Massage improves immunity

Massage improves immune function
Studies show benefit in different circumstances

There is mounting evidence that massage therapy supports the immune system. Research among groups of people in different situations showed that massage increased the activity of natural killer cells, white blood cells that can attack tumors.

Four studies completed by the Touch Research Institute (TRI) at the University of Miami Medical School demonstrated improvement in immune function after receiving massage.

The first TRI study examined the effects of massage on women with breast cancer. After 5 weeks of massage sessions, three times a week, natural killer cells increased and anxiety decreased by 50 percent. According to Tiffany Field, PhD and director of TRI, these women showed a “whopping increase” in cells that attack tumors and infections.

In the second study, massage given to thirty HIV-positive men resulted in improvements for objective measurements in three areas — psychological, immunological, and endocrine functions.

Field believes that reduction of the stress response is what helps heal. “We know that cortisol [a stress hormone] kills off natural killer cells and in our studies we are seeing an increase in these [natural killer] cells.” Similar results were reported with a group of HIV-positive children, and another with HIV-positive teenage girls.

Other research reported increased immune response with massage for a group of students preparing for exams. This supports the argument that massage improves the function of the immune system for healthy and ill alike, helping the body better fight disease.

Sarah Gaudette
Paradise Therapy
Stress Relieving Tips

Massage & Wellness – Bradenton, Florida

Beat holiday stress

Six tips to help you relax

The holidays bring the fun — and the pressure — of parties, family gatherings, and gift-giving. You may do too much, carry too many groceries and gifts, and worry about meeting everyday responsibilities and seasonal expectations. This can lead to aching shoulders, a stiff neck or low back pain, as well as sore arms and feet. Here are some tips for relaxation during this busy time.

1. Avoid carrying a heavy bag on one shoulder only, which can lead to spasms in your shoulder and neck and throw off your posture, often resulting in back problems.

2. Slow down, put your feet up, and breathe deeply, even if you can only relax for 15 minutes.

3. Set boundaries. Remember you can’t do it all. Plan to only do the holiday activities you really enjoy. Even if it’s a creative task like making cards or baking cookies, if it feels like a burden, try to let it go.

4. Remember to exercise. If it seems like too much to get to the gym or walk your usual circuit, meet a friend in a festive shopping area and walk an extra few blocks while you window shop. Or take the family or neighbor out on foot to see the holiday displays. Moving vigorously for at least 20 minutes can reduce tension and even help you sleep better.

5. If you have children or grandchildren, remember the simplest things can sometimes mean the most to them and to the child in you. Read a favorite holiday story or join them in singing their favorite songs. For a little while, forget the plans and presents, and experience the precious moments.

6. Take an afternoon or evening to enjoy being rather than doing. Immerse yourself in a favorite activity for a few hours, whether that’s reading in front of the fireplace, strolling in the woods or through a museum, or getting a facial or pedicure.

Sarah Gaudette
Paradise Therapy
Stress Relieving Tips

Massage & Wellness – Bradenton, Florida

Make the most of your vacation

Vacations are important. They provide a balance to our lives. They are not simply a luxury because there is increasing evidence showing that taking vacations is important for good health.
In a NY Times article written by Alina Tugend a study is discussed that was published in 2000. The study looked at 12,000 men over a nine year period who were at high risk for coronary heart disease. Those who didn’t take annual vacations had a 21 percent higher risk of death from all causes and were 32 percent more likely to die of a heart attack. Another study of women over a 20 year period showed that those who had taken a vacation once in 6 years or less were more likely to develop coronary heart disease or have a heart attack than those who took at least two vacations a year, reported Elaine Eaker, a co-author of the study and president of Eaker Epidemiology Enterprises, a private research company.
It is best to take a vacation of at least a week at least once or twice a year. It can take someone a few days to get a more restful sleep and then to get the stress relieving benefits. So it is necessary to take more than just a long weekend away. It is helpful to engage in activities while on a vacation that the individual finds relaxing and enjoyable. If taking a Stay-cation, remember no chores are allowed. Rest, relax and renew.
Sarah Gaudette
Paradise Therapy
Stress Relieving Tips

Massage & Wellness – Bradenton, Florida

 

Sleep does a body good

Sleep is one of the things we do every day that should not be compromised. We need adequate sleep to function properly. Adults need to be getting about 7-9 hours of sleep a night. According to data from the National Health Interview Survey on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s website, nearly 30% of adults reported an average of 6 or less hours of sleep a day in 2005-2007. That is too many people not sleeping enough. The negative effects of insufficient sleep should be enough to persuade the population to get more shut-eye including car crashes, industrial disasters, and medical and occupational errors.

Getting enough sleep helps our bodies repair damaged muscle and organ cells, improves mood and reduces general fatigue. Sleep helps us live and feel better. When we are fatigued we are more susceptible to getting colds and sicknesses. We have trouble making decisions and are less productive at work when we are sleep deprived.

Treat yourself right and get some sleep tonight!

Sarah Gaudette

Paradise Therapy
Stress Relieving Tips

Massage & Wellness – Bradenton, Florida

 

Stop and smell the flowers

Life is in constant motion and we are all so busy, busy, busy. Between work, family and leisure time it can be difficult to make time for the little things in life. The simple pleasures that don’t cost anything at all. Relish in the supreme beauty of a breathtaking sunset. Admire the drops of water collecting on the leaves of the trees after a rain. Wonder in the innocence of a child or laugh along with an infectious giggle.  The glory of plants in bloom: stop and smell the flowers.

Most of the things people worry about are petty or never actually happen. A man at an airport may worry if his plane will be on time, a teenager may worry that the world will end by the close of the year. A mother may worry several things at once about the health and safety of her family. Worry is wasted time, you never get it back. Take these minutes and breathe deep. Relax into the breath as you smell a fragrant blossom or enjoy the smell outdoors after it rains.

Just the basic activity of enjoying something simple can relieve stress and calm body and mind. Stress can cause a whole host of issues from disease, to body aches and pain to unhappiness. Don’t let stress get you down, remember to take time to relax.

Sarah Gaudette
Paradise Therapy
Stress Relieving Tips

Massage & Wellness – Bradenton, Florida

Listen to your body talk

It may be easy to ignore an achy back, a tension headache or an overall feeling of fatigue or malaise, but it isn’t a good idea. Your body is sending you a message when it hurts or feels a bit off and expects you to listen. If you ignore these messages frequently, your body will make you listen by coming down with a sickness such as a cold, flu or you may get a migraine or throw your back out.

Once you start listening to what you body is telling you it is easy to prevent pain, illness or injury naturally. Perhaps your desk job working at a computer all day creates tension in your neck and causes you to get a headache. Before you pop a pain pill there are alternatives to managing the tension. You could get a massage and have the massage therapist focus on your head, neck, shoulders and upper back to relieve the stress from your posture. Acupuncture is also an effective treatment to manage pain and tension. Your acupuncture physician will do a consultation with you to determine a course of treatment generally using acupuncture needles in certain areas. Chronic tension is often the cause of a body being out of balance. A chiropractic adjustment can help if the bones are not lined up correctly and your Chiropractor can determine this with an x-ray, scan and a consultation. It is often helpful to strengthen the muscles by lifting weights so that the body doesn’t develop weak muscle groups. A personal trainer can help you use proper form and target the correct muscles. Once the muscle is developed stronger it will be able to hold the body in better balance on its own. And by practicing yoga regularly you can keep the muscles from becoming over tight and also reduce stress. Yoga is a very popular exercise and there may be regular yoga classes in your area. There are also countless books and DVDs that teach the many poses from beginner to advanced practice.

All of these treatments can be very effective in managing common tension issues. They can prevent the sufferer from unnecessary pain and possible sickness or injury if the tension is allowed to build up. It is a much healthier alternative to get to the cause of the problem and treat it so that the body can be in balance rather than pop pain pill after pain pill. And once you are used to feeling good, it becomes easier to determine when your body isn’t feeling its best. So remember to listen to your body when it is “talking” to you!

Sarah Gaudette
Paradise Therapy
Stress Relieving Tips

Massage & Wellness – Bradenton, Florida

 

Cherish family

Life is short. I hear that a lot, but until lately it didn’t have all that much meaning to me. In the scheme of things our life spans aren’t incredibly long and can be markedly shorter due to the many diseases that exist.  Our loved ones can be taken from us sooner than we would care for.

My own father found out he had lung cancer this past December. By the time the doctors had discovered the cancer it had metastasized to his brain, adrenal glands and liver. The prognosis wasn’t favorable. He had five large brain tumors that were making walking even difficult. He became like a child to care for and often didn’t make sense when he talked. They were able to do radiation and a round of chemotherapy to extend his life, but the treatments weren’t curative. He was already Stage 4.

And so it is really important to cherish your family and loved ones. You are never sure of when their time may be up. My dad was only 63 when he died. My family grieves and keeps memories of him and of fun times spent together close to our hearts. We reflect, we cry, we love. I never thought my dad would die when I was 31. I assumed that he would grow old with my mom and see me start a family with my husband. I assumed we would have more time to spend together. I am learning it is not a good idea to make assumptions.

I gaze at family photos and imagine all the happy times on vacations at the beach, at Disney world and visiting the grandparents. I am thankful he was an excellent father and that I have many fond memories to look back on. I am relieved that he isn’t sick anymore. He is in a better place. But I miss him and I will always cherish his memory. I love you, dad. Forever and always.

Sarah Gaudette
Paradise Therapy
Stress Relieving Tips

Massage & Wellness – Bradenton, Florida

 

Appreciate who you have

Husbands and wives, family members and friends tend to take each other for granted. I guess the feeling is that that person will always be there and that they know that they are loved. Yes, if you are fairly close especially in the case of married people or immediate family members they do probably know you care about them. Well, at least I hope they do! But it IS nice to hear it , isn’t it?

It’s great to be appreciated for all of our hard work and for the little things that we do for each other. When your husband, wife, mom, dad, (insert favorite person here) mows the lawn, makes you dinner or buys your favorite cereal it feels really great for them to hear that you noticed. Being thanked for doing a job well done makes you feel like you matter or are wanted, so why don’t we say it more often?

Being newly married verbalizing my appreciation is something I have been working on. We each are responsible for different household chores like the lawn, dishes, laundry etc. Even though we have agreed to do certain tasks, we both like that the other person has noticed that we have done them. That they appreciate US for doing them! It definitely is an easy way to foster some family intimacy. For example you could say, “Thank-you for taking the trash out. I really appreciate it and I appreciate you. I love you!” But if that type of language doesn’t roll off your tongue, you might need some practice.

Appreciating who you have in your life is definitely the key. You can show your loved ones your love with a simple hug or a custom statement that tells them that what they did for you mattered to you and made a positive difference in your life. Telling the person with words can help make the relationship you have with them a stronger and more meaningful one.

Sarah Gaudette
Paradise Therapy
Stress Relieving Tips

Massage & Wellness – Bradenton, Florida

 

Tune up your body

Just like how a car needs regular maintenance in order to run properly, your body needs regular body maintenance. Your car needs fuel in order to get you from Point A to Point B and you need a healthy diet filled with nutritious meals and snacks to keep you going strong. It is important to fill your diet with plenty of fruits and vegetables. Bright and colorful fruits and veggies are best such as: spinach, sweet potatoes, carrots, beets, kale, oranges, berries and watermelon to name a few. You also need to balance in carbohydrates for energy as well as proteins and fats.

Besides the fuel your car needs its regular oil change. To keep your joints lubricated it is crucial to move around and exercise. A simple 30 minute walk every day can work wonders. I also take a joint supplement that contains glucosamine and chondroitin. As you age your body naturally produces less chondroitin so mine is starting to need some help. Chondroitin  keep your joints moving and can help prevent stiff joint movement and pain. Regular joint maintenance is a good idea and can help prevent joint replacements in the future just like regular oil changes can prevent having to replace the entire engine due to complete neglect.

Your muscles need TLC every day as well. Doing regular stretches or yoga poses can keep them strong and supple. Strength training is also a good idea to prevent muscle weakness and improve posture. I enjoy doing a 20 minute routine of about 10 different yoga poses to stretch the muscles in my back, sides, hips, arms and legs. It feels great to start your day with stretches and end it with some as well. To build up your muscles and strengthen weak muscle groups circuit training at your local gym is a good place to start.

Your body will keep running properly with the right exercises and fuel. So take care to keep yourself tuned up!

Sarah Gaudette
Paradise Therapy
Stress Relieving Tips

Massage & Wellness – Bradenton, Florida

 

 

Acupuncture Treats Headaches

Many factors contribute to the root cause of headaches. These include body constitution, emotional health, excessive work, social and exercise activities, improper diet, physical trauma and pregnancy.

Headaches are diagnosed and treated according to their symptoms, times of occurrence, location, type of pain, and triggers. Migraine sufferers respond well to acupuncture laser therapies.

Participate in your own healing to soothe or prevent head pain. Keep track when your headache starts and pinpoint the trigger, manage stress with breathing techniques or meditation, exercise, get adequate sleep, and try to eat healthy, organic foods. Some simple lifestyle changes can lead to a healthier and pain-free life.

Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine and Low Level Laser Therapy offer a safe and effective approach to resolving headaches without side effects. A comprehensive diagnostic protocol helps Cynthia Evans, a board certified acupuncture physician, understand and address the cause of the headaches. Complimentary consultations available. Call 941-751-8008 to schedule an appointment.

http://manateeacupuncture.com/

Sarah Gaudette
Paradise Therapy
Stress Relieving Tips

Massage & Wellness – Bradenton, Florida