An Hour of Prevention

You know the old proverb, “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.”  Well, I’m going to add some new dimensions to it.  How about, “An hour of prevention to maintain cure or to stay well?”

Wellness is on everyone’s mind as healthcare prices soar and coverage plummets.  We are tired of pills, shots, surgeries and other means that are only masking or reducing the symptoms, not fixing the root cause of our problems.  We want our money’s worth when it comes to our healthcare.  Where do we get it and how does it work?

The human body is 80% soft tissue.  Many illnesses are soft tissue related.  The majority of pain occurs in the muscles, tendons or ligaments, which are soft tissue and need someone that understands their mechanics in order to reduce the pain and promote healing.  Where does one go for such work?  Who is qualified to work on these issues?  What type of treatment will help these conditions?

Massage Therapists are Soft Tissue Specialists with advanced training in the anatomy, physiology and the mechanics of the human body.  They understand how muscles and connective tissue function and interact.   Imbalance results in a host of maladies that are not only treatable, but preventable through regular massage therapy, stretching and exercise.

One hour/week will be your best ally in preventing many forms of pain and dis-ease.  Aside from being extremely effective in relieving stress, there is scientific evidence showing that massage helps with a variety of conditions, such as:

➔  Adhesions, scars and stretch marks

➔  Anxiety

➔  Arthritis

➔  Asthma

➔  Back and body pain, stiffness and soreness

➔  Chronic and acute pain

➔  Depression

➔  Easing birth labor

➔  Edema and swelling

➔  Fatigue

➔  Fibromyalgia

➔  Headaches

➔  High blood pressure

➔  Improved mental focus

➔  Improved immune function

➔  Improved mobility

➔  Increased productivity

➔  Joint pain

➔  Muscle strains and sprains

➔  Post-traumatic stress disorder

➔  Relaxation

➔  Sleep Disorders

➔  Sports Injuries

➔  STRESS

➔  Tendonitis

➔  Trauma

➔  Whiplash

Massage is an ancient art of healing.  I discovered massage following an accident that resulted in extreme pain and reduced function.  It has given my life back and I have vowed to share the healing power of touch with those desiring a better quality of life through natural means.

So, if you are ready to feel better and maintain your health, make massage a part of your wellness program.  Our therapists’ training includes:  Neuromuscular, Cranio-Sacral, Manual Lymph Drainage, Orthopedic, Cupping, Trauma, Chronic and Acute Pain, and much more.

Manual Lymph Drainage

MLD can reduce Lipodema

Primary Lymphodema

Manual Lymph  Drainage (MLD) is a gentle technique.    This delicate technique eliminates waste, toxins, excess fluid and bacteria from the body via the lymphatic system.  The effects are numerous and include general benefits to the nervous and muscular systems.  MLD is a great addition to other detoxification programs, as it encourages lymphatic fluid flow in the connective tissues.  It also promotes , facilitates healing and supports the immune system.              A MUST for pre and post surgery! It  reduces scarring, swelling, enhances the healing process, while reducing adhesions.

Most insurance companies cover  MLD with a physicians prescription.  RUCOVERED?

Kimberly  is a Certified Holistic Manual Lymph Drainage Therapist with the Jacksonville Lymphatic Wellness Associates.   Please Visit www.lymphaticwellnessassociates.com

Individual Therapy Session

$50     30 Minutes (child)

$100      60 Minutes

$130     90 Minutes

Packages

Consistent sessions (once or twice a week) done over a  short period,  will produce the best results by re-educating the lymphatic system.   We designed the following packages to make it cost effective while benefiting your health!

$450  Six Sessions  1-Hour     $75 each

$600 Nine Sessions 1-Hour     $63 each

$850 Twelve Sessions 1-Hour  $70 each

$600 Six  90 Minute Sessions  $100 each

$900 Ten 90 Minute Sessions $90 each  Installments available

Testamonials

I had MLD following my skin reduction surgery and boy what a difference it made in my ability to heal quickly!  I would recommend that anyone having plastic or reconstructive surgery to make MLD a part of their healing program.

Dee B., Jacksonville, FL

AnimalTalk for Your Pets

Like BodyTalk, Animal Talk is designed to re-establish good communication within an animal’s body. Animal Talk supports the resynchronization of the animal’s internal systems to provide fluid communication between the various components of the body, thus keeping the body sound and less vulnerable to disease.  AnimalTalk, which is more oriented to the animl professional, can be used on domestic animals or on wild animals alike As the sessions are done by “short-distance”, there is no hands-on contact with the animal, thus making it safe for the animal and AnimalTalk Practitioner.

http://www.bodytalksystem.com/learn/bodytalk/specialty_training.cfm

The BodyTalk treatment protocol is straightforward. The practitioner relies on the guidance of the animal’s natural wisdom to not only locate the weakened lines of communication but also to find the proper order in which they are to be addressed. Children and animals respond well to the treatment.

Children 12 & under and Pets $50/session  $125/session or 3-pack for $300

Testimonials

• Miracle was a happy but anxious retreiver.  Her owner had difficulty controlling her.  She was implsive and all over everyone that come to their home.  When Animal Talk was performed, it revealed trauma at birth.  Balancing that and other links calmed Miracle down greatly.  Her owners report that she is a happy and well behaved 80+ lb pup!




• Lily was the family cat that got very ill when her grandmother went to the hospital for hip replacement.  Her owner brought her in for Animal Talk.  Lilly was upset  and angry that she was left alone and missed granny very much.  Following the session, she was playing on the treatment floor and her owner reports no more sickness!

• Linda was scheduled for carpal tunnel surgery in 6 weeks when she was referred to Kim for help. After several weeks of massage therapy, Linda was feeling good and canceled the surgery. Two weeks following the cancellation, she arrived at the office with a lot of pain in her hands. Kim took the initiative and performed muscle testing to ask Linda’s innate wisdom what therapy was needed, her innate wanted BodyTalk. Kim later received a phone call from Linda saying that her hands felt great! She wasn’t sure what Kim had done or how BodyTalk worked, but was grateful it had. Linda is doing well and continues to see Kim regularly for massage and BodyTalk. ~ Linda A., Orange Park, FL
• “I suffered from allergies for 10 years. Nothing was helping.   The diet I had to adhere to was very restrictive and depressed my family as I couldn’t enjoy simple things like ice cream with them. I was referred to BodyTalk for treatment.  I was very skeptical. As a nurse with knowledge of the immune system and allergies, I didn’t expect much but wanted results. To my surprise in just 3 sessions, I was able to drink milk for the first time in years!  I was so astounded that I became a BodyTalk practitioner.     I want to share this wonderful healing technique with everyone! It’s the greatest!” ~ Julia S., Ponte Vedra, FL
• “My doctor referred me to see Kim following an auto accident. I was in so much pain throughout my body.  The headaches were so severe I couldn’t think clearly.  After several BodyTalk sessions, the headaches cleared up and I could think again.  The stress of the accident reduced greatly and I was able to drive without fear of anything happening to me.” ~Sherica M., Jacksonville, FL
• “I was scheduled for hip replacement surgery when I was introduced to BodyTalk. I was suffering with post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) from previous surgeries. Just the thought of having surgery again frightened me so bad that I went into shock!  After 3 BodyTalk treatments, I could think about the surgery with minimal fear.  After the surgery, I received more treatments and my recovery was phenomenal! I was able to move from wheelchair to walker to cane within 48 hours!  I felt better than I had in more than 5 years!  The nurses kept asking me how I was able to heal so fast, and I kept telling them, “It’s the BodyTalk!”   Thank you, Kim for introducing me to this wonderful system of healing!”            ~ Coleman T., Jacksonville, FL

HSA Keeps You Going!

Did you know that you can use these accounts for …Therapeutic Massage , Natural Healing and Hydrotherapy?

The federal tax code states that a qualified expense “must be to alleviate or prevent a physical or mental defect or illness.”
Now is the time to get a flexible spending account (FSA), health savings account (HSA), or medical savings account (MSA) and use it to stay healthy!
For Natural Healing, Therapeutic Massage or Aqua-Chi (hydrotherapy) to  be covered, there are a few steps you’ll need to take:

1. Get a prescription for manual therapies and/or hydrotherapy from you doctor. A prescription is needed for these  to count as a qualified medical expense. Talk to your medical practitioner (any healthcare provider who can write a prescription).  The prescription makes it medically necessary and should be covered.
2. Make sure the prescription contains the proper information. The prescription should contain three pieces of information:  A) Length of treatment,  B) duration, C) reason for prescribing therapies.  An example may look like this: Monthly 90-minute therapeutic massage to treat chronic pain in upper back. Or Hydrotherapy for diabetic neuropathy, swelling/edema, etc.
3. Schedule your appointment. You won’t need to bring your prescription with you.
4. Get a “medical receipt” for your session. When you check in, let us know that you’ll need the receipt to submit. We’ll give you a receipt that has the documentation you need (such as insurance classification code and description of the therapeutic service). We can either print the receipt or e-mail it to you. And remember that even though an expense is approved, you could still get audited by the IRS. So keep your written prescription and your FSA debit or credit card statement.

If you don’t have an FSA or an HSA and are wondering what they are, here are some broad definitions:
A flexible spending account (FSA) is a tax-advantaged financial account that allows an employee to set aside a portion of his or her earnings to pay for qualified expenses, most commonly for medical expenses, and is offered through an employer’s cafeteria plan. Money deducted from an employee’s pay into an FSA is not subject to payroll taxes, resulting in a substantial payroll tax savings. The medical expense FSA (also medical FSA or health FSA), is similar to a health savings account (HSA), but medical FSAs are commonly offered with more traditional health plans. With most FSA, you must use up your funds each year.

An HSA is a tax-advantaged medical savings account available to people who are enrolled in a high deductible health plan. The funds contributed to the account are not subject to federal income tax at the time of deposit. HSAs are owned by the individual, and funds may be used to pay for qualified medical expenses at any time without federal tax liability. Unlike an FSA, funds roll over to the next year if not spent.If you don’t have one of these accounts, look into them now and reap the benefits!Health Savings of America US Govt GSA info

Yoga

Have you ever wanted to learn yoga, but were afraid it would hurt?

Not sure you would be able to complete the positions?

Now learn this wonderful art of movement with personalized attention!

We offer interactive classes that are stimulate confidence in one’s ability to heal. Techniques can be used daily for improved mobility and flexibility.

Exercise Without Movement is a series of yogic practices with benefits exceeding ordinary muscular movement. They are subtle exercises that vitalize muscles, senses, nervous system, and mind.  Exercise Without Movement is a systematic method; allowing the practitioner to travel along the pathways of action, from mind to muscle.  The process is carefully observed, and the health of each link in the process is promoted.  Now you can feel better without straining muscles or hurting recent or previous injuries.

John A. Reaves will be teaching Yoga in the Himalayan Tradition; an authentic living meditative tradition that dates back more than 7000 years.  John, himself receives the training and blessings from his Master, Yogarishi Deolal Mahabir, a direct disciple of Sri Swami Rama of the Himalayas.

Classes are held at :

Avondale Dance Directives

1650 Hamilton Street

Jacksonville, FL 32210

corner of Hamilton and St. Johns Avenue

(across the street from A New U! Healing Arts Center)

• Saturdays 11 a.m. to 12 p.m.
• additional times available
• Registration preferred, walk ins welcome!
• $10 Single class or Unlimited classes for $40.00/month.
• Private lessons $75/hour – Packages available

“I thought yoga would be difficult. But the way John teaches is relaxing and invigorating at the same time.” Claudia

“Exercise Without Movement has been a wonderful way to get in touch with myself and it makes my days their best.” anonymous

Combined Services

Our Combined Services make the most of your session by combining two or more of our all natural “green” healing services.

Energy Healing Package

Take healing to a new level.

30-60 minute BodyTalk or Quantum Touch followed by One hour Intuitive Touch Therapeutic Bodywork.   Feel the changes your body makes to  relieve stress and tension while balancing your chakras, meridians and releasing unhealthy patterns.

$225.00/175-190 minutes

Total Detox Package

Get rid of unwanted toxins that are slowing you down, making you foggy headed and sick!  This service will remove preservatives, heavy metals, lactic acid, toxins and more with three very effective therapies.

10-15 minute Far Infrared Sauna treatment (FIR) heat penetrates deep into the muscle relieving pain and spasms

One Hour Therapeutic bodywork/ massage moves toxins from the muscles into the  lymphatic system where they are removed during the

30 minute Chi Detoxifying Foot Bath treatment! Great for pain, tension, fatigue, lethargy and enhances your weight loss program.

$150.00/90 minutes

Stress Relief Package

Transform your stress, release tension and remove toxins  today!

One Hour  Relaxing Swedish  Massage followed by a toxin releasing

30 minute Aqua-Chi Detoxifying Footbath!

$125/90 minutes

Detoxification

Detoxification is the process of removing impurities, nicotine, caffeine, heavy metals, preservatives and toxins from the body using a non-invasive method, resulting in increased energy, improved thinking and overall health.

Consider Detoxification , If you have:

• unexplained headaches or back pain
• joint pain or arthritis
• memory loss
• depression/lack energy
• brittle nails and hair
• abnormal body odor, coated tongue or bad breath
• an unexplained weight gain
• psoriasis
• frequent allergies
• a history of heavy alcohol use
• a history of natural and synthetic steroid hormone use.
• an exposure to cleaning solvents, pesticides, diuretics and certain drugs www.LamMD.com

AQUA-CHI FOOTBATH

	Before Aqua Chi
	After Aqua Chi

The Aqua-Chi™ Detoxifying Foot Bath is a water energizing system that creates healing electromagnetic frequencies in the water that are transferred to your body through the feet. As bio-electrical beings, we all run low on energy and our cells become weighed down with toxins from everyday life.

Heavy metals, preservatives, pesticides and many other environmental impurities enter our bodies, reducing our ability to function and think clearly. You will feel tired, sluggish and fatigue easily. Your body absorbs the energy it needs from negative ions released into the water, rebalancing your bio-electrical field, increasing energy, improved thinking and overall health.

The Aqua-ChiI™ also helps cells release toxins that may cause disease. Even after your session, your body continues to detox resulting in mental clarity while at the same time balancing the meridians or energy channels.

Results include:

• Improved colon, liver and kidney function
• Reduced inflammation and joint pain
• Better sleep
• Accelerates weight loss programs with a rapid and safe approach to full body detoxification
• Helps diabetic neuropathy too!

• Single $45
• 4 Pack $145* (Value $180)
• NEW!!! 6 Pack $180 (Value $270)

Children: Age 12 and under $25**

Session length: 30 minutes

*4 Pack Expires 60 days from date of purchase

** Session time is approximately 15 minutes

To fully benefit from the Aqua-chi Detoxifying System, it is recommended that sessions be done weekly. Clients on medications or with special needs, i.e. neuropathy, are encouraged to receive treatments biweekly for best results.

Far Infrared Sauna Therapy – FIR

FIR is a form of naturally occurring energy that directly heats objects by gentle, invisible infrared radiation heat. It is completely safe for the human body. FIR heat is used to promote healing, reduce weight, release pain and
toxins. Hospitals use the same heat to keep premature babies warm in incubators. Physical Therapists use it for injuries, sprains and strains.

The benefits of FIR:
• Reduced stress and fatigue
• Reduces fat and cellulite
• Relief from muscle spasm, joint stiffness, aches and pain
• Improved muscle tone and strength
• Burn as much as 500 calories in 30 minutes
• Improved cardiovascular
• Improved immune funcition
• Improved respiratory and sinus congestion
• Revitalizes skin cells
• Increased detoxification of heavy metals and more!

Start feeling better today. Add FIR to your massage session for $10 for 10 minutes
Interested in detoxification, pain relief and weight/loss?

Packages available

Single use:

30 minutes-$27

45 minutes-$35

1 hour-$50
Packages:

6 – 30 minute sessions-$135

6 – 45 minute-$175

Article

DETOXIFICATION:

Toxins such as sodium, alcohol, nicotine, cholesterol and carcinogenic heavy metals (cadmium, lead, zinc, nickel) accumulate in the body during modern daily life. The body eliminates most toxins naturally by sweating. Sweat produced from a FIR sauna is 80-85% water and 15-20% toxins! Toxins excreted in a FIR sauna contain heavy metals, pesticides and other petroleum-based toxins, as well as fat itself. All of these toxic substances DO NOT appear in typical sweat, only in sweat produced from a FIR sauna.
Far infrared saunas are said to be up to 7 times more effective than a conventional sauna in regards to detoxification. Toxins that are stated to be removed include sulfur dioxide, carbon dioxide, lead, mercury, nicotine, alcohol, ammonia, sulfuric acid an other environmental and man made toxins. www.buzzle.com

PAIN RELIEF:

Heat relieves pain by expanding blood vessels and increasing circulation. Better circulation allows more oxygen to reach injured areas of the body and helps reduce pain and speed up the healing process. Arthritis Pain Relief. In Europe, radiant heat therapy is widely used to treat patients suffering from many forms of arthritis. The deep heat of our infrared sauna helps peripheral blood vessels dilate, bringing relief and healing to muscle and soft tissue injuries. It has been proven effective in the treatment of sprains, neuralgia, bursitis, muscle spasms, joint stiffness and many other musculoskeletal ailments. Increased blood circulation carries off metabolic waste products and delivers oxygen-rich blood to depleted muscles so they recover faster.  Muscles relax most readily when tissues are warm, promoting greater flexibility and range of motion. Much of the stiffness, aches and soreness that come with aging are reduced or eliminated.  Therapeutic Effects of Far Infrared Heat – Chapter 9 of Therapeutic Heat and Cold, Fourth Edition, Editors Justus F. Lehmann, M.D., Williams, and Wilkin.

Infrared Heat Therapy does the following :

• Relieves muscle spasms
• Increases blood flow
• Leads to pain relief
• Affects soft tissue injury
• Increases the extensibility of collagen tissue
• Assists in resolution of inflammatory infiltrated, edema, and exudes. http://www.chimachine4u.com/fir2.html

WEIGHT CONTROL:

Perspiring is part of the complex thermoregulatory process of the body that increases the heart rate, cardiac output, and metabolic rate. The process requires a large amount of energy and reduces excess moisture, salt and subcutaneous fat. Fat becomes water-soluble and the body sweats out fats and toxins. Burn up to 600 calories in a 30minute treatment.

Complete List of Bodywork Services

Each Session is customized to fit your individual needs. Our specially trained therapists use “gentle” techniques that enhance the session while reducing pain; allowing for a positive experience.

DETOX

Manual Lymph Drainage

Manual Lymphatic Drainage is a form of massage that stimulates the lymphatic system with gentle massaging strokes. This delicalte technique eliminates waste, toxins, excess fluid and bacteria from the body via the lymphatic system. The effects are numerous and include general benefits to the nervous and muscular systems. MLD is a great addition to other detox measures, as it encourages fluid flow in the connective tissues. It also promotes detoxification, facilitate healing and supports the immune system.

60 minutes…$100

Cupping Massage

Cupping is an ancient method of creating a vacuum by applying suction to the skin. This relieves stagnation and is used for releasing toxins, pain, tension and stress from the body. Contracted muscles will relax releasing trapped toxins that cause pain and stiffness while bringing in fresh nutrients. It is a very relaxing technique that enhances lymph drainage while reducing inflammation and swelling.

60 minutes…$100/Kimberly

30 minutes…$50

10 minute add/on…$15

HOLISTIC

BodyTalk Massage

BodyTalk works with the body’s in born wisdom to establish balance, synchronize and communication with the mind-body complex. The Therapist uses muscle testing to communicate with the body. This accelerates healing of injuries, releases pain, tension and stress followed by a therapeutic massage that relaxes you further enabling the body to complete the healing process. Highly effective for Fibromyalgia, fatigue, chronic pain, headaches, migraines, injuries and much more. One session equal to 2 or more therapeutic massage sessions.

60 minutes…$150

Quantum Touch Massage

Quantum Touch is a hands-on technique using gentle touch to transform structural alignments of the body, relax muscles, ligaments and tendons. Combined with massage, with this unique healing technique works well with chronic and acute pain, injuries, stress and more. Accelerates healing to equal 3 1-hour massage sessions.

60 minutes…$150

Intuitive Healing

A truly unique session in which your body communicates to create a customized treatment. Our healing hands are trained to interpret the messages and release tension, stress, pain and much more!

60 minutes…$100

90 minutes…$175

ORTHOPEDIC

Orthopedic/Medical Massage is performed to treat accidents, injuries and chronic pain. Prescription from treating physician is required when filing insurance.

Deep Tissue/Neuromuscular Therapy

This addresses deep layers of tissue. It can relieve painful trigger points and break down adhesions. Deep Tissue massage is ideal for the active person who works hard and plays harder.

60 minutes…$100/Kimberly                     $80/other Therapist

90 minutes…$120

Therapeutic Cupping

Cupping is an ancient method of creating a vacuum by applying suction to the skin. This relieves stagnation and is used for releasing toxins, pain, tension and stress from the body. Fascia is released, relaxing contracted muscles allow them to return to a normal length while releasing trapped toxins that cause pain and stiffness. It is a must for post surgical procedures as it relaxes the surrounding tissue and enhances lymph drainage while reducing inflammation and swelling.

60 minutes…..$100/Kimberly

30 minutes …$50

10 minute add on …$15

Quick Fix

Did you know that 70% of the population holds stress in their neck resulting in headaches, back pain and more? Let us remove it by concentrating on areas of your body that feel the most stress: your head, neck, back, and shoulders. This treatment is perfect for relief of pain caused by working on computers, driving, stress and tension.

30 minutes…$45

60 minutes…$80

RELAXATION

Great Escape Swedish

Relaxing, gentle, long strokes soothe tension and release stress allowing you to escape everyday life. Sessions include a warm table, refreshing lotion and caring hands. escape everyday life. Sessions include a warm table, refreshing lotion and caring hands.

60 minutes…$100/Kimberly                   $80/other Therapist

90 minutes…$120

Lava Shell Massage

Shells rubbed smooth by sand, heated from the inside with the life energy of the ocean. Each and every Lava Shell is 100% real Tiger Striped Clam Shell, ecologically obtained from the crystal waters of Polynesia. The shell is composed of calcium carbonate. When activated, heated ions are released to naturally enhance your experience.

60 minutes…$100/other Therapist

90 minutes…$140

The “Other” Breast Pain

Most, if not all women have some type of breast pain, especially during the time of the month when hormones surge prior to menses. However, I’m here to talk about a different type of breast pain.

Mine started several years after an auto accident had left me with permanent muscle damage in my upper body. I was in constant neck and shoulder pain. Then I started noticing pain shooting from my ribcage into my right breast. It was sharp, and it seemed to go straight into my breast. My grandmother died of breast cancer when I was a little girl and with a family history of breast cancer the odds are elevated in my case for the same type of cancer to be passed on to other family members. Was I the one that was going to carry on the legacy? Needless to say, I was frightened.

I did as all women do with this sort of problem and got a mammogram. The test results noted “microcalcifications in the lateral side of the right breast.” Being a student of clinical laboratory science at the time, I was able to decipher the terms to mean microscopic calcium deposits. “So what,” I thought. But the doctor was insistent that I get a biopsy since I had a family history of cancer. And being the stubborn type, I went to an herbalist friend and asked for something that would remove calcium deposits. She gave me a tincture that seemed to do the trick. The pain disappeared and I felt I had solved the problem, but did I?

Several months later the pain returned and once more I was even more frightened than the first time. I didn’t listen to the doctor, maybe he was right. Maybe the legacy was passed on to me! Now what! I returned to the doctor only to be yelled at for trying “alternative” measures and intimidated into getting a biopsy. The day of the surgery was terrifying! I had to go alone since my family lived in another city and couldn’t be with me. Here I was, 37 years old with the potential of having breast cancer and no one to be there to support me in this most traumatic time in my life. When I arrived for surgery, they had scheduled another mammogram. The technician took more than the usual amount of pictures. I thought, “it’s either really good or really bad.”

Sitting in the waiting room was horrible! I tried not to worry, but couldn’t help it! What if I have cancer? Where do I go from here? Thoughts kept shooting through my head of what may happen and what the results would be. Finally, the radiologist came out and called my name. He asked me what I was in there for and I told him that I was diagnosed with microcalcifications (microscopic calcium deposits) on the outside of my right breast. To that he told me that there was nothing there and the surgery was canceled. I felt the weight of the world fall off my shoulders. What a relief!

The pain kept coming back though, sometimes with a vengeance! I guess I have to live with it, I thought.

I finished my studies in laboratory science and went to work in a toxicology lab at a local hospital where I met Stanley*. He was a massage therapist that worked in the physical therapy department. He noticed my neck and shoulder stiffness from my injuries and encouraged me to consider massage as a method for pain relief.

I started letting Stanley work on me and the results were wonderful. My neck and shoulders felt so much better. It had been 8 years since the auto accident and it was a welcomed relief to not have so much pain. After some time Stanley started showing me the mechanics of muscles. He told me that muscles in the front of my body that were pulling my shoulders forward caused my neck and shoulder pain. These were the pectoralis muscles and the serratus anterior muscles located under and around my breast tissue. They were rounding my shoulders thus causing pain in the neck and shoulders by pulling them forward. He asked permission to work these muscles on the front of my body. I must admit at the time I was concerned of his motive. He was, of course, a “man” and I was in a vulnerable position. However, I soon learned that his intent was to help me feel better, that his training was to work injured/tightened muscles to relieve pain and nothing more. What a relief to find a professional that is truly interested in my feeling better!

By working these muscles, my pain would decrease further and I was able to stand straighter than I had in many years. The pain in my right ribcage that radiated into my breast was identified when Stanley worked my serratus anterior[1]muscles. The serratus anterior is one of the muscles of the shoulder girdle and pulls the shoulder blade forward when reaching. It can become contracted/tightened with over use like driving, office work and computers as well as trauma such as an auto accident. Mine had been in a static condition for a long time and when he massaged it, I felt much better. It also helped reduce the pain in between my shoulder blades!

Next came the pectoralis muscles[2]. The breast sits atop them making it difficult to work them without contact with the peripheral breast tissue. Nonetheless, I saw it as a necessary task to relieve rounded shoulders, neck, shoulder and midback pain. As he worked near my sternum and around my breast tissue, I could feel the shoulders relaxing and the pain in my neck and shoulders decreasing as the pectoralis muscles were being released.

“What a difference!” I thought as I got off the table. “I’ve been in pain for 8 years because of ignorance?” “Why hadn’t other medical professionals referred me to this type of therapy sooner?” “Don’t they know about this?” “ Why are they not sending more female patients to see a massage therapists for relief of neck, shoulder and back pain?” I thought. Now as a fellow therapist with Stanely, I am very conscious of my patients’ pain and the mechanics of their body. I, too, work these muscles, so they can have pain relief and become more aware of their body mechanics (posture) in an effort to correct and possibly eliminating the pain.

One thing I have learned from my experience with pain is to address it as soon as possible. Pain is the warning signal in your body alerting you of danger! It isn’t something to be ignored. Ask questions and keep seeking those answers until you get results! Don’t take one persons word especially if you “feel” there is another reason or answer to the cause of your pain. I have since learned to listen to my body and to seek out those that know the body on many levels not just allopathically.

The world of alternative medicine is expanding and joining forces with conventional medicine. Together, these forces are working to aid patients to heal on levels never before imagined. Find out for yourself what massage therapy can and will do for you. See it aid you to a better quality of life through pain relief and self-awareness.

* Names have been changed.

[1] Paul St. John Trigger Point Chart

[2] Paul St. John Trigger Point Chart

REVISED 01/07

Bra and Breast Cancer

Bras and Breast Cancer by Ralph L. Reed, Ph.D.

Although I am an environmental chemist (Ph.D in biochemistry), I have been doing a lot of literature research on breast cancer since I saw an article on the National Library of Medicine database over a year ago. That article documented an increase in breast cancer rates between women who do wear bras versus those who do not. That Harvard study fascinated me, and I searched the medical literature for possible explanations.

In January 1996, I discovered the book by Singer and Grismaijer and their explanation of impaired lymphatic flow intrigued me. I have since read everything that I can find on lymphatic flow. What I have found has amazed me, but that is another story. I can supply you with lots of information if you like. In essence, what Singer and Grismaijer found was that the odds of getting breast cancer dramatically increased with bra-wearing over 12 hours per day.

• Women who wore their bras 24 hours per day had a 3 out of 4 chance of developing breast cancer (in their study, n=2056 for the cancer group and n=2674 for the standard group).
• Women who wore bras more than 12 hours per day but not to bed had a 1 out of 7 risk.
• Women who wore their bras less than 12 hours per day had a 1 out of 152 risk.
• Women who wore bras rarely or never had a 1 out of 168 chance of getting breast cancer.
• The overall difference between 24-hour wearing and not at all was a 125-fold difference.

The results of this study are compelling, even considering that it was not a “controlled study” for other risk factors. Bear in mind that known (published in medical journals) risk factors for breast cancer are mostly in the range of less than three-fold differences. It should also be noted that Singer and Grismaijer surveyed bra-wearing behavior of the past, which is excellent for a disease with such a long development period.

In their book, the authors show how most of the known risk factors can be related to bra-wearing behavior and/or the lymphatic system. For example, breast feeding and pregnancy cause full development of the mammary lymphatics. Also, women of higher economic status have higher breast cancer rates, and one would expect that they would wear their bras more hours per day. Women who exercise have lower risk, which could relate to better lymphatic circulation (and I would add, more breast movement). To this discussion, I would like to add that lymphatic circulation in many tissues (especially the primary lymphatics) are highly dependent on MOVEMENT.

When you sit for a long time on an airplane flight, your feet and ankles can swell, because lymphatic circulation goes to near zero. Wearing a bra, especially a constricting one with under wires, and especially to bed, prevents normal lymphatic flow and would likely lead to anoxia (lower than normal oxygen content), which has been related to fibrosis, which has been linked to increased cancer risk.

Women evolved under conditions where there was BREAST MOVEMENT with every step that they took when they walked or ran. My reading of the scientific literature about lymphatic flow shows me that this may be as important as the constriction factor. Every subtle bounce of the breast while moving, walking, running, etc., gently massages the breast and increases lymphatic flow and thus cleans the breast of toxins and wastes that arise from cellular metabolism.

Of course, there may be other mechanisms for the damage that bras apparently cause. One such mechanism could be temperature. Breasts are external organs and have a naturally lower temperature. Cancers can be temperature-dependent. Breast cancer is hormone-dependent. Temperature can alter hormone function. Breast temperature changes throughout the monthly cycle.

All these facts are from the medical literature. By whatever mechanism, someone will eventually explain why Singer and Grismaijer found a 125-fold difference in cancer rates between bra-free breasts and those constricted by 24-hour-per-day bra-wearing. If you haven’t already done so, I suggest that you read the book by Singer and Grismaijer. (By the way, I have no connection to the authors; I think that they live in Canada.)

Also, just for an interesting experiment, the next time you walk down the street, notice visually how constricting bras are! On many women you can actually see “dents” around the sides of their chests where their bras are, even in something as opaque as a black t-shirt.

A physical therapist friend of mine, after reading Dressed to Kill, said that she was amazed at what she saw in her practice at a local medical clinic. She noticed how many women have red creases and grooves on the their bodies caused by their bras. Singer and Grismajer also suggest that you simply stop wearing one for two weeks and see how you feel.

By the way, I have heard that they are currently working on a new study. The research is to study whether benign fibrocystic breast disease can be treated by stopping bra-wearing for eight weeks. That should be very interesting; this time they are involving medical doctors, from what I’ve heard.

Years ago, many people thought that the idea of cigarettes causing lung cancer was funny. Even if further research with highly controlled studies only shows a difference of 5-fold, or even 2-fold, it will be no laughing matter.

This article is re-published with permission from A New U! Healing Arts Center.   The author, Ralph L. Reed, can be contacted at reedr@ucs.orst.edu.

Photos, flickr.com. The photographer of the picture to the right, writes, “Wearing no bra is an expression of my freedom.” The top picture clearly tells us what that photographer thinks about bras.

Editor’s Note; If you’re thinking about getting rid of some of your bras, you must read How to Make a Bra Purse. What a great way to recycle those bras and perhaps put them to better use!