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When clients come in for their sessions mid-summer there is a noticeable shift in their posture and walking gait. Much of that has to do with summer sandals and the pressure placed, through the feet, to other parts of the body.
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Clients have heard me say this often after their sessions with me, especially after Massage. The main reason behind this "after session" advice is that it extends the benefits of their session after they return home. But there's more...
What does it mean to Focus Massage on an area?
Taking 45 to 60 minutes to just focus massage to one area, for example the legs, the arms, or the back Yes, therapists get injured as well and we often go through the same steps that we ask clients to take. Here is the step by step of how I am healing 3 sprained ankle ligaments, and would suggest to clients as a plan, for between visits.
Allow the muscles in your hands to relax and let go with a soothing massage to hands and lower arms. You'll be amazed at how much tension you've been holding as you text, type, stir, hammer, golf, ...   During a Craniosacral Therapy session there is a Stillpoint. A small measure of time where the Nervous System becomes still, the flow of Cerebral Spinal Fluid is slow and steady, the body is quiet, and I wait. How long do I hold the Stillpoint? Until the client's response tells me to move on.
This past week I had the opportunity to participate in 2 workshops for enhancing Craniosacral Therapy outcomes for clients. While there was a lot of fascinating information shared one topic that stood out to me was the role of Craniosacral Therapy in gently releasing muscular restrictions in the body, versus Deep Tissue Massage where that release is forced, through pressure.
 "Stand up straight and tall!" Who didn't hear this as a child? What was never explained was why.
Posture, next to stress, is one of the main reasons clients come in to see me. Though I'm not sure they realize that. Posture while standing, Posture while walking, Posture while sitting at a desk and computer, Posture during screen time... Good posture, or lack thereof, makes a difference to more than your muscles.  Gentle, slow unwinding of Fascia while also opening up any restrictions in the movement of cerebral spinal fluid, are the goals of a Craniosacral Therapy session. I often find that if a muscle is not letting go with traditional Massage Therapy, that a gentle Craniosacral hold to the area will do the trick. Sometimes muscles require a lighter touch to respond.
We've been walking on some icy surfaces in Calgary for a couple of weeks at least, and I can feel it in the muscles of your legs and hips! Apparently there is more to come through the weeks ahead...ugh. What are your muscles telling me? To avoid falling or slipping we tend to walk differently on icy surfaces. The shoes we wear hopefully have a better grip, but they also tend to be heavier and clumsier than our usual footwear.
Our stance, or centre of gravity should change to feet wider apart and slightly bending forward over our feet to shift body weight where we need it to maintain balance. Hands out of pockets to balance and holding handrails to catch our fall if we go down, shifts our balance as well. We may hit an icy step and jerk or twist our body to keep from falling. Your muscles tell me all about it. |
Teresa Graham,
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