Self-Care and Massage Blog

If you’re active daily, or even just going for a long hike on the weekends, you could benefit from receiving regular massage sessions. Here are three reasons why massage benefits those who have an active lifestyle: Massage increases your range of motion and improves your flexibility. Stretching on your own is oftentimes not enough to

“Do no harm” is an oath that massage therapists (and other healthcare providers) take when they pursue their work in the healthcare field. It sounds simplistic. Obvious. To me, it means: Listening (without interrupting) Asking carefully chosen questions without placing assumptions on a person’s condition Admitting when I don’t know or don’t have an answer

Last week I spoke in an interview with Caroline Ruderman about this type of massage. Deep tissue massage is appropriate for many different people with various health concerns. From chronic low back pain to an acute knee injury, to managing an autoimmune condition, massage can help alleviate pain while reducing stress. And from my own

I’ve had clients tell me that other massage therapists have commented on their bodies. Whether it’s a compliment or what sounds like a condescending remark makes no difference. Commenting on someone’s body without being prompted by the client is inappropriate. There are times when things come up, such as shifts or intentional movements made by

Does massage help release toxins from your body? No. Just no. I occasionally hear therapists make this claim with clients after a session. I think what they mean to say is, our bodies do an incredible job on their own releasing waste products. The major organs of the body, specifically the kidneys, liver, intestines, and

One of the main reasons I hear from people who want a massage but don’t receive bodywork often is because it is a luxury. It’s too expensive. Or, it should only be saved for a special occasion. I speak a lot about the importance of regular bodywork as part of a self-care routine. And I

“Can you feel the knots in my back?” It’s a question I am asked often during a massage session. Well, there is no such thing as a “knot” in your muscle tissue. It’s a little more complicated than that. There are trigger and tender points in the body that cause us to experience pain and

In just under a week from now, Daylight Savings Time will end. The days are shortening, and the nights are getting longer. The change in season is difficult for me, especially the transition from fall (my favorite season) to winter. Here in New England, it can be gray for days at a time. When the

While the benefits of massage are understood by many, the costs associated with this service are often unknown. There are many inputs required to get a practice up and running and to sustain a business. Here, I draw on my experience establishing myself in my own business. Experience In Massachusetts, where I live and work,