Take care of your body with Steadfast Fidelity
........Geothe, Johann Wolfgang Von

**I will be in Burlington, VT at the IIHF Women's World Championships
with the US Women National Ice Hockey Team
from April 3rd to 15th. **

In an age of technical and, at times, impersonal medicine, massage offers a drug-free, non-invasive and humanistic approach based on the body's natural ability to heal itself.

Massage has become an integral part of the new athletic regimen from sports medicine clinics, to college training rooms, to professional lockers to Olympic training. A growing number of trainers believe that massage can provide an extra edge to the athletes who participate in high performance sports.

More and more people are realizing that a complete workout routine includes not only the exercise itself, but also caring for the wear-and-tear and minor injuries that naturally occur with strenuous movements. The physiological and psychological benefits of masage make it an ideal complement to a total conditioning program.

Massage has become a necessary ingredient for a complete workout.

You do not have to be an athlete to benefit from a massage. Anyone who use their bodies strenously in their work will benefit greatly from a massage as well.

So what exactly are the benefits of receiving a regular massage and/or bodywork treatments?

• Increases circulation, allowing the body to pump more oxygen and nutrients into tissues and vital organs
• Stimulates the flow of lymph, the body's natural defense system, against toxic invaders. For example, in breast cancer patients, massage has been shown to increase the cells that fight cancer.
• Increased circulation of blood and lymph systems improves the condition of the body's largest organ - the skin.
• Relaxes and softens injured and overused muscles. Reduces spasms and cramping. Increases joint flexibility.
• Reduces recovery time, helps prepare for strenuous workouts and eliminates subsequent pains of the athlete at any level.
• Releases endorphins - the body's natural painkiller - and is being used in chronic illness, injury and recovery from surgery to control and relieve pain.
• Reduces post-surgery adhesions and edema and can be used to reduce and realign scar tissue after healing has occurred.
• Improves range-of-motion and decreases discomfort for patients with low back pain.
• Relieves pain for migraine sufferers and decreases the need for medication.
• Provides exercise and stretching for atrophied muscles and reduces shortening of the muscles for those with restricted range of motion.
• Assists with shorter labor for expectant mothers, as well as less need for medication, less depression and anxiety, and shorter hospital stays.

TAKE TIME TO TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF,
SCHEDULE A MASSAGE APPOINTMENT TODAY.

Photo Courtesy of ABMP