Thanks for stopping by.  In the next few weeks I'll be posting some useful information and video to help you stay the best that you can be.  Talk to you soon!

Holden

If you are like 90% of the population you only take care of your health when something breaks.  I call it the ER mentality. You only go to the ER when the pain is so great that you can’t move, even though for the past 2 months you’ve had twinges of the same pain, but decided to ignore it thinking it would go away.

90% of my patients have the ER mentality.  They wait till the pain is so intolerable that they can’t go another minute.  These are the reaction people.  Someone once said that “Humans only react when they reach a precipice.”  This goes beyond reacting to our body; look at 9-11.  The twin towers go down, airport security is beefed up.   The brakes or your car start squeaking, but you wait till you almost crash to get them fixed.

What would happen if we took a more preventative approach?  Look at where we have security issues before there is a breach.  Get checkups on the car before something breaks.  Take preventative measures with our body such as regular exercise, monthly massages, smart eating.  All these things can help prevent your body from shutting down.  I have a lot of clients that wait till they have severe heath issues like diabetes or high blood pressure till they decide to change their diet and start on a wellness regimen.

I’m going to put out a challenge to all of you.  I challenge you to take a look at your life and your health.  Where can you take preventative steps to make it better?  What can you do on a daily basis to improve your life?  The key is to make attainable goals;  For example, let’s say you are going to start an exercise program, instead of making a goal of going everyday for 2 hours, try one hour two times a week.  If your goals are attainable they have a much greater chance of being achieved.  Another goal could be to get a massage or acupuncture treatment once or twice a month.  This will make it so that we can stop those little aches and pains from becoming BIG problems later down the line.

CityType: The Alternative Health Practitioner

See the Patch article here!

Likely, you have developed a lifestyle routine to keep you healthy and happy. It may include exercise, massage, meditation and a nutrition regimen, and when followed diligently, it works. But, there are times that it doesn’t work as well. And frankly, there are times when maintaining healthful habits seem impractical.

Wonder why? What happens then? Why are those times tougher than others? Something gets in our way, right?

That obstructive thing is stress. Just say the word, stress. It sounds like a mischievous goblin looking to sabotage everything hard work builds. Think about it. When someone describes an obstacle, typically, stress is the culprit. Call it an invisible sidekick to mayhem. Fortunately, stress isn’t a masked bandit running amuck. And, we can better manage its impact on our lives.

For many of us, the word stress is somewhat ambiguous. Wikipedia explains that, “stress is how the body reacts to a stressor, real or imagined; a stimulus that causes stress.” According to another definition, stress relates to the pressure, pull or other force exerted on one thing by another. The source of the tension is a stressor, and the quantity, quality and duration of the tension helps to categorize it as a specific type of stressor. To better understand stress, we need to take a closer look at some of the primary stressors:

• Mental stressors—all mental illness, chronic unresolved issues, major life changes, overburdened with responsibility, self-image issues, and obsessive thinking

• Emotional stressors—anger, rage, irritability, worry, anxiety, fear, fright, terror, depression, desire, lust, sadness, grief, and over excitement

• Physical stressors—too much strenuous activity such as overwork and too much exercise, trauma, starvation, medical issues, suffocation, alcohol and drug use, lack of sleep, illness, and child-birth

• Environmental stressors—sudden changes in climate or exposure to severe climate conditions, electromagnetic waves (wi-fi networks), excessive exposure to sun, exposure to microorganisms (bacteria, viruses, molds, and parasites), exposure to chemical toxins (pesticides, herbicides, fungicides, insecticides, heavy metals, households and industrial chemicals); also, nutritional deficiencies such as refined foods, nutrient depleted foods, genetically-modified foods, irradiated foods, trans fats, caffeine and other stimulants

• Spiritual stressors—loss of direction and life purpose

Clearly there are many stressors. And, it is important to minimize our exposure to unnecessary stressors; however, stress and stressors are a natural part of life. Instead, our focus should be on how we process stress. Our bodies metabolize it in two different ways: either as helpful eustress, which is anabolic in nature (meaning it builds us up) or as destructive distress, which is catabolic (meaning it breaks us down). The old saying is true, “what doesn’t kill me, makes me stronger.”

Hans Seyle outlined our stress response in more detail, and earned the nick name “the father of stress research.” In his General Adaptation Syndrome, Seyle delineates a sequence of reactions the body goes through when responding to a given stressor. First, in the alarm stage, we experience an internal alert where the body prepares for action with adrenaline and cortisol. This is commonly known as a fight-flight response. Next if the stressor persists, the body goes into the resistance stage. Here the body reallocates its’ primary force to deal with the stressor. This is the “cope and adapt…or else” stage. If the tension persists, then the body will fall into the exhaustion phase. This is the danger zone. In the exhaustion phase, we are vulnerable to illness and weakness.

Selye’s research proves that the key factor to our body’s survival is its’ ability to adapt. Our ability to adapt depends on our adaptive energy. He coined that phrase, because in situations when our adaptive energy is high, we move through stress unscathed. But when our adaptive energy is low, all things can go wrong and likely do.

The importance of adaptive energy has been a part of ancient wisdom for centuries. Adaptive energy is the same force that mystics and sages realized is the foundation for spiritual growth, as well as physical health and well being. They called it called prana, ki or qi (chi). Because of its’ vital significance, sages of antiquity sought out ways of enhancing chi. Guess where they found help? Yup, good ole mother nature had the solution—a group of rare botanicals that enhances adaptive energy more than anything else. These plants cultivated strong adaptive power, because they grow and thrive in harsh conditions. When consumed, the body absorbs their extra adaptive power.

In Chinese Medicine, these plants are called tonic herbs for their tonifying effects. And, this group of herbs is also found within Ayurveda’s Rasyayan Formulas for spiritual alchemy. As fate would have it, these botanicals were rediscovered in the West in the 1940s when Russian scientists unlocked their secret and named them adaptogens. The Russians used them to help alleviate the distress their Olympic athletes experienced from over-training. Also, they were used as healing aids after the nuclear spill in Chernobyl. Their modern research proves that adaptogens have a unique ability to assist the body to restore homeostasis and lessen the effects of stress on a person, be it physical, emotional, mental or environmental stress.

"Adaptogens help the body regulate itself,"  says Harriet Beinfield, a licensed acupuncturist and Chinese herbalist who co-authored, Between Heaven and Earth: A Guide to Chinese Medicine, (Ballantine, 1991) with husband Efrem Korngold, a doctor of Oriental medicine and co-director of a Chinese medical clinic in San Francisco. "One example of the amazing healing properties of adaptogens," which she points out, "is that a person with low blood sugar will find an adaptogen raises their blood sugar to a normal, balanced level, while the same adaptogen taken by someone with high blood sugar will experience their blood sugar lowered toward normal levels."

In other words, adaptogens can help the body restore and maintain balance. These herbs are amazing. Some of these wonderful herbs are:

• American Ginseng
• Holy Basil
• Gynostemma 
• Lycium Fruit
• Polygonum Multiflorum / Fo-Ti
• Astragalus Root
• Atractylodes
• Licorice Root
• Rhodiola
• Ashwagandha Root
• Dang Shen
• Reishi Mushroom
• Shiitake Mushroom
• Maitake Mushroom
• Shilajit
• Schizandra Berry
• Maca
• Cordyceps

There are a few more herbs that qualify as adaptogens. Since these herbs have such a great impact on our well being, they could be considered like an insurance policy. With their help, it’s easier to make wise choices that support sound health. Most often, adaptogens provide a boost of energy and clear mental calm.

In the book, Adaptogens; Herbs for Strength, Stamina, and Stress Relief, by Winston and Maimes, the many benefits of each adaptogen are explored. The authors share recipes and great tips for adding adaptogens into a daily diet. Single herb preparations are great; yet the authors explain that using a wide array of adaptogens proves to be more powerful. And, because these herbs primarily restore balance in the body, they are safe to take on a regular, long-term basis. Supplementing with adaptogens is the easiest step to take to support our health and wellness, but if you are under the care of a health care provider, consult them before taking any supplements.

With the click of a mouse, its easy to add adaptogens to our diet. There are many choices. Some popular ones are Tonic Alchemy by Ron Teegarden or Pure Synergy by Mitchell May. Yet, one adaptogenic-product stands out, ShenTrition. Its milligram dosage, formula arrangement and taste make it effective and enjoyable. In fact, it is used by many natural physicians in their practices plus it has been mentioned in 3 books for its effects on vitality, balance and longevity: Perfect Eyesight: The Art Of Improving Vision Naturally by R. Lewanski and R. Zuraw; Integrative Endocrinology; The Rhythms of Life, by Dr. Donald R. Beans; and No Age is the New Age; An Action Plan for Agelessness, A Longevity Guide for Men and Women 25 to 125, by Karen Norris and Eve Michaels.

VIDEO HERE

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Do you or have you ever suffered from knee pain?

Knee pain is a common complaint among most of the population, but the cause of this pain is greatly misunderstood leading to countless unnecessary invasive procedures.  Those who run, or are overweight tend to be more susceptible to this type of pain.

Our natural reaction to pain is to associate the pain with its location; I cut my finger, my finger hurts, the pain is coming from the cut on my finger.  With the knee the pain can be localized but the cause can come from many different places.  Western medicine has a tendency to be very myopic, only seeing one little piece of the puzzle.  Doctors’ today all have their specialties.  The theory is that the body is so complex that to know everything about everything is impossible. Most doctors focus on one part or area of the body so that they have highest understanding of that area to best treat you.

The problem with this theory is that the body is not a bunch of individual parts but instead a complex machine which uses all these “parts” together to create the person you are today.  By not looking at the big picture, we have a tendency to “chase the pain” opposed to treating the root of the problem. 

The knee is a complex mechanism but is at the mercy of its upper and lower siblings the knee and ankle.  When one is disturbed or out of alignment, the knee has to compensate.  This compensation causes the knee to be over worked in one direction or the other which can then lead to a variety of different pains.

The best way I have found to treat the knee is to keep the hips open and aligned and the quadriceps stretched and open.  This treatment is not difficult; most patients find relief, depending on the extent of the injury, within 1-3 treatments.  Acupuncture also has a very beneficial effect in treating knee pain by helping to reduce the localized inflammation around the knee itself.

Below are two stretches that can help reduce knee pain dramatically:

Split Squat stretch:

Place one foot on the seat of a chair with the opposing foot out in front.  Keep your chest tall.  In 2-3 second intervals alternate between leaning forward and back. (Stretches Quads and hip flexors)

Pidgin:  This is a modified version of the popular yoga pose.  On the bed or low table bring one leg perpendicular to your body and lean forward.  (Stretches the Piriformis and glute muscles)

Stress! What does it really mean?  How many times have we gone to our doctor or talked to a friend about a pain that we have and the reason always seems to be STRESS!

The Merriam Webster Dictionary describes stress as: a physical, chemical, or emotional factor that causes bodily or mental tension and may be a factor in disease causation.

So stress can cause disease! Well in my opinion only if you let it!  Everything can cause us stress; relationships, our jobs, kids, traffic, the economy and anything else that happens to us on a daily basis.  The question you have to ask is:  How much of that stress will you allow to affect your life?  I like to think that we still have free will and that allows us to determine how we are going to absorb or deflect the stress that comes into our lives.  We have the choice to take the information, for example you get in a car wreck.  The choice is to take that stress and worry, internalize it, affect your sleep, mess with your stomach, increase pain and inflammation and alter your overall mood, or acknowledge the stress.  When we acknowledge the stress and realize that all our worrying won’t change the outcome, stress doesn’t win.  We only have control over this moment not what happened in the past and not what’s going to happen in the future.  Once we accept this fact we can handle our stress instead of letting our stress handle us.  One moment, one hour, one day at a time.

President Obama on January 15, 2008 (left) and on July 31, 2011. (Credit: Ethan Miller/Getty Images & Chip Somodeville/Getty Images & cnn.com)

Take a look at these two pictures of President Obama can you believe that they are only 3 years apart!  I post this to emphasize a point, “Emotional stress has physical manifestations.”   We as humans tend to differentiate the physical and emotional as separate parts of our selves, never to cross.  These pictures tell a different story.  The immense stress that accompanies the presidency has taken its toll on Mr. Obama. His wrinkles have deepened; his hair is grayer, his eyes have become more sunken and just looks like over the last 3 years he has aged 10!

Now we don’t have to be the president to show signs of stress.  It can manifest in many ways, here are a few examples:  More prone to sickness, injuries occur more frequently, fatigue, random pain, hair loss, skin conditions, and upset stomachs or diarrhea.

So what’s the lesson?  Mind your stress.  When things occur in your body, don’t ignore them, check in and see what’s happening in your life and then look what you can change to decrease the stress or increase your coping mechanisms.

Including exercise in your daily routine can greatly increase your ability to deal with stress.  Our diet also plays a big role.  If the fuel your are putting in is bad, what do you expect to get out? Lastly get outside when ever you can, we live in an age where most of us are behind a computer, locked in a room most of the day.  Go outside, breathe some non-air conditioned air and bask in your surroundings. Get a massage!  You'll be glad you did! Enjoy the rest of your life, let the politicians stress out while we keep aging at the rate we're supposed to.

 

Feet:  The most neglected part of our body

I like to think of the feet as the wheels of our body.  I apologize for another car analogy, but it works.  When the alignment of your car is off, your tires wear out, your overall performance decreases and it just messes with how everything works.  Your body operates the same way.  If you sprain your ankle walking across the street, your gait (the way you walk) is automatically changed.  This change can eventually make your hip hurt because one is doing more work than the other.  This cycle continues till the whole system breaks down.

In Chinese medicine the feet and hands contain points where all the channels in the body either begin or end.  So this means something that happens to the feet can directly affect other organs or systems in the body.  That’s why a bad pair of shoes can ruin your entire day and make you feel weak or even ill.

So take care of your feet, pamper, respect and move them.  Here’s a good trick to keep your feet in peak condition:

While you’re sitting watching TV grab one foot and start pulling your toes; up and down, spread them apart, stretch them around.  Hold each stretch for 2 seconds then move it the other way and repeat.  Do 10-15 pumps per direction.

Do this twice a week and notice how the dexterity comes back into your feet (Your feet were like your hand when you were a baby; let’s see if we can get back there!) You’re back will feel better and you’ll be amazed at how much more grounded you feel.   

Thanks for reading!

As most of you know, I have been in the massage business for over 17 years.  During that time I have seen ups and downs and trends come and go.  Over the past 3 years a huge shift has occurred which I fear if is not stopped will be the end of the entire industry.

We all know that the economy has not been the greatest, and money is tight.  To fill that need a variety of new faces have been popping up every day.  It began with the $49 massage movement, a flat cheap rate to get a decent massage.  Then Thai massage became very big to the point that you would see a new one open up every week.  Their price point went down to $39 per hour.  Now we see Chinese foot massage saturating the market with $20 hour long massages.

The margins in the massage business are not huge to begin with, but when the price point keeps being driven down lower and lower you begin to sacrifice quality for price.

The invention of the deal a day sites, have been amazing at bringing large groups of people into a business, but this too brings the price point and margins even lower.  We participated in Groupon and had very good experiences, but the only way we can cover our overhead is to keep our base rate high enough to be able to give a fair discount.

The reason I am ranting about all of this, is that I pride myself on the quality and uniqueness of the therapy that our clients receive from our therapists.  When choosing a practitioner price should be a factor, but not the only one.  If you need to go in for heart surgery, do you want to go with the doctor who gives the biggest discount, or do you want to find the person who has the most experience and best reputation at fixing the problem you have?  I personally would prefer the experience.

 At MetaTouch we pride our self on the service we provide.  Our treatments aren’t just a massage but a healing session to get you out of pain and back to life.  We will do our best to keep our prices competitive but they will always be a little higher than the market rate because you get more.  I have always believed that quality always triumphs over quantity and expect that quality to show in every treatment given at MetaTouch.  If for some reason you ever feel like you were not given the best massage possible, talk to me and I will make it right.

Thank you for your continued trust and patronage.

Holden