Empower your life

The Transformative Power of Trauma
From Damaged Goods to an Empowered Life
Originally published in Massage & Bodywork magazine, April/May 2001. Copyright since 2001. Associated Bodywork and Massage Professionals. All rights reserved.

By Sonia Osorio

. . . "All I could think of was death," she recalls. "I felt myself becoming weaker and giving in to the illness, so I forced myself to return to work. There I asked a co-worker, whom I knew had had cancer: 'What do you do when every day that you wake up, you think that you're going to die?' And he said: 'You're going to die anyway.' And, it struck me: That's so true. It's not important when you die, but rather how you live. It's like breathing, it's all part of something very natural, so just live your life how you want to be living it right now." . . .

click here for complete article

Breast cancer & massage . . .

Auton Neurosci. 2009 Oct 5;150(1-2):111-5. Epub 2009 Apr 18.

The effect of massage on immune function and stress in women with breast cancer

Billhult A, Lindholm C, Gunnarsson R, Stener-Victorin E.
Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology/Physiotherapy, The Sahlgrenska Academy at Göteborg University, Göteborg, Sweden. annika.billhult@vgregion.se

A study was done to examine the short-term effects of light pressure effleurage on patients with breast cancer undergoing radiation therapy. Thirty women, aged 50 to 75 years were allocated to either receive massage or a control visit where they were given an equal amount of attention.

Light pressure effleurage massage decreased the deterioration of natural killer cells (NK) activity occurring during radiation therapy. Lowered heart rate and systolic blood pressure. No effects were demonstrated on cortisol and diastolic pressure.

The conclution of the study was that single full-body light pressure effleurage massage has a short-term effect on NK cell activity, systolic blood pressure and heart rate in patients with breast cancer.

The long-term clinical importance of these findings needs to be further investigated.

Click here for whole article.

Fibromyalgia . . .

Fibromyalia Syndrome (FMS) is a complex disorder, a loose collection of symptoms. The causes of FMS could be as varied as whiplash or emotional trauma. In 1993 the WHO established the official diagnosis for FMS using the Fibromyalgia Tender Points as a foundation.

Reducing Fibromyalgia Symptoms
With knowledge one can find relief from the debilitating pain.

• Exercise - even tho' this might be the last thing you would like to do, it is very beneficial. Start out with gentle exercise. Take a short walk. Stop before you get tired. Many with FMS find swimming an excellent choice. The most important thing is that you start.
• The food you eat and the amounts are important. Reaccess your diet to improve it for improved health.
  
• Apply heat to the aching muscles using a damp towel, a warm bath, a hot water bottle.
• Massage stimulates blood flow which helps reduce fibromyalgia symptoms. Research has shown that people who received a 30 minute massage twice a week for 5 weeks had less anxiety and depression as well as lower levels of stress hormones than the control group who did not receive massage.
• Meditation, yoga and Tai Chi can help lower stress levels and increase the flow of the beneficial, stress reducing hormones.
• Seek out a medical practitioner who is helpful and compassionate.

A number of factors can make fibromyalgia symptoms worse.
They include:

• Anxiety
• Changes in weather -- for example, cold or humidity
• Depression
• Fatigue
• Hormonal fluctuations such as PMS or menopause
• Infections
• Lack of sleep or restless sleep
• Periods of emotional stress
• Physical exhaustion
• Sedentary lifestyle

Self care . . .

Yoga can be very helpful in relieving tension in your muscles. One set of stretches that are easy to follow is called Sun Salutation. In The Sivananda Companion to Yoga you will find excellent text and illustrations to guide you.

For instructions online:
Click here for instructions YogaSite.com
Click here for instructions at About.com


You need an easier solution for the moment?

Try soma or all of these easy-to-follow steps to get you back on track.

• Breathe deeply and blink you eyes several times.
• Look at the sky or distant object for 30 seconds.
• Repeat several times a day to relieve eye strain.
• Place the palms of your clean hands over your eyes which will warm the area.
• Tighten the muscles around your eyes for two deep breaths.
• Relax the muscles for three deep breaths. Repeat until the muscles of your face feel less strained.
• Clench your jaw muscles, then relax the muscles by moving your jaw and opening and closing your mouth.
• Be conscious of your posture.
• Feel where your muscles are tight.
• Focus on the tension.
• Tighten that group of muscles then let the muscles relax.
• Repeat several times until tension diminishes.

Don't forget o make an appointment for a massage session!

Self care . . .

Ever have the feeling of a knot between your shoulders?

For an easy and inexpensive way to release that tension, put a tennis ball (does not need to be new) inside a long tube sock. The sock will help you position the ball where you need it.

Take a few deep relaxing breaths. Hold one end of the sock above one shoulder with the rest of the sock hanging down your back. With your other hand reach behind and grab the other end of the sock. Using a solid wall, lean back on the ball. Position the ball by moving your shoulders around so the ball is on the first sore place. Lean back on the ball for 10 - 90 seconds until you feel the discomfort diminish. Move the ball to the next sore spot and repeat. End with a few deep relaxing breaths.

At the end of the session have a glass of water or a cup of soothing tisane (herb tea). This can help to keep you maintained between massage sessions!

Whiplash . . .

and what you can do

in an article by Hope Bentley

Whiplash: How to Heal a Pain in the Neck

• learn what Whiplash is
• how it can occur
• what the symptom are
• and what you can do to get on the path to wellness

Whiplash can also trigger an episode of fibromyalgia, PTSD or CFS.

Massage Can Help

Any massage that causes a general relaxation of the client's muscles can help relieve muscular pain in common types of whiplash injuries. In addition, massage increases the amount of oxygen that reaches the healing tissues and opens those tissues so they can receive oxygen and nutrients, thus speeding the healing process.

For the complete article, click here

Suzanne Brown, LMT

Certificate of Completion and Achievement - Fibromyalgia and Massage
Certificate of Achievement - Frozen Shoulder Syndrome
Certificate of Completion - Therapeutic Reflexology
Certificate - Hot Rock Massage
Nationally Certified Massage Therapist & Bodyworker
Reiki Practitioner
Member ABMP