MASSAGE: It's real medicine!

Thanks to my good friend Dale of Attune Massage in Atlanta GA for pointing out this great article about massage therapy from the CNN website!

It talks about research suggesting massage can ease insomnia, boost immunity, prevent PMS, ease distress from migraine, labor pain, and even cancer, as well as the body tenderness seen with fibromyalgia. It also talks about hospitals beginning to offer massage as part of their surgery recovery treatments. I'm so pleased to see more and more awareness of the changes massage can make in people's lives, and Western medicine beginning to incorporate massage into patient treatment for a variety of injuries and illnesses.

Read the full article here!

Stylehive!

I'm having a really good time with a website called Stylehive.com. It's a "global social shopping community, dedicated to discovering and sharing the most exciting products, the stores that sell them, and the people that find them." What that means is people find interesting products online and link them to their hive, which allows other people to browse and share. If you set up a free account, you can save products to your own hive, using it as a bookmark resource for things you might like to buy in the future, or making wishlists for your friends and family. Everything from small hand-crafted items to high-end architecture and resort destinations can be found while browsing the site. I've been adding everything from dream vacations and the perfect jacuzzi bath, to cheap and fun design ideas, to some favorite health and beauty products. Some things I plan to buy, some thing I just want to lust over!

Some things I'm liking right now:


Spa Lights. Set the mood for your bath with these ingenious little battery-operated, waterproof lights! A suction cup attaches them anywhere you want, or remove it and float them over the surface of the water. Beautiful!


Beach Stone Doormat. River rocks make a beautiful entry way mat that will weather and last, or a unique bathmat. Step out of the shower to an instant foot massage!




Roll-up blinds with fun graphics. The exterior of your house looks as good as the inside with these fun and simple to install roller blinds. What a unique way to dress up a kitchen window or kid's room. I'm looking for windows to use these in right now!


You can find these items at my stylehive. Set up your own account and start browsing, but don't forget to add the Jaya Hive to your follows! Warning: you might become addicted!


Also, don't forget to add your email to the mailing list!

The Benefits of Massage Therapy

The Benefits of Massage: Is Bodywork Right For Me?
Massage provides relief to people of all ages—from infants to seniors—and from all walks of life—the weekend or competitive athlete to the home gardener or overstressed, overworked executive.

Treating the Body
Massage therapy addresses a variety of health conditions, the most prevalent being stress-related tension, which, experts believe, accounts for 80%-90% of disease. Massage has been proven beneficial in treating cancer-related fatigue, sleep disorders, high blood pressure, diabetes, low back pain, immunity suppression, spinal cord injury, autism, post-operative surgery, age-related disorders, infertility, eating disorders, smoking cessation, and depression, to name just a few. Here’s why:

Bodywork offers a drug-free, non-invasive and humanistic approach based on the body’s natural ability to heal itself. Massage has many physiological effects, such as:

• Increasing circulation, allowing the body to pump more oxygen and nutrients into tissues and vital organs.
  
• Stimulating the lymph system, the body’s natural defense, against toxic invaders. For example, in breast cancer patients, massage has been shown to increase the cells that fight cancer.
  
• Relaxing and softening injured and overused muscles.
  
• Reducing spasms and cramping.
  
• Increasing joint flexibility.
  
• Reducing recovery time for strenuous workouts and eliminating subsequent pains of the athlete at any level.
  
• Releasing endorphins, the body’s natural painkiller. For this reason, massage is being incorporated into treatment for chronic illness, injury and recovery from surgery to control and relieve pain.
  
• Reducing post-surgery adhesions and edema and reducing and realigning scar tissue after healing has occurred.
  
• Improving range of motion and decreasing discomfort for patients with low back pain.
  
• Relieving pain for migraine sufferers and decreasing the need for medication.
  
• Providing exercise and stretching for atrophied muscles and reducing shortening of the muscles for those with restricted range of motion.
  
• Contributing to shorter labor and reduced tearing for expectant mothers, as well as lessening the need for medication, minimizing depression and anxiety, and shortening hospital stays.

It’s important to note that there are some conditions where massage is not recommended. For example, massage is contraindicated in people with:

• Certain forms of cancer
  
• Phlebitis
  
• Some cardiac problems
  
• Some skin conditions
  
• Infectious diseases

Your practitioner should ask you about your specific health conditions and determine if massage, bodywork or somatic therapies are a good idea. In some cases, the practitioner may need your doctor’s permission before providing services.

Treating the Spirit
Massage also provides another therapeutic component largely absent in today’s world: tactile stimulation, or, more simply, touch. In 1986, the Touch Research Institute at the University of Miami published groundbreaking research on the effects of massage on premature babies. The preterm babies who received massage therapy showed 47% greater weight gain and six-day shorter hospital stays than the infants who were not receiving massage. But is this study evidence of what loving touch can do spiritually, or rather what massage can do on a physiological level? Regardless, babies are not the only benefactors.

Many adults have reported cathartic experiences on the massage table. As a therapist carefully unwinds a client’s stressed and tired muscles, the therapist may very well be unwinding the taut, pent-up emotions that one doesn’t always have time to process in the middle of the day. And the feeling of being touched in a safe, caring, compassionate manner can be a very powerful experience, reminding the client that she or he is not alone in the world.

As studies continue to reveal the link between kinesiology and physical and emotional health, the effects of massage will be further documented. However, one need only experience a good massage to know it's beneficial to body and soul.

Source: massagetherapy.com

Read more about what to expect at Jaya Bodywork.

Eating lighter for Spring

I was working in Manhattan yesterday and the city was definitely experiencing a sort of Spring Fever, although we won't technically reach the season for another couple of weeks. It was 50 degrees and sunny, the streets were packed with shoppers, the Union Square Greenmarket was blooming with beautiful flowers, fruits, and vegetables. It's a perfect time to start integrating more fresh foods into your diet, moving away from the heavier and more warming foods of winter, and enjoying the lighter fare of the season. Here are a couple of low-fat and highly nutritious recipes that I'm looking forward to making this year courtesy of Fiona Hayes' Low-Fat cooking newsletter. For best flavors, always look for organic and fresh ingredients as close to harvest as possible!




Pea and Mint Soup

This low fat, high fiber pea and mint soup with chopped parsley makes a fragrant and flavorful spring lunch or appetizer. Serve hot or cold, depending on the weather, and top with a dollop of low fat or fat free sour cream and mint sprigs.

INGREDIENTS:

• 2 tsp olive oil
• 1/2 cup shallots, finely chopped
• 1 pound frozen or fresh (shelled) green peas
• 1/4 cup fresh mint, chopped
• 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
• 3 cups fat free, reduced sodium chicken broth (or vegetable broth)
• 4 tbsp fat free or low fat sour cream or plain yogurt plus mint sprigs for garnish

PREPARATION:

Heat oil in a large pot or Dutch oven. Sauté shallots on a low heat until softened. Add peas, mint, parsley and broth, stirring well. Bring to a boil then simmer, partially covered, for 20 minutes.

Transfer to a blender, reserving some of the liquid, and puree until smooth.

Add remaining liquid depending on desired thickness of soup. Ladle into 4 bowls and top with mint and yogurt or sour cream if desired.

Per Serving Calories 130, Calories from Fat 24, Total Fat 2.6g (sat 0.4g), Cholesterol 0.4g, Sodium 579mg, Carbohydrate 19.2g, Fiber 5.8g, Protein 7.4g

Spring Salmon Salad

This is a wonderful way to step up your intake of veggies, as well as increasing your intake of heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids. You can easily substitute tuna for the salmon and get similar benefits. Make this lower fat basic vinaigrette dressing, or use your own favorite low fat or fat-free dressing.

INGREDIENTS:

• 1 medium head of red lettuce
• 2 hard cooked eggs, yolks removed
• 2 medium, vine-ripe tomatoes cut into wedges
• 1 cup cooked asparagus tips
• 1 small red onion, thinly sliced
• 1 small yellow pepper, cut into strips
• 1 7.5 ounce can of pink salmon
• 
  
• For the Vinaigrette Dressing:
• 1 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
• 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
• 2 tbsp water
• 11/2 tsp Dijon mustard
• 1 garlic clove, crushed

PREPARATION:

Rinse and dry lettuce leaves. Tear into pieces and divide among four bowls or plates.

Combine chopped cooked egg whites, tomato, asparagus, onion and pepper. Arrange on top of lettuce.

Drain salmon and flake on top of vegetables.

In a small bowl, whisk vinaigrette ingredients together until emulsified. Drizzle a little over each plate or bowl.

Serves 4.

Per Serving (without dressing): Calories 148, Calories from Fat 40, Total Fat 4.4g (sat 0.9g), Cholesterol 23mg, Sodium 341mg, Carbohydrate 11.4g, Fiber 3.1g, Protein 15.7g

Salad with dressing: Calories 191, Calories from Fat 70, Total Fat 7.8g (sat 1.4g), Cholesterol 23mg, Sodium 386mg, Carbohydrate 14.6g, Fiber 3.1g, Protein 15.7g

Farfalle Pasta with Asparagus and Cherry Tomatoes

Crisp bright green asparagus and sweet red cherry tomatoes tossed with farfalle (bow tie) pasta makes a colorful and delightful spring supper. Serve with some crusty bread or a green salad on the side.

INGREDIENTS:

• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 1/4 cup minced shallots
• 2 garlic cloves, crushed
• 1 pound of medium asparagus spears, chopped into 1 1/2-inch pieces
• 1 pint cherry tomatoes, halved
• 12 ounces farfalle (bow tie) pasta
• 1/4 cup fresh basil, finely chopped
• Freshly ground black pepper
• 1/4 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese

PREPARATION:

Heat oil in a large skillet over a medium-high heat. Add garlic and shallots and cook for two minutes. Reduce heat to medium and add tomatoes; sauté until very soft, about 5 minutes. Stir in asparagus pieces and cook until bright green, about 2 minutes.

Stir in basil and sprinkle with pepper.

Meanwhile, cook pasta according to directions on package. Drain and empty into in a large pasta bowl. Add asparagus and tomato mixture, sprinkle cheese and toss well.

Serves 6.

Per Serving: Calories 280, Calories from Fat 44, Total Fat 5g (sat 1.1g), Cholesterol 3mg, Sodium 84mg, Carbohydrate 48.1g, Fiber 4.2g, Protein 10.9g

Check back for more light and low-fat recipes and visit the Jaya Bodywork health page to see some of the positive changes massage can make in your overall well-being.