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