Spring 2005
STRESS!
 
Chronic stress, is quickly becoming the # 1 health problem in North America.
 

It is not something to take lightly--it can have profound effects on your immune system and your overall health. Estimates have placed stress-related problems as the cause of 75 to 90 % of all primary care physician visits.

Among adults, career pressure is often the leading contributor to stress, but peer pressure leading to substance abuse, social isolation, loneliness, & family problems cause large amounts of unhealthy stress.
Most people associate stress with worry, but stress has a much broader definition to your body. Any kind of change, whether it be emotional, environmental, an illness, hormonal or just pushing yourself too hard, can be stressful. Even positive events, such as getting a promotion or taking a vacation, can be stressful and can gradually weaken your health before you realize what is happening. If you have recently experienced a change in your sleep patterns, feel fatigued, anxious or a lack of enjoyment for life, or have multiple aches and pains, you're likely overstressed.

"There is a whole new field called "psychoneuroimmunology" that studies the effects of psychological stress on the immune system. Scientists in this area have demonstrated alterations in the normal function of immune cells in animals during times of stress.
Excessive physical stress also changes our immune cell profile. Increased upper respiratory tract infections occur in athletes who overtrain, and a decreased cell-mediated immunity has been demonstrated in such athletes.
Without a properly functioning immune system, our bodies are vulnerable to invasion by opportunistic germs such as fungi, viruses and bacteria. By taking an antimicrobial like garlic, some scientists have been able to prevent immune suppression in psychologically stressed mice." -- David Holland, M.D. - Media Trition

 

It is incredibly important to take time out of our busy & crazy lives to schedule in relaxation and personal enjoyment. Relaxation techniques are strongly recommended to help keep your stress levels in check! If you are in need of stress reduction, consider regularly including the following stress-busters in your life:

Massage Therapy - Gentle massage affects the nervous system through nerve endings in the skin, stimulating the release of endorphins, the body's natural 'feel good' chemicals. Endorphins help induce relaxation and a sense of well-being, to relieve pain and reduce levels of stress chemicals such as cortisol and noradrenaline - reversing the damaging effects of stress by slowing heart rate, respiration and metabolism and lowering elevated blood pressure.
Deeper massage stimulates blood circulation to improve the supply of oxygen and nutrients to body tissues and helps the lymphatic system to flush away waste products. It eases tense and knotted muscles and stiff joints, improving mobility and flexibility.
Massage is said to increase activity of the vagus nerve, one of ten cranial nerves, that affects the secretion of food absorption hormones, heart rate and respiration. It has proven to be an effective therapy for a variety of health conditions - particularly stress-related tension.

Regular exercise - Physically, exercise improves your cardiovascular functions by strengthening and enlarging the heart, causing greater elasticity of the blood vessels, increasing oxygen throughout your body, and lowering your blood levels of fats such as cholesterol and triglycerides. All of this, of course, means less chance of developing heart conditions, strokes, or high blood pressure.
Mentally, exercise provides an outlet for negative emotions such as frustration, anger, and irritability, thereby promoting a more positive mood and outlook. Exercise improves mood by producing positive biochemical changes in the body and brain. Regular exercise reduces the amount of adrenal hormones your body releases in response to stress. Also, with exercise, your body releases greater amounts of endorphins, the powerful, pain-relieving, mood-elevating chemicals in the brain. Depressed people often lack these neurochemicals.
Endorphins are natural pain killers and also help lift your mood.

Yoga/Pilates - Can lead to mental clarity, greater self-understanding, and a feeling of well being, along with improved physical fitness.

Meditation - Allows you to calm your mind and fight stress. Meditating can help you to focus your thoughts on relaxing images or principles. It can also help you to examine your daily life and determine what activities are contributing to your stress. Adding deep, controlled breathing can heighten your relaxation.


It is important to recognize that stress can be a good thing. It boosts your adrenaline and gives your body a natural push to get things done. The key is to be aware of your stress level and get things under control if stress starts to take over.

Call today to schedule a STRESS REDUCTION appointment!

452 Browns Line, Etobicoke

(416)503-9030 or e-mail relief@basickneads.ca

 

Please feel free to forward this newsletter to any friends and family whom you feel would benefit!

ASK A THERAPIST!

email your questions to relief@basickneads.ca

Q: What is HOT STONE massage?

A: Hot Stone Massage has ancient roots and is a form of both thermal and cryo-hydrotherapy. Basalt Stones, which have volcanic origin, are used as they hold both heat & cold well and disperse it evenly. They are naturally tumbled on the ocean floor for many years before making their way into a therapist's hands. Stones are heated in water to a temperature of approximately 150 degrees. This may seem unreasonably hot, but keep in mind, they are moving on your body, or placed on a towel if left in place. Smaller stones are cooled and intended to invigorate specific areas of the body.

During a treatment the stones are used as an adjunct to traditional massage, and not meant to replace healing hands. The type of hot stone treatment you prefer will be employed.

The classic treatment is meant to be relaxing and restorative to both the mind and body. Stones are placed on the "energy centers" or chakras of the body located over the 3rd eye, throat, heart, solar plexus, sacrum and root. They are also placed along the spinal column. These stones are left in place while the therapist then addresses the legs and feet. The body is completely addressed both face down and face up.

Combination treatments will involve the traditional approach to massage that you are already familiar with if you've had a massage at our office. Assessment and treatment of the areas you need addressed will be done,including hot stone massage to "iron out" and further relax the muscles.

"For some people, stone therapy can bring deep tissue release and alignment between body, mind and spirit. For others, it means gently allowing the heat of the stones to soften tension and melt worries away. The experience of an eloquent, deep, structurally restorative and spiritually uplifting stone massage is unsurpassed in its transformational potential." ~Massage & Bodywork Magazine 2003

The benefits of stone bodywork:

For more information on hot stone bodywork, please call or come into the office to pick up a brochure.

Massage Therapy receipts will be issued for hot stone treatments.

Q: My doctor has just told me I have Degenerative Disk Disease. (DDD) Is Massage Therapy recommended to ease my pain?

A: Degenerative disk disease has varying degrees of severity and may cause mild discomfort to severe spasm. Although short-term rest may be indicated, it is generally recommended that you return to normal activities as soon as you are able to tolerate the level of pain. Massage Therapy during periods of pain or spasm may help to reduce your pain and expedite your return to normal activity. Massage is a passive source of exercise, gently stretching tight muscles, encouraging circulation and releasing your body's natural pain killer, "endorphins". Massage is also especially effective at addressing any compensatory pains that may occur as an "aftershock"to the primary pain/spasm.

Also recommended:

 

  

 

  
 

In this issue:

  • STRESS!
  • Ask a Therapist Q & A
  • Basic Kneads is EXPANDING!!
  • HOT STONE Massage coming soon
   

 

  
 

A note from our Therapists...

"Science has never drummed up quite as effective a tranquilizing agent as a sunny spring day." ~W. Earl Hall

Basic Kneads is

E X P A N D I N G!

May 1st!

Basic Kneads has always had an eye on the office unit next door, and as of May 1st, we'll be taking it over! This new expansion will mean many new and wonderful changes.

  • Julia will be moving her office upstairs!!
  • QUIETER,simplified and more relaxing therapy rooms. (especially Barrie and Sarah's rooms)
  • Larger reception/waiting area that will maintain it's current office location.

 

 

    

 

 

 

Leanne MacRae, Sarah Cloake and Barrie-Leah Gordon are adding HOT STONE massage to the ever increasing repetoire of services offered by the therapists at Basic Kneads.

Practice makes perfect, and if you'd like to be a "guinea pig" in the application of this wonderfully soothing and relaxing therapy... we'll be in "practice mode" until June 1st.

No additional fee will be charged for this service up until approximately June 1st.

Be sure to mention that you are interested in HOT STONE when you call to book your appointment.

 

Rates for Hot Stone will be:

$85 per hour

$115 per hour and a half.

2 types of treatment will be available

  • Classic Hot Stone Relaxation involving both massage with the stones and placement of stones over the "energy centers" of the body.
  • Combination treatments with both a therapeutic approach to reducing muscle tension and use of the stones to compliment treatment.

Leanne is available Mon-Fri

Barrie-Leah is available Mon-Sat

Sarah is available Tues/Thurs/Fri & Sat.

  
 

 

    
 
 

Just a reminder...

Employee health benefits are often renewed with the new calendar year. Don't wait 'til it's too late.

Preventative maintenance is not only pro-active, but a great way to help you to avoid more serious and debilitating pain/injury and/or the accumulation of stress-related illness.

 
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