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 Massage
Therapy
Mental & Physical Benefits of
Massage
Massage is one of the oldest and
simplest of all the medical
treatments. Everybody can
benefit of regular massage, men
women or kids of any age.
Massage creates a calm
state of alertness while
reducing stress and helps us to
achieve a higher sense of well
being. Massage improves blood
circulation, flexibility, and
aids in stress relief. It also
releases muscle tension, pain,
and reduces physical fatigue.
Massage promotes the elimination
of toxins, reduced blood
pressure, and improves posture
and body awareness.
The MOVING●MIND●BODY
INSTITUTE
is happy to offer you all these
different healing modalities:
Swedish Massage
A blend of Lomi-Lomi, body
mobilization techniques,
reflexology and breathing.
Pressure of the techniques
depend on the recipient.
The massage will bring peace,
tranquility and serenity. The
flowing techniques instill a
deep release of the physical as
well as mental tension in the
body.
Deep Tissue Massage
Deep Tissue is slow therapeutic
work using deep pressure to
constricted areas, usually
tendons, fascia, and muscle
attachments. Deep Tissue, a.k.a.
neuro-muscular, massage is
helpful for clients suffering
from injury, chronic stress
and/or pain, and lack of
flexibility.
Zen Shiatsu
Shiatsu is a Japanese technique
based on energy circulation.
Rhythmic pressure is applied
along meridian lines to clear
blocks in energy pathways.
Pressure points and dynamic
lengthening of your muscles are
used in this ancient acupressure
massage. The therapist will use
pressure, tapping, and
stretching to balance the body's
natural energy. Zen Shiatsu
blends Tai Massage, Bali
Massage, and also includes Yoga.
Zen Shiatsu eases pain, deeply
relaxes body and mind, and
strengthens the immune system,
bringing about an overall
feeling of well-being.
Sports Massage
Sports Massage is performed
immediately before or after
stressful activity. It is
designed to help athletes
achieve optimal performance
results and reduce common
injuries caused by poor
flexibility and fatigued
muscles.
Pregnancy Massage
A royal treatment for expecting
mothers. A soothing and highly
relaxing massage. Performed
while side-lying, specially
trained therapists will access
the entire body without
compromising comfort of the
mother or baby. Special
attention is given to lower back
and legs. Recommended
after the first trimester.
Stone Therapy
River stones are heated and used
to massage, heal and relax sore
areas of the body. Experience
the combination of hot rocks,
massage and aromatherapy. The
healing properties of the warm
stones deliver a more centered,
deeper level of relaxation that
stays with you long after the
massage is completed.
Reflexology
This technique is based on the
principle that there are areas -
"reflex points" - on the feet
and hands that correspond to
each of the internal organs,
glands and structure in the
body. By working these reflexes,
the reflexologist will reduce
tension all over your body.
Couples Massage
Drift away and peel away the
layers of stress with that
special someone in your life.
Four Hands Massage
Two therapists work in unison
with synchronous hands and arms
flowing over your body so
seamlessly that your mind does
not register individual strokes.
Mental chatter disappear...an
extraordinary experience.
In addition to Massage Therapy
we also offer the following Body
Treatments that exfoliate and
moisturize the skin:
Body Treatments
Our body treatments are
performed with Essential Oils,
Shea Butter, Sea Kelp, Apricot,
Sugar Glow, Green Tea, Soy Milk.
YOGA
Introduction to Yoga
Yoga is a fusion of physical,
mental, emotional, therapeutic
and spiritual sense of
harnessing oneself to the
Sacred. Since all things return
to the source, we seek union
with that. Benefits include
freedom from the known, inner
peace, meditation and
unconditioned awareness.
The five points of yoga; proper
exercise - asana, proper
breathing - pranayama, proper
relaxation - sayasana, proper
diet - healthy, meditation -
dhyana.
Classically the four yoga's;
bhakti - devotion, jnana
- knowledge, raja
concentration, karma -
action. Yoga mirrors our
lives. A journey and movement
involving three stages. A
place to begin. Choosing
of our destination. The
effort to arrive.
There are eight limbs that
correspond to the path, also
known as Ashtanga.
1. Yama (self control)
2. Niyama (observance of
virtues)
3. Asana (postures)
4. Pranayama (control of breath)
5. Pratyahara (withdrawal of the
mind)
6. Dharana (concentration)
7. Dhyana (meditation)
8. Samadhi (liberation, self
realization)
Teachings inspired by T.
Krishnamacharya, Sarada Devi.
Sri Nisargadatta Maharaja,
Krishnamurti, Dalai Lama, Thich
Naht Hanh, Gandhi, Swami
Vivekananda, Lao-tzu, Bruce Lee
and Buddha.
We are on a mission of the
Sacred.
"Whether we want to touch our
toes or reach God. There must be
movement. This movement is
yoga". A.G. Mohan
Daniel is Instructor of
Classical Patanjali Ashtanga
Yoga.
His yoga lessons are a
unforgettable experience!
"Empty your cup, so it can be
filled again"
MEDITATION
Man, in order to escape his
conflicts, has invented many
forms of meditation. These
have been based on desire, will
& the urge for achievement &
imply conflict and a struggle to
arrive. This conscious,
deliberate striving is always
within the limits of a
conditioned mind and in this
there is no freedom. All
effort to meditate is the denial
of meditation. Meditation
is the ending of thought.
It is only then that there is a
different dimension which is
beyond time. Freedom is
pure observation without
direction, without fear of
punishment or reward.
Freedom is found in the
choiceless awareness of our
daily existence and activity.
For cultivation of the mind at
HEALING●MIND●BODY
INSTITUTE
we illustrate the teachings of;
Taoism, Zen, Vedas, J.
Krishnamurti & K.Gilbran.
Our Institute we offer a variety
of meditation classes, workshops
and seminars. We are proud to be
affiliated to the Vedanta
Society of Southern California
and
Ramakrishna Monastery in
Trabuco Canyon
where Swamis discuss topics
including the Vedas, Patanjali’s
Yoga Sutras, the Upanishads,
unity of life and consciousness.
"When
wishes are few, the heart is
happy. When desire ends,
there is peace".
Buddha
"The true profession of man is
to find his way to himself".
Siddhartha
"Start by doing what is
necessary, then what is
possible, and suddenly you are
doing the impossible". St.
Francis of Assisi.
REIKI
What is Reiki
Reiki is a Japanese word which
means "Universal Life Energy".
Reiki is a technique for stress
reduction and relaxation that
promotes healing. It is simple
and direct, can be done at any
time or place, requires no
equipment, and is in all of us.
Every one is born with the
natural instinct for healing. It
is this energy that emanates
from the hands of a Reiki
practitioner. Reiki is used to
promote a balance of energy by
"tapping in" to the client's
chakra's and attuning the
meridians by "laying on of
hands." This system is available
to anyone who seeks freedom from
pain and a desire to be whole.
AYURVEDA
Ayurveda, the science of life
and self-healing, has its roots
in India, dating back to more
than 5,000 years.
Ayurveda teaches us to become
familiar with our individual
Prakruti, or inborn
constitution. It also believes
that each one of us has three
bodies: physical, subtle, and
causal. In order for changes to
occur, one has to actively seek
changes not only at the physical
level, but also at the mental
and emotional level. Ayurveda
empowers you with tools to make
changes at all levels. These
tools are: understanding of your
constitution (prakruti), your
ideal daily routine, types of
foods and food combinations,
exercise, yoga, and meditation.
It also uses Five Sense Therapy
i.e. taste (food and herbs),
touch (massage), sounds (mantras
and music), smell (aroma), and
sight (color), along with some
cleansing and rejuvenation
therapies.
"om mani padme hum"
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The Tao of Massage Therapy and Martial Arts
By Daniel French
August 1997
published in Probe Magazine, summer 1998
For me, the Tao is a way of living in balance. The energy used in martial arts known as Chi, is the life force that runs in all of us. My experiences as a martial artist the last ten years led me to massage therapy as a way to balance, and come in touch with, Chi. This article integrates the use of massage therapy into martial arts. The use of energy in massage is the same as in meditation and in martial arts. But the application is just a little different!
There is a fundamental philosophical difference between eastern and western medicine. In western culture, modern medicine and science are primarily designed to deal with pathologies of the body after they happen. For example, when we get a headache, we are told by our doctors to take a couple of aspirin. I'm suggesting another approach with a more integrated view, incorporating both preventative and therapeutic practices from the east. I propose that since we are already immersed in western culture, we should start to look to other methods of healing the body. Using the quote from Guro Dan Inosanto, "Absorb what is useful and disregard what is not." The goal is optimum health. Find what path works best for you.
If you statistically look at our population in the U.S., you will find that only 15% of the population exercises on a regular basis and over 30% of our population is overweight. In contrast, millions of Chinese get up every morning, go to the park, and practice Tai Chi and Chi Gong. Just take into account how long modern western medicine has been around - say 300 years. In China, the use of medicinal herbs and acupressure have been around since the I-Ching, also known as the book of changes, written over 4000 years ago. In Tibet or China, their approach is to be in balance with their bodies by using meditation and Chi Gong. The goal is being healthy and mindful of your own body. Sure they have doctors in China, but their role is like that of a teacher pointing the way to a healthier life.
Of the hundreds of martial arts from many different countries, some are internal martial arts, while others are external. The difference between the two lies in the cultivation of the Chi. In internal systems like Tai Chi, Chi Gong, yoga, and different forms of meditation, focus is on the nature of Chi in our bodies. External martial arts like Karate and Thai boxing emphasize sending their Chi outside their body. Of course I am generalizing and there are many overlapping elements. Both internal and external martial arts are directly correlated to healing modalities like Reiki, Shiatsu, and massage.
Learning anatomy and becoming a massage therapist over the past two years has given me a refreshed perspective towards how to view life as a therapist and a martial artist. One major point is that you don't have to suffer and live in pain. There are alternatives such as education and self care. The remainder of this article explains how fellow martial artists can treat injuries and learn self care exercises. Whether you are a practitioner, instructor, or therapist, simple self care exercises will lead you on the path of self discovery and renewal.
As martial artists, injury prevention is of the utmost importance. But in order to prevent injuries, we have to know what injury is and how to work with it. I will focus on muscle trauma and strains. First, I will briefly discuss some basic anatomy to explain what body parts are affected in certain injuries. Then, I will describe various levels of injury severity, and self care practices to prevent and recover from such injuries.
For a brief overview, tendons attach muscle to bone, while ligaments attach bone to bone. Depending on the injury and what structure is involved; bone, muscle, tendon, or ligament, the rehabilitation will vary. Bones generally heal within eight weeks, but if a muscle is torn or a tendon strained, the recovery time is much longer.
When trauma occurs to an area of the body, such as a Thai kick to the thigh or a joint lock, inflammation may result. There are three stages of inflammation; acute, subacute, and chronic. The acute stage lasts up to 48 hours after the injury. During this time, the tissues are inflamed. Clinical symptoms are pain, heat, redness, swelling, and dysfunction. The area cannot be worked on by a massage therapist, but I would suggest very light feather strokes superficially on the skin surface to stimulate blood flow, thereby speeding up the healing process, and to assist you in visualizing the area being healed. The protocol to apply during this stage is called R.I.C.E.; Rest, Ice, Compression, and Elevation.
The next stage of inflammation is the sub acute stage which lasts from 48-72 hours after the injury. The tissues of the body are repairing and healing themselves with collagen, which is like cement. Symptoms include pain, dysfunction, and swelling, resulting in compromised technique. Massage treatment would include R.I.C.E. and circulatory strokes to decrease the swelling and increase circulation. You may want to increase your activity significantly during this period so as not to interrupt your training, but I recommend that you try to take it easy for another couple of days after the initial acute stage has passed. It took you a couple of days before you could walk normally after receiving that Thai kick. Give your leg a couple of more days before you start sparring on it.
The chronic stage of inflammation begins 72 hours after the injury has taken place. The tissues' response at this time will be maturation and remodeling through connective tissue. The symptoms are pain and dysfunction, both of which decrease over time as you gradually increase your activity until healing is complete.
Depending on the severity of the injury, as the healing starts to take place and the inflammation has reached the chronic stage, the body sends fibroblasts to compensate for the injury. Fibroblasts form scar tissue and adhesions. Once that occurs, the muscle will have a decreased range of motion. This is where massage therapy helps a great deal by reducing the formation of scar tissue and adhesions, thereby maintaining range of motion. Once an injury has reached the chronic stage the tissue response can be realigned in the proper direction. Because our body's cells have cellular memory, therapies like massage, shiatsu, and reiki help injured tissues "remember" their pre-injury state. Massage also stimulates the circulatory system, helping blood flow reach the injured area taking away the toxins resulting from trauma and making way for fresh oxygenated blood.
Another basic type of martial arts injury is muscle strain or tear. There are three levels of muscle strain. In a level 1 tear, a portion of the muscle fibers is torn, which will lead to a minor loss of function in the muscle. An example would be when my Tae Kwon Do master overstretched my hamstring. In massage therapy, use R.I.C.E and light strokes over the area. With a level 1 tear, you may limp for a couple of days, but heal relatively quickly. A level 2 tear indicates that 50% of the muscle fibers are torn, which leads to edema, a swelling of the tissues, and a loss of function. Simple tasks such as walking cause considerable pain. Rehabilitation calls for referral to a medical doctor in addition to R.I.C.E. application. A level 3 tear refers to 100% of the muscle being torn, which results in total loss of function and is very painful. You cannot walk, and it hurts even while at rest. The therapy approach is the same as a level 2 with a evaluation from a medical doctor and R.I.C.E. Failure to obtain medical treatment may result in permanent dysfunction.
Granted, the majority of us are not grounded in our bodies like a Tai Chi master. But by getting in touch with ourselves, and listening to what our bodies are telling us, we can use massage as a form of self care. Learning a few tools from massage can help anyone if they're open to it. I will discuss two basic massage techniques, compression and cross fiber friction.
The most basic stroke in massage and Shiatsu is compression, and can be performed on yourself or a partner. Compression increases blood flow to the area being worked on and allows muscle fibers to be spread, making the muscle more pliable. Using the palm of your hand, slowly exert pressure down on the muscle. When compressing your own muscle be creative and pretend you are making pizza dough. Feel the compression stroke. Compression is useful to effectively loosen and relax muscles after training or competition.
The other massage technique I will discuss is cross fiber friction. Muscles and tendons should be in a relaxed position prior to application. Before doing cross fiber friction, thoroughly warm the tissues involved with light to moderate massage strokes. The area is sufficiently warm when it becomes red, signifying increased blood flow in the various layers of connective tissue. Cross fiber friction is applied across the direction in which the muscle fibers run. Muscle fibers can be compared to the grain in a piece of wood. For lengthening muscle fibers, apply massage strokes in the direction of the muscle fibers. Cross fiber friction is applied across the muscle "grain." Cross fiber friction prevents extensive fibroblast formation in soft tissue injuries, which results in healthier, more efficient muscle tissue. You do not have to have trauma to the body as a prerequisite to a massage. But if you do have an injury, apply the technique deeply enough to penetrate the trauma site.
For other martial artists and athletes, as well as other healing practitioners, I would suggest learning as much as possible about other healing modalities like Shiatsu, Reiki, Chi Gong, as well as other forms of massage. Don't just sit there and wait to be healed, learn how your body works. Just like in Asia, a lot of the top martial artists are also healers and doctors. For me, martial arts, massage, and other healing modalities lead to the same place. We are dealing with the body's energy, but just using it differently.
What does martial arts and massage mean to me? I view these arts like a tree with many decorative branches. Some of the branches are health, vitality, strength, and flexibility. Other branches are philosophies like Buddhism, Taoism, and Zen. For me, as a healer and as a martial artist, the branches are interrelated. One should cultivate all of the branches within reach, and development of one branch enhances the health of the other branches, and the tree as a whole.
I believe the mind and body are one. Our path leads to self awareness, first on the physical level, then mentally, emotionally, and finally spiritually. Remember, the path is the goal. With mindfulness and an open heart, we can learn to live in balance and harmony, with others and ourselves.
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"Daniel is a dedicated seeker of knowledge, I highly recommend him to anyone who wishes to grow."
-Zen Shiatsu Master Instructor - Randal Cummings, Chicago, IL
" Daniel takes to Yoga like a duck to water."
Senior Iyengar Instructor - Peggy Kelly, Austin, TX
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MOVING●MIND●BODY INSTITUTE
Daniel & Marisa French
MOVING●MIND●BODY INSTITUTE - Austin, TX - USA
Phone: (619) 599-3276 or (512) 468-2957
Email: daniel@movingmindbody.com, marisa@movingmindbody.com
Watch HEALING●MIND●BODY weekly throughout Southern California. In Los Angeles ch 34, Orange County ch 6, ch 95 and ch 98.
DVD's now available call for info!
Correspondence courses available!
Available:
- Group Classes
- Private lessons
- Seminars
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