Massage Therapy at the Marie Curie Hospice
May 28, 2010
I have begun my induction as a Holistic Massage Therapist at the Marie Curie Hospice in Belsize Park. There, patients receive a comprehensive range of medical, emotional and spiritual support from a devoted and inspiring staff of medical practitioners, complementary therapists and counselors. I’m honored and excited to be a new member of this team.
Massage May Help Lift Depression
March 31, 2010
“There are a number of ways through which massage could help people with depression, the researchers note, for example, by reducing stress and inducing relaxation; building an “alliance” between the therapist and patient; and by causing the body to release the “trust hormone” oxytocin.”
Reuters reports findings of a new medical review of massage treatment for depression.
The studies showed that massage had ‘”potentially significant effects” in alleviating symptoms of depression, the researchers report in the American Journal of Psychiatry.’
How Are You Sleeping?
March 4, 2010
It’s National Sleep Awareness Week in the US starting on the 7th. How are you sleeping?
Sleeping well is about establishing good patterns and habits. Massage can be a part of these. Many people fall asleep during massage! But most also sleep deeply the night or two following a massage treatment. Massage can be stress reducing and pain alleviating– two things that hamper our sleep. When we are stressed out, the sympathetic nervous system doesn’t turn off on its own and our circadian rhythms are interrupted. Massage turns off the sympathetic nervous system, which is the fight-or-flight response our body has to stress. Massage can help you find your rhythm again.
Here are some things to assess sleep habits and help make restful changes:
High Five!
February 25, 2010
A warm touch seems to set off the release of oxytocin, a hormone that helps create a sensation of trust, and to reduce levels of the stress hormone cortisol.
In the brain, prefrontal areas, which help regulate emotion, can relax, freeing them for another of their primary purposes: problem solving. In effect, the body interprets a supportive touch as “I’ll share the load.”
A recent New York Times article presents research which emphasizes the importance of touch in different settings. In the city we are often crowded next to each other in buses and subway carriages. We brush against each other in the street. But this contact can often have the opposite effect of a caring touch and make us feel more alone and isolated; we can become closed off to touch altogether.
The warmth of touch used in holistic massage can be deeply reassuring– something we all need in this fast-paced city.
Body Beliefs
February 24, 2010
“…trauma becomes an ongoing body belief, supported by emotional reactions.”
Melida Elliot’s fascinating article on PTSD in war veterans and the therapeutic use of holistic massage is worth reading.
From the article: Van der Kolk states that “gratifying physical experiences, such as massages may be experiences that patients build up that are not contaminated by trauma, and which may serve as a core of new gratifying experiences.”
Massage Therapy and Dying Well
February 10, 2010
Alex Grey, Dying
Massage therapists are part of a team of “guides in unexplored territory,” says this moving article on hospice care in the Wednesday Journal.
No matter in what stage of life we may find ourselves, spiritual angst can visit, like the goblin crouching in the Fuseli’s Nightmare. This spiritual pain can often be a cause of physical pain. Holistic massage is be effective in dispelling this, making a hopeful argument our bodies can hear, even if initially our minds refuse to listen.
Valentine’s Day Swiftly Approaches
February 8, 2010
Do you have a loved one who needs to take time for themselves? Or maybe you need to show yourself a little love by taking care of yourself. Valentine’s Day is the perfect excuse to spend that loving time either on ourselves or our loved ones.
Why not make a loving commitment to yourself by investing in a Sea Change Series of four one-hour treatments? You will see the benefits over time beyond what a single treatment can do, and each treatment is specific to your needs. Plus, it is most affordable at the current introductory rate of 100 pounds.
If you are thinking of treating a loved one, Ariel Therapy offers gift certificates for holistic massage treatments, available in any amount. The gift certificates are personalized to your specification and feature lovely images, presented in a gold envelope, perfect for giving! Buying now enables you to take advantage of very attractive introductory rates. For more information email allyshaw at gmail dot com.
An assortment of Ariel Therapy Gift Certificates
Massage and Breath
February 7, 2010
“Whenever I feel blue, I start breathing again.”
–L. Frank Baum
A recent study by a scientist at Barrow Neurological Institute at St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center has shown that deep breathing can reduce feelings of pain as well as feelings of depression. More can be found here.
A good massage therapist listens to the breathing of the client and encourages a deep, slow, cleansing breath which in turn stimulates the parasympathetic nervous system. Though we often take breathing for granted, learning to breathe again as a tool for health can be a revelation.
