Licensed Massage Therapist
Alternative Health Inquiries LLC is a sole proprietor holistic health business located ½ mile from Centre Bridge connecting New Hope, PA and Stockton, NJ. It is out of the way of the hustle and bustle of borough life, nestled in a wooded setting. Clients are treated to a very private experience with nature all around to help them relax and reconnect to their senses in a gentle and pleasant atmosphere. Karen maintains native gardens there to help the birds, bees, bugs, and animals. They in turn thank us by doing the things they do to make nature beautiful and abundant.
Massage Therapy Services Offered by Alternative Health Inquiries LLC
Alternative Health Inquiries LLC provides several self-care services. Massage therapy being one of them, is an important service for overall health and well-being, provided by Karen, who is an experienced licensed massage therapist. She’s skilled in several kinds of manual healing methods, including Craniosacral Therapy. Please see “Types of Massage Therapy.”
Benefits of Massage Therapy Services
The Benefits of the Mind/Body Connection
Massage therapy is a manual manipulation of muscles, tissues and joints. Massage is commonly well known in helping with stress reduction by stimulating the relaxation response. While massage therapy balances the nervous system, it also aids the circulation, thereby assisting the immune system. Plus, it is well documented for reducing pain in the muscles from use or tension. It addresses specific problems like back spasms, reduced range of motion, tendinitis, arthritis, chronic headaches, anxiety and more. Please see “Massage FAQs.” Moreover, it has been shown to improve energy and alertness, besides lowering blood pressure. More than that, massage therapy improves general flexibility, and, importantly, it expands and refines body awareness. It is common knowledge that human touch and connection are indispensable to life, and, so, especially, for the healing process, making massage therapy a wonderful ally in obtaining and keeping good health and wellness!
The Benefits for the Relief of Burnout
Recent research suggests that massage therapy is one of the effective physical activities that can assist in alleviating burnout (Malone, 2023, p. 59), as well. Other things like exercise, spending time with family and friends, or doing things to grow in one’s profession can be of benefit too. Also, managing our expectations, and setting limits are effective psychological ways to avoid burnout (Malone, 2023, p. 58-59). Likewise, mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR), and meditation are other areas to explore that are also well-connected with advancing health and wellbeing that could address burnout as well.
The Biopsychosocial Benefits
Further, many forms of stress can lead to increased pain outcomes. The biopsychosocial approach to health and wellness says that expression, perception, and experience of one’s pain is in accordance with a person’s biological, psychological, and social constructs that are involved with their lives (Whitridge, 2023, p. 35). Karen is skilled in understanding this holistic, whole person approach, and it is a paramount consideration in her practice. For example, oftentimes pain persists long after the recovery of any initial assault to the body, because for some mostly unknown reasons the pain pathway hasn’t been effectively shut off (Whitridge, 2023, p. 35). This may come from trigger points or that the client hasn’t had the fullest opportunity to reintegrate their soft-tissue memories. Massage can help clients achieve this integration on a subconscious level in the rest and digest mode, and while becoming aware of the body, while on the table. This body awareness can continue while off the massage table as well.
The Benefits for the Relief of Pain
Recent research in pain neuroscience education (PNE) states in Gate Control Theory that our thoughts and feelings can turn on or off a certain amount of pain. This doesn’t mean the pain is all in our heads! It’s more complicated than that—Though it may be why certain medical scans can’t pick up on the reasons for the pain that is truly real for clients. It does say that we have a possible passageway towards less pain that could become available to us, however, through for example, connecting to our bodies with openness and kindness. Additionally, they have found that when our mood is elevated we feel less pain (painTrainer, 2024), as well. Massage therapy is a great assist in both of these scenarios!
The Benefits for Managing Pain and for Better Sleep
Fundamentally, massage therapy is very distinguished in offering kindness and care (Whitridge, 2023, p. 39), which can uplift clients’ mood, as said. In a caring therapeutic relationship, the ease of expression, and kind feelings can promote a favorable atmosphere for helping clients reclaim parts of their bodies conjointly managing pain. It’s also important to keep in mind that massage therapy supports people coping with pain through its rest and digest mode or parasympathetic nervous system influence, aside, as well. This dynamic serves in the release of pain reducing hormones that can boost sleep hygiene, furthermore lowering pain levels. So, less pain better sleep, generally, and, likewise the former, better sleep, less pain too!
Therapeutic Style of Massage Therapy
Karen practices various types of massage therapy to partner with her client’s health and wellness or self-care needs, and/or chronic pain issues. Please see “Types of Massage Therapy” and “Massage FAQs”. However, rather than centering on any one specific technique, her style falls under the realms of therapeutic massage. This is essentially a focus on strategizing individual health goals that an eclectic massage can address, within each massage session. In respect to chronic pain, from time to time, clients may need a few chosen therapies performed artfully in a well-designed self-care regimen to fully meet their needs.
Integrative Massage Therapy
For example, sometimes a client may require that their muscles be soothed and healed through skillfully applied massage techniques, and, at the same time, there is a need to strengthen any weak muscles that may contribute to their problem. Oftentimes reeducation of the part of the body that has the pain is necessary, as well. Through the strengthening process, careful attention can be given to reinforce and nurture the body, in effect, release it from the pain pathway, as well, similar to a mindful massage. Mindfulness approaches are popular today in addressing chronic pain, as well as stress. When pain and stress are managed, chances for mood elevation, more clarity, focus, and physical vigor are maximized in a client’s life. Karen can help with a client’s individual requirements through therapeutic massage applications, and/or through an individualized Neuromuscular Yoga Movement program, integrated with mindfulness techniques and practices. Please see the “About Yoga Instruction” tab for “About…Types…& FAQs” along with the “Holistic Life Coach” tab for “What is Mindfulness,” and the “Course” tab for the “Mindfulness Course.”
Start Your Journey to Relief Today
You could come to Alternative Health Inquiries LLC while holding questions like, “How can I feel better?” “What needs attention?” “What can I learn about my body/mind self today?” Then, allow your self-generated self-care needs to unfold naturally and be nourished in a restful atmosphere away from computers and cell phones. To get started, please call or email Karen today! She’s looking forward to meeting you!
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References
- PainTRAINER. (n.d.). Melbourne School of Health Sciences. https://healthsciences.unimelb.edu.au/departments/physiotherapy/chesm/patient-resources/paintrainer
- Malone, D. (2023, Fall). At both ends recognizing when you might be burning out—and what you can do about it. Massage Therapy Journal, 62(3), 57-60.
- Whitridge, P. (2023, Spring). Chronic pain: relief with massage therapy. Massage Therapy Journal, 62(1), 33-69.