Buddah Belly

Does your massage therapist massage your abdomen?

I have been receiving massage for over 20 years. For me, it all began with a car crash where I was rear-ended. I must admit, it was music to my ears to hear a chiropractor say, "It looks like you are going to need massage twice a week." Boo hoo, for me! I was in college and this was the stress relief I needed. Little did I know, however, how badly my neck was actually going to hurt for much likely the rest of my life. The $5000 insurance settlement looked fabulous then. Now...I would handle the accident with a Personal Injury attorney. Gregg Abel, in fact. But that is neither here nor there.

The point is...

In all my years of receiving massage, I can say not one therapist massaged my stomach until I went to massage school. Oh, what a feeling!!!! When you consider all of the organs in the stomach area, you realize you are missing out on a great deal of massage when the stomach is overlooked. Take a look at your stomach region. OK, no comments about the bulge!! You either love it...or get rid of it! Put one hand at the "v" of your ribcage, and your other hand at your pelvis. What percentage of that is your body? 25%,30% 40%? 50%? Depends on how you look at it, right? As far as I'm concerned, it's at least a third.

More importantly, it's what's in the belly!

Your abdomen contains the stomach, spleen, bladder, gall bladder, kidneys, liver, pancreas, small and large intestines. All of which serve an integral purpose to supporting your bodily functions. Yes, these precious little organs deserve and appreciate massage just as much as your neck, back and shoulders! And when they are massaged, they better serve YOU! Further more, there are several muscles surrounding and supporting your abdomen: Abdominals in the front; Iliacus to the sides; the Psoas and Quadratis Lumborum in the back; diaphram at the top, and the plane of the superior aperture of the lesser pelvis at the bottom.

DO YOU SUFFER FROM CHRONIC LOWER BACK PAIN?

Ironically, your abdomen can play a big role in your lower back pain. (No pun intended!) If your Psoas is too tight, rest assured, you will suffer with lower back pain. If your abdominals are too tight from a gazillion sit-ups...guess what? BACK PAIN! As well, the Quadratus lumborum, located in the lower middle of your back, can be too tight from sitting, golfing, exercising, or a number of other activities, and cause you lower back pain.

I address the abdomen with great pleaure! Bellies are soft. I know how good it feels to have my belly massaged, so I can empathize with your experience!! When I perform the Shiatsu Stretch techniques during your massage, the QL's are massaged nicely. When you need your Psoas worked on....we work together, as these are not easy muscles to get to or work on. The rewards, however, are great!

IMPORTANT TIP: When your stomach is upset or gassy, rub your belly in a clock-wise direction. This is the direction in which the intestines flow. Should you go in the opposite direction, you will cause yourself constipation.

I encourage you to love your belly ~ no matter the size. If you are unhappy with your belly, love it, talk to it, praise it, embrace it...and you just might watch it disappear. This is our core to health.

Food for thought: Think of the % you chose for the stomach area. 30%, 40%? If your therapist doesn't massage your stomach and you are paying $80 for an hour massage, would that mean if I DO massage your stomach.... would you not actually be paying roughly that certain percentage LESS for a massage with me and getting that percentage MORE for your massage dollars?

I leave you with a quote: "Health is the greatest gift, contentment the greatest wealth, faithfulness the best relationship."
Buddha


All the best,
Diane Lane, LMT



I found some of my information for this blog at the Yahoo! Education website. You may find it interesting to read more about this topic.

Here is the link: http://education.yahoo.com/reference/gray/subjects/subject/246

What is Kriya Massage?

KRIYA MASSAGE

Kriya Massage, developed by Kamala Renner in 1970, is different from any traditional bodywork training. Kriya is defined as spontaneous energy movement; an art form that integrates the universal, life-affirming flow of energy between the practitioner and client. There is an emphasis in this style of massage in the intuitive abilities of the practitioner being able to "flow" with the Kriya movement while performing "the dance."

What is "the dance?"

In Kriya massage lightly fragranced oil is used instead of creams or lotions and the practitioners hands never leave your body. The premise is a connection is made between the two energy bodies ~ client and practioner, allowing the practitioner to begin flowing, or dancing with the energy of the client. Now, this may sound all woo-woo, but it's actually quite simple. And...you don't have to worry ~ your therapist will not be doing hip-hop or African drum dancing while working on you!

The effect and the experience of Kriya massage is what I best described as being nurtured, or having your body truly cared for. Often times, the last time someone applied lotion to our body was as a child. I believe mother's do this with their heart and soul, and, therefore, it feels so incredibly good. In Kriya massage, a healthy, grounded, and compassionate therapist may offer you an experience of being nurtured, or cared for, and a sense of physical and emotional healing.


Kamala Renner was the founder of DoveStar Institute, the massage school where I graduated in 2001. After being a therapist for as long as I have, and having received massage from other massage therapists, none of which were trained in Kriya. I am glad I was trained in the Kriya style of massage verses the well known Swedish massage. Most specifically because I was trained to massage the whole body ~ and I do so! I massage the stomach, and the entire upper-leg area ~ both front and back. As well, I was trained to massage the breasts. It pains me to have only portions of my body massaged!! When you leave out the areas I've just mentioned...over half the body is left without being massaged. Not only that, these are really important areas of the body!

More on those specific areas in future Blogs :)

All the best,

Diane Lane, LMT
Sarasota, Florida

KRIYA MASSAGE: Massage Bodywork Dictionary on KRIYA MASSAGE
www.experiencefestival.com/a/KRIYA_MASSAGE/id/165955

Diane 10 years young

ABOUT ME
I was born in Denver, Colorado and lived there until 1990. From that time, I spent a year and a half traveling around the world to 27 countries and then spent a year in Japan teaching English Conversation. Upon my return to America, I moved to Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, where I started a family. I have two beautiful daughters, Dakota and Emily Rose. They are the light of my life and give me reason to live. Being a stay-at-home mom, I chose to attend classes for massage therapy at DoveStar Holistic Therapies Institute, and became licensed in January 2001. Once licensed, I opened my own practice in a yoga studio in Beaufort, SC.
I moved to Sarasota, Florida in 2005. I worked at Mandala MediSpa Spa for two years, then again took the leap of faith and opened my own practice here. I love what I do! I didn't grow up thinking I would become a massage therapist, yet it turned out to be my gift from God. I say this, as nearly every client I've massaged for the first time has told me it's the best massage they've ever received. No kidding!

WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT FROM ME IN YOUR MASSGE
In a massage, you can expect for me to use several different modalities during the treatment. I incorporate relaxation techniques first and foremost, deep tissue, shiatsu stretch, myofascial release, cranial-sacral therapy, and lymphatic drainage. Using all of these techniques together leaves you feeling completely relaxed, and that your body has been fully addressed. At the end of your massage, I perform a Sea Salt Scrub on your back. Using a blend of Grape Seed Oil and Sea Salt, I gently scrub your back, giving the amazing feeling of having your back scrubbed…like your mother used to do. As well, I wipe your feet clean of massage cream with steamed towels. This, too, leaves you feeling wonderful and complete.
My philosophy for massage is that our bodies are over-worked and over-stressed; therefore, it is not merely pampering to receive massage, but imperative. I encourage a one and a half hour massage, so you have the time to really let go; it takes your body and your brain about 20 - 40 minutes to calm down. When your body calms down, it allows me to work with the muscles in such a way that we will achieve greater results with the specific issues of pain you may be experiencing. I also encourage weekly, consistent massage. In doing so, you will find you feel better, sleep better, and have a greater sense of well-being and more energy. Again, this is what my clients have told me from their experience of receiving massage.
I am certified in Postural Analysis, Upper and Lower Extremities (all the joint areas), Myofascial Release, Cranial-Sacral, Lymphatic Drainage, Deep Tissue, and Shiatsu Stretch.