What Knots?
Volume I - Issue 10
"Some times, I sits and thinks. Some times, I just sits." Satchel Paige
You don't need a chill pill!
Every time someone new visits Alvino Massage, you fill out an intake form. This arduous task asks about what you do, your aches and pains and various physical activities you undertake. My favorite line on this form is “What do you do to relieve stress?”
The parade of answers varies as much as the people who visit. Most people do some sort of physical activity to relax, be it running, working out, or aikido. Others focus their energies on creative outlets like playing music or painting. Still others just like to watch television or play video games.
And a good chunk of people just enjoy a nice glass of red wine.
Of course, massage is a popular answer.
Are you looking to relieve stress on your own? My teacher was a proponent of breathing. He would remind us to stop “shallow chest breathing” and get in the habit of deep belly breaths. This helps get your body out of the sympathetic nervous system, also known as “fight-or-flight”.
Other helpful activities include laughter, hydration and simply sitting back and doing nothing.
Personally, I take a page from the silly poster my dad used to have up in the house. The poster was of a monkey and had the Satchel Paige quote, “Sometimes, I sits and thinks, and sometimes I just sits.” This mental break gives me the moments I need to organize my thoughts, my life, and to dream big.
Still need other ideas? Dance. Hot tub. Cook. Spend time with friends and family. Play chess. Enjoy nature. Walk a dog. Meditate. Take a nap. Or just take a deep breath.
November is Expiration Date Forgiveness Month!
Well, maybe it's not National expiration date forgiveness month. But in the spirit of relaxation, you can breathe a bit easier. If you have a discount, a voucher or a Groupon that has slipped past the expiration date, bring it in. Bring it in before Thanksgiving and I will be happy to honor it. Don't delay, schedule today!
New t-shirts are coming!
The lotus is a symbol abundant in Thailand. It often represents purity and enlightenment. Hidden within the elegant design are images of the most famous pose in Traditional Thai Massage.
You can pre-order the shirts today!
Or... I will just give you one. Do you have a smart phone? Do you have a Facebook account? The first time you check in with Alvino Massage before your appointment, I will hand you one of these lovely shirts.
"Like" Alvino Massage on Facebook today!
(if you happen to check in before they arrive, I'll even ship it to you free)
Customer Corner
Marina was one of the very first people in the United States to experience a Traditional Thai Massage from Dan. At the time, she lived abroad and stopped over in Denver to visit her family. Today, she lives in Denver full time. I'm not saying it's because of the massage...
Marina Bajszár is a Mind-Body Coach, passionate about researching and teaching empowered techniques and different methods to "Let it Go, Laugh & Leap Forward!". Now based in Denver, CO, she is Certified in FasterEFT and is also a Laughter Yoga Teacher and a Life Coach. She uses a combination of all her training to empower, transform and facilitate deep changes in clients all over the world via Skype or in person sessions. You can visit Let it Go, Laugh & Leap Forward! for more information.
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Volume I - Issue 9
“Tension is who you think you should be. Relaxation is who you are” ~ Chinese proverb
SPECIAL OFFER - Scroll down for details!
Moves Over My Hammy
The number one cause of face grimacing this month has been in the hamstrings.
Most people who come to Alvino Massage have tight hamstrings. The hamstrings are a group of three muscles running down the back of your thigh. These muscles are the semitendinosus, semimembranosus, and the long and short heads of the bicep femoris.
Why are my hamstrings so darn tight? In most cases, it is because we spend the majority of our lives sitting down. We sit to have breakfast, and then sit to drive to work, sit in front of a computer, and sit to watch TV at night. Every time we sit, our hamstring muscles are inactive and held at the shortened length. We’ve been doing this since we were sitting at our desks as wee school kids.
Tight hamstrings can result in limited motion of the pelvis and increase stress in the lower back. These muscles also play a role in hip extension, knee flexion and rotation, walking, running, sprinting, jumping… in other words you use them all the time.
Traditional Thai Massage emphasizes work on the hamstrings. People often come in looking for neck and back work. In a typical routine, there are six moves each for the neck and back. There are nine moves for the hamstrings alone!
Remember, aches in your body are not isolated. Helping your hamstrings help your knees and lower back.
Groupon Folks, Thank You!
Over the past six months, I have met HUNDREDS of new people. Each experience has been unique and fulfilling in ways my old desk job never came close to you. Your kind words and nice reviews have reinforced that this is what I want to do when I grow up!
Sincerely, thank you for helping me realize my dreams. Thank you for taking a chance on this wacky type of massage I learned in Thailand. I look forward to seeing you again.
As a special thank you, purchase a massage at regular price this week and receive a free 30 minute upgrade when used by 12/31/2011!
Customer Spotlight
Have you ever noticed the nice aroma when walking in to Alvino Massage? Melissa provides a very nice scent warmer from Scentsy. Our lease doesn't allow us to burn candles, so this warmer is a perfect solution for us.
Melissa Gartland Independent Scentsy Consultant
Scentsy Candles Products are a safe alternative to scented candles! Our Warmers melt and warm the wax releasing the fragrance into the air which means – NO BURNING. This makes your home safer for you, your family and pets. With Scentsy you say goodbye to soot for good!
With over 40 Candle Warmers (Full and Mid Size), 20 Plug-ins and 80 different scents to buy, we have something for everyone. We have an ever growing list of Scentsy Candle Products! Additionally, we’ve got some Fragrances on the Go as well such as our NEW Scentsy Buddy’s, Scent Pak, Fragrance Foam, Room Spray, Scent Circles, Travel Tins, and the new solid perfume!
You can check out the site anytime at Melissa's Scentsy Site
Do you own a business or provide a service in town and would like to be featured in the customer spotlight? Please contact Dan for details!
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Volume I - Issue 8
Now, that's a stretch!
There are a few reasons people get a massage. Some people come in to relax. Others come in to soothe specific issues. Regardless the reason, almost everybody walks in to Alvino Massage with tight muscles.
Often during your session, we reach that one muscle that makes you jump a little. You think to yourself, “Why does that hurt so much?” After that, you might ask me, “How do I stretch that?”
Stretching loosens your muscles. Stretching is refreshing. When I am sitting for several hours, nothing feels better than standing up reaching in every direction. Stretching before exercise can help you avoid muscle cramps. Gently stretching an area that is cramped can help alleviate the problem.
Stretch before exercise. Stretch after exercise. Stretch when you are watching the finals of America’s Got Talent on TV. Stretch when you feel you need to. Most people should stretch a little more than they do.
There are a few basics to remember. Don’t stretch too far. You should never stretch yourself to the point where you hurt. Get to a good comfortable point in your stretch where you feel something happening. You can go a little further next time. Don’t bounce! There are stretching techniques where bouncing is good, but these are generally under the guidance of a professional. Bouncing while stretching can lead to injury. Stretching is most effective when your muscles are warm.
Alvino Massage will help you by applying passive stretching. Whether you are receiving a Traditional Thai Massage or a Integrated Therapeutic Table Massage, stretching techniques applied by your therapist can significantly help problem areas in your body.
During your massage, your therapist will spend time warming up your muscle lines before applying a passive stretch. Depending on the goal, a stretch may last a few seconds to a few minutes. Sometimes, the stretch will be repeated to achieve the desired results. Traditional Thai Massage is a full body routine that will stretch darn near every part of your body. Stretches can be gentle enough for the least limber of us. They can be expanded so even a Yoga instructor will benefit.
There are hundreds of resources online that demonstrate different stretches. If there is a specific muscle you have a question about, talk to your physical therapist or doctor for specific recommendations. When you are getting it worked on at Alvino Massage, remember, communication will make your session that much better!
New Hours!
Alvino Massage now has appointments available everyday of the week!
Our new hours are: Generally available - Except during Bronco Games!
Run, Walk -n- Roll for Ataxia
Alvino Massage is a proud volunteer at the the Run, Walk -n- Roll for Ataxia, happening on Saturday, September 24, 2011 in Denver’s City Park.
This is The Greater Denver Ataxia Support Group's inaugural fund and awareness raising event in celebration of International Ataxia Awareness Day. All proceeds and donations from this noncompetitive 5K will go to The National Ataxia Foundation for ataxia research.
Ataxia is a rare neurological condition affecting balance, coordination and speech. There is no cure; ataxia symptoms progress at varying rates; many ataxias are inherited; it manifests at any age to include childhood; and ataxia can cause premature death.
The September 24th event is a "donation only" event; however, the recommended minimum is $30.00. Registration and donations are encouraged on the web site, www.denverataxiawalk.org, but is also available at City Park from 8:00-8:45 am on event day. The run/walk will start at 9:00 am and is followed with snacks, music and booths (to include free massage and more). Come join us, have fun, learn about ataxia and enjoy!
*Wheelchair participants are encouraged to "roll" with us.
Customer Spotlight
Scot Smith is the owner of Rocky Mountain Apparel in Denver and has been a customer at Alvino Message for nearly a year. Rocky Mountain Apparel handles all the screen printing and embrodery needs for Alvino Massage.
Rocky Mountain Apparel in Denver Colorado, has been producing high quality Screen Printing, Embroidery, Promotional Products, Banners, and Graphic Design services for over 20 years to Colorado and beyond. We have a very large variety of apparel and promotional products to choose from and can screen print or embroider on just about anything. Our staff has many years of combined experience in all areas of the services we provide and we strive for excellence. We feel the need to keep updated on new processes and techniques, so we are always learning to offer you every possible solution in one location.
For more information please look them up online at: www.RockyMountainApparel.com
Interested in being in customer spotlight? Email Dan today!
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Volume I - Issue 7
Foot Fault: Plantar Fasciitis
Autumn is just around the corner. The fall is my favorite season of the year. The days are cooler, the nights are still mild, and football will soon take up the weekends. For those of you who watch sports, you are familiar with a very strange sounding condition that surely will take someone out of your fantasy football lineup: Plantar Fasciitis.
According to a study conducted at Virginia Commonwealth University, plantar fasciitis occurs in 10% of the U.S. population over a lifetime. Plantar Fasciitis is a soft tissue disorder which results in a very painful inflammation on the bottom of your foot. The plantar fascia generally has microscopic tears.
Proper diagnosis of this condition can only come from your doctor or physical therapist. Some tell tale signs of plantar fasciitis include sharp pain or tenderness during your first steps in the morning. Generally, the pain subsides after your foot warms up. There are several sources of this condition. Activity, such as running on uneven surfaces, can cause these microscopic tears. It can also stem from obesity or sudden weight changes, tight Achilles tendons, problems with the arch of your foot or poor shoes.
If you have been diagnosed by a doctor with plantar fasciitis, massage therapy can help. With an extended foot routine, strokes can be applied to the bottom of the foot to help lengthen the muscle to relieve stress. This can be a fairly uncomfortable routine, but can be effective. Your massage therapist can do this during a Traditional Thai Massage or Deep Tissue Massage.
Remember, plantar fasciitis did not happen overnight. There is not one solution to make it go away. Addressing the issues that caused it, exercise on your own, and massage therapy will help.
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Volume I - Issue 6
IT Band and Tensor Fasciae Latae – Not music at a coffee shop
by A. Dan Vigil
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Every week at Alvino Massage in Denver, I talk to somebody who tells me their IT band is tight. People correctly point to the portion of their thigh where the IT band sits. I find this issue is generally misunderstood.
The IT band is known in medical circles as the iliotibial tract (or iliotibial band). Though most people think of the IT band as a muscle, it is really much more like a tendon that attaches muscles to bones. The iliotibial tract is the tendon like tissue that connects your tensor fasciae latae (TFL) to the outside portion of your tibia bone. In other words, it connects the muscle on the outside of your pelvis to your shin bone. For the record, the IT band itself is generally not the problem. Tight IT bands come from an overused TFL. The TFL moves your thigh outward (abduction) and assists with flexion and the internal rotation of your hip. The TFL also assists when your glutes aren’t a strong enough form of stability. In short, when the TFL is overused, it pulls the IT band. Generally, runners and cyclists have the tightest IT bands. The surfaces you exercise on, the condition of your shoes and sudden increases in your workout regiment can play a factor in tight IT bands. |
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Many home remedies include massaging your thighs, quads and hamstrings manually or with an object like a foam roller. Consult your doctor or physical therapist for proper stretching techniques. At Alvino Massage, we can address your IT bands in a number of ways. Through Traditional Thai Massage, your therapist carefully warms up all the muscles of the hip, thigh and gluteal area. Then, a series of gentle stretches are applied to the muscles and IT Band. Through Therapeutic Deep Tissue Massage, your therapist may choose to warm up the area with myofascial techniques. Various techniques are used to work the glutes and hamstring attachments. Then, deeper strokes are often applied with a broader surface, like the palm of the therapist’s hand. Through a regiment of well paced exercise, self stretching, and regular massage, tightness of your IT Bands can be significantly minimized. Dan Vigil is the proprietor and a therapist at Alvino Massage. |
Quick Info
Book Online
(303) 900-2739
612 Washington Street
Suite 109 - Denver
60 Minutes for $75
90 Minutes for $110
120 Minutes for $140
by appointment only
Hours:
Generally Available
except during Bronco Games