r & r
The Magic of Massage
By Cathy Cassata
“Massages were my savior when I was going through menopause‚” says Terry Guymon from Willow Springs‚ IL‚ who’s been receiving biweekly massages for more than 15 years. “They incredibly relaxed me and lowered my stress levels‚ which helped to reduce the amount of hot flashes I experienced.”
While not a panacea for all menopausal symptoms‚ some women tout massage therapy’s effectiveness in helping to relieve depression; anxiety; insomnia; memory loss; irritability; fatigue; headaches; sore backs‚ necks‚ and shoulders; and skin dryness and decreased elasticity. “Plus‚ one of the most beautiful things about massage therapy is that‚ through healthy touch‚ clients feel accepted exactly as they are‚” notes Judy Stahl‚ MA‚ LMT‚ owner of Prescott Center for Massage Therapy in Prescott‚ AZ. “This creates a consoling feeling‚ especially for menopausal women who might be struggling with their body image.”
Myriad of Methods Most massage therapists use a combination of techniques based on a client’s needs‚ but the following are some of the most commonly used methods to help ameliorate symptoms of menopause.
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• Acupressure. A traditional Chinese technique of applying finger pressure to special points that lie along acupuncture meridians. “By decreasing muscle tension and enhancing blood circulation‚ acupressure helps with neck pain‚ back pain‚ headaches‚ muscle aches‚ cramps from menstruation‚ anxiety‚ and sleep difficulties‚” explains Deb Vierling‚ MA‚ RN‚ CMT‚ owner of Medicine Hands Massage Therapy in Milan‚ IN.
• Cranio-Sacral. A gentle touch method of evaluating and enhancing the functioning of the central nervous system by gently working with the spine‚ skull‚ and its cranial sutures‚ diaphragms‚ and fascia. “I’ve worked many women through headaches caused by menopause with this method‚” says Kathleen Miller-Read‚ LMT‚ massage therapist at Green Lake Massage Health Center in Seattle‚ WA. • Deep Tissue. Releases chronic
patterns of tension in the body through slow strokes and deep finger pressure on contracted areas‚ either following or going across the grains of muscles‚ tendons‚ and fascia. “As we age‚ our spines change‚ so deep tissue work helps alleviate pain caused by those changes‚” notes Miller-Read.
• Lymphatic Drainage Therapy. A hands-on method for lymphatic drainage involving flat hands‚ utilizing all of the fingers to stimulate wave-like movements. This enables the practitioner to feel the rhythm of the body fluids to determine the exact pressure‚ direction‚ and rhythm needed. “By removing toxins and fluid buildup‚ this can have a powerfully cleansing effect on the body‚ and even help the skin to glow‚” says Stahl.
• Myofascial Release. Uses long‚ stretching strokes to release muscular tension. “This can help with pain relief‚ increase
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