How my treatment is different.
17 Jan 2011 2 Comments
in Massage, Qi, Relieving Tension
I am certified in the Raynor Massage Technique, which is a powerfully effective massage that combines yoga breathing with the massage styles of Shiatsu, Ayurvedic, and Lomi Lomi. Raynor massage uses knowledge gained from traditional Chinese Medicine, Ayurveda, Reflexology and Hawaiian medicine amongst others but I don’t let one particular philosophy dictate how I should treat. For some people, good massage may be very uncomfortable if they aren’t used to it. Then as their healing crisis finishes their body should feel a lot better, have more mobility and a general feeling of being more relaxed should ensue. The word “relax” actually means to bring back to a state of looseness. “Re” means to bring back to and “lax” means loose. So Raynor massage is actually a form of deep relaxation massage.
Tension, knots or pain in the muscles are usually due to two things- physical strain, or emotional stress. My approach to massage focuses on both.
From a physical understanding, muscle fibers in the body run in one direction. But tension or knots form when the muscle fibers begin to intersect and overlap. Deep tissue massage strips the muscle fiber to run in one direction again. If unaddressed over time one may be prone to continuous muscle spasming or cramping, usually because of a build up of calcium deposits, toxins becoming trapped between muscles, low blood circulation, and an excess of protein buildup.
These occurrences happen from a list of many different things, but mainly emotional stresses, lack of exercise or over exercise, sleeping in an awkward position, leaning over your computer screen, and poor posture are just a few. In my experience, stress seems to be the most common one of all, next to past injury or post surgery.
From an emotional understanding, we are Life Force, or Chi. A true healthy state is when the body, mind and spirit are all balanced. But when we experience emotional pains, they cause a physical manifestation of pain too. If you have ever suffered a loss of life, gone thru a heartbreak, or other type of trauma, these deep emotional stresses have an impact on the physical body, creating tension that can be unbearable, so much so you cannot sleep or eat.
When tension pain becomes chronic, this is known as Myofascial Pain Syndrome. There are numerous complications that can go along with this problem. First of all, over time muscles in the body may become weak due to inactivity. This happens because the tension pain can make people reluctant to move and use certain muscles. But this is particularly the time when rehabilitating the muscles is critically important. If an area is weak, you must do everything you can to focus on strengthening it. I always suggest consulting with a Physiotherapist and/or Personal Trainer in these cases. The worry is that if unaddressed that overtime Fibromyalgia, a chronic condition that causes pain all over, can develop in people with Myofascial Pain Syndrome. I write this not to scare people, but to inform you early, to be aware of what your body is telling you and to respond with proactive power.
How to get rid of Tension?
Massage is one of the most common solutions to the problem of tension pain. But as tension is derived of two parts (physical strain and emotional stress), complimentary to massage I suggest any form of meditation, yoga, or prayer. Calming the mind will allow you to calm the body. These go hand in hand when it comes to releasing tension, particularly if it is emotional tension. With athletes such as marathon runners, my massage treatments may include stretching the muscle and using hot or cold compresses if necessary. But for every client I highly recommend a hot Epsom salt bath after a deep tissue massage treatment, as it helps to pull out the toxins and you reap the full healing benefits. Massage is not the only answer but one of the best recommended and non-invasive therapies. Tension pain can also be reduced with local anesthetic, saline, or cortisone injections but you’ll need to consult your local doctor for those.
The fact is, the large majority of us are exposed to daily stresses which accumulated over time can build up tension in the body, causing a painful nuisance in your life! Our lives are hectic, and we simply cannot afford to drop the ball. But more than ever, it’s so important to take the time out to rebalance to prevent stress tension from growing into greater health problems. In your consultation with me, I strive to assess what path is best for your restoration of health and balance. It is my passion and commitment to help my clients on a way to wellness.
Please refer to my pricing page and call 07515 355016 for a consultation today.
Wishing You Healing,
Raquel Keegan
Bourne Healer
