Stress-Relieving Massage Therapy
OUR SUNRISE COUNSELING MASSAGE THERAPIST:
Deborah E. Schneider, BA, LMT, CBIS
Deborah Ellen Schneider, a married mother of four, received her BA in English from Muhlenberg College. She is a former high school English teacher, corporate trainer at J.P. Morgan Bank, and the North American head of human resources and administration for Sumitomo Bank, Ltd., the second largest bank in the world. She was an accomplished equestrian with plans to open a riding academy for people with disabilities and wanted to write a book, until one day a car ride changed everything.
In 1995, Deborah was rear-ended by a speeding truck and sustained a traumatic brain injury (TBI) so severe, that within seconds she was functioning like a five-year-old child. She endured chronic pain, post traumatic stress syndrome, and debilitating physical injuries. Critical to her recovery was her rehabilitation at Transitions of Long Island, a facility for the head injured, and support from family and friends as well as strangers. Today, even after a double mastectomy; she has had a miraculous recovery, and an amazing spiritual transformation.
Deborah reinvented her life. She attended the Swedish Institute of Massage Therapy in New York and became a licensed massage therapist with a private practice specializing in pain and stress relief. She is also a Coordinator for the Brain Injury Association of New York State (BIANYS) where she advocates for TBI survivors and their families on Long Island. She has resumed her equestrian activities, and she is the author of Wind Dancing: The Gift of Healing Traumatic Brain Injury.
OUR MASSAGE FEES ARE VERY REASONABLE, starting at only $60 for a full hour. Please call for an appointment today!
What is massage?
Massage therapy is the systematized manipulation of soft tissues for the purpose of normalizing them. Practitioners use a variety of physical methods including applying fixed or movable pressure, holding, or causing movement to the body. Therapists primarily use their hands, but may also use their forearms or elbows. The basic goal of massage therapy is to help the body heal itself and to increase health and well-being.
Massage therapy has become a staple of many professional athletes' training regimens. But not just athletes. Lifestyle factors, such as long work hours or physically taxing tasks, lead many members of the workforce to seek the assistance of a licensed massage therapist. A seemingly minor injury can have a profound impact on a person's ability to stay physically active, participate fully in life, or even make a living if it becomes chronic. Massage therapy can be one of the ways of preventing that kind of outcome.
There are many different types of massage, including these common types:
- Swedish massage. This is a gentle form of massage that uses long strokes, kneading, deep circular movements, vibration and tapping to help relax and energize you.
- Deep-tissue massage. This massage technique uses slower, more forceful strokes to target the deeper layers of muscle and connective tissue, commonly to help with muscle damage from injuries.
- Sports massage. This is similar to Swedish massage but is geared toward people involved in sport activities to help prevent or treat injuries.
- Trigger point massage. This massage focuses on trigger points, or sensitive areas of tight muscle fibers that can form in your muscles after injuries or overuse.
Benefits of massage:
When muscles are overworked, waste products such as lactic acid can accumulate in the muscle, causing soreness, stiffness, and even muscle spasm. Massage improves circulation, which increases blood flow, bringing fresh oxygen to body tissues. This can assist the elimination of waste products, speed healing after injury, and enhance recovery from disease. Therapeutic massage can be used to promote general well-being and enhance self-esteem, while boosting the circulatory and immune systems to benefit blood pressure, circulation, muscle tone, digestion, and skin tone. Massage also can help reduce overall stress. We're all becoming more aware of the role stress plays in health. People who are stressed tend to be less healthy than people who are relaxed. Stress, for example, increases the risk of heart disease. Massage therapy is an effective and enjoyable way to reduce stress. Massage therapy is also effective in the control of pain, chronic or acute, in stress reduction, and in creating a sense of relaxation and well-being. A licensed, skilled practitioner can become an important and integral part of your health care team.
Massage is generally considered part of complementary and alternative medicine. It's increasingly being offered along with standard treatment for a wide range of medical conditions and situations. Studies have found massage helpful for:
- Stress relief
- Managing anxiety and depression
- Pain
- Stiffness
- Blood pressure control
- Infant growth
- Sports-related injuries
- Boosting immunity
- Cancer treatment
Beyond the benefits for specific conditions or diseases, some people enjoy massage because it often involves caring, comfort, a sense of empowerment and creating deep connections with their massage therapist.
Despite its benefits, massage isn't meant as a replacement for regular medical care. Let your doctor know you're trying massage and be sure to follow any standard treatment plans you have.
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