The Rubdown
"Toxin Release" by Mark Pearlscott
by Ashley Reynolds on 03/18/12
Most people that get massage or some other kind of body work
hear that they need to drink lots of water afterward to help flush out
the released "toxins." Well as a curious consumer, you want to know
what those toxins are, and what the reasoning behind the extra water
intake is. If you ask most massage therapists, you will likely get one
of the following two answers: In reality, most of the "toxins"
that are released are just normal waste from regular cell activity.
Each cell produces waste during its normal activity and metabolism, and
excretes this outside its cell membrane. From there it is located in
what is called the "interstitial space" which is the space located
between the cells. Through the activity of your muscles, the cells and
the interstitial spaces are squeezed (or pumped) and the fluid is moved
out of the area. The fluid then is typically directed to the lymph
system, where it gets collected, concentrated, and dealt with. (If you
don't know, the lymph system is the second line of defense of our bodies
for dealing with pathogens, viruses, bacteria, etc. since it houses a
lot of white blood cells. The first line of defense is the skin, which
prevents a lot of pathogens from entering the body.) When you
receive massage or bodywork, cell waste (which is already in your
system) gets released at a more rapid rate than normal. Your body has
to deal with the larger amount of material within the same amount of
time, and that is what can cause you to feel tired, sick, or sore
afterward. Fascia, the connective tissue of the body, is one of
the components that is responsible for this phenomena. Fascia's main
role in the body is as a divider and connector of body parts, organs,
cells, etc. On first thought, divide and connect seem opposites, and
indeed they are. But fascia does both at the same time. For
understanding this concept, you can represent fascia as a piece of
double-sided tape, and our two muscles can be represented by two
balloons. When you put the double-sided tape onto one balloon, you now
have a small extra layer of protection (to the balloon) where the tape
is located. This barrier separates the balloon from anything on the
other side of the tape. Now add the second balloon to the free side of
the tape (so that your model is balloon/tape/balloon). The tape is
doing the job of protection/separation for each individual balloon from
the other, and at the same time it is connecting the two balloons to
each other. Fascia fills this role for individual cells, groups of
cells, organs, muscles, etc. within our bodies. Fascia, when
acting as a protective barrier is not impermeable like a solid wall. A
more descriptive analogy would be a net made of rope. When stretched
beyond its normal dimensions, the holes of a rope net narrow in one
direction and lengthen in the other. Thus the effective opening of the
holes are made smaller, allowing smaller and smaller items to pass
through. When the net is released back to its normal shape, the holes
effectively open up to normal size, and allow larger items through. When
you receive massage, and the fascia is being restored to its normal
shape, it is akin to many small faucets being opened up simultaneously
causing an on-rush of fluid and waste that our systems have to deal with
immediately. Being properly hydrated allows the processing of the
waste to happen most efficiently. And since most people are slightly
dehydrated, it is a good idea to drink extra water after your massage to
maintain a proper hydration level.
Spotlight Technique: Pregnancy Massage
by Ashley Reynolds on 06/26/11
Pregnancy massage is a discipline that covers the period of a woman’s pre-conception all the way through post-partum. As popularly thought, pregnancy massage is not only concerned directly with the mother’s “belly”… it focuses on the pregnant woman’s body as a whole in order to promote a healthy, complication-free pregnancy. Certain pregnancy massage techniques are used depending on which stage of pregnancy a woman is in. The main difference in what sets this technique apart from a standard massage is the positioning of the client. After the first trimester, or whenever the client is no longer able to lay on her stomach, most therapists have their clients in a side-lying position with either a lot of pillows to support the mother’s spine or with something called a “Pregnancy Support System” or the “Prego Pillow” which is an elaborate padding system which allows the mother to still lay on her stomach while receiving her massage. Many massage table manufacturers make tables specifically designed so that a portion of the table may be removed for the mother’s belly and breasts to prevent compression so that the mother can lay on her stomach. Benefits of pregnancy massage include relief of muscles spasms and cramps associated with carrying extra weight and physical changes that occur during pregnancy; teaches the mother stress reduction and relaxation (relaxation is KEY during labor and delivery); the gestation process is enhanced through increasing blood circulation, lymph circulation, reducing edema, and increasing cellular respiration; it provides emotional support and physical nurturing; and helps maximize breathing capacity, which is needed during labor and delivery.
Do These Statistics Surprise You??
by Ashley Reynolds on 06/08/11
Top 12 Cancer Causing Products in the Home Include: (source: The National Cancer Prevention Coalition)
* Johnson and Johnson Baby Powder with Talc * Clairol Nice N’ Easy Hair Color
* Crest Tartar Control Toothpaste * V05 Hair Conditioner
* AJAX Cleanser * Lysol Disinfectant
Of the chemicals found in personal care products: 884 are toxic, 146 cause tumors, 218 cause reproductive complications,
314 cause biological mutations and 376 cause skin and eye irritations. (US House of Representatives Rpt 1989)
A 15 year study found that women who work in the home have a 54% higher death rate from cancer than women who work outside the home. (source: 1988, 5 year EPA Study)
Asthma, ADD, learning disorders, SIDS, Cancer, Alzheimer’s MS have been linked to cleaning supplies & toxins in our homes.
600% increase in asthma since 1980 and common household products are identified as triggers of asthma.
28% increase in Childhood Cancer since Pesticides introduced into household products. (source: National Cancer Institute)
42% increase in Asthma in just one decade: 29% for men, 82% for women. (source: National Center for Disease Control)
Leading cause of poisoning in the home: Liquid Dish Soap, which contains formaldehyde as well as ammonia.
90% of health problems caused by chemicals are through the inhalation of chemical vapors and absorption of chemical particles. However, warning labels refer only to Toxic Hazards caused by the ingestion of a chemical - which only equals 10% of health problems created.
50% of all illness is due to poor indoor air quality. (source: 1989 State of Massachusetts Study)
Just reducing (not eliminating) environmental carcinogens alone, would save at least 50,000 lives from cancer annually. (source: Dr. Lee Davis, former advisor to the Secretary of Health of the USA)
You wouldn’t leave a loaded gun under the sink or hand a child a cigarette, yet more children are dying from home poisonings than by accidental shootings.
There
is a better, more natural alternative! I market for a green
manufacturer that consistently
delivers unique and high-quality natural products at reasonable prices. From
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your family.
Call for more information:
Ashley Reynolds (704)770-8214
ashley.reynolds81@yahoo.com
