If you’re someone who leads an active and healthy lifestyle which includes activities like going to the gym, playing sports, practicing yoga and jogging outside, then you know the importance of rest for recovery. Rest is important for results, in fact, it’s half of the equation! Many people who are dedicated to a gym routine often don’t like taking a rest day, they feel restless and they feel as if they are losing their gains by not working out. This is simply not true. You a

Today's article was inspired by some astonishing facts I heard from several new clients. I have been practicing the art of touch, specifically massage therapy, for 15 years and some things still surprise me after all this time. For instance, how they have never gotten shoulder bolsters before! They were bolstered only at the knees or feet, even though some of them were diagnosed and sought treatment for shoulder impingement syndrome or a retracted capsule/capsulitis, most ref

Common symptoms and causes associated with TMJ disorders The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is a hinge joint made up of the temporal bone and mandible of the cranium. The muscles involved with opening and closing of the TMJ include the temporalis muscles, the masseter muscles and the pterygoid muscles, to name a few. When the TMJ is in dis-order, common symptoms include pain or tenderness of the muscles involved, difficulty or sensitivity chewing, pain or sensitivity in or aro

The Body Blog is pleased to announce a new line of services! I have teamed up with my professional colleagues, Reiki Master and Teacher: Pina Vizzi, and Certified Massage Therapist and Reiki Practioner: Sophie Gagnon to bring to you our combined expertise's. We are now offering: 4-HAND MASSAGE: Book a session with me and one of my colleagues to receive a 4-Hand Full Body Massage or 4-Hand Massage+Reiki combo; balancing the body & mind. & COUPLE'S MASSAGE: Book a session with

Last week we discussed the topic of cellulite and how to eliminate it for good with the use of massage therapy and massage guns. Why choose massage to get rid of cellulite? Because cellulite forms in areas where fascia is stuck, tense and contracted. Stimulating these stubborn areas will re-align tissues that are being pushed by fatty cells which cause the appearance of dimples. This is how you can help get rid of cellulite that is already there, but another important way to

Numerous articles have been written on cellulite and whether it is possible to reduce its visibility. The most popular suggestions in the modern age have been to treat cellulite through surgery, creams and aesthetic treatments such as endermology. However, myofascial release techniques have been around since the 60's and is proven to be the most effective and non-invasive approach to melting the appearance of uneven skin. What is Cellulite? Cellulite is made up adipose tissue

I am pleased to announce my new e-book Connect: A Practical Guide to Fascia is now available for purchase online. But first, let's take a look at the article that inspired it all! What IS Fascia? What is Fascia and how does it work? Fascia (pronounced fash-ee-uh) is composed of an elasto-collagenous complex. This complex creates a three-dimensional web in the body without interruption. It can be described as a mobile connective tissue that envelops the body from the top of th

The quarantine restrictions have been lifted and all massage therapy services will resume as of June 1st, 2020 in Quebec. Now booking massage appointments! If you had an appointment that was cancelled due to the virus lock down, you will be contacted shortly to reschedule. If you would like to book a massage, check out my Services page and contact me! If you are still not 100% comfortable coming in person, please see my Tele-Care Video Consultation option. If you are coming t

Hello, I hope you're doing well this morning! Just a quick update to let you know what's new on The Body Blog: New links that lead to more information: at the end of each article, click the link to find out more about what you're reading! Commenting available: you can now comment on each post; let me know if you have any questions after reading something or simply if you enjoyed the article! I also want to take this time to thank my subscribers, I hope you find all the inform

Inspiration Balance means doing enough, not doing it all! If you remember in Part 1 of this series, we looked at all the stress hormones and how they can have negative effects on the body. Perhaps after reading the first part you noticed that you are experiencing a few or many of the symptoms listed, but that does not mean you need a complete overhaul either. So I want to begin today with a sense of calm; just know that you don't have to change everything all at once. Slow, i

Why does breathing feel so good? Just as water is our vital element for survival, breath is our vital life force for survival and we need both daily. Water is the most important natural resource necessary for all living things on the planet and breath is the most important function necessary for our bodies to produce energy. Every cell in the body requires energy and the respiratory system provides that energy by inhaling oxygen and excreting carbon dioxide. Taking a deep bre

Can massage therapy help you sleep better? Yes! In general, one of the many beneficial side effects massage therapy can offer is a better night's sleep. Likewise, massage therapy has many beneficial physiological effects for insomnia, such as: Reduces anxiety or stress-related insomnia. Enhances general mind & body relaxation which decreases stress hormones such as cortisol and adrenaline. Desensitizes sensory receptors which decreases excitatory stimulation. Enhances the par

How Emotions Affect Us If you read my post "Have You Checked Your Posture Today?", I mentioned that we would save the topic of Emotions for a whole other blog post, well here we are. Ah emotions... They can be very strong and are not hard to see in someone's facial expressions or in the way someone carries themselves. We often let our emotions take over and it is obvious in our attitude. For instance, to be frustrated is a feeling of dissatisfaction often accompanied by anxie

Awareness of Yourself The only person you truly spend all day with is yourself. The one thing we spend all our time with, 24/7, is our body. The self is essentially who we are as beings and we are human beings. Human beings are living entities with a mind, a body and spirit. Our spirits are all individual and unique which distinguishes us from the others. Spirit and awareness can guide us just as our body's posture can guide us and talk to us; that is why it is important that

Why is having good posture so important? A good posture is a sign of good health. Imagine yourself with an elongated spine, symmetrical shoulders, a flat back and an open chest; all allowing for proper breath, vitality and a positive mood. Now picture yourself with a bad posture- rounded shoulders, rounded upper back, closed in on the diaphragm, difficulty breathing, pain... terrible mood. Our posture can answer a lot of questions about what is happening to us, including our

What is a Trigger Point? Trigger points are localized, hyper-irritable zones of tenderness and paroxysmic reaction. Digital pressure only increases resistance and will often produce a twitch, spasm or even a ticklish sensation thus "triggering" referred pain in a predictable area. Trigger Points can be caused by trauma, extreme temperature (especially cold), overuse of a muscle or joint, imbalance in the tone of muscle tissue i.e- locked short or locked long, depression, anxi

What is Kinesitherapy? It is a specialization of massage therapy techniques and the study of movement to work on bio-mechanical imbalances. The word 'kine' comes from the word kinesis which means movement; truly meaning movement-therapy. Kinesitherapy uses a range of techniques such as manual massage, usually done without oil as fasciatherapy is also a big part of a kinesitherapy session. Working on the layers of fascia without oil prevents from sliding and really allows the