Connective Issues

Back to Basics

2010-07-27T14:50:00.000-07:00

Has it been a while since your last massage? Have you gotten out of the routine of keeping a regular monthly massage? Feeling like that "edge" you used to have is more of a bump? Do you just not remember why it's such a great idea to receive bodywork? Sometimes we just need to get back to basics. Bodywork and massage are beneficial in so many areas and for so many reasons. We thought you might enjoy reading why it is so great for you!

Regular and Frequent Massage & Bodywork can:

~ Alleviate low-back and neck pain and improve range of motion.
~ Enhance immunity by stimulating lymph flow, which is the body's natural defense system.
~ Exercise and stretch weak, tight, or atrophied muscles.
~ Help athletes of any level prepare for, and recover from, strenuous workouts.
~ Relax and soften injured, tired, and overused muscles.
~ Increase joint flexibility.
~ Help manage stress by, reducing anxiety, improving sleep quality, increasing energy, improving concentration, increasing circulation and reducing fatigue.
~ Pump oxygen and nutrients into tissues and vital organs, improving circulation.
~ Promote tissue regeneration, reducing scar tissue and stretch marks.
~ Reduce post-surgical pain, adhesions and swelling.
~ Reduce spasms and cramping.
~ Release endorphins - amino acids that work as the body's natural painkiller.

And massage and bodywork do all of these things NATURALLY! Of course, this is just a partial list. So, whether you are looking to reduce the level of stress in your life, recover from an injury, stop living with chronic pain, or just want to do something to honor yourself, massage therapy is just the thing for you! We are sure you will agree.

Please contact CMTC @ 303.816.9254 or jessica@conifermassage.com to schedule your next massage!

Live IN Your Body, Not With It

2010-02-07T22:26:00.001-08:00

I had a new client today. I love new clients because they stretch me, ask me to open up and do a little extra thinking to begin forming the therapeutic relationship that I love to create. Today was interesting. And it reminded me that we all have a different jumping off point. This person was not in their body. The lines of communication between the body and the mind were closed. This made me realize that there are many different ways people relate to and with their bodies. Our bodies are truly amazing. WE are amazing. At any given second, there are millions of cells communicating; temperature, light changes, visual input, and pain sensations to name a few. We are well constructed machines with light speed efficiency. Pain is a great communicator and one of the most effective ways our body speaks to us. It is our bodies way of telling us there is something wrong; an imbalance in the body. And if we listen to it early on, we can usually get back to homeostasis fairly quickly. However, many people stuff the pain, deal with the pain, live with the pain, and end up seeing the body as a threat; something to fight, to battle, to overcome. Therein lies the disconnect. There is no harmony. There is no "one". There is me against "that" and war is not a peaceful, harmonious act. It divides and there is the drive to conquer. Are you starting to see how destructive that is? We are out to get ourselves! But there is a way out. Or should I say, back, to our bodies. We ARE our bodies.
This year, resolve to live in your body, not with it. There are so many activities you can do to get back into your body and start listening to what it has to say. First, get moving. Start walking, hiking, running; begin a yoga practice; take dance lessons; join a Tai Chi class. Do something to make your feet strike the ground! Second, receive regular bodywork. Not only will this make you aware of your body and what it is trying to tell you, but it will also ease the aches and pains it has been using to get your attention. Massage as well as other alternative modalities, such as acupuncture and chiropractic, address the body as a whole, reminding us that we are interconnected within ourselves. Acting on the pain early on will help you resolve it sooner and keep the "snowball effect" from occurring. I hope you are able to create a new relationship with your body this year!

The Winds of Change

2009-02-03T19:02:00.000-08:00

It has been downright windy at times here and definitely hard to ignore. “It’s in the air” as they say. We are all feeling it in some form or another. The economy, the new Presidential Administration, and I’m sure you have your own version of it in your life. Our lives tend to reflect the global “climate”. Whether its change, transition, turmoil or peace, what happens “out there” tends to happen within. My version of change is the arrival of our second child sometime in April. There’s excitement about what’s possible with our family, but also overwhelm about what lies ahead. I’m sure President Obama can relate… So how do we react to change? For me, I tend to stay inside until the wind dies down. We all have our way of reacting and dealing with change. How do you react? The question I ask myself is “how does this serve me?” Usually, my reaction isn’t always the best. In times of change, we are even more vulnerable than ever because we don’t really know what’s around the corner. If your tendency during this time is to hole up, try getting out and exercising through it. Whatever it is that you do, there is usually something or should I say someone that gets a little left out. YOU. We tend to forget ourselves as we deal with the barrage of unknowns coming at us. This time, more than ever is the time to remember YOU.

Self care is essential in maintaining consistency and wellbeing in your lives.
Sometimes it can’t look the way it has looked in the past. Hour and half massages every two weeks may have worked before, but now, times may be tight and an hour every month is all you can squeeze in. Whatever you can do to continue your self care will greatly benefit you in the future. Some have even tried 30 minute massages instead of 60 minutes, or 75 minutes instead of 90 minutes. There is always room to adjust to the changing climate. Ask your massage therapist what would work best for you considering your usual regimen, your current wellbeing and what it is you’d like to work on and accomplish this year. They are more than happy to plan a self care plan that works best for you. Don’t forget YOU!

More on Remember the Important Person

2008-12-10T20:52:00.000-08:00

Some of you may be wondering, "okay, so why should I take care of myself?" Let's put this into a real life scenario. Say you are experiencing chronic back pain. And you've been dealing with this for quite some time. You definitely feel much better when you receive massage, chiropractic care or acupuncture. But you haven't been keeping up with it, so you've been missing days at work and having to bow out of your hiking group and the slopes, well, they're looking pretty daunting these days. You're spending much more time "dealing" with the pain than you are doing the things you need to do and the things you love to do.

Fast forward to "taking care of yourself". You've started to receive bi-weekly massage and chiropractic care and have been doing so for about 2 months. You haven't had a "sick day" for about a month and a half and you've gone on several hiking trips with your group. You even have a day on the slopes planned for a few weeks from today! Your "feeling good" days are definitely outnumbering your "bad days" and you have even decided to start training with a personal trainer to get you in shape for spring skiing! You're boss is much happier to have you at work and producing, you're having a blast and you're even starting to feel up to doing new activities! You have more time for your friends and your family is reaping the benefits of all of your "good days"! Life is great! And your quality of life returns to extraordinary. Why would you live your life any differently?

Remember the Most Important Person

2008-12-10T13:33:00.000-08:00

Okay, if you know me, you probably know who I'm talking about. YOU, of course. Let me explain. Things seem pretty crazy "out there". This year has been a series of dips, loop de loops, and some real scary falls for some. It has been a time of uncertainty for most of us, not really knowing what to expect next. I would be lying if I said I haven't gotten caught up in it from time to time.

So, here's what I've gotten from all of this uncertainty. The only thing that is certain is change. We've heard that before, right? So, if that's the truth, then why fight it? Everything changes; our economy, our presidents, our families, our friends, even our bodies. What I am riding on during this time is that 1) there really is enough to go around and 2) I am still here!

With those two things said, I've remembered myself during this time of change. The need to care for myself and keep my health and well-being continues to be a priority. I still have some of the same pains that I always have to stay ahead of, and being 6 months pregnant, I have some new ones that I need to attend to. Always tweaking and fine tuning this body of mine.

Tending to our well-being is like eating. It's a constant practice and we must keep up with it daily. Someone said to me once, "It's not like you eat once and expect to not have to eat anymore, right?" That's how I see my self care. Those of you that already have a practice of something (yoga, meditation, exercise, student) know what I am speaking of. My gift to you this year is you. Make your well-being a priority so that you are at the top of your game. This holiday season can run alot of us down, so now more than ever is the time to not only give of yourself, but TO yourself!