Adult Massage

 

ADULT MASSAGE How often do you get a massage?  Just like chiropractic care you might need more massages closer together in the beginning of care, and when you are in the maintenance care once per month is the norm.   Is it necessary?   I would put massage and chiropractic adjustments as my top 2 self care visits per month.  Your body is the only one you get in this lifetime.  I would do what you need to do to keep it moving optimally.   When should I get one (before or after an adjustment)?  I don't feel it matters which way I get these bodyworks done, but I always make sure I get adjusted when I get a massage.  If your body is protecting a subluxation and you don't take care of the subluxation then your body will get too loose in an area that needs protecting and you can feel much more sore after a massage.   What type of massage do you need?  I would highly recommend a therapeutic massage vs a relaxation massage when you are trying to treat issues in your body.

Water Intake Water is one of the most important things you can give yourself daily.  On average you should consume half your body weight in ounces.  If you weight 200 pounds that is 100 ounces.  You can get some of it in your foods.  Fruits are high in water content.     Moist Heat Pack Sometimes after a massage you can have some soreness.  My top two suggestions for reducing soreness is to drink extra water, and use a moist hot pack.

Infant Massage

 

Infant Massage Massaging an infant is good for the baby and the one giving the massage.  Babies NEED touch.  They THRIVE with touch.  Studies have shown that when a baby is neglected of touch it causes failure to thrive.   There are so many ways you can massage a baby.  I would highly recommend light touch to start and work to medium light if the baby seems to be enjoying it.  You can start at their feet and work your way up their legs.  Then massage the belly in a clockwise circle.  This will help with bowel elimination and gas issues.   The best time to massage a baby is during the non-fussy times of the day.  For most that can be right after a bath which is a perfect time to get oils on the baby's skin too.   Have fun interacting with your sweet babies.  If you have any questions, please feel free to ask me! Coconut Oil Coconut oil can be an excellent source for oil during your infant massage.  (There are rare times when someone can be allergic to coconut oil so test in a small area before you try all over the body) Essential oils You can add some essential oils to your coconut oil to make the massage even more relaxing or to help stimulate things such as a bowel movement.  If you are not sure which are safe or not please contact Dr. Felicia and she can help!  She sells DoTerra essential oils at the office.

Yoga

 

Yoga Yoga and I have a love/hate relationship.  I don't get excited to do yoga, but once it's over I feel great.  Do you feel the same way about yoga?  Do you feel like you have to be uber flexible to do it?  Are you intimidated to be in groups while doing practicing yoga?  I had ALL the same questions.   What I do know is that yoga can be an excellent, low impact way to exercise.  It will strengthen and stretch muscles you didn't realize you had.  ;) I absolutely love doing yoga at home.  All you need is a mat and way to access YouTube.  And it's free.  It's also fun to do with your kids.   Yoga by Adriene If you've never heard of Yoga by Adriene you are MISSING OUT!  She has some AMAZING 30 day challenges and she is always adding to her collection.   She is so relaxing to listen to and she is great for all skill levels.  You can access her HERE.   I have done many of her challenges and always feel a huge improvement by the end of each one.  If you are a dog lover you're gonna love Benji.   Prenatal Yoga Gail Tully from Spinning Babies and Sarah Longacre from Blooma Yoga have done a very fun video for Prenatal Yoga.  You can purchase a digital copy HERE or you can purchase a CD of it at my office for $10 plus tax.  These two women have been a HUGE asset to prenatal care and BOTH are from the Twin Cities area.  How lucky are we?

Tummy time!

 

Tummy Time Tummy time is crucial for infant spinal curvature development.  When a baby is on their tummy it forces them to lift their head which promotes their cervical (neck) curvature.  Then when they are strong enough they are able to push up their upper half of their body and develop their lumbar (lower back) curvature.   The curves in your spine are SOOOO important.  They are the shock absorption for your spine.   Tummy time is also crucial for many brain functions.  I could go on and on about how important it is.  I will just list a few of my favorite reasons why:  1. Curvature development 2.  Horizontal eye tracking 3.  Muscle development for crawling   4.  Hind brain development

baby bare This book written by Stephanie Johnson is one of the BEST books for new parents.  It would be an excellent gift to any expecting mom.  The book goes into great detail the developmental stages of infants and how to do SIMPLE things to encourage better curvature and brain development.  It is easy to read and so knowledgeable.  To order or check out her website you can click HERE Cervical curves Our cervical curve is so important.  When we jut our heads forward (forward head carriage) we slowly lose our cervical curve.  It also requires our neck and upper back muscles to continuously carry our heavy head.  It would be like carrying a bowling ball with our outstretched arms instead of up close to our body.  It is SOOOO much work and a major cause of tension headaches.