MoonbeamsSpring 2011

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Massage MultipliedBenefits of Massage Improve with FrequencyKarrie Osborn

Regularly scheduled massage has proven a powerful ally in health and wellness.

Turn yourwounds intowisdom.-Oprah Winfrey

Office Hours and Contact

Moonbeam Massage LLCJudy Schornak, NCTBMby appointment, 248.933.6534Ann Schornak, CMTby appointment, 248-909-9039www.moonbeam-massage.com

In this Issue

Massage MultipliedThe Wonders of WaterLong Live Cells with Vitamin E

What kind of massage client are you? Doyou make an appointment aftersomeone has given you a massage giftcertificate? Do you try to get in everynow and then for a stress-relievingtune-up? Or do you see your therapistreligiously--once a week, every threeweeks, once a month?

While getting a massage--regardless ofhow often--is incredibly beneficial toyour body and mind, getting frequentmassage treatments is even morepowerful as a healthcare ally.

"People who get massage regularlydemonstrate a reduction in pain andmuscular tension and an improvementin posture," says Anne Williams, author

of Spa Bodywork: A Guide for MassageTherapists (Lippincott Williams andWilkins, 2006).

"People regularly make a commitmentto fitness. People regularly make acommitment to changing their diet. Thedifference they'd experience if theyregularly made a commitment tomassage is mind-blowing," she says.

Stress KillerOne way in which frequent massage canimprove our quality of life is byalleviating stress. Experts say mostdisease is stress-related, and nothingages us faster--inside or out--than theeffects of stress. As stress-relateddiseases continue to claim more livesevery year, the increasingly deadly rolestress plays in modern-day life ispainfully clear.

Massage is a great way to take charge andreverse the situation. Mary Beth Braunand Stephanie Simonson, authors ofIntroduction to Massage Therapy(Lippincott Williams and Wilkins,2007), explain the benefits of massage

therapy in the simplest of terms:"Healing input influences healingoutput." They note that frequentmassage can reduce the accumulation ofstress and improve overall health. "Thebenefits of massage are cumulative," theywrite.

A consistent massage routine helps you manage stress before it causes illness.

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This being the case, it only makes sensethat those aches and pains you see yourmassage therapist for might disappearfaster, stay away longer, or even go awayaltogether with more frequent visits.Stress might never reach thosephysiologically detrimental levels wherethe immune system is suppressed or thenervous system is sent into an alarm stateif you are able to receive stress-relievingbodywork with some consistency. Notonly would your body benefit byregularly unleashing its aches and painsinstead of adapting to them, but yourmind would have time to wash away thestresses of a life lived in overdrive. Bothare critical pieces for living well.

Experts say the body and mind can learnto live more calmly, more efficiently,and more healthfully when frequentmassage shows the way. That makes for ahealthier whole, allowing us to continueto live life at its fullest, even as we dealwith each new stress or challenge.

Preventive MeasuresIn so many ways, massage is preventivehealth care. Yes, it can address injuries,scar tissue, and chronic pain, as well asprovide relief for cancer patients andreduce hospitalization for prematurebabies, among many other valuablebenefits (go to Massagetherapy.com formore information on the myriadbenefits of massage). But when thehealthy, and trying-to-be-healthy,among us seek out massage on a regularbasis, it helps us live a proactivelyhealthier life.

Since bodywork influences every systemin the body, there are enormouspossibilities created by increasing thefrequency in which you address thosesystems. It's best to discuss your sessiongoals with your massage therapist andtogether devise a plan of frequency thatmeets your needs, while taking intoaccount your therapist's best advice.

Body AwarenessAccording to Benny Vaughn, sportsmassage expert and owner of AthleticTherapy Center in Fort Worth, Texas,one of the benefits of consistent andregular massage therapy is betterflexibility. "This happens becauseregular and structured touch stimulusenhances the nervous system's sensoryand spatial processing capacity," he says.

"That is, the person becomes moreaware of their body's movement in spaceand becomes more aware of tightness orpain long before it reaches a criticalpoint of mechanical dysfunction."

Quite simply, frequent massage puts youmore in tune with your body. "Theconsistency of massage therapy over timecreates a cumulative stress reductioneffect," Vaughn says. "The personbecomes acutely aware of stress withintheir body long before it can createstress-driven damage."

He says the consistency of receivingregular massage therapy has the potentialto create a cumulative wellness effect."Ultimately when one feels good, ourwhole being follows suit on all otherlevels--i.e., decision-making is better,processing life events is better, andbeing happy is easier when you are notin pain or feeling 'heavy' or 'tight.'"

Williams says she's certain people's liveswould be changed if they could schedulemassage and bodywork more frequently."I encourage clients to commit togetting massage once a week for a monthand then evaluate the results they get,"she says. "I guarantee they will becomemassage enthusiasts for life."

Massage Can...--Alleviate low-back pain and increaserange of motion.--Create body self-awareness.--Improve muscle tone and stimulatetheir nerve supply.--Improve elasticity of skin andpromote skin rejuvenation.--Improve sleep and calm the mind.--Increase endorphin and seratoninproduction.--Reduce edema, as well as jointinflammation.--Release negative holding patternsfrom previous injuries.

Water helps keep the body at optimum health.

The Wonders of WaterFor Skin Health and MoreShelley Burns, N.D.

Long Live Cells with Vitamin EAntiaging Inside and Out

Creams, nutritional supplements,treatments, lotions, and potions. We arealways looking for the next miracleproduct to keep skin looking healthy andyoung. However, there is one essential,inexpensive, and often overlookednutrient right at your fingertips: water.

Just as a car cannot function without oil,our bodies cannot function withoutwater. After oxygen, H2O is the mostimportant component of the body,responsible for 65-70 percent of itscomposition. And of this, 80 percent isdedicated to the skin.

Water is the medium for variousenzymatic and chemical reactions in thebody. It moves nutrients, hormones,antibodies, and oxygen through theblood and lymphatic systems, and it alsohelps form the matrix of the skin.Devoid of water, the skin becomesdehydrated, resulting in a dry, dulltone.

It's likely that the moment a person feelsthirsty, mild dehydration has already set

in. To keep the complexion lookingsmooth and blemish-free, drink waterupon waking and continue drinking itthroughout the day at one- to two-hourintervals. At least six 8-oz. glasses ofwater should be consumed daily andmore if you are exercising, perspiring,and/or in hot weather. Ideally, intakeshould be between ten and twelve 8-oz.glasses of water a day. One note: Don'tincrease water intake all at once, as thekidneys and digestive system need timeto adjust. Add one 8-oz. glass every dayor every second day.

What counts toward your daily waterintake? Just the basics: water and herbaltea. Caffeinated beverages and alcoholicdrinks are diuretics that can contributeto dehydration, requiring even morehydration after drinking.

Not only is water important for skinhealth, it can also play a key role in theprevention of disease. Drinking eightglasses of water a day can decrease therisk of colon cancer, bladder cancer,and potentially even breast cancer.

A good skin care regimen is comprisedof an antioxidant-rich diet andvitamin/mineral supplementation thatincludes vitamin E -- an essential key toa healthy complexion. Vitamin E isunique in that it's not one vitamin, but afamily of eight fat-soluble antioxidants,including four types of tocopherols andfour types of tocotrienols -- alpha, beta,gamma, and delta. Alpha-tocopherol isthe most common and most potent formof vitamin E.

This important nutrient works toprevent aging by prolonging the usefullife of cells in the body. By protectingand strengthening the cell membrane,vitamin E wards off free radical attackscaused by sun exposure and also helpscombat disease. This protection is

further intensified when combined withvitamin C. Vitamin E also helps in theformation of red blood cells, protectingthem from destructive toxins and celldamage, which also helps prevent skincancer.

Vitamin E-rich foods include wheatgerm; almonds, peanuts, and walnuts;safflower, corn, and soybean oils; andgreen leafy vegetables. Forsupplementation, the recommendeddaily intake of vitamin E is 400 IU. Beaware that high doses of vitamin E(1,200 IU daily or more) can be toxicand cause oxidative damage.

It is imperative that when taking thesupplement orally, it is in the naturalform, designated with a "d," and not

synthetic, designated as "dl." Mixedtocopherols--meaning a combination ofalpha, beta, gamma, and delta--areeasily absorbed and a good choice,especially in skin care products.

Topical creams and oils containingvitamin E promote healing, protect cellsfrom free-radical damage, and reduceitchiness--very helpful in treatingconditions such as sunburn and eczema.

In addition to contributing to healthyskin, vitamin E has many otherbeneficial properties, including slowingthe progression of Alzheimer's disease,decreasing oxidative stress associatedwith asthma, alleviating arthriticconditions, decreasing PMS symptoms,and reducing the risk of heart disease.

Adopt the paceof nature: hersecret ispatience.-Ralph Waldo Emerson

MOONBEAM MASSAGE LLC5885 S. MAIN ST. SUITE 2CLARKSTON, MI 48346Judy 248-933-6534, Ann 248-909-9039Accepting MC / Visa / Discover

www.moonbeam-massage.com

ONLINE APPOINTMENT SCHEDULINGPURCHASE INSTANT GIFT CERTIFICATES FROM OURWEBSITE!

Holiday Promotion! All One Hour Massage Gift Certificates are $55!Purchase a package of 6 One Hour Massages for only $300!

We also keep a massage schedule at Capuchin RetreatCenter in Washington, MI. For more information on theirretreats visit www.capretreat.org

Moonbeam Massage LLC

5885 S. Main St. Suite 2Clarkston, MI 48346