Blue Pacific Massage

How to Receive a Massage

2012-02-23T16:45:00.000-08:00

I recently filled in at a Chiropractic Office for a massage therapist and on her wall she had this printout on "How to Receive a Massage" for her clients. as I was preparing the room for the next massage client it caught my attention. Between massage sessions I had some time to read it and really liked it so I asked the Dr. if he would mind if I used it for my website and in my business, Blue Pacific Massage & Body Works. I took a copy home and yes I did do a little editing and added or changed a few things but I wanted to share with anyone interested.....

Howto Receive a Massage

Because Massage is not a common part of our contemporary cultural experience, many people feel uneasy about receiving their first massage. Here are a few guidelines to help you feel at ease and to gain the greatest benefit from your massage session.

Tell the therapist about areas of your body, which are injured, tense or sore. Also mention any medical conditions, such as high blood pressure, heart problem, chronic headaches, varicose veins or recent surgery. Most therapist have you fill out forms with these questions prior to your first session as they want to be sure there are no contraindications with the massage . With this knowledge they can decide which treatments you would benefit with the most.

The best way to receive a massage is with the body completely unclothed. The therapist is sensitive to the need for privacy and will keep your body covered with a sheet or blanket, except for the area being massaged. It will be uncovered while being massaged and then recovered when not. However if this is uncomfortable in any way you may choose to wear under garments or a swimsuit, the client may choose to leave on as much clothing as needed for comfort. This is your massage session and you should be as comfortable as possible.

Conversation can be distracting to you and the therapist. Good massage often requires the therapist to focus her thoughts and energy and concentrate on what your body is telling her and what she needs to do for your body to receive the healing process through the massage. Try to confine your conversation to feedback about the massage. Some people don’t realize that conversation is distracting them from truly feeling the sensations a massage gives. Try just concentrating on those sensations and you might be amazed at the difference it does actually make.

Once you are on the massage table close your eyes and allow yourself to relax as completely as possible. Focus your attention on your breathing, slow deep and even, allow yourself to experience all those relaxing sensations.

When the therapist’s hands locate areas of pain or tension in the body, try doing this mind exercise …consciously try to relax the area being massaged and as you inhale deeply visualize the breath flowing to the tense area and relaxing it then as you fully exhale visualize the tension leaving the body with the breath.

Allow the massage therapist to move your limbs into various positions. Be Limp, like a rag doll, and do not try to help move your arms, legs, or head. The therapist is a trained professional who will not do anything to hurt you. However, feel free to speak up if anything the therapist does is too painful or ticklish, or uncomfortable in any way. Most therapist ask the client about the pressure they are using if it is to much or not enough and when doing deep tissue they will most likely use a pain scale for you to communicate with them about the pressure being used as a trained professional they know the importance of pain scales and how to much pain can actually hurt you more than help you. So be sure and take the responsibility to inform the therapist of any discomfort so that adjustments can be made to the pressure and/or techniques being used.

Very often, as the body releases tension during a massage, the mind will release emotion. If you suddenly feel sad, angry or joyful do not be alarmed, allow yourself to express these feelings by crying or laughing. At the very least, feel free to sigh with the relaxation or hum with pleasure.

Many people fall asleep during a massage, an indication that the body and mind are releasing stress and tension. The therapist will gently wake you when it is time to turn over or end the massage.

Contrary to a common notion in our society about massage, it is an ancient healing art and not a sexual service. The body might become aroused as you experience the pleasure of total relaxation. However, sexual behavior during the massage is inappropriate and will result in termination of the massage session. A professional Massage Therapist will not tolerate any sexual advances as this is her profession and looks at Massage as the Healing Art it actually is.

Enjoy your massage and I hope that this experience will be the beginning of a lifelong practice to help you enjoy the benefits of massage for your overall health and well being.

The Challenge of Boundaries

2012-02-01T14:36:00.000-08:00

Most Massage Therapist find boundaries a challenge when dealing with clients, it is setting your boundaries and keeping them especially when you are starting out in the field of massage.

I have found that some clients may want to become friends, they may want to ask you on a date. Clients may ask for your advice on things not related to their massage, ask you for favors, bring you things and want to do favors for you.They will become attached to you and have strong feelings for you.They will want you to set your schedule around theirs.

Sometimes trying to please a client and keep your boundaries intact isn't easy as you want to be nice and caring and help the client but you don't want them taking advantage of your feelings. You are there to help the clients therapeutic needs the client comes to you for your expertise in the massage field, it is our responsibility to supply them with a safe secure environment for the healing which they have sought through you. They come to us or we go to them for no other purpose than the service of healing with massage be it for relaxation, stress reduction, muscle pain etc.

A good read on the therapeutic relationship

Massage Menu !!!

2011-12-07T16:15:00.000-08:00

Here at Blue Pacific Massage I decided to make up a menu for my clients so they can choose what they would like before their mobile massage or coming to see me. This ensures I have a plan or routine worked out before hand. Below are a few examples of whats on the menu at Blue Pacific Massage & Body Works.........

The Mix it Up Massage

This is a one hour Swedish Massage using five styles of long flowing strokes. The five basic strokes are effleurage (sliding or gliding), petrissage (kneading), tapotement (rhythmic tapping), friction (cross fiber) and vibration/shaking .concentrating on the Upper and Lower Back, Arms, Hands, Shoulders and Neck.

Blue Pacific's Aromatherapy Massage

This is a one hour Swedish Massage using five styles of long flowing strokes as above. The Aromatherapy Massage will concentrate on more relaxing strokes, while the selection of essential oil used during the massage will create the effects desired, since they are chosen for their therapeutic effect, and not the fragrance as such. Each essential oil has different healing properties. For example, some calm while others energize.

Blue Pacific's Full Body Massage

This Massage takes about one hour 20 minutes. The Full Body Massage includes the upper and lower back, neck, shoulders, arms, hands, legs, feet .Front and Back. Blue Pacific's Full Body Massage is a Swedish Massage combined with Deep Tissue (if needed) Acupressure, Reflexology, Trigger Points and a few stretching Techniques

Deep Tissue Massage

2011-11-19T19:07:00.000-08:00

When you have a deep tissue massage you need to listen to your massage therapist and don't expect her/him to go straight into deep tissue massage manipulations, it is very important they start off with some easy strokes and prepare the area for the deeper manipulations.

Starting out with some swedish massage which uses five styles of long flowing strokes. The five basic strokes are effleurage (sliding or gliding), petrissage (kneading), tapotement (rhythmic tapping), friction (cross fiber) and vibration/shaking.As we gradually work the strokes getting deeper as we go it makes the deep tissue so much more effective.

A well trained massage therapist knows they can not just go right into deep strokes or manipulations as it can cause more damage or pain than you started with. The massage therapist will guide you with breathing techniques and they will use a pain scale to be more effective, do not go over on the pain scale be honest not everyone has the same level when asked make sure you tell your therapist when or if it is to much pain so they can adjust the pressure as the pressure if to much can cause those muscles to tighten up and that is the opposite of what we are striving for with deep tissue, Our goal is to relax or release the muscle.

Deep Tissue can be very effective massage therapy if done with proper training and care. Be sure you know that the massage therapist you choose has training and is qualified in giving Deep Tissue Massage

Healing with Massage

2011-11-05T13:38:00.000-07:00

My very first client before I started Blue Pacific Massage & Body Works, had a chronic injury from when she was young. She had been in a car accident that affected the scapula and shoulder area. This person is someone I have known for most of my life and I never knew she had been in pain so long and the first time I went to do a massage for her I saw how off her scapula area was and I just said to her OMG I never realized and I can't believe this is so out of whack, when she was standing in front of me I could see how one side was so off it looked twice the size of the other and when she was laying prone (face down) on the table I could see how the one side was about 2 inches higher than the other, I was not sure how I was going to do this. I was still in school and she was letting me practice my massage on her. I was very determined to help her and make it right. I started off with just a full body massage to assess what I needed to do for her and as I progressed with the massage I could feel with my hands what areas I needed to work on most. I spent a lot of time on the upper back and shoulders to get her relaxed I then continued with the lower back and then the whole back then onto the arms and hands where I also found areas that needed attention, I continued with the massage, the legs and feet and no surprise here she had issues in these areas also yet not visible like her scapula and shoulder area. I then finished the Full Body Massage with the her lying supine (face up) massaging the legs feet arms hands and finishing with the neck and shoulders. When I was done with the massage I put her through some good stretching techniques (which she loved) and I knew from experience how the stretches would benefit her so this was a good thing.

Like I said I was determined to help her get rid of the pain she had accepted was going to be there forever yet I knew it didn't have to be. I told her what I wanted to do and we started a plan of sessions. My plan was to continue with the full body massage because everything in our body is connected in its own way and when one area isn't doing what its suppose to do another area steps in and helps but then it is doing more than its supposed to do and it becomes affected so another area becomes affected and so on and so on and now there is so many more areas that need attention. So I started her with full body massage sessions to relieve the tension and tightness so the body becomes relaxed and the healing process begins. Not only is the relaxed state of the body and mind healing, massage brings blood to the area, the blood supplies water, oxygen, food and secretions and carries away carbon dioxide and waste products to be eliminated from the body, causing a healing process of its own. Repair takes place when infection- causing bacteria has been destroyed then the connective tissues cells send what is called fibroblasts to the area for the regenerating and rebuilding process of the area.

As I do the Full Body Massage I integrate other techniques that my client is comfortable with. Some Deep Tissue massage on the taut bands I find is beneficial only as long as the pain scale is ok for my client as I don't want to cause her to tighten up from to much pain as that would only hinder the process as we want to loosen the tightness not make it tighter. Everyone has different pain scales so it is important to be in good communication while doing any deep tissue.There is that good pain which is tolerable and actually feels good and then there's that pain that causes the body or muscle to tighten,which is not what we are aiming for. I also used some cross fiber friction strokes, Friction is specific circular or transverse movements, generally across the grain of fiber of the underlying tissues. It is not a sliding/gliding action like effleurage and is focused on a confined area. A variation called Cyriax Cross Fiber Friction is a very specific treatment technique frequently used to break up adhesion's and scar tissue. Using Myofascial Techniques to reduce fascial restrictions, Neuromuscular Therapy (NMT) techniques to address trigger points and pressure points, using NMT I can usually feel when a tight area or taut band releases

I continued doing Full Body Massage sessions with her and each time I could see improvement and she was telling me how much better she was doing for example before she wouldn't feel her scapula against the seat back when she was sitting and now she could actually feel it. She didn't feel the awkward hitch in her shoulder it was now feeling relaxed and more like it should feel and her posture was improving giving her a more balanced feeling when she stood.

There was one time during our sessions where circumstances led to missing a session and although she was feeling good and didn't feel she needed it so it was ok if she missed a session within a few days after the missed session, yes that soon, the pain returned and we could see a difference where as the muscle memory caused the muscle to return to where it had been for so long. I was doing what I call retraining the muscles with massage and body works, to return to their natural position to where they should be not where the injury caused the position of the muscles to go and because they stayed that way for so long muscle memory causes them to return to that position until the retraining process takes over and they stay where they actually should be and were meant to be for their function. Missing the session didn't really do any damage it just set us back prolonged the outcome.

The whole process took about 4 months of massage & body work therapy to retrain the muscles and get the body to realign itself to its natural stance where she is now pain free, has a better more relaxed posture and her overall health and well being has improved. She now keeps up on what I call body maintenance by integrating massage into her life schedule. She can now choose what type of massage she wants and one of her favorites is the Hot Stone Massage. She continues to have regular massage at least once a month if not more !!

I would like to add how important it really is to stick to a plan your massage therapist may give you as sometimes it does take time for the healing process to work yet from experience I have seen it work well. I also feel and highly recommend doing the full body massage as it may seem to you like "oh I only need this part of my body done" and yes that is very beneficial for the area but having the full body massage I believe will speed up the process of healing any area as the body is a whole made up of a bunch of different parts that all work together.

Mobile Massage

2011-11-01T17:19:00.000-07:00

I have been so busy starting my massage business I have not posted in awhile so I thought I would take a few minutes posting. I just recently started my own Massage Business, Blue Pacific Massage & Body Works.
I live in the High Desert in CA and decided to start a mobile massage business so clients can receive the benefits of massage in their own homes.
With all the main benefits of massage, many people would prefer to have a Massage Therapist come to them for treatment instead of having to visit the massage therapist. Mobile Massage has the benefits of allowing the client to remain in their own environment where they are most likely more comfortable. Mobile Massage alleviates the before and after stresses of travelling to receive a massage and another benefit is that they can retire directly to a place of rest or more comfortable setting for a shower or bath immediately following their massage. Mobile Massage Therapists can bring their own table, equipment and supplies necessary for a professional massage or treatment at your own home. Mobile (or outcall) massages are becoming more and more popular all around the world and where life can seem more hectic these days the convenience of mobile massage is a Big Plus !!

Using the Right Body Mechanics

2011-10-10T22:45:00.000-07:00

Being a massage therapist, using the right body mechanics while giving massage is so important. I can really tell the difference when I don't keep up on the right movements, stances and alignment of my own body. If I am in pain from doing massage I must be doing something wrong !!!
When I practice good body mechanics, my body is aligned in a posture that places the least amount of stress on my muscular & skeletal system and my movements stay in a more comfortable range that is much more beneficial to my health.
Knowledge of my body mechanics will help me to avoid a lot of physical problems.Take for instance, the fact of just keeping a wallet in your back pocket can throw your back out of alignment because of the way it changes your body mechanics when you sit.
Using Body awareness and being mindful of my body’s movements, responses, sensations and feelings, I become aware of subtle patterns, the shifting of my weight when using the correct stance while keeping proper posture and alignment to expel pressure and control my movements, the position of my shoulders kept back and relaxed never hunched. Keeping my wrist and hand relaxed while working, Using the force of my entire body weight, not just my upper body, never hyper-extending my fingers or thumb while performing any massage therapy strokes. My fingers and thumb always a continuation of my shoulder and body. These subtle patterns make for an easy flowing motion while giving a massage.
Standing is the basic position from which all other body mechanics are performed.My body needs to continue to move or sway in varying degrees in order to keep itself balanced, so I use its natural movement. Trying to stand straight takes my skeleton out of its natural alignment and requires my muscles to work harder to hold a straight posture, so I relax and use the natural shape of my skeleton for support. When standing, I keep my upper body vertical and balanced over my pelvis, legs and feet, and I keep my center of gravity over my feet and let my upper body move without restriction, allowing my shoulders, arms and hands to move more freely.

There are two main stances used in massage, they help to move and control the application of massage. One is the Horse Stance and the other is the Archer Stance, both give the body a good base of support and facilitate the transfer of bodyweight to the hands minimizing the use of upper body muscles when applying massage. The use of these two stances enables you to use the strength and momentum of your entire body to create movement.
The Horse Stance, sometimes called the warrior stance you mimic how a person would sit on a horse. The legs are slightly flexed at the knees with feet parallel and back straight. The back remains erect and relaxed the shoulders comfortably dropped and back.
The Archer Stance, the stance most commonly used in massage your lead foot points straight ahead in the same direction as your face with your knee slightly bent, your other foot points off toward the side at a 30 to 50 degree angle.
In massage therapy, body mechanics is being able to position and move my body to give the most effective massage possible with very little effort and strain to the myself. Injury is perhaps one of the largest threats to a massage therapist’s career. In a career that demands a great deal from its professionals both physically and mentally, keeping myself healthy should be at the top of my priority list and using the proper body mechanics is the best way to help prevent injury to my own body which in turn helps to keep me healthy.
Body Mechanics are one of the most important tools I use. By integrating them into my massage, my client and I will benefit greatly.
Blue Pacific Massage & Bodyworks

Alternative, Holistic or Complimentary Medicine

2011-10-03T10:32:00.000-07:00

The Popularity of Massage and other Alternative Medicine steadily increased from the 1960's through the 1990's. Surveys done by David Eisenberg in 1997 indicate that 40% of all Americans used some form of Alternative therapy, there were an estimated 629 million visits to Alternative practitioners compared with 386 million visits to primary care Physicians.
Massage known as Alternative Medicine, Holistic Medicine and or Complementary Medicine.

Alternative Medicine, a term that implies using services other than those usually accepted by allopathic physicians. Many people seek the use of alternative practices to go along with the services of conventional physicians.

Complimentary Medicine, the term which implies that the alternative practices can work together with more conventional medicine for the benefit of clients, and seems to have taken the place of alternative medicine along with the change in attitude of "becoming more socially acceptable" and "more accepted by the medical community."

Holistic means to look at the whole picture. All things affecting the health of the individual including spiritual, physical, mental, emotional, social and environmental. The Holistic approach includes the participation of the client where diet , imagery, positive thinking and meditation all help in the healing process.

It never seems to amaze me the difference when integrating massage into a persons life the benefits and the overall healthy feeling that comes with massage. I see many clients experience a more lifting energetic,yet at the same time a more relaxed attitude towards everyday life.

I experience proof of the effects of massage just by seeing the difference I have made for that person who came to me looking for one thing or another be it pain relief or finding a relaxed state of being and knowing I made that difference is one of the most rewarding feelings I know.
Blue Pacific Massage in Victorville, Ca. offers a variety of massage techniques.

Fascinating and Informative

2011-09-29T21:31:00.000-07:00

I find the history of Massage very fascinating and informative as massage actually began thousands of years ago, when ancient civilizations used massage for their healing therapies. As the years progressed, so did massage and each civilization used it in their own distinct manner.Massage used in the Spa modalities today has its own history

The word spa comes from the Latin language and means “sanitas per aqua”, which means “health through water.” Spa is also the name of a small village in Belgium where the hot mineral springs were discovered by the ancient Romans and used by their soldiers to treat the aching muscles and wounds from their battles. Although Romans were not the first to use social bathing, they were the ones that perfected it. Social bathing was used by many, including the Egyptians, Mesopotamians, Minoans, and Greeks.

It is not known when the Romans first used the public bath, history states during the reign of Caesar Augustus, 27 B.C. to 14 A.D., approximately 170 baths were found throughout Rome. Primarily built as encampments or posts and used by the soldiers of Rome as a way to help ease the wounds from battle. Around 43 A.D., the Roman people began have a different view of baths and bathing. They started seeing the baths as a way of providing rest, relaxation, and solace to all people, not just the soldiers of war.

While Roman Empire grew, the number of public baths grew. By 300 A.D., there is said to have been over 900 baths throughout the empire. The oldest Roman bath or spa still exists today in Merano, Italy.

Spas were also found throughout Switzerland, Belgium, Germany and England in the Middle Ages and during the Renaissance. Usually built where natural mineral springs or natural hot springs where the waters have been told to have healing effects on the sick.

Mohawk Indians used hot springs for their healing properties. The oldest spring known to have been used by the Mohawks is the Saratoga Hot Springs, meaning “the place of the medicine waters of the great spirit” in the native dialect.It was one of the first commercial spas in the New World. As America expanded westward, new mineral springs were discovered and developed and are very popular still today.

With history we find that water is widely used for healing, Many massage therapist use water treatments before, after or with the massage.

Hydrotherapy which refers to the medicinal use of water, including hot tubs, cold water treatments, ice packs, vapors, saunas, mineral springs, hot springs, sitz baths, wet towel applications, water exercises, and water massage. Hydrotherapy is the use of water to revitalize, maintain, and restore health. Hydrotherapy also supplies fresh nutrients and oxygen to injured tissue and helps with the removal of waste products. In injuries alternate applications of heat and cold accelerate healing by improving blood vessel integrity and muscle tone. Heat causes blood to come to the surface where as cold causes blood to constrict and drives blood inward. Water also has a soothing, calming, and relaxing effect on people, whether in a bath, shower, spray, or compress.

Watsu meaning "water shiatsu" is a massage treatment given submerged in warm chest deep water. In this therapy the massage therapist floats, stretches and massages the client which helps to open joints, improve mobility, and opens the energy pathways that promote healing.

Greetings from Blue Pacific Massage & Body Works / Blog of Blue Pacific Massage & Body Works - Victorville, CA 92393 - (760)680-7910 | ShowMeLocal.com

2011-09-29T13:44:00.000-07:00

Greetings from Blue Pacific Massage & Body Works / Blog of Blue Pacific Massage & Body Works - Victorville, CA 92393 - (760)680-7910 | ShowMeLocal.com

On- Site Chair Massage

2011-09-28T15:20:00.000-07:00

There is so much that can be shared about massage and its benefits I thought today I would share the benefits of chair massage at work or mainly known as On-Site Chair Massage for the office or workplace which has become more and more popular today.

It's easy, fast and fairly inexpensive, giving chair massages helps to relax and rejuvenate your employees and lets them enjoy the healing power of massage. Chair massage helps relieve many of the problems associated with repetitive movement.

Many scientific studies show the benefits of chair massage as well as benefits to your business. Employee Benefits: Decrease in Stress, Boost to Immune System, Improve Circulation, Lower Blood Pressure, , Relieves Headache, Reduces Muscle tension , Improves Thinking, Enhances Flexibility, Promotes a sense of well-being.

Employer Benefits: Increase Productivity, Lower Workplace Stress Levels, Decrease Absenteeism, Improve Retention Rates, Less Ergonomics Related Injuries, Promotes a revitalized and healthier workforce.

Chair Massage is focused on the upper and lower lack, neck, shoulders, arms and hands. There are different methods for giving a chair massage yet most commonly it is usually done using an Ergonomically designed chair which is what I use, it is also done through the clothes & no oil. Time is usually 10-20 minutes. Depending on your therapist there are different techniques used such as Swedish (Petrissage, Tapotement, Vibration, ect.), Deep Tissue, Acupressure. Some incorporate the use of different stretching techniques so its usually what the massage therapist decides to put in the mix.

Highly recommended for you Business owners show your employees you appreciate them by adding a monthly, or by-monthly chair massage.

Blue Pacific Massage & Body works offers On-Site Chair Massage

Blue Pacific Massage

2011-09-27T14:49:00.000-07:00

Blue Pacific Massage & Body Works is dedicated at giving quality therapeutic massage for over all health and wellness with strong knowledge in the various massage modalities including Swedish Massage, Deep Tissue, Sports Massage, Acupressure, Shiatsu, Lymph Drainage, Reflexology , Trigger Points, Neuromuscular Therapy, Lymph Drainage, Reiki , Chair Massage, Hot Stone Massage, Aromatherapy, Watsu, Pre Natal Massage, Post Natal Massage, Infant Massage, On-Site Chair Massage,Mobile Massage, Gift Certificates Available.