A post in the Boston Globe by movie critic Ty Burr may have cured me of my addiction to movie popcorn.

The Center for Science in the Public Interest released a report on movie popcorn from various theatres.  Researchers found that the average medium popcorn and soda combo at movie theaters contains 1,610 calories and three days of saturated fat.  These numbers are before adding any extra butter at those butter stands!  Regal Cinema’s numbers came out highest, with AMC a close second.  Some of the smaller chains fared better, due to the fact they use canola oil rather than coconut.

Prior to reading Burr’s post, I couldn’t seem to watch a movie at the movie theater without munching on a big tub of movie popcorn.  Since reading this article, I’ve been to the movie theatre once and can happily report that I made it through the entire movie without a single kernel.  I was tempted for sure, but reminded myself of these numbers and didn’t succumb in the end!

http://www.boston.com/ae/movies/blog/2009/11/movie_popcorn_3.html

We will be closed on Thursday November 26th reopening on Monday November 30th.  Have a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday!

Massage Therapy of Boston is very excited to be offering complimentary 10-minute chair massages as part of a fundraiser for a local homeless shelter.

We will be closed on Tuesday November 17th and apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.

Thanks so much!

“What Soft Drinks are Doing to Your Body” by Dr. Maoshing Ni is a frightening look at the damaging health effects of drinking soda.  Research has shown that drinking large amounts of soft drinks has been linked to diabetes, obesity, heart disease, tooth decay, and nutritional depletion.

Not only does the high level of sugars in soft drinks end up being stored in the body as fat, but the raised insulin level causes the immune system to falter.  Turning to diet sodas doesn’t seem to be the answer, as many artificial sweeteners have been found to be carcinogenic.

This article is a really fascinating read and gives ample justification for giving up the soda and switching to water, tea, or juice.

http://health.yahoo.com/experts/drmao/20270/what-soft-drinks-are-doing-to-your-body/

I recently read an interesting article in The New York Times Health Section on long distance running and the idea that humans might actually be built for running long distances.

The article, written by Tara Parker-Pope, deals with some of the ideas in Born to Run, a best-selling book by Christopher McDougall.  McDougall researches the Tarahumara Indians of Mexico, a tribe that regularly runs very long distances in thinly soled sandals.  McDougall argues that it is only in the late 20^th Century that we have started to prescribe to the belief that long distance running makes our bodies susceptible to injury.

McDougall argues, on the other hand, that running long distances, in itself, is not the issue, but rather it is the way the modern human runs that causes the problems.  He suggests that many marathon runners start to run in their later years rather than in their youth when their body has time to develop for distance running.  He also says that running on artificial surfaces and in high-tech, highly cushioned shoes alters the biomechanics of running and makes our bodies susceptible to injury.  McDougall even told Parker-Pope that, while researching the Tarahumara, he altered his running form and got rid of his heavily-cushioned shoes and has been running pain-free for 3 years.

The article also mentions some evolutionary features of humans that some scientists think points to the fact that we were born to be runners.   One of the most important evolutionary features is our highly efficient cooling system.  While other mammals pant, we are able to cool ourselves through sweating.  Therefore, humans are able to stay cool at distances that would cause other animals to overheat.  Two evolutionary biologists, Daniel Lieberman and Dennis Bramble, even claim that, on a hot day, a human could outrun a horse in a 26.2-mile marathon!

You can read this very fascinating article by clicking on the link below.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/27/health/27well.html?_r=1

Most of my active clients ask me if it is okay to exercise after their massage session.  Generally, I encourage people to wait 24 hours before doing any vigorous activity.  Examples of vigorous activities are running, weightlifting, or other high-intensity workouts.  Engaging in vigorous activity less than 24 hours after your massage session has the risk of increasing post-massage soreness, delaying your recovery time, and potentially even compromising the effectiveness of the soft tissue work.

Light to moderate exercise for someone who exercises regularly, on the other hand, can be a good thing after massage.  A brisk walk or even some laps in a pool can help to flush out toxins released during the massage as well as to keep muscles healthy and elastic.

Whether an individual chooses to engage in light physical activity after massage or not, you should always remember to drink plenty of water.  I encourage two liters of water in the next 24 hours so as to continue to flush out the body.  Get plenty of sleep and eat a healthy diet, rich in fruits and vegetables and minimal in sugars.

Even though it can feel like just a formality or another set of boring paperwork, the intake form you fill out prior to your first massage session is one of the best tools for ensuring you get everything you want and need out of your massage experience.

A common thing I see is, after a detailed intake with a new client where I think I’ve gotten the full picture on their health, a client will get on the table and midway through the session mention an old injury saying they didn’t think it would be important or applicable to the current condition.

I can certainly understand how hard it is to remember all past injuries especially for some of you who are extremely active.  However, with those past injuries and/or issues of pain or tension that you do remember, even if you think it is unrelated and insignificant, please mention it to your therapist.  Old injuries that have not been cared for properly can absolutely affect the body’s current state.  Understanding those old injuries and cleaning up any leftover scar tissue or muscular imbalances can help address current issues as well, even if in a seemingly unrelated area of the body.

My goal as your therapist is to make your massage experience as pleasant and productive as possible.  Please mention anything you think might be useful in constructing a session that will best meet your needs.  I am always open to suggestions and appreciate hearing what you like, dislike, and find to be most productive!  I look forward to working with you soon!

I work with a lot of clients who spend long hours in front of their computers.  Sometimes they think it’s absurd that they have so much tension from just sitting in front of a computer all day.  The fact of the matter is that spending long periods of time in front of the computer can be very taxing on the body, especially the muscles of the neck, shoulders, and low back.

In addition to stretching, staying hydrated, and taking breaks from the computer throughout the day, one of the best ways to keep muscles loose is to make sure your workspace is set up ergonomically.

If your company has an ergonomics department, take advantage of this invaluable resource!  An ergonomics specialist looks at the way you work at your current workstation and makes changes to ensure you’re working in the most efficient way for your muscles.  Common changes made are raising the height of the monitor to be at or just below eye level, adjusting the keyboard so your wrists and hands are in-line with your forearms, and adding a lumbar support cushion for the low back.

For those of you who don’t have access to an ergonomics specialist, lots of helpful information can be found online.  I like the guidelines provided by OSHA at http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/etools/computerworkstations/index.html.  OSHA provides a great diagram of how your workspace should look as well as a really useful checklist for setting up your workspace on your own.  For example, if you answer “No” to “Head and neck are upright and in-line with torso (not bent down/back)”, OSHA tells you to check the height of your monitor, chair, and/or keyboard.  Going through this checklist and referring to the diagram allows you to find a more comfortable and efficient way of working that will lessen your chances of accumulating work-related muscle tension.

I recently read a very fascinating article by Clare La Plante in the Massage Therapy Journal entitled “Nurturing Touch: Massage Therapy Helps Calm & Center Children on the Autism Spectrum”.

The number of cases of children being diagnosed with autism is continually on the rise, climbing at a rate of approximately 10 to 17 percent annually (MTJ, Fall 2009, p. 44).  The Touch Research Institute at the University of Miami School of Medicine has done a number of studies on the effects of touch on autistic children.

Tiffany Field points out that moderate pressure applied during massage stimulates the vagus nerve, which is one of the 12 cranial nerves in the brain.  The vagus nerve is a nerve that underperforms in people with autism.  Stimulating the vagus nerve in children with autism helps to slow the heart rate, which leads to an increase in the ability to focus.  Problems with sleep can also be aided by stimulation of the vagus nerve as well as an ability to screen out background noise, thus increasing the capacity to speak and listen in autistic children.

A particularly interesting part of this article was a discussion on how autistic children can actually be touch-averse.  The author explains that autistic children can find typical social touch, like a slap on the shoulder or a quick hug, to be unpredictable and stressful and therefore can shy away from the idea of a massage.  Massage therapists working with autistic children typically start very slowly.  They might simply place their hand on the hand of the autistic child or rub the back of their mother or father while the child watches.  Some of the massage therapists interviewed explained that you need to have a lot of patience, but that the reward is indescribable when a child decides to trust you and let down their guard.

What I particularly enjoyed about this article was how countless the benefits of this work seemed to be.  Not only were the autistic children benefiting from the bodywork, but the parents were moved at times to tears by seeing their child be able to relax and trust another person’s touch, and the massage therapists were learning so much about the power of touch by understanding what calms the children and learning how to meet them halfway.

Classes will be held at Massage Therapy of Boston on Saturdays from 10-11:30 am beginning on October 31st.  The cost of all 4 classes will be only $100.

Sarah’s classes are fun, relaxed, and positive!  You will be given personalized attention.  Contact with your child remains exclusive to you.  Classes are open to parents, caregivers, and infants ages 3 weeks to 9 months.  Expectant parents are welcome too!

Massage facilitates an infant’s physiological and neurological development, promotes restful sleep, soothes common discomforts, and fosters a healthy baby bond.  For the latest in benefits on infant massage, please visit http://www6.miami.edu/TOUCH-RESEARCH/.

To find out more about this exciting new series at Massage Therapy of Boston, please contact Sarah at (617) 999-6071 or via email.  She is very excited to teach you all about the gift of touch!