Evan Van Dyk ~ LMT

On sunday February 5, I attended an all day workshop at the feldenkrais institute in manhattan called 'take back your back.'  The feldenkrais method is a method developed by Moshe Feldenkrais (1904-1984) which is focused on bringing increased sensory awareness and better health to your body through exercises or 'lessons' as feldenkrais called them, of slow, varied movement which can supply your brain with the feedback that is necessary to change your patterned behaviors.  At this workshop on Sunday we worked for 5 hours with lessons entitled 'pulling with strings,' 'sinking the spine between the shoulder blades,' 'cardinal head movements,' and 'weighing the head in the circumference'. We focused on isolating each vertebrae of the spine and it's movement and the effects of it's movement throughout the body.  The goal was to descern a way to move the skeleton in such a way that the muscles attached to it were being used most efficiently, thus increasing the awareness of the spine and allowing for deceased discomfort and pain.  Much of the time if there is pain in one part of the back it is because another part of the back is not doing what it can to support the body efficiently thus making the painful part do more work.  Idealy the spine is constructed in such a way that, should you take a skeleton connected merely by ligaments, you should be able to balance it sitting in a chair without a muscle or support to hold it up.  This is the goal of feldenkrais, find a way, different for every person, to reteach the body how to hold itself most comfortably and efficiently, a position from which any motion in any plane is convenient.  After the workshop I left feeling more aware of my spine and it's capabilities of movement and in the two days since I have noticed a great decrease in the pain and discomfort I am used to feeling in my back.  But these kind of results have been my experience with the feldenkrais method from the beginning and it is for this reason that I am currently a student in the NY 5 feldenkrais practitioner training program.  This program meets almost every month at the institute in manhattan for the next three years and I cannot wait to learn absolutely all I can to bring it back to all of you in my practice at Bodyworks! :)

While I was in the city I also made another exciting excursion.  On Saturday February 4, I went to see the Bodies exhibit on the south street seaport! I have wanted to check out this exhibit for quite some time and it just happened that a friend and I stumbled on it while out for lunch.  This exhibit was so amazing and as soon as we finished,  I wanted to go right back to the beginning and see it all again.  If you have any interest in anatomy or myology or pathology or really any human biology I would definitely recommend taking the time to visit this exhibit.  The bodies are so flawlessly and respectfully preserved it is hard to believe that at one time they were living.  It's so amazing to see 3D, up close and personal what is actually inside your very own body and in my case, the bodies of my clients.  I will definitely see it again.. Such a learning experience! To check it out visit http://www.bodiestheexhibition.com/newyork/

We are delighted to be offering the Gong Baths on Friday November 4th at the Pilates Principle.

If you have never been to the gong baths it is unlike anything else I've experienced before.Dan and Nacole will bring their 12 planetary gongs (so names because they are "tuned" with the vibe of the planets on our solar system)

You'll be in the Pilates Principle Studio, lights low in the most comfortable position you prefer. The gongs are played for about an hour. Most people are lying down, so may sit or even do some stretching and movement. For those who know me they know I love exploratory movement and you may seem me at the back of the class doing my thing.

This is from the the Universal Sounds Website and does a good job explaining things further:

"Universal Sounds has a large collection of Planetary Gongs, Tibetan Gongs, Tibetan Singing Bowls, and Quartz Crystal Singing Bowls. With the combined and intuitive playing of these 20 total instruments , a cascade of sound, tones, and vibration is created that washes over and through the bodies of the recipients. The rich depth of the multiple harmonic frequencies and tones has a wide range of effects on the receiver; ranging from a loosening of the ego clinging mind, dissipation of the thought process, reduction of lower vibrations such as anxiety, worry, doubt, and fear, and in many cases a reduction in physical body complaints."

I've been going for a while and I absolutely love it. It makes you feel really wonderful after. Tuned and refreshed and ready to face the world.

for those who would like to consider meditation, but find the idea of sitting in a dark room without thinking painful, this is really prefect. It quiets you mind and makes your body feel alive. Give us a call if you think you'd like to come. We have had an amazing amount of interest and we need to know if you are coming.

        With the days getting shorter, the air getting colder and more time spent indoors, the cold and flu season is upon us. As usual, the standard precautions of hand washing and covering our mouths and noses are necessary for minimizing the spread of viruses. But this season can also be the time that we take self-care measures that will protect us against the cold and flu outright.

Building up our own immune system is less emphasized than the standard hygiene guidelines yet may be more important. After all, even the most thorough sanitation cannot eliminate all pathogens and so it ultimately comes down to our own defenses to keep us healthy. This is demonstrated in any group situation. For instance, in the workplace, all it takes is one sick employee to spread the illness. Despite this, only some, not all, of the individuals get sick. This is because some have more active immune systems than others.  

To ensure that our immune systems are running at their best we need to do a few essential things:

1) Sleep: 8+ hours of sleep. Our immune cells generate while we rest.

2) Vitamin D: The wonder vitamin. Essential in so many ways it would take a book to list them all. You need D. But, during the fall and winter we are not exposed to enough sun to make our own Vitamin D. Maintaining adequate levels is critical. Suggested doses for adults is 5,000mg; children ages 5 - 10: 2,500mg; and below 5: 35units/lb.

3) Multivitamin: Take a quality multivitamin (Megafoods, New Chapter) to ensure that you are getting all the essential vitamins and minerals that your body needs to run itself.

4) Exercise: regular moderate exercise can reduce the risk of cold and flu by 23%.

        And if we are interested in really beefing up our defenses to ensure a cold- and flu-free season, the following is highly recommended.

1) Steam: The cold and flu viruses do not thrive at temperatures over 99 degrees Fahrenheit. Therefore, use steam rooms and saunas on a frequent basis throughout the winter. If not accessible, don’t worry. You can make your own potent steam at home by boiling water, pouring it off into a bowl, and placing a towel over your head and breathing in the steam. For extra effect, add one drop of thyme, eucalyptus or lavender essential oil and enjoy.

2) Humidify: The dryness of the winter months makes our respiratory system vulnerable to invasion. Putting a humidifier in your bedroom ensures that for at least 8 hours a night, you are breathing moisturized air. Placing a cotton ball with essential oils of tea tree, pine and lavender next to the exhaust vent will disinfect the air. (Do not put in humidifier water bin).  

3) Food and Herbs: Certain foods and herbs can greatly enhance your defenses. 1 to 3 fresh cloves of garlic per day prepared in your food is extremely effective at killing pathogens in your respiratory and digestive systems (not to mention its benefits for your heart). In addition, Shitake mushrooms stimulate the production of immune cells in the bone marrow.  Raw honey contains trace minerals and plant compounds that are very beneficial to your health. Furthermore, the herbs Elder, Echinacea and Boneset (try Traditional Medicinals Echinacea-Elder tea blend), taken at the very first on-set of symptoms, can provide just the kick your body needs to knock a cold or flu before it knocks you.

4) Minimize and/or Avoid: Sugar, dairy, soy, gluten, junk food and smoking. Each suppresses and inflames your immune system, wasting vital energy and making you extremely vulnerable to infection.

        By observing these recommendations, you and your family can look forward to a cold- and flu-free year, which means less time being sick and more time living life.

 

To Your Health!

Karden Rabin, LMT

Bodywork Professionals

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.

  

First time clients often ask what to wear or not wear during a session. There are different requirements for modalities and I'll try to spell them out here.

Structural Integration: This work is based on structure and function and the client will be asked to stand and move in what they will wear during the session. Female clients sometimes wear a two piece bathing suit, or shorts for men, workout clothes or their underwear. Some clothes are required for this work as the sheets are used for temperature control rather than draping. Structural Integration sessions are more participatory than Swedish massage and the client will be asked to move into different positions throughout the session. Standing and seated work are common.

Swedish Massage, Deep Tissue Bodywork: This work is done under a sheet and the therapist uses draping techniques to keep private areas covered. Some clients disrobe completely, some keep their undergarments on, and a few keep all their clothes on. The decision on what to wear is based on the clients level of comfort. All of our therapists are licensed and skilled in draping procedures.

Cranial-Sacral Therapy: Shoes, socks and belts are removed and the client is worked on top of the table in their remaing comfortable clothes.

Thai Yoga Massage: This work is done on a special mat on the floor. Clients are asked to wear comfortable clothing that they can move and stretch in as they will assume many postures during these sessions.

* Massage in Albany, NY

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

Whether it's playing sports, typing or working on the job, over time your body's framework will start to break down. You can start rebuilding with a massage.

Massage therapist Nick Pavoldi said, "Maybe you have some neck pain, but I may spend that hour at your feet trying to relieve the neck pain because we're working on that structure as a whole."

It's the idea behind Structural Integration in Latham. Yes it may look similar to massage, but Pavoldi said it's actually quite different.

"Massage works with muscles and it works to kind of relieve tension in the muscles to flush muscles out and things like that. Structural Integration works with the fascia which is what holds your muscles in place. So what I do is release the casing around the muscle," Pavoldi said.

It's this deeper work that attracted Kathleen Carroll. Life as a hairdresser started to take its toll about four years ago.

"My arms are usually up and I was having this chronic shoulder blade pain," Carroll said.

But instead of starting on the back, Nick starts at the hands, opening up the heart and moving from there. Now usually the client wears a bathing suit so Nick can get to the connective tissue. The process is based on a 10-step series with each one building on the last. Each session lasts about an hour and can be scheduled from one a week to one a month -- depending on the body's need. Kathleen has gone through two of these sessions in the past four years and now comes in for tune-up sessions.

Carroll said, "I started feeling relief almost immediately from the shoulder blade pain. My mind felt more clear -- it was so much more than just bodywork. I felt more energized, more alive. I mean after just one session it was fun pretty amazing, really."

Pavoldi added, "You get a lot of freedom in your body -- so you get to know your body a little bit better. You're able to use your body better afterwards,"

A rewarding face-lift to help support your overworked 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.

* Massage in Albany, NY

Osteoarthritis (arthritis) is pain experienced in and around joints caused by inflammation resulting from a reduction in the cartilage that cushions joints.

Non-medical treatments for arthritis can be divided into three categories; lifestyle, natural medicine, and bodywork.

Lifestyle: Includes rest, self-care, exercise, diet, weight reduction and assistive devices. Rest relieves the wear and tear on the painful joint and gives it an opportunity to heal. Self-care such as treatment with hot and cold packs diminishes inflammation and improves circulation which accelerate healing. Exercise is extremely important. Done with the advice of a professional, doing the appropriate exercises in and around the painful joint strengthens the supporting muscles which takes the strain of the joint itself. Furthermore, exercise encourages weight-loss which is a crucial factor in reducing the overall stress placed on joints in supporting one's body weight. A proper diet is crucial as well. Not only will healthy eating habits encourage weight loss but avoiding certain foods will decrease the bodies inflammatory response and thus pain. Reducing or avoiding refined sugars, dairy products, table salt and processed foods are key in diminishing overall inflammation. Finally, assistive devices can be used to reduce and/or transfer strain. joint wraps, braces and even canes and walkers for more severe conditions can greatly reduce pain and give relief to a overused joint.

Natural medicine: Before pursuing supplements and natural medicine, one should undertake the lifestyle changes listed above and consult their doctor.The complimentary approach is to supply the body with compounds that reduce inflammation, inhibit pain and build joint tissue. Clinical studies are inconclusive about the effectiveness of many of these alternative remedies. That being said, the principles behind them are sound and considering their minimal side-effects as when compared with NSAIDs and Celebrex, they are, as their name implies, a great compliment to other treatments. Licorice, nettle and ginger have been used for hundreds of years to combat inflammation and can be taken as food, tea, tincture and pill. Some health-food stores sell custom anti-inflammatory supplement blends which you should inquire about. Boswellia is an effective herb for pain relief that has properties similar to NSAIDs with little of their negative side effects . This is best taken internally as a pill. Arnica oil, cream and salve is a highly regarded topical pain reliever. One may also consider the homeopathic cream Topercin which contains Arnica as well. Finally, the supplements glucosomine and chondroitin, often sold in combination, are building blocks of joint tissue and are thought to help slow its deterioration and possible even regenerate it.

Bodywork: Studies my the National Institutes of Health have clinically demonstrated the effectiveness of acupuncture on knee pain caused by arthritis. They also noticed increased knee function as a result making this treatment highly recommended. Massage therapy, with a focus on range of motion exercises and traction can also be of great benefit by increasing mobility and circulation and reducing pain.

In summary: Rest the affected area as much as possible, strengthen it and focus on dietary changes which both reduce weight and inflammation. Support this with natural medicines that reduce inflammation, pain and provide compounds that support joint health. Finally, receive acupuncture or other forms of manual therapy to decrease pain and increase mobility.


* Massage in Albany, NY