Active Wellness Blog

Congratulations to all Rock and Roll Marathon Runners!! Reward your self with a sports massage from Cassidy’s Massage Clinic, the leader in expert and sports massage in San Diego.

We have two locations to serve you. One in La Jolla and one in Solana Beach for your massage kneads. Sports Massage will help you to increase your recovery time and help to flush out the accumulated lactic acid that builds up from running a marathon.

We have been servicing athletes in San Diego with massage services since 2002. We have been honored with the award for Best Sports Massage by Competitor Magazine for the past 5 years.

So, what are you waiting for? Get ready for your therapeutic sports massage from the leader in sports massage.

The special we are running is $59 for an hour and $99 for 1.5 hour***

This is over 30% off our regular price. We also offer a 100% satisfaction guarantee! If you are not satisfied, you do not pay!

So, Call our La Jolla location at 858.450.4456 or our Solana Beach location inside the Active Wellness Center at 858.350.9476.
**This offer expires Wednesday June 4th at 9pm**So book your massage in our La Jolla or Solana Beach location today!!

One client’s story about CranioSacral Therapy

 

This story is from Judy Nantau, a speech-language pathologist, who is using bodywork to help her recover from a car accident.

 

What was your experience/view of bodywork before you came to Cassidy’s for the first time?

Judy – “My first bodywork was in the late 1980’s and I have been hooked ever since. I have had just about every type of bodywork there is and it is all good. I have experienced many healings – I don’t know how anyone can go through menopause without bodywork!!”

 

What condition caused you to seek out massage/bodywork? How was it affecting your sleep, activity, life in general?

Judy – “I came to Erinn for CranioSacral Therapy because I was looking for more than a massage – I had been in a car accident and I had just about completed PT and I was still hurting. I was having difficulty getting dressed and difficulty exercising.  I had constant ringing in my ears and what appeared to be a swollen lymph node on my neck.  My Doctor recommended Physical Therapy - I asked her if I could also receive massage therapy, as I have found that so very healing in the past. She agreed that it would be beneficial, and recommended Erinn.”

 

What surprises did you encounter with CranioSacral Therapy?

Judy – “I was amazed at the power of CranioSacral work and the results that I think are still happening in my body. You are not asleep, you are not hypnotized, you are not in deep meditation - you are in another state of mind that is like no other. Here you are whole and I think, depending on your intention, you are able to bring your whole (body, mind, spirit) self towards whatever you came looking for. For me the healing I was intending to have did not happen.  The first session was like walking into a room inside of myself that was like no other. This room was beautiful and so very relaxing and peaceful. In this room my body seemed to float and felt younger. It was difficult to talk and voices seemed very far away.  The second session was very different. Once again, my intention was to heal my tinnitus and swollen lymph node. My intention was strong and I was determined. Maybe not the way to come to a CranioSacral session as this time I experience physical pain and anger. I was in a totally different place, not feeling release, but feeling the transformation of energy in my body. I was exhausted following the session and yet I was renewed.  The following two sessions were even deeper and powerful. What happen to me was subtle yet insightful and delightful. The energy I felt was opening and renewing.  I felt like a new person.”

 

What benefits have you noticed?

Judy – “The benefits I noticed after four sessions are that I no longer have any pain in my shoulder – although I still have some range of motion issues – I sleep better, and I feel more energy. I still have ringing in my ears, but not as loud sometimes and I still have the swollen lymph node on my neck but it is softer and sometimes smaller. (I guess I need to continue my treatments).”

 

~Written by Erinn Fraser, HHP

 

If you are going to get a massage that is guaranteed to meet or exceed your expectations there are a few key points or steps that will help you in your experience. If you have never received a massage before you may be saying, “How hard is it to receive a massage that feels great?”. The answer is not as simple as it may seem. I have been practicing massage for the past 10 years and have hired, trained and worked with some of the most talented massage therapists in the United States. I have also traveled around the country and world receiving massage in various establishments, from my first massage being in the practitioners living room to the most exclusive resorts.

Since I am on the subject let me share with you my first massage experience. I have always been very active. I wrestled and lifted weights in high school as well as surfing, skateboarding, snowboarding, and wakeboarding. It’s safe to say that I just loved getting out there having fun and working out. I had some injuries and I was experiencing some shoulder pain. My friend David suggested I see his dad for a massage. I had never really known anything about massage except when I would get a back massage from my girlfriend, which I really enjoyed. David’s dad is a very intense individual who had been practicing massage for 30 years at that time. I was told that David’s dad was great at working with the body and had extensive study in professional massage therapy(over 30 years at that time).

I decided to give the professional massage therapy a try for my injured shoulder. I arrived at David’s house and was met by his dad. He explained to me about his experience and directed me to the massage table in the middle of his living room. I have to admit that I was a little uncomfortable about the idea of getting naked on the massage table in the middle of his living room, but since I was there I thought that I had to go through with it.

Once I was on the table and slipped under the towel, he began by massaging my shoulder, chest and neck muscles. I have a high tolerance for pain but what he was doing was very painful and I found that my body was tightening up in response to his pressure. He indicated to me to “bear” with the pain and that the massage would help my shoulder. I did as he said, as I did not know any better. I was counting the minutes as it seemed like the session would never end. After the session, I ended up with more pain in my shoulder than before. I really had nothing to base the experience off of so I assumed that this is what massage therapy was all about.

It is still amazing to me that I ended up getting so deeply involved in the massage profession after this initial negative experience. In my years of experience I had racked up countless massage sessions that were performed by massage therapists that have had “extensive training” only to find that the session actually left me in more pain than before.

Here is an example of a massage that left the massage consumer with bruises.

I am writing this report so that you do not have to experience the negative massage outcomes that I , like so many others, have encountered. In social settings the question always comes up what I do for a living. When I tell people about my experience as a massage expert I am “gifted” with the many negative and positive experiences that people I meet have encountered. I say “gifted” because I have always been fascinated about what each individual expects when receiving a massage. I know what I like and what 100’s of my clients like as they continue to come into my clinics to receive regular massage.

However, I love to hear from other people about their experience and what made it a positive or a negative one. I have been taking notes through the years and I am known for immediately implementing this feedback to better serve our current clients. Massage Therapy is such a powerful tool for individuals to relieve stress, eliminate pain, and increase sports performance. It is with regret that I consistently hear of negative experiences from individuals that will never receive massage therapy again. My mission is to make it clear to the public what steps or principles should be known when they receive a professional massage from anyone, anywhere.

If you are going to receive a massage that will help you feel better and decrease your pain and stress then you must embrace these key principles. Unfortunately, it is not enough to trust that the massage therapist you are going to work with is going to apply the techniques that are going to be of greatest benefit for you.

People are getting massage in record numbers. They may be going to a resort spas, day spas, med spas, massage clinics, chiropractic clinics, yoga studios, individual massage therapists (at an office or at the client’s home) or a massage schools (taking their chances with a student). The positive effects of massage are more widely known then ever before. This is an exiting time in the massage therapy profession. This is also a time when many people will receive a service that does not help them achieve their goals. There are many possible reasons why this takes place every day, all over the country.

1. The massage centers hire practitioners who are not qualified to practice massage that will help individuals achieve their massage goals. The fact is that many business owners who decide to implement massage therapy as an extra revenue source care little, or not really at all, about the quality of the massage treatments. It is less expensive to hire someone directly out of massage school as the owner will have to pay them less. This will mean more revenue for the business. If the business is owned by another practitioner, such as a chiropractor, physician, salon owner, yoga studio, or corporate massage center, the practitioner is focused on their practice and does not have time to focus on the quality of care given by the massage therapist.

The owner has to focus on personally serving their clients, not on ensuring quality massage treatments. They assume that is the massage therapists’ responsibility.

Note: I have heard of many companies that hire massage therapists without even receiving a massage from the therapists to ensure quality. It is appropriate to ask the massage therapist that you work with about the hiring process.

2. There is a low point of entry for the massage therapy profession. In San Diego alone, there are over 12 schools who offer massage programs. At the current time this article is being written there are different requirements for different areas throughout the state of California. Some areas have a requirement of as little as 200 hrs of massage therapy training. These schools are motivated more by business than by virtue and therefore are mostly interested in getting as many students through their program as possible. Some of the schools have a little higher standard, but the fact is that there are very few qualified individuals that are capable of providing a massage therapy treatment that will meet their clients’ goals.

I know that when I had 200 hrs training I was not capable of treating any clients’ needs for anything other than basic relaxation. The school that I went through did not give me the tools to provide clients with anything more than a massage that was relaxing. It was only until I had continued training and practicing that I was able to treat patients for pain relief and sports performance. I also was in school with many individuals that were allowed to graduate the program that I would never let give me a massage. My only hope is that they were not hired by one of the centers listed above when they got out of school. I can only assume that there are many people out there that have received negative massage who now feel that massage could not help them. I have personally heard these stories time and time again.

2. Since there is such a low point of entry for massage therapists they tend to be a “flighty” group of individuals that rarely stay in the profession for life. If you are reading this and you are professional massage therapist and you are saying, “Hey, I have been in the profession for umpteen years”, this obviously does not apply to you. However, I am sure you can agree that through the years you have seen more massage therapist come and go then those of us who have stayed in.

So, how does this affect the massage consumer? Well, if you were lucky enough to find a qualified massage therapist who helps you achieve your goals, more often than not you will soon lose them as they move on to another profession. I personally have seen qualified therapists leave due to relocating, getting injured or having personal issues which do not allow them to continue servicing you, or just simply do the typical Californian “flake” out and not call you. Therefore you, the massage consumer, are out of luck. I only bring this up as I have seen this scenario time and time again. The commitment to the clients’ massage goals is many times at the will of the massage therapist and not the massage consumer. Your needs as a massage consumer have not changed, but what I see is individuals who will not want to go through the hassle of finding another qualified practitioner to give them a massage so they simply do not get massage. This only hurts the massage consumer and I would argue, the community as a whole.

3. There is no way of identifying the “expertise” of a massage therapist without wasting time and money on ineffective treatments that can actually cause you more pain then when you started. I told you the story of my friend Dave’s dad. He had 30 yrs of experience, had done numerous studying with acclaimed body workers, but still lacked the very basic principle that the client is always right and massage therapists must work within the pain tolerance of the massage client. I could have been one of the many people out there, possibly just like you, who have received a massage treatment like the one with Dave’s dad, who are not willing to give it another try. I am not, though. I feel that I have learned exactly what the massage consumer should know about the massage treatment in order to receive a massage experience that meets your massage goals.

I am about to present to you the 5 key things you need to know to receive a massage experience that aligns itself with your massage goals. Get your pens ready. This may seem like basic knowledge for many of you, but I can tell you that I wish I read this before enduring the many negative massage experiences that I have encountered.

1. You are always right and should get exactly what you want. Many massage consumers assume that you are going to a professional massage therapist and therefore whatever they say goes. The old adage that the consumer is always right also applies to the massage therapy industry. Of course, you want to work with a “trusted expert”, but that does not mean that if you think you need more focus on a particular area or altered pressure that you should not receive exactly that.

A “trusted expert” will listen to exactly what you want and apply the techniques that are going to help you achieve that goal. When you go out to buy something that you have already decided to purchase you are not going to let a salesperson sell you on something different than what you had in mind (although this happens all too frequently in the marketplace). The same is true for your massage therapy experience. If you are not sure what you need but have a specific complaint, your massage therapist should listen to your chief complaints and provide a solution that helps you achieve your desired outcome (more on this later).

If you sense that the massage therapist you are working with is not listening to your needs, it is perfectly alright for you to end the massage session. This may seem a bit harsh, but wasting your time and money on ineffective treatments is not an acceptable option.

2. What you should expect from your massage therapy treatment. The massage therapy treatment should specifically fulfill your desired result. You should expect that you are going to work with a skilled massage therapist that is going to listen to your issues and help you receive a massage that is very satisfying for you. From the moment you call in to schedule your massage treatment you should have a sense that you are going to work with a therapist that is going to treat you as an individual and respect your individual needs. It is appropriate to ask for the massage therapist’s credentials and experience.

You may also want to speak with an existing client to ensure that they have had a pleasant experience an existing client that they work with that has had a pleasant experience with the practitioner you are about to have a massage with. You can ask to come by and see the facility where you will be receiving your massage. Does it look clean, relaxing, and therapeutic? What does the energy of the facility feel like? Does it align with your energy and feel like a place that you will be comfortable with? It is also appropriate to ask to meet with the therapist who is will potentially be working with you prior to the massage treatment so you can be assured that you will be comfortable with the massage therapist.

When you have set up your massage treatment and arrive for your massage you will be asked to fill out some paperwork. Allow for enough time to fill out the paperwork so it does not interfere with your massage time. After all, if you are seeing a massage expert, chances are they are very busy and they have clients before and after you.

When you arrive at the establishment you should be warmly greeted and offered water while you fill out the paperwork and wait to meet your therapist (if you did not meet them prior). Your therapist should introduce themselves to you and welcome you and direct you back to the massage room. The therapist should then ask you about your specific goals for the session and listen to you before proceeding. You should feel that the therapist cares deeply about your goals for the session and is interested in helping you achieve them. The treatment room should be relaxing and comforting. The massage therapist should explain that you can disrobe to your level of comfort.

Note: For some people their level of comfort may be to keep all of their clothes on. This is perfectly fine. I have worked with clients who started with me working with me fully clothed and as their comfort level increased they began to remove some clothing so I could massage directly to their skin. The fact is that massage therapy feels better when it is applied directly to the skin. The other fact is that a skilled massage therapist can work with you with all your clothes on and still provide a great massage.

You should be covered or draped with sheets properly during your massage. This is not only a law, but is intended for your comfort. This means that only the area of your body that is being massaged will be exposed. The rest of your body will be covered by a sheet and when you are cold a blanket as well.

Note: I have had massage at establishments that have used very little towels to cover my naked body. I am very comfortable with my body, but in one session in particular (at a San Diego establishment) I was very cold during the session and the draft made the massage very uncomfortable. I have come to find out that this particular establishment may not be a legitimate massage practice but a front for prostitution. You would never know this as it is marketed as a day spa, so be wary of where you set up your appointment. I can guarantee that if I would have implemented these 5 steps I would have known that this establishment was not legitimate and I would have saved myself the uncomfortable experience and the waste of my time and money.

The practitioner will leave the room once they explain where you should place your clothes and they will indicate that they will be back in a while to start your massage.

Note: We implemented a “relaxation switch” in our clinics that when pressed by the client turns on a light outside to know you are ready. I have had numerous experiences of opening the door on clients who were not comfortably under the sheets. If the establishment does not have the “relaxation switch” make sure that you are quick to get on the table to avoid any uncomfortable racing to the table scenarios.

Once you are on the table you should not have to wait too long for the therapist to come and start the massage. The therapist should enter the room and ask you how you feel on the table. How is the temperature of the room? How does the table feel? How do the pillows or bolsters feel?

Before therapist begins doing the massage they should tell you that if at any time during the massage you would like more or less pressure to just let them know and they will accommodate you. If you are getting the massage for general relaxation the massage therapist should not talk with you during the session. This is one of the chief complaints I hear from massage consumers across the country when they tell me about their massage experiences. I have heard of therapists who will tell the client about all their personal problems while the client is “held hostage” and is paying good money to council these therapists on their personal issues.

Remember the first step, You are always right and should get exactly what you want, so tell the therapist that you prefer to just listen to the music or zone out during your massage. If your therapist is a massage expert you will find that they will have listened to you describe your goal of relaxation and therefore they would be quiet during your massage session.

Note: If you are receiving a massage for a goal of reliving pain or a specific injury then your massage therapist will need to discuss your history with you and explain what they are doing. You also may be asked to move around on the table from face down, side lying to on your back.

After the massage your therapists should thank you for the session and discuss their assessment of your muscular health. Your therapist will explain what they recommend for a treatment plan for you to achieve your goal. It may be as simple as you needing to receive massage once a month to keep stress levels low enough to help you to better manage your life; or it may require that you come in as often as 2X a week for 6 weeks to aggressively treat a specific issue you are dealing with.

Whatever the case is the therapist you work with should give you a plan that will help you achieve your massage goals. It may be that massage therapy will not be the best method for helping decrease your pain. In this instance, your therapist should refer you to the appropriate group or therapy that will help you achieve this.

3. Why massage modalities are a thing of the past and what a massage modality is. If you are new to massage you will peruse the massage menu and wonder what all these treatments are. A massage modality is a massage technique that has a specific purpose for the massage receiver. There are literally hundreds of massage modalities and they can seem daunting to someone who has never received a massage before. There is also misrepresentation of massage modalities by therapists who are not adequately trained in the modality they offer. This is due to the third point I discussed in the potential problems massage consumers can experience when receiving massage.

The fact is that the only people that know what a shiatsu, reiki treatment, deep tissue massage or Swedish massage are massage practitioners. You as the massage consumer care about one thing: that you will receive a massage that will help you achieve your specific goal for that particular session. Whether that is stress management, sports performance, injury prevention, injury rehabilitation, pain relief, or just overall wellness, the modality that is used to achieve these goals is not of importance to you. Most of the time you do not even know what the modality is. So, if you are faced with having to choose between a Swedish, deep tissue, shiatsu, thai massage or trager, then you know that you may want to look elsewhere to get your massage treatment. You want to work with a massage expert that will listen to your needs and integrate a variety of modalities that fulfills that outcome.

4. How to effectively communicate with your massage therapist. As you recall from the first step you are always right and you should always get what you expect from your massage treatment. Before, during and after your massage treatment you should have an open communication line with your massage therapist. If at any time during the session you would like more or less pressure you should only have to say a little less pressure and your therapist should immediately respond to your requests.

If for any reason you feel uncomfortable during the session you should be able to state it and have the therapist validate your feelings by making the necessary changes. So, it’s as easy as just speaking up. Unfortunately, I have heard from too many massage consumers who have received a massage that they were uncomfortable, but they did not speak up because they did not want to upset the therapist.

Here’s the deal, if your therapist responds in a defensive manner to your feedback, you can end the session right at that moment. You should not have to pay for the treatment. When you work with a massage expert they will be able to sense what you are feeling and address your concern before you have a chance to express them. I have trained our therapists to watch body language and listen for any cues to change the direction of treatments with clients. If you do not experience this, I urge you to politely end the massage session and seek out an expert to help you with your massage needs.

5. You may be able to get massage for Free (that’s right, I said it, for free)

I know I don’t mind paying for something when I get exactly what I. I usually buy things based on a problem I would like to solve(a pain I would like to avoid). Massage therapy is exactly the same.

If you are stressed and your stress is relieved, your head is clearer, and you are able to enjoy a more relaxed life, then you are happy to pay for the service. How about if you could get the service that relieves your pain or stress and get it for free? Sound too good to be true? Well, some massage establishments have referral incentive programs where they will give you a massage or money towards a massage when you refer a friend, family or colleague. At the clinics I own we offer $35 for every referral that our wonderful clients honor us with. We have some clients that get a couple of free massages a month because they enjoy the service and they encourage their friends, family and colleagues to come in to our clinic and get a massage. The end result is that you end up getting massage for free.

Of course if the massage establishment you go to does not produce a massage that meets or exceeds your expectations then you would get more massage that is basically worthless. There are options out in the marketplace. Use this reference to help you receive a massage that meets your expectations.

If you have any more specific questions about advanced massage therapy techniques or working with a massage expert please e-mail your questions to info@cassidysclinic.com Or call on of our two locations

La Jolla Clinic 858.450.4456

Solana Beach 858.350.9476

Thank you for reading this article and good luck getting a massage that exceeds your expectations!

Chris Cassidy, President/CEO

Active Wellness. Inc

Massage Therapists Deserve Professional Respect

 

The practice of massage therapy is focused on health and wellness. It can help alleviate the effects of a broad range of health conditions, including pain, stress and muscle injury.

The growing popularity of massage therapy in recent years has attracted greater attention to the profession and its practitioners by the media and the public. While this increased attention has resulted in a wider recognition of the many benefits of massage, occasionally some public figures attempt to link the practice of massage therapy to sexual activity. Perpetuating this view not only demeans the profession of massage therapy, but also can threaten the physical safety of massage practitioners when an assumption is made that someone can demand sex from them.

AMTA and its members understand good-natured humor, but call on the media and public figures to not allow their comments to denigrate the massage therapy profession, stereotype massage therapists, or threaten their safety. Public comments about the profession should never imply an expectation of or a connection with sexual activity.

Massage therapists are trained professionals who have completed specialized education in their field. Those who belong to the American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA), for example, have demonstrated a level of skill and knowledge through education and testing, adhere to a code of ethics and must meet continuing education requirements to retain membership.

 

·        Never Plateau

      Muscle Activation Techniques (MAT) will ensure that your body is functioning at           its highest level. Muscle balance and efficiency will give you the edge to win.

 

·        Prevent Injuries Before They Happen

Due to the level of physical and mental stress placed upon a triathlete, scheduled biomechanical assessments are critical to prevent injuries.

Chronic tightness, pulled/strained muscles and pain are all symptoms of an improper or slow muscle recruitment pattern. If your body could react faster and stronger to the stresses placed upon it, the risk for injury would be reduced drastically. 

As an athlete, getting injured is not only painful and inconvenient, but could cost you a season or even a career. MAT assesses and corrects any limitations in movement, weaknesses (neurological or physical) or improper recruitment patterns that could make you vulnerable to injuries.

We catch them before they happen.

 

·        Decrease Recovery Time

      If your body is stressed due to imbalances, it will have a more difficulty breaking down nutrients and regenerating cells; which in turn will slow muscle recovery.     Decrease recovery time by ensuring optimal function in the central nervous system, organs and muscles.

 

• Increase Biomechanical Efficiency

We’ve all seen that swimmer with perfect, effortless form; or the biker who’s heart rate isn’t over 120 after a killer climb; or that runner who looks so light on his feet you wonder if he’s actually touching the ground; or maybe that was you before your calf strain.

MAT will build a strong foundation between your mind and body to achieve optimal performance and health.

  

HOW DOES IT WORK?

 

Muscle Activation Techniques (MAT) is a biomechanically-based system that identifies and corrects neuromuscular imbalances that can cause muscle and/or joint pain.

Muscle Activation Techniques prepares your body for physical activity… swimming, biking, running or cross training. The MAT procedure addresses the weak links, thereby allowing the body to function most efficiently while minimizing pain.

Whether you are a recreational athlete or professional triathlete Muscle Activation Techniques will increase strength, flexibility and endurance.

 

ABOUT YOUR MAT SPECIALIST

Pam has spent the last six years developing, practicing and teaching MAT, the last two were focused on training high-level athletes for the Olympics.

Specializing in biomechanics and MAT, she has also spent much of her time:

• Guest speaking at the University of Toronto.
• Doing volunteer work and rehab with the Toronto Down Syndrome Association.
• As the Head of Education at numerous clinics and mentoring students of MAT, RTS and strength and conditioning coaching.
• Treating and training professional hockey, soccer, track, baseball and football athletes.

Call Cassidy’s Massage Clinic to book a biomechanical assessment today.         858.450.4456 or e-mail info@cassidysclinic.com                                                                                 

Well, Its been a while since I have added content and I have been awaiting some content from a couple of users. I hope you enjoy the article below about Corporate Chair Massage. It was given to me by our head of corporate chair massage sales, Emile Garcia.

Be Well!

Chris Cassidy

Many organizations face the stiff challenge of attracting and retaining good employees, as the most valuable employees can often take their pick of excellent jobs due to their high qualifications. Whether your company uses chair massage through a regular employee wellness or benefits package, or as part of an incentive program, a chair massage program can be an asset to your human resource department and your company.

The number of organizations that offer massage therapy to lower stress and improve productivity is growing every year. A workplace massage therapy programs help to increase job satisfaction and create a caring environment that employees really appreciate. And a massage program can even help attract skilled workers in the first place!
Corporate chair massage has quickly become one of the most popular and requested benefits in the workplace today. The physical demands of long hours at the computer and the high stress of the new marketplace have made all forms of work stress reduction increasingly necessary. A good chair massage reduces fatigue and tension for greater productivity and safety.

So just what is chair massage? Chair massage focuses on the upper body areas that often cause problems for people who sit at a desk or use a computer keyboard. Chair massage can help prevent or relieve carpal tunnel syndrome, tension headaches, neck pain, and back problems. This massage technique is performed in your normal work attire and requires no oils. Instead of using a table, the massage takes place in a specially designed portable massage chair provided by the massage therapist. Leaning forward in the chair allows you to relax completely with your head resting in a comfy ?face cradle? lined with a soft, disposable cloth cover. The therapist(s) will bring everything that they need, including massage equipment, supplies and music. All you need to provide is some quiet space and eager participants. Chair massage typically takes about 15, 20, or 30 minutes, no longer than a coffee break, but is far more effective!

Take a look below and ask yourself if any of these benefits could help you or your company
Reduce Stress: The overall session is designed to reduce physical as well as mental stress.
Increase Morale: Chair massage is an effective benefit that shows employees that your company cares about their mental and physical health.
Increase Resistance to Illness: Massage can help boost the immune system which helps prevent absenteeism.
Decrease Repetitive Stress Symptoms: Problems like carpal tunnel syndrome and tendonitis are examples of injuries associated with repetitive actions. This type of work leads to chronic tightness and physical injury. Chair massage helps to reduce this chronic muscle tightness and help to educate clients on correcting posture, stretches, and self-help.
Increases Flexibility: By reducing muscle tension and chronic tightness, your flexibility will increase tremendously.
Increase Range-of-Motion: Range of motion is decreased by chronic tension; massage can reduce tension and tightness, thereby increasing range of motion.
Reduce Muscle Soreness: Poor posture and chronic tension lead to soreness and pain. By reducing the tension through chair massage and educating your employees on posture, chair massage can help eliminate pain of this nature.
Reduce Anxiety: Sometimes our hectic lives take an emotional toll on our bodies which leads to physical problems. Massage sessions give an effective way for high stress people to take time out.

On-site chair massage is a cost-effective way of enhancing and improving your employees? all around performance. Stress-related employee turnover, absenteeism and waning morale all affect the bottom line. Job stress and related problems cost companies an estimated $200 billion or more annually, based on information from the American Institute of Stress and the American Psychological Association. A chair massage program demonstrates an employer?s proactive commitment to the health and well being of their employees. Chair massage techniques measurably lower the day-to-day stress of the competitive workplace. Relaxed workers are more likely to cooperate with each other, and lowering stress lowers both anxiety and hostility, improving the work environment for everyone.

After offering corporate message services as part of an incentive program, Dave Joy, of Hannaford Brothers in Standish, Maine state, ?We had very good associate response with [chair massage]. The associates enjoyed it and it made them feel good at work. It really made them aware of their health at work, too, so it was about more than feeling good for one day. Overall [chair massage] has been a really good experience for us,?
In addition to lowering stress and increasing productivity, massage can significantly improve employee problem solving abilities. A recent study in American Psychologist gave one group of workers a 15-minute rest, and another, a 15-minute massage. The group that received the massage performed significantly better on complicated tasks like math problems. Massage also improves creative thinking and relieves fatigue.

Massage can help keep employees healthy as well as happy and that is a great way to retain employees in your company.

I have been practicing and running a sports massage clinic in La Jolla for the past five years www.cassidysclinic.com and I have been fortunate enough to get to know the inner working’s of the athlete’s mind. I have also been able to build some great relationships with clients in the triathlon world and they have managed to get me involved in the world of triathlon. Although I have been maintaining the “recreational triathlete” title, I find myself getting more and more involved in the sport.

Enough about me, lets talk about you, and how I can help you implement a proper massage schedule that correspondes to your training schedule.

In order to do this I will have to break down a common myth that seems prevelent in the triathlon world.

Myth # 1 You should never get massage within 72 hours of your race.

In order to break this down let me first explain the four types of sports massage.

1. Pre-event massage 2 Intra Event/Training Massage 3 Post Event Massage 4. Injury Rehabilitation Massage.

OK, Numero Uno, 1. Pre-event massage is given directly before the athletic event. In this case within 72 hours of the triathlon. The important thing that needs to be considered is the manner in which the massage is administered. Whenever a massage therapist is seeing a client within the 72 hours of the event it is absolutely critical that they do not apply any deep tissue techniques. Although Deep tissue techniques arevery effective with intra event massage, they tend to leave the athlete sore afterw the masasge treatment. They can also create a heavy feeling in the muscles which of course would impair the ability of the athlete to perform in the competition. Pre event massage should be circlatory in nature and should used to stimulate the blood flow, open up/increase range of motion, and help the muscles get ready to fire. The other benefit of getting massage directly before the race(as I did at the Xterra) is that it gives your mind a little time to slow down so that when you go to perform you are focused but thye exitement/nerves of the event does not eat away your energy stores and thus your body can use the energy to perform.

N umero Dos 2. Intra Event/Training Massage. This is the most common form of massage for triathletes. Unfortunately, we get the athletes coming in after they have started to feel the efects of an injury that has been building up over time. Skilled massage therapists can address and treat this but we would all much prefer to prevent this injury, the medical term for those unaware is, “not getting massage at the right time itis” That’s right inflamation of not getting the massage at the proper time. All joking aside, intra event massage, when applied by a skilled sports and medical massage therapist can eliminate any possibilty of non acute injury. Of course if you get hit by a car(as what happened to me a couple of mnths ago(hit and run bytheway) then we can only help you with the soreness that follows.

So, when should you plan your intra event massage for triathlon?! This is very inportant so get your pens ready. You should plan your intra event sports massage the day before or on your day off. If you have a coach talk with them about implementing them into your training schedule. If you do not have one, I will be posting some resources for that on my website www.cassidysclinic.com/partners If your coach does not provide you with a day off and you find that you have been experienceing some nagging injurys it might be time to think about getting a new coach. However, I am not a coaching expert, just a massage expert so it is best to work with someone you feel comfortable with.

Numero Tres: 3. Post Event Massage, This is given directly after the event and is very effective in decreasing the DOMS(delayed onset muscle soreness) or the soreness you feel after you push your body to the limit. This massage is primarily circlatory in nature with increased focus on the lower extremitys. However, there can be some focus of deeper massage work in some areas of general concern as with a muscle spasm of in the event that a trigger point becomes active. Again, a skilled sports massage therapist will know when, where and how.

Numero Quatro 4.  Injury Rehabilitation Massage: This of course is the massage that no one wants to have to use. As a massage therapist, I can tell you that I would much prefer to work proactively as oppossed to retroactively. However, we do have the bodywork tools to help athletes free themselves from nagging injuries and to get them back to training more quickly. For those that have not recived this type of massage please know that it is definately not the type of massage that feels relaxing. This tens to be applied to the area of around the area of injury. Please avoid this massage if you can by implementing more intraevent massage. I will go into more depth on specific injuries and treatment of them in later blogs.

Ok, fellow triathletes, I will be providing more information on triathlon and massage and as usual, asnwering any questions and taking any feedback.

Until next time,

Train Hard, and Be Well!

Chris Cassidy

I have decided to add a new catagory for the professional massage therapists out there to create an online discussion about our profession and how it can progress further. The first topic on my mind is the interview process. At our clinics we are constantly trying to find/attract talented massage therapists who have a passion for giving professional, highly skilled massage therapy and applying 100% customer satisfaction. Due to this fact we are constantly hiring and have therapists coming to interview frequently. I thought I may just give a couple of tips to massage therapists who go to interview anywhere. These ideas could be applied for any position.

1. Dress Professionally: If you look at my bio picture it is a picture of me in a suit and tie. Although this is not my day to day wear it is a direct reflection of how serious I take the position of being the leader/coach of my team. Professional is clean, and neat. If you are a female massage therapist I cannot emphasize enough the importance of dressing above the bar in term of professionalism. The dirty little fact is that this profession is tainted with a history of prostitution. In fact, to this day the licensing in San Diego is still regulated by the Police Department. This is the same place where “exotic dancers”, and escorts go to recieve their permitting. (This is for another posting)

My point here is that is so important that you present yourself in a way that would immeditaly emliminate any questions about your professionalism. If you do not bring this to the interview then you definately will not bring this to the job. So, 1. no shorts 2. No blouses that draw any attention to the chest 3. No heavy perfumes(your nose may not agree with the interviewer’s nose 4. No Sandals(of course) 5. No T-Shirts

2. Arrive Early but not too early: I would say 5-7 minutes before the interview is a good amount of time to indicate to the interviewer that you know how to be on time, but you do have other things going on in your life and to take 20 min extra would be too much. These extra minutes will give you some time to settle in, think about potential interview questions and peruse the printed materials.

3. Know thy company like the manager/owner does. If you are asked what you know about the company and your answer is “not that much”, your chances of getting the job are slim to none. Review the website, study the website, and know the website.

4. Stay on time in the Practical: If the place you are interviewing is busy then they do not have time to have you go over. If the place is not busy you probably do not want to work there

5. Do not ask about compensation: I have had therapists who have been practicing a while ask with an indignant tone and before we even set up an interview how much they will be compensated. You have not been offered the position yet, you will not be told how much compensation is. I think this stems from massage therapsist who have been practicing a while, but continue to struggle to build a clientle. They feel that there worth is greater than what a company can pay because they are used to charging and making the entire amount. But what any seasoned massage therapist will tell you is that it takes a lot of work to build a clientle and there is no guarentee.

I would say that the most important thing is to find a facility that is alligned with your vision as a massage therapist and as long as you love giving massage the money will follow. If you have your own practice and you go through hiring feel free to add commentsgive feedback. Or if you are a new massage therapist that is getting out there and trying to decide whether to work for someone, have your own practice, or run a facility share your comments as well.

Until the next entry,

Be Well

Chris Cassidy

The other night I was out with a couple of new friends in Del Mar. It is unavoidable that the subject of massage comes up and I am fortunate enough to get consumer input about massage therapy. It was a nice evening watching the sun setting at the Plaza in Del Mar and we decided to move in to Il Fornieo. One of my new friends is a horse doctor, hence the title, and the other is an investment banker. It was the three of ous and one of my team cmc members, Diana Hughes. At any rate, we started to discuss our massage experiences in more detail and I was given a couple of tips from my friends for the massage therapist to follow.

1. If the consumer is new to massage(i.e. never had a massage before) the massage therapist should be very informative about the service so that it helps comfort the client in the event that they may be a little nervous

2. If the client is a “seasoned veteran” then they most likley want the massage therapist to not talk at all.

3. If the therapist must talk with the client(as in a therapy environment) the massage therapist must never tell them about their personal trials and tribulations. Sometimes the client will listen but ultimately they would prefer and have the right to zone out.

So, these seem like some obvious rules to live by as a massage therapist but time and time again I meet with people who tell me about how they had had issue with this.

Any comments questions/feedback is appreciated!

Be Well and enjoy the silence!

Chris Cassidy

Welcome to the blog that is written by the professionals for the consumers as it relates to professsional massage therapy. I have found through my experience that there are many misconceptions consumers have about massage therapy.

If you have never had a professional masage before than you do not know what to expect. For a quick review of FAQ(frequently asked questions) check out our website http://www.cassidysclinic.com/faqs.html

One important issue that I would like to address in this posting is being comfortable telling the therapist what it is that you would like done. I talk with many people in the public about massage and they indicate to me that they think that the therapist knows what they are doing and they feel badley or are not sure if they should say something.

If the therapists is experienced and sensitive they will be aware of your subltle body expressions so they will know when they are giving you too much pressure. However, there are many massage therapists that are not aware and therfore, it is important for you top indicate to that therapist that you would like a little less pressure in that particular area. If the therapist does not listen to you and continues to apply deep pressure to that area of your body and you can feel yourself tightening against it, it is ok for you to terminate the session.

A lot of times when I ask one of our valuable clients about their experience and I ask them to give us any, anything that could help us improve as a facility or for the particular therapist they say that they would feel badley about giving negative feedback. The fact is that there will never be change if the therapist/facility is not made aware. Sometimes, change will not be made regardless, but it is at that time that you seek out another facilty that will provide you with excellent care.

If you feel like you are being picky, that is a good thing. Any therapist/facility will appreciate the honest advice and will hopefully make the necessary changes to keep you as a valued client.

So, the morale to the story is that massage therapist may be intuitive, but they cannot read your mind.

I welcome any thoughts/comments/questions about this blog.

Be Well,

Chris Cassidy