Which is better massage or stretching? 

Massage and stretching are both really helpful ways to keep your muscles relaxed, reduce tension and of course help recovery after an injury.  Stretching helps to get the blood flowing to your muscles, which is great if you’ve injured yourself, or if your muscled are stiff because they’ve contracted due to inactivity.

Giving your muscles a really good stretch can stop your muscles from going into painful spasms or cramps, and stop the knots forming in them that take so much work to get rid of when you have a massage!

Regular massage on the other hand improves your flexibility and range of motion, keeping your joints more fluid and making them less injury prone in the first place. 

What are the differences between massage and stretches - and how do they work together to promote muscle and joint health?

Massage 

What is a massage? Well, stripped right down, massage is simply a word that’s used to describe the manipulation of muscles, ligaments and connective tissue. Of course there are lots of different types of massage, and techniques that are suitable for different things, but when you go for a massage, this is what your therapist will be doing.

What’s massage good for?

We love a massage for general wellbeing, but medically massage is recognized for more than just making you feel good.

Massage can:

 Help strained muscles to heal faster
 Reduce swelling and scar tissue if you’re injured
 Relieve stiffness and tension in your muscles
 Reduce feelings of stress, anxiety and fatigue

Stretching

Stretching does have a lot of similarities to massage, but its main benefit is to relieve the tightness and tension that’s built up in your muscles when you’ve used (and over-used) them.   Having a really good, effective stretch can increase the blood flow to your muscles, and this leads to a better range of motion that helps your joints to stay in alignment
 
What’s stretching good for?

Stretching properly can;

 Improve your circulation
 Boost your nerve health
     Make movement easier
     Improve flexibility

How can massage and a stretching routine work together?

Daily stretching – to a point where you can just feel it pulling on your muscles – can really help to increase your flexibility, and you can feel the effects in a matter of a few weeks.

Enjoying a regular massage helps to keep your body relaxed and flexible. Massage can release trigger points and muscles in spasm, making your stretching routine even more effective. 

You could even opt for a Thai massage which uses stretches and massage all in one session to give your muscles and tendons a really thorough workout. You can also ask your massage therapist for advice if you have any injuries or are experiencing stiffness in your muscles.

http://www.wavecrestmassage.com/

Tips

For a professional massage, seek out a certified or licensed massage therapist. The American Massage Therapy Association recommends you ask your massage therapist about their credentials to practice massage therapy. Talk to your massage therapist about why you are seeking massage therapy -- this will help your therapist choose the best style and approach to your massage. Use massage therapy for relaxation, not as an alternative to medical treatment.

Roy is a New York State Licensed Massage Therapist and has worked in high end spa’s as well as rehabilitation centers. He is well known for his Relaxing Massage as well as his skill in Medical Massage and Sports Massage. Contact Roy at 631-375-0962 or email at roy@wavecrestmassage.com to schedule your next appointment. 

October Is Massage Therapy Month

October has been designated Massage Therapy Month raising awareness about this non-invasive therapeutic touch that benefits mind, body and spirit. The physical benefits are obvious and becoming increasingly understood by the general population including the medical profession.

As professional body workers we often see how people suffer from muscles aches and pains, injuries but also stressful working environments, lifestyles and trauma.  It may be said that massage does not cure or completely heal all that ails us but it is a real significant step towards feeling better in our bodies and reconnecting with a feeling of wholeness.  It is often the first step towards reaching out for help in a nurturing and safe environment.

Receiving a massage is the most loving act of self-care.  When we book an appointment, we declare that our time and focus for a full hour or ninety minutes will be targeted to our wellness and commitment to  well-being.  We may not have control over many aspects of our lives but we can set aside this time we entrust our care to a kind and skillful Massage Therapist.

While Massage Therapists are considered Body workers,  don’t be surprised if your favorite Massage Therapist has a keen understanding of energy work and healing.   Don’t be shy to ask if they do any form of energy work like Reiki or chakra harmonization to be added to your massage.

There are so many techniques to choose from such as Swedish, Deep Tissue, Sports Massage, Acupressure, Chair Massage, Cranio Sacral Therapy, Bowen, Polarity, Myofascial Release, Kinesiotherapy, Shiatsu, Traeger, Lomi Lomi, Tuina, Reflexology, and many more.  There are many amazing Massage Therapists out there who do wonderful work.   Find one that resonates with you by trying out various techniques until you find the one that suits you.

In honor of Massage Awareness Month, reference this page to receive $20 off your massage session of one hour or longer for the entire month of October. *Not to be combined with any other promotion.


Comment here & like us on Facebook to be entered into a drawing for an additional 30min to be added onto your next one hour massage. Winner will be notified via email at 1pm October 25th.




 

Tips

For a professional massage, seek out a certified or licensed massage therapist. The American Massage Therapy Association recommends you ask your massage therapist about their credentials to practice massage therapy. Talk to your massage therapist about why you are seeking massage therapy -- this will help your therapist choose the best style and approach to your massage. Use massage therapy for relaxation, not as an alternative to medical treatment.

Roy is a New York State Licensed Massage Therapist and has worked in high end spa’s as well as rehabilitation centers. He is well known for his Relaxing Massage as well as his skill in Medical Massage and Sports Massage. Contact Roy at 631-375-0962 or email at roy@wavecrestmassage.com to schedule your next appointment. 

https://www.wavecrestmassage.com

Your Immune System May Knead Massage Therapy

Finally - a reason to treat yourself to a massage, guilt-free. As massage therapy goes main-stream, medical researchers are uncovering more and more health benefits to lying down on the table. Because of these compelling benefits, it is time to consider massage therapy not as a luxury indulgence but as a form of medical treatment.

The benefits of massage are immediately obvious to anyone who's had one. A massage session calms you down, eases your anxieties, and even helps you sleep at night. Now a study, funded by the government's National Center for Complimentary and Alternative Medicine, finds that those sessions may help you ward off diseases, too.

 For a study published in the Journal of Complimentary and Alternative Medicine, the authors recruited 53 healthy adults between the ages of 18 and 45 and divided them into two groups: one that received a traditional Swedish massage, and another that received a session of light touch meant to simulate a massage but without any actual massage-therapy techniques. The Swedish massages were all performed by certified massage therapists to ensure uniformity. Each participant had an IV inserted into one arm for the duration of the massage and for a few hours afterward. Blood was drawn at various intervals to measure levels of various hormones and immune-system markers.

The authors were working under the theory that massage increases the body's levels of oxytocin, or "the love hormone," which helps regulate levels of hormones related to stress. They found that that wasn't the case. People receiving the "light touch" treatment actually experienced higher levels of oxytocin than the massage recipients. But unlike the light-touch group, the massage recipients saw significant decreases in stress hormones and increases in the body's production of various cells that boost immune-system response.

A single massage could help boost your immune system and help you better cope with stress, even if you're not sick or stressed out. "I'm really intrigued by our findings," says Mark Hyman Rapaport, M.D., professor and chairman of the department of psychiatry and behavioral neurosciences at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, who adds that he was an "incredible skeptic" about the benefits of massage therapy before doing this study. "I always wondered, what does it do that so many people claim to feel better afterwards?" he says. "We're finding that biological changes do occur as a result of even a single session of massage, and that these changes may benefit even a healthy individual."

While it may be enough for most people to know that getting a massage makes them feel better, regardless of what the biological effects are, Dr. Rapaport says that his findings could help advance the use of massage therapy in traditional medicine, which would be good news for people looking for more options to treat their medical complaints. "Based on data that have come out of a number of the surveys, a majority of Americans would rather go to an alternative practitioner than a physician and would prefer to have an alternative to traditional care," he says. The few studies on massage therapy that have been done have focused on specific complaints, such as back pain or anxiety, he says, but his research suggests that the therapy could be beneficial to people suffering from a wider range of immune-system disorders.

Remember, only receive massage therapy when you are well. 

If you don't feel well, reschedule your massage and consult a doctor.

Roy is a New York State Licensed Massage Therapist and has worked in high end spa’s as well as rehabilitation centers. He is well known for his Relaxing Massage as well as his skill in Medical Massage and Sports Massage.

Contact Roy at 631-375-0962 or email at roy@wavecrestmassage.com to schedule your next appointment.  https://www.facebook.com/wavecrestmassage

#immunesystem  #massage  #anxiety  #alternativemedicine  #disease  #swedishmassage  #oxytocin  #lovehormone  #immunesystemdisorder

Tuning The Athlete

If you haven’t done so yet, you owe it to yourself to add massage therapy to your training routine. Once a month spend a few bucks on yourself to get a trained and licensed massage therapist to get in there and loosen up some of those tight spots. Shoulders, hamstrings, hip – whatever is causing you a little grief. Wave Crest Massage Therapy offers CrossFit  athletes an amazing rate that makes it more affordable than you may think.

Look, even the best athletes injure themselves from time to time. CrossFit is no different.  We are lifting weights, doing repetitive movements like pull ups and push-ups, squats, cleans, presses  and whatnot – we get tired, sometimes we lose sight of our form and we experience some pain. The trick is to get on top of the issue right away! First, address the cause. Talk to your trainer and let them know the issue. It may be a simple form issue. Or maybe you are using too much weight. They’ll guide you. Don’t let those little hot spots of pain and tightness fester. Ice it after the WOD. Get a professional massage from a New York State Licensed Massage Therapist.

But it’s not just about injury. It’s about flexibility and mobility. A little body work each month can go a long way to stretching out those tight spots and increasing your range of motion.

CrossFit athletes can benefit from massage therapy in a variety of ways:

•speeds circulation of oxygen to muscles

•increases flow of nutrients through soft tissues

•flush toxins through the lymphatic system

 Applied stretching techniques combined with massage therapy can improve range of motion and joint flexibility. It can also help you recover faster from an injury.​

We offer personalized treatment plans, depending on the severity of pain, sensitivity to touch and other issues. In most cases, treatment will include multiple techniques such as massage and heat.

Roy is a Licensed Massage Therapist and has worked in high end spa’s as well as a rehabilitation center working on sports injuries with medical massage.

Contact Roy at 631-375-0962 or email at roy@wavecrestmassage.com to schedule your next appointment.

#crossfit  #massage  #mobility  #rangeofmotion  #stretching  #sportsmassage  #deeptissuemassage  #triggerpointtherapy  #WOD

Deep Tissue Massage

Deep tissue massage targets the deepest parts of the muscle tissues and tendons. This therapy also focuses on the fascia, which protects joints and muscles. Massage is ideal for people who have particular trouble areas in their bodies. Massage therapists apply slow and deliberate strokes that are less rhythmic compared to other forms of massage.
Deep-tissue massage offers a variety of emotional, biological, and physical health benefits.

1. Muscle Tension Relief

Deep tissue massage offers long term relief from muscle tension and muscle cramps. This massage is therapeutic because it focuses on the muscles that are tense. The pressure helps to relieve tension by enhancing blood circulation in the affected area.
Improved circulation helps to offer immediate relief. Muscle tension is common among people who suffer from chronic pain. The massage is an ideal way to deal with this kind of tension.

2. Toxin Release

Toxin build up is one of the main causes of degenerative diseases in human beings. Exposure to environmental chemicals can lead to toxin build up. However, we also get toxins through normal internal body processes.
Toxins can be stored in the body tissue and this can increase your risk of developing chronic diseases. Deep tissue massage helps the body to release toxins by increasing oxygen and blood circulation in the tissue.

3. Chronic Pain Reduction

Deep tissue massage has been identified as one of the most effective ways to manage chronic pain. It is also affordable compared to the prescription and over-the-counter medications that most people rely on to reduce pain. The pressure applied during this kind of massage promotes blood flow in the body, which in turn reduces inflammation. Most chronic pain is caused by inflammation.

4. Promote Scar Healing

People who have scars from injuries or surgery can use deep tissue massage to promote healing. This form of massage helps to break up the tissue that forms after injury and surgery. The scar tissue can disappear after repeated massage sessions. It works because it enhances circulation in the lymphatic system.
The pressure put on the tissues also promotes drainage in the lymphatic system. The presence of scar tissue can cause stiffness and constant pain. Deep tissue massage offers relief and it is ideal, especially if you are recovering from an accident or surgery.

5. Enhance Emotional Health

A deep tissue massage can help to promote emotional health by reducing stress levels. Stress is a part of daily life and it is considered necessary but when it gets out of hand, it can have adverse effects on your emotional and physical health. When you are stressed, your body releases cortisol.
This stress hormone is released in response to any physical or psychological stress that you face. The massage lowers the levels of stress hormones in your body. It also reduces heart rate, which goes up when you are stressed.
A massage also improves your mood and promotes relaxation because it triggers the release of serotonin and oxytocin in the body. When your serotonin levels are up, you feel happier. Hectic day-to-day activities can cause stress and this leads to tense muscles, tension headaches and bad moods. A deep tissue massage relieves the stress and lifts your mood.

For added convenience, Wave Crest Massage Therapy will go to your home or place of business. During the month of December you will receive a 10% discount and free upgrade of Aromatherapy.
Contact us at 631-375-0962 to schedule your next appointment.

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#deeptissue #deeptissuemassage #massage

The Benefits of Sports Massage

Sports massage therapy is geared toward athletes of every kind, from world-class professionals to weekend golfers and tennis players. The particulars of the sports massage technique are specific to the athlete's sport of choice. Focusing on areas of the body that are overused and stressed from repetitive and often aggressive movements.

Aspects of sports massage therapy are gaining popularity as useful components in a balanced training regimen. Sports massage therapy can be used as a means to enhance pre-event preparation and reduce recovery time for maximum performance during training or after an event. Athletes have discovered that specially designed sports massage promotes flexibility, reduces fatigue, improves endurance, helps prevent injuries and prepares their body and mind for optimal performance.
One of the key benefits of Sports massage therapy compared to other modalities is its ability to target muscle-tendon junctions. A 2010 study in the journal of Strength and Conditioning Research found that even a 30-second massage improved hip-flexor range of motion. Another study conducted by Margaret Jones, Ph.D. of the American College of Sports Medicine, demonstrated a notable trend toward decreased muscle soreness in the athletes who received massage either before or after exercise.
For anyone participating in regular physical activity, Sports massage therapy every week or two may be a great addition to your normal regimen. Working together, we will find a plan that will work best with your schedule, level of activity and budget.

The American Massage Therapy Association states that research shows that in relation to exercise and athletic participation, massage can do the following:
Reduce muscle tension
Help athletes monitor muscle tone
Promote relaxation
Increase range of motion
Decrease muscle stiffness and soreness after exercise
Enhance athletic performance
Help prevent injuries when massage is received regularly

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#sportsmassage  #crossfit  #crossfitmassage  #wod  #massage