| Massage and Bodywork Therapy offered by Brenna Wilcox, LMBT 8441 |
| ee the website for details; www.bodybalancefitnessstudio.com Call (252) 249-3664 |
What is massage and bodywork? MASSAGE is a form of professional touch, delivered by a skilled practitioner that is performed to bring about a specific therapeutic outcome. It is fundamentally based on the desire to heal, give comfort and promote relaxation. When we are touched, many physical changes take place within our body. With appropriate touch, our heart rate stabilizes, body temperature normalizes, brain wave patterns are more connected and controlled and our immune system jumps into action. The first benefit of massage is an increase in circulation, to supply nutrients and carry away waste and toxins. Massage also aids recovery from soft tissue injuries such as sprains and strains. Touch facilitates the smooth flow of energy and communication among the cardiovascular, digestive, urinary, respiratory, lymphatic and nervous systems, to name a few. Massage has powerful and positive psychological effects. Since massage animates the tactile sense-the body's primary sense-it brings people into the "here and now" and away from stress. It also loosens muscle tension or "armoring," the physical counterpart to how we define and protect ourselves from psychological pain. The massage system may include, but is not limited to, such techniques as, stroking, kneading, gliding, percussion, friction, vibration, compression, passive or active stretching within the normal anatomical range of movement; effleurage (either firm or light soothing, stroking movement, without dragging the skin, using either padded parts of fingertips or palms); petrissage (lifting or picking up muscles and rolling the folds of skin); or tapotement (striking with the side of the hand, usually with partly flexed fingers, rhythmic movements with fingers or short rapid movements of sides of the hand). These techniques may be applied with or without the aid of lubricants, salt or herbal preparations, hydromassage, thermal massage or a massage device that mimics or enhances the actions possible by human hands. BODYWORK refers to various forms of touch therapies that may use manipulation, movement, and/or repatterning to affect structural changes to the body. Such "manual therapies" are practiced in modern medicine and allied health, such as chiropractic and physical therapy. In the alternative or complementary forms of healing, "manual therapies" are represented by myofascial release, alexander techniques, yoga, qigong, acupressure and the like. Massage therapists can become certified in these modalities and use them to also "normalize" the soft tissues or restore healing energy that optimizes the function and relationship of the mind and body. In doing so, massage therapist/body worker seeks to promote overall health and treat specific illness through the alleviation of physical tension and energy blockage in the body. The reason massage therapy has evolved into such an attractive healing option is that it can be applied as a stand-alone therapy or as part of a continuum of moder, multimodality health care practice. The purpose of the practice of massage is to enhance the general health and well-being of the recipient. Massage does not include the diagnosis of a specific pathology, the prescription of drugs or controlled substances, spinal manipulation or those acts of physical therapy that are outside the scope of massage therapy. New Foundations in Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork; Saeger and Kyle-Brown, 2008/ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Brenna J. Wilcox lives in Oriental with her husband, Bob Laverty, having moved from Cape Cod in 2006. Her certifications are as follows: ~ North Carolina Board of Massage & Bodywork Therapy (2008) ~ National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (2008) ~ Carolina Emergency Response Team (2008) ~ Traditional Chinese Medicine Healing & Qigong (2002-2005) ~ Shamanic Studies (1997-2000) ~ Herbal Medicine (1995-1997) ~ Reiki Master Teacher (1993-1997) ~ Astrologer (1991) ~ Massachusetts Teaching Certification K-12, PE and Health (1974-1999) Presently, Brenna offers massage and bodywork, energy medicine and holistic health consultations through her company of fourteen years, Celestial Waters. She also can be found at the Oriental Farmer's Market, selling her famous Italian herb bread on Saturdays. When warm weather returns, outdoor therapeutic swim classes and aquassage will also be available. She can be reached by cell at 508-280-8651 or (h) 252-249-2953. |