Deep Tissue Massages: The Answer to Muscle Knots & Soreness

When a normal massage for back pain or neck pain is just not doing enough, you may be a candidate for a deep tissue massage to help relieve your symptoms. Deep tissue therapy is not for everyone; it can be an intense process that may leave some bruises due to reaching deeper layers of tissue than a typical massage would. 

But if you suffer from long-lasting and severe muscle pain and stiffness, deep tissue therapy could be the answer. 

What Causes Muscle Pain and Stiffness?

Common causes of muscle pain and stiffness include recent exercise, inflammation, anxiety disorders, arthritis, and side effects of medications. There are many causes of muscle pain and stiffness, and most of the time a soft tissue massage can alleviate many symptoms. However, for severe, recurring muscle pain and stiffness, deep tissue massage is often recommended in order to reach muscles and connective tissue that are unaffected by a typical massage. 

Deep tissue massages will feel different than massages you may be used to, as the therapist will use slower movements and apply deeper pressure in order to relax the areas causing you pain.

This can cause some discomfort, and you should always be communicative about whether you are experiencing pain or feel uncomfortable in any way. 

How Do You Loosen Neck Muscles?

Neck tension can be caused by poor posture, stress, anxiety, inflammation, arthritis, exercise, or any other health issues. Loosening neck muscles is something that a deep tissue massage can definitely help with, however, if you are getting a massage for neck pain, you should consider the cause of your stiff neck muscles. Feel free to talk with your massage therapist, who may be able to advise you on how to fix the actual cause of your pain.

 It would not benefit you, for instance, to get a deep tissue massage for neck pain and then go back to your shift at an office job where your monitor is not at the correct height, causing you to have poor posture. If you notice repetitive pain, it is always beneficial to try to determine the root cause. 

How Do You Get Rid Of Muscle Knots?

Deep tissue therapy is also wonderful for getting rid of stubborn muscle knots that are not relieved by stretching or soft tissue massage. Deep muscle knots can be so intense and painful that they may even change the way a person walks! 

When you receive a deep tissue massage for back pain, the therapist is able to put pressure deep down to muscle tissue and connective tissue that may not be able to un-tense on its own. While it’s important to keep your expectations realistic (you will probably notice the bulk of the effects the next day), deep tissue therapy is quite effective at relieving muscle pain and stiffness. 

It may take several sessions to relax a lifetime’s worth of knots and stiffness.  

Deep Tissue Therapy

With deep tissue therapy, a massage therapist may use their knuckles, elbows, hands and forearms to apply pressure much more deeply than a normal soft tissue massage. Deep tissue therapy has been shown to help relieve symptoms of many different types of conditions, including pain that may cause poor posture, sciatica pain, osteoarthritis pain, lower back pain, sports injuries, and many more.

 Deep tissue therapy is not recommended for mild to moderate pain or discomfort and is usually only used when there is severe pain or stiffness that is difficult to treat. Before and after receiving a deep tissue massage, you should always drink plenty of water!  

Make An Appointment With Mantis Massage!

Mantis Massage specializes in deep tissue massage therapy, and we have an experienced staff that will make sure you are always comfortable. Even deep tissue massages should not be painful, although you may experience more pressure than you are accustomed to. 

Our deep tissue therapy specialists are the best in Austin and will help you to recover from stiffness, pain, and injury. Call to schedule your appointment with Mantis Massage today! 

4 Ways Swedish Massage Can Relieve Stress and Anxiety

We all lead stressful lives. The combined stresses of work, home, and everyday life can be overwhelming at times. 

That’s where the healing powers of Swedish massage come into play.

The most popular form of therapeutic massage, Swedish massages combine different techniques and strokes to work soft tissues and muscles. The result is a total restoration of balance and health throughout your body.

How Swedish Massage Reduces Stress, Anxiety

The strokes and pressure your Swedish massage therapist applies serves to relax muscles, relieving built-up tension. If you are feeling a bit run down or you are experiencing a mild form of depression, a Swedish massage will relax your entire body and give you more energy, freeing your mind and allowing you to release the stress and anxiety in your mind and body.

Some ways that Swedish massage works to help reduce stress include:

1. Help Relaxation

The best way to reduce your stress and lower your anxiety levels is to relax, which is always easier said than done. 

One of the best ways to unwind and let your body relax is with the help of a Swedish massage. While a deep tissue massage may help your tense muscles, some clients may find the pressure uncomfortable at times. Meanwhile, Swedish massages are designed to make you feel relaxed, comfortable and at peace.

You will be lying down in a quiet, calm atmosphere while a professional therapist massaging the muscles and joints in your body for as long as you’d like. All the stresses and anxieties in your life will fade away, leaving you refreshed and relaxed.

2. Promote Healing

A Swedish massage can result in a wide range of health and healing benefits. Research has indicated that getting a Swedish massage can work to lower your blood pressure, ease tension headaches, and help you get a good night’s sleep. The process will also boost your immunity system to prevent sickness and seasonal infections.

3. Manage Pain

If you are suffering from chronic pain from conditions like sciatica or osteoarthritis, Swedish massage is a natural way to help manage your pain. Your therapist can focus on specific areas of pain, such as a sprained ankle or strained shoulder, to help the blood flow and gently work the tender area. 

4. Increases Blood Flow

A Swedish massage therapist will work your muscles and blood flood towards your heart, ridding your limbs and joints of metabolic waste. An increase in blood flow will also hasten the removal of bodily waste.

The techniques of a Swedish massage release toxins into your bloodstream to be flushed out of your body. It is typically recommended that you drink a lot of water the rest of the day after a massage to help your body process these excess toxins in your system.

Contact Mantis Massage for Your Next Swedish Massage!

If you are looking for a safe, effective way to relieve the stress and anxiety in your life, a professional massage therapist at Mantis Massage can develop a plan using the benefits of Swedish massage for stress relief to get and keep you happy and healthy.

Contact Mantis Massage today for complete information on our wide range of massage therapy options to find out what will work best for you. 

The Best Massages For Relieving Back Pain

We’ve all felt the painful ache from a long day of sitting, standing, or… well, just about anything seems to cause some kind of back pain. Whether it’s muscle spasms, chronic discomfort, or constant aching, back pain can ruin even the simplest activities, and it can be an even worse pain trying to find relief.

Ibuprofen might provide a temporary break from the pain, but it won’t do anything to fix the cause of it. Depending on the location and source of your pain, it takes an expert to not only stop the pain but to solve the problem. 

Benefits of Treating Back Pain with Professional Massage

Professionally trained massage therapists will not only help manage your back pain, but they also work to determine the reasons behind the pain. 

While they may not be able to cure you of back pain permanently, our massage therapists can advise you on methods to reduce or relieve pain. They will steer you towards healthier ways of going about your daily life and will let you know if or when you should seek out a medical doctor for serious causes that lead to back pain.

In the meantime, massage therapy offers a slew of benefits to help relieve and reduce your discomfort. Regardless of why your back hurts, massages have a slew of benefits, like increased blood flow and general relaxation, to help you feel like your best self again. 

Best Massage Types for Back Pain

Massage therapy comes in many forms focusing on different ailments and pain.

Swedish Massage

Does your back just… hurt? You don’t need to know why, the pain is indication enough that something is wrong. A traditional Swedish massage is a popular treatment method focusing on both physical and mental relief. It is an effective massage technique that combines pressure and the manipulation of muscles using essential oils to release back tension and reduce pain.  

Regardless of what caused your back to ache, a Swedish massage is a great way to start relieving discomfort across your entire body. 

Nueromuscular Massage

Trigger point myotherapy, or neuromuscular massage therapy, is one of the most effective treatments for lower back pain. 

This form of massage uses concentrated pressure on specific muscles that are causing spasms and pain. Muscles are relaxed and lactic acid is released, allowing blood and oxygen to flow through the affected area. Immediately after receiving myotherapy patients will experience soreness, but should see a significant reduction in pain and an increase in motion with a day.

Neuromuscular massages also help with postural support, which can help alleviate back pain if you sit or stand all day. 

Deep Tissue Massage

For both athletes and non-athletes, scar tissue and tightly knotted muscles are often at the root of back pain. 

Applying many of the same techniques and principles of Swedish massages, a deep tissue massage will go deeper into the muscle tissue that is responsible for recurring and chronic back pain. Deep tissue massage therapists often go all the way to the bone to provide relief. 

While this method can be uncomfortable in the moment and cause soreness in the following days, it’s one of the most effective methods to relieve debilitating pain in your neck and back muscles.

Prenatal Massage

Expecting mothers need a good massage more than just about anyone else. In addition to the extra mental stress, the physical strain of carrying a child takes a toll on the body, especially the lower back. 

A prenatal massage provides whole-body relaxation while also loosening the tense muscles that have been dealing with the extra strain of supporting an extra life. Recent research results suggest that prenatal massage therapy can be a beneficial element of a woman’s prenatal care. These studies show that women who get massages while pregnant can relieve muscle and joint pain, improve labor outcomes, and the health of the newborn.

Why Choose Mantis?

If you’re dealing with back pain, let us help. 

Mantis Massage is a full-service massage therapy treatment center specializing in deep tissue massage for pain management, maintenance, and recovery. Trained and experienced massage therapists can customize treatment to best manage your pain and discomfort, working as light or deep as needed. 

Contact Mantis Massage today for complete information and to schedule your next massage at our Airport or South Congress locations!

What Is Massage Therapy & How Can It Help You?

Massage therapy is a technique used by certified, trained professionals who manipulate your soft tissue. Soft tissue includes your muscles, tendons, ligaments, connective tissue, and skin. By manipulating your soft tissue massage therapists are able to treat a multitude of physical and mental health problems.  

What are the Health Benefits of Massage Therapy?

Massage therapy targets both your physical and mental health. Similar to acupuncture and chiropractic treatments, massage therapy began as a technique of eastern medicine, but because of its health benefits, massage therapy studios are now found all over the world. Massage therapy does everything from relieving stress and anxiety to helping clients recover from injury. 

Choosing Your Preferred Massage Method

There are many different types of massage therapy; the best type of massage therapy for you depends on your specific goals and body. You can read more about our full list of massage therapy services, but here are a few of our clients’ favorites. 

Swedish Massage

Swedish massage is the most common type of massage therapy, and many other types of massage are based on the fundamentals of Swedish massage. Swedish massages utilize five main types of massage strokes to relax your muscles, soothe your mind, and provide overall wellness. 

Swedish massages are ideal for when you just want to sit back, relax, and enjoy a classic massage. 

Deep Tissue Massage

Deep tissue massage uses more intense pressure than other types of massages. Deep tissue massage can target specific problems, such as posture, issues with scar tissue, and inflammation. Deep tissue massages are recommended if you have chronic tension that may not be totally relieved by a traditional massage. 

Myofascial Therapy

Myofascial therapy focuses on connective tissue called fascia, which surrounds many important parts of your body including your organs, blood vessels, and muscles. This type of therapy releases tension in the fascia, which is the connective tissue running through your entire body. Myofascial therapy is particularly beneficial for athletes and people suffering from chronic pain. 

Cupping

Cupping uses different tools in order to create a vacuum, stimulating blood flow. The massage therapist will use “cups” which may be made from silicon, glass, or bamboo, and you may notice gentle pressure. Experiencing marks from the cups is common and nothing to be worried about. 

For many types of massage, getting consistent appointments will amplify the benefits. Frequent deep tissue massages, for instance, will prevent your body from becoming too tense or wound up. Speak with your massage therapist to determine the right schedule for your time, budget, and body.

Why Choose Mantis Massage

Mantis Massage specializes in customizing massages for each client’s specific needs, body type, and goals. Mantis takes the time to get to know you, and they really listen to the issues you are having with your body, your mind, and your health. Mantis Massage even takes the time to give you tips at the end of every session tailored to your body, so you can continue the process of healing - even at home. 

Book an appointment at our Airport or South Congress location!

The Rundown on Deep Tissue vs Swedish Massage

The types of massages available can be confusing. Do you need a Swedish or deep tissue massage? What are the differences, and why should you choose one massage over another? If you want to schedule a massage but aren’t sure what type you should get, we’re here to answer your questions. Let’s dig in! 

What is a Swedish Massage?

A Swedish massage is the most commonly requested massage and is the basis for most other massage techniques. Despite the name, the technique for giving a Swedish massage did not originate in Sweden but rather was created by a Dutch doctor and gymnast by the name of Johann Georg Mezger. 

Swedish massage involves five separate techniques, designed to relax the entire body and return blood to the heart. These include: 

• Effleurage - The long, gliding strokes you probably think of when you imagine a typical massage

• Friction - Don’t worry, this doesn’t hurt! Friction is the word used to describe circular rubbing motions

• Vibration - When the massage therapist “shakes” certain muscles

• Tapotement - Using percussive strokes to loosen tension

• Petrissage - Kneading the muscles, what you would typically imagine a massage therapist doing to a shoulder or arm

Swedish massages are wonderful when you have stress or anxiety and some mild muscle tension. They improve your quality of sleep, release toxins in the body, and increase circulation. They are not meant to treat severe neck or back pain, but also don’t have some of the side effects that a deep tissue massage may have. 

What is a Deep Tissue Massage?

A deep tissue massage is similar to a Swedish massage, but the massage therapist will use their elbows and forearms to reach a deeper layer of muscle. This doesn’t necessarily mean that a deep tissue massage is “better” than a Swedish massage; they are both helpful for different issues. 

Deep tissue massages use the same techniques as Swedish massages, but the muscle groups that are targeted are deeper. Deep tissue massages target the connective tissues that may be causing severe pain due to injuries such as whiplash, muscle spasm, or sports injuries. Deep tissue massages are perfect if you are suffering from severe back pain, especially if it is affecting your posture. 

Neither type of massage should ever be painful, however, after deep tissue massages, you may notice bruising, due to the massage therapist targeting deeper muscle groups.   

Massage Tips

If you are going in for your first massage, you may be unsure of what to expect. 

Don’t be afraid to ask questions or speak up! 

The massage therapist is there to help. Be sure to tell them if you are uncomfortable, or if anything hurts or is causing discomfort. 

Similarly, if you would like to change the temperature in the room, let them know. Some massage therapists will also utilize aromatherapy, essential oils, candles, or music. If you are uncomfortable or dislike any of the scents or sounds they are using, ask them to switch up what they’re doing. 

So, in conclusion, if you are looking for a massage that focuses on relaxing your body, uplifting your mood, helping you to get better sleep, stimulate the nervous system, and detoxify your body, you may want to consider scheduling a Swedish massage.

 If you are suffering from severe muscle, neck or back pain, sports injuries, muscle spasms, posture issues, whiplash, or anxiety induced pain that cannot be alleviated with a Swedish massage, you should consider a deep tissue massage. 

If you think that you would benefit from a combination of both, talk to your massage therapist to customize the perfect massage for you. Keep in mind it may take multiple sessions before you feel the full benefits of either type of massage.

Contact Us!

Whether you want a deep tissue or Swedish massage, our experienced staff is here to ensure that you get the healing you need. Call us today and schedule your appointment! 

Benefits of Deep Tissue Massage Therapy for Injured Muscles

Anyone who works out or plays a sport knows how easy it is to hurt or strain a muscle. Muscles injured while working out or competing in sports activities take time to heal, and deep tissue massage can be an effective component of the rehabilitation process for sport-related muscle injuries. 

But what does this type of massage do, and how does it really help? Read on to get the full rundown on deep tissue therapy.

How Does Deep Tissue Massage Therapy Help Injured Muscles?

Deep tissue massage therapists may use their fingers, knuckles, or even their elbows to get deep enough to work the tensest areas of your deep muscles. This steady, hard pressure increases the circulation of blood in the affected area, which helps the area heal more quickly and effectively. 

Our professional massage therapists can also target the specific injury type and location, allowing oxygen and essential healing nutrients to flow through muscle tissue while realigning deep layers of muscle and connective tissue. This type of massage follows a “no pain, no gain” mentality-- our massage therapists dig in deep to work the muscles, meaning you may experience some pain or soreness.

Are Deep Tissue Massages The Same as Sports Massages?

Sport and deep tissue massages are similar, but not interchangeable. 

Sports massages take into account the biomechanics of the athlete’s sport or activities and dive deeper into the areas of the body that affect strength, flexibility, and range of motion for their particular needs, rather than overall muscle realignment and healing.

Benefits of Deep Tissue Massage

An athlete using deep tissue therapy to recover from an injury or chronic pain condition can also see other benefits to a deep tissue massage from a professional massage therapist, including:

• Chronic pain

• Upper or lower back pain

• Mobility and flexibility problems

• Osteoarthritis pain

• Sciatica

• Fibromyalgia

• Muscle spasms

In addition to the general benefits of deep tissue therapy, these massages can increase circulation, relax tense and sore muscles, and rejuvenate your body to get back in the game.

What to Expect From a Deep Tissue Massage

Performed by an experienced, licensed massage therapist, a deep tissue massage for a sports-related injury may hurt. This pain doesn’t come from injury, however, but rather in releasing all the pent up tension in a deeper layer of muscle. 

There may be some discomfort as the therapist increases the pressure to get to the deep muscles in the affected area. Keep the lines of communication open and let your therapist know if the pressure gets to be too much to handle.

It is recommended that you drink water after a deep tissue therapy session to help flush out toxins from your body that have been given easier passage through better circulation. Even after drinking a sufficient amount of water, patients often feel sore the next day or two after a deep tissue massage, especially the first in a series to work on a specific injury or condition.

Effective Deep Tissue Therapy Can Take Time

Injuries do not heal overnight, especially if the injury is a deep muscle strain that affects flexibility and range of motion capabilities. Athletes often get impatient and want a quick fix to get them back on the field or the court. 

Effective deep tissue therapy from professional therapy specialists at Mantis Massage will take multiple sessions to work in the affected areas. Each case is different, and undoing knots and tension in injured parts of the body will take a comprehensive rehabilitation plan that integrates deep tissue therapy with other forms of exercise, and rest.

If your body needs help healing or you just want relief from sore muscles, give deep tissue therapy a try!

Even Life's Big Changes Happen Little by Little

Just as it takes a single drop of water, multiplied many times over, to nourish a forest for the season, when it comes to self care it's the little things that add up to become the big changes.

Most of the ways that we take care of ourselves are not a “one-and-done” situation.  If you only showered once, brushed your teeth once, only cut your hair once in your lifetime (or even once a year) you just wouldn’t get the same results that you do by incorporating all of these things into your regular care routine.  

Self-care should be no different.  Changes that we may want to make to our posture, sleep quality, or general stress levels are most likely not going to be achieved overnight.  The good news is that this means that once we make a commitment to “life-improvement” we can never truly fail. Even if we’ve neglected ourselves for a period of time, every day is a new day to start over fresh.  Every day requires the same level of care that all our other days did. Once good habits are established, they become easier and easier to perform.

The 21st century lifestyle means that a vast majority of us are walking around with poor posture (shoulders scrunched up and rolled forward, head and neck forward, mid-back in a forward curve - for an extreme example think hunchback of Notre Dame).  These postural dysfunctions create all kinds of health issues and make tension an ever-present issue. BUT - it can be improved, AND will only happen little by little. Baby steps people!

Try standing with your feet about hip-width apart.  Stand firmly, with your feet planted solidly on the ground with the majority of your weight in your heels.  It also helps of the weight is mostly held up by the outer edge of your heels. Roll your shoulders up, back, and then down, squeezing your shoulder blades together. Engage your lower abdominal muscles and look straight ahead with soft eyes.  How do you feel?

Chances are that your spine will feel straight and supported, your lungs will be able to expand freely and easily as you breathe, and you will be expending less energy overall to keep yourself standing.  

Just like everything else, maintaining good posture takes practice.  If your muscles are not accustomed to holding this posture, they will likely tire easily at first.  But keep at it. The more you do it, the easier it will become. Before you know it, it will start to feel weird when you’re NOT in this posture.  With reduced tension and deeper, easier breathing, other things in your life may also start to fall into place, little by little.

The Dueling Forces of Flexibility & Stability

Life is about balancing the dueling forces of the universe.  Good vs. evil, Batman vs. Superman, moving forward vs. staying still.  The forces of flexibility and stability must be balanced to create and maintain healthy body mechanics, healthy finances, healthy boundaries and relationships.  Some things must be stabilized or shored up, while others must remain flexible.

It’s easy to see how having any one of these dynamics out of balance can cause some real havoc.  For a physical example, if one were to stabilize every joint in the body you’d be stuck without much room for change or movement.   You may find yourself to be very strong and sturdy, just like the Tin Man from “The Wizard of Oz”. You’d also have a problem. You’d be just like the Tin Man!  You’d be very stiff and stuck, with limited range of motion in your neck, arms, back or hips. As in his case, your jaw may be very stiff, limiting chewing, or even your speech.  When experiencing maximum stability, flexibility is compromised. How would you propose to move through your day if all the joints in your body were resisting all movement? It would certainly make life difficult.

Now take the other extreme.  If you had maximum flexibility in every joint, you wouldn’t feel any stiffness at all.  You’d be able to move fluidly through every situation, taking life as it comes. However, you’d also probably find it hard to stand, or move against gravity through space.  Walking, running, even sitting would be very difficult. You’d slide right off your chair! Going back to “The Wizard of Oz” we have the example of the Scarecrow. He has no stability in his joints after spending so much time hung up in the field.  All of his muscles have atrophied and at first he cannot walk at all, instead he ends up crumpling to the ground.

Humans need stability.  We need to know, with some measure of probability, what we can reasonably expect from life.  However, life is rarely consistently predictable, and thus we also need to be flexible, bending to what comes.  

If your body has stopped bending to what comes, we may be able to help.  Come into Mantis and let your therapist know what has become stiff and immobile.  We’ll do what we can to get you moving again. After the massage, you will likely feel much looser than you’ve been for awhile.  At this time, it’s good to stop, slow down, and take a few deep breaths, grounding yourself before moving on with your day.

Treat Yourself (For the Sake of Others)

It may seem counterintuitive, but sometimes the best way to take care of other people is to first take care of ourselves.  Doing our best to meet our own needs is actually the most efficient way to go about it. Think about it, you know just what you need, just when you need it, without even needing to ask yourself.  It’s almost like you can read your own mind!

And when we are walking around as a person who has all or most of their needs met, we are then that much more available to help others who may be having trouble getting their needs met.  Maybe we can help them to better understand their own needs, or help them with something that they are just not capable of doing on their own. We are likely to have more patience towards others, more energy to help, and more time to do so.

A great way to help meet our own needs and to put ourselves in a great mood is to schedule ourselves a massage session at Mantis.  By doing so, you are giving yourself some me time, improving blood circulation, improving your quality of sleep, relieving tension, improving posture, reducing stress, and boosting your mood.  

This boost in mood will stay with you long after the end of the massage session, and here’s the secret: It looks good on you.  Other people will enjoy being around you, even more than they did before. Your good mood is contagious, rubbing off on all the people that you come in contact with for the rest of your day, your week, maybe even your month!

So go get yourself a massage!  If for no other reason, than do it for the sake of others.  

Moving Through Discomfort

Change can be scary sometimes.  Even when we are unhappy or in pain, change can seem rather uncomfortable or even a tad overwhelming.  As they say, the devil you know is better than the devil you don’t. But what if the devil you don’t know is actually an angel in disguise?

Life can be oh so complicated, and sometimes it can just seem safer to stay in our respective comfort zones.  Maybe we have these huge areas of tension in our shoulders, but they’ve always been there, and after a while they may even start to feel a little familiar.  We know where they are, they’re reliable, they know us. However, this kind of comfort is actually a far cry from true comfort. These balls of tension may give us the illusion of comfort, but really we know deep down that we’d be better off without them keeping our muscles literally stuck to each other.  

This is where massage comes in.  While we are doing our best to bring YOU into a relaxing state of comfort, we are not trying to make life easy for your knots of tension.  We want them out of there! While the kneading of your knots can sometimes be somewhat uncomfortable, maybe even painful, this is what we like to refer to as therapeutic pain.  This is the type of pain that hurts so good, because you can tell that it’s making your knots of tension uncomfortable. It’s the type of pain that feels worth it, because you can also feel how it is a (sometimes major) change to your musculature.  

In this way, you may have to venture out and leave behind your illusion of comfort, (what’s holding you back and keeping you stuck), in order to reach a true sense of much deeper comfort.  There is nothing quite like the feeling of release, when you can literally feel your muscles letting go of long-held tension.  This may even be coupled with an emotional release. (BTW it is totally ok to cry on the massage table if you happen to feel a sudden rush of emotion!).  We promise we won’t tell.

This may all be taking place on a rather subconscious level.  We may not even realize consciously what we are holding onto, or how tightly or for how long we have been holding onto it.  All of that is revealed to us only when we are able to finally fully release the muscle, and just let it all go. Taking a long, slow, deep breath is a great way signal to yourself and to the universe that you are letting go of something that no longer serves you.  In the end the therapeutic pain of the massage, while seeming downright devilish, may have actually been an angel in disguise.

Feeling Overwhelmed by the Little Things

It's important to take time out for yourself in life. Sometimes we feel like we can't do this because there are just too many things to get done.  Sometimes just stopping to breathe can feel like it takes up too much time in our day. As it turns out breathing is not only super important, but also can be accomplished literally in only a matter of seconds.  And while it is important not to shirk your responsibilities, taking a little pause for yourself can often give you that extra little boost of strength/courage/energy that you needed to tackle all of the tasks in your life.  As an added bonus, once you’ve accomplished all of the “little” things, and then you'll have more strength/energy/courage to tackle the big things.

Stopping to take time for yourself can be very grounding, helping to clear your mind and accurately prioritize your to-do list.  You may even find that not everything on your to-do list is even necessarily worth doing. Taking a moment to breathe can help you reevaluate the way you spend the precious time that makes up your day.   

Massage is a great way to take time out for yourself and do some deep breathing.  Not only is massage super beneficial for your physical and psychological well-being, it's also just really enjoyable.  And what's more, because massage sessions are scheduled in advance and limited to a predetermined amount of time, they are an indulgence that won't wreck your schedule.

So, next time you feel overwhelmed by all the little things on your to do list (or even the big things) consider taking some time out for yourself first.  It may be just what you need to help you seize the day.

Possum Wisdom

Sometimes when you’re feeling indecisive about something, the best decision is not to make a decision at all, and instead come in for a massage.

Humans are excellent problem solvers.  Sometimes though we come across a problem so big, that our brains simply can’t compute.   Our brains start out going through all the possibilities and they circle round and round the problem until they forget which solutions have already been discounted and mistake them for new ideas.  Sometimes we just can’t think our way out of a problem.

The wisdom of the possum tells us that sometimes when you don’t know what to do, the best option is to do nothing at all. When faced with an insurmountable threat, a possum will shut down it’s nervous system and collapse into a coma like state.  By “playing dead” the threat or predator is fooled into being uninterested in the possum and it will leave. The possum is then free to “come back to life” and go about living as it was before.

Now, I am not suggesting that you will your body into a coma on the massage table! However, the relaxation derived from a massage session can often help to work not unlike a coma, shutting off your brain temporarily with the sure knowledge that you will return to it later.  

Sometimes this “brain vacation” is all you need to stop the frenzied circling and open up your brain to fresh new ideas, as well as fresh blood from improved circulation and the calm that comes from relaxation and tension relief.  

So next time you find yourself working through a seemingly insurmountable problem, think like a possum and make the decision of making no decision at all.

Where You Start May Not Be Where You’ll End

Life is constantly changing, and massage is no exception to that rule.  A little bit of adaptability can go a long way in helping us humans to cope with the many changes in our lives.  

It happens all the time that at the start of a session, a client may say, “It’s just my shoulder, that’s the only thing that’s bothering me,” and while this IS true at the start of the session, it may actually change as the session progresses.  

What humans and other creatures experience as pain sensation is physically a nerve signal that travels from the area of pain to the brain.  Because of something called Gate Control Theory, only the loudest pain signals will get through at any given time. Also, activation of nerves which do not transmit pain signals, such as those for touch, pressure, and vibration can interfere with signals from pain fibers, thereby inhibiting pain.

This of course, is where the massage comes in.  As Massage Therapists, we are taking control of the gate, inhibiting the pain signals from reaching your brain and instead letting in the friendly signals, the ones that don’t want to hurt you.  What also happens is that sometimes clients will start to feel pain elsewhere in the body, someplace that they have been ignoring. The signal wasn’t loud enough before, and it couldn’t get through the gate.  

So while at the start of the massage it was all about the shoulder, after spending some time on the table you may find that there are other areas that also need to be addressed.  Maybe you started out wanting just a relaxation massage, and then changed your mind mid-way through. Or maybe the opposite is true. You thought you booked your appointment for some real deep body work, but then life happened and day of you really just need to zen out.  And that’s OK! We are happy to be flexible with you and help you help your body figure out what it needs.

And that might change!  Because where you start may not be where you’ll end up.  

The Importance of Solitude

Such much of lives are filled with others.  We live with others, work with others, and play with others.  Much of the time our lives are enriched by our connections with others, sharing experiences, sharing wisdom, sharing love.  So much of this time shared has a positive impact on our lives, and yet we still find that we need a bit of solitude.

Solitude often gets a bad rap.  So much of the time, solitude is portrayed as something that one would experience only if there were no other available option.  But Solitude, most especially when sought out, when lived on purpose, can have enormous benefits. Solitude gives you the opportunity to filter away all outside influences and to listen to your own inner wisdom.  

The poet Rainer Maria Rilke says it this way, “Listen to your inner self and your feelings every time.  Should you be mistaken, after all, the natural growth of your inner life will guide you slowly and in good time to other conclusions,”.  Rilke speaks much of the power and strength of solitude in achieving an understanding of one’s self. He suggests spending endless hours within one’s depth of solitude.  He was also writing these words in 1904.

Returning back to 2018, it may not be practical for one to sit endlessly for hours at a time, sipping tea and staring out the window.  However, living the often hectic lives that we do in 2018 may mean that the need for solitude has become greater than ever.

So I would encourage everyone, at the next available opportunity, to take some time for solitude.  Allow yourself to get lost in your own thoughts, and not even with the expectation of necessarily finding anything.  Recent studies have shown that our brains are still working out internal processes even when we are sitting around doing “nothing”.

Maybe the next available opportunity for you will be the next time you find yourself lying face down on a massage table.  If you ever don’t feel chatty during a massage session, just let us know. We won’t be offended. In fact, speaking for myself at least, I would be honored to provide you with a safe space for you to explore the depths of your inner solitude.  

The Dance of Calm & Chaos

Austin also has its fair share of chaos.  Think I-35 during rush hour, Barton Springs on Mother’s Day, and I could go on and on.  And we need that chaos. Austin is one of the top creative cities in the nation and is part of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network.  The law of conservation of energy reminds us that one cannot create something from nothing. Energy can neither be created, nor destroyed.  Therefore the energy needed for creative endeavors must be harnessed from the existing swirl of energy around us. It must be harnessed from the chaos.  

Mantis is where we help you harness the calm.  

Throughout life there is a dance of chaos and calm, each contributing in their own unique way to our quest for balance.  If we have only chaos, we pay the price with an increase in stress and sometimes even tension and anxiety. If we have only calm, it is certainly much more difficult to create, or be productive.  We may even find boredom. But with a careful choreography of the two together in unison, we find the creativity, vitality and progress that we need balanced out with the stillness, serenity, and calm that we crave.  

Modern life in Austin provides the chaos.  Mantis is here for you to induce the calm.

Just think about a whole hour or more to yourself, devoted just to you, your body and releasing the tension.  The music is calm and relaxing, the scents are pleasant, the temperature is perfect. All of this sets the scene for you to enjoy your massage session to the utmost, relaxing holding patterns and resetting your muscles so that they are available at your disposal, ready to go for any project that you are ready to take on. 

Summer is the Best Time to get a Massage

Summer is the best time to get a massage for several reasons.

ONE:

Your muscles are already warmed up!  It’s true, the weather does actually have a physical effect on the body.  This is also why I hate being cold. When you’re body feels cold (not actual cold, like hypothermia, just uncomfortable the air is colder than my body cold) your body automatically tenses up as a way of conserving heat.  Your veins actually contract slightly, (called vasoconstriction) so that your body disperses less heat. SO, if your body is already warm and mobile (from vasodilation), then your muscles will already be in an enhanced state of relaxation.  That means that your massage session will be that much more productive. (This is also the reason that we use table warmers and hot towels!!)

TWO:

Summer is often synonymous with travel.  Think cross-country road trips, flights to foreign countries, or just hopping home to visit your parents for the summer if you’re in school.  As advanced as humans have become at globe-trotting, we still have not really figured out how to make it exactly ergonomic. Travel often finds you in cramped spaces, sleeping in odd configurations, not sleeping enough, and just generally keeps your body out of whack.  Massage is a great way to get you back into whack, relaxing your muscles, improving your sleep, and returning your body back to balance.

THREE:

Summer is often synonymous with travel.  What’s that you say? I’ve said that already?  Well, here’s the thing. Here at Mantis, we have a some really great, oft-sought-after therapists.  Sometimes it can be challenging to get a prime spot on their schedules. But summer means that some of our other clients might be going out of town just as you are coming back into town, opening up a spot for you on our schedules.  Now that’s what I call a symbiotic relationship.

Body Mechanics

As Massage Therapists, we know how important it is to maintain good body mechanics while we’re at work.  Using proper postures means that we are able to conserve energy and avoid injury. But using good body mechanics isn’t just important for massage therapists, they are important for everyone!

While you move about your day, whether you’re working for an employer and doing work for yourself to help make life happen, chances are that you’re using your body while you’re doing it!  Unless you’ve somehow mastered telekinesis, in which case I’d like to sign up to be your student.

Especially when we are doing work for ourselves, it can seem unimportant to pay attention to body mechanics, because chances are that we are not going to be working on this same project all day, everyday.  But the truth is, life is happening now! And if you are standing on your head in an awkward twist just so that you can get some asparagus green paint into the bottom corner of your pantry, there’s a good chance you could injure yourself while doing it.  

The basic principles of body mechanics are just not to strain your body, especially not with repetition.  Awkward reaches, unstable stools or ladders, or simply craning your neck to get a better view of your Netflix screen can really add up to unnecessary strain and pain in your muscles and joints.  All of this can be not only uncomfortable, but can actually lead to injury.

So if you are doing something in your life that hurts your body, stop and think, “Is this really necessary?”.  If what you’re doing is exercise, then yeah maybe it might hurt a little even if you’re doing it right. But for just about anything else, it will probably pay off in the long run to stop and get the bigger ladder, to interrupt your Netflix binge to re-adjust your neck, or to pay a professional to paint your pantry.  

Living in the Present Moment

Sometimes we spend our entire present thinking about the future. Or the past.  Or both. Unfortunately this sometimes means that we are totally missing out on what is happening for us right now.  

As humans living in 2018, life can be kinda stressful.  It may seem like we’ll never get ahead unless we are constantly thinking two steps ahead of where we are now.  But what if we have something to learn in the here and now that is absolutely essential to our future success?

For me, this applies to massage because I often find my body pining for a massage for several days or weeks before I am able to get myself in for a session.  Yes, Massage Therapists need Massage Therapy too!! So I end up spending days or weeks thinking about my future massage session. Then, once the time for the session finally arrives I spend the whole session thinking about how great I’m going to feel afterwards.  Then time absolutely FLIES by and suddenly the massage is over and I’m now stuck in the past thinking, “Wow wasn’t that really great and I should now probably schedule another massage."

Regular massage can be SOOO beneficial for your body, especially if you have any chronic pain or alignment issues.  Massage will be that much MORE beneficial if you can really take the time to focus in on what’s happening in the present moment, whether that is before, during, or after the session.  Being fully present in the moment during your massage session will help improve your breathing, help your body relax more fully, and help your body to better integrate the body work from your massage session.  Which just means that all the benefits of massage will last that much longer.

So take a moment to stop, take a deep breath, and just look around.  Or close your eyes if safe to do so and feel the air, smell the smells, and listen to the sounds.  You might just notice something you would have otherwise missed.

Hydrotherapy

There are lots of fun ways to take care of yourself, and did you know that one of the coolest resources we can use is water?  I’m talking about Hydrotherapy, and it’s anything that takes advantage of the physical properties of water, such as temperature and pressure, to stimulate blood circulation and treat the symptoms of certain diseases. This can mean anything from using water jets, underwater massage, underwater exercise, mineral baths, whirlpool baths, hot Roman baths, hot tubs or Jacuzzis, and cold plunges or cryotherapy.

For our purposes, we’re talking about water outside of your body.  For water inside your body, see my recent post about hydration.

You already know about the awesome benefits of taking a whole body soak in a warm epsom salt bath from my post about Massage Preparation for First Timers, but just as a reminder, all you have to do is stir 2 cups of epsom salt (can be found in most grocery stores) into a hot bath.  Sit and relax for at least 20 minutes to feel the benefits of reduced inflammation.  

Ice is also technically water, which makes using ice on your sore muscles a part of hydrotherapy as well.   Just make sure not to sustain ice usage for more than 10 minutes at a time, as this can actually start to cause some localized inflammation of its own.  

And here’s the really cool part.  We live in Austin, which means that we are blessed with relatively easy access to Barton Springs pool (there is of course a certain amount of skill involved in first finding a parking space!).  Once you’ve tackled parking, you’re in for a real treat of natural spring hydrotherapy.

For those who don’t know (or just haven’t gotten around to it yet) Barton Springs Pool is a natural pool that is part of Barton Creek in South Central Austin.   The pool is fed from underground springs that keep the water the same temperature year round, averaging about 68-70 degrees Fahrenheit. This is no cryotherapy cold plunge, the water is nowhere near freezing, though you’re still likely to hear several shrieks of shock as folks drop in for their first dip.  Rather, the water is just cold enough to help rid your body of inflammation without being so cold that you get completely numb and want to kill whomever dragged you there. This is also a great way to experience the cold of the water and its benefits while simultaneously experiencing the warmth of the sun and its benefits.   It’s a win win for you, and for the Barton Springs Salamander that calls the creek home.  

The Importance of Play

The child within needs a way to get out sometimes.  I recently had the pleasure of attending the Austin Maker Faire, “a gathering of fascinating, curious people...From engineers to artists to scientists to crafters, Maker Faire is a venue for these "makers" to show hobbies, experiments, projects,” which is geared towards kids and getting their brains hooked on learning.  Though my grandmother would probably still consider me a kid, at 31 you would think that I’d be a little out of place in such a setting. Instead, I was welcomed at all the stations, encouraged to be myself, and rediscover my creativity. This while my husband illuminated hundreds of kids with the vast and intriguing world of virtual reality.  

While we adults are all caught up in the world of being such, and all of the responsibilities that go along with it, it is important to take a step back sometimes.  Like waaaay back, to when we were kids. What would 8 year old Sandra do? She’d probably tell me that I’m spending too much time doing boring things, and not nearly enough time playing with her friends.  

According to Nathan H. Lents, Ph.D., in his article for Psychology Today entitled “Why Play Is Important”, “[Play] can encourage creativity, planning, problem solving, and a whole bunch of task-specific skills like spatial reasoning and logic. For both humans and animals, play is a low-risk way to develop our cognitive abilities.”  Now, I’m not saying that we should do everything that dogs do, but minus the butt sniffing shenanigans they really seem to have a lot of their lives figured out.

Play helps to reduce stress and activate our parasympathetic nervous system, which signals to our bodies that we are in a safe space, free from danger.  Existing in this state helps us think about things that maybe we haven’t had time for previously, sometimes revealing new, ingenious, even playful solutions.  Play is also a great way to encourage bonding and can help strengthen relationships.  And laughing.  Laughing is sooooo good for you.  

So take some time today to play.  The kid inside you will be glad you did.