Low back pain. We are all familiar with it. Why?
Well, often times it is because we sit a lot. Among standing, laying and sitting, the latter is the worst you can do for your low back. Especially if you add slouching to it as well. What it does is shortens the muscles that flex (bend) your hips – psoas, iliopsoas. And when these guys get tight, you feel it all the way at the back.
What to do?
There are plenty of exercises available on YouTube, just search for ‘psoas stretch‘. What I would like to share is an exercise for ‘lazy’ people. Like me. ))
Being lazy comes at a price however – you would need  to buy and assemble an equipment called Egoscue Tower. I have to say it is worth the trouble, if you have a desk job and spend many hours sitting.

To see a demo that is slightly different (stretching one leg at a time) from my picture above, check out this official Egoscue YouTube video.

My personal experience has been very positive with both self stretching and using the tower. Low back pain? What low back pain? )))

I was watching a Massage Conference webinar last night talking about neck pain and whiplash injuries. Besides learning that an overwhelming 50 to 100 million of Americans have neck injuries (usually caused by rear-end collisions, etc), there was a picture that attracted my attention titled Normal Range of Motion for the Neck. I think it is kind of cool to actually see what a healthy neck should move like.

Have a look, try it on yourself in all directions. And if that neck of yours is not moving too well, perhaps it is time to pay a visit to your  massage therapist ))

When you have a knot in your shoulder or an annoying painful spot somewhere, what do you do? Press on it, rub it, touch it. Right?
Well, there is a simple invention that pretty much does that and helps with pain in the neck and head. It is called Ben`s Block.
I had been using it every day for the last two months or so, and am happy with the results. Every night, while in bed, I lay on it for 3-4 minutes, changing the spot every thirty seconds. There are three options on each block that you can choose from – sharp, semi-sharp and rounded, depending on the severity of your pain. You just need to choose the angle that works for you. I`m using the sharpest one and you can probably see that it is pretty pointy on the picture above.

Why does it work? Well, it is similar to trigger point work – you press on a tense spot for half a minute or so, and muscle is forced to let go some of its tension. Why does it happen? Well, because after you pressed on something, and then released it, the blood flows faster to that area and brings in the nutrients. The stagnant spot is then ‘hydrated’ so to speak and relaxes a bit by bit.

You can watch a video and read more details on the website, if this little device looks interesting enough for you. The inventor holds Ph.D. in Sports Medicine and Education and has 45 years of experience working with muscles, by the way. ))

I am putting my Anti-Cellulite tips under one roof – the Facebook`s that is.
I am posting there quite regularly. The advices range from Foods that fight off cellulite to Massages you can do yourself, to Essential Oils you can add to your evening bath. And the list goes on.
All these little tipsy things add little extra to whatever you are already doing.
I mean it does not hurt to know that Dark Chocolate is great anti-cellulite fighter. But only if you put it ON the thighs, and not IN your mouth. ))

I hope you enjoy my  writings on what`s out there to help us get rid of the stubborn orange peel and extra pounds. I will know you like my page, if you`ll Like It. ))

Last night I went to listen to one of my favorite massage teachers/chiropractor speak about cleanses. We talked about how important it is to detoxify the body, mind, spirit. He offered us to come up with three things we want to fast from and three – to feast on. I thought it was brilliant! Many people in the room chose to fast from things like chocolate, meat, alcohol, nicotine and so on, but there were some (including me) that chose to cleanse from negative emotions, like fear, anger, etc. I feel we carry a lot of that gunk inside without even realizing how toxic it is to our whole being.

So, starting today I am going on a cleanse. Why? Well, I am turning thirty in a month. Doing the cleanse is like shedding an old skin. It is like getting a closure on some things in the past and opening the door to a new and exciting future… in a cleaner body! ))
I am shooting for five days, but since I have never done anything like it, I might be done earlier due to powerful cravings. ))

The Cleanse Recipe:
60oz serving (1 day worth)
12tbsp Organic Lemons – freshly juiced
12 tbsp Organic Grade B Maple Syrup (or Molasses)
Filter Water (ionized and super-delicious in my case)
All that  goodness should be kept in a glass jar (not plastic or metal). Also, lemons should not be kept in a fridge, leave them out in the open – the enzymes will be alive.

Important things to add during the cleanse to help a body:
- scraping a tongue every morning  (scraper or spoon). There are a lot of toxins coming out that way, that`s why
- every evening brushing a body with a skin brush towards the heart to improve lymphatic drainage and then taking a hot 15-20min bath with 3-5lb of Epsom salts (may also add 2 cups of organic apple cider vinegar). Drinking water during/after the bath is important too
- drinking plenty of water during a cleanse (plus herbal teas and laxative teas like Smooth Move)
- doing gentle exercises (walk, yoga, etc)
- using neti pot to clean nasal cavities (Note: If a person is coming down with a cold, it is not advised to do it)
- do enema, if a body is constipated. It may be done few times during the cleanse. Three applications are advised: shallow at first, then medium, and finish up with a large enema to clean up the large intestine.  May be done laying in a warm bath
- salt flush. Should be done only if a person did not have solid food during cleanse! One table spoon of salt is added to one liter of water. Cheers! The water should not taste very salty, otherwise the body will retain it
- liver support with castor oil. Applying a pack on the spot where liver hangs out. May add some heat on top.
- and of course a good massage is advised to help further detoxify the system! ))

Breaking a cleanse is as important as going on it!!! It needs to be done slowly!  Starting with a fruit, and then a salad the next day.

After a cleanse, to support a digestive system, it`s a good idea to add probiotics.

So, what are you all thinking? Am I mad to go for it? ))

DAY ONE
The first half of my day went fine, I did not feel hungry or tired. But when 5pm hit, I really felt that there was nothing in my stomach. I also had a client that evening, but despite my fears massage went well and surprisingly I did not feel hungry afterwards.
Throughout the day I drank about 50oz of Cleanse mixture, 50oz of alkaline water and had 2 cups of Smooth Move tea. Yeah, lots of peeing, no number two though. ))
Finished the day with brushing the body towards the heart to help lymph circulation and lied in a hot bath with Epsom salts/vinegar for twenty minutes. Then off to bed.

DAY TWO
Had trouble sleeping, then two bowel movements at 4.30am. Thank you, Smooth Move tea, I suppose it really does take 12 hours for you to kick in. )) Started the day with a large bottle of alkaline water).
Today I felt low on energy and kind of spacy, but the hunger went away. Hurrah! I actually was just thirsty for the most of the day. Drank 60oz of Cleanse juice, had a few canteens of water and a cup of Smooth Move to help with elimination.
At 8pm I also did a Sea Salt flush – mixed a tablespoon of salt (NOT iodized!) with one liter of pure water and drank it. It was quite difficult – the taste was awful. Within the next two hours two major bowel movements followed.
Finished my day with the Epsom salts/vinegar hot bath just like the night before.

DAY THREE
Slept really well, no bathroom interruptions. Feel fine, no hunger. Juiced just one lemon and mixed it with 6 spoons of maple syrup, a pinch of cayenne pepper and water into my BPA free 30oz  bottle. That`s my breakfast and lunch.
After I was done with work, I came home and… decided to finish my cleanse today. It is not that I feel hungry or unhealthy, I just decided that for the first time it is enough shock for my body to endure. ))

COMING OFF
As soon as I decided to come off the cleanse, I ate an organic apple. I then had a vegan food replacement shake by Vega, and finished the day with a vegetable smoothie (tomato, avocado, apple, celery, carrots, beet, ginger, parsley). I also started taking probiotics. Tomorrow I`ll eat something solid and more complex.

RESULTS
Well I dropped about five pounds in three days. That`s another reason why I decided to stop. I do not have any weight to spare. )) Feel very light, refreshed, my complexion seems clearer. That`s about it. If I decide to do a longer cleanse in the future, I`ll make sure I have few extra pounds on me first. ))

Almost seven years ago I had been diagnosed with hypothyroid disorder, which means my thyroid gland is under active, causing all kind of trouble – like weight gain, fatigue, hair loss, etc. I went on hormonal therapy for awhile, but a year later decided to stop taking pills.
You see, I am a big believer that in some cases our bodies are capable of healing themselves, and I thought that was the case with me.
I changed my diet for better and started exercising.  And yes, my hormones did improve some, but then I hit a plato of semi-normal results. I decided not to dwell on that too much and kept on living my life, checking the hormones twice a year.
And then… unexpected happened. Last June I added a new thing to my diet – alkaline ionized water. I had been drinking it every day for the last nine months, and since then checked my thyroid hormones two times. Guess what? Both times my results came in normal!
Alkaline water helps with thyroid? Go figure… I`ll keep on drinking it though, and if you are interested in it, here is a fascinating online demo about the water and machine itself. That`ll be twenty-five minutes of your time well spent.

Or Plantar Fasciitis, if I were to get all scientific on you.
Ten percent of Americans get it in their lifetime. Mostly women. Mostly athletes, runners and overweight folks. Annoying pain in the heel of the foot  is one of the widely recognized symptoms. Especially in the morning.
What to do?
Well, there is plenty of special footwear, orthotics to slip into a shoe, splints to wear at night, etc. But being a massage therapist, I of course suggest to go to the likely source – tight calf muscles. Let`s stretch them!
You can use a towel, a wall, or ask your partner to help. Whatever you choose, all you need to do is just stretch the hell out of it. Here is a Ten Steps article on the issue. While I tend to disagree with popping a pill, I find some of the their suggestions (3, 4 and 5) quite useful.

I just spent days watching natural births, talking about pregnancy and massaging pregnant women in their 2nd and 3rd trimesters. In other words, I took a Pregnancy/Postpartum massage course and my collection of massage certificates grew a little bit thicker.

Besides the obvious – new massage techniques and understanding how a pregnant woman may feel, I learned a few things that I think you may find useful in your pregnancy, so here it goes:

- Take a deep breath into your belly. On the exhale ‘tuck your tail’ and do Kegels. Do this while in bed laying on your side. In time, this simple exercise will strengthen the muscles necessary to push a baby out.
- Consider having regular Prenatal massages throughout pregnancy, unless not advised by your doctor. It helps with stress, and decreases postpartum depression.
- Press this acupressure point on your wrist for morning sickness. By the way, you may find that eating every three hours can help (nibble on something healthy at night too).
- Unless allergic, you can make  a mixture of essential oils that may help with stretch marks afterwards – twenty drops of lavender, five drops of neroli mixed in two ounces of wheat germ oil. Just make sure all the ingredients are organic and fresh.

Useful links for Mamas and hopefully Papas:
1) There is a website MaternityGallery where you can see how a belly may look like from 3rd to 41st week. You can upload your pictures too.
2) NaturalResources center for those of you who live in San Francisco. It offers tons of classes, educational materials and a list of certified doulas, nutritionists, massage therapists, etc.
3) There is a specific type of massage called Bindegewebsmassage that may help to tighten the postpartum belly.

I hope you find it useful. Have a safe and happy pregnancy! )))

After talking to an esthetician girlfriend with enormous eyelashes, I had decided to grow mine as well. She of course was using Latisse formula, but I found it to be less desirable for two reasons: the price (3ml bottle for $116), and the fact it may stain the iris (on people with light eyes). I asked, if she knew about other products worth trying, and she mentioned Peter Thomas and Roth Lashes To Die For. When I checked it on Amazon, the price was 3 times less than that of the Latisse (5,9ml bottle for $77). Easy decision. ))
I started using the product, diligently applying it on my eyelashes every night before bed. Four months later I still use the same bottle, even though it says it`s a three months supply.

So, after 16 weeks my verdict is three *** stars.
- one * star for the price (twenty dollars a month is very affordable to me)
- one * star for the quality. My eyelashes did grow a little longer and thicker
- and one * star just cause. Even though the growth was minimal, when I put my mascara on, I like it. ))

What you think? Was it worth it?

So many diets out there these days. I counted a hundred of them on Wikipedia alone. Some of them do not sound healthy to me, some of them sound silly. Some, like Kangatarian for example, are hard to follow unless you live in Australia or raise kangaroo.
But there is one diet that I find kind of interesting, so I wanted to share. It is based on a person`s blood type. According to its creator, Dr D`Adamo, there are lectins (proteins) in every food that react differently with a different blood type, thus making certain foods unhealthy for certain groups (people with O, A, B or AB blood types).

Like, I learned chicken, avocados and tomatoes are not the best food choices for me, because their lectins cause an allergic reaction to my B blood type body and slow my metabolism down. Damn! I wish it was radish or cheese, or something else I rarely eat. Oh, well.

So, if you have an unexplainable allergic reaction or if you want to loose weight (start a diet), there is this new thing to try. Or did I just make your life more complicated? ))