What are the benefits of receiving therapeutic massage treatments? Massage can help manage stress, reduce pain and increase range of motion and mobility. The emotional improvements can often be just as important as the physical benefits. These emotional benefits include but are not limited to: Decreased anxiety Enhanced sleep quality Greater energy Improved concentration. Increased circulation Reduced fatigue…
Sleep is one of the most important things a body needs. Sleeping poorly can affect your mood and general health. This is one of the easiest things to change to improve your health and reduce pain. These changes can be anything from your sleeping position, to your nighttime snacks.
Massage therapy treatment plans differ from person to person depending on many factors such as pain level, schedules, and budget. All of these factors have to be taken into consideration to create a treatment plan that feels effective. Tips for home care can be invaluable when we can’t schedule massage therapy as often as we…
Reprinted from whymassagetherapy.com, click link to view original source September 1, 2009 by whymassagetherapy “Without fail this is one of the most common questions I receive as a massage therapist. The truth is, though, how often you should get a massage treatment is very individual and doesn’t follow a set formula. As a massage therapist,…
So, there is an issue at hand, you’re experiencing discomfort. Do you know what you were doing when it started? How is it aggravated or triggered? The mechanics and the storyline help a massage therapist piece the puzzle together to establish the most effective treatment plan. While a treatment does have to allow the therapist to listen to body…
Maybe you’ve got painful ‘knots’ in your back and shoulders or a sore lower lumbar. Or perhaps sore hamstrings or calves from a big walk or run. And of course everyone can feel an achy tightness in the arches of their feet after a long day at work. All this and there’s no one around…
Headaches can be triggered by any number of things. Massage therapy has shown very promising results in the relief and treatment of tension headaches. Of the dozens and dozens of muscles in the head and neck, any number of them can be the source of your headache pain. Getting rid of this pain with massage…
This week we have a feature post, written by one of our very own Vancouver RMTs Char Hunter. Char has some wonderfully helpful tips (Fix Tips) on her website, and we are sharing one with you today. It is called the Spinal Roll which specially targets and provides relief to the Upper Back, Shoulders, and…
As the weather gets a bit grey, so can our health. They do call it a “cold and flu season” after all. But we can’t let that get in the way so we do all that we can to keep our bodies happy and healthy. To avoid getting sick, you don’t have to lock yourself…
Consistent sub-zero temperatures, and accumulating snow and ice has been a new reality for Vancouver and the Lower Mainland. With the snowiest season on record, it has taken us all some time to adjust. Gone are the days of a single snow day where you hunker down, stay inside, and in the morning it has all…
How do Epsom Salts work to soothe your muscles? Here’s an explanation: Magnesium is one of the main components of Epsom salt. It is a mineral that the body needs and, unlike most minerals, is can absorb through the skin as you soak in the bath. The mineral helps relax skeletal muscles by flushing lactic acid…
Have you ever been exercising or at the gym, watching people around you, and wondering why some other people can bend a bit deeper, or reach a bit farther? It doesn’t necessarily have only to do with fitness or how much you train. Everybody’s body is different. Yes, the foundation and purpose of the structures are the…
In a day and age where the work-life balance isn’t so… balanced, and we have adapted to do everything from a seated position, the body can start to suffer. It is not only the immediate stiffness you begin to feel after prolonged sitting, or the poor posture that can cause us grief. Constant sitting can…
As the temperature drops and the snow continues to fall, we find ourselves parting ways with the sunny-day seaside activity routines we had established in warmer months. While it might be daunting to venture outdoors on to slippery sidewalks for your usual morning jog, there are lots of exercise options (and warm ones!) to keep you moving…
When watching the Olympic games last summer, we might have noticed some athletes have coloured strips of tape peeking out from under their uniform. That is called Kinesio tape. Kinesio tape was first developed in Japan in early 80s by Dr. Kenzo Kase who believes in the power of manual therapy in healing. Despite the effectiveness…
Everyone can benefit from a good stretch. If you work 9am-5pm at a desk job and you feel tension anywhere from your hamstrings up to your neck and shoulders, you should stretch. If you are athletic and constantly on the go, running, biking, hiking around this beautiful city, you should stretch. Maybe you already incorporate…
A warm thank you to all of you who took the time to vote for Broadway Wellness in this year’s Georgia Straight Best of Vancouver Readers Choice Awards. Your votes truly counted and we were named the winner of the”Best Massage Therapist” category for the second year in a row! We couldn’t be happier and will…
There is an emotional aspect to every illness. Often times, it is the emotional thoughts or “excess emotions” that will lead to illness. Therapeutic massage is helpful in calming the mind, reducing stress and focusing our mental powers over any situation. Doing relaxation techniques such as massage, yoga and meditation benefit lung function by affecting…
Stress is a common and universal occurrence. Relief from any kind of stress is important, and without, the sustained response may cause extended problems. Many sources have shown that constant stress may turn into “distress” leading to physical symptoms including headaches, upset stomachs, elevated blood pressure, chest pains, and sleeping problems. It may also even bring on…
The Canadian College of Osteopathy defines traditional Osteopathy as: “A natural medicine which aims to restore function in the body by treating the causes of pain and imbalance. To achieve this goal the Osteopathic Manual Practitioner relies on the quality and finesse of his/her palpation and works with the position, mobility and quality of the…
Alison Ritchie, RMT has been practicing at Broadway Wellness since 2012, and has returned this month from maternity leave. Alison is in year five of the Osteopathic Manual Therapy program, and is presently incorporating her osteopathic skills into her massage therapy practice in Vancouver, BC. What is Osteopathic Manual Therapy? Osteopathy is a term you might…