| Psoas Massage + Bodywork Newsletter
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Greetings!
Hello again. We are back for another Psoas Newsletter but with a little twist. The inmates are running the asylum. That's right our four articles are all written by Psoas therapists.
How much water should you drink? Tim tells all.
Active Release Techniques and minor meltdowns. Jen Rubinstein chimes in.
To paint or not to paint. Please explain Jason.
And Joel, talk to us all about movement.
Plus - PLEASE vote for us. We have been nominated for Best Massage in the Baylist Best Mind & Body Contest.
We also have a new music review by DJ Split. A money saving tip - use your Flexible Spending Account on massage.
And our favorite yoga instructor Kerri Kelly is planning a retreat for all of you.
Peace out,
Psoas
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BayList Best Mind & Body Contest Kicks off today, April 7th
Psoas has been nominated for the first
annual
San Francisco Chronicle/SFGate.com
BayList Best Mind &
Body contest!
The contest kicks off today, April 7th.
Click here to vote and help us win!
If you feel like writing a review for us we would truly appreciate it.
You can do so here.
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Back
to the basics...Water.
By: Tim McGrath
 Water
is essential to good health. Most scientists agree our bodies are somewhere
between 2/3 and 3/4 liquid so we need to
replenish it to keep all our systems working optimally. At Psoas, we are asked
regularly, "how much water should I drink".
Generally
a good rule of thumb is to drink one ounce for every two pounds of body weight,
then add eight ounces for every twenty minutes of exercise. Proper hydration assists with more efficient
muscles and facilitates brain, digestive, and other systemic functions.
When
you receive massage it stimulates circulation bringing nutrient rich blood to
overworked or adhered muscles, sometimes caused by lack of hydration, which is
why it's so important to drink plenty of water after massage.
Remember
that each person will vary slightly in their needs depending on lifestyle and
medical history. If you are thirsty, you're already somewhat dehydrated. Be
mindful of your body's need for water - it's a pretty safe bet that proper
hydration is an essential part of your quest for optimal health.
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Arm Pain and Numbness
By: Jason Garcia
Some time ago an artist came to see me for some arm pain and
tingling/numbing sensations down both arms. She was a bartender, but her
passion lied in her artwork. She quit bartending because she felt the pain when
she poured drinks and when she painted. So she decided to just try painting.
Her pain had been getting worse the past year and radiated from her shoulders
to her biceps and then down the forearms. From the wrist to the hands she had
some numbness and tingling. She said she had seen a doctor the previous week to
see if there was anything he could do. He had scheduled her with a specialist
two weeks from that day to determine if explorative surgery would be a good
idea. When I asked her what kind of surgery they were considering she responded
by saying that she wasn't sure. The doctor had only said that it had to do with
freeing up an impingement of the nerves somewhere along her arms.
She had good range of motion in her arms but felt lots of
pain throughout each movement. The tingling and numbness increased when she
lifted her arms above her head. One of the things that peaked my interest was
that the pain developed on both arms simultaneously. Nerve impingements, unless
on the spine, usually occur on one side, not both. We found a number of muscles
to be extremely sensitive to the touch.
When I started working on her we found that many of the
muscles that are responsible for medial rotation of the humerus were highly
sensitive. The muscles include the lats, pec major, anterior deltoid,
subscapularis and teres minor. All of them harbored trigger points that
referred pain down the arm. Without question, she could feel that these points
were responsible for the pain she had been feeling down her arms.
The muscles of her arm also had many trigger points, which
also mimicked her arm pain. We found them on her biceps, wrist flexors and
extensors and triceps. By the end of the session her shoulders had dropped
significantly. She didn't look as if she were carrying grocery bags.
When she got up, she moved her arms around testing
them to see if she could recall those places that hurt most. She smiled and
said, "Wow, maybe I won't need that surgery after all." Her arm pain had
decreased by 70% and her shoulders felt great. I rescheduled her for the next
week and she cancelled her appointment with her doctor. I made sure to teach
her some points that she could work on her own so that she could actively
participate in her own healing. Now, five years later, I have five of her paintings
and she dedicates herself full time to her painting and has art studios that
carry her work in San Francisco, New York and L.A. She's been pain free since
then, and still comes in once a month for maintenance work.
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Our Bodies; they aren't High Speed, Digital or Unbreakable
By: Jen Rubenstein
I
went to see a movie last night. About 10 minutes before it ended, the film did
one of those blurby, blurby, melt-across-the-screen, fade-to-white things and
actually MELTED! Just like in Cinema Paradiso. Thankfully, the theatre did not
burn down.
But,
it was one of those moments that made me think "Really? Isn't everything high
speed, digital and unbreakable these days or at least trying to be?
Since
I had been wrestling with the idea of writing an article about Active Release
Techniques (A.R.T), the burning movie made me think about the people who come
in for treatment for things that "just happened," like "I bent over to tie my
shoes and couldn't stand up again." Or, "everything was fine until mile 15 when
my foot cramped and now my hip and hamstring are killing me. Or "I'm training
for (insert event of choice) and I can't swim, bike, run..."
Apparently
our bodies are not high speed, digital or unbreakable either and just like that
movie, sometimes suffer a melt down.
That's
where A.R.T. comes in. Whatever you did to yourself, there is probably an
A.R.T. treatment protocol to ease the pain, if not fix it completely (there are
over 500 specific protocols). And in today's hurried, go faster, further,
longer world, the short and sweet to-the-point sessions are ideal. (Ok, I'll admit they may hurt a little, but its good pain).
Along
with the pain usually comes the statement "Help! I'm broken." I've been known
to say it on occasion myself. Years ago when I was in massage school and
training for Iron Man Canada I began having shoulder issues. I heard about this
A.R.T. stuff and decided to give it a shot. I told the practitioner, "Just fix
it please so I can get back to training." A few sessions later, in addition to the
dreaded "rest and stay off it" time, I was back in the Bay and haven't had any
shoulder problems since.
Not
only did A.R.T. get me back in the water, but it also got me back on my
bike and back to running, so I know it works from a
patient as well as a practitioner perspective. Actually, I'm amazed that the
variety of soft tissue ailments that can be worked on, aided and eliminated
with A.R.T.
Meltdowns are unavoidable. The movie
last night could not to be saved, but we got free passes to see another show.
An A.R.T session is like that - a pass to get you back in the water or back in
the game as quickly as possible.
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The Importance of Movement
By: Joel Banuelos
 In all biological systems, life and movement go hand-in-hand. Life deteriorates when the movement of an organism ceases for an extended period of time. As humans, we are dependent upon many levels of movement for our bodies to function properly. Unhindered and good movement has obvious and "seen" benefits, such as decreasing the possibility of injury and increasing athletic performance. Yet, it also aids in "hidden" human system functions, such as aiding in optimum blood circulation within the vessels and the heart, helping with rhythmic expansion and contraction of the lungs for better respiration, mobilizing immune cells during infection, and accurately passing neurochemicals between brain cells for information transmission.
We are of course reliant on movement for the proper functioning of our muscles, joints and bones. Moving our bodies well helps circulate blood, strengthen joints, increase metabolism and improve the flexibility of connective tissues. Those of us that spend much of our lives immobile will often suffer from its byproducts: lethargy, aches, pains, muscular weakness, and limited flexibility. In order for many of us to "feel alive" it is important to engage in some sort of regular movement or exercise. Good movement is the key to feeling great and performing at a high level, no matter what the activity.
Many of our clients here at Psoas Massage and Bodywork fall into the "movers" category. Although these runners, swimmers, yogis, climbers and fitness enthusiasts, to name just a few, are moving well and often - there's still work to be done. Regardless of the type of activity, the way we move settles into particular patterns over time. We all have unique ways in which we walk, sit, jog, throw, type and generally move about in the world. Over time, these repetitive movement patterns can hinder the pliancy of our muscle and connective tissues, which helps to produce adhesions in the body and lead to structural imbalances that cause pain and discomfort. So while movement is obviously a necessity, repetitive patterned movement can hinder optimal function.
Our work here at Psoas is aimed at helping people understand the aberrant movement patterns that are causing them pain, and then releasing those areas of tension that can obstruct the fluid flow within their bodies. We first look at a client's body to determine any structural imbalance and often ask the client to perform movements to give us insight into their restricted pattern(s). The treatment is specific to each individual, involving client movement combined with direct pressure, and aimed at producing a noticeable change in the client's body. When more fluid movement is reestablished in the body, strength, flexibility and ease will naturally follow. We aim to keep our clients moving in a healthy and more supportive manner.
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Detox & Renew: Retreat with Kerri Kelly
Summer solstice marks the beginning of summer and represents a time for purification, renewal and self. Laurel Springs Retreat
in Santa Barbara has everything you need to revitalize: cliff-side
jacuzzi, organic garden, spring-fed pond, miles of oceanfront hiking
and unforgettable star-filled skies. The retreat will include delicious, organic food, beautiful
accommodations and two detoxifying practices each day to cleanse and
awaken your body mind and spirit. Early registration extended to 4/15/09-
$595 per person (includes all meals, accommodations and yoga) $695 per person (after 4/15/09)
Contact Kerri Kelly for registration:
415.971.6383 or kerri@kerrikellyyoga.com
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Using Your Flexible Spending Account
 Do you have a flexible spending
account? Do you know what one is? It allows you to save up to 40% on health
related expenses not covered by your insurance plan. You can use your account
for a variety of things...including therapeutic massage! According to the federal
tax code, a qualified expense "must be to alleviate or prevent a physical or
mental defect or illness". The majority of the clients at Psoas seek our
bodywork for help in conjunction with training injuries, chronic pain, stress,
and other issues, which all qualify!
For those of you who haven't
started reaping the benefits, an FSA is a tax-advantage financial account
designed to help pay for qualified health-related expenses, offered through
your employer's benefits package. The money you designate for your FSA is taken
from your check, before taxes. This can create a 40%+ tax savings! Check with
your provider to see if you have a Flexible Spending Account option.
What do you need to do? Schedule
your appointment, and let us know that you will need a receipt to submit for
your FSA. We will provide you with a receipt that has the correct medical
documentation (a classification code and description of the therapeutic
bodywork). We can either email this receipt or print it for you.
You also may want to talk with
your representative of your plan to see if a doctor's recommendation is
necessary.
Some plans need it - some don't.
And for all of you already using
your flexible spending account - let us know if you need receipts for past sessions.
Peace and have a healthy year.
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The Psoas Newsletter
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Disc of the Month
You won't hear whale sounds or rustling leaves at Psoas. We take our music almost as seriously as our bodywork.
Almost!
M83
Digital Shades, Vol. 1
Genre: Ambient Pop
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If Pink Floyd, Sonic Youth and Tangerine
Dream spawned, their bastard child would be M83. And if at first it
doesn't sound like that would be an appealing mix, I don't blame
you-I'd think the same thing. M83 is more or less one guy-Anthony
Gonzalez, who writes, performs, and orchestrates everything. Yes, I
said orchestrates, in fact, M83 is currently touring right now with the
Los Angeles Philharmonic. Don't get scared, hang with me here...
M83 have several full length albums. The one I started with,
"Before The Dawn Heals Us" is a soul gripping musical change of pace.
It's like nothing you've heard before, I promise. Filled with pounding
guitars and sweeping strings, M83 taps into that brutal, beautiful
place that is so hard to find. In one moment you're rocking your ass
off and the next you're submerged in a psychedelic wave of cinematic
mood music. The album ping pongs from genre to genre, all the while
maintaining a consistent feel, an overall theme for the album.
But...that's not the album we're talking about. Today, we're
talking about M83's masterful "Digital Shades, Vol. 1". Yes, this is
much more appropriate to spin while the friendly staff at Psoas
tenderize your hammys, but it's also an incredible, almost perfect
album that's become firmly lodged on my playlist anywhere I am. Digial
Shades removes ALL guitars. Gone. Drums? Gone. The entire album is
orchestrated with keyboards and vocals, nothing else.
I say this with all sincerity- it's one of the most beautiful,
moving records I've heard in a long time. It's perfect for reading
music, headphone stoner-fests, working, hanging out. I can only
imagine what it'd be like to break up with someone and have this record
nearby. All I'm really trying to say is that Gonzalez had made a
nu-classical soundscape that can't really be put in a box. This is NOT
New Age music. This can't be called Ambient music. Let's just meet in
the middle and call it different.
-- DJ Split Have any questions or suggestions for
DJ Split?
Contact DJ Split at
djsplit@psoasbodywork.com
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