bodyworks

Thai-Yoga Massage for Runners
by Karden Rabin, LMT

Running is forever. Fitness trends come and go, but running is a mainstay of exercise for millions of Americans. After all, all one needs is a pair of sneakers and some will power to start running. For many, running is more than fitness, it’s a way of life. Running is their method of stress relief and psychotherapy rolled into one. For others, its becomes a competitive passion. Runners will compete against themselves and/or others in sprints, 5ks, 10ks and even the mighty marathon.

As with anything though, too much of a good thing can become a bad thing. Any habitual motion pattern tends to be hard on the body. Running, because of the distances involved and constant impact with each step, wears the body down quickly. Pavement and concrete are very unforgiving surfaces. Since the ground doesn’t “give” when your foot lands with all its weight, something else has to “give.” Regardless of running shoes, impact is transferred to the skeleton and joints of the body. This causes compression, erosion and inflammation at the joints, especially those of the ankle, knees, hips and low back.

In addition to the impact stress placed on the body, predictable muscle-tension patterns emerge in the calf, hamstrings, gluteus and hip-rotator muscles.  As one runs, these muscles are asked to perform the same actions ad nauseum. The great demands placed on these muscles lead to a build up of waste products like lactic acid, increased tightness due to over-stimulated nerve pathways and general inflammation. As these muscles continue to perform without adequate rest and treatment, they start to become compromised, which leads to supplementary muscles coming in to help, spreading the pain-pattern to other parts of the body.

Eventually, between a combination of impact stress and muscle deterioration, a runner does suffer some sort of injury. The injury then stops the person from running, which, if it’s their only form of fitness and stress-relief, can be a very damaging blow to their health and self-esteem. Fortunately, this scenario is very much avoidable if the runner listens to the warning signs if their body and takes adequate action to support and maintain their hardworking muscles.

It is in this regard that Thai-Yoga Massage can be invaluable. Thai-Yoga Massage was developed in the Buddhist monasteries of Thailand. In their bodywork, they had the wisdom to recognize that stroking and kneading (traditional massage) were not enough to keep the physical body in optimal health. Therefore, they incorporated many of the stretches found in yoga to lengthen and decompress the body. In addition, they refined a method of compression techniques, known as acupressure, that flush the muscles of accumulated tension. The combination of the yogic stretches and acupressure culminated in a very effective and energizing massage modality.

This is exactly the type of massage that runners need to stay healthy. The stretches are incredibly effective at undoing the compression in the joints caused by the impact of running. They lengthen the specific muscle groups that become chronically tight and inflamed as a result of the habitual motions of running. Furthermore, the acupressure soothes and detoxifies the muscle tissues.

Many runners find the strength to run, but they can’t find the will power to give themselves the rest and their body requires. Many runners think that they just need to make certain muscle groups stronger or practice more often. This may be true. But for every yang there is a yin. The body needs rest and nourishment to balance its exertion and exhaustion. Without it, the body begins to crumble under the stress, which results in pain and injury. Thai-Yoga Massage can provide you with the R&R that you need and contribute greatly to pain and injury prevention.

For more details on Thai-Yoga Massage and how it can help you, please visit bodyworkprofessionals.com or call us at 518-389-2200 and ask for Karden Rabin, LMT.

Albany, NY massage

We could not be more pleased to welcome Diane Simpson to our Family of practitioners. Diane comes to us because of a problem with the physical space she had been renting in Troy. From problems come new opportunity and we are the lucky beneficiaries.

Diane is a cranio-sacral therapist rock star. She has been my go to person for years. I admire her skill and have stolen countless techniques from her.

Her schedule has filled up fast here, and I apologize ahead of time if there is a wait of a month or more, but she is worth it.

The only thing better than getting a massage or bodywork sessions is getting one as a gift. At Bodyworks we see everyday how much massage and bodywork can effect a person. It’s not just about feeling good during the session, but giving thanks to a hard working body. Addressing pain before it grows, and freeing your mind by relaxing your body. A bodywork or massage sessions says that you’ve paid attention to what you are feeling, and done something about it. You have taken action that move you toward health.
The best gifts are the ones that everyone wants but never indulge in. Thats why few gifts are as cherished as that of massage because it allows your friend or family member to enjoy a an hour or more of rejuvenation that they might not otherwise allow themselves .This holiday season, you have the opportunity to make a lasting, caring impression on those you love. Give the gift of massage and show that you want to give more than just a present, but the gift of relaxation and health.

Several years ago Capital News channel 9 did a story on me. The link is here.
http://capitalnews9.com/saratoga-county-news-28-content/61739/a-tune-up-for-the-body

There has been a trend in the region in the growing manual massage and bodywork therapy field. Driven by two massage schools in the area, Center for Natural Wellness and The Mildred Elley School of massage, the region has become a new hotbed for manual therapy.

This trend is an answer to the classic spa environment that has existed as the only acceptable place to get a massage. In a spa environment a premium is charged for pampering and packaging. In a bodywork environment the premium is placed on skill of the therapist and effectiveness of the work.

While massage has classically been seen as relaxing and a plausible way to spend and hour, a bodywork session offers more by improving the function of the body. A practitioner may choose from a wide variety of modalities to achieve this goal.

In my 14 years as a bodyworker in the region, I can say that I am delighted by the trend. Being a practitioner of Structural Integration I’ve wanted to open horizons as far as what manual soft tissue manipulation can do. Using Structural Integration as a model, Bodywork Professionals has been a leader of bodywork based businesses.

Bodywork sessions can be more physically challenging and our therapists have set a maximum number of sessions per day. This cuts down on therapist fatigue and ensures each session gets all of that therapist’s skills.

I looked for therapists to work here who saw bodywork the same way I did. In a bodywork session the therapist has to be an excellent listener and empathetic to the client’s needs. This creates a thinking therapist and someone who is working with you rather than just working on you.

We do classic relaxation massage work here, but we empower our clients to ask for the kind of work they’d like. To that end, our goal is to make the most effective work available to the client.