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   Massage is one of the oldest and most fundamental forms of medical care. Its history dates back farther than acupuncture. Hieroglyphics on Egyptians tombs depict people receiving massage. In Eastern cultures, massage has been practiced consistently since primitive times. It is an ancient, modern and everything-in-between method to taking care of yourself. Emotionally it feels good and decompresses us. Physically it improves circulation, detoxifies the tissues and restores range of motion. Spiritually it returns us to ourselves, a remembering that doesn’t have to do with the chaos of the day. I have long thought that the secret to all of the worlds problems is a good massage... and perhaps a nap.

   I bring over a decade of experience to my private practice at Casco Bay Healing Arts in Portland, Maine . My initial training was in Swedish. Swedish massage is a lovely style that uses long strokes combined with kneading, friction, tapping, percussion, vibration, effleurage, and shaking motions. My acupuncture training and clinical experience has strongly influenced my massage style over the years. Though I still use Swedish for the framework of a massage, I incorporate subtle treatment of the meridians and some acupuncture points using acupressure. In cases where patients prefer a deeper massage I use more penetrating strokes to focus on problematic areas. Many patients at Casco Bay Healing Arts use therapeutic massage and acupuncture interchangeably. For example, a patient with sciatica may come for regular massage but in the case of an acute flare up, acupuncture is the more appropriate treatment. A patient with irritable bowel syndrome may come for regular acupuncture treatments but uses massage periodically to relax the nervous system and detoxify the body while making dietary changes.

   In addition to therapeutic massage I always recommend regular stretching. The stretching I suggest is very much like yoga in that it lengthens the muscles and opens the joints. A key component is how you breathe while you are stretching. In yoga, we use the term, “ujjayi” or “ocean sounding breath.” Expanding and contracting the body through stretching as you expand and contract your breath has powerful restorative effects. I encourage you to get in the habit of stretching at home. Stretch when you rise in the morning and before retiring to bed in the evening. If you watch TV or movies, put on some comfy pants and stretch while you watch. It is not so important that you set aside separate time to stretch. Instead, you can incorporate it and other morsels of self care into the micro-moments we all have through out the day.