Should I Tip My Massage Therapist?

A question that I often get is "should I tip my massage therapist?". There are a couple of different thoughts on this within the massage community.

Some therapists, that do strictly treatment work, do not accept tips. Their reasoning is that they are part of the health care world, and would you tip your doctor or dentist? Even among them, there are some that do accept tips, as they recognize that it is the client's way of showing appreciation, and they don't want to offend the person by not taking the money. It really depends on where they work. For therapists that have their own office, it's a personal matter. If they work for someone else, it might be against the rules to accept any form of tip.

For massage therapists that work in a spa setting, tips are very much appreciated. The percentage that they make off of each massage is generally half or less of the price of the service. Even then, the tip should not be required, but some of the newer chains of massage businesses automatically include a tip, so be sure to check and see if that is the case. If you weren't happy with the service, then you shouldn't have to tip.

Massage therapists that are self-employed can set their own prices, and should be setting them high enough so that they are able to make a decent living without having to rely on tips.

I've heard that business owners shouldn't be tipped. I can only guess that it is because they get the full amount of the service charge, as opposed to an employee who only gets a percentage.

I think tipping is truly a matter of personal discretion, and no one should feel obligated to leave a tip, especially if they weren't happy with the service. Now if your therapist did an excellent job of meeting your needs, and seeing to your comfort, then it would be appropriate to tip, business owner or not.

This is what I tell my clients, or anyone that asks about tipping for massage: I explain to them that while tips are always appreciated, they are never required or expected, and that they will receive the same level of excellent service and care whether they tip or not. And that another way to "tip" me is to refer their friends and family to me for a massage. I have some clients that have never tipped me, and others that always do. They all get treated the same.

As far as how much to tip, most people tend to tip like they do in restaurants, which is between 15 percent to 20 percent.

If you can't afford to tip in addition to the massage, don't worry. Most of us truly enjoy our work, and just seeing the look of utter peace and calm on our clients face is good enough, and that tells us our job was complete.

Deep Tissue Massage - Muscle Tendon & Ligament Relief

Deep Tissue Massage or myofascial release is a massage technique that focuses on releasing restrictions in the deeper layers of the muscles, tendons and ligaments.

Deep tissue massage releases chronic patterns of tension in the body through slow strokes and deep finger pressure on the contracted areas.

Using slow strokes and deep pressure or friction applied across the grain of the muscles not with the grain, deep tissue massage first warms the soft tissue before targeting deeper muscles groups.

Deep Tissue Massage - How Does it Work?

Deep tissue massage is both corrective and therapeutic. It uses two methods, direct or indirect and is effective in releasing deeply-held patterns of tension, removing toxins, relaxing and soothing muscles.

The direct method applies pressure to the muscle with the intention of finding resistance in the body, and maintaining the pressure until the resistance is released.

The indirect method moves in the opposite direction of the resistance.

With both techniques the amount of pressure applied is dependent on the amount of resistance.

Fingertips, knuckles, hands, elbows, and forearms are all used with long, slow strokes.

Because of the focus on a specific area some clients find deep tissue massage uncomfortable and it may
cause some soreness during or after.

Providing the massage is carried out correctly any soreness should disappear in a day or two.

Deep tissue massage does not require great strength, nor does it need to be painful and applying pressure for the sake of it can be ineffectual if done incorrectly.

Of the two methods, direct and indirect, there are many different combinations.

Some of the more well known include:-

o Polarity Therapy

o Thai Massage

o Triggerpoint Therapy

What are the benefits of a Deep Tissue Massage?

Unlike a regular relaxation massage, deep tissue massage works effectively on the skeletal structures that lie deep within the body.

Many people seek a deep tissue massage to help in treating crippling diseases, muscle, tendon and ligament injuries.

When muscles are stressed, they block oxygen and nutrients, leading to inflammation that builds up toxins in the muscle tissue.

Through controlled manual manipulation, deep tissue massage breaks down scar tissue and crystallization, loosens muscles, releases toxins and allows blood and oxygen to circulate properly.

It is important to drink plenty of water afterwards to flush away the toxins released during massage.

The key benefits of deep tissue massage include:

o Elimination of the blocks that cause muscle tightness

o Increases circulation of blood, lymph, cerebro-spinal and interstitial fluids

o Can resolve many chronic pain patterns by releasing deeply held emotions that cause tension

o Helps improve the functioning of the internal organs and any associated symptoms or diseases

o Improves posture and mobility

o Helps to reduce tension and the automatic reflexes to stress

How effective is Deep Tissue Massage?

Deep tissue massage can be very effective, but one has to be realistic about how much can be achieved in one session.

Simply asking for more pressure and thinking that if the therapist pushes hard enough, all tension will be released within an hour is unrealistic.

Chronic knots and tension built up over a lifetime can only be addressed with a series of treatments.

Most therapists will offer advice on a program that includes exercise, work on your posture, relaxation techniques and a regular program of massage.

Is Deep Tissue Massage Safe for Everyone?
As with most massage treatments, deep tissue massage is not recommended for certain people.

Massage should not be done directly over bruised or inflamed skin, open wounds, tumors, areas of recent fracture, abdominal hernia, rashes or skin disease.

It should also be avoided by:

o People with cardiovascular conditions and heart disease especially in cases of thrombosis, phlebitis and oedema

o Pregnant women and people with osteoporosis should consult their doctor before considering a massage

o Immediately after surgery

o Immediately after chemotherapy or radiation, unless recommended by your doctor

Deep Tissue Massage - Choosing a Therapist

When considering a deep tissue massage, ensure you choose a therapist you feel comfortable with and one that comes from a reputable organization.

Salons, spas, health and fitness clubs typically offer deep tissue massage, or you contact a mobile spa and have a deep tissue massage in the comfort of your own home.

Traveling Physical Therapist Assistant Jobs

A career in healthcare is always attractive as it provides security, benefits and is usually very rewarding for the individual. One of the jobs in healthcare that has increased in demand is physical therapist assistants (PTA). In most jurisdictions, a PTA can earn more than $50,000 annually.

A physical therapist examines, assesses and creates exercise schedules and wellness oriented programs for patients with mobility problems. When the schedules and programs are in place, the PTA will now put it into action. The PTA will ready the space and equipment and then help the patients with their exercises or massage. The PTA will also help the patients in their learning and adapting to aids such as the wheelchairs or the crutches.

The PTA's job is an important one, for they give the patients hands-on help and they will need to do the follow up work too. They interact with the patients and keep track of their their progress. A PTA is not only needed in the hospitals but also in other healthcare facilities, outpatient centers and also in specialized clinics. There are many ways and places a PTA can secure this rewarding position. A simple check on any hospital or clinic's notice board may get you a job offer posting. Because of the demand, your job may take you to other exciting locations. A quick search on any job websites will show hundreds of job offers for PTAs all over the country and maybe even overseas.

There are many postings for a PTA that travels. As a PTA that travels, you will be able to earn a very decent salary and gain many experiences that will look great on your resume. A traveling PTA has the same role as a non-traveling one. The only difference is that a traveling PTA work on an as-needed basis or also known as per diem. It basically means the PTA travels to different locations for different assignments.

It is a misconception that a traveling PTA is more suitable for the young and single. Firstly, look at it as having an adventure. Your travels will take you to many different environments, situations and people. This adds on to your skills and experiences. Due to the travel, PTAs are compensated well. They are able to earn as much as $80,000 annually.

Apart from the attractive salary, a traveling PTA can look at their mobile job as having flexibility in their daily schedule. They are able to choose assignments according to their commitments and schedules such as going on leave during their children's school holidays.

History and Benefits of Ashiatsu

Ashiatsu therapy or also known as foot pressure in Japanese is a traditional form of therapeutic massage practiced by Asian people as a form of alternative medical care. It bases its principles in the ancient Chinese medicines which uses a combination of herbal medicines, diet and meditation.

In its traditional version, ashiatsu is conducted by the therapist where the patient is fully clothed and lying on the floor. The massage therapist then uses his or her bodyweight to apply pressure on the different areas of the body. During the therapy, the practitioner supports and controls his or her weight with the aid of a bar that is suspended from the ceiling. Without the bar, proper control and manipulation of applied pressure is impossible for the therapist to perform.

In the 1990s, massage therapist Ruthie Hardee developed her own version of ashiatsu which was a derivative from the traditional form of the therapy. Hardee's success was by mere discovery when she was too tired to finish her last session; she used her foot to perform massage strokes instead of using her hands. Conventional massage therapy is quite demanding and exhausting for the therapist as it requires too much bending and whole body movement. Ashiatsu on the other hand is quite relaxing for the therapist as gravity helps a lot in providing the necessary pressure required for specific treatments. However, her development excludes the use of herbal medicines, diet and meditation as she focuses more on the relaxing effect rather than the medical benefits of the therapy. Her version requires the patient though to be naked during the session which is quite hesitating for some clients. However, the patient has the liberty of using a loose towel during the session which covers his or her private parts.

Both traditional and Hardee's version of ashiatsu contributes greatly with amazing benefits to the patient's medical condition. These two forms of ashiatsu therapy targets the pressure points of the body using applied pressure with the foot in an acupressure type of treatment. As an oriental massage therapy type, it is common to have this principle especially that the traditional form is rooted on the traditional Chinese medicine.

In addition to the treatment on the meridian of the body, Swedish massage therapy and effleurage are used during the therapy session to help release tension within the deep muscle tissues. Continuous strokes using the foot and some hand, knee, and elbow massage techniques are effective in calming and energizing the body. Aside from soothing the whole body, it also works best in repairing, strengthening and conditioning the body of the patient. Body pains are addressed and completely relieved after sessions of this therapy which makes it popular for athletes. It is also effective in improving circulation within the human body which helps maintain physical wellness. Aside from the physical benefits received from ashiatsu, emotional effects such as the setting of good mood, heightened awareness of emotional processes, relief from anxiety and depression and good sleeping pattern. These benefits and effects are quickly felt right after a therapy session.

Look For Uneven Pelvis As The Root Cause Of Chronic Lower Back Pain

Lower back pain is an incredibly common problem which affects tens of millions of Americans each year. A very high percentage of hospital emergency department as well as primary care physician office visits are because of chronic lower back pain. Lower back pain affects all races, all genders and people of all ages. Sedentary and overweight people are at a higher risk of suffering with this problem.

Despite billions of dollars being spent on the problem, there isn't any decrease in the incidence or prevalence of this troubling medical epidemic. One plausible reason for this is because we haven't been utilizing the correct remedy. The most common treatment for chronic back pain is medications, massage therapy & physical therapy. Ask any chronic back pain suffer about the effectiveness of these treatments and you will hear a range of comments from "it helped, but after a while the pain came back". You may also hear "I didn't get much of any relief at all". Why is this? Why do so many people continue to suffer day in and day out?

One of the primary causes of chronic lower back pain is an uneven, imbalanced pelvis. The pelvis is composed of two large bones (the innominate), and a triangularly shaped bone in the center (the sacrum). There is very little movement that occurs between the innominate bones and the sacrum (the sacroiliac joint, or "the SI joint"). The SI joint has very little motion. An athletic, younger person may have as much as one to one and a half degrees of total joint motion. Rather than independent movement between these three bones, the pelvis instead moves as a solid block. It can tilt side to side and front to back. The pelvis can also rotate right and left.

The problem occurs is when the pelvis tilts or rotates in a certain way and then stays fixed in that location. When this occurs, the muscles, ligaments and other supportive connective tissues themselves become shortened or lengthened and serve to hold the pelvis in that position indefinitely. When the pelvis becomes chronically misaligned like this, it sets the stage for chronic SI joint pain as well as lumbar spine pain.

The lumbar spine is positioned on top of the sacrum. When the pelvic/sacral block is tilting or is rotated, it creates biomechanical stress on the rest of the spine. In particular, there is a shearing or twisting effect on the lumbar spine (the lower back). This problem can be so pronounced that on x-ray, the spine appears to have a scoliosis.

What can be done to fix an imbalanced pelvis? Certainly taking drugs (NSAIDs, muscle relaxers, etc) won't resolve the problem. Exercise doesn't realign the spine. In fact, exercising on an uneven pelvis may cause more harm than good. It would be the equivalent of continuing to hammer on a bent nail. The most effective thing you can do for an imbalanced pelvis is to get it balanced. You must realign the spine, sacrum & pelvis in order to minimize biomechanical stress on the joints, ligaments, tendons and other supportive soft tissues. The chiropractic adjustment is a time tested therapy for realigning the spine. In my clinic, I utilize chiropractic adjustments, physical therapy modalities, stretching, rehabilitative exercise and soft tissue therapies. And without question, the number one most effective treatment for balancing the pelvis is the chiropractic adjustment. If you have chronic lower back pain, you need to have your pelvis checked for imbalanceding. Getting your pelvis balanced will offer amazing, long lasting relief.

How to Start Building Your Massage Practice From Scratch, on a Budget

If you just look at the personal benefits of massage therapy, you can see having a massage practice is so rewarding for those who are professionals in the field. Many of your regular clients will range from people with serious back problems to de-stressing at the end of a heavy week. With a visit from the friendly neighbourhood massage therapist now and then, they are often able to live rewarding, active lives that may not have been possible without a little help now and then. This alone is enough validation to put massage therapists on a natural high. There really is nothing quite like helping people gain a sense of strength and comfort.

A low cost business plan

There are dozens of business ideas you can grab onto that offer the chance to help people in your massage business. However, most of them either require high start-up costs, or won't return much at all. This means that they have to be pursued more as a hobby than as a legitimate career path. Luckily, the business side of massage therapy is as rewarding as the personal side.

There simply aren't very many business plans as easy to start up as a massage therapy service. Massage therapy is one of those businesses you can run from the seat of your car. Beginning massage therapists don't even need an office, just a telephone and a diary.

Skills to pay the bills

The most important element of a massage therapy business plan is, of course, experience in massage therapy. You can have all the money in the world for advertisement and setting up your own fancy office, but if you don't have the skill to really help people you won't see any return clients. A massage therapist relies much on their skills as a therapist and skills with people.

Beyond that, the start-up costs for a new massage therapy business tend to be remarkably low. Most beginning massage therapists choose to make house calls. I started like this and for a short while it worked very well. If you choose to start like this too, you don't need to rent out a building or anything like that. All you need is a good portable table and a carry bag for your towels, oil and hand cleanser.

If you choose to take out a loan and set up a shop, look to set it up somewhere near complimentary business to massage therapy. You have a better chance of gained new clients if you think like them. Think about others services your clients use and make yourself accessible to that avenue. If you're really on a budget, however, I'd advise that you stick to house calls, at least until you've established a regular clientele and a strong reputation in your area.

Surprised by Success

As exciting as starting your own massage therapy practice can be, it is advised that you don't get too far ahead of yourself. To put it bluntly, don't quit your day job before you have massage clients.

As long as you have the skills to deliver excellent massage therapy treatments, chances are that you will build a strong clientele. Building a strong, returning clientele takes sound marketing skills and good people skills. Within a short time you may be surprised at how far you've come.

Being a people-person will help you create a successfully busy massage practice. Knowing how to meet and create warm relationships is vital to massage therapy. Creating positive communications will lead to happy clients. Allowing your clients to talk about themselves is very helpful in making the whole process more effective.

To sum it up, building a successful massage business doesn't take years and years. It can take a month or two depending on your skills. These 'skills' are simply being great at massage, good with people and brilliant in your marketing.

Ruptured Bicep Tendon - Exercise Tips

When you realize you have ruptured your bicep tendon the world of fitness and exercise seems to come to an abrupt stop for the time being. Of the three tendons of the bicep muscle, two attach in the shoulder and one on or around the elbow. The two shoulder tendons seem to be more fragile then the attachment at the elbow and, account for roughly 88-97% of all ruptures. The tendon most effected is the long head.

The biceps muscle is involved in a multitude of functional movements of the upper extremity. The two heads of the biceps tendon that run through our shoulder, have attachments to our scapula which is involved in the timing and coordination of the shoulder movement as well. Needless to say, when one of the tendons in the shoulder rupture it can put undue stress on other areas of the shoulder complex.

Injuring or rupture of the long head of the biceps tendon generally occurs in individuals between 45-65 years of age. When the tendon ruptures the biggest problem becomes ultimately the loss of power in the affected shoulder.

If you are a younger individual involved in athletic activities, you may want to consider getting the tendon repaired and repaired quickly before permanent damage is done. If you are over 40 and you are still able to complete your activities of daily living,then that choice is up to you. Repair would not be mandatory, you can still complete everyday activities with the detached tendon without a problem.

The long head of my biceps tendon was ruptured in 2004 and I chose not to have it repaired. I was in my mid-forties and found it did not effect my activities of daily living. As a bodybuilder however, I lost power in the shoulder and found I had to compensate for it in several ways along with living with a slightly disfigured bicep.

Below are three tips that I have followed with great success and have been able to continue my fitness and bodybuilding regimen.

1. Decrease the amount of weight you use. Again depending on your age there is no need at this point to try and power up large amounts of weight when in fact the shoulder will not handle it. You can use lighter weights to increase the intensity with more reps at this point and still have success.

2. Work and concentrate on strengthening the entire shoulder complex including the rotator cuff muscles. It's imperative now that you strengthen the stabilizers around the affected shoulder to prevent problems later on. Muscle atrophy will set in if you choose not to work on and make good use of the intact muscle attachments. If imbalances occur you may be up against prolonged cases of bursitis in the shoulder in the years ahead.

3. Work unilaterally from time to time to prevent the strong shoulder from wanting to pick up the increased workload and keep the effected shoulder from doing it's part. You will want to isolate the affected shoulder with dumbbell presses for instance to be sure it is worked to it's maximum level. If you do not isolate the effected shoulder it will not get any stronger and you end up with noticeable muscular imbalances.

Follow the three tips that I have discussed with you above and you will have continued success with the injured shoulder if you choose not to have it repaired. It is not the end of your fitness or exercise career. With a little imagination you can learn to work around it and can continue to function at a high level.

Geriatric Massage - Physical and Emotional Well Being For the Elderly

Geriatric massage, which utilizes the same basic techniques as traditional massage therapy, was especially designed for the elderly and their unique needs. This type of massage includes the gentle massage of soft tissues (and sometimes passive or active manipulation of the joints), proven to improve circulation and increase flexibility. Massage therapy for the elderly addresses the same health conditions as other techniques and utilizes the same methods, but with a much gentler touch.

While the main goal of this type of massage is basic relaxation and stress relief, it has also proven to be beneficial in fighting the symptoms of aging. The session usually lasts no longer than 30 minutes and includes gentle stretching of legs, feet and shoulders as well as gentle massaging of the hands and feet to relieve pain and prevent stiffness. Stronger movements are sometimes incorporated into massage therapy - particularly in the shoulders - to improve flexibility.

Geriatric massage also helps to:

•Increases blood circulation to reduce the effects of diabetes and other diseases;

•Improves lymphatic flow to aid in the elimination of toxic substances from the body;

•Combats the symptoms of anxiety, stress and depression;

•Improves balance, posture and flexibility;

•Reduces arthritic pain and increases joint mobility;

•Improves quality of sleep.

As we age, we become more susceptible to such illnesses as arthritis, diabetes, heart disease and Parkinson's disease. Many elderly people also tend to feel anxiety, loneliness and/or depression. Massages for the elderly can lessen the symptoms of such conditions and in doing so, improve blood circulation, increase one's level of physical activity and provide an overall greater sense of well-being.

Other massage techniques (such as the Swedish massage) can cause pain and bruising... therefore they are not recommended for the elderly. The massage therapist takes into account the fact that as we get older, we experience more stiffness in our joints and a lower threshold for pain, so the therapist pays special attention to any discomfort that the client may be experiencing so he/she can adjust their technique to make the client feel more comfortable. A lot of massage therapists choose to use creams, lotions or oils for this type of massage to nourish their clients' delicate skin and enhance the experience.

More and more doctors everywhere are beginning to accept geriatric massage therapy... but as an addition to other required treatment...not as a substitute. Although geriatric massage has few known side effects and is a very gentle procedure, if you or someone you know is considering geriatric massage therapy, be sure to speak with your primary care physician before proceeding. And remember that as with any other type of medical procedure, continuity is key. The more you participate, the greater the benefits you'll enjoy.

Several studies have also supported the idea that touch therapy - such as that provided by geriatric massage therapy - can have a very positive impact on the mental and physical well-being of the elderly. And because elderly people often feel very isolated and alone, a geriatric massage program can help ease depression, stress, and other emotions related to their isolation. Touch - via geriatric massage therapy - can also stimulate circulation, boost the immune system, and ease the aches and pains which plague many elderly bodies.

Becoming a Physical Therapist in Medical Scrubs

Physical therapists (PT's) are professionals in medical scrubs who diagnose and treat patients of all ages, from infants to old people, who have illnesses or injuries which limit their ability to move or to function normally in everyday life. These physically limiting conditions may result from neck or back injuries, sprains or strains, fractures, arthritis, stroke, burns, multiple sclerosis, cerebral palsy, spina bifida, amputations; as well as injuries from sports or work. PT's examine each patient individually to develop a plan of treatment techniques which promote the patient's ability to reduce pain, to move, to restore function, and to prevent disability. Additionally, PT's help patients to develop fitness and wellness programs for more active and healthier lifestyles. PT's should have good communication and interpersonal skills to better educate patients and their families about their conditions and the physical therapy treatments. They should be compassionate and have a strong desire to help people.

Physical therapists diagnose and evaluate movement dysfunction, and they use interventions to treat patients. These interventions include therapeutic exercises, manual therapy, functional training, adaptive and assistive equipment and devices, electrotherapeutic modalities, and physical agents. Physical therapists practice with and consult other healthcare professionals including physicians, nurses, occupational therapists, speech / language pathologists, audiologists, and social workers. PT's work in a medical scrub in hospitals and outpatient clinics, as well as private offices with special equipment. PT's must be in good physical condition because the job is physically demanding, requiring stooping, kneeling, and standing for long periods. Additionally, PT's lift patients and help them stand and walk, and they must move heavy equipment.

Becoming a physical therapist requires a post-baccalaureate degree granted by an accredited program in physical therapy. It is helpful to the candidate to have taken undergraduate courses in mathematics, statistics, chemistry, physics, biology, anatomy, and social science. Many physical therapy graduate programs also require the candidate to have volunteer experience in a hospital or clinic physical therapy department. Certification in all states requires passing state and national examinations. There are over two hundred accredited physical therapist educational programs in the U.S., of which 12 award master's in science degrees and 200 award doctoral degrees. Normally, the master's in science in physical therapy degree requires from 2 to 2 1/2 years to complete, and doctoral degrees require 3 years. The course load includes biology, physiology, anatomy, cellular histology, neuroscience, exercise physiology, pharmacology, biomechanics, pathology, and radiology-imaging, together with courses in behavioral science such as clinical reasoning and evidence based practice. Clinical training includes examination testing, medical screening, diagnostic process, outcomes assessment, therapeutic intervention, and practice management. After certification physical therapists in Katherine Heigl scrubs must participate in continuing education courses throughout their professional lives. There are just under 200,000 physical therapists in the U.S., some in private practice and others working in healthcare facilities. About two-thirds of PT's work in hospitals or in the offices of healthcare practitioners or outpatient care centers. The self-employed PT's see individual patients and contract to provide their services in hospitals, nursing care facilities, and rehabilitation centers.

How To Become A Neurological Physical Therapist

Perhaps becoming a Neurological Physical Therapist is one of the wisest decisions you will ever make in your entire lifetime. It is one of the jobs that do not only provide you the opportunity to work with different people but it is also a great way to help other people whom you probably do not personally know. A lot of individuals enter into this kind of work not only to earn more money but also to help other people. But, on the other hand, becoming a Neurological Physical Therapist is not an easy task. In fact, you have to be disciplined and be responsible enough to know your priorities if you want to succeed in this field. Keep in mind that this type of course is a challenging one. There will be a number of science subjects that you need to tackle. And if you are the kind of person who likes to party all night and shop all day long then you probably have to think twice and set your priorities straight because if you continue wasting your time in bars, clubs and malls then you will never have enough time and energy to focus on your studies.

It's not only mental capacity that is required of in this subject but you also have to be interested in taking care of other people. This job entails the responsibility of taking care of people whom you do not even know.

To help you better understand the concept behind the responsibilities of this job, imagine taking care of a patient suffering from neurological damage and in need of a professional help. It is the Neurological Physical Therapist's job to ensure that the patient will recover from his ailment.

Now, that you know the heavy responsibility of this career it is your decision whether or not to proceed with this field. If you are still interested to become a Neurological Physical Therapy Practitioner, read the information below to gain knowledge on how to become one.

First, after you graduate from a four year course with a heavy background in science you must find schools that welcome residencies. This is very important since not all schools allow or offer residencies. If there are no local schools within your community, you can check out schools in your neighboring town with the use of the internet.

Second, you need to do a review and be ready for the licensing exam in order to obtain your license.

12 Stress Management Tips For People With Hashimoto's Thyroiditis

Most people with Hashimoto's Thyroiditis can do a better job of managing the stress in their lives. While this holds true for most people in general, and not just those with an autoimmune hypothyroid disorder, the fact remains that stress can be one of the causes behind this condition. And if it isn't the cause of your disorder, then without question it can make your condition worse if you don't do a good job of handling it.

What you need to realize is that our bodies were not designed to handle chronic stress, but instead was meant to deal with acute stress situations. So what happens is when a person has chronic stress (which seems to describe most of us in this society), this in turn can weaken the immune system, and can also have a negative effect on other areas of the body, such as the adrenal glands. This compromised immune system or stressed adrenal glands can ultimately lead to the formation of an autoimmune condition, such as Hashimoto's Thyroiditis.

So the goal here is to give you twelve stress management tips that can help restore your health back to normal, prevent your condition from becoming worse, and/or reduce the likelihood of developing other conditions in the future. This might sound too good to be true. But when you understand that chronic stress is not something your body was designed to handle AND that there a number of things you need to do to manage the stress in your life, you'll realize that following the advice I'm about to give can do wonders when it comes to your health.

Here Are The 12 Stress Management Tips:

Tip #1: Try to keep a positive attitude most of the time. While a positive attitude alone isn't enough to manage your stress, having one can definitely help. Obviously nobody can be positive 100% of the time. But many people seem to always carry a negative attitude with them, which definitely won't help you cope with the stress in your life.

Tip #2: Begin a regular exercise program. You want to engage in some type of cardiovascular activity at least 3-4 times each week, ideally for at least 30 minutes each time. This can include taking a walk outside or on a treadmill, going on the elliptical machine or stationary bike, or anything else that will make you sweat a little. I realize some people with autoimmune disorders might not have the energy to exercise. If this describes you, even 20 to 30 minutes of walking will be beneficial. Besides engaging in cardiovascular exercise, other activities that can help you to manage stress include yoga and Pilates.

Tip #3: Eat healthier foods. Most of us can do a much better job of incorporating healthier foods into our diets. I don't expect anyone who has been eating poorly to immediately give up all of the "bad foods" they love. But even making small changes in what you eat can have a big impact on your health.

Tip #4: Drink plenty of purified water each day. Many sources suggest that you should drink at least eight tall glasses of water each day. The problem with this is that everyone has different needs based on their weight, and so I recommend that you should drink half of your body weight in ounces. So for example, if you weigh 140 pounds, then you would want to drink at least 70 ounces of water each day. And please don't drink tap water, as you really should be drinking purified water.

Tip #5: Take quality nutritional supplements. Since most of us don't eat a perfect diet, it's important to take some quality nutritional supplements on a daily basis. At the very least you should take a quality multi-mineral vitamin and fatty acid each day. There are a lot of poor-absorbing supplements being sold, and so you do need to be careful. I personally recommend whole food supplements to my patients, rather than the synthetic vitamins that are sold by most retailers.

Tip #6: Get at least 8 hours of quality sleep each night. I know this might seem difficult to do, especially if you need to wake up early for work. And once again, some people with Hashimoto's Thyroiditis will have difficulty falling to sleep and/or will wake up in the middle of the night. So until they get this problem addressed then it admittedly will be difficult for them to get eight hours of quality sleep on a regular basis. Often times sleep problems are caused by stressed out adrenal glands, which most endocrinologists and medical doctors don't address.

Tip #7: Avoid environmental toxins as much as possible. While it's not possible to avoid these completely, you need to realize that these toxins really do affect our health. I'm not going to discuss everything you can do to avoid these toxins, but I will tell you two things you can do to that will help you in the long term. First of all, install a filter in your shower that removes chlorine, as this can really help boost your energy levels. Second, stop buying household cleaners with harsh chemicals, and instead get some natural household cleaners at your local health food store.

Tip #8: Make love more often. Having sex increases the endorphins in your body, which also will help you to manage stress. So make love with your partner more often.

Tip #9: Get a monthly massage. Schedule an appointment with a licensed massage therapist and treat yourself to a monthly massage. Massage therapy is not just about stress management, as there are many other benefits as well. But one of the big benefits of massage therapy is that it can help to relieve stress.

Tip #10: Consider seeing a chiropractor. Okay, I'm admittedly a little bit biased here, being that I have a chiropractic background. But since spinal adjustments help to balance out the nervous system, receiving them from a chiropractor can also help to relieve stress. Like massage therapy, there are so many other benefits when it comes to chiropractic.

Tip #11: Talk to someone. Sometimes speaking with someone can help relieve your stress. This doesn't necessarily mean talking with a counselor, although in some cases this can be helpful. But even talking with a good friend, family member, or acquaintance can really help.

Tip #12: Don't take life so seriously. This doesn't mean that you shouldn't take certain aspects of your life seriously. But on the other hand, many of us let things stress out that really shouldn't. Write down a list of some of the things that cause stress in your life, and then take a look at these tips I have just given you, and determine how you can apply this advice to those things that stress you out on a regular basis.

For example, if you have a job that stresses you out, then perhaps you need to change your attitude (or change your job!). Or it might be that you're not eating well and/or not getting enough sleep. These lifestyle changes won't get rid of the stress in your life, but will help you better manage it. If your spouse is stressing you out, then perhaps counseling is the answer for you.

So here you have it, as if you follow at least 75% of these tips (9 of 12), including all of the first six I listed, you will do wonders in managing your stress. This admittedly is an incomplete list, as there are other things you can do to manage your stress. But these are some of the more important ones that can truly help to restore your health, and help you to maintain your health.

The Assessment of Muscle Strength by Physiotherapists

We depend on our muscles to allow us to do all the functional activities we want to perform, from walking to climbing stairs to typing and doing precise work. Our muscles can deliver huge amounts of power and endurance as well as highly coordinated and skilled manipulations. Loss of feeling may be more important in a limb but loss of sufficient muscle power compromises our independence particularly as we get older and find difficulty performing routine actions for ourselves. Muscle power can be reduced by a large number of causes including not using them when ill and forced to rest, pain from injury or operations, stroke or other neurological condition, disease and illness. The assessment and treatment of muscle weakness is a routine skill in physiotherapy.

The Oxford Scale is the rating system used by physiotherapists for the assessment and recording of muscle power when required. Knowledge of muscle anatomy is vital so that the joint can be positioned correctly and the tendon and muscle palpated so whether there is any muscle action can be judged. The muscle is rated on the Oxford Scale from one to five and written down as 2/5 or 4/5, at times with a plus or minus sign to show the muscle has more or less strength but not enough to go down or up the scale. The physiotherapist ensures the joint is in the optimal position to enable the muscle to function easily and for easy visualisation of the tendon and muscle.

Grade 0 is no action discernible in the muscle at all, with the physiotherapist palpating the muscle belly or tendon as the patient attempts to perform the activity several times. Grade 1 is a twitch as the muscle undergoes a small contraction but is not strong enough to perform any of its specified joint movement. Grade 2 indicates a muscle strong enough to perform its designated joint movement when the force of gravity is eliminated, making it much easier to perform. The joint must be accurately positioned for this to be tested correctly. Grade 3 is a muscle strong enough to perform the joint action to the full range against gravity but with no resistance applied. An example here would be lifting the arm above the head.

If the muscle can move the joint through the full movement both against gravity and against some resistance such as body weight then the Oxford Scale grading is 4/5. It is a professional judgment as to the resistance to be applied for the test, and the physiotherapist will have in mind the health, age, activity and weight of the patient. If a muscle is to be graded 5/5 it must be of normal power, but as this will vary greatly between individuals the physiotherapist must make an estimation of the expected full muscle power for that particular patient. Grade 5 for a frail sick person will be very different from grade 5 for a young, fit sports person.

If the patient can raise their arm up above the head to some extent but not very strongly nor to full range, the physiotherapist might grade that as 3/5 for the deltoid muscle but because it is not full it might be rated 3-/5. If the muscle will take good manual resistance but does not appear to be normal for that patient then the grading could be 4+/5. This grading scale allows the physiotherapist to test all the appropriate muscles and record them in the patient's notes, enabling progress to be charted against time as the strength improves. This can be very useful in tracking the progress of patients recoveries or recording their neurological status such as in spinal cord injury.

Muscle strengthening begins with encouraging muscle activity with gravity counterbalanced if the muscle is weak. Once a functional level of muscle activity is reached the patient can be encouraged to perform normal daily activities to power up their muscles. At a higher level resistance must be added as it is the intensity of work which develops muscle strength. This causes a breakdown of muscle fibres which regenerate with increased strength, a cycle which can be repeated with increased levels of applied intensity of resistance. Once simple resistance has been managed, the patient is taught to perform dynamic exercises using their bodyweight as this is the ultimate expression of muscle strength.

Getting A Massage

It is an age old saying that a good massage gives more strength to our body than what we eat. If we read about the kings and queens of olden days we find that they used to have their own special trained massager. Getting a massage was a daily routine for them. As they knew massage keeps our body healthy and beautiful as well. When a child is born then also an expert lady is hired to give massage to the newly born baby and the mother. It shows even a lay man understand the value of massage.

Though we know massage is good for our body most of us are bewildered as how should we get good and right massage at a regular basis. There are so many sophisticated massage parlors especially in metropolitan city. But still common people hesitate to visit such parlor not being sure about the cost and whether it will be a good one or not. Further, hiring a permanent trained massager is also not possible for everybody as some people cannot afford and some are sort of time. So, getting regular massage is still a problem.

Though it is not always possible for us to visit a massage parlor or hire one massager still we should know some basic conventional rules about massage. First of all massage should be taken empty stomach before taking our meal. If it is not possible then at least four hours gap is must... Newly born babies are given massage normally with either Johnson baby oil. But sesame oil and almond oil is also regarded very well for the babies. For adult sesame oil is regarded as best oil but mustard oil is also a good substitute. Secondly, massage is harmful if taken immediately before or after the bath. At least half an hour gap is advisable. While getting self massage always the motion in upward stroke is advisable. But it is always advisable to get massage by an expert in the beginning.

Massage Marketing - How to Build a Steady Stream of Clients!

If you give really great massage treatments all the time it's true that your clients may recommend you to their friends, which may generate more business for you, however when it comes down to it, just being a great therapist does not guarantee that you will be able to build a thriving and successful massage business.

In fact, a large majority of the massage therapists that I know, all say that they would like more clients.

So how does the career massage therapist get a steady stream of clients? Well they certainly don't just sit and wait (and hope) for the phone to ring, that won't pay the bills. No, what every massage therapist who has decided to go out on their own should be doing (when they are not massaging) is in fact 'marketing massage'.

Now I know that the idea of 'marketing' may conjure up in your mind, corporate images of elaborate and expensive advertising campaigns and the like, but really all I'm talking about is consciously and effectively putting your business in front of the different kinds of people you would like to attract to your massage business as clients, and getting them to make contact with you and book in for a treatment. That's all!

You could be the most knowledgeable, talented, highly trained massage therapist out there but unless people 'know' about you and how 'your service' can be of BENEFIT to them, you may never experience the kind of practice or income that you want or deserve!

The first thing that I feel is necessary to grasp is that a massage practice (no matter how big or small) is in fact a 'business', your business! The next most important thing is that there are two sides to your business and one cannot survive without the other.

One side of your massage business is the providing of excellent massage treatments. The other side of your massage business is the marketing side i.e. the strategies and systems you use to attract a continual stream of clients and to get them to book in for a massage with you.

The secret to building a thriving and successful massage business is to realize that you need to be a marketer of massage first (in order to get the clients), and a provider of massage second. These are the twin pillars of your business. Once you get the clients on the table your job is only half done, you then need to give them a first class treatment that is based around their needs, each and every time!

So now that you know that you need to be a massage marketer as well as a massage therapist, the next question to ask is, "How do you market your massage?" Well it all starts with the most important rule.

"Don't try to be all things to all people all at once!"

The biggest mistake I see therapists who are trying to build up a list of clients make, is that they will do up a brochure or business card etc that has their name or business name and / or logo, a list of the services they offer, and maybe a little about who they are and their qualifications, and that's it!

The thing is, every other therapist is doing exactly the same thing, so not only do they not stand out from the crowd, they are not speaking to the specific needs of the people that they are trying to attract as a massage clients. In fact many therapists are not even sure who it is they're even trying to attract.

So before you even think about printing up another brochure, flyer, business card or doing another ad, you need to first ask yourself, "What type of clients do I want to attract to my massage business? Who are they? Where are they? How can I get them interested in my business?"

Some massage therapists like to work specifically with sports people, others with women only, or people with back pain, others with people who are rehabilitating from illness or injury and others primarily for relaxation and rejuvenation etc, OR you might be the kind of therapist who wants to attract and work with people from all types of backgrounds. There are really no limits!

However, in order to effectively attract specific types of people into your massage business, your marketing must be 'tailored' to reach these people directly and speak to 'their' individual needs!

The mistake that a lot of massage therapists are making is that they'll do up a brochure or put an advertisement in a magazine or newspaper and they'll try to promote to all of these types of people at the same time. They might list the different benefits of their massage treatment by saying that their massage is good for back pain, relaxation, sports injuries etc.

By doing this they are saying that their massage is good for everything and everyone and while this is probably true, they are not speaking directly to each individual type of person, and therefore the power of their message is diluted.

The key to getting a great response is to market to each style of person individually, and whether or not you use a flyer, brochure or paid advertisement, you need to come across as a specialist by listing only those benefits of your massage that will appeal to that style of person.

Let's say that we work from home or out of a small clinic and there are a couple of gyms in our area. We know that many people who go to workout at the gym will be interested in receiving massage so we decide that we would like to attract some of these people as clients.

If we want to attract a particular style of person to our massage business, we first need to get into their head and find out what their 'needs' are.

This usually isn't too difficult. In regards to people who go to the gym, just put yourself in their shoes. "Why do they go to the gym?" People generally go the gym to workout because they are health conscious and they care about their physical appearance and their level of fitness.

Now think about what happens after you have a hard work out? Your muscles can become tight and tense and often there is soreness due to lactic acid build up. You often feel energized but your body now needs a period of rest to rejuvenate before the next workout.

Keeping this in mind, a great way to market to people who regularly workout at the gym would be to focus on all of the 'physical' benefits that these people would receive should they come to have a massage with you.

You could for example, focus on the BENEFITS of receiving massage treatments 'in between' workouts and list only those benefits that would most appeal to the style of person who works out on a regular basis.

Some benefits of receiving massage that would be effective in this example are that it:

- Quickly eliminates muscle soreness after your workout.

- Relieves muscular spasm quickly.

- Improves your flexibility and range of movement.

- Cuts your recovery time in half.

- Reduces the chance of injury by alleviating tension in the body.

- Increases your body's ability to absorb nutrients and vitamins.

- Oxygenates your body's cells giving you greater levels of energy.

- Can greatly improve your general health, well-being and appearance.

- Makes you feel relaxed, refreshed and ready to take on the world!

At the top of your flyer you could combine a few of these benefits into an attention grabbing headline for example, "Discover How To Quickly Eliminate Muscle Soreness After Your Next Workout!" followed by a subheading,...and feel completely relaxed, refreshed and ready to take on the world!

A benefit rich headline that captures the interest of your 'target market' should be at the top of every piece of marketing you do, whether it's a flyer, an editorial or just a simple advertisement!

You could then follow up with the rest of the benefits above, so that you come across as a therapist who 'specializes' in working with people who do intensive exercise on a regular basis.

If possible you would then throw in a testimonial or two from clients that fall into the same 'target market' that you have massaged previously, so that it gives you credibility and shows why they should have a massage with you.

Then give them a special offer of say 90 minutes for the price of an hour and mention that it's for a limited time only, tell them to call A.S.A.P to make their appointment type and in your phone number so that it is big and bold. If possible, include a small photo of yourself and voila, you have a very targeted, inexpensive method of putting your business in front of a specific type of client that has a high probability of making contact with you.

Now this is just one example, and you could tailor different flyers for different styles of people and also different styles of massage. The main thing that I'm trying to get across here is that even though your massage itself may not change that much from person to person, you need to target your marketing so that you are speaking to each different style of person (target market) specifically and answer the question, "What's in it for them?" by clearly listing those benefits that will be appealing to that style of person.

So to recap on what I covered so far today, think of your massage practice as a business that has two equally important sides - the 'marketing of massage' and the 'providing of massage'.

Work out what types of people (target markets) you would like to have as clients and then market to each of those groups individually with benefit rich, 'attention grabbing' headlines. Then answer the question of "What's in it for them?" by illustrating the specific benefits of your service.

Then, make sure you give yourself credibility by throwing in one or two testimonials from clients that are in the same target market and make them a 'time sensitive' offer that they can't refuse. Last but not least, tell them 'how' to make contact with you. Make sure that these elements are included in ALL forms of marketing that you do, whether it be brochures, flyers, editorials or simple classified ads etc.

Then when clients show up for their massage treatment, give them 110% each and every time! This is a must!

If you can do just these simple things with your marketing, I have no doubt that you will be well on the way to building a very successful massage business with a steady stream of clients!

Is It Okay for Massage Therapists To Be Smokers?

Massage Therapy is an occupation where the Massage Therapist is up close and touching the patient/client. This is something that Therapists have to be mindful of at all times. Nicotine and cigarette smoke are unmistakably strong, (to some offensive) smells. These smells are not easily masked. No perfume, cologne or mouthwash seems to be greatly effective in eliminating this odor.

A major part of a good massage experience is the physical atmosphere of the room. That means a quiet, clean room, with a pleasant soothing scent or no scent at all. A Therapist who smokes can create this setting but he/she would have to be a very light smoker. Even this is risky, because some people are very sensitive to the smell of smoke and can detect even a light scent of tobacco.

We also have to consider some of the unpleasant byproducts of this habit. A main one is "Smoker's Cough". I attended a course on Medical Massage Therapy conducted by a Licensed Massage Therapist who was an obvious heavy smoker. How did I know? He paused frequently, throughout his lecture and demonstrations, to cough. He knew his subject quite well. He was a good teacher and a well experienced Massage Therapist.

But I could not help wondering what his patients/clients experienced when they came to him for therapy. Imagine lying on a massage table trying to relax and having to contend with, not only that strong smell of cigarette smoke, but also a disquieting cough throughout the massage. Back in Massage Therapy school we were not allowed to discriminate against students who smoked as we gave each other practice massages.

Having a smoker Therapist give you a facial massage often had a direct opposite intended effect. It is hard to relax and breathe calmly when your nose is assaulted by the smell of nicotine from the Therapist's fingers. I empathize with Therapists who smoke. How difficult it is to quit, is well documented. But it is also undeniably evident, that smoking is health hazard for both Massage Therapist and patient/client.

The other issue here is that a major benefit of massage therapy is to help rid the body of toxins. Second hand smoke from a Therapist's clothing, hands, hair or breath, poisons the air. Is it okay for Massage Therapists to be smokers? Smoking tobacco is not an illegal activity.

But the intended benefits of massage therapy and the noxious effects of tobacco smoke should make a smoker who is, or is considering becoming a Massage Therapist; quit one or the other pursuit. To your total best health, Guildford Joe Thomas L.M.T.

Make More Money With Massage In Less Time

Would you like to make more money with massage? The following are some suggestions for you to incorporate into your massage practice to make the most you can in the least amount of time. Does that sound good? Let's look what you can do to maximize your earnings as a massage therapist quickly.

Try working for yourself. If this is not possible right away due to a job with benefits, try to offer massage on your time off until you've built up enough of a practice to work for yourself full-time. When you work for yourself, you're in complete control of your work schedule, your rates and advertising. You can work as much or as little as you want.

Ask your clients open-ended questions. When you ask open-ended questions, you will get expanded information from your clients. Avoid yes and no questions as they will end the dialogue. When you ask open-ended questions, it shows your clients that you are indeed interested in them and giving the best massage you can. Also, the more information you get from your clients, the better you are able to take care of their needs. Massage clients appreciate it when massage therapist pay attention to their needs.

Offer a longer treatment. Many people have never considered getting a longer treatment until you put the idea in their head. When I ask my massage clients how much time they want, I ask, "Do you want an hour or an hour and a half?". Sometimes they need to think about it but once I put my hands on them, they never want it to stop! If you have time between appointments, why not let them know "Hey, I'm able to do a 90 minute or a 2 hour massage today!" You'd be surprised how many people have never had more than a one hour massage. One hour always goes by too quickly for me my clients. When I'm doing treatment work on people, I always prefer to do a 90 minute or a two-hour massage. That gives me more time to administer effective treatment techniques. You'll be surprised at many people will take you up on your offer of a longer massage treatment.

When massage clients ask for specific treatment work, ask them how much time they would like for you to spend on that area. Sometimes they realize that they also want the same amount of time on other areas and that will help them with the idea of a longer massage. Again, asking your clients to be specific on treatment time in an area will make your job easier as you will know exactly what the want and then you can give it to them.

Tell your clients that you can also work on friends and family. If you are going on location and there's other people around, let them know you have time to work on them if you are available. You are already there so why not make as much money as you can? Just be sure you are stocked up on massage oil and sheets or you'll find yourself running out of supplies quickly!

Book your next appointment before they leave. Instead of asking if they would like to schedule their next appointment, ask them when. Remember, asking the open-ended questions prevent them from saying "Not right now.". Again, remind them that you also offer hour and a half and 2 hour massage treatments. If they love your work and only have time for an hour this time, they'll be thinking ahead of how great a two-hour treatment will be.

Offer referral incentives. If you have someone who would make a great word of mouth person, why not offer them a reward for passing your name to others. Some of your clients will refer you to other people anyway but why not help the process along. Be careful not to seem too pushy or desperate. Just casually mention the incentive and see what happens. What kind of incentives should you offer? That's really up to you and how much time and money you want to spend. Why not a gift card? Everyone has a favorite store or restaurant.

You have more control than you think in your ability to generate an income. When you work for yourself, you're writing your own paycheck. That paycheck can be as big or small as you want it to be. If you are less practiced in giving longer massage treatments, I suggest you get comfortable because you're there already, why not make as much money as you possible can?

Physical Therapist Recruitment Agencies

The well-organized staffing services of reliable physical therapist recruitment agencies in the US enable qualified candidates in physical therapy to secure jobs in reputable healthcare facilities. These agencies offer competent recruitment services for both experienced as well as newly certified physical therapists.

Range of Lucrative Job Opportunities

The structured staffing services of recruitment agencies are available to both domestic and internationally trained physical therapy professionals. Talented graduates in an accredited physical therapy education program who have qualified in the state-administered national exam can easily obtain permanent, temporary, short-term, long-term, full-time, part-time, or travel assignments in health agencies, nursing homes, rehabilitation centers, school systems and outpatient clinics in the US. Individuals with the necessary academic credentials and with strong interpersonal skills can earn competitive pay and enjoy benefits such as:

• Section 125 cafeteria plan
• 401(k) retirement savings plan
• Continuing education programs
• Healthcare insurance
• Professional liability insurance
• Additional state license
• Short-term disability insurance
• H1b visas and green cards
• Immigration processing support
• Completion bonuses
• Paid housing facilities
• Travel allowances

Advanced Recruitment Technology Systems

Recruitment agencies offer physical therapists job opportunities to suit their skills and schedules. Many have an internationally qualified team of recruitment consultants working with state-of-the-art recruitment technology systems and modern web-based recruitment tools. They guide clients and candidates on the latest medical trends and job opportunities. Jobseekers can register and submit their resumes online.

Physical therapist recruitment agencies help employers to recruit skilled professionals easily. Employers are saved the trouble and expense of placing job advertisements and conducting lengthy recruitment procedures. With hundreds of job opportunities available for physical therapists and slated to in the future, these recruitment agencies will continue to provide invaluable services to healthcare establishments and aspiring professionals alike.

What Is the Best Massage Therapy Method?

Of the 160 types of massage therapy available today, it can be very difficult for us to figure out which among these is the best and most effective of them all. All of these share the same goal and purpose for their development which is to improve the overall health of the patient and to boost the natural healing capability of the human body.

Basically, by simply stimulating the body of the patient, the body responds by relaxing itself and giving in for the massage therapy to take its course in relieving stress and body pain, as well as enhancing the health and immune system of the patient. The central nervous system when worked on will provide the body a healthy physical and mental condition. This is a fact believed by most of the Ancient Asian massage therapists that is why most of their methods focus on the key points where energy flows. The goal is to keep a good flow or circulation of energy all over the body of every individual.

In looking for the best therapeutic massage, you should do a research on the technique and methods used on certain massage therapies that you are interested in. Some require the patient to undress for a better access on the body parts that the massage therapist needs to work on. If you are a shy person who is uncomfortable with nudity during a massage session, you would probably shun from massage therapies that require nudity such as Swedish massage out of your list. This is why getting information regarding most of the massage therapies is essential if you are looking for the ideal one. Some are uncommon and might seem shocking to beginners. Other types are harder and apply much pressure on the patient's body than the regular massage therapies. If you don't want to get anything on your skin like oil, cream or lotion, then Swedish massage, aromatherapy massage, shiatsu, and many others that uses oil as lubricant are definitely out of your choices. You can go for Thai massage, reflexology, and other types that doesn't require the aid of light oil, cream or lotion during the massage session.

Comparing them with each other as well as their benefits will help you in choosing what you think is suitable for your choice. One of the best ways of doing this is by looking through the internet for tons of valuable information regarding the many different types of massage therapy. You can also consider asking the opinions of massage therapists as they do many different types.

No matter what type you take, they all provide the same benefits to the patient. The only difference you will notice is based on how skillful and knowledgeable your massage therapist is regarding the massage therapy. It would be more appropriate and much better if you choose someone who specializes on that type of massage therapy if you want to get the best result.

Massage Therapists: Marketing and Building Your Practice

When you graduate from massage school and pass your certification exams, you are finally ready to join other massage therapists out in the world of spas, chiropractors' offices, cruise ships, or in your very own practice. But as a novice, you need to make a name for yourself with effective marketing practices. As a beginner, it can be confusing to understand best practices about marketing and massage, but if you follow some tried and true methods, you will be able to maintain integrity while most effectively promoting your practice.

Traditional Marketing for Massage

So, first things first - have a set of professional business cards printed. From your local copy shop to a variety of online printing companies, you have dozens of options for low-cost, attractive cards for marketing. Massage therapists typically include their name, contact information, modalities, and licensures so potential clients know how to reach them, can check their certification if necessary, and understand their specialties. It is important to check marketing requirements for your state.

• Starting off by giving a set of cards to family and friends is one of the best things you can do for marketing. Massage therapists should use their personal network, since these are people you trust, and likely they will know to only pass cards to people they trust. Always keep at least five cards with you at all times. Even if an individual does not make an appointment, they may have a friend who does. Think about how you found out about your hairstylist, mechanic, or plumber - likely, a friend passed along their card to you and now you use their services.


• Not all marketing is good marketing. Massage therapists need to be professional, and think before passing their information out. Would you give your address to a stranger at a bar? No? Then why would you give your card to a stranger at a bar? Think about the circumstances and environments while marketing. Ensure that massage clients understand the professional, therapeutic nature of your massage so that there are not any unwelcome misunderstandings.


• Internet marketing is a quick, cost-effective, and easy way to promote your business. Start a website of your own (even if you work for a business, it can be a good way to attract customers) about your background, modalities, hours, and professional affiliations. Include a link to your site in the signature of your email, and on your business cards.

Networking and Professional Affiliations

You should be a member of a professional organization such as AMTA, or ABMP. Do you know that they offer unique job boards and resources for marketing in massage? Often, when people are looking for certified or licensed massage therapists, they will visit these sites to find someone professional and accredited. For example, imagine that someone in your town is looking for a massage therapist who specializes in deep tissue massage, and they do a local search for massage therapists in their area. By updating your complete profile with all necessary information, it is likely that they will call you for an appointment, because of your professional affiliation.

When starting off, one mistake in marketing that massage therapists tend to make is forgetting that they are at the bottom of the totem pole. As a beginner, you are competing with therapists who have been in the business for years, or even decades. It takes years to become a bonafide "expert" at something, so continue to expand your knowledge base. There are thousands of other massage therapists in your state - find what sets you apart, and develop it to become a true professional.

Promotions and Incentives

For many people, massage therapy is sometimes seen as a luxury, and they might be more enticed to make an appointment if they receive a discount. This kind of marketing by massage therapists is an excellent way to bring in not only clients who are new, but who may be new to massage therapy altogether. Here are some tips for managing a promotional campaign:

• For first time clients, provide a discount of 10-20% off of their first service.


• After the massage, let them know that for every new client they refer, they will receive 15% off of their next massage.


• If you would like, perhaps begin a program where for every five new clients they refer, they receive one free massage.


• To manage referrals and track marketing, massage therapists often write "Referred by [the client's name] - 15% off" in their appointment books so they can keep track of how many new clients come in based on the recommendation of existing clients.

In this way, you are promoting ongoing rewards for the development of your business, rather than consistently giving discounts and undervaluing your service while remaining stagnant. Your clients will appreciate the fact that they are saving money and being recognized, and your clients will continue to spread the word about your practice.

Focusing on Individual Service

Less obvious than traditional marketing, massage therapists need to always focus on providing top-notch service to their clients in order to generate word of mouth marketing through recommendations. Your clients are not only just paying customers, they are people - people who know when you are only in it for the money, who know when you are distracted, and who also know how to book an appointment elsewhere when they are not receiving the high level of service they expect. Remember - a good recommendation might bring in one or two new clients, but a bad recommendation is guaranteed to drive away potential clients. This is an example of negative marketing for a massage practice.

That said, good massage therapists (beginners and experts) not only focus on short-term objectives, like making clients feel better on that specific day, but they also think of the big picture and work with clients on long-term goals. Think about stretches or exercises you can recommend to help patrons feel more comfortable between appointments. For example, if a client has arthritis, perhaps mention that low-impact exercise such as swimming or yoga can be helpful for joint maintenance and reduction of discomfort. By showing that you truly care and have their long-term health in mind, your clients are more likely to feel comfortable with you and will not only come back time and time again, but also perform the best type of marketing for massage therapists - recommendation by word of mouth.

Massage Therapy: Physical And Psychological Effects On Stress and Pain

Stress

Stress can have many triggers and many different effects on people. In our modern world, people are often under daily pressure to achieve increasing numbers of tasks in shorter periods of time.

Stress may contribute to lowered immunity and can be a significant factor in the development of symptoms of both physical and mental illness.

One common physical symptom of stress is muscle tension. This often results in pain such as headaches, backache and a sore neck.

Common psychological symptoms of stress are depression, anxiety, or general difficulty coping with everyday tasks

Stress can also increase the severity of existing health complaints such as problems with digestion, period pain, and asthma.

Often, the physical symptoms of stress themselves can lead to further feelings of stress, which can result in a vicious cycle. This cycle can put people at risk of serious health problems such as stomach ulcers or severe anxiety and depression.

By treating the physical symptoms of stress, your Massage Therapist can help reduce muscle tension and pain. This allows you to feel physically more comfortable and can help make things seem easier to cope with. Massage Therapy can also make sure that the systems of the body (eg: digestive/ respiratory/ circulatory), are all working efficiently and effectively to help reduce other symptoms that may be caused or aggravated by stress

Massage Therapy can also have a profound effect on the mind. It can help to improve the circulation of "feel good" hormones around the body, affecting the way you think and feel. This can help to promote a sense of calm and wellbeing.

Soothing touch encourages a natural and positive psychological response. A mother comforting a crying child by gently rubbing its head would be an example of this.

Massage Therapy can help to soothe your stress away.

Pain

Pain relief can be brought about by a reduction in muscle tension.

The following types of pain can be treated by your Massage Therapist by reducing muscle tension in muscle groups surrounding/ connected to the area of pain:

• Headache


• Backache


• Period Pain


• Muscle Strain


• Some types of Arthritis

Some other types of pain may also by reduced by massage therapy:

Cramps can be reduced by reducing the involuntary contraction of muscles.

Abdominal pain caused by digestive problems may be reduced by improving the efficiency of the digestive system.

Sinus pain can be reduced by encouraging the drainage of fluid from the face, thus reducing pressure build up.

In cases of severe pain and discomfort, the area may be too painful to allow your Massage Therapist to touch the affected area. In such cases, you must discuss this with your massage therapist, who may advise you to consult your doctor.

Viewing The Body As A Tensegrity Model

I taught a?massage continuing education class recently, and in my explanation of how Rolfing and Structural Integration worked, I hearkened back to my education in the late 80's at the Rolf Institute. We were taught the concept of Buckminster Fuller's tensegrity model to explain our vision of Dr. Rolf's approach to massage therapy. R Buckminster fuller was an architect who developed the concept of the geodesic dome. As has been discussed before in an earlier post, a tensegrity system is characterized by a continuous tensional network, (tendons, in our case as bodyworkers) supported by a discontinuous set of compressive elements, or struts. The concept of tensegrity provides a conceptual like link between the structural system and the energy information systems. When we apply the concepts of tensegrity to the myofascial system which we palpate in a focused manner we deem appropriate to the client's needs, we gain a sense of the ability of our bodies to absorb physical impacts without being damaged. The force flows away from the original site of impact thought the tensegrity network. If the system of absorption is flexible and well balanced it will be able to absorb the various impacts more readily then an inflexible system. We can then hypothesize how our work may help to reduce injuries in athletes and other top notch performers.

So, grasp this for a moment, if there is disorganization in the fascial system, tensegrity explains how that shortness effects other parts of the "model". If you as a massage therapist learns to deal with the inflexibility in one part of the structure, those positive changes will effect other parts of the structure. In Tom Bowen's work "The Bowen Technique", the massage therapist "plucks" the tendon creating a vibration throughout the system which is interpreted by the homeostatic mechanism and adjusts the entire tensegrity system accordingly. That is due to the tensegrity system's vibratory continuum. We can then hypothesize that you can't effect the mechanical aspect of the system without effecting the energetic system. In cranial sacral therapy you have the ability to effect the entire structure by the simple fact that we are a liquid crystalline matrix where all parts are vibrating! Donal Ingber speaks volumes about how biochemistry is effected by physical forces. So you can extrapolate, how we as massage therapists have the ability to effect the biochemistry of an individual.?I loved the look on the student's face when she came to the realization of how potentially powerful her touch could be on another human's body!

Beauty Schools - What Do They Teach?

Anyone who wants to join the field of cosmetology can get training from a good beauty school and become a qualified beautician. You can learn different services for improving personal appearance at a beauty school and start your career as a professional. You must have heard about cosmetology schools and colleges but you might not know that what they teach their students.

Students are taught about various services in such institutions and get proper training to become a beautician. These schools offer several different courses through which they teach everything related to that particular service which are required to make a professional beautician.

• Beauty treatments: Everyone knows that beauty schools generally teach different beauty services like hair dos, hair removal, facials, manicure and pedicure in their courses. But there are some minor but very important things which are taught to the students before they start their professional lives. For example scalp massage is taught in hair cut and styling course because improper massage can cause lots of pain and irritation. In the same way nail care includes nail grooming, nail diseases and disorders etc.


• Hygiene: Good beauty schools always teach their students the importance of personal hygiene and the dangers of ignoring it. This is why hygiene is an important part of their education. Students are taught about how to keep the work place clean and the importance and methods of keeping their instruments clean as well.


• Conduct: It is very important in any business to have good conduct and friendly and pleasant attitude with the clients. Trainees are taught how to deal with their clients during their courses. You need to know about the human psychology and behavior while dealing with them. You can increase the number of your customers just by having good and friendly dealing with them.


• Common skin diseases: It is an obvious thing that the students are taught about skin care in beauty schools but in such courses they teach their students about common skin diseases and their causes so they can explain their clients in a better way. Studying about relevant chemistry, anatomy and physiology is a part of their course in beauty schools.


• Recognition of tools: Students are taught about different tools that are used in cosmetology; it is essential to have proper knowledge about the tools as they are going to use them in their professional life.


• Useful tips: During their training the students learn many professional and useful tips from their experienced instructors which make them a complete professional.

There are plenty of things that are taught in such institutions to make the students professional beauty experts. You can learn those things at any good beauty institution.

Therapist Jobs - What Type of Therapy Job Should I Try to Get Into?

If you are the type of person who wants to not only make good money, have a career that has a great outlook for the future and wants to help make a positive change in someone's life, then therapist jobs are where you should be looking. There are many different disciplines in the therapy profession and each one of them does different things to help improve a patient's everyday life. Each of the different therapist jobs pays very well, as the average salary is somewhere between $40,000 and $87,000, depending which specific path you want to follow. Here is a look at this different types of therapy jobs and what each one deals with.

Perhaps the most recognizable of all therapy jobs that everyone knows what they do is massage therapy. If anyone hears the words "massage therapist" they likely know immediately what it is that this type of therapist job involves. Massage therapy deals mostly with the different muscles in the body. It is their job to use a number of different techniques to help reduce stress that the patient may be dealing with. This usually comes in the form of a back massage. They also deal with trying to eliminate or reduce the amount of pain a patient is feeling.

Another profession on the long list of therapy jobs that everyone has probably heard of is that of a physical therapist. Physical therapy jobs focus primarily on the rehabilitation of a patient, allowing them to live their life better. Most often, a physical therapist will deal with patients who have to deal with some kind of physical limitation, which is usually the result of an accident or illness. Sometimes they may also help patients that are physically disabled due to some kind of disease. They usually work very closely with other people in the medical field, like doctors, to make sure that everyone is in sync in terms of using the best approach to improve the patient's daily life.

Other therapy jobs include things like occupational therapy. Occupational therapy jobs usually focus on patients who are having trouble performing necessary, common tasks that are needed for everyday living. This type of therapist might help someone learn to walk again after a debilitating injury. They also work with people that who physical limitations, the same way a physical therapist would, but they also work with patients who are limited because of a mental disability.

Expanding Services As A Massage Therapist By Offering Spa Treatments

Scrubs, masks, cocoons, wraps, fango packs, glows and polishes, to name a few, are all services that are typically offered at day and resort spas in addition to and in conjunction with massage therapy.

All spa treatments have therapeutic qualities, address issues and concerns from sunburn to stress. Many utilize natural ingredients and an application that focuses more on the therapeutic qualities of the product(s) used, rather than the physical aspect of massage modalities. Two main components of spa treatments are exfoliating (scrubs) and moisturizing to maintain a healthy skin. In between there are a myriad of possibilities ranging from invigorating to relaxing and from detoxifying to nourishing.

As a massage therapist faced with the reality of injury and burnout related to the physical challenges of doing deep-tissue like massages or manipulations, the question arises what other forms of revenue can be generated using licensure, training and equipment.

Developing a menu of spa treatments is one great way to not only distinguish oneself from the competition, but also to perform additional sessions without taxing the body.

Many spa treatments can be performed without needing to have a shower available. They can utilize products that can stay on the body or the therapist can use moist towels to remove the product before proceeding to the next step of the treatment. In fact I even have a selection of spa treatments I offer for out-call massages.

If a shower is available, there are virtually no limitations to the kinds of treatments one can offer. For some clients who receive treatments at home and have a shower, I offer full spa treatment experiences that include a massage.

Many spa treatments can be offered as an upgrade to a massage or be specifically designed for a body part such as a moisturizing foot and hand masque or a calming décolleté treatment.

Full spa treatments can take the usual 60 minutes and include foot, hand and scalp massage while the client is taken through a number of steps that feature resting times during which a specific product unfolds its therapeutic qualities.

A simple wrap for a sunburned client, who comes in wanting a massage, could be using propolis and aloe vera to heal, lavender lotion to cool and calm and coconut milk to seal in the effects and moisturize the skin. Apply the products, wrap the clients in a sheet and proceed with a gentle scalp massage. Half an hour later, the products will have been absorbed and the client can take home a bottle of lavender lotion (and some sunscreen).

You can charge a premium for product use and as you see, retailing products will become a natural extension of your care for your client.

The products needed for spa treatments can be purchased from a vendor who wholesales to the spa industry or even more fun, put together from natural, organic ingredients you can often buy at the local health food store. Salt and sugar scrubs are a great example, honey. A little study and you can assemble simple treatments on your own.

There are also other options such as Spa College. They have designed classes specifically for therapists to learn all they need to know about putting together a spa treatment menu.

Combining Guided Imagery With Massage Therapy

Various studies have shown that guided imagery and massage both help to boost our immune system as well as encourage relaxation and elevate our moods. Similar to yet different from meditation techniques, guided imagery is more of an illustrated journey that moves the body and mind to a place of serenity through the use of verbal pictures in a kind of narrative form. It can be either pre-recorded or improvised, and uses the spoken word presented in soothing tones to create a calming visualization. This is especially useful for people who feel stressed out most of the time or who may find it difficult to totally relax on their own.

One of the advantages in using guided imagery is that it can be designed differently for each person. Each massage therapist will have a manner or technique all his or her own, which when combined with imagery customized for each client creates a unique kind of inner voyage.

Putting together this relaxation technique with massage therapy helps reinforce the body, mind and spirit connection in several ways. Using touch, massage brings a physical awareness to the body, while the spoken word can encourage the client's thoughts to be quiet. Together they may assist in generating a deeper sense of internal spirituality.

Not every client will be open to guided imagery; some may actually find it more stressful, conflicting with their own efforts of relaxing during a massage. For some people, a quiet massage therapy session with gentle music is more soothing. But for those who find the inclusion of guided imagery a good thing, it can be an effective addition to their approach in maintaining good physical health and mental well-being.

Adding guided imagery to your massage practice can be a valuable tool in helping your clients receive the most therapeutic benefit from their session. Learn five tips for integrating guided imagery into your massage practice.

What Is The History Of Physiotherapy?

There are kinds of illnesses and conditions that you cannot treat with medications and surgeries. At the onset, they can be mitigated by pain relievers and even corrective surgeries. But after you are subjected to the core treatments, you still need to undergo a longer healing process that is rehabilitation. This is mostly true with physical injuries in which you have stretched a muscle too far or have broken a bone. You would have to go through a rigorous rehabilitation treatment because even after the medications and surgeries, your muscles and bones still need more time to heal. One of the most popular rehabilitation treatment courses is physical therapy or physiotherapy.

Even as the practice of physical therapy seems to have started only a few years back, experts on the field have studies to believe that it actually has been present since 460 BC. This was during the time of Hippocrates and Hector. The practice in this time involved the use of massages and hydrotherapy (the use of water as a therapeutic treatment). However, the earliest documentation that you can find on the subject dates back only to 1813 when Per Henrik Ling, dubbed as Sweden's Father of Swedish Gymnastics started the Royal Central Institute of Gymnastics that centered on massages and exercises.

Per Henrik Ling's initiative was soon followed in other countries like England, in which the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy was founded in 1894. New Zealand had also started in 1913 its own School of Physiotherapy at its prestigious University of Otago. This was followed in 1914 by the Reed College in Oregon in the United States. The college had graduates then that it named as reconstruction aides.

The field of physiotherapy boomed especially during World War I, when soldiers had so much grave injuries that they needed to undergo rehabilitation, which was then facilitated mostly by women. But researches gave way to more developments in the field of physiotherapy. This was pioneered by The PT Review that came out in the United States in March of 1921.

Several other organizations were formed afterward with each group developing the most advance techniques in physiotherapy that they could find. At present, schools and universities were also offering specializations on physiotherapy that showcase recent developments in the field. The practice of physiotherapy and its many principles are also utilized as extensions and complements to other alternative practices like in osteopathy.

Massage Therapy For Pregnant Women

Many clients have stated how much a massage helped them mentally and physically during their pregnancy. Not only does it soothes tired and sore muscles, but it also relaxes the mind and reduces the anxiety that many women face during pregnancy. Massage can also drastically change a woman's hormones resulting in regulated moods and may even cause a woman to be happier.

A client can become extremely swollen during her pregnancy, so a massage can help the circulation in the body and stimulate a woman's tissue. Back pain, joint pain, tension and sleep problems can all be associated with pregnancy, but massage is said to actually be able to reduce many of these common discomforts.

As a massage therapist you should always discuss massage treatment with your pregnant clients. While many of them may know about the advantages of getting a massage, they may not know what some of the precautions are. It is your responsibility to always ask the client if she has discussed the option of massage with her physician first. She may have complications that may endanger her or her unborn if she were to get a massage, so it is best to make sure the physician knows about any planning of massage treatment.

If you are a massage therapist, it is best to be certified as a prenatal massage therapist as well if you are thinking about performing massages of pregnant clients. There are many pressure points that only a prenatal massage therapist would know and are also trained to know where they should not massage on the client during pregnancy.

In most cases, prenatal massage is safe for all three trimesters. However, there are always complications that a massage therapist should know about before trying to perform the massage. Since there is a risk of miscarriage during the first trimester, many massage therapists do not opt for this treatment during this time. It is always safe to tell your client to speak with her health care physician before she starts any massage treatment

Grow Taller Quickly - Using Deep Breathing and Massaging To Grow Taller

There are numerous amounts of methods that you can go through to help you grow taller. You just need to know which methods to use and how to use them properly so that you can take full advantage of it. Two methods that you may not be aware of are deep breathing and massaging, these may sound simple and unusual but they are in fact very effective to reach your goals.

To grow taller you have to follow a sort of process, you must eat the correct foods, have a full 8 hours of sleep, perform the right stretches and exercises that are targeted to help you towards your goal. These parts of the process are understandable to reaching your goal and when you think of deep breathing and massaging you probably think that they won't help at all since they don't target the focal points of your body. However, these two methods help by stimulating the hormones (including the human growth hormone) that are found in your body to work double the time!

Deep Breathing To Grow

Deep breathing can be incorporated with your growing taller exercises to help you reap the full benefits. What it does is brings more oxygen into your body which means you have more oxygenated blood which helps increase the amount of hormones distributed to different areas of your body.

Accompanying your stretches and exercises with deep breathing exercises will help you more than just doing them by themselves. What you want to do when breathing is to focus on breathing in deeply, holding your breath for a few seconds and then exhaling.

Massaging To Grow

Massaging is a great way to relax the body, get blood flowing and also to release hormones throughout the body. There are certain points on the body that when massaged produce certain effects that can be beneficial for many individuals.

There are two reflex points that you want to focus on which are located in the thumb pad and also through the whole neck. When rubbed in a clockwise direction you can help increase the production of your human growth hormones to help you grow taller quickly.

Massage Techniques for Home

Touch and massage are universal ways of communicating that have been used for thousands of years. We naturally touch our bodies when we hurt ourselves, and touch those we love when they are hurting physically or emotionally. When applying non-sexual touch to relax or relieve tension in couples massage or with another partner, there are some easy techniques you can apply. The most common type of massage techniques taught in this country are Swedish Massage techniques. This type of massage involves five basic types of strokes, which are meant to be choreographed together to approach the entire body in one session. These strokes were initially created as a form of physical therapy, to enhance circulation, increase range of motion and reduce scar tissue.

The signature strokes used in traditional Swedish Massage are:

1) Effleurage - long flowing strokes, generally done in the direction of the heart to enhance return circulation.
Effleurage is the stroke most commonly associated with relaxation massage. The strokes are long, think of a stroke applied with the hands, gliding from the ankle all the way to the hip, and a long, relaxing return glide. It is a great technique for a circulatory flush and relaxing the whole body. The general rule with massage that we teach in our classes is: the slower the movement the more relaxing, the faster, the more stimulating.

2) Petrissage - a stroke effected with two hands in the shape of a C, pulling the muscle up slightly away from the bone.
Petrissage is the stroke that you most often see used on the upper trapezius muscles, the muscles of the shoulder, close to the neck. As someone is laying face down, the giver can hold their hands in the C-shape, and easily grasp this area that is often very tight from postural strain of sitting at a desk, driving, etc.

3) Compression - compressing the muscle tissue either to the surface beneath it, or to the bone it lies over.
Compression can be as gentle or intense as you like. Some people use their hands to compress muscles and other tissue to the supporting surface, some use fists, elbows, or even feet! You can use a compression stroke while gliding as well, or use more static compression to flush out areas of tension or restriction in the muscle.

4) Friction - quick movements, frequently without cream to create heat between the hands of the giver and the body part of the receiver, to bring circulation to the surface of the skin.

Friction is a stroke used by rubbing an area, just as you would rub your hands to warm them on a cold day. It increases circulation to an area, and can aid in increasing elasticity and healing of the tissue.

5) Vibration - a quick, small movement meant to enhance circulation, or flush out interstitial (between the tissue) fluid.
Vibration can be used in an area that is too sensitive for other strokes. It can sometimes be used in areas to help reduce swelling, bringing fluid back into circulation. The abdomen is an area that this stroke can be applied to help with stimulation digestion and moving fluid, such as in the early postpartum period.

Some other major bodywork and massage modalities, which have become more popular in the past ten years or so include, but are not limited to: shiatsu, myofascial, neuromuscular, sports, prenatal, Thai (or Thai yoga), acupressure, and trigger point therapy. These are applications of different techniques of massage, which affect the nervous system in different ways. Most of these will cause a relaxation response in the body, which will counteract the effects of stress.

When the asympathetic nervous system is triggered, (opposite of the sympathetic nervous system, which is related to the fight or flight response) the body relaxes, suppresses stress hormones and releases endorphins. The digestion reflex is triggered, sometimes causing your belly to growl, and frequently causing drooling...one of the funnier side effects of massage...this is the 'rest and digest' response, which is an indication that your body is probably out of hyper-alert state of stress, and closer to rest and recovery.

These are some of the reasons that various massage applications can benefit the body in different ways. Using massage at home can have positive effects on blood pressure, white blood cell production, levels of tension in the body and quality of sleep, just to name a few.

To begin your massage practice at home: book an appointment with your partner, turn off the phone, make sure it's warm in the room, and allow yourselves to completely focus on the practice. You'll find that within a short time, you will both be breathing deeper, and feeling less connected to the stress of your work week.