Inner Focus Massage and Bodywork

Body Wellness Blog

The Raindrop Technique; Essential Oils That Heal

Essential oils are in the first press of plants, much like Extra Virgin Olive Oil. They are the lifeblood of the plant and they carry with them concentrated natural chemicals that have intense healing effects. This is where it all begins.

There a volumes of books that outline the plants and their healing properties, and there are volumes of plants that carry these healing properties. There is a vast array of uses for these essential oils. These healing properties can be further elevated when combining certain oils for a synergistic effect, which amplifies the individual oils’ benefits. Massage is the best method to directly apply these oils into the skin for the effective delivery of the healing benefits. Not to mention, it smells and feels fantastic for the mind, body and spirit.

The Raindrop Technique

This is a very specific technique formulated by Dr. Gary Young. This technique is utilized by many in the Natural Health field. There are Chiropractors, Acupuncturists and medical physicians who have researched and utilized this service. The Raindrop technique is beautifully incorporated into any massage session. This consists of a layering of 9 specific essential oils, dropped individually, in specified sequence along the spine & feet, which are very powerful spots and deliver results, quickly.

The Raindrop Technique is fabulous for strengthening the immune system, reducing inflammation in the body, reducing pain –chronic or acute. Massage therapists have seen many amazing results when a client with specific issues or a condition has regular sessions of this treatment. The degree of seriousness of the condition would determine the frequency of the treatments. For the average healthy person, one treatment a month, with their regular massage session is perfect. This treatment is also a great idea going into cold & flu season.

If you are interested in the benefits of a Raindrop Therapy, call Jodi to schedule an appointment at 701-238-8257.

Hydration and Massage, How Do They Work Together?

We all hear frequently from those in the medical field that our bodies are made up of mostly water. We’ve been told that we should be drinking on average eight (8) glasses of water a day. When we have some form of imbalance in our system, it seems it is always recommended that we increase our intake of water.

Let me share the reasons a massage therapist should always offer you water before and/or after your massage.

When we are working on you and find adhesions and hypertensity (too much tension) in your muscles, what we are finding is the fluids that normally keep those muscles healthy, supple, elastic, separate from one another, have become more gel-like and solidified. The individual muscles that normally work together, are now sticking together, causing imbalances, restrictions and usually discomfort or pain. You perceive these adhesions and hypertonicity as pain, release, feeling of tightness, or major relief while we are working on you. When this happens, in general, it is a sign that you need to increase your water intake.

The reason we want you to drink more water the day of the massage is due to the increase in circulation immediately after your massage. All systems have been affected by this massage and need that life-source called water to keep the flow of the system.

What is a Good Way to Relax Your Body?

Stress is the biggest driver of health issues for the vast majority of us. It is essential to one’s health have some “down time: complete relaxation of body and mind.

Most people know the benefits of massage with regard to relaxing the body and creating an overall sense of well-being. But, do you know what is really happening while you are on the massage table getting your massage?

Massage and mediation both bring your mind and body out of the “Stress cycle” or “Fight or Flight” phase of the autonomic nervous system. Our bodies are designed to be in this phase only for short periods of time. When we are stressed, most of the day, five to six days a week, the chemicals in our bodies that are meant to only be released in these short periods of time, are now being released excessively – mainly Cortisol. This creates a strong beginning for deterioration of the body’s homeostasis: our natural balance that allows all of our body’s systems to function at full capacity, like a well-oiled machine.

When you get regular massage, you get a full hour, or 90 minutes, of downtime. This is healing time, much like our sleep cycle. This is another method of getting your mind and body restoring the body’s homeostasis. Your body and mind are at rest, and your systems are relaxed. The cortisol levels are reduced as your body’s own “settings” work on bringing you back into balance, and the increased circulation more effectively carries the oxygen and nutrients in your blood to all your systems. This is where healing begins!  It’s a wonderful thing. It’s nature at it’s very best.

So, when you get a massage, you are jump-starting your body’s own healing capability.  Your body and mind are very adaptable. The more you practice something, like regular massage, regular meditation, regular deep breathing, getting good sleep at night,  the greater “setting” you create within yourself to stay out of stress and you increase your level of function.

Massage is not just for vacation anymore. It is an important tool in Integrative Health. I encourage you to learn more about the many health benefits of massage.

A massage by Jodi at Inner Focus Massage is the ultimate stress-reliever. Call 701-238-8257 for an appointment.

Can Massage Help Your Carpal Tunnel?

Also known as CTS, this wrist pain can really have negative ramifications in your work and play activities.

This condition happens because the tissues in your wrist are bound tightly and you apply pressure to the median nerve that runs through the wrist compartment. This is a tight space for all your nerves, veins and arteries to pass through. Tissues can become inflamed and press on this nerve, or muscles, tendons, ligaments can become tight and short, decreasing the space needed for this nerve to exist in peace.

Massage Can Help Carpal Tunnel   

Do not lose hope. Massage is a fantastic tool to work deep in this area helping to create the space for the median nerve that is needed to resolve this condition. A massage therapist can work all of these soft tissues, connective tissues, including the fascia that surrounds the muscles, tendons & ligaments. The results can be felt in as little as one to three sessions, depending on how long you’ve had the condition, and to what degree.

Deep tissue hand and forearm massage are great to work into your regular session, but this kind of massage is perfect in the corporate setting as a preventative measure for employees working on the PC, or engaging in all day repetitive actions in the workplace.

Massage can be used as a curative measure with this and many other conditions, but is best used as a wellness, or preventative measure to keep these issues from appearing in the first place. It can reduce medical expenses and time away from your work or play, or both.

For help with carpal tunnel, call Jodi at Inner Focus Massage for an appointment at 701-238-8257

How Can Massage Alleviate Anxiety?

Are you often filled with anxiety from business results, holidays or other sources?

Have you been working away at your PC and discovered you aren’t even breathing? Or maybe you catch yourself hunched over, being “pulled” into your monitor.

These are common signs of stress, but some folks have even greater symptoms of stress…maybe panic attacks, with the feeling of their heart racing, temperature rising, or sudden headaches. There are many signs of major stress and they can vary greatly among people.

There are serious physical changes in your body that are typical when you are in the ‘fight or flight’ stage, but your body is feeling this even doing daily activities.

Studies have shown that repeatedly putting yourself into a parasympathetic state, that is the resting state of our central nervous system (CNS), can relieve these panic attack symptoms. Massage, meditation, breathing exercises can all calm the body and get it back on track so that the CNS is ‘re-calibrated’ to the resting state rather than the “fight or flight.”

Massage Can Help

I’ve seen many people who have come to me in this wound-up, tense condition, and after taking a little time for themselves and getting regular massages, stretching and deep breathing, they are so amazed at what it actually feels like to be in a healthy state where the body and mind are at ease. It is truly remarkable.

It is my goal to assist my clients with these symptoms get back on track with a “recalibrated” CNS. Massage can help you redevelop relaxation and calm.

If this makes sense, call Jodi for an appointment 701-238-8257

Is Your Blood Pressure on the Rise?

With your busy schedule, complicated lifestyle and all that is demanded of you, is it any wonder that your blood pressure could be on the rise?

Research is clear that relaxation techniques, utilized on a regular basis do help with controlling one’s blood pressure.  Breathing exercises, some physical exercise like walking, all lend assistance to this condition.

The issue is that most of us, during an episode of major stress, call for a last minute massage, to get us out of this feeling of crisis. And then wait to reschedule the next one till we are in the same state. This is not the formula for success.

Develop Good Habits

Just like any good habit, the more you stick to your schedule, the better the results. So, scheduling your massage for the same day of the week, biweekly or monthly, whichever is best for you, and keeping that schedule is actually good for your health. Also, frequency is a factor. It may be at the start of seeking care due for this condition of Hypertension, you get a massage weekly, to get a handle on it, and then reduce to the monthly routine schedule.

It has been very well established that the more you continually receive massage, the greater the benefits you experience. The more you continually relax your body systems, through breathing, massage, quieting the mind at times during the day, the more your body will tend to feel ‘at rest’ and the systems (cardiovascular, nervous) will be in a healthy range.

If a massage sounds like something that will help you relax and possibly help lower your blood pressure, call Jodi at Inner Focus Massage for an appointment 701-238-8257.

Do You Get Muscle Spasms & Cramping?

You get awakened at night by an abrupt cramp in your foot or calf (or anywhere else). You can’t get to it fast enough.

So, most folks who suffer from this problem know the immediate fix of pointing your toes to your nose.

Massage Can Help Relieve Ongoing Cramping or Spasm Problems

First of all, you do need to address the total problem and its root. So, hydration and mineral supplementation may be needed.  It could be an overuse issue, and perhaps a lack of stretching issue. These last two, of course, are very receptive to massage care.

Not only can the massage work out these muscles and their areas, but help can also be found with the use of essential oils. Basil is a fabulous oil for muscle cramping and spasms. This essential oil can be applied and worked in with the massage, typically deeper tissue for maximum benefit for the condition. Your massage therapist can also work through some manual stretches with you and show you some for “‘homework.”

Curious about the benefits of essential oils or manual stretches? Call Jodi at Inner Focus Massage & Bodywork. 701-238-8257.

Recover Quicker from Your Workouts

Athletes have been incorporating massage into their workout and health regimes for decades. Why? Because it is a remarkable tool to assist in healing the damaged tissues from hard workouts.

When you work out hard, whether it’s weight training, cross-fit training, biking, running and training for half marathons, you are pushing soft tissues and bones to work past normal limits. This damages, in a microscopic fashion, the tissues that make up the ligament, tendons, muscles and bones of your body…not to mention the toxins produced that need to be eliminated. These factors in any combination cause the soreness and sometimes pain that one feels the day after, sometimes for a few days after.

Massage boosts the body’s elimination of these toxins and the circulation of the healing blood and oxygen in your body to heal those micro-tears in the tissues.

I have several clients who run half and full marathons relatively routinely several times during the year and they consistently come to me the day of the event (typically three to six hours after they have completed their event) and they feel fantastic the next day. Many comment they have no soreness whatsoever.

Weight trainers and cross-fitters: if you are trying to elevate your physical condition as a whole you can get better results by working massage into your weekly routine and you’ll see how you progress quicker. And feel fantastic!

Of course the best wait to integrate massage into your workout plan is to set up appointments in your planner. Why not call Jodi at Inner Focus Massage & Bodywork right now? 701-238-8257

Get Better Results from Your Detox…

Many clients have are taking advantage of nicer weather to hike, run, bike or power walk. Exercise is all about renewal. It brings a desire for a better body – It’s optimal time for a detox.

When most of us think of detoxing, we think of juicing, the Master Cleanse, maybe eating clean organic, fresh veggies, fruits and small doses of lean protein. Whatever your choice of detox method is, massage is a brilliant tool to add to your regimen to really boost the results.

A typical 1 hour session increases circulation in both blood flow and lymphatic flow. The lymphatic system is known as the secondary circulatory system. The lymphatic system relies on manual movement to get the flow going, walking briskly and rebounding are methods to activate the system; but the active kneading involved in massage is highly effective in creating significant increase in activity in the lymphatic and circulatory systems.  And if we add some lymphatic massage, a special technique for actually increasing the flow of the lymphatic system up to 5 x the regular healthy flow, powerful detox can happen.

When you get a massage, you actually get stimulation of all of the body’s systems, some directly, others by domino effect. If you are drinking lots of water, keeping a juicing regimen, or keeping a clean detoxing diet, you are flushing those toxins away efficiently & swiftly. Massage is an added tool to increase effectiveness.

It’s easy to improve your health. A simple detox for a few weeks, or months, could not only improve your health physically, but mentally and emotionally as well!

The Serenity Space for Health

When we catch ourselves wrapped too tightly in the middle of our workday or workweek, we need to recognize the stressors and bring our body and mind into quiet to regroup. The best way to remove stress, and the “stress response” is to reteach our body and mind to be quiet.

One of the best ways a company, or work space, can facilitate in this process is to have a room dedicated to quiet, with set rules to be respected by all, and a space that attempts to bring the healing properties of the outdoors indoors, into the office. Some call it their “Serenity Room”. Others may call this a Wellness Room.

This space should be comfortable, inviting and uncluttered. There should be no electronic devices in the space. There should be a place to leave shoes at the door. There should be a variety of seating, including seating on the floor (floor mats or pillows) for those who wish to meditate for five or 10 minutes.  Fresh air through open windows would be nice.

These rooms are also wonderful to have in your home.

The key is avoiding interruption. When you are stressed, and feeling your heart rate increase, or notice shallow breathing, you need to interrupt it. Remove yourself from the situation, and go somewhere quiet to breathe deeply and slowly, clearing your head of the clutter or problem. Just focus on your body and being still for a few minutes. As you do this more frequently, your body and mind respond faster and faster, and soon you will be able to bring yourself out of a stress situation instantly upon recognition…and as your progress further, you can actually avoid getting stressed altogether. Try it!