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Massage Therapy for Nurses

Amanda Sullivan Alternative medicine, Massage Therapy, Zen Massage , , , , , ,

Nurses suffer from back pain, neck pain, stress, and anxiety on a daily basis. A relaxing massage might just be the trick to rejuvenate and energize a worn-down nurse.

The Stressed-out Nurse:

With demanding schedules and workloads, nurses are under more stress than ever! This work-related stress takes a physical and mental toll in every facet of their lives. According to a 2016 study that examined 120 nurses from a Midwestern Hospital in the United States, they found that “92% of nurses had moderate, high or very high levels of work-related stress”.

This stress may lead to health issues, negative coping behaviors, and poor work performance. All of which can result in workplace burn-out, for dedicated nursing professionals.

The need for nurses is growing much faster than the average for all occupations. The reasoning being, that an increased emphasis is being placed on preventative care, growing rates of chronic conditions (diabetes and obesity), and the increased demand for healthcare services from the baby-boomer population. Baby-boomers are living longer and have much more active lives, than generations of the past.

How can we help our nurses?

If our nurses suffer, so do we! To help, we first must understand what their stress may be doing to their physical and mental health.

Unresolved stress has been shown to have numerous adverse effects on the body. Per the Mayo Clinic “stress symptoms can affect your body, your thoughts, your feelings, and behavior. Stress can contribute to many health problems, such as high blood pressure, heart disease, obesity, and diabetes.”

Common effects of stress on the body:

  • Headache
  • Muscle tension or pain
  • Chest pain
  • Fatigue
  • Change in sex drive
  • Stomach upset

Common effects of stress on your mood:

  • Anxiety
  • Restlessness
  • Lack of motivation or focus
  • Feeling overwhelmed
  • Irritability or anger
  • Sadness or depression

There are many options available to help reduce or manage stress, such as regular physical activity, relaxation techniques, socializing with family and friends, setting aside time for hobbies, reading, or listening to music. Primarily, learning to take time for yourself, reconnecting with yourself, and unplugging from activities that trigger stress.

Massage therapy is another great way to reduce stress. Massage therapy is scheduled relaxation time. It allows the brain, body, and soul to take a break, regroup and revitalize. The American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA) lists the following benefits from getting a massage:

  • Relieve stress
  • Relieve/reduces pain for (postoperative, low-back, fibromyalgia, osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, chronic neck pain, lower joint replacement pain)
  • Reduce anxiety
  • Reduce muscle tension
  • Enhance exercise performance
  • Relieve tension headaches
  • Sleep better
  • Ease symptoms of depression
  • Improve cardiovascular health
  • Decrease stress in cancer patients
  • Improve balance in older adults
  • Temper effects of dementia
  • Promote relaxation
  • Lower blood pressure
  • Decrease symptoms of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
  • Increase range of motion
  • Decrease migraine frequency
  • Improve the quality of life
  • Reduce chemotherapy-related nausea

An interesting aspect of massage therapy, is the increased interest by licensed nursing professionals, in also obtaining their massage therapy license. Finding a nurse, which is also trained in massage therapy, provides an asset to the patient and the hospital.

Having a comprehensive educational background in the traditional medical field and combining this knowledge with therapeutic bodywork, allows the nurse massage therapist to aid patients who suffer from a variety of specific medical and physical challenges.

Massage therapy is a benefit to both patient and provider. It is a combination of the nurses’ need to help decrease suffering, effect positive changes in patient health and comfort, and manage stress.

Consider treating yourself, a loved one, a co-worker, or a healthcare provider, with the benefits that massage therapy can provide. It could make a world of difference!

Book Yourself or Your Favorite Nurse a Massage @ Zen Massage

If you want the best masseurs in Salt Lake City, set up an appointment with ZEN Massage today! Book Online or Call (801) 467-3529

Zen Massage

5520 South Van Winkle Expy

Salt Lake City, UT 84117

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Summer Special 90 Min Massage & Spa treatment

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

While we all love summer, sometimes the endless days of trudging through the city and sweating it out in the dry mountain trails of Utah can leave us begging for a cool escape. A weekend away might be calling your name, but then, of course, there’s the traffic and rush which can make a relaxing few days out of town seem more like a bother than a blessing. So in the spirit of relaxation, we decided to create the perfect staycation to help our fellow Utahans escape the heat and enjoy a little “me time” without all the travel worries. This summer we offer a Special 90 Minute Massage & Spa treatment to help you unwind and look like you’ve just come back from an exotic holiday.

Speaking of dryness, if your skin is feeling tight and flaky from head to toe, Our Cooling Summer 90 Minute Massage will most certainly put you back on course. This treatment begins on a warm massage table where an aromatherapy scrub of your choice is applied. For summertime, we recommend peppermint which cools the skin and smells absolutely divine. The scrub goes to work removing toxins and dead cells while encouraging circulation and filling the body with a blast of energy! Once the scrub is rinsed away, in our private, in-room shower, it’s time to indulge in a truly cooling massage using aromatic oils to hydrate the skin and relax tense muscles.

At Zen Massage in Salt Lake City, UT, we’re celebrating the Summer of Self-Love and we want to help you make regular wellness a priority. Check out our amazing summer specials and discounts and make today the day that you put YOU first with a rejuvenating trip to Zen Massage. We will see you soon!

Book online: https://bit.ly/2ZYVnMK

(801) 467-3529

5520 South Van Winkle Expy

Salt Lake City, UT 84117

Book online: https://bit.ly/2ZYVnMK

Summer Special 90 Minute Massage & Spa treatment.

Ease Anxiety with Massage Therapy

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

Complementary and alternative medicines (CAM) are unconventional types of products and practices that are being used to treat a variety of medical and mental health conditions.

Over the past several years, CAM practices have grown in popularity and are often used in combination with more traditional medical practices. Some common CAM practices include acupuncture, yoga, and aromatherapy.

Massage therapy is a type of CAM practice that is often used to treat muscle pain, injury, and stiffness. Massage therapy has more recently been used for the treatment of mental and emotional problems, including stress, anxiety, and even depression. Also considered a relaxation technique, massage therapy may be able to help reduce tension and elicit feelings of calm and deep relaxation.

Additionally, massage may be able to curb feelings of fear and anxiety, plus assist in managing other panic disorder symptoms.

Massage Therapy Can Help Ease Anxiety and Panic Disorder Symptoms

Massage therapy can help the body relax, which in turn can help one let go of anxious and fearful thoughts. Massage can relieve muscle pain and tension, improve circulation, and increase flexibility. As a relaxation technique, massage therapy can work to manage the fight-or-flight response, or stress reaction, that is typically overactive among people with anxiety disorders.

The fight-or-flight reaction is responsible for causing fearful thoughts and reactions that often far outweigh any actual threat in the environment. For example, people with agoraphobia often fear having a panic attack in a large crowd or confined areas where it would feel embarrassing or difficult to escape.

The fight-or-flight reaction typically leads to uncomfortable physical symptoms, such as shortness of breath, accelerated heart rate, excessive sweating, and chest pain. Massage therapy can have an opposing effect on the body by eliciting the relaxation response, reducing tension, lowering heart rate, and generally making a person feel calmer.

Physical Benefits of Massage

  • Less muscle pain and tension
  • Improved circulation and flexibility
  • Lower heart rate

Mental Benefits of Massage

  • Less anxious thoughts
  • Tamed fight-or-flight response
  • Lower tension and more feelings of calm

Getting Started with Massage Therapy

When meeting with your massage therapist for the first time, make sure to discuss your medical history, including your panic and anxiety symptoms.

It is important to schedule these services with a licensed or certified massage therapist. This ensures that you will get treatment from a qualified practitioner who has followed the standards and requirements for their state licensure.

Let the massage therapist know if you have any areas of discomfort throughout your body. Also discuss what you hope to get out of the massage, such as muscle or stress relief. Many people experience some soreness throughout their body the first few days following a massage. However, you should never feel pain or discomfort during or after a massage. Massage is also contraindicated for certain medical conditions. Always consult your doctor before getting a massage if you are unsure if it’s right for you.

Studies have supported the safety and effectiveness of utilizing massage therapy for stress, anxiety, and depression—but if you are experiencing panic attacks and other symptoms of panic disorder, talk to your doctor before trying this and other CAM practices.

Ask your doctor how Massage therapy could be incorporated into your standard treatment plan to assist you in coping with panic disorder.

Zen Massage

Luxury Massage in Salt Lake City, Utah

(801) 467-3529

5520 South Van Winkle Expy

Salt Lake City, UT 84117

Zen Massage

Source: Therapeutic Massage for Anxiety and Panic Disorder

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.

 

Continue Reading the Original Article Here

Buy a Gift Card from Zen Massage before NOV 30, 2018 and get a Full Year of Discounted Massages.

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

Buy a Gift Card for Someone Special and get a Full Year of Discounted Massages.

When you buy a Gift Card from Zen Massage before NOV 30, 2018 You will get up to 20% off all of your individual Massages for the Year in 2019.

Buy a $50 Gift Card get 5% off your individual Massages for 2019.
Buy a $100 Gift Card get 10% off your individual Massages for 2019.
Buy a $150 Gift Card get 15% off your individual Massages for 2019.
Buy a $200 Gift Card get 20% off your individual Massages for 2019.

 

Click Here or 
Call (801) 467-3529
to order your Gift Cards Today!

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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