Recently in this space, we went over some of the stretches and activities that best complement massage therapy, especially for people who spend long portions of their day sedentary in a workplace. Massage therapy is a top resource for many who experience discomfort due to this sort of behavior, especially when combined with proper stretching and other in-office activities.

At Body Balance Massage and Float, we’re happy to provide numerous forms of massage therapy for those in this position, including deep tissue massage, trigger point therapy and many other varieties. One of the primary risks we’re helping combat for the kinds of people we mentioned above: Sitting for too long, which can lead to several negative effects if you don’t take the proper steps to balance it out. This two-part blog series will look at what some of these effects are to give you a proper understanding of why limiting these concerns is important for anyone who works in this sort of environment, whether in an office or from home.

Type 2 Diabetes

We’ll start with some of the more serious potential risks here, one of which is Type 2 diabetes. For those not previously aware, Type 2 diabetes is the type that develops later in life, causing the body to either resist insulin (a hormone related to cells and sugar) or not produce enough insulin. It often develops over a long period of time, including those who may have it for years without knowing it.

One of the risk factors for Type 2 diabetes? Sitting for too long regularly, especially if this is done without reducing your calorie intake. This often leads to the formation of the insulin resistance that actually causes Type 2 diabetes, so this behavior has a clear connection here and should be limited wherever possible. If you cannot change your sitting habits immediately, we recommend tweaking your calorie intake.

Heart Conditions

In addition, those who sit for prolonged periods may have up to twice the risk of heart disease as those who are frequently active and exercise often. This is largely due to issues with circulation, which slows and can have major concerns long-term if you never get exercise. If you must sit for long portions of the day, at least be sure you also dedicate chunks to activity to keep the blood flowing.

Neck and Shoulder Discomfort

Another trickle-down result of sitting for long periods: Poor posture, which tends to develop and often worsen for those in this position. This will lead to worsening neck and shoulder stiffness for many as their muscles and tendons react poorly to the stress. This is one area where massage therapy shows major benefits, but also one where you can limit your own discomfort by promoting a strong posture while seated.

For more on the risks of long periods of sitting, or to learn how massage therapy will help counter these risks, speak to the staff at Body Balance Massage and Float today.

In part one of this two-part blog series, we went over some of the primary benefits of massage therapy for expecting mothers. Known as prenatal massage, this method has been used in some form for centuries to help pregnant women keep their stress levels low, their overall health high and their days free of pain or discomfort.

At Body Balance Massage and Float, we’re proud to offer prenatal massage services to a variety of clients during any trimester of their pregnancy, as well as float therapy – the two can often be combined for ideal results for expecting mothers. In today’s part two of our series, we’ll go over the specific benefits of prenatal massage within each trimester of pregnancy, plus once the birth is completed as well.

First Trimester

The first trimester is the newest of the prenatal massage sectors – it was originally thought to be unsafe, but recent research has shown the opposite. In fact, a healthy first trimester, boosted by massage therapy and other solutions, will set the table for a healthy pregnancy and baby.

Prenatal massage during this stage is mostly targeted at any existing issues you have in your muscles, especially in important areas like the back, pelvis, shoulders and neck – these kinds of issues tend to worsen as pregnancy goes on. We will use basic techniques to relieve any issues and prepare your body for the more difficult parts of the pregnancy.

Second Trimester

During the second trimester, while physical pain isn’t as common, this is the stage where the body begins growing quickly. This often throws off the center of gravity for new mothers, which can lead to back pain and related concerns due to muscle tension.

Prenatal massage is perfect for relieving this pain if it takes place. In addition, massage will focus on supporting your enlarging uterus by keeping your muscles and ligaments healthy – this will also show benefits during labor.

Third Trimester

Much of prenatal massage during the third trimester will be centered around preparing you for labor and delivery. You may be experiencing swelling or weight gain at this point, or anxiety about delivery date – massage will address each of these concerns through de-stressing methods, plus those meant to limit swelling or inflammation. We’ll present you with special pillows plus a larger table during this trimester, if needed for your comfort.

Postpartum Solutions

Finally, massage once your baby is born – called postpartum or postnatal massage – is also highly beneficial. It’s a great way to support several bodily areas, from bladder function to the pelvic floor and several others that are typically strained significantly during pregnancy.

For more on how prenatal and postnatal massage are so beneficial to new mothers, or to learn about any of our massage therapy or float therapy services, speak to the staff at Body Balance Massage and Float today.

We’re proud to provide massage therapy services for a wide range of client types at Body Balance Massage and Float, and no group brings us greater joy to assist than soon-to-be mothers. Our prenatal massage therapy program involves professional massage solutions throughout a given pregnancy, including all three trimesters, helping with everything from reducing anxiety and depression to relieving pain – and in many cases, even improving labor outcomes.

Are you an upcoming mother wondering if prenatal massage is the right choice for you at any stage of your pregnancy? This two-part blog series will begin by looking into some of the primary benefits of prenatal massage for pregnant women, then dig into each trimester a bit more specifically to detail the kinds of techniques or services you might receive at each major point during the pregnancy.

Swelling Limitation

During pregnancy, a common condition for many upcoming mothers is swelling of the joints, medically known as edema. It’s generally brought on by limited circulation that takes place during pregnancy, or increased pressure on the blood vessels due to the increased weight of the uterus.

Massage therapy is highly beneficial for this sort of swelling, luckily. It will stimulate various soft tissues and limit fluid buildup in swollen joints, plus assist the body’s lymph system with removing natural tissue waste.

Regulating Hormones

Another major impact of pregnancy on most women is fluctuating hormones, which can lead to everything from changing mood to broad health impacts. However, women who receive prenatal massage during pregnancy are often able to regulate these hormones much more easily, including the reduction of stress hormones like cortisol and the increase of needed hormones like dopamine.

We mentioned potential birth outcomes above – this is a major reason why these outcomes are possible. Regulated hormone levels during pregnancy lead to fewer birth or newborn complications.

Pain Reduction

Many pregnant women, especially in the later stages, will experience sciatic nerve pain and other forms of discomfort based on pressure and weight. These may lead to swelling, tension and other related risks.

Prenatal massage is ideal for these sorts of pain, plus many others. It’s also commonly used for pregnant women experiencing back pain, headaches, sleep issues and more.

Addressing Minor Risks or Precautions

Pregnant women should always consult with their care provider and massage therapist before prenatal massage, though any risks present are relatively minor. Many of the areas discussed here will revolve around posture – most prenatal massage is done with the woman lying on her side, but there could be exceptions here or certain table types that require accommodations. Ensure these areas have been laid out before proceeding with prenatal massage.

For more on prenatal massage and the benefits for pregnant women in each trimester, or to learn about any of our float therapy, massage therapy or other services, speak to the staff at Body Balance Massage and Float today.

In part one of this two-part blog series, we went over some of the basics on utilizing float therapy for athletic and exercise benefits. From the professional ranks all the way down to home workouts, those who take part in float therapy often notice significant benefits to both their physical and mental performance, plus vital recovery areas.

At Body Balance Massage and Float, we’re proud to offer float therapy services in addition to our wide range of massage therapy solutions. Athletes and those who deal with exercise-related issues are some of our most common clients in both these areas – in today’s part two of our series, we’ll go over some of the specific uses of float therapy in athletic and exercise settings, including both before and after major activity.

Warmup and Preparation

As any serious athlete well knows, proper warmup is essential to any major workout, sport or exercise. This is a process that generally involves loosening the muscles and joints before activity, ensuring they’re ready for the heavier strain than normal you’re about to put on them.

While you may not be able to float before every game or exercise, float therapy in general is hugely beneficial here. It involves removing the pressure of gravity from the equation altogether, helping relax the muscles and increasing your red blood cell count and blood circulation. This, in turn, leads to much lower injury risk due to relaxed muscles and related factors.

Mental Prep

While float therapy is fantastic for sports preparation from a physical standpoint, it’s vital not to forget about its benefits within the mental realm. Especially for high-level athletes, focus is essential for strong performance – including the ability to calm down and remain engaged with the task at hand.

Again, float therapy is an excellent resource. It limits the production of lactate in the bloodstream, which in turn improves your ability to think clearly. It’s also a fantastic form of relaxation or mediation for many, allowing you to spend time calmly visualizing success or taking any other mental preparation steps you prefer.

Cool-Down and Recovery

And of course, perhaps the most well-known use of float therapy within athletics is for cool-down and recovery purposes. Whether we’re talking about specific pain or aches in a given area, muscle tightness, cramping or any other sort of sport-related discomfort, float therapy is a fantastic resource.

Once again, the lack of gravity is a major factor here. It gives the joints and muscles the opportunity to relax and fully undergo their healing processes. In addition, magnesium sulfate in the tank further relaxes muscles, plus restores joint protein to help speed up recovery.

For more on the benefits of float therapy for athletes and those who exercise often, or to learn about any of our float therapy, massage therapy or other services, speak to the staff at Body Balance Massage and Float today.

At Body Balance Massage and Float, we’re happy to offer our floatation therapy services to a wide variety of individuals and needs. While many prefer float therapy for general areas like relaxation, calming and peacefulness, it’s also highly beneficial for another wide-ranging group: Athletes.

Whether we’re talking about professionals, amateurs or even just those who like to engage in regular athletic activity for exercise and fitness, float therapy is growing in popularity as a recovery method. Is it something you should be considering for any of your athletic pursuits, especially if you experience pain or discomfort as a result of such activities? This two-part blog series will cover everything you need to know about float therapy for athletes.

Float Therapy in Popular Sports Culture

We noted that this area has been growing in popularity – a big reason for this is acceptance within popular sports culture, namely among professional athletes. There have been several examples of this, such as this 2017 ESPN article discussing various NFL players’ and teams’ use of float therapy for recovery following games in a heavy contact sport.

Football players aren’t the only ones, either. Many NBA players, including superstar Steph Curry, have also shown interest and utilized float therapy. This isn’t the only reason float therapy is on the rise throughout many athletic areas, but it certainly doesn’t hurt either.

Athletes and Training Routines

Both at the pro level and many below it, including those who simply exercise regularly or play on a local adult sports team, float therapy can have a major impact on training routines, recovery and more. At the higher levels, it’s often a big part of speeding up recovery – many pro athletes don’t have days or weeks to recover between aches and pains, and float therapy involves several themes that improve healthy recovery.

Others may find different benefits, or additional ones. Some utilize float therapy for the mental side as much as the physical – they find they’re able to focus more intently on their workout or sport, for instance. Still others swear by the kind of energetic increases they see from float therapy, which helps many people compartmentalize energy loss and stay fresh throughout the day.

Even those with issues they may not have connected to exercise or athletic performance will see benefits from float therapy. Poor sleep quality, for instance, often impacts athletic quality much more than you’d think – float therapy helps many people improve their sleep through relaxation and similar methods, and you might see these benefits in other areas like athletics.

For more on why float therapy is a great recovery and exercise tool for athletes, or to learn about any of our float therapy, massage therapy or other services, speak to the staff at Body Balance Massage and Float today.

In part one of this two-part blog series, we went over some basics on how to choose the best massage therapy format to meet your needs. There are several specific massage therapy techniques out there, each with different benefits and purposes depending on the needs of the patient.

At Body Balance Massage and Float, we’re proud to offer a wide variety of massage therapy techniques, including everything from Swedish massage to sports massage, deep tissue massage and several other distinct formats. We’ve been using this series to look at some of the common needs of those who are generally interested in massage therapy, then digging into what the best techniques are for these individuals – in today’s part two of our series, we’ll look into a couple other distinct areas of need for massage patients, plus the types of massage to consider if you’re in one of these groups.

Pain Relief and Healing

Another of the top reasons we see patients in our massage therapy clinic is for pain relief or healing of specific muscular or joint injuries. Areas like neck stiffness, lower back pain and numerous similar themes are common in our profession.

Luckily, there are multiple massage therapy techniques designed specifically to address pain and help with recovery. These include:

• Deep tissue massage: A technique wherein a massage therapist will use their knuckles, elbows, hands and even forearms to get a deep massage into layers of skin tissue. You’ll be able to feel the pressure all the way to your core, but it won’t hurt (your therapist will regularly communicate with you about pressure levels to ensure this). Deep tissue massage is ideal for treating chronic back pain, plus helps lower blood pressure, reduce stress hormone and improve relaxation.
• Trigger point therapy: In some cases, pain you’re experiencing may be due to a single tight spot in a muscle – sometimes far away from the actual pain location. Trigger point therapy involves the therapist locating this point and addressing the underlying issue causing it, using several potential techniques.

Pregnancy

Finally, while you may not have realized it, massage therapy is also ideal for expecting mothers during their pregnancy. Prenatal massage is a format that’s similar to standard massage therapy in some ways, but also involves the client laying on her side with maximum support and comfort themes in place. The therapist will make the environment as relaxing as possible, then will work with the expecting mother on her goals and needs – utilizing several potential techniques here, most notably Swedish massage in many cases.

For more on the various massage therapy techniques available to you and which to choose, or to learn about any of our massage or float therapy services, speak to the staff at Body Balance Massage and Float today.