When you receive a massage in December you will get a relaxing bath salt gift!

Why Now, More Than Ever, You Need a Massage
While you may be tempted to trim your wellness budget when economic times are tough, now more than ever, massage should play a role in reducing stress and strengthening the health of Americans.

When you feel your best, you are more likely to be able to face the challenges difficult times present. With greater health and peace of mind, you can face difficulties with poise, clarity of purpose, and strengthened emotional reserves.

Invest In Yourself, Invest in Those You Love. In economically challenging times, it is vital to invest in preventative health care. Staying healthy means maintaining your ability to take whatever life has to throw at you. Besides lowering stress levels and, in turn, reducing the risk of stress-related illnesses, massage also boosts immunity, helping you fight colds, flu, and other viral infections.

Following is a sampling of a long list of bodywork benefits:
- Ease anxiety - Improve sleep - Build energy levels - Foster concentration - Increase circulation - Develop self-esteem - Reduce frequency of headaches - Release endorphins.

The positive effects of regular massage can have far-reaching effects in many areas of your life.

At Home - Massage therapy will also help families under stress create healthier households with clear-thinking and more relaxed moms and dads. Children are very sensitive and often pick up on tension in a household, parents who are taking care of themselves are more likely to be better caregivers and provide a sense of security to their kids.

For the boss - Research shows employees exhibit less stress and improved performance when given twice-weekly, 15-minute massages in the office!

For Health Conditions - Proactively caring for health through massage may help reduce costly doctor visits and use of prescription and over-the-counter medications.

Research shows:
- Massage can reduce sports-related soreness and improve circulation--good to know when you may be exercising more to reduce stress.

- Deep-tissue massage is effective in treating back pain, arthritis, osteoarthritis and fibromyalgia. Fibromyalgia patients receiving massage also have less pain, depression, anxiety, stiffness, fatigue, and sleep problems.

- Massage reduces symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome.

- Pregnancy. Studies have shown that women who received massage during pregnancy reported longer nights of sleep, less back pain, and decreased production of the stress-related hormone, cortisol. It suggests massage could help lower cortisol levels in pregnant women and thereby reduce the likelihood of a premature delivery.

- Labor pain. Massage during labor appears to reduce stress and anxiety, relax muscles and help block pain. Some medical professionals believe massage also reduces tearing, shortens labor, reduces the need for medication and shortens hospital stays.

- Preterm babies receiving massage therapy gain more weight and have shorter hospital stays than infants not receiving massage.

There is now a body of research to support the benefits listed above. But there's no greater testimonial than the person who is a regular receiver of massage. The first-hand experience of bodywork clients largely echo the same sentiment: bodywork enhances quality of life, and the return on your investment is great.

While bodywork feels like a luxurious mini-vacation, and you should by all means enjoy it, there is an actual physical need for massage. Maintaining a regular massage schedule will help you operate at your peak level--whether it be at work, at home, or at play. Invest in yourself, and book a massage today.

Rainforest Remedies

Don't forget about the wonderful natural remedies available at Mani Celesti. Rainforest remedies have been formulated by my teacher in Belize. They are herbal tinctures to support your natural healing process.

Many of them are very helpful this time of year. A 1 ounce bottle is only $10 and the 2 ounce bottle is $20.

The following tinctures and more are available:

Flu Away- At the first sign of getting sick you can take this and it will keep the flu way. Or if you are already sick you can take it to help you get better faster.

Immune Boost- Is great to take on a regular basis to keep healthy.

Nerve tonic- Very helpful in the holiday season and during other stressful times in your life. It is so very calming.

Belly Be Good- It is very helpful for calming many stomach issues.


Other news

Emily Althaus is working with groups of soon to be parents in January at the Mountain Midwifery Center www.mountainmidwifery.com. She will be running two different groups--one for moms-to-be (second, third-time, etc. moms are also welcome) and one for couples. The groups will help people process the emotional aspects of transitioning to parenthood, the transformation of their identity and ways to keep their relationships healthy and growing. They are both four session groups and cost $240 per mom (for four sessions) and $300 per couple (for four sessions). The groups are open to anyone interested, but space is limited so please encourage people to sign up early...to sign up people can call Mountain Midwifery at 303.788.0600. Also, please feel free to forward this to anyone who might be interested.

Transition to Motherhood
Saturdays 10:30-12
January 10, 17, 24, 31

Becoming Parents
Saturdays 12:30-2
January 10, 17, 24, 31

Feel free to call or email if you have any questions.

Emily Althaus, PsyD
2781 West 38th Avenue
Denver, CO 80211

When you receive a massage in the month of December you will get a relaxing bath salt gift.

Call today to make an appointment.
303-320-0770

Happy Holidays!
-Heather

Happy November!! Fall is in the air and you can feel it in your body. With cooler nights comes more aches and pains in your body. Keep your body, mind and spirit feeling refreshed and revitalized by getting a regular massage and keeping active. Make sure after your daily dose of exercise to stretch and take time to cool down.

I read an interesting article recently in the September issue of Yoga Journal magazine about the benefits of probiotics. Probiotics are good bacteria that live in your digestive tract. The article explains how the digestive tract is the base of your immune system. When you have invading bacteria the body detects the invader by making you sick and kills the invader. The opposite is also true. Good bacteria will calm the immune response in your whole body, increasing your well-being and protecting you from future invaders.

Research has shown that increasing probiotic rich food (Kimchi,miso,and yogurt) and reducing the food that bad bacteria feed off of (sugars and carbohydrates) will reduce symptoms of asthma, depression, migraines, insomnia, and many different gastrointestinal problems, like constipation, and even Crohn’s disease.

Gary Huffnagel, professor at the University of Michigan medical school believes we all could benefit from a daily does of probiotic.

Please read the article and see if adding probiotics to your life can help you.

To read the article visit: www.yogajournal.com/health/2572


November special

When you purchase a gift certificate during the month of November you will receive a free foot scrub added on to the Gift.

Therapeutic massage is a special gift for everyone. Are you going to any baby showers this month? Any new moms would love a postpartum massage gift certificate. Do you know anyone who has a birthday coming up or an anniversary. What a great way to show them you care about their well being.

And to make it even easier for you, purchase the gift instantly on my website!!

Mani Celesti Therapeutic Massage offers:
Therapeutic Massage
Prenatal Massage
Postpartum Massage
Maya Abdominal Massage
Infant Massage Instruction

Holding Headaches at Bay

Bodywork Eases Migraines and Tension Headaches

by Cathy Ulrich

"Do you get headaches?" I asked Cindy. She had come to see me for massage to address her neck and shoulder pain but hadn't mentioned headaches.

"Well, yes," she said. "I've always had headaches and, now that you mention it, they seem to be worse when my neck hurts." Cindy went on to say she suffered from them as often as 2-3 times a week and typically treated them with ibuprofen.

Like many Americans, Cindy suffers from chronic, frequent headaches. Her neck pain finally prompted her to seek help, but she was so used to the headaches, she thought they were something she simply had to live with.

What Cindy didn't understand was that frequent headaches are not normal and, with a little proactive planning, there is something that can be done to manage and even prevent them.

Types of Headaches

Headaches come in many varieties. Following is a short list of the most common types.

Migraines.

Migraine headaches occur when the blood vessels in the brain become dilated, usually due to a chemical reaction, such as food allergies or a stress response. They often start with visual disturbances and quickly develop into severe head pain accompanied by nausea, vomiting, dizziness, and sensitivity to light. They're usually felt on one side of the head, but can be on both sides. Migraines are often managed with medications and avoidance of foods known to trigger them, such as red wine, chocolate, aged cheese, and nuts. However, some bodywork techniques can also be effective in easing migraines or decreasing the frequency of these painful headaches.

Tension Headaches.

Exaggerated by stress, tension headaches are related to poor posture, jaw problems (such as temporomandibular joint disorder, or TMJ), and neck pain. Many people describe a headache that starts at the base of the skull and then moves in an arc over the ears and behind the eyes. Tension headaches are most often caused or exacerbated by poor posture, work station positions, and body mechanics, creating undue stress on the upper neck muscles.

Mixed Headaches.

The term mixed headache is used to describe a tension headache that leads to a migraine. Typically, the tension headache starts first and the chemicals produced from the pain of it create conditions for a migraine to develop. In people with patterns of mixed headaches, the best way to avoid the onset of a migraine is to treat the tension headache.

Bodywork Options

A treatment regimen that includes bodywork, attention to body position, and stress management can help prevent or greatly reduce the frequency of headaches, in turn reducing your reliance on medication and the need to avoid food triggers. There are many different bodywork techniques, each with specific approaches for treating headaches. Following is a short list of techniques often effective in treating recurring headaches.

Swedish Massage.

A tension headache, by its very name, implies the presence of stress and tension. Swedish massage, on the other hand, promotes relaxation and relieves muscle tension. When muscles become tight due to stress or poor posture, they eventually adapt a chronically shortened state. Swedish massage teaches the body how to let go of muscle tension and resets muscle tone.

Integrative Bodywork.

Rolfing, Hellerwork, Structural Integration, and CORE are examples of the types of bodywork designed to improve posture and structural alignment. A primary cause of chronic headaches is poor posture, which produces tension in the neck and shoulders because the weight of the head is not properly balanced on top of the spine. Integrative bodywork can produce lasting postural change for greater ease of movement. By selectively freeing the soft tissues, integrative bodywork literally can change postural alignment and remove the stresses and strains on the muscles that cause headaches.

Deep Tissue Therapies.

The integrative therapies mentioned above, as well as neuromuscular therapy and myofascial release, use similar techniques to free connective tissue. A chronically tensed muscle tends to maintain that tension, even after the stressful event has passed. Deep tissue techniques free the connective tissue glue, creating a new way for the muscle to function.

Reflexology.

Like acupuncture, reflexology works to move energy blockages in the body. By stimulating points on the feet that correspond to organs in the body, reflexologists can promote relaxation, reduce pain, and restore energy flow. Several scientific studies have shown that reflexology is a viable treatment for migraines, in some cases working as well as, or better than, medication--and without the side effects.

Craniosacral Therapy.

Craniosacral therapy addresses the inherent, gentle, rhythmic movement of the bones in the skull and their effect on the fluid that surrounds, bathes, and cushions the brain and spinal cord and runs throughout the body. Cranial bones move in miniscule amounts as a response to the production and absorption of cranial fluid. With head trauma, whiplash injury, or even severe stress, cranial bone movement can be compromised, resulting in headaches, dizziness, ringing in the ears, or vision disturbances. This therapy restores the normal movement of the cranial bones and fluid.

By addressing the root of the problem, regularly scheduled bodywork sessions can greatly reduce headaches as well as your need for medication. Remember,
headaches are not normal, and you don't have to live with them.

Reflexology has proven as, or more, effective than medication--without the many side effects.

Nature's Nutritional Wonder

Cruciferous Vegetables

Cruciferous vegetables are powerful foods that can help prevent many forms of cancer, reduce existing cancer tumors, and aid in the prevention of heart disease. Broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, arugula, kale, and Brussels sprouts all contain isothiocyanates--a group of chemicals that break down carcinogens in the body, helping to metabolize toxins. Studies show that people who eat two to three servings of cruciferous vegetables each week lower their risk of breast cancer, colon cancer, and lung cancer. A National Cancer Institute study found that eating three helpings of crucifers a week dropped prostate cancer risk by 50 percent. The powerful chemicals in these veggies also reduce homocysteine levels, a known precursor to heart disease.

Cruciferous vegetables are low in calories and high in fiber and the chromium found in these foods helps regulate blood sugar and insulin function, key factors in keeping diabetes at bay. Even with all the benefits that crucifers provide, many people refuse to eat them because of their strong taste. But a little creativity can go a long way in making these wonderful foods palatable: try cream of broccoli soup, cauliflower au gratin, stuffed cabbage, or the recipe below--the possibilities are endless.

Brussels Sprouts For the Meat-and-Potatoes Eater

1 pound fresh Brussels sprouts, washed, stems trimmed, and outer leaves removed
1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
3 tablespoons cider vinegar
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
Salt and pepper, to taste

Thinly slice Brussels sprouts, either in a food processor fitted with a slicing blade, or by hand. Heat a heavy, nonstick skillet. Add olive oil and butter, swirling the pan so that the butter melts. Saute sliced Brussels sprouts for 5 minutes. Add cider vinegar and grated Parmesan, stirring briefly to incorporate. Add salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste. Serves four--who will all be healthier for it!

The Scoop on Meditation

A Simple Practice with Profound Benefits

People who meditate regularly appear internally and externally five to 10 years younger than their non-meditating peers, according to author Deepak Chopra. That's good news for the estimated 10 million people who practice meditation on an ongoing basis and experience the resulting calm it cultivates.

The rich benefits come from doing something that looks like nothing: Sitting still, being quiet, and breathing deeply. Meditation works simply but profoundly by defusing the onslaughts of life -- a racing mind, busyness, deadlines, commutes, all of which have physiological effects on well-being. Meditation calms the nervous system, decreases metabolic rate, heart rate, and blood pressure, and lowers levels of cholesterol, stress hormones, and free radicals. It also has a direct effect on breathing, slowing and deepening respiration so more oxygen circulates throughout the body. Not only that, meditation is said to lessen feelings of anxiety and depression and improve memory and concentration. And all of this culminates in slowing the aging process, as Chopra notes.

There are many meditation techniques, including focusing on a mantra, a sacred word or phrase, or your breath. But the basic intent of all meditation is focus and attention. And it doesn't take hours a day in an ashram to meditate effectively. Benefits kick in with even a short period of devoted time.

How to begin? Wear comfortable, unrestrictive clothes, sit on a cushion or chair with your back straight (think once again, comfort), rest your hands on your legs, let your eyes go soft and out of focus or close them, breathe slowly and deeply, and -- the hardest part -attempt to empty your mind of thoughts and quiet the internal dialogue. When thoughts flit through your mind, let them pass without judging them and come back to your focus (your mantra, counting, etc.) and breathing.

Start with this sitting meditation technique for five minutes a day, and add on time as you get more at ease with the process. For more information on techniques and benefits, check out www.abc-of-meditation.com.