Massagesolutionslv’s Weblog

A Best Massage Solution in Las Vegas

702-281-5649

What is a Quality Touch?  Well, when you are angry, touch someone’s hand or arm, and see the reaction you will get; usually, the recipient will pull away, face scowled and eyebrows furrowed!  The invisible protective shield we have is thrown up!  People instinctively know about the power of touch to connect us all, and even the energy of thought transferred through it, too.  Whether we want to admit it, or continue to profess the ludicrous notion of such an idea, a person’s reaction says it all.  Touch worth a thousand words!

Quality Touch, in my field of Massage Therapy, refers to the presence of mind before, during, and after a session of the therapist.  The client can be where ever they wish to be, yet the therapist is obligated, even trusted, to maintain a level of thought, feeling, and touch that is as pure and clean as possible.  Therapists who are thinking of bills, banks, cars, grocery lists, things to do during a session will convey the tension and stresses upon the client, who came there to release their own, not pick up more baggage!  Everyone can tell when the therapist has failed, leaving the session with a mind just as chaotic as when they came in!

How can you tell if your therapist is centered?  You will feel it in the massage strokes: are the hands finding your aches and pains, and when they are found, does the ache dissipate with the strokes, or does it seem like just hitting a glancing blow across a bruise?  When focused, the therapist will stop at those achy places and work a little more without you having to verbally indicate that’s a sore spot.  Should the hands just glide over and around it, and never actually settle in an injured area, then the therapist’s mind is somewhere else, or at minimal, failing to see into the work at hand. 

Technique is taught, Intuition is within.  I have heard over and over how difficult it can be to locate and keep a good therapist, and I agree!  Hopefully this will help you with some hints to help you find your perfect therapist!

Namaste from Massage SolutionsLas Vegas!

Parents can be driven to the brink over and over by excited, hyper kids that just won’t go to sleep or calm down!  There is hope!!! Aromatherapy can help us all.  How?

Light bulb diffusers-These are rings that go around a light bulb and the heat disperses the oil into the room.  A subtle and sneaky approach to scenting a child’s room.  Any parent can attest to the “kid smell” in their rooms, no matter how often the sheets are washed!

The Stuffed Animal Spray- Use the Pillow Sprays found in the Bath and Body Works style shops, or any health and wellness shop.  At night, spray this on the pillows, sheets, and even the favorite stuffed animal they hug in the night.  Made with an evaporating alcohol base, these will usually disperse by morning, and won’t leave a “residue” stench on the sheets or toys.  My kids love to spray this themselves, and I give them a “sleep” mixture of lavendar and vanilla, or the “stress relief” of eucalyptus and spearmint.

Remember the Clothes- Dressers and closets are full of clothes that can be scented by sprays or even incense.  Light a stick of incense and place in in the closed closet, allowing the smoke to penetrate the clothing inside.  Of course, use a burner and keep it clear to prevent fire! My favorite to use is Nag Champa in my closet.   The old fashion “potpourri” packs that lay inside drawers still work!  Make your own with a cheescloth tied closed, and change often. 

Hope this sends you on your way to some fresh ideas!  My kids have reacted beautifully to this, and introduces them to the world of scent, and how it can effect the human disposition!

Namaste from Massage Solutions LV!

Most people already know when the chairs and therapists arrive at work, you gotta get in line fast!  Those seats are hotter than the sidelines at the Western Conference! As far as I’m concerned, far more valuable than any sporting event. Oh, sorry sports fans, but I rarely see relaxation and contentment on those sidelines! 

In fact, just having 15 minutes of chair massage on a break at work reduces fatigue, increases workplace productivity (not to mention morale), reduces tension between co-workers (i.e. less bickering!), can eliminate headaches, eyestrain, reduces worker call outs (sick calls), increases focus, lessens the need for prescription pain killers for everyday stresses, and much more…

Anyone out there need to call in for Migraine Headaches?  Most medical doctors will give extensive reasons and treatment for this, including prescriptions, yet I have found that most headaches and migraines can be relieved through the release of trigger points within the occipital muscles, temporal muscles, and scalenes. All of this can be done in a massage chair in about 20 minutes.  No drugs or doctor visits!  Company Managers out there, take notice of this! A team member with a headache will accomplish tasks at about a 65% rate, as compared to one who is energetic and pain free!   

How about those computer workers? Got neck and shoulder knots?  Mouse Wrist? Huched over a computer all day inputing data will deteriorate the cervical spine over time, leading to debilitating conditions such as deteriorating discs, rotator cuff problems, carpal tunnel, tendonitis, elbow pain, numbness and tingling along the arms and hands…I could go on and on about this one! 

Low Back problems stem from standing or sitting for extended periods, hunching, improper lifting, reaching up or down, slouching, etc.  Sitting in meetings with those uncomfortable chairs certainly causes aches and pains in the back!  I have yet to hear of the company that invests in ergonomically correct chairs for every meeting place or conference room!

In Las Vegas, Massage Solutions provides chair massage on-site, and it is worth considering starting a program to arrange chair massage on a regular basis.  The most common way is for a company to pay the fees, workers love free stuff!

If the company refuses to cough it up, then workers can usually schedule a therapist to arrive for 90 minutes, and everyone can get 15 minute chair massage during lunch breaks, and split the cost amongst themselves. Five people splitting 100 bucks makes it easy to bear! Though it sounds like such a short time, even 10 minutes has a tremendous impact for the day.

Managers….give it a try just once, and watch your employees SMILE when they see the therapists!  They will also ask for more!

Namaste Workplace!!!

Presented here is a video from Massage Solutions showing the pre-surgical massage being performed for a client with bulging/leaking discs.  The goal is to keep the muscles flexible and healthy for the procedure, in which muscle tissues are sliced through and moved in ways not intended by design!  When undergoing any surgery like this, you must take every precaution to care for yourself, your injury, and of course, your recovery. 

The last thing anyone wants is to be “laid up” for an extended period of time, or to experience any type of lingering after effects from surgery.   Massage benefits by restoring muscle elasticity where pain has locked it up tight, keeping toxins to a minimum, releasing the Trigger Points, preventing the formation of excessive scarring, and helping to reduce the overall pain levels of the sufferer.

As an example of the differences, imagine a partially dry piece of Playdough, then cut through it with a knife.  Edges crumble apart, right?  How well will a fresh piece of Playdough be cut?  It will stay together, and can easily be reformed again without any telltale signs of having been torn apart, after some kneading of course!  (I have kids, so Playdough is my example!)

The tissues of the body react in a similar manner.  A hardened muscle full of waste products from constant contraction will have a difficult time reforming afterwards from fibers that were “frayed” and “crumbled” when cut.  The only way for them to re-attatch is to form extra scar tissue to fill in the gaps. Scar tissue is hard, tough, usually asthetically undesirable, and difficult to re-shape. 

First is a warm-up, generally Swedish techniques, and pressure is kept about medium.

Next is some neck-release work, front and back.  Neck trouble can cause masses of Trigger Points within the deepest neck muscles.  The most troublesome are the Scalenes, Levators, Upper Traps, Sternocleidomastoid, Platysma, and many more miniscule muscles you probably never realized were there. Myofascial stripping means that the muscle (myo) is separated from the fascia, and done because the continuous tension produced by the experience of pain caused toxin build-up and formation of scar tissue (extra fascia) which causes the rigidity (stiff neck), resulting in loss of motion.

The last bit incorporates Swedish with some stretching and effleurage to empty out the toxins that have been released from the fibers.

Though far from exciting, this video will give you an idea of what is needed to help with pre-surgery.  I encourage anyone who is looking at a undergoing surgery of any kind to seek a qualified therapist to help you prepare.  

Keep in mind that what you see in this video is a painful experience for the recipient, yet the end result is less pain, more flexibility, enhanced sleep, fewer instances of vertigo, reduction of fatigue, less cramping, and will reduce recovery time for the patient post surgery, a plus for everyone.

Thank You and Namaste!

Massage Solutions Las Vegas 

How many times a day do you wonder if your feet are ok? Probably not often.  After finishing Reflexology with a client experiencine particularly painful soles, it reminds me that many out there take their feet for granted.  Either there are too many other aches, pains and worries that crowd out the cry of feet in need, or we simply go on not knowing what can be done.

An experienced Reflexologist, Sports Therapist, or deep tissue therapist can and will work these pains out.  Be aware, thought that foot pain is among the highest levels to endure.  I would say worse than giving birth!  Yes, and I have three kids, so I know!

There are many tools out there, promoted as self help “reflexology” tools, and though they feel pretty cool,  I have found nothing is better than a “knobber” you can use to really dig in.  hand held or placed on the floor, these handy items can be found in a Back Care Store (click to see the pic),  massage supply, Body Shop, Bath and Body Works, or any other store that caters to spa and beauty. Stand on these, rotate, press in and strip out the feet!!!

Never confuse pain on the bottom as different from pain in the top.  In fact, you may not even realize the tops hurt!  The pain is THROUGH the feet, as the muscles and facia that are in need of attention exist between the tarsals, and the pain that radiates seems to come from one side or the other, but is really connected through.

Practice with this handy tool, which fits inside your backpacks and purses to use almost anywhere you can remove your shoes. Cost should be about $6 to $10.  Optimal goal is to be able to literally stand on it without pain.  Use it on your hands as well for repetitive motion injuries, or even to help prevent them.

Want to go further?  Print out a picture of the muscles of the hands and feet and look at it while you work.  Nothing better than a picture to guide you!

Of all the things we ask of our feet, lets repay them with a bit of pampering, and they will keep us moving for years to come!

Namaste! 

When you think of Tantric, such things like poop, pee, and puke usually never come to mind!  But this IS part of Tantric ritual. As a matter of fact,  Tantra may include any or all of the elements of traditional ritual…along with other rites and themes such as a feast (food, sustenance), coitus (sexuality, procreation), charnel grounds (death, transition) and defecation, urination and vomiting (waste, renewal, fecundity). Note the word THEMES.  Most people of the Western world have joyfully latched onto the coitus theme, and remain blissfully unaware of the rest.  Everyone knows, especially in Las Vegas, that someone advertising a “Tantric” massage is offering a bit more than that! 

While keeping a respectful distance when describing the “transformation” Wikipedia states:

 ”As Tantra has become more popular in the West it has undergone a major transformation, which has made Modern Tantra, or the New Age interpretations of Tantra, more properly called Neotantra, different from the original Tantric traditions of India. For many modern readers, “Tantra” has become a synonym for “spiritual sex” or “sacred sexuality”, a belief that sex in itself ought to be recognized as a sacred act which is capable of elevating its participants to a more sublime spiritual plane[Urban (2003), pp. 204-205]

Though Neotantra may adopt many of the concepts and terminology of Indian Tantra, it often omits one or more of the following;

the traditional reliance on guruparampara (the guidance of a guru),extensive meditative practice, and traditional rules of conduct - both moral and ritualistic.”

Tantra is a religious choice, just like anything else.  Many different philosophies exist utilizing the mystical experiences of “sexual” energies and attractions.  Tao being one that also encourages the meditation upon, and controling of sexual energy, moving it consciously through the body’s meridians and chakras;a vessel for achieving the state of “higher” consciousness.  Modalities such as these have undergone abuses from those seeking to take advantage of the marketing ploy “sex sells.”

Of course, the purpose of any religion, sect, cult, perception, belief, or bible out there is to introduce an idea, and if that idea appeals to you and improves upon your sense of existence and purpose, then by all means, adapt it into your life!  No law says we have to take it all or nothing! 

Personally, I believe Tantric or Tao Sex has a wonderful place within a persons life, and should be looked at and experimented with.  Though the emphasis is on couples sharing this together, it can also be adapted for the single seeker.  It is the idea that matters.  Seek a qualified guru to instruct and guide you in your journey.

For those who deceive for purposes of commerce…shame on you.   

 A Message from Massage Solutions Las Vegas

It is possible to find real massage in Las Vegas!  Find it here with Massage Solutions! Open the phonebook, and you are flooded with suggestions that have nothing to do with an actual therapeutic, pain relieving session.  With the reputation Las Vegas has for “entertainment” it’s no wonder those seeking real therapeutic massage can reach higher levels of frustration very quickly. 

Of course you can go to a spa or studio, but this is a 25 hour town, and what happens when you finish work at 9? Good luck getting in those doors!  Local “craig’s” listings? In the words of Lucy, “Good Grief!”  Honestly, as a therapist, I still don’t know what “full body services” could (eh hem) possibly mean.

So what do you do?

You can try Us or continue your search with the following help:

Look for the NON SEXUAL tagline in ads.  This narrows things down, A LOT. 

Look for the license number. 

****The NVMT # is only the State level, and only means “someone” there has a State license to practice. This by no means implies they have a business license. Therapist must be licensed through the city, with a health card as well, and independents through County, too.  You can check this by entering the # on the City and or County license searches.

Ask if the therapist has a table!  This is one good key to find out if it’s the real thing. 

Unfortunately, Tantrahas been just as widely abused as the massage tagline! There is only ONE true priestess of tantra that we know of in the United States, and she explicity states that anyone seeking the “other kind” do NOT contact Her! 

Pictures say a thousand words!  Most practitioners use massage related images, and rarely use their own image in advertising.  If it looks suggestive, it is.

Good Luck on your searching!

Namaste! 

After a busy day we just want to lie back and relax! Did you know that the same creepy feeling in the legs can also creep up your arms and hands?

For the projected millions of people struggling with restless legs and arms, bodywork is one of the favored approaches to lessen this disruptive, irritating and painful, sleep-depriving condition.

Identified by creeping, tickling (like ants crawling up your legs), burning, tingling or aching, a person living with this syndrome feels the need to move their legs, arms, and even to squeeze their fingers to relieve these sensations. Considered a central nervous system disorder, RLS often interferes with resting or falling asleep. Partial or complete cessation of the feeling when we move the affected limb, yet the symptoms often return as we rest again. It is easy to see why many RLS sufferers fall into an unhealthful cycle of sleeplessness.

RLS Treatment
The medical community regards restless legs syndrome as a condition that can be managed, but not necessarily cured. In general, the therapeutic approach is for improvement of the primary condition and lessening the severity of the RLS. For those with extreme pain and total sleep deprivation, medications are prescribed.

If medications are not used, or perhaps you seek a non-medicated course of treatment, most healthcare providers will advise one or more of the following approaches:

· Massage – Swedish massage to the legs has been reported to ease RLS. Effleurage towards the hips, with light compression of the muscles. Ladies, a good time to do this is when applying lotions! Make the application purposeful, and the benefits increase.
· Hydrotherapy – Taking a warm bath often demonstrates favorable results. Jacuzzies are a saver for the legs, and excellent for self applied Accupressure! Allow the jet streams to massage the legs at a level comfortable to you. Always working, or “pushing” from the feet to the hip, when a tender point is located, especially in the gluteal region, stay the stream until a feeling of itching or tickling begins to subside or becomes uncomfortable.
· Moderate Exercise – While moderate exercise early in the day benefits leg circulation and therefore leg pain, strenuous exercise could potentially aggravate RLS. The boyancy of Aqua classes allow a low impact workout in which you control how deep to go into the exercise.
· Avoid Alcohol, Caffeine and Nicotine – Refraining from these substances, especially in the evening, can help reduce RLS severity. Alcohol takes away control of the limbs, while caffeine and Nicotine aggrevate the nervous system, causing an increase in restlessness and limb jerking.
· Compression – Wrapping the legs in ace bandages, or wearing compression stockings or support hose can reduce RLS sensations. For severe sufferers, wearing these while sleeping with knees supported under a bolster can help.

Aside from these, we at Massage Solutions recommend for everyone as an easy everyday maintenance to relieve many of these symptoms, is lie down with the legs supported on pillows at a 45 degree angle for at least 15 minutes every night. This will reduce the sensations of RLS dramatically, and allow you to fall into a deeper sleep.

A client currently under care diagnosed with fibromyalgia (among many things associated) had reached quite a low point in her suffering and pain. Not to mention the frustrations with medical doctors on diagnosing her condition. Severe muscle pain, mood swings, excessive fatigue/sleep, and overall imbalance led her down a path of darkness over the next 18months. She recently discovered a working cure for her.

At first meet, she was irritable, cranky, unsociable, and by her own admission, suicidal. She wanted this to be done with! Who could blame her.

After the first 15 minutes of trigger point/deep tissue work, the dark fog that had surrounded her tangibly lifted away and evaporated. Her demeanor changed to that of light, chatty, and by the end of the session, she was in tears as to how much better she felt. The moments every therapist live for!

As sessions continued, trigger points were worked out around the neck, shoulder, and temples. The migraines vanished during session, though  the tender points remained (as part of the condition are only effected in temporary relief). She took an active role in her diagnosis, doing piles of research. 

In this research she came across information about three different viruses that, when existing together within the body, cause the symptoms associated with fibromyalgia. There was also a cure for this one! Undergoing tests, she was positive for all three viruses, and has begun treatment. It is tough, though.

As the viruses die off, enormous amounts of toxins are released into the system, causing reactions similar to chemotherapy. Massage has benefit her to speed up the eliminations of these toxins to shorten recovery, estimated at about 4-8 months. Wonderful to see an end in sight to such a debilitaing list of symptoms!

Namaste to Her!

Fibromyalgia is a superstar in mis-diagnosis of chronic pain; a mysterious entity applied to numerous symptoms, the main being chronic muscle pain, radiating pain, stiffness in muscles and joints, migraine headaches, low energy levels, constantly sleeping (sometimes thought to be mono), swelling of tissues, low motivation, moodiness and fatigue.  Some believe that doctors have gone so far as to diagnose Fibromyalgia as a culprit when UNSURE as to what is actually wrong!! 

Pain in fibromyalgia can be so intense, the sufferer would rather render their days in bed than attempt the pain of moving around the room, making a meal, go to the restroom, or even venture outside.  Easy to understand the inherent depression that can consume an individual when faced with daily challenges such as these. Inactivity contributes to loss of muscle mass and strength, compounding the trouble. So, what is a Trigger Point, and how does it effect the body?

Picture those long balloons used to make balloon animals, then squeeze both ends and watch the center bubble up. That is what a Trigger point (TP) is! The contraction of muscle fibers within the muscle that never relax, and can be readily found through touch. Now imagine a nerve ending the size of a strand of hair being squeezed by your fingers, and this describes one source of pain associated with TPs. They squeeze around everything from nerve endings, organs, bone, blood vessels, joints, and will cause light to extreme pain, reduce blood supply to organs and tissues, and limit movement.
Trigger Point Therapy has a multitude of uses in treating chronic pain! A trained therapist will locate the lumps and bumps throughout the muscle tissue, and “break them apart” using a combination of sustained pressure applied in very specific directions.  Be aware that these are nasty little creatures that are painful to work out.  Everyone has TPs to some degree, yet sufferers of chronic pain tend to have deep rooted knots which can sometimes fuse together forming larger knots, and even fuse with the bones nearby further reducing flexibility and increasing pain during movement. 

Fibromyalgia sufferers usually have masses of TPs through the upper back, shoulders, and neck.  The base of the neck contains an outlet of several nerve cords, which run through the back, shoulders, arms and chest.  Removing TPs around these nerve endings greatly reduces the pain, headaches, and moodiness associated with fibromyalgia.

TPs can be treated through self-massage, yet use caution when employing this method.  Resources are available to educate and guide, yet it is recommend to seek a trained therapist whenever possible as there are some things only the therapist will be able to accomplish. 

Stay tuned for more on self massage for Fibromyalgia.

Namaste from Massage Solutions Las Vegas