This picture shows the "guns" of the arm, the Biceps muscle of the upper arm. This seems to be the muscle that most people fantasize over. What is also seen here are the nerves that send the information to the muscle to have it to do what it does. Not to worry I am not going into one of my dissertations on the neuro muscular systems!

What I wanted to discuss here are the important qualities of enhancing the electrical circuits to the mechanical circuits, as most of you know I revert to my Pipefitting days frequently. In my last couple of blogs I have been discussing the importance of monthly Massage work to keep the body in proper working order. I will continue that discussion but wanted to interject this information to help you understand better the mind body connection.

At our studio we offer Fundamental Movement Therapy(sm) classes using Pilates based exercise equipment. Jarvis Wrazen our Director of FMTh(sm) has recently started circuit classes to enhance the students' experience. 

What is Fundamental Movement Therapy(sm)? Why would it work well with the  CVWC Club Massage? 

The answers to these two questions are simple, full body Wellness! What Fundamental Movement Therapy(sm) provides the body is a direct re-connection from the brain to the tissue that is needed to move the skeleton in the most efficient and functional manner. What the regular Massage work provides is keeping the Fascia, Ligaments, Tendons, and Muscles supple, and ready to respond to the needs of the body in their movement patterns. Connecting the two protocols will be your insurance policy to aide in avoiding pain. As the tissue becomes more responsive and the activation of proper movement to the skeleton, many great qualities begin to happen and become more and more enhanced.

You make ask now, how does this help me avoid pain? When we strengthen our musculature in movement- we also strengthen the nerve responses to those muscles, so that in those moments of clumsiness our brain is able to respond to protect us. If those nerve responses are weak our fight or flight mechanism takes over and shuts a majority of the muscular skeletal system down. When this process takes place we are more susceptilbe to injury and eventual pain. 

I "stretch" and "exercise" daily, so I am strong enough? As we discussed in our "Stretching 101" course being hyper-mobile in our joints is actually more of a liability than an asset.

So why Fundamental Movement Therapy(sm) and especially this Circuit Class? Now that you have tried our CVWC Club Massage and have promoted healthy circulation to the body's tissue system you need now to strengthen the functions. Understand the Massage itself, when properly applied, is an exercise in to itself. The manipulation of the tissue actually increases the heart rate and the relaxation one experiences is the fact that fresh blood and oxygen is being processed. So consider your one hour CVWC Club Massage your exercise for the day.

Fundamental Movement Therapy(sm) strengthens the connection between the brain and the movement mechanics of the body. What the circuit class enhances is the body's ability to respond to consistent and different movements. Why is this important to me? Well in our day to day activities we multi task all of the time and encouraging and strengthening our nerve to muscle response once again will help us get through those times when we might traumatize ourselves.  How does this happen? Once someone becomes proficient in understanding the application of movement as it relates to the machines the body's efficiency is enhanced. As the body becomes stronger, not only muscularly but also neurologically and hormonally, challenging the mechanism will help develop the ability's to respond. What Jarvis has done is develop a pattern of movements that force the brain to respond while keeping the heart at a good pace and creating the proper hormone responses. My recommendation is if you want a good exercise day without injuring the tissue and changing the internal tensions, this is it.

Questions can be answered by a simple phone call to 216.364.0152 or an email to appointments@chagrinvalleywellness.com. Chagrin Valley Wellness Center is a full service center that takes all of your Wellness needs to heart. Our goal is to give one HOPE that they will feel better. 

a Reason to HOPE! - THE ANSWER IS IN PROPER MOVEMENT

Dennis

Just some random thoughts on remodeling. Not your house or office but your muscular tension.

As many of you know I was fortunate enough to develop and grow Muscle Release Therapy, MRTh® over the last 20+ years. During this development period I often felt like I was reaching a point where I believed I was almost there and all of a sudden something happens and I am Blessed to find something or some way new to better the structure.

For those who have studied with me know the premise of the work follows this pathway:
• function = movement
• structure determines movement
• movement reveals structure

Many also know that Buckminster Fuller's theory on Tensegrity is a major portion of the theory behind Muscle Release Therapy, MRTh® and Fundamental Movement Therapy(SM).

What does this have to do with remodeling? I have incorporated this theory as a part of the therapy process now.

At conception our cellular DNA or paradigm is formed with a specific set of parameters. As we develop a specific hydrostatic pressure or tension is placed on the cells to help maintain those boundaries and form our shape, organs and gives our connective tissue a blueprint of growth to follow.

At birth we are forced out into gravity and it is at this time that our muscle fibers need to start to develop strength. It is the muscle fibers function to offer the proper contraction to now maintain this paradigm.

The muscle fibers receive the most direct blood flow of all the connective and soft tissues. The Fascia, Ligaments, and Tendons in this order are somewhat vascular but not to the same degree.

Because of this phenomena the muscle fibers are more like the clay that the potter works with. When trauma strikes and there is a shifting of the parameters the muscle fiber is the only structure the needs to change to hold dynamic tension. The other three fibers are part of the connective tissue matrix!

What I have been blessed to discover is how to coax these muscle fibers back to the original DNA paradigm so that a proper Tensegrity is reestablished and a more pain free lifestyle is attained. This is remodeling.

I will continue to expound on this theory as we progress in this blog. This is an exciting time in the continued growth.

If you would like to learn more about Muscle Release Therapy, MRTh® go to our web site. We will be offering another course in the Fall of 2013. It is 9 weekends and a total of 96 clock hours of intense study and hands in work. Call Kathy @ 216.364.0156 or email her @ Kathy@chagrinvalleywellness.com.

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

A new Reason to HOPE!

Dennis

FEET. Those appendages at the end of our legs, meant to propel us through life. How we use and abuse them! Stuffing them into all sorts of restrictive footwear or, the other extreme, flip-flops, which we hang onto with our toes while the heel tries to find its base.

How do your feet feel by the end of the day?

The feet can determine much of what is happening in the rest of the body. Let's look at some of the dis-eases that occur in the foot.

There are fallen arches, high arches, ankles that are shifted in most cases toward the middle of the body, bunions, hammer toes, supination (walking on the outside of the foot) or pronation (walking on the inside of the foot), neuromas, broken bones, plantar fasciitis, strains, and strains.

All of these can and will affect how the foot hits the ground as you walk. Injuries to the foot can bring about compensations that will be felt higher up the line of the body. These can include rotation of the hips or the leg itself, what appears to be a shorten leg, rib shifts or rotations, shoulder rotations, jaw discomfort, or a tilted head, to name a few.

A goal of structural intergration is to give the body a sound base from which to move. As part of a session, the feet, along with the rest of the body, are viewed to find the rotations, shifts, or tilts, and how they can be affecting the rest of the body.

Does the big toe hit the ground? If not, it may mean the muscles on the outside of the lower leg are more contracted than the opposing muscles.

Does the lower leg sit on top of the ankle, as it is designed to do? If not, looking at the arches and the muscles that control the arches and addressing those that are contracted, long, or short may be the answer.

Plantar Fasciitis is a common problem, which may be resolved by addressing the muscles in the calf, as the fascial attachment continues on to join the plantar fascia of the foot.

Other issues may not be totally resolved; however, the goal is to bring the body into a more comfortable and balanced, unified whole.

This picture is what everyone envisions as a Massage and they are correct. As in any profession there are fundamental principles that all students learn and practice as they begin to hone their trade. It is no different in the Massage world as every student is taught the benefits and movements of Massage.

What differentiates one individual person from the next? Education is the primary differential between most Massage practitioners. In the State of Ohio there are over 11,000 Massage Therapists licensed by the Medical Board. We do hold the distinction as being the only state requiring a limited medical practitioners license to practice Massage Therapy. We were all students of state approved schools that issued a diploma stating that we completed all of the necessary requirements to sit for the exam. 

There are many non-licensed practitioners as well in this state who might have gone to a school and for one reason or another were not able to pass the exam. There are also practitioners who have gone to schools to receive a certificate to perform massage but because of legislation are not permitted to hold themselves out as therapists. A therapist is able to treat disorders to the human body, whereas the practitioner moves to relax the body.

In last weeks blog I recommended that everyone should receive a Massage every month. It helps to reduce stress to the body itself which helps promote wellness in the tissues and organs. But is every Massage equal? No, far from it! The individual receiving the Massage should have expectations of what, as any consumer should, they are to receive. As the practitioner moves through your bodily tissue they should be able to detect if there are underlying problems that exist and be able to advise you of them and what course of action is available for you to take. 

An example of this is, that tightness and restriction of movement in your neck and shoulders, what is the cause. The practitioner should be educated enough to inform you of not only the cause but some of the long term issues that can present themselves. Like your car, your body needs a tune-up and a bumper to bumper inspection. 

That is what the CVWC Club Massage is meant to do. Your therapist, all of the therapist here are licensed, will keep track of what they find and give you a report each and every time you come in. Although the session is not "Therapeutic" in nature, any time anyone places their hands on you therapy happens. You as the consumer have every right to expect that individual to be an expert in their profession. 

In many instances we have been able to prevent a painful situation from developing by advising individuals of these future issues that they may face. Also, by tending to these issues you can rest assured that all of those tissues I discussed previously are being placed in the healthiest position possible. 

If you have questions about the CVWC Club Massage  and its many benefits please give us a call. One of the therapists would gladly discuss with you just how it will help you in the long term. Remember the CVWC Club Massage is priced so that you will want to have that luxury once a month. Call 216.364.0152 or email us at appointments@chagrinvalleywellness.com. 

remember HOPE for the best!


Dennis