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Feeling like you're falling apart?

4/30/2024

There is nothing more relaxing than having a massage to work out the tension from overused and exhausted muscles. And regular massage therapy can be a great addition to your mental health wellness plan. But how you might ask…

Stress can be the source of muscle tension by causing blood vessels to constrict (get smaller), reducing circulation. This decreased circulation affects the brain and hinders the ability to focus, problem-solve and be productive. When muscles are tense, and circulation decreases, your mental health may be at risk.

Massage can increase circulation through a variety of techniques and massage styles. It stimulates nerve receptors causing the blood vessels to dilate (open up), it increases oxygen capacity, and relaxes muscles - triggering the body’s relaxation response. A relaxed and healthy body promotes a relaxed and healthy mind.

Know that massage may play an important wellness role by helping you relax and keep your body and mind balanced.

So book a massage with your favourite RMT, and enjoy some well deserved table time this week to honour your own wellness during Mental Health Awareness Week.

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Mental health Awareness is the ongoing effort to reduce the stigma around mental illness and mental health conditions and encourages people to learn, talk, reflect and engage with others on all issues relating to mental health.

About one in seven Canadians use health services for a mental illness annually, and in a given year, about one in five Canadians will experience a mental illness.

RMTs can collaborate with other health professionals such as psychologists and psychotherapists to ensure their shared patients receive the best possible care. [source: #rmtao]

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My Stilettos are making me pee a little?

4/8/2024

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Did you know those beautiful, pointy-toed, three-inch wonder-pumps you just bought could also contribute to pelvic floor imbalance, causing symptoms such as urinary incontinence? Yes, high heels can be gorgeous and show off those lovely gams - but they can also be a problem for your posture, the balance of your pelvis, your muscles (feet, legs, hips, back etc.), and your spine.

The problem is in the change to our posture and everything we have to do to compensate for it. High heels shorten our calves and put us in a constant state of falling forward. In order to accommodate for that, the normal, gentle “S” curve from the base of the skull down to the tailbone is exaggerated. You then need to stick out your chest, pull your shoulders back and keep your knees and hips slightly bent to achieve your normal straight up-and-down alignment.

In order to stop the body from actually falling-forward fully, the abdominal and gluteal muscles are tightened and held engaged in order to stabilize the forward-leaning posture. Maybe this is good for accentuating some lovely curves, but this full-body workout could be causing damage to your pelvic floor.

When the abdominal muscles are held too tightly for too long, they are actually overtraining the pelvic floor muscles. And that does not favour correct functioning or balance of the pelvis, which in turn could cause a myriad of issues including incontinence.

The key to regaining your normal posture is gentle stretching, achieving muscle and structural balance through manual therapies such as regular massage, having a better plan for wearing high heels if you chose to wear them, and getting quality footwear for your own individual foot type.

When is your next massage?

#wortleyvillagermt #wortleyvillage #oldsouthheart #healthylifelondonontario #redshoes #footmassage #posture

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It's Take-your-bra-off O'Clock!

4/1/2024

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If they could bottle how good it feels to take off your bra, that would sell for more than any expensive wine!

There are many conflicting reports between science and myth about whether wearing a bra is good or bad for breasts and overall health.

MYTH #1: Going Braless - the breasts will sag without a bra for support. There is no evidence on this one, but genetics, weight, pregnancy, hormone cycles and the natural aging process are most likely what leads to sagging breasts.

MYTH #2 - Reduce the risk of developing breast cancer by going braless, and throwing away the underwire bra. Again, no science to back these allegations up.

This myth appears to be based on the idea that wearing a wire bra affects lymphatic drainage which in turn puts you at risk for cancer. The cancer connection is not verified, but it is safe to say that any garment that impedes regular lymphatic flow and circulation may cause your body imbalance, swelling (edema), pain and possibly even illness.

A poorly fitted bra can cause pain in the neck, back, ribs, and the chest muscles. Excessively tight shoulder straps may also affect the shoulders and neck. In those who wear a bra, the shoulder straps are one of the main supports for the breasts. Over several years, this tension may cause a permanent groove in the soft tissue of the shoulders. Wearing a correctly fitting bra may help improve posture and prevent back pain, particularly for people with larger breasts.

The TAKE-AWAY: Be sure that you are wearing properly fitted bras. Be mindful that nothing is impeding your circulation or cutting into your skin. If there are marks and grooves on your body at the end of the day, chances are that you aren’t wearing a properly sized bra.

See a professional bra fitter if you can – it will change your world. And of course, get regular massage to soothe the aches and pains in your hard-working muscles that support your breasts every day.

When is your next massage?

#wortleyvillagermt #wortleyvillage #oldsouthheart #healthylifelondonontario #breasthealth #bra

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Muscle + Massage Musings

Feeling like you're falling apart?

My Stilettos are making me pee a little?

It's Take-your-bra-off O'Clock!

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