Category: Massage Blog

The Sway Sway Back

Posted on by massageandhealthyliving

Do any of these photos look like you? Email me to find out how to correct your posture and decrease your pain while increasing your flexibility and mobility!

What is SWAY BACK POSTURE?

🔒 Overactive/tight hamstring drives the hips forward causing:
🔒elongated and weak hip flexors
🔒 end of range hip extension in standingweak gluteal muscles
🔒 anterior translation of femoral head
🔒 elongated/weak external oblique
🔒 short internal oblique, pulls lower ribs forward/down
🔒over-active muscles in the thoraco-lumbar junction
🔒 upper cross syndrome

Common injuries associated with the Sway back posture

Hip: Arthritis, impingement, labral tears, bursitis, hip flexor tendinopathy, hamstring strains

Lower back: Muscular tension, facet joint degeneration, disc bulges

Shoulder: Impingement, bursitis, tears

Neck: Headaches, muscular tension, degneration

If you suffer from any of the above issues and have tried everything to try to get it better, your Sway back posture may be the leading cause! Come visit Massage & Healthy Living in Cary, NC. 980980-354-LMBT .

#cary #carync #raleigh #massageliving #massagelife #business #blog #correctiveexercise

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Newly Sponsored MHL Athlete “IKENSTEIN”

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ISAAC SMITH, AKA IKENSTEIN

Born and raised in North Carolina, Isaac attended NC State University where he received a B.S. in Sport Management and a minor in Sports Science.

An aspiring strength & conditioning coach, his love for lifting weights and competing led him to powerlifting in January 2016. After a year, Isaac found a newfound love in strongman and competed in his first show in May, 2017 where he won the novice <200lb class.

He would go on to compete in his first open <200lb show in July, where he would take 1st, as well and qualify for Strongman Corporation Nationals in Las Vegas.

Following Nationals in November, Isaac had the opportunity to compete in Official Strongman Game’s World’s Strongest Man competition in December, where he would place 16th in the world among the <90kg competitors.

Isaac can be found on Instagram: @ikenstein, Twitter: @ikenstein_, and Facebook: Isaac Smith.

10 Things For Winter Storm “Helena” in Cary, NC

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Cold Temperatures Will Continue After Helena and May Lead to Lasting Travel Woes.  What can you do about it?

Massage & Healthy Living is closed this weekend due to inclement weather conditions.  The office will be open again on Monday, January  8th.
button-booknow

 

1.  Sleep In

Sleeping in makes you feel good.  It helps with quality of life, memory, reducing inflammation and can lower blood pressure.  If you’re an athlete, a lot of our clients are, it can improve your performance on the field.  So turn off the alarm and go back to bed!

2.  Treat yourself and EAT!

Are you one of those people who run out the door with a cup of coffee and drive to work?  Or maybe you’re scarfing down a bagel and checking your appointment calendar at a red light.  You can change all of that this weekend with a big and healthy breakfast.  Try these quick combos:

  • a bowl of high-fiber, multigrain cereal, lots of strawberries, and low-fat milk
  • a granola bar, an apple, and low-fat milk, nonfat yogurt, fresh blueberries, and a slice of whole-wheat toast with fruit spread
  • a mini whole-wheat bagel, spread lightly with cream cheese and jam, a peach; and a cup of yogurt
  • scrambled egg on a whole-wheat roll, with fresh fruit salad and a cup of low-fat milk
  • a low-fat muffin, a wedge of cantaloupe, and a cup of latte made with skim milk
  • multi-grain pancakes, bacon or sausage, agave syrup, choice of fruit topping, grits, spinach egg white omelet, rye toast, and a glass of orange juice

May we suggest afterwards to try #9 to burn off some of these calories.

3.  Get stuff done

How liberating is it to cross an item off your checklist?  Take a look at your project list today to see if there is anything you can do around the house today.  Hang a picture, do laundry, organize your desk, or do homework with your kids.

4.  Binge watch your favorite series

If you’re week is all work no play then this weekend you can take the opportunity to cuddle with a loved one under the blanket on the couch or in bed.  Stress management coach and holistic therapist Catherine A. Connors reminds how physical contact with others can help to reduce stress. “Hugging, kissing, or more physical acts of touch increases oxytocin levels, which is a ‘bonding’ hormone—this chemical reaction can help to reduce blood pressure, which in turn reduces the risk of heart disease, but it can also help to reduce stress and anxiety,” Connors says.

5.  Watch a funny movie

Laughter is the best medicine.  Adds joy and zest to life, eases anxiety and tension, relieves stress, improves mood and mental functioning, enhances resilience, improves self-esteem, helps overcome anger and resentment.

6. Parents:  Help make an Indoor Fort and/or other games

Here’s a link to 9 Creative Forts  Click Here

7. Make your favorite hot soup

There’s nothing like a warm, hearty soup on a cold chilly day.  Here are some of our favs, Cauliflower Chowder, Classic Chicken Noodle, Creamy Chicken and Mushroom, Spinach and White Bean Soup or our favorite Roasted Butternut Squash and Bacon Soup.

8.  Parents:  Play in the snow with your kids.

Try Freeze tag, Sculpt in the snow,  or blowing bubbles and watch them freeze on the wand (must be below freezing temperatures).

9. Exercise

Physical activity stimulates various brain chemicals that may leave you feeling happier and more relaxed.
You may also feel better about your appearance and yourself when you exercise regularly, which can boost your confidence and improve your self-esteem.   Check out this “at-home workout” here: http://www.shape.com/fitness/workouts/30-minute-no-equipment-circuit-workout

10. Hang out with friends

If you’re lucky enough to have friends within walk-able distance, either invite them over or walk over to their place.  Socializing is like free therapy for de-stressing.  You have a chance to unwind and catch up, to hear or share some interesting stories.  Some good games to play, Cranium, Family Fued, Catch Phrase, or the classic Scrabble.

If you’re lucky enough to live in the Cary, Raleigh, Apex, Durham, Morrisville, Chapel Hill, Garner, Fuquay-Varina, then there is no escaping winter storm “Helena”.  So make the best of it.  Your health and wellness are counting on you, and so are your kids!!!

5 Million Meter Row

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WelcNewlogowebsiteome Athletes and Donors…
Join us in rowing 5 Million Meters to raise $100,000 for the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence!!!

HOW IT WORKS:

The participant, person doing the rowing is the “Athlete”.
The “Donor”, is the person(s) giving money.
After signing up, Athlete seeks out donations from single or mulitple Donors.
Athlete should set goal of meters he/she would be able to complete throughout the month of October.
Athlete will have the entire month of October to complete their distance and can use Athletic Lab during open hours, it does NOT have to be done in one sitting.

Key distances:

  • BEGINNER LEVEL = 10,000m
  • INTERMEDIATE LEVEL = 21,097.5m = 1/2 marathon
  • COMPETITION LEVEL  = 42,195m = marathon

FOR EXAMPLE:

Meters are purchased in 100m increments (minimum). Each 100m costs $2.00 (or 0.02/ meter. It is the athlete’s objective to raise enough interest & money from donor(s). The athlete will commit to row the meters equivalent to the money raised. If an athlete gets multiple donors and raises $1,000, he/she will row 50k meters.

So are you ready?!  How much can you raise?  How much can you row?

 REGISTER :  CLICK HERE

Domestic violence is the willful intimidation, physical assault, battery, sexual assault, and/or other abusive behavior as part of a systematic pattern of power and control perpetrated by one intimate partner against another. It includes physical violence, sexual violence, psychological violence, and emotional abuse. The frequency and severity of domestic violence can vary dramatically; however, the one constant component of domestic violence is one partner’s consistent efforts to maintain power and control over the other.

Domestic violence is an epidemic affecting individuals in every community, regardless of age, economic status, sexual orientation, gender, race, religion, or nationality. It is often accompanied by emotionally abusive and controlling behavior that is only a fraction of a systematic pattern of dominance and control. Domestic violence can result in physical injury, psychological trauma, and in severe cases, even death. The devastating physical, emotional, and psychological consequences of domestic violence can cross generations and last a lifetime.

For anonymous, confidential help available 24/7, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 (SAFE) or 1-800-787-3224 (TTY) now.

SPONSORED BY

MHL LOGOs (1)
Athletic Lab members receive 10% off massages here. Our clients can save 10% off Athletic Lab fitness programs.
Athletic Lab members receive 10% off massages here. Our clients can save 10% off Athletic Lab fitness programs.

 

Why People Feel Uneasy Taking Meds for the Head

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Love her posts. Here is one we would like to share with you.

HALFWAY2HANNAH

Treatment plans for mental health care differ from situation to situation.  In some cases, it calls for therapy and in other cases medication is needed.  This doesn’t mean that when you wake up feeling sad, you call the doctor and start popping pills.  However, when depression or severe emotional behavior begins to affect your daily life, work and relationships, it is time to seek help.  There is no shame in taking medicines if needed.  If you get the flu do you take meds?  Yes.  So what is the difference when it is the flu of the mind.  There is none.  Would you blame someone who lost her husband in war for seeking out medication for anxiety?  Would you judge a woman for taking antidepressants who lost her child 2 months shy of his 1st birthday to cancer?  We all want to end up at the same place, but some need…

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#WellnessWednesday spotlight on @MassageLiving ! #massage #ashiastsu in #Cary #NC @townofcary — SobeSavvy

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I am a stay at home mom of a 4..soon to be 5 year old, and while sahm life often has me focused on her needs, I must never forget to take care of me. Mothers ..women..everyone should make time for “me time” with a massage because it addresses so many issues that any ‘body’ […]

via #WellnessWednesday spotlight on @MassageLiving ! #massage #ashiastsu in #Cary #NC @townofcary — SobeSavvy

Watch Massage Cupping with Anita Shannon

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At Massage & Healthy Living, Cary, NC we are always learning new techniques to make not only our therapist better but to make our clients better!  We are excited about this ancient technique, Cupping Therapy.  If you haven’t seen our previous (funny) video about cupping, it’s a must watch.  Below, Anita demonstrates another way of performing this technique.  We hope you enjoy it!
This can be done at our studio and can be blended INTO your 60/90 min massage OR, you may wish to just do a 15 – 30 minute massage and focus on specific areas like, back and shoulders, or legs and feet for example.

 

Anita Shannon of ACE Massage Cupping™ http://www.massagecupping.com/index.html
is at the Oakworks facility demonstrating ACE MediCupping™ and Vacutherapies™ massage. She is using the Oakworks ProLuxe™ electric lift Massage Table with the adjustable breast comfort system along with other Oakworks accessories. http://www.massagetables.com/
Current vacuum therapies are a modern use of an ancient tool and possess the benefits of traditional use, along with many incredible new applications. This therapy utilizes glass or plastic cups and a vacuum pistol, bulb or machine to create suction on the body surface. These cups are moved over the skin using gliding, shaking, popping and rotating techniques while gently pulling up on the cup, and are parked for a short time to facilitate joint mobilization or soft tissue release. This suction can reach deep into the soft tissue or can work superficially to pull inflammation and toxins toward the surface so that the skin and lymphatic system can readily eliminate them. Scar tissues often release quickly, despite the age of the injury or keloid tendencies.

His Posture

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A man’s posture says a lot about his confidence to women. Within 1 second, just from how you stand, women will judge you as attractive or not. Good body posture indicates that you are a healthy mate and that is very attractive to women. Lean back! You got this. One of the goals we try to improve upon at MHL is your posture by relaxing tight and stressed out muscles. We help with correcting bad body posture by targeting weak muscle (agonist and antagonist) and parts of your body that are repeatedly overused which can cause poor posture. Maybe this is why you’re “game” is weak. If you’re living in the Raleigh/Durham/Cary/Triangle we have openings for new clients and we want to help. Brittany and Dre are available M-Sat by appointment. We are close to Sushi Thai in Cary, NC. massageandhealthyliving.com 980-354-LMBT

Eat Your Veggies Day-6-17-16

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Strategically created in the middle of National Fresh Fruit and Vegetables Month, this day is the perfect opportunity to re-introduce a healthy portion of vegetables into your diet. No doubt about it, Eat Your Vegetables Day was created to promote a more healthy diet…….for life!  We at Massage & Healthy Living encourage everyone to take care of your body inside and outside through healthy nutrition, rest, meditation, living actively, yoga, and of course massage therapy.

On this day, you are encouraged to eat vegetables for every meal, and for a snack. Better still, try to be a vegetarian….for the day. Short of that, any additional vegetables at meal time today will honor the event, as well as make you a little healthier.

We encourage parents to let the kids help with dinner, preparing the salad and vegetables. Along the way, you tell your kids a little about the importance of vegetables for a long and healthy life.  Also, remember to hydrate, drink water because we are facing a national heatwave.  Wear your sunscreen and keep the aloe close by for sunburns.
If you are looking for a massage (or help with living healthier) in Cary, NC or the surround cities, Apex, Durham, Raleigh, we are a short drive away.  Life is better with massage!  Call us at 980-354-LMBT for any questions you might have.

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