Daydreams Massage Therapy by Jill John, NCTMB
Mind/Body/Spirit Wellness & Relaxation for Females
432 S. Emerson Avenue. Suite 320, Greenwood, IN  46143
Call (317) 883-4966 to reserve your relaxation session today!
 
"Happiness is a journey, not a destination." ~ Souza

Thanks for voting my group practice, Vista Massage & Wellness Studio, as one of Indiana's Best Local Businesses on WRTV's A*List!  We're thrilled, flattered & grateful!!! 
 
Click here to enjoy some soul soothing tunes from around the globe as you navigate around the pages of my website!
http://www.jukeboxalive.com/audio_play_offsite.php?mid=677320&skin=527846

Research Shows Massage Improves Arthritis

A study conducted by the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey finds that massage can provide effective relief for people with osteoarthritis.  Osteoarthritis is characterized by the chronic degeneration of the cartilage of the joints.   

Study Method

The study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine, evaluated the effectiveness of massage therapy for adults with osteoarthritis of the knee.   Sixty-eight randomly selected adults who had been diagnosed with osteoarthritis were divided into two groups.  One group received Swedish massage twice weekly for the first four weeks and then once a week for an additional four weeks.  The other group did not receive massage during the same period of time.   

Study Results

After eight weeks, the group who received massage reported less pain and stiffness and better range of motion than the group that didn't receive massage.  The massage group also experienced improved walking speed. 

Good News for Arthritis Sufferers

The research showed massage therapy to be effective treatment for osteoarthritis of the knee, a condition that affects so many lives. According to the Arthritis Foundation, forty-six million (1 in 5) Americans live with arthritis.  It is estimated by 2030, 67 million Americans age 18 and older will be diagnosed with the condition.   To learn more about arthritis including symptoms, research and treatments, visit http://www.arthritis.org/

Make Massage a Part of Your Life

Like most Americans, you probably know that a professional massage feels good and can help you relax from a hectic day or ongoing life stresses.  But did you know that massage can help with a wide range of conditions including arthritis, a pulled muscle or lower back pain?  Did you know massage therapy is more accessible than ever before and available in a wide variety of settings?  And did you know that there are different types of massage therapy for different health conditions and situations?

The American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA) offers information to help you learn more about massage therapy, how it can improve the quality of life and fit your lifestyle:

Massage therapy can be effective for a variety of conditions such as recovery from a sports injury or prevention of an injury.  Massage has also been shown to be helpful in soothing chronic back pain by reducing muscle tension and spasms.  Massage can be useful in easing headache pain by targeting and releasing pressure points.  Research shows that massage can also reduce heart rate, lower blood pressure, relax muscles and improve range of motion. 

Massage therapy is more accessible than ever before with massage therapists at work in healthcare settings, fitness clubs, shopping malls, chiropractic offices and even at airports.  Some companies are also offering massage to their employees at work to help reduce absenteeism and stress and improve productivity. 

There are different types of massage therapy and a massage therapist may use several massage techniques during one session to address different conditions.  You don't have to be an expert on massage or even know what type of massage you want when you make your appointment.  A professional massage therapist can help determine the type of massage that would best for your particular needs. 

(Reprinted from E-Touch AMTA Newsletter--Summer 2007)


Looking for some new reading material?  I have a great recommendation for you...run right out to your favorite bookstore and pick up the May issue of MASSAGE Magazine.  Besides being chock full of great information, the May 2007 issue features an article with some quotes by yours truly!

I recently had the honor of being interviewed about the merits of running a group practice, like Vista Massage Therapy Group (the team I founded in 2005).  The MASSAGE Mag article focuses on Vista & 3 other such practices around the country.  Be sure to check it out!  A word of warning though...if you live on the Southside, I've purchased all the copies of this publication that I could find on the rack at the local Borders!!!



Guidelines for Getting a Great Massage
(a massage experience!)

  1. Ask for what you want.  Be as specific as you can with your request.  Do you want deeper or lighter pressure?  Do you want a specific area worked on?  Is the room to hot or too cold for you?  Do you hate the music or anything else?  Don't be afraid to be as honest as you can.  It won't hurt my feelings.  It helps me to know how to work with you most effectively.

  2. Keep me informed of how the massage is feeling at all times.  You do not have to 'take' the amount of pressure I am giving.  More isn't necessarily better.  It is important to discover what is best for you.  You can say stop at any time.  You can ask for more work on a specific area even if I've completed that area.

  3. If after you leave, you realize that it just wasn't what you wanted, please contact me by phone or email to let me know.  My intention is to provide a session that is all about your needs.

  4. Learning to relax on the massage table is a process.  Using deep breathing techniques can help facilitate this process, you may feel a need to unwind and unravel from whatever activity you just came from.  Feel free to do what you need to do...talk or be quiet.  Talking too much can take you away from the massage experience.  Focusing on your breathing can help take you away from your thoughts.

  5.  I highly recommend getting regular massages.  It is an important part of increasing your physical awareness as well as your mental & emotional awareness.  Helping you get more in touch with yourself is an important part of health & well being.  Once or twice a month is usually best.

  6. Feeling sore after a massage may be an indicator of just how tight your muscles were.  It will usually go away in a day or two.  Taking baths in Epsom salt or apple cider vinegar and drinking water can help relieve those symptoms.

  7. Please show up on time for you appointment and maybe a few minutes early so you can start to unwind.  I usually can not accommodate you and work on you for the full hour if you are late as I have other clients scheduled after you.

  8.  I don't recommend working out after a massage as it takes away from the massage experience.  It is best to get a massage after working out or any physical activity.  You will benefit more from your workout.

  9. Keep me informed of all health concerns you are having or have had.

  10. When you leave, take time to walk slowly and feel the effects of a massage.  I recommend getting a massage when you do not have to go back to work afterwards but realize that is not always possible.  Do the best you can to enjoy the massage for as long as you can.

    (Article by Julie Onofrio, LMP.  Reprinted with a few minor changes.    ) http://www.thebodyworker.com/getting-a-massage-experience.htm


Massage Brings Relief from Arthritis Pain

Arthritis pain in hands can be helped by massage therapy, according to a study published in the January 2007 issue of the Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies.

The research, conducted by the Touch Research Institute (TRI) of the University of Miami School of Medicine, examined 22 adults aged 20 to 65 years with wrist and/or hand arthritis. Participants were randomly assigned to either a massage therapy or a standard treatment control group. The massage group received massage from a therapist on the affected area once a week for a 4-week period & also conducted self-massage at home daily. The control group received no massage, but was taught self-massage at the end of the study.

Research found that the massage group had lower anxiety scores and depressed mood scores after the first and last sessions and by the end of the study reported less pain and greater grip strength. The massage therapy group showed greater improvement than the standard treatment control group on all measures.

"While massage therapy has decreased pain in several pain syndromes, this is the first report of pain reduction in hand arthritis following massage therapy," says Tiffany Field, PhD, director of the TRI. "The results of this study are very encouraging for the application of massage therapy as a complementary alternative treatment for hand arthritis."

Arthritis is a systemic inflammatory disease that causes persistent joint pain and can affect people of all ages and activity levels. While this pain can appear in any joint in the body, it often affects the small joints of the hands.

Hand strength in patients with arthritis is generally 75 percent lower than in healthy patients. Because many daily activities, such as opening doors or food containers and lifting and carrying items, require considerable hand strength, the pain caused by arthritis can lead to significant limitations on activity. But as this research indicates, massage is one of many ways that arthritis sufferers can reduce their pain and improve their quality of life.

(Reprinted from "E-touch" AMTA Massage Newsletter--April 2007)

Treat Your Valentine to the Gift of Massage

This year, give your loved one a Valentine’s Day gift that will help relieve stress and improve his or her overall health and well-being. A gift certificate for a relaxing massage is a perfect way to show you care. And while you’re at it, book a massage for yourself, too. Better yet, make a day of it. Take some time together — away from the stresses and challenges of your daily lives — to relax and unwind.

Here are a few ideas to help make a Valentine’s Day massage a memorable gift for two.

  • Look for massage therapists who offer “couples” massage sessions. Many of these sessions include two therapists—one for each of you—in the same room. Before booking an appointment, be sure to ask for specific details from the massage therapist to be sure this is what you want.
  • When choosing your ideal couples massage, consider location. Couples massages are offered in a variety of settings, from spas and cruise ships to your home and even your hotel room. If a Valentine’s Day cruise just isn’t in your plans, perhaps a weekend getaway or a day of pampering at a local day spa would be just perfect.

Regardless of the type of massage therapy experience you want to give this Valentine’s Day, the most important thing to remember when booking your massage is to look for a qualified massage therapist.  (See the "Prices & Offers" page of this site for more details on our Cupid's Couples Massage Valentine Special valid throughout February!)
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Massage Helps Kick Off a New Year-By Jean Ives

Of the 365 days in a year, not all are equal. For many people, January 1 is reserved for soul-searching, self-recrimination and a resolve to do better in the next 364 days than we did in the last. Resolutions vary widely, but there’s an uncanny commonality to most lists.  Editors at About.com™, compiled results of several New Year’s Resolutions surveys & reported that the following resolutions, in order of frequency, are the ones people make most often. Although the editors don’t cite massage therapy as the cure for all ills, it’s not difficult to find a role for massage in accomplishing almost every one of these resolutions.

  1. Spend more time with family and friends. Massage can be a solitary pleasure, to be sure. But don’t underestimate its place in promoting warmth and community among friends. I have one friend in particular who, if we’ve gone through several months of hit-or-miss girlfriend times together, will say, “Hey, you know what, we need a massage day.” To an outsider it may sound like she’s just suggesting that we get a massage. But my friend and I know better—for us, massage is the best anchor of a quality day spent together, acknowledging the value of the other person and slowing down long enough to enjoy each other’s company. We make simultaneous or back-to-back appointments for massage and build our day around them. It works every time. Come to think of it, we’re due!
  2. Fit in fitness.  It’s no coincidence that so many fitness centers have massage therapists on staff. Do you think the Sports Medicine Division of the Olympic Training Center would include massage therapy as part of its official program if there weren’t a connection between massage and recovery after exercise?
  3. Tame the bulge. There’s probably more hype than hard research to support massage as a weight reduction technique. However, in his article “Massage for Weight Loss,” Scott Haywood talks about the wide-ranging benefits of massage for improved blood circulation to the muscles, range of motion, anxiety reduction & so on. Haywood concludes that massage can be part of your weight reduction program if you don’t expect it to be the only plank in the program.
  4. Quit smoking. People who want to quit smoking in the New Year will be interested in learning the results of the research “Smoking Cravings are Reduced by Self-Massage.”  In this study, researchers Tiffany Field, PhD, and Maria Hernandez-Reif, PhD, found that ear and hand self-massage techniques could “alleviate smoking-related anxiety, reduce cravings and withdrawal symptoms, improve mood, and reduce the number of cigarettes smoked.”
  5. Enjoy life more. See Resolution No. 1.
  6. Quit drinking. The Queensland University in Australia study “Massage Therapy Improves the Management of Alcohol Withdrawal Syndrome” found that subjects undergoing alcohol detoxification who received massage therapy experienced milder symptoms of alcohol withdrawal.
  7. Get out of debt. Okay, this might be the only one that massage won’t help with. But massage can help reduce the stress you may feel when you think about debts.  You can look for special promotions and consider going to massage clinics at local massage therapy schools as ways to reduce your massage bill every month.
  8. Learn something new. Until you’ve experienced every type of modality, can you really say you know massage? There’s Lomi Lomi, Shiatsu, Hot Stone….
  9. Help others. See Resolution No. 1. Try volunteering, such as arranging a massage benefit for those in need.

  10. Get organized. Part of getting organized is setting priorities. You’ve got a lot of massages to “squeeze in” in 2007—you’d better get moving!
    (Reprinted from "E-touch" AMTA Massage Newsletter--January 2007)
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    What Have You Done for You Lately?
    by Lisa Erawoc

    Before I give someone a massage, I ask if they’ve ever had a massage, then I conduct a health assessment to make sure massage is not contraindicated. My next question is, “Do you get regular massages?”  I’m always amazed how many people seem to have the same reasons for not getting regular massages. They're too busy with work, family & obligations to make the time for something so beneficial to their health.

    Women especially are busy playing the roles of mother, wife and caretaker to so many that we forget our own needs. I am guilty of trying to balance it all and not having enough time to nurture myself spiritually, physically, emotionally & mentally. Not only is massage something my body needs, it’s also a requirement for longevity in my profession. I cannot give away what I don’t have to give; my health has to be a top priority in order to constantly give my heart and soul to my work.

    Many people think of massage as a luxury & only indulge on special occasions such as vacation, anniversaries, birthdays or weddings. But in many cultures massage is a way of life. Touch is so important because it lets us know we are cared for and loved.

    Many of us think about our health only when we're sick or the doctor gives us an unfavorable diagnosis. My heart has been broken for so many people who cross my path with all kinds of diseases.  Many people I love live with cancer, diabetes, arthritis & other diseases. I want to reach out to them and make it all better. I try to help by alleviating their symptoms with aromatic oils, but I wish I had a miracle potion to cure their diseases. Although I don't have that potion, I do have the touch of massage, which allows me to reach out in a different way.

    If you can’t afford a massage on a regular basis, I urge you to find other ways to take care of yourself that allow you to escape the stress of daily life. Meditation, reading, yoga or a stroll in the country are wonderful ways to unwind and do something for your health.  One of my favorite things to do is take a long walk by a river, lake, the ocean or on a trail. I find this to be very therapeutic & relaxing. It gives me time to reflect on where I've been, where I am now and where I want to be. I really connect with myself & it brings out my creativity.

    We all owe it to ourselves to take care of this beautiful body we so often neglect. Make the choice today to do something for yourself and for your health. Give yourself the gift of massage, not because it’s a special occasion, but because your health is important.  Remember prevention, not treatment, is the key to good health and longevity. Besides, you deserve to be pampered and nurtured. Here’s to your health!

    (Reprinted from "E-touch" AMTA Massage Newsletter--January 2007)

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    "Now is the time to live your ideal life." ~ Cousineau
    Date Posted:  October 2006
    I just wanted to say THANKS A MILLION to all of my supporters for choosing me as Best Certified Massage Therapist in Nuvo's 2006 Best of Indy Poll!      I'm extremely grateful to each and every one of you who took the time to cast a vote my way--I appreciate your confidence in my work.  It truly means a lot to me.  You guys rock, but then again...you already knew that!!
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