immune system

Massage Therapy Benefits Your Immune System

Amanda Sullivan Healthy Lifestyle, Massage Therapy, seasonal stress, Zen Massage , , , , ,

No one can deny the restorative healing power of massage. Reducing pain, depression, anxiety and stress, along with boosting our immunity. All of which have an effect on our mental and physical well-being. Pain affects our lives and our quality of life.  

Massage is known to help reduce pain by increasing blood flow, easing inflammation, and reducing muscle tightness.

It’s a well-known fact that individuals who have a high level of stress are more prone to injury and illness. Reduction of stress is another benefit of massage. Stress is known to elevate your heart rate, cause elevation of the stress hormone cortisol, which inhibits weight gain, elevate blood pressure, cause headaches, digestive problems, sleep problems, heart disease, memory and concentration issues just to name a few. 

These all affect our immune system and make us physically ill. You may not be able to remove all the stress in your life, but you can take stress-reducing measures which are healthy choices.

Research has shown that receiving regular massage therapy helps boost our immune system and flush toxins, increasing blood flow throughout the body. Massage increases the activity of white blood cells that help our body fight diseases and may help with the reduction of cortisol.

Remember to only receive a massage when feeling healthy, as a regular routine. Massage in combination with other complementary and conventional treatments can help you look and feel your best. When you look and feel your best you are at the top of your game and you become more productive at home, work, sports, and in your everyday life.

Massage therapy is an excellent choice as a complementary therapy to conventional health care. 

Be open and honest with your massage therapist, if you are under the care of a physician for a specific ailment, check with them about massage. It may be an option for you. It’s not meant to take place of, nor postpone seeing your health care provider for any medical or mental issues. If you have a health condition and are unsure if massage would be right for you, please discuss any concerns with your healthcare provider. 

Here are a few tips for reducing stress and boosting your immune system:

  • Accept that there are events that you cannot control.
  • Try to keep a positive attitude.
  • Try to halt stress in its tracks, yes it’s hard when you can’t control it.
  • Manage your time. Give yourself time to get things done; don’t overwhelm yourself, you know your limits.
  • Do things you enjoy, like cooking, reading or gardening.
  • Take 15 to 20 minutes every day to sit quietly and reflect. Learn and practice relaxation techniques like yoga or deep breathing.
  • Exercise regularly.
  • Avoid alcohol, recreational drugs and don’t smoke.
  • Eat healthy, well-balanced meals.
  • Get enough rest and sleep, your body needs to recover and repair itself.
  • Get a regular massage which will help lower your stress level and increase your immune system.
  • Seek out social support.

See your healthcare provider as needed, especially if things feel beyond your control.

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Amazing Benefits of Consistent Massage

Amanda Sullivan Healthy Lifestyle, Massage Service, Specials, Zen Massage , , , , , ,

Amazing Benefits of Consistent Massage

Most of us have experienced that sense of relaxation and wellbeing that sets in after one massage. But have you thought about the benefits of enjoying massage on a regular basis? 

Massage is a great mode of preventative care when used on a consistent basis. In fact, in many cultures, use it every day. 

Receiving massage on a regular basis comes with amazing benefits for your body:

Increase in ‘Happy Hormones’

Massage boosts levels of the hormones serotonin and oxytocin and combats the creation of the stress hormone cortisol. Serotonin sends your body a calming message and oxytocin makes you feel better overall. Massage helps to regulate these hormones levels.

Reduce Chronic Pain

Chronic pain can come from sitting at a desk all day, having poor posture, or from an injury.  Massage helps increase blood flow throughout the entire body, it reduces inflammation and pain. Massage also helps to move toxins from the muscles, which promotes healing from generalized muscle tension or injury.

Improved Flexibility

Massage therapy is a fantastic way to maintain and improve flexibility as well as range of motion. Massage modalities like sports and deep tissue focus on muscle tension, connective tissues, joints, tendons, and ligaments. Getting massage on a regular basis will help keep your joints in good health and your muscles agile.

Enhanced Sleep Quality

Pressure applied during a massage triggers the creation of melatonin, the hormone your body releases for quality sleep. If you suffer from insomnia, get a massage right before bed.

Chronic Headache Relief

Headaches are often caused by stress, depleted energy, or poor circulation. Because massage improves blood flow to the heart and releases hormones that are effective in producing relaxation, a massage can be just the thing to kick your headaches for good.

Strengthened Immune System

Massage boosts your immune system by helping to release illness fighting white blood cells. These blood cells will help your immune system fight the common cold or flu, as well as promote overall wellness.

So, the benefits of enjoying a massage on a regular basis speak for themselves.

Working with the same massage therapist regularly can similarly enhance your wellbeing. It allows them to gauge your overall muscle health on a more consistent basis. They will become familiar with any problem areas or personal preferences you might have, making the massage experience that much more powerful.

Get Consistent Massages with a ZEN MEMBERSHIP 

Monthly Maintenance Massage Membership 

Join Zen Massage Membership with an introductory $50 Massage (normally $65), when you sign up for a 12-month massage membership.

Don’t think of massages as one-time treats, indulgences, or rewards for a tough week. Regular therapeutic services truly elevate your everyday life, smoothing out the rough spots, helping you be your best and making it easier to deal with life’s curveballs. 
At Zen Massage, we offer a lifestyle, a better way to live. Our Membership Programs are designed to facilitate an overall feeling of well-being that gets even better with each session. 
Become a Member today and experience first-hand that life feels better when lived at it’s fullest.
12-month Massage Membership details – 60 Minute Massage – $65 Per Month with a 12-month membership.
Call Today to Sign up for your Membership (801) 467-3529

BEGIN YOUR JOURNEY TO HEALTH & WELLNESS 

Membership Information and Terms:

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Zen Massage in Salt Lake City – (801) 467-3529

Book My Zen Massage

5520 South Van Winkle Expy

Salt Lake City, UT 84117

Value of Massage Therapy for Surgical Pain

Amanda Sullivan Educational, Healthy Lifestyle, Massage Therapy, Therapy Sports Injury , , , , , , , ,

Massage Therapy for Surgical Pain

Massage therapy can be effective for reducing pain intensity/severity and anxiety in patients undergoing surgical procedures.

That was the conclusion of a collaborative meta-analysis of research on massage therapy for pain conducted by Samueli Institute, commissioned by the Massage Therapy Foundation, with support from the American Massage Therapy Association.

The review and analysis was published in the September issue of the journal Pain Medicine.

The study concludes that patients should consider massage therapy as a therapeutic option to help manage their pain and anxiety from surgical procedures.

About the Study

This systematic review and meta-analysis was the first to rigorously assess the quality of massage therapy research and evidence for its efficacy and effectiveness in treating pain, function-related and health-related quality of life outcomes for people with various types of surgical pain and anxiety.

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Book Your ZEN Massage in SLC today!

(801) 467-3529

5520 South Van Winkle Expy

Salt Lake City, UT 84117

 

How Our Bodies Register the Power of Touch

Amanda Sullivan Blog, Educational, Healthy Lifestyle, Massage Therapy , , , , , , ,

The Surprising Science Behind the Healing Power of Touch

By Anne Mullens with additional research by Jennifer Krissilas, Reader’s Digest Canada

It’s the sense that we most often take for granted—and one cannot live without. Check out the surprising science behind the healing power of touch.

How Our Bodies Register the Power of Touch

Of our five senses, touch is often the one we take for granted. Science has only begun to understand the highly complex system of nerves, sensors and receptors that link our skin and brain to our environment and the people around us.

“There’s still so much we don’t know about touch sensations,” says David J. Linden, a professor of neuroscience at Johns Hopkins University and the author of 2015’s Touch: The Science of Hand, Heart, and Mind. What we do know, he says, is that there are separate sensors for texture, vibration, pressure and itch.

One of the leading touch researchers in the world is Dr. Håkan Olausson, professor of clinical neuroscience at Linköping University in Sweden. He was part of a team that found special touch fibres, called C-tactile afferent fibres, which are responsible for regis­tering and transmitting to the brain the emotional meaning of gentle strokes and caresses. These nerves respond optimally when touched at around 32 C—the temperature of a human hand. “They are particularly sensitive to caresses but also respond to many other types of touch, such as pressing on the skin,” Olausson says.

When the CT fibres aren’t working properly, a gentle touch instead feels aversive and can undermine attempts to form emotional connections to others, says Francis McGlone, a neuroscientist at Liverpool John Moores University in England. CT stimulation, when delivered through nurturing touch, impacts the neural networks in our brains that allow us to see ourselves as separate beings with needs that are different from others. Without this ability, individ­uals may be unable to read emotional cues, making it difficult for them to empathize. Research last year, led by McGlone, found that children on the autism spectrum may have a difference in the functioning of their CT fibres that causes them to find soft touch from others unpleasant.

For individuals whose CT fibres function normally, however, touch can bring a great amount of bene­fit, McGlone says. Gentle contact can reinforce social relationships, communicate positive feelings, and even make us more capable of dealing with stress.

 

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5 Reasons to Get a Massage This Fall

Amanda Sullivan Educational, Healthy Lifestyle, Massage Service, Massage Therapy, Zen Massage , , , , , , , , ,

5 Reasons to Get a Massage This Fall

Changes in weather from season to season cause physiological changes in your body, you might notice some symptoms as a result. Massage therapy increases the number of killer cells that your body naturally produces and uses as its first line of defense against sickness. This is just one of several reasons you may want to consider getting a massage this fall.

Massage Supports Your Immune System

One of the physiological changes that you might experience when the seasons turn from summer to fall is a weakened immune system. This is because the drop in temperature makes your body rebalance itself faster than usual. Massages support a healthy immune system, which protects you from seasonal illnesses such as allergies and the flu. According to a study, massage therapy increases the number of killer cells that your body naturally produces and uses as its first line of defense against sickness. It does this by stimulating your lymph nodes to remove harmful bacteria, toxins, and waste. Getting a massage can even help you get over a cold.

Helps Your Body Heal

Summer activities and sports such as kayaking, running and swimming give you the exercise that you need to maintain a healthy lifestyle and flexibility. Even going on a road trip or vacation with the family can be exercise. However, a lot of exercise can take a toll on your body and cause dehydration over time. After all of the activities that you participate in during the summer, it’s important to allow your body to recover. A massage can help this process along before the physiological changes occur in your body.

Gives You More Energy

Cooler temperatures and shorter days come with the changing of the leaves, and you might feel less inclined to spend time outdoors or be active. Continuing to exercise and participate in sports, however, can reduce the toll that winter takes on your levels of energy. Similarly, getting a massage increases the flow of blood and oxygen through your body. This makes it easier for your circulatory system to deliver nutrients where they’re needed, which gives you an energy boost.

Improves Sleep

Most people feel cranky when they don’t sleep well or enough, but did you know that poor sleep can lead to chronic conditions such as depression and cardiovascular disease. It’s not always easy to get eight hours of sleep every night, particularly when your body is going through a physiological transition at the beginning of fall. Studies show that getting a massage increases serotonin levels so that you can fall asleep faster and stay asleep longer.

Relieves Seasonal Stress

Along with the physiological transitions that come with the passing of summer into fall are the stresses of modern living. Some of these include the return to school, extra lawn maintenance, and preparation for the holidays to come. The hustle and bustle of fall can catch up to you, exposing you to illnesses that only a healthy immune system can fight. Massage therapy helps to melt the stress away so that you can take a breather. It’s also a great way to renew your commitment to taking care of yourself.

The significant benefits of massage therapy on your body and mind are too good to ignore. Allow your body to recover and relax with a massage.  Book Now 

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Why We All Need to Touch and Be Touched

Amanda Sullivan Educational, Healthy Lifestyle, Massage Advantage, Zen Massage , , , ,

Why We All Need to Touch and Be Touched

Our mind, brain, and body are not separate from each other.

Sharon K. Farber Ph.D. | The Mind-Body Connection

Being touched and touching someone else are fundamental modes of human interaction, and increasingly, many people are seeking out their own “professional touchers” and body arts teachers– chiropractors, physical therapists, Gestalt therapists, Rolfers, the Alexander-technique and Feldenkrais people, massage therapists, martial arts and T’ai Chi Ch’uan instructors. And some even wait in physicians’ offices for a physical examination for ailments that have no organic cause—they wait to be touched.

The body-oriented approaches are based on a principle that is becoming more obvious to researchers. Ken Wilbur wrote in The Spectrum of Consciousness , “For every mental ‘problem’ or ‘knot’, there is a corresponding bodily ‘knot’, and vice versa since, in fact, the body and the mind are not two. That is, psychic conflict, guilt, shame, unresolved grief all can be lodged in the body as body memories, and when the site of the psychic difficulty is deeply touched through massage or other manipulation, it can not only release the physical pain but may make the psychic pain accessible.

Soon after my mother died I developed a case of “frozen shoulder”. It causes stiffness and pain in the shoulder joint and often occurs for no known reason. My doctor had told me that because my shoulder was “frozen”, there must be adhesions, or scar tissue that were freezing up my shoulder joint. And probably my body lacked something called synovial fluid, needed to lubricate the shoulder joint. I asked him what. He could not tell me what caused this to happen because medicine does not really understand why. I like to understand why things happen the way they do and he could not tell me. But I was in pain. I could not sleep in the usual position I sleep in, I couldn’t reach for something on a shelf without feeling pain. He referred me for physical therapy and so I made an appointment.

As I lay on the examining table, the physical therapist came in, smiled, introduced herself and explained what she was going to do. As soon as she put her warm hands on my bare shoulder, tears welled up in my eyes. I was surprised and embarrassed and turned my head away from her gaze so that she would not see. I suspect she noticed. She continued examining me and I relaxed and found that I enjoyed it. It felt like a massage, something I am not used to having. She recommended that I come in three times a week and I had to arrange my schedule to do that. She did various exercises with me that I was advised to do at home. As I followed her instructions, I thought and felt a great deal about my mother, with whom I had a complex and ambivalent relationship. I stretched and cried, cried and stretched, wrote about what I was feeling, and after a few months I was better. The pain of my loss had lodged itself in my body, and a woman’s warm touch started to release it. It also probably released some oxytocin in me, the hormone of love and attachment. As I mourned her loss over several months, I realized something. I had had a hard time crying for my mother, whom I loved very much but whom I was angry with too. When there are difficulties in mourning a loss, somatic or psychological difficulties may present themselves. The body speaks when we do not have words for what we are feeling. The therapist’s warm touch on my shoulder was lubrication for my soul, needed for me to let go and feel the loss, complicated and ambivalent as it was.

Treatment that uses direct touch can have a depth and potency that can have a great therapeutic impact, which provides some explanation for why so many people are seeking out their own “professional touchers” or are filling the waiting rooms of physicians, waiting for the doctor to find the cause of the pain and make them better. In the process, they are touched. When the patient is assured that the work of the professional toucher is free from infringement, that sexual contact is clearly out of bounds, and that the patient can say “no” to any intervention the body-work practioner proposes, then the patient can have the experience of trust and physical touch in the context of a controlled respectful relationship.

Nature is so intelligent for creating oxytocin, the hormone of love and attachment. Kerstin Uvnas Moberg became a world authority on ocytocin through her personal experience. When she was pregnant, delivered, and nursed her four children, she was struck by feeling a state of mind so different from the stress she was used to in connection with life’s other challenges. Wanting to understand this scientifically, she learned that there is a key biological marker—oxytocin—that can explain this sense of calm and connectedness in pregnancy, childbirth, and nursing, and through this research, discovered that oxytocin is able to influence many vital operations in the body. Her research showed that the level of oxytocin in the blood during nursing was correlated with the mothers’ subjective experiences of calmness, and ability to interact with their babies. Oxytocin stimulates growth during pregnancy and stimulates the uterus to expel the newborn It restores the balance between stress and calm It stimulates the muscle activity of orgasm (in both men and women) and can strengthen the attachment bond. We are told that “oxytocin is with us throughout our lives.” She wrote that

When you were born, oxytocin helped expel you from your mother’s womb and made it possible for her to nurse you..As a small child, you enjoyed your mother’s and father’s loving touch because it released oxytocin in your body. As an adult, you experience the effects of oxytocin when you enjoy good food, or a massage, or an intimate interlude with your romantic partner (Uvnas Moberg 2003, p. 65).

If you’d like to learn more about oxytocin, read Uvnas Moberg’s book The Oxytocin Factor: Tapping the Hormone of Calm, Love, and Healing.

When people lack love and touch in their lives this can result in bodily self harm, such as in eating disorders or self-mutilation. If you’d like to learn more about this and about “professional touchers” , read my book, When the Body Is the Target: Self-Harm, Pain, and Traumatic Attachments.

Source : Psychology Today

How to Have the Best Massage Experience

Amanda Sullivan Blog, Educational, Healthy Lifestyle, Massage Therapy, Zen Massage , , , , , , , , , ,

It’s no surprise that a massage can seriously soothe your mind and body, and you already know a solid rubdown has impressive health perks, like better blood circulation, amped immunity, anxiety relief, and even improved sleep quality.

But beyond the obvious, there’s a lot to wonder about the magic of massage. Few therapies are quite so up-close-and-personal, so to avoid awkward moments, wasted cash, and most importantly potential pain, it’s crucial to be in the know.

How to have the best possible massage experience

It’s Fine to Get Naked

It can be a little uncomfortable to strip down to your birthday suit in front of someone you’ve never met, but really, it’s totally normal. Remember, massage therapists are trained professionals and your undressing can actually lead to a better appointment. Undress to the point of where you feel comfortable, professionals keep you covered with sheets or draping where appropriate, but you should know that undergarments can sometimes get in the way of long strokes or pressure points and inhibit you from experiencing the best massage possible.

Remember to Breathe

When your massage therapist is working out a particularly bad knot, it can be tempting to tense up a little bit and hold your breath. Please, don’t do this, or you may miss out on one of the major benefits of that rubdown. It’s crucial that you breathe fully and deeply when difficult areas are being worked on so as to oxygenate your blood supply and aid tense muscles.

Drink a Ton of Water After Your Appointment

It’s especially important to hydrate post-massage. Like when working out, your muscle tissues can become dehydrated during a massage. Drinking plenty of water after your massage is very helpful in rehydration, building healthy muscle tissue, and removing wastes that accumulate as your muscles are worked out.

A Warm Shower Before

For the best possible rubdown, it’s important to take care of yourself before you step foot in the spa. The easiest and most relaxing way to prep? A long, hot shower. The relaxation effect of a warm shower on both the mind and the muscles will help you be less tense during the session, which will benefit you as well as the therapist. Also, being and feeling clean can help mitigate body insecurities if they come into play. Plus, the therapist will appreciate your cleanliness for obvious reasons

Hit the Gym Before Your Massage

Definitely pump the weights, cycle or take the run before, not after, your massage. The muscles you work may be a little tired from the exercise itself, but should be nicely warmed up for the massage.  Working out immediately after a massage is not a good idea as you are likely to stress and strain the muscles that were just relaxed.

Request Your Preferred Massage Style When You Schedule

There’s nothing worse than leaving the spa feeling, well, meh. While they’re trained to help your body, massage therapists can’t read your mind, so it’s best to tell the receptionist if you have any preference of therapists, pressure, or massage types when you book your appointment. This will help ensure you’re matched with someone who will be able to best work with your needs—for example, relaxation vs. deep tissue injury work.

Be Strategic About Timing

While there’s no perfect hour to schedule a massage, you still probably want to consider the timing of your appointment. To do this, think about what makes sense for you and your schedule. Some people feel invigorated after receiving massage and use it to start their days, while others like to eliminate stress from work and life with massage after a long day, and relax knowing they are done for the day.

Bodily Functions, Well, Happen…

Massages are sure to chill you out, but did you know they can also improve your digestion? So, if you’re getting a rub down and hear some grumbling noises and yes, even flatulence, don’t freak. It’s easy to be embarrassed, but there’s absolutely no need to be: “It’s not uncommon for people to pass gas during a massage session, it’s completely normal,” says, Dr. Helen Litovsky, Massage Therapist at Zen Massage. If you’re worried, avoid any high-fiber foods before your appointment. Litovsky also suggests hitting the bathroom before your session and not drinking too much water right before you hit the table, since there’s nothing worse than having to pee while someone is pressing on your bladder.    

Avoid Eating Right Before

Generally, a full meal right before you hit the spa is a no-go, as massage certainly stimulates digestion. Eat lightly right before a massage, and have a meal a few hours prior. Don’t starve yourself in the preceding hours, as you may feel dizzy or light headed during the massage as a result. Eating lightly one to two hours beforehand will allow for digestion while not making you feel uncomfortably full.

Speak Up

It may seem out of place to tell your massage therapist to do “more of this” or “less of that,” but that’s exactly what they want you to do. In fact, the worst thing you can do is say, “I just want a good massage”. During the massage, you shouldn’t be afraid to tell your therapist if something is uncomfortable, the pressure is not right, or if you have a question about what your therapist is doing. Be sure to ask them to spend more time on a certain area if that is what you want—at the end of the session is too late, and this is your massage.

It Shouldn’t Hurt

A little pain is necessary to get the job done, right? Not necessarily. There may be slight pain in stretching or having tight or tensed muscles worked on, but relaxation really is the key. If too much force is provided, the muscle tightens up more and creates even more pain and possibly bruising muscle and damage. So, again, be sure to let your therapist know if something hurts. We promise, they won’t be offended.

If You Feel Any Soreness, Treat It

Your muscles can get a little sore after a massage for the same reason they do after a stellar exercise session: They’re being worked pretty hard! You wouldn’t ignore tight or painful muscles after a long run, so you shouldn’t after an intense rubdown either. After deep work, icing is recommended to lessen the immediate soreness. Light stretching is a nice touch too, because the muscles are warmed up, so light yoga or even getting an adjustment at a chiropractor after is perfect harmony.

Communicate any distractions

If the music makes you uncomfortable in any way, or the temperature of the room becomes too cold, let your therapist know immediately. These distractions will take you away from your body,  and ultimately your relaxation.

One Rubdown Every Few Years Isn’t Going to Do Much

ZEN Massage in Salt Lake City. Has monthly memberships to make your massages more affordable. We know you live a busy life, we are here to help take your mind off the daily stresses and make your massage therapy experience as relaxing as possible. Try our online scheduling feature to schedule your next massage.

Reduce stress and feel great, with the best masseurs in Salt Lake City, Book with ZEN Massage today!

(801) 467-3529

5520 South Van Winkle Expy

Salt Lake City, UT 84117

 

Relaxation & Good Health Habits | Zen Massage Salt Lake

Amanda Sullivan Blog, Educational, Healthy Lifestyle , , , , , , ,

 

We’d all like to live a healthier life. But where to start?

One step at a time as the saying goes. Habits are hard to break but easier to start. Here are seven simple ways to launch yourself into a healthier lifestyle.

Pick fresh seasonal veggies, berries, and fruits

Knowing How to Choose Fresh Fruits and Vegetables is key. If you are unsure when it comes to choosing ripe good fruit, check out this great article from Family Circle.

Picking fruit and veggies in season in your area is also a great way to stay healthy. Find out when local Utah Seasonal Fruits & Vegetables are best here.

Eat more healthy fats

According to Fitness Magazine – The Big Fat Truth: Why Non-Fat Isn’t the Answer – Of your total daily calories, 25 to 30 percent should come from fat. The keys: Pick good-for-you fats, and limit the bad kinds. Don’t know a saturated from a poly? Here’s the skinny on which fats to eat and which to avoid.

 

Be hungry more often

It’s being discovered that Intermittent fasting brings great benefits, it protects your brain, slows aging & fights cancer.  Why Intermittent Fasting Is The Best Thing To Ever Happen To Your Metabolism

When it comes to intermittent fasting, there are several options. Some people eat only during an eight-hour window. For example, you can eat from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., then fast from 6 p.m. to 10 a.m. Or you can fast for 24 to 36 hours once or twice weekly. There are also several ways to deal with hunger cravings and stay hydrated. You can stick with just water or add some combination of coffee, green tea, and fiber. My good friend, Dr. Kellyann Petrucci, author of The Bone Broth Diet, recommends drinking bone broth during a fast. I’ve tried this fasting technique, and it’s my absolute favorite way to do it.

Before you begin fasting you should know if fasting is right for you.

Sleep & Relax More

Healthy Sleep Basics – Along with nutrition and exercise, sleep is one of the three pillars of a healthy lifestyle. Healthy sleep improves your health and quality of life in a variety of ways:

Healthy sleep is vital for your physical health

Healthy sleep is essential for your mental health

Healthy sleep improves your memory and focus

Healthy sleep promotes personal and public safety

Get less processed food, less salt

How to cut back on highly processed foods

  • Start slowly. 
  • Supplement your meals with fresh foods. 
  • Fewer sugar-sweetened beverages, more water. 
  • Stop adding salt to foods. 
  • Choose whole grains over processed grains. 
  • Limit or avoid processed meats. 
  • Plan ahead. 
  • Use substitutes for highly processed snacks and foods.

Think fun!

Take a deep breath and smile. A rose by any other name might smell as sweet. But call exercise by another name and it might do you more good, a pair of experiments suggest.

In one, 46 adults went for a 2-kilometer walk around a lake. Half were told it was an “exercise walk” and half were told it was a “scenic walk.” When it came time for a mid-afternoon snack, the “exercise” walkers ate more than twice as many M&Ms as the “scenic” walkers — a difference that amounted to 206 additional calories. In the other, the “exercise” group ate 35% more chocolate pudding at lunch.

The key is to think of activity as fun, says Brian Wansink, director of the Cornell University Food and Brand Lab and one of the researchers involved in the experiments. If you tell yourself you’re working out, you’re likely to reward yourself by eating more. “So tell yourself it’s personal time,” Wansink says. “Say, ‘I’m doing this for me.’”

Relax with Zen Massage This Fall

Amanda Sullivan Educational, Massage Therapy, seasonal stress, Zen Massage , , , , , , , , ,

Do your joints hurt when a storm is coming?

You can thank changes in barometric pressure for that. Though our joints aren’t the only part of our bodies affected by the weather. Changes in weather cause physiological changes in our bodies. This is one of the several reasons why you should consider getting a massage @ZenMassage this fall.

Support Your Immune System

Feeling a bit under the weather? Many of us experience a weakened immune system when the seasons turn from summer to fall. This is because the drop in temperature makes our bodies rebalance faster than usual. Massage supports a healthy immune system, which helps protect us from seasonal illnesses. According to a study, massage therapy increases the number of killer cells that your body naturally produces and uses as its first line of defense against sickness. It does this by stimulating your lymph nodes to remove harmful bacteria, toxins, and waste. Massage may even help get you over a cold.

Promote Healing

Summer fun can take its toll on your body. Hiking, running and swimming all give you the exercise you need to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Even going on vacation with the family can be exercise. Although too much exercise can cause dehydration over time. After all the activities you participated in during the summer, it’s important to allow your body to recover. Massage helps this healing process along.

Feel More Energetic

Cold temperatures and short days come with the changing of leaves, making us less inclined to spend time outdoors or be active. But by continuing to exercise and participate in sports, we can reduce the toll that winter takes on our levels of energy. Similarly, getting a massage increases the flow of blood and oxygen through our bodies. Making it easier for our circulatory systems to deliver nutrients where they’re needed, giving us an energy boost.

Improve Sleep

Cranky when you don’t sleep well? Poor sleep can lead to chronic conditions such as depression and cardiovascular disease. We know, it’s not always easy to get eight hours of sleep every night, particularly when our bodies are going through physiological transitions at the beginning of fall. Studies show that getting a massage increases serotonin levels, which helps you fall asleep faster and stay asleep longer.

Massage Seasonal Stress Away

With the physiological transitions, come the fall stresses of modern living: returning to school, extra lawn maintenance, preparation for the holidays. The rush and stress of fall can leave you vulnerable to illnesses that only a healthy immune system can fight. Massage therapy helps melt the stress away so that you can relax.

Massage helps relax tight painful muscles, improves range of motion in the joints, enhances circulation and lowers stress levels. Stress is considered a risk factor for many chronic diseases and can make symptoms worse. Feelings of stress that continue for long periods have a detrimental effect on the body. Massage helps you relax, calming the mind and body and relieving your stress.

The significant benefits of massage therapy on your body and mind are too great to ignore. Allow your body to recover and relax with a massage from Zen Massage Salt Lake City.

Renew your commitment to taking care of yourself with a massage @ZenMassageSaltLakeCity.

 

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