Trapped in Portland for a few days earlier in the week due to dangerous driving conditions in the Columbia River Gorge, our family took advantage of many of the city's amenities. We ate at every child-friendly restaurant we could find (we love McMenamin's restaurants), visited the zoo, went to story time at the library in our old neighborhood and played at our favorite indoor park in the basement of a church in northeast Portland. The kids were pretty happy, but my neck, back and shoulders were not. Lifting and carrying around a 25-pounder and a 33-pounder - especially getting them in and out of car seats - was wreaking havoc on my upper body. Then I remembered a spa in southeast Portland that has on-site child care so mothers can get a massage or other spa treatments while their children play. My son and daughter were delighted at the sight of new toys, books and puzzles. I was delighted they didn't even seem to mind my departure after I told them I'd be in the room right next door.Ah, the comfortable massage table with soft, warm blankets; the soft lighting reflecting off the beautiful yellow-orange walls; the soothing scents of massage lotions and the calming sound of waves breaking on the shore (well, that was probably a CD, but it sounded real). It was a relaxing extravaganza for the senses and the massage hadn't even begun.Massages are a wonderful thing. The older I get, the more they seem necessary for health and relaxation, and the less they seem a luxury.In my case, the massage loosened up the tight muscles in my neck and upper back. The massage therapist found a lot of tender knots and worked out the kinks, leaving me with better posture and much less tension in my shoulder area than before. Plus, I was left with a sense of relaxation and well-being which lasted for days.Massage has been around for thousands of years and there are dozens of different massage techniques:n Swedish massage is the most common type in which the therapist strokes, rubs, kneads and stretches the muscles, usually using a lotion or oil to reduce friction on the skin. If you've never had a massage before, this is a good basic type to try.n Deep tissue massage uses concentrated pressure on certain muscles and connective tissue to break down tissue that is painful and restricting movement. It may not be as relaxing as Swedish massage, but can improve flexibility and relieve pain for people with chronic pain such as osteoarthritis or fibromyalgia.n Sports massage is often based on Swedish or deep tissue massage techniques and helps athletes recover from injuries faster, decrease muscle soreness after a workout and increase flexibility of muscles, ligaments and tendons.n Shiatsu is a Japanese form of massage which uses finger or hand pressure in the same areas an acupuncturist would place needles. The idea is to open up the natural flow of energy throughout the body. Usually, you remain clothed during a shiatsu massage.n Hot stone massage is a recent invention and is becoming popular. Hot, flat, smooth river rocks are placed on different points or are moved over the skin. The heat helps relax muscles and improve circulation.If you are uncomfortable about taking off your clothes for a massage, you could try a chair massage, where you stay clothed and lean forward in a special massage chair that supports the front of your body, allowing the massage therapist to focus on your back, neck and shoulders.Anyone with chronic muscle or joint pain probably will benefit from a massage, at least temporarily. It may not be a cure, but a knowledgeable massage therapist can help tight muscles relax and improve the range of motion and flexibility. Also, everyone can enjoy the psychological benefits of an hour of total relaxation during a massage.-----Kathryn B. Brown worked as a registered nurse and a family nurse practitioner before coming to work for the East Oregonian. Her column appears here every other week. She can be reached at kbbrown@eastoregonian.com.
Posted by: Massage Adelaide - knead Me - http://www.knead.net.au
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