Choosing Bodywork - Part One

Hi there folks!  I've decided to write a series on the benefits of bodywork - covering some of the various facets that help explain why this stuff is so great.  Enjoy!

Choosing Bodywork -Why This Stuff is Important

Our bodies are amazing.  They are with us from the day we are born until the day we die.  We literally cannot live without them.  They cannot be separated from our ability to perceive, communicate, feel, think, and love.  On every level, the quality of our experience is influenced by the quality of our physicality.  Our bodies both record our history and predict our future.

This brings us to the question,  "How can I best take care of my body?"  As a society we often do a pretty poor job of celebrating and cherishing our most essential tool for existence.  Perhaps this is due to the puritanical roots of this country, or the archaic notion that the mind and body are separate.  It's strange to think a country that constantly fixates on performance seldom considers the effect a neglected body can have on one's ability to process, create, problem solve, and produce.

When the body is out of balance, often the mind cannot function very well.  Think of a child with ADD.  Their chemical make-up creates a frustrating situation for them, their parents, their classmates, and their teacher.  It's difficult for them to focus on the task at hand.  One way to understand their condition is that their body is overrruling their behavior.  Although an extreme example there are more commonplace effects that everyone experiences from time to time.  Think how you feel when you are run down or have a cold.  Now think of how you feel when you've had really positive physical experiences.  How good you feel after you've cuddled with your partner, how confident you feel after enjoying a favorite sport.

Take this exercise one step further;  try to separate anything you do from your physical self.  You can't.  You can't type, sleep, stare at the wall, feel, or pretend to work without the involvement of your body.  It's impossible.

So how can we be happy in the world when our bodies are neglected, tired, drained, even abused?  Perhaps attitude can overcome many of these obstacles, but it can be easier - and more enjoyable - to remove them altogether.

Doing something nice for your body can help it respond better to your needs.  Eating good food, sleeping, exercising, are all ways you can honor yourself and your body.   Choosing bodywork can help a body rebalance after experiencing stress, trauma, extreme physical or emotional exertion.  It can help a body that's already feeling good feel even better.  It's important to have a full gas tank so you're more equipped to handle unexpected situations.

Keeping balanced in times of stress in important.  Honoring your most original creation, your body, is essential.

Unsaturated Omega-3 Fatty Acids Are Totally Awesome

There's a good chance if you've been on my massage table you've heard me suggest that Omega-3's are fabulous for the nervous system. Why? "Why does she keep singing the praises of fish oil?" you ask. Well, I'll tell you.

By the by, most of this information can be found on Wikipedia under Omega-3 fatty acid.

Omega-3's (referred to researchers as n-3's) are anti-inflammatory by nature. Inflammation of the tissue is what happens when you have allergies. Your face gets puffy, your eyes get beady, and you look a little less gorgeous than you would otherwise. Inflammation of tissue is also tied to arthritis, asthma, and heart disease.

Studies have found that people with circulatory problems benefit from fish oil.


From Wikipedia:

People with certain circulatory problems, such as varicose veins, benefit from fish oil. Fish oil stimulates blood circulation, increases the breakdown of fibrin, a compound involved in clot and scar formation, and additionally has been shown to reduce blood pressure. There is strong scientific evidence that n−3 fatty acids significantly reduce blood triglyceride levels and regular intake reduces the risk of secondary and primary heart attack.


Omega-3's have also been linked with decreases in depression and anxiety, they aid in soothing mental disorders such as aggression and ADHD, and may reduce the amount of abnormal proteins in the brain linked to memory loss.

Thank the mice that were used in an experiment that shows Omega-3's have a protective effect on the nervous system. The mice were divided into two groups. The mice were either exposed to a control or a high Omega-3 diet for 10 months early on in life. Then both groups were exposed to the neurotoxin that encourages the symptoms of Parkinson's disease. The mice on the Omega-3 diet had less of a decrease in dopamine when exposed to the neurotoxin. Since Parkinson's is caused by a disruption of the dopamine system, Omega-3's could help prevent Parkinson's disease.

"But what does this have to do with me and my nervous system", you ask.

You're not impressed by some fancy claims or statistics. You don't care about mice or their sacrifices. Fine, I'll tell you.

Omega-3's have been known to fortify your myelin sheaths. Myelin sheaths insulate the axons of your nervous system. The myelin sheath aids in increased electroconductivity, so you process information faster. Omega-3's aids in repairing and lubricating the nervous system. So if you feel agitated or stupid, try some Omega-3's.

Okay, there's a ton more information out there on Omega-3's, but you're tapped out. You no longer care that low amounts of n-3 fatty acids in the prefrontal cortex could be a factor of Huntington's disease or Schizophrenia. That's all well and good, but you've got stuff to do. I understand.

If you're now inspired to pick up some Omega 3's make sure they are of high quality. Ask your naturopath what brand they recommend. Or, pick some up from Bastyr. They're good about picking stuff that's rich with nutrients instead of filler.

Okay, I'm done. Thank you, Wikipedia, research scientists, and unwilling rodents. Especially the rodents; may you come back happier creatures free from the tyranny of human experiments.

Massage Elevates Quality of Life of Hollywood Legends

Recently I visited my folks in good old Dubuque, Iowa. On the last day of my visit my mother convinced me to meet Marjorie, a harpist who has performed for kings and queens around the world. In her 1881 historically preserved home you can gaze at original Tiffany glass windows, the harpsichord from "Gone with the Wind", and Gene Autrey's grandfather clock. In addition to traveling the globe to play her harps for royalty and presidents, Marjorie gave voice lessons to the girl who played the youngest Von Trap in the film "The Sound of Music".

Marjorie collects great stories and life experiences with the same passion she collects harps - she owns a thousand. She had some great stories to share, including one concerning the benefits of massage.

Marjorie used to live next to Bob Hope. In the waiting room of her veterinarian she met his massage therapist, who also massaged Jack Benny, and (I think) George Burns. Those three guys got massages almost every day by this massage therapist.

"Why?" I asked

Marjorie put it this way, "Their people wanted them to live to be a hundred, so those guys got massaged every day."

This glamorous harpist understands the amazing benefits of massage. "It's twice as good as any pill, it's the best medicine out there." Upon moving to frosty Dubuque from sunny California, Marjorie developed Neuropathy in her feet. She taught her Dubuque massage therapist the reflexology techniques she received in California. Her Dubuque doctor was amazed at how quickly she recovered, and exclaimed his disbelief.

"Of course he couldn't believe it," Marjorie said. "He didn't recommend massage."

Quality of life is a huge issue in this country. A simple way to decrease pain, speed healing time, and possibly extend your shelf life on planet earth is to receive massage. According to someone who's been around a long time and has lived "A very good life, because I planned it that way," it's the best medicine there is.

Young Coconut Water is Glorious

A few weeks ago a fellow teacher assistant for Pat and Matt's Craniosacral Certification program talked to me about the benefits of coconut water. She touted it's isotonicness, it's ability to restore ph levels in the body, and it's ability to combat and soothe vicious hangovers.

I love the opportunity to pound things, so I bought some young coconuts from PCC. I am now a believer. I tend to get dehydrated and young coconut water makes me feel right as rain. I love that it has so much potassium (bannanas make my throat itchy). I love that it helped save lives in World War II. And I love that it is considered holy in several cultures

Here is some information about Coconut Water copied from http://www.living-foods.com/articles/coconutwater.html

"It's a natural isotonic beverage, with the same level of electrolytic balance as we have in our blood. It's the fluid of life, so to speak." In fact, during the Pacific War of 1941-45, both sides in the conflict regularly used coconut water - siphoned directly from the nut - to give emergency plasma trasfusions to wounded soldiers.

Most coconut water is still consumed fresh in tropical coastal areas - once exposed to air, the liquid rapidly loses most of its organoleptic and nutritional characteristics, and begins to ferment.

• Coconut Water is More Nutritious than whole milk - Less fat and NO cholesterol!
• Coconut Water is More Healthy than Orange Juice - Much lower calories
• Coconut Water is Better than processed baby milk- It contains lauric acid, which is present in human mother's milk
• Coconut water is naturally sterile -- Water permeates though the filtering husk!
• Coconut water is a universal donor-- Its identical to human blook plasma
• Coconut Water is a Natural Isotonic Beverage - The same level we have in our blood.
• Coconut water has saved lives in 3rd world countries thru Coconut IV.

"Coconut water is the very stuff of Nature, biologically Pure, full of Natural Sugars, Salts, and Vitamins to ward off fatigue... and is the next wave of energy drinks BUT natural!", according to Mortin Satin, Chielf of the United Nation's Food & Agriculture Organization.

Coconut water contains more potassium (at about 294 mg) than most sports drinks (117 mg) and most energy drinks.

Coconut water has less sodium (25mg) where sports drinks have around 41mg and energy drinks have about 200 mg!

Coconut water has 5mg of Natural Sugars where sports and energy drinks range from 10-25mg of Altered Sugars.

Coconut water is very high in Chloride at 118mg, compared to sports drinks at about 39mg.

Data is based on a 100ml drink.

So the next time you've had too much coffee, beer, wine, run a marathon, have muscle cramps, or just need a little pick me, consider coconut water. Your body will be glad you did.