Hey there! John here and I hope you are kicking butt in your fitness and fat loss goals. What I want to talk about today is the importance of showing some love to those muscles that get you through the day and through those hard fitness workouts.
A lot of clients in our San Jose Bootcamps have been talking about tight muscles, soreness in muscles, feelings of knots or extra tension etc. This is bound to happen not only with life’s circumstances but through all of your workouts, whether they be walking or intense exercises like in the bootcamps.
Think about it. You go to work at a computer and you’re sitting all day with your head slightly leaned forward and bad posture….for hours and hours Mon-Fri each and every week. Just think about how all the muscles in your neck, shoulders, hips, and low back will tighten up from being in position so long. Add to that the fact that are 2 most powerful core muscles, our butt (glutes) and abs are being turned off and this is a bad situation.
Now toss in some intense workouts and cardio exercise….and most likely minimal stretching (since many of us don’t make the time to do it!) and these muscles are begging for some love.
Enter Massage Therapy and Myofascial Release.
I was able to discuss this type of Massage Therapy with Robert and Doreen, owners of Roman Paradigm Massage Therapy. I have had numerous massages from their therapists and all I have to say is “Wow.” They blend the perfect amount of deep tissue, therapeutic, and relaxing type of massage that you may be looking for as well. Now on to the importance of massages!
Simply put, fascia is a thin tissue that covers all the organs of the body. This tissue covers every muscle and every fiber within each muscle. When muscle fibers are injured, the fibers and the fascia which surrounds it become short and tight. This uneven stress can be transmitted through the fascia to other parts of the body, causing pain and a other symptoms in areas you often wouldn’t expect. Myofascial Release and massage therapy treats these symptoms by releasing the uneven tightness in injured fascia.
With the feedback from feeling the patient’s body, the therapist can tell how much force to use, the direction and how long to focus on a particular area. Many times the therapist will be able to find sore spots just by feel. Often, patients are unable to pinpoint some sore spots or have grown used to them until the massage therapist finds them. The size and sensitivity of these sore spots, called Myofascial Trigger Points, will decrease with treatment. Imagine rolling a clump of dirt between your fingers until it disintegratesmaking it easier for the body to flush out waste and restore your full range of motion. Not to mention leave you feeling de-stressed and giving your muscles the ability to recover!
I’ve shown a few of you how to do some Self-Myofascial Release by using both “The Stick” as well as a “foam roller.” However, nothing takes the place of a great Massage Therapist. For more info on Roman Paradigm you can CLICK HERE or call them directly at (408) 247-1169. If you want a great experience like I had and need to loosen up or even de-stress, then get on it asap, your body will thank you! Or, if you can wait, ask for it for xmas!! 
Listed below are some additional benefits of massage therapy just in case you needed it.
Have a great rest of your week and remember to take care of those muscles!
Dedicated to your success,
John Heringer
More benefits of Massage Therapy:
- Alleviate low-back pain and improve range of motion.
- Assist with shorter, easier labor for expectant mothers and shorten maternity hospital stays.
- Ease medication dependence.
- Enhance immunity by stimulating lymph flow—the body’s natural defense system.
- Exercise and stretch weak, tight, or atrophied muscles.
- Help athletes of any level prepare for, and recover from, strenuous workouts.
- Improve the condition of the body’s largest organ—the skin.
- Increase joint flexibility.
- Lessen depression and anxiety.
- Promote tissue regeneration, reducing scar tissue and stretch marks.
- Pump oxygen and nutrients into tissues and vital organs, improving circulation.
- Reduce postsurgery adhesions and swelling.
- Reduce spasms and cramping.
- Relax and soften injured, tired, and overused muscles.
- Release endorphins—amino acids that work as the body’s natural painkiller.
- Relieve migraine pain.
Awesome post John very interesting and informative, thank you.
@Robert, thanks for having great massage therapists!