Therapeutic Massage of Ocala

December 31, 2016

When you receive massage therapy, YOU are the agent of change in your body.  While the massage therapist’s skills are certainly important, it is actually you who is making changes to the tissues.  This is a very important point.  I remember a time when I only liked deep pressure massage because I was so guarded that it required that much pressure for me to feel anything.  Now, after building quite a bit of awareness, I can get great benefit from just about any type of massage, as long as the therapist is mentally present and confident.  This is because I recognize that the relaxation, lengthening of tissues, mental grounding – all of it is my doing, not the therapist.  He or she is there to support me in doing these things, mostly through touch feedback.   The more precise and knowledgeable that feedback is, and the more comfortable the environment, the more I can do, which is why the therapist’s skills are important.  But as for the changes themselves, I am the one making them.  This is why it is important the you find a massage therapist with whom you can feel comfortable and safe – both physically and emotionally – so you can let your guard down and attend to your tissues.

September 21, 2016

Western Medicine and Massage Therapy

Because I am a massage therapist, I have quite a number of clients who tell me they don’t want to go to the doctor for various reasons.  They don’t believe in western medicine, they don’t trust doctors, doctors always push people into surgery, and so on.  I can understand the frustration, and recommend looking at each situation from a more thoughtful perspective than a reactive one.  While massage therapy can relieve pain and improve the process of healing, it is never a substitute for medical care.

You are the designer of your health care.  Doctors can perform many very useful tests that can often lead to diagnoses and provide well-educated proposals for treatment, as can chiropractors, acupuncturists and physical therapists.  If you are willing to talk to people about your issues, do some research, and be thoughtful about how you want to approach your health care, you will be able to incorporate the full range of health professionals available to you.  You are not required to submit to surgery just because one orthopedic surgeon suggests it.  You can get second and third opinions from a variety of individual doctors and types of doctors.  Even for those who embrace different ways to approach health care, western medical doctors do have a place in that care, especially if any kind of medication is involved for any reason.  The key is to invest time in finding a primary care doctor that fits your needs and understands YOUR approach to your health. 

June 24, 2016

Are the effects of massage therapy temporary?  No, but massage is not strong enough to overcome what a person does with their body every day.  Any type of musculoskeletal influence - physical therapy, massage therapy, exercise, etc - requires consistency and lifestyle adjustment to be effective.  No one exercises one time and expects to experience a permanent change in their cardiovascular health!  Similarly, if a person has back pain, sees a massage therapist and feels improvement but changes nothing about how they use their body , the muscles will always have to go back to pain.  Some people see this as a temporary effect, but in reality it is more that a person is counteracting the effect by using their muscles in a way that causes pain.  The reason for the counteraction can be an issue of repetitive motion, nutrition, stretching, exercise, or disease.  People who receive massage regularly (anywhere from weekly to monthly) often start to notice when and why muscles start to tighten up again, giving them more options to change their pain.  Regular massage also can help people identify when more invasive techniques are necessary.

March 4, 2016

The unintended benefits of massage are countless and completely dependent on the individual.  Some find better rest or sleep, some find changes in the way their body moves.  There are some, though, for whom massage is a part of an entire life change.

I see many clients who are dealing with significant stress.  They have aches and pains, general malaise, and simply don't feel that great about life in general.  Sometimes, after they have received a short series of massages, I don't see them again for a long while and I wonder what has happened with them.  In many of these cases I find they have undergone a major change - a change in jobs, a new desire and ability to pursue interests, and so on.  I know that massage was not the cause of these changes, but it was certainly part of that person's awakening.

Massage therapy is not only about pain and trigger points or general relaxation.  For some, it can help to break down some of the barriers they have created to manage the stress of their life; it can help them find integration.  When they get a taste of this integration, it can help to awaken some understanding of what causes their stress, how they can handle their stress or even what brings them greater contentment and grounding.