immunity and protecting the body from foreign organisms that would otherwise make us sick. The system is so sensitive that feather light strokes moving towards the heart can get the fluid moving and remove any lymphatic blockages. There are a lot of lymph nodes in and around the breast tissue, right where the under wire of bras would compress. If the system is so sensitive that feather light strokings can move the fluid, can you imagine what a bra's under wire does to the lymph vessels squishing it 10 to 12 hours a day?
As I have said above, this is new research and it may not be a belief you subscribe to, but it is something to think about. I personally agree with the research and switched to wireless bras. Victoria Secret and La Sensa carry very nice wireless bras that you could even wear under party dresses. Wireless does not mean sports bra or unsexy. :)
When you are exercising, or sitting in a sauna sweating it out, experts suggest wearing wireless bras or workout tops with the built in bras. Exercise and even sweating in a sauna, are ways to get your lymphatic system moving. If you are wearing a restricting bra, the breast tissue is not able to flush out the old lymphatic fluid and bring in healthy, new lymphatic fluid. Some even go so far as to say that you shouldn't wear a bra at all when exercising, but for some people-me included, especially if I am out in public-that is not an option. Ultimately, it comes down to what you are comfortable with.
Using a Rebounder-or mini trampoline-can actually also be helpful in flushing lymphatic fluid throughout your body. All that is reuired is you standing on the trampoline and bouncing: you don't even have to jump! The bouncing contracts your muscles which in turn squishes the lymphatic vessels and nodes. This on again off again pressure assists with the flow of the lymphatic fluid. If you someone who holds a lot of water, this also helps with that. By shunting the lymphatic fluid along, your breast tissue is again receiving that new lymphatic fluid.
The last preventative measure that is extremely effective, but the majority of women will not be comfortable with this, is breast massage. I bet you were wondering when I would get to the massage part right? Well, here it is. At the college I attended, we were taught the proper technique for breast massage. The students had to learn the theoretical aspects, but were not forced to perform or receive breast massage. I opted to do both. I was nervous and a little weirded out, but I figured that if it was ever something a client asked me to do, I wanted to know what it felt like and how to do it properly. I picked two of my classmates that I was comfortable with and who were incredibly professional. They were also both women. Strangely enough, once the massage started, I relaxed more and even almost fell asleep. There are many ways the breast massage can be performed and it is all up to the client's preference.
The massage can be performed over the sheets or without sheets. The therapist is never to touch the nipple and the client can also purchase "nipple covers" if that makes them feel more comfortable. One of our classmates was extremely nervous, but wanted to participate for the same reasons I did, so she got smiley face stickers and covered up with those.
If you opt to get a breast massage the massage therapist should have a separate consent form for you to sign. This form protects both you and the therapist. That said, this form and your signature, does not give the therapist license to do whatever they want. As I have said, breast massage, and massage for that matter, is for your benefit and should be performed within your comfort zone.
Breast massage can also help women, or men, who have had removal of breast tissue. Scar tissue forms after surgery and can restrict arm movement and also damage or constrict the lymph nodes in the breast/under arm areas. Massage can reduce scar adhesions and keep lymph fluid moving despite damaged lymphatic vessels. The breast massage will not completely remove scar tissue or regrow lymph nodes. It is a therapy not a cure.
If you are a woman who gets very sore breasts before menstruation, breast massage can be incredibly beneficial for you. The massage basically moves the congestion out of the tissue and brings nutrient rich fluid into the area. This congestion is what causes the tenderness. If you are a woman whose family has a history of breast cancer, then breast massage can be beneficial for you.If you are someone whose shoulders roll forward, then breast massage can help you as well. There are strong muscles under the breast tissue that pulls your shoulders forward. Having those muscles released can reduce pain and muscle tension. If breast massage is a little bit too out there for you, the mini trampoline and wireless bras may be more fathomable alternatives.
In conclusion, breast tissue health is important whether it is October or not and taking preventative steps-whether it is breast massage, wireless bras, self examination, bouncing on mini trampolines-will all improve your breast tissue's health.

Massage Monday: Fifteen Fun Facts About The Human Body

Since massage is all about the betterment of a person's physical health, and in turn the human well-being, I thought today would be a good day to focus on a few fun facts about these lovely things we call bodies. Some of these facts surprised me when I first learned them. I hope you enjoy. :)

1. There are 206 bones in one human body.
2. The number of muscle cells you are born with are the number of muscle cells you die with. No other cell-nervous, bone-are like this. Basically, when you work out you are "growing" your muscle's size. You are not increasing the number of muscle cells.
3. Thumbs are counted as the first digit, but they are not counted as fingers.
4. Walking barefoot in the sand is one of the best core workouts you will get. Not to mention, it is one of the best way to strengthen your leg and feet muscles. Doing this on a regular basis could decrease your chance of needing corrective foot wear.
5. The femur bone-AKA your thigh bone-is the longest bone in the human body.
6. There is a muscle that runs from the under side of your tongue to the back of your neck/top of shoulders, which often causes headaches.
7. Trigger points in muscles-AKA knots-can sometimes cause pain that can be confused with organ pain. (You don't need the appendix removed. You need a massage. LOL).
8. There is a sheet of tissue that is connected from the bottom of your feet to the top of your head. If this tissue is restricted at your feet it can cause low back pain or even headaches.
9. Hydrated and dehydrated tissue feels very different to trained professionals-even some untrained people can feel the difference. So, if your therapist asks you if you are drinking enough water, answer truthfully because they probably already know the answer. :)
10. If you are a migraine sufferer, heat on your feet is your new best friend. If you feel a migraine coming on, or even a bad headache, putting your feet in a warm bowl of water or placing a heating pad on your feet This may decrease your pain. The heat makes the blood vessels in your feet expand and draws the blood down towards your feet; thus, relieving some of the pressure in your head.
11. There is only one bone in your body that does not have muscles attached to it. It is a part of your ankle joint.
12. Walking is the best preventative measure for Ostioporosis. (Sorry, about the spelling). When you walk muscles put stress-good stress-on your bones by pulling on them. This stress causes your bones to produce more cells in order to be stronger for the muscle attachments. Walking is one of the only exercises that uses all muscle groups.
13. If you are someone with joint problems and you want to workout, swimming is probably one of the best forms of exercise for you-this goes for older and/or dogs with joint problems. Swimming does not cause pounding on the joints and the water cushions them.
14. The lobe responsible for processing your sight sense, is the furthest lobe of the brain away from the eyes: it is at the back of your head. Images have to travel a complicated and long path in order for your brain to sort them out and tell you what you are seeing.
15. If you get little muscle twitches-in your eyes, legs, arms, pretty much anyway-eating bananas and drinking a lot of milk, or taking a calcium supplement, should help with this. Your body uses a lot of calcium and potassium for its every day activities and its supply can become quickly depleted. These little muscle twitches can be indicative of calcium and potassium levels being too low.

As you can see, I am full of some useful and some not so useful Body Facts. Have a great Monday, everyone. :)

Massage Monday Number Four: Hot Stone Therapy

If you are a person who likes heat, or if heat relaxes you then hot stone massage is for you. It basically is a relaxation massage performed with rocks in the therapist's hands. Sounds uncomfy? Just wait, I'll explain and you may change your mind. For those of you who have had one, you probably don't need convincing that hot stone massage is the best thing ever!
Hot stone massage is done in a massage room that is a bit warmer than normal. Your therapist will probably also cover you up with not only the sheet, but a nice fluffy blanket as well. The massage starts out as any other massage does with the therapist using various techniques with their hands only, but as the tissue becomes warmed up the therapist will begin using the stones. The room is kept warmer than a regular massage room for a couple of reasons. First of all, the stones are in the room heating up in a Crock Pot, in dishes placed on a Grittle or some other heating device. The steam coming off the stones themselves and the heat from the heating appliance makes the temperature rise. The room has to stay warmer to also ensure that the stones hold on to the heat. Cold stone massage is a type of therapy as well, but when you are expecting hot stones, a cold one would be a rude awakening. Secondly, the room is kept at a higher temperature to keep the client warm. Once the hot stones are being used, the client's core temperature could drop quickly, or you could feel cold because the stones are hot and the room is not. In order for the massage to be helpful, the client needs to be relaxed and shivering is not relaxing.
So what about these stones? They are rocks of varying sizes. Anything from a fist rock to a stone the size of your pinky finger or smaller. The various sizes of stones serve different functions. Even the different shapes have their own purposes. For example, a fist sized stone could be placed on a client's lower back for heat and weight, while a stone that is about half an inch long could be gently inserted between the toes. I know, between the toes made me squirm a bit too until I had it done. It is heavenly if done properly. Stones being placed between the toes or fingers should be done so gently and patiently. Hot stones should also be dragged from the hem of the draping onto the skin as not to surprise the client. The slow movement from the sheet's edge onto the skin allows the client to get to used to the temperature change and let the therapist know if the stone is too hot. It should not burn you.
Not only are the shapes and sizes important, but the surfaces and colours of the stones are important. The surface of each stone must be smooth without sharp or rough edges. This keeps the rock from inuring the client; makes sense right? The stones I have are a set of rocks that were shaped and smoothed naturally along lake shores. I have a set I bought, but then also picked perfectly shaped and smoothed stones from Lake Superior's shore. They are also the right colour, and yes, you can have the wrong colour. Stones that are used with heat are supposed to be dark; brown, black, grey. White should not be present on the stone. That white part would be weaker and risks exploding the rock when it is heating or if it is placed on a client's body-obviously not safe. So, when we picked the rocks from Lake Superior, I had to keep checking with my Mom that there wasn't any white on them. White rocks can be used with cold treatments, but remember, not heat.
Now that we understand the stones a bit better, let's discuss the actual massage and its impact on the human body. Hot stone massages are more expensive than regular massages. There are a couple of reasons for this. The biggest reason is because it takes more preparation for the therapist. We have to clean the rocks, heat them up, heat up the room and when we're done clean the rocks again. Getting massage oil off of stones is possible, but it takes a little more work. It also costs more for the therapist to heat up the room and keep the stones heated. And on the marketing side of things, the hot stone massage has been presented as a very special spa treatment. I'm not diminishing the wonderfulness of the hot stone massage, but it kind of has a mystical or pampering vibe attached to it. In that sense, therapists can charge more for it. That said, this type of massage definitely has some great health benefits.
You know the phrase "you get what you pay for?" That is true for the hot stone massage. It may cost more, but you get "more bang for your buck," as Mr. K likes to say. For every one stroke with a hot stone, you would have to do ten strokes manually. That is how much the heat and weight of the stone improves circulation and muscle relaxation. It is a bit easier on the therapist because we don't have to dig in as hard to get results. I had a hot stone treatment performed once by a therapist who, if I had gotten a regular massage from, wouldn't have been very good, but the hot stones made the experience worth it. I could hardly walk after due to mushy muscles and was very sleepy. I felt so good. I used to get them all of the time when I was competing because I could get a lot of relief without having an exhausting, deep, painful massage. At first I was worried that the stones would hurt, or would feel hard and clumsy against my body, but besides the heat, you can hardly tell the therapist is using stones.
For those of you who have never had a hot stone massage, let me walk you through a standard treatment. You would start on your tummy with the cozy covers pulled up over you. The therapist starts by placing a stone on your sacrum, which is basically just above your tailbone. The back is done first with the therapist leaving the stones they have used along the spine. The heat and weight of the stones, although they are quite light, soak into the muscles and relax the client as the therapist continues to work up the back. After the back, the backs of the legs are addressed. The therapist may tuck stones into the sides of the thighs as they work along the legs. Again, letting the heat from the stones relax the muscles. After the legs are finished it is onto the backs of the arms. The therapist may place hot stones into the palms. Then all of the stones are removed, including the one on the sacrum and you turn over. Front of legs are addressed and tiny warm stones are tucked between your toes. If you don't want this, of course tell your therapist. A cylindrical stone is placed behind the neck, right where the head attaches to the neck. This is probably one of the best feelings, especially if you are someone who wears glasses or relies heavily on your eyesight for your job. Some of the muscles that move your eyes are located back there. Warm stones are placed on your sternum and along your abdomen. Again if you don't want these, you can tell your therapist that you don't like them. The front of your arms are massaged and your face as well. Again, if there is any area that you don't want worked on, like your face, let your therapist know. The treatment usually ends with three small cool stones being placed on your forehead. The stones are usually room temperature, but because you are so warm from the increase in circulation and the hot stones lining your body, the stones feel cold. They feel very soothing. There are variations on this treatment and each session can be tailored to the client's preferences and needs.
Hot stone therapy is incredibly relaxing and is beneficial for a lot of different conditions. It is good for athletes during training periods; for people with Arthritis during a non-flare up; people with muscle spasticity; people who need a lot of work done, but can't handle the pain of deep tissue massage; and people who are in chronic pain because it is relaxing and non-invasive. It's also good for people who are stressed and just need to relax. If you fall asleep, or nearly fall asleep, you know you had a great hot stone treatment.
Hot stone cannot be performed by just any massage therapist. In Ontario, you have to take an extra course that teaches you how to massage with and care for the stones. If someone is offering hot stone therapy, feel free to ask them to see their certificate or ask them where they were educated. If they can't fulfill either request, you may want to get a hot stone treatment elsewhere.
I hope this was helpful and perhaps made hot stone appealing. I know just talking about it makes me want to go get a treatment.
As always, leave me any questions or comments. If there is anything you want me to address in a future post, please let me know and I would be more than happy to. And since it's Monday, it would be a great day to go get a massage. :)

Massage Monday Number Three: Let's Talk Body Parts

If you think about it, relating to massage therapy in terms of body parts is a pretty simplistic view, but without body parts, there is no massage. Clients have body parts that need to be massaged and therapists use varying body parts to perform the massage. This all sounds kind of questionable when explained in this vague way. So let me elaborate.
Let's discuss the most important body parts first. Those would be yours as the client. A massage must always be client focused, thus your body parts are the most important. There's not much to say here except that if you are uncomfortable in any way, you should let your therapist know and try to get them to change what they are doing in order to make things better for you. In Ontario, clients are always draped with a sheet and the only part that is uncovered is the part being worked on. For example, If you are having your back massaged, the sheet is drawn back to about your waist line an tucked in for security and comfort. If your right leg is being focused on next then the back is re-draped and just your right leg is undraped. Easy enough right?
The next point is extremely important. It is so important that I am pretty sure I have addressed it in every post about this topic so far. If you have a body part being massaged and it hurts, you have the right to "refuse, alter or rescind" your consent. In English that means, you can tell your therapist to stop, change their pressure or decide to stop treatment all together. Remember, this is your massage. Sometimes massages can be a bit painful and a good therapist will make sure to check in with you to ensure you can handle the pain. If they don't, do not hesitate to tell them to stop or to change what they are doing. Pain in your parts is not cool. Hmmm, see what I mean about vagueness sounding questionable?
Onto the therapist's parts. There are many different parts of the body that massage therapists can use to accomplish different things during the massage. In your basic Swedish massage, which is the kind taught at most North American schools, the therapist could utilize thumbs, fingertips, palms, knuckles, forearms and elbows. In Asian treatments, such as Thai Yoga Massage, practitioners will use feet as well, but if you are in for a regular ol' massage, feet are not acceptable.
Thumbs are used when a very specific area needs to be targeted. They can also be useful to a therapist if they are trying to work in a small area. The pressure can be quite deep with thumbs as well, but as mentioned, it is for more specific work. Massage therapists are encouraged to use other body parts rather than just thumbs all of the time. Thumbs are not designed to be massaging deeply for eight to ten hours a day. They can tire easily and over use injuries can occur. Thumbs may feel pokey to you, so if they do, ask your therapist to try something else. Chances are they can accomplish what they are doing with a different body part.
Fingertips are used in more general strokes. They are used to work into and out of muscle tissue. Fingertip kneading, as it is called, is much gentler on the therapist's body and will probably feel quite soothing to you if it is performed properly. That said, it does not have the specificity that thumbs do.
Palms are another body part that are more general and used for warming up and cooling down tissue. Palms usually cover more surface area and should feel very relaxing. Palms can be too big for work on certain body parts, depending on the size of the therapist's hands or the client's body part. For example, a therapist probably would not be able to use palm kneading on a small child's arm, but it is a great technique for the back or working on someone's legs.
Knuckles are a lot of fun...well, if you like a lot of deep pressure. :) Knuckles can cover a greater surface area than thumbs, but knuckles are very deep and can hit specific "knotted up" areas as well. Again, it's not as specific as a thumb because with a thumb you can pinpoint one spot. Whereas with knuckles the pressure is deep and may hit more than one area at once. The use of knuckles is not as hard on the therapist's hands as some of the other techniques, such as thumb kneading. The interesting thing with knuckles is that the pressure can be very deep, but the therapist can also take some of the pressure off and the knuckles can feel just firm and soothing. If therapists use knuckles make sure that you are communicating with them and let them know if the pressure is too much.
Forearms are a more broad and general type of knead, but it allows the therapist to use more pressure. It is not as pokey as knuckles can be, but it can feel deeper because a therapist is able to put more of their weight behind the stroke. The shoulder joint allows for a bit more stability than the wrist and this gives the therapist the ability to use more pressure. I have had a few clients feel that if forearms are used with too much pressure, it can feel like their ribs are being squished and they cannot breathe. The use of forearms is good on legs, especially athletic legs.
Let us discuss the pointiness of the human elbow-and for you animals lovers out there, you know animal elbows are just as pointy. Now think of that pointiness and it being used as a massage tool. It can be very useful and effective if done properly, but it can also be extremely painful if it is performed wrong. Elbows are specific and very deep all at the same time. Therapists using elbows on someone's back must have good control in order to make sure that they do not run their elbow over their client's spine. Elbows are good for clients who like a lot of pressure as well as someone who might have a stubborn muscle that does not want to release. With all of that in mind, if your therapist keeps running over your shoulder blades, spine, ribs or any other boney projections, let them know! That goes for any technique really, but especially with elbows. There is a lot of body weight coming from behind those elbows and because they are so pointy, they can be very specific and thus, painful. They are, after all, a very boney body part.
So there you have it; body parts in a nutshell. Since massage is based completely on body parts, I thought you might want to know what parts your therapist could possibly inflict pure joy or pure agony with. :)
Happy Monday and don't forget to check back next Monday for more massage Mumbo-Jumbo. And as I say every week, feel free to leave me comments or questions that you may want answered.

Massage Monday Number Two: The Benefits of Massage

It's Monday again and we all know what that means. It means Jess rambling on about massage therapy and trying to bring unsuspecting victims over to the dark side. Mwahahahaha...erm, ahem, I mean...
Let us discuss the numerous benefits of massage and then you can decide on your own if massage is a treatment you would be interested in.

Depending on the types of massage-see last Monday's post-massage therapy can have varying effects on a person's body. The more obvious results would be seen/felt in muscles and joints, while unseen and usually unnoticed changes occur in the nervous system. I want to start with the most general benefit and work my way into the very specific impact. Hopefully that keeps me on track and makes things a bit easier to understand.
Let's talk muscles: we all have them and we all get sore and fatigued muscles from time to time. This soreness and fatigue all depends on the individual. Such factors include, but are not limited to lifestyle, eating habits, working environment and illnesses or disabilities a person may be dealing with. The most obvious and publicly recognised benefit of massage is the decrease in muscle tension. Therapists use varying techniques to soothe and relax aching, tired muscles. Stretches may be applied to problem areas to try to convince the hyper tonic-AKA tight-area to relax. Heat can also be used to encourage muscle tissue to become more pliable; thus releasing tension and providing therapists with a more cooperative muscle to work with. The application of heat has many benefits of its own, but I will use that as a primary focus of another post. Muscles are often sore after a person has used a muscle group that they may have not used in a while. This delayed soreness is often due to the micro tears your muscles endure when you have worked out or called into the line of duty when they have been retired for a while. Don't worry-micro tears are not bad. As long as you eat properly when exercising, drink water and stretch, the muscles repair themselves. This is kind of part of muscle expansion, but it does not feel good. Massage therapy does not repair these tears, but it encourages nourishment into the area and that will help with the healing process.
Massage can also be beneficial for joint health. Joints are lubricated by a substance your body produces naturally, called synovial fluid.A lot of joint supplements humans, and pets, are designed to help the body to produce the lubricant when it can no longer make enough of it on its own. Joint mobilisations and passive range of motion are two of the many techniques that could benefit joints. Passive range of motion is the gentle movement of a joint through its natural movements. The client does not help the therapist; essentially, the client must trust the therapist to gently move the joint without dropping it. The movements are often repeated seven to ten times and are slow and methodical. There is not any bouncing or sharp, quick movements. By moving the joint passively through its natural motions, the therapist is encouraging the lubrication to push through the joint. This both lubricates and nourishes the joint. The passive range of motion technique also helps to flush stagnant or unhealthy joint fluid out. Nutrients is brought to the joint via blood vessels and this is encourage by passive range of motion as well. Moving joints on your own also does that, but passive range of motion relieves the joint of the stress from body weight or muscles pulling on it. The best exercise that mimics passive range of motion that a person could do on their own, would be swimming. The water acts to support the body and lets the joints move through their range of motion with minimal amounts of stress placed on the joints. There is also no pounding or aggressive actions on the joints as there are in other exercises such as running. This technique is particularly beneficial to clients with Arthritis in the chronic stage, or when the joint is not inflamed. It is also useful for people who are unable to move joints on their own due to disability.
Remember I mentioned the influx of nutrients to joints via blood vessels? Joints are not the only part of the body that enjoys increased circulation due to massage therapy. Now we all know that we have millions and millions of blood vessels running throughout our bodies. Without these networks of arteries, capillaries and veins, our body's tissues would not receive the nutrients it needs or dispose of waste products. Now let me give you a small anatomy lesson and that will hopefully make my point clearer. Most arteries carry oxygenated blood away from the heart out to the body's tissues, while most veins carry de-oxygenated blood back to the heart. Arteries are special in that they have a small muscular layer that helps to push the blood to its destination, but veins do not possess this layer. Veins' interesting characteristic is the little valves that stop the back flow of blood. In other words, de-oxygenated blood cannot move backwards because there are valves preventing this from occurring. Okay, so how does the blood get back to the heart if there is no muscular layer forcing it in the correct direction,? You might ask. (Well, at least that is what I asked). The answer is simple my attentive readers. (You are being attentive right)? Anyway, back to our simple answer...
The de-oxygenated blood is forced back to our hearts via muscle contractions. Basically, if you walk to the fridge to retrieve a glass of lemonade, or if you are involved in any kind of exercise, you are forcing your de-oxygenated blood back to your heart. Your diaphragm, which is your primary muscle of breathing, also helps to squish the veins and bring the de-oxygenated blood to its ultimate destination; your heart.So, by just breathing your blood is moving. What does all of this have to do with massage therapy?

Massage is a series of squeezing, squishing, compressing and other such techniques, which are applied to the muscles. Through these squeezings, squishings and compressings, the therapist is assisting the de-oxygenated blood through your system.. So don't be surprised if you have to go pee after your treatment. If massage helps move that waste product rich de-oxygenated blood through your body, it is forcing your other systems to clean up. A way to expel these waste products is going to the bathroom. A therapist may ask you to drink extra water after your massage to ensure your system has the fluids it needs to clean itself out. Simply put, massage increases metabolic rate. No, massage does not help you lose weight. That is not a benefit massage can claim. If your therapist says that it does, ask for the literature that supports this.. Back to improved circulation: this also means, that in most cases, the therapist must be using strokes that move toward the heart. For example, if your therapist is working on your arm, they will start closest to your shoulder with their fingertips pointing toward your shoulder. When they put pressure on the stroke, it will be directed up. The pressure of the stroke should not go down to the elbow/wrist direction because this is the opposite of the flow of blood. We are trying to improve circulation. Now, notice that I did not say "never" and that is because there are always exceptions to the rule. So, ask your therapist "why" if the strokes are not going with your blood flow. I believe what I am trying to convey in a very, long and convoluted explanation is that another benefit of massage therapy is improved circulation.


Muscle relief, joint health and improved circulation are not the only benefits massage has on the human body. The effects are evident even at the nervous system level. The use of fast quick techniques can stimulate the nervous system, or slow gentle ones can activate the parasympathetic nervous system; otherwise known as your "rest and digest" nervous system. The Parasympathetic system is responsible for organ functions such as decreased heart rate and increased activity by the intestine. Your body uses chemicals called neurotransmitters to either stimulate or depress this part of your nervous system. Soothing or relaxation massages can decrease your nerves firing rapidly and decrease your heart rate. All of these things impact your stress levels and we all know the negative effects stress has on the body. You may feel hungry after a massage and that is a good thing. I always gauged the success of my treatment on the volume of my client's tummy rumblings. Because the parasympathetic system increases the activity of the digestive system, it would make sense that you would get hungry after a good massage. If it is your first time having a massage, your therapist should take your blood pressure. For interest sake, after the treatment you could ask them to take it again. Your blood pressure should have decreased. This means that your parasympathetic nervous system is secreting the neurotransmitters to tell you to relax. If you fall asleep during the massage or feel sleepy during or after, that also means that your "rest and digest" system has kicked in. All of this is beneficial as we all could use a little less stress in our lives. Stress can cause heart issues, digestion problems, illnesses and even just your regular old flu. Taking time to relax and have your parasympathetic nervous system stimulated is good for you. So, you see? Another reason why massage therapy is beneficial.
It would seem as though our Monday session of massage Mumbo-jumbo has come to a close. As mentioned above, massage is beneficial in several different ways, some of which I didn't even touch on. I hope this has been enlightening, even just a little bit, and that you will come back next Monday for some more Massage shop talk. As always please feel free to leave your comments and suggestions for future posts.
Happy Monday.