Bear Street Therapeutic Massage Blog

We moved to a new location on Bear Street

pannala — Thu, 23 Jun 2011 04:45:21 +0000

#100, 205 Bear Street

Petra Annala, RMT has also expanded and provides her massage therapy services at the medical clinic in Lake Louise every Wednesday.

Massage Therapy Helps You Get the Most Out of Your Summer

pannala — Thu, 23 Jun 2011 04:32:58 +0000

As much as we enjoy the winter here in the Rockies, by the beginning of June we are craving sunny weather and embrace how the warmth of the sun and long daylight hours lift up our spirits. With a short summer and hopefully a nice fall ahead of us, we want to get the most out of every day.

Our mountain and road bikes get a tune up before we even hit the road or trails for the first time of the season. What about your body? If you listen to your body what does it tell you? Are your muscles still tight and achy from skiing and snowboarding but you are already on your bike? Implementing massage therapy into your summer program will help you achieve your goals in your favourite sport. Tight muscles are prone to injuries and only a fully lengthened muscle can be built up to its full strength.

A massage therapist looks at the body as a whole. When we prepare for mountain or road biking we think of the legs, but we have five points of contact. We use both arms for stabilizing, the glutes for balance, and our legs are the driving force. Massage therapy can help relieve you from discomfort between the shoulder blades, numbness in your hands towards the pinky finger, and release those tight hip flexors that can cause lower back pain.

If you are ready to enjoy your physical endurance and the speed of your bike with your best physical health, please give me a call to arrange for your massage appointment. I am now available for massage sessions in Banff and Lake Louise.

Bear Street Therapeutic Massage

Petra Annala, RMT

100, 205 Bear Street

Banff

200 Hector (Lake Louise Medical Clinic)

Lake Louise

Self-care in Between Massages Matters

pannala — Thu, 13 Jan 2011 04:41:44 +0000

Many of my clients ask me what they can do to participate in their healing process. Therapeutic massage is a deep treatment to the layers of muscles, working slowly and waiting for the muscles to respond and release. Self-care afterwards is an excellent way to prolong the benefits of the treatment. The most common form of self-care is stretching. Stretching benefits people of all ages. You can stretch at home, while travelling, sitting at your desk at work or while on your lunch break. Lengthening of your muscles gives you more flexibility and range of motion of the joints. You will notice that your posture, body awareness and coordination will improve by stretching regularly.

Stay injury free this winter and start your stretching routine today. Warm up before stretching by going through the range of motion of the joints. Then move slowly into the stretch position and hold the stretch for 15 – 30 seconds, repeat it three times in a row, three times a day to reset the muscle memory. All you want to feel is a bit of a stretch.

Make stretching a part of your daily routine and you will notice the progress you make.

Are You Drinking Enough Water?

pannala — Wed, 20 Oct 2010 03:02:07 +0000

I heard many explanations why people don’t drink enough water. I drink plenty of coffee, I don’t want to get up and use the bathroom at night, or I’m not thirsty. Did you know that not drinking enough water can give you headaches, can cause low blood pressure, muscle spasm, constipation and many more health problems? How much water should you drink a day and what do you look for? An adult should drink 2 – 3 litres of water a day. Look at your urine. Is it yellow or clear? If it is *yellow you have not had your daily minimum. Try to pay attention of how much water you drink. You can train yourself to drink more water by having water bottles with you at work. Your energy level is higher when you stay hydrated.

*Take note that the intake of vitamins or medications can change the colour of your urine.

Get A Head Start On Joint Stiffness!

pannala — Wed, 20 Oct 2010 02:54:47 +0000

Do you ever wake up in the morning feeling stiff and sore? Slowly you start moving your neck and shoulders. Your body is aching and you wonder why your muscles are so tense. Other mornings, your back is killing you. You have to get out of bed immediately and start moving around to warm up your muscles. Then there are those days at work where you sit in front of the computer and all of a sudden your neck is acting up? You are hurting and nobody around you can see it but you can feel it.

Joint stiffness decreases the range of motion of the affected joints. The most common causes for joint stiffness I treat clients for in my clinic are overuse, injuries, and inactivity. The stiffness of a joint can be the result of muscle tension and stress. If you are riding your bike for hours and hours all summer long the tightening of your quads and hip flexors can affect the joints of your lower back, hips, and knees. If the cause for joint stiffness is an injury you may experience inflammation of the joint and muscle splinting to protect the affected joint. Perhaps you enjoy reading a book and sit curled up on the couch or use the computer for hours a day your neck and back become stiff from not moving.

Prevent joint stiffness by exercising and stretching regularly. Keep your stress level low and join a yoga class. Drink enough water before, during, and after exercising to avoid muscle spasms.

Pathologies and different conditions can cause joint stiffness as well. Consult your doctor for proper treatment. Massage therapy may or may not be the right treatment for you.

Is it to early to say the C word?

pannala — Wed, 15 Sep 2010 20:37:16 +0000

CHRISTMAS! I know you are thinking fall has not even started yet. Once it hits the end of September you may say, “In four months it is Christmas. This year is flying by.” All of a sudden it is two days before Christmas and you don’t know how to surprise your loved ones. To make things easier for you and to encourage you to plan ahead of time to keep your Christmas stress level low, I thought I should let you know that I have gift certificates available. It is easy to buy the gift everybody loves – massage. Purchase a gift certificate before Dec 1^st for a one hour or longer treatment and you will receive a $10.00 discount. Call me at 403-760-0744 for your purchase arrangements.

The tip of the month with little effort but great result.

pannala — Wed, 15 Sep 2010 20:01:21 +0000

Most breaths we take are subconscious. In moments of stress people change their natural, full breathing to shallow breathing where only the chest rises and falls. Proper breathing methods will help you with depression, anxiety, muscle tension, and stress.

This is how you can start practicing conscious breathing for a healthier you.

Place one hand on your abdomen and your other hand on your chest. Inhale through your nose and feel your abdomen rise, your ribs expand, and your chest elevate. Exhale through your mouth.

Repeat several times a day and smile.

Nine easy “do’s” when it’s about massage therapy

pannala — Wed, 15 Sep 2010 19:46:53 +0000

Have you ever been in the situation where you are busy all day and don’t take the time to eat? You look at the clock and realize your massage appointment is in 30 minutes, and you don’t know whether you should eat first or not. Here are a few valuable hints that will allow you to get the most out of your massage treatment.

Before

1. Have a light meal 1 – 1.5 hours prior to your treatment.

2. Leave yourself enough time so you don’t have to rush to your appointment.

3. Wear comfortable clothing to be able to repeat the stretches I show you after your massage.

During

4. Say openly if the pressure is too much or too little.

5. Share if there are any areas you don’t want to have massaged or others you want more focus on.

6. Remember to breath.

After

7. Make sure you drink lots of water.

8. Take time to do your stretches to prolong the benefits of your massage.

9. Have an Epsom salt bath to relax your muscles even more (except if not recommended for health reasons).

Easy!

It’s your feet that keep you going!

pannala — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 04:27:54 +0000

Have you ever noticed how your favourite pair of runners wear out? How fast and how your shoes wear out is not only based on how often you wear them or the quality of your shoes. It also depends on the arches of your feet.

This article is about flat feet (medical term pes planus), its causes, signs and symptoms, and how it affects the body as a whole. The human foot has three arches. The medial longitudinal arch which is on the inside of your foot and is the highest one; the lateral longitudinal arch is on the outside of your foot. The third arch is called transverse arch and runs across the ball of your foot. The functions of the arches are weight bearing and propulsion.

Pes planus can be caused by congenital abnormalities of the bones in the foot and leg. One of the many causes of flat feet is poor posture. Do you stand for long period times with your feet wide apart which drops the inside of your arches? Muscle tightness and imbalances of the lower leg and foot are another possible reason. Trauma to the foot or ankle can also cause pes planus. Runners with low medial arches should ensure they have good shoes which support their arches and prevent further collapsing of the medial arch.

Before you wear your runners next time put them next to each other to see if they lean into each other. If they do and you experience foot pain or your feet feel tired, or if your knees and hips are aching, make an appointment with your health care provider to find out what you can do to become .