Mindfulness of the body—noticing our physical sensations—can be a useful tool for stress management and greater resilience. In a research study, participants who noticed their physical state sooner were able to reign in the stress response before it escalated. This is because it’s much easier…
We work very hard in our lives. Often we don’t get adequate sleep. And rarely do we make time to rest during our demanding day. Just as athletes know that they need recovery time after a strenuous workout, those with stressful lifestyles also need recovery…
Sports Massage is a specialized form of Swedish Massage that we offer at Massage Therapy Center Palo Alto. It focuses on enhancing athletic performance, boosting endurance, and facilitating post-event recovery. It especially benefits professional and amateur athletes, exercise enthusiasts, dancers, and performers. Sports massage practitioners…
While the brain has evolved to focus attention on negative stimuli to keep us safe, we now know that the brain is continually changing its structure, and we can nurture and build a more positive and happy brain. Rewiring our brain toward happiness is based…
Clinical Deep Tissue bodywork works through tension, layer-by-layer, reaching the deeper muscles where persistent discomfort can be released. Much of the work is focused on bringing the body back into balance by working on the fascia—the soft tissue component of the connective tissue system of…
Lara Berthiaume, CMT, has been a professional massage therapist since 1999 and has worked at Massage Therapy Center Palo Alto since 2000. Says Lara, “I have always known that I wanted to be a professional masseuse—to me, it is such spiritually rewarding work and keeps…
Mothering is one of the most important jobs you can do, and one of the most demanding. In the introduction to the book she co-authored entitled Mother Nurture, Jan Hanson writes ‘Being a mother has been the most wonderful, extraordinary experience of my life, and…
Whenever we feel stressed, volatile, or are escalating into an argument, the stress hormones that are coursing through our body have revved up our nervous system out of our 'window of tolerance,' where we function at our best, not hyper-aroused or under-aroused. And whenever we…
The itchy eyes, congestion, aches, and fatigue symptoms of pollen allergies can be debilitating. Here are some simple acupressure and lymphatic techniques that you can use to relieve your symptoms. Try using a combination of these for five minutes every few hours while your symptoms…
Reflexology practitioners believe that there are major points in the hands and feet, with a rich supply of nerve endings that correspond to each organ and major muscle group in the body, and that stimulation of these points can have far-reaching effects. Reflexology practitioners use thumbs,…