Vitamin M

If you’re receiving this newsletter, the odds are that you have received at least one massage (from us). Therefore, you are not looking to be ‘sold’ on the idea that getting a massage can be good for you. However, many patients are unaware of the core strengths that make a massage REALLY good for your health and wellbeing.

According to a recent study conducted at the University of Miami and Duke University, massage was shown to reduce (↓↓) cortisol levels by an average of 38% and increase (↑↑) levels of serotonin and dopamine by an average of 30% and 40% respectively.

↓↓Cortisol= 🙂

Cortisol has been found to reduce the amount of killer cells in the body, which help fight off viruses, cancer cells and other infections. Thus increased levels of cortisol can lead to an inhibited immune system.

↑↑Serotonin & Dopamine= 🙂

Serotonin is a neurotransmitter used to regulate mood, appetite, and sleep (who doesn’t want that). Dopamine, like serotonin, is also a neurotransmitter. Dopamine is most noted for its role in regulating mood, specifically related to reward motivated behavior. This is notably important because of its regulation on stress and depression.

Maintaining appropriate hormone levels is paramount to a healthy immune system. There are several means by which these levels can be achieved, such as yoga, meditation or even walking your dog. However, a clinical massage is always aimed at helping your body to regulate and maintain balance as well as zero in on those aches and pains.

Please Pass the Mustard

I’m going to go way out on a limb and guess that the last time you had a leg cramp your immediate reaction was to either stretch it, rub it, ice it or a combination of any of these responses. What if I told you that you should eat some yellow mustard for an almost…

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Cheers to More Energy, Mental Clarity and Focus in 2015!

The following post is contributed by Anne Turnbull. Ann is a global business development leader with Max International, a company in the forefront of glutathione research and development. She is a frequent presenter to audiences in Canada, US and Africa and is passionate about spreading the word about the importance of glutathione for good health.…

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Wake Up and Smell the Coffee

Do you recall the days in college that you would brew a pot of coffee to get through the occasional all nighter? Today, you have an endless supply of vices to curb that ‘energy fix’ we all crave. From Red Bull to Death Wish coffee (yes, that’s an actual brand), you can all get your…

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Running is as easy as 1-2-3

There are two kinds of runners in the world; those who love it and those who don’t. I am definitely the latter of the group. However, the one thing they all have in common is, you guessed it, running. Regardless of whether you are enjoying your time on your run or not, we all know…

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Head Games

To paraphrase the great Yogi Berra; Running is 90% physical and the other half is mental. No one ever claimed to understand the old Yankee skipper, but we knew what he was attempting to say when he was discussing the ability to master the game of baseball. The same holds true with running (and many…

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What’s the Scoop on your Poop?

Being the father of two little girls, I know I have my work cut out for me. I have come to accept that there are lessons that I can teach my children and there are others lessons they will simply have to learn through personal experience. One of the lessons I constantly remind them of…

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Your Referrals Can Be A ‘Real’ Pain

No, I don’t mean the favor of your referrals of friends and family. We LOVE to get those. Today I want to talk about a type of pain known as ‘referred pain’. Referred pain is something that all of us have experienced at one time or another, yet may not have known what was happening.…

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What are Shin Splints?

What are Shin Splints? We treat a lot of different conditions at The Boston Bodyworker, ranging from general stress and fatigue to chronic pain. One of the more popular complaints we get from our running population is shin splints. If you have ever had them, you know how uncomfortable the pain can be and how…

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Let’s Talk About Sex!

There are three areas of conversation that we are told too avoid at all cost while in the treatment room; sex, politics and religion. These subjects are clearly based upon ones personal opinions and beliefs and are rarely needed to provide sound clinical outcomes in massage therapy. Today, I am making an exception. New research…

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Tips on “That” Tape

Over the past year or so, we have seen a heightened interest in “that cool looking tape” otherwise known as kinesiology tape. The tape has become more and more popular and is now even being sold in places like Target and City Sports. To weekend warriors, success with this new tape has been a bag…

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