Local Ensenada Recommendations for Healthy Simple Living (Copy)

Sleep Aids:

Eye Mask

Ear Plugs

Local Partners

Blue Ribbon Medical Network, is a great coordinator for medical tourism, they have access to best quality private doctors/hospital I have used my tumor removal and occasional emergencies (dog bites, burns, broken bones).

Valley Girl Wine Tours is the highest quality customized wine tours in Valle de Guadalupe.

Massage Related

Orthopedic Massage Academy best online- distance course for advance massage therapy and critical thinking about manual care. And my Alma Mater!

Massage and Fitness Magazine bring evidenced-based articles to massage and movement profession. I know the publisher from San Diego Pain Summit conference I attend every year and display this journal in my waiting room.

Job’s Body was the most interesting, inspirational massage book in my early years. If you want to fall in love with massage, this is a great book to do it.

Ensenada Vegetarian or Vegan, Healthy, Simple Living

Best Salad at Hogaza Hogaz on the first street, and Hino Medical Center Nutrition Center.

Early Retirement Extreme has helped me think about working and living, new ideas on what is possible in savings and simple living.

Nutrition Facts.org was my guiding light for nutrition information after my cancer and remains my source to get summaries of actual research behind new nutrition trends and ideas.

Go Curry Cracker inspirational couple living a traveling lifestyle and sharing their experience.

Books:

Brilliant Love, Radiant Joy

Radical Honesty

Trail Guide to the Body

100 Year Old Man Who Jumped Out Window

Local Band and Live Music

Dr. Groove and the Fever

Wednesday night jams at Transpeninsular Cerveceria.

No, I am not getting affiliate earnings from these recommendations. Living here I feel Ensenada has everything for a high-quality life, but the things are hidden in networks of friends and family circles. As a new arrival or tourist, you would not likely find these things through simple search.

Do you know the MOST common muscle problem? (Copy)

In my experience (and according to one of my teachers, Whitney Lowe) muscle tension is the MOST common muscular disorder.  More specifically, muscle hypertonicity.  

What is Hypertonicity or a Hypertonic Muscle?

Hypertonicity is resting tension of your muscle (the tonus) is too high, causing imbalance.  The opposite muscles are not as tense, and you are 'imbalanced'.  So, you end up with discomfort and warped posture.  The posture isn't a big deal if you have no pain.  But if you do . . . . . . , you are suffering from possibly a sore back, restricted movement. 

How does it happen?  

Hypertonicity is more neurological than physical.  You muscles have been contracted too hard and too often and are still getting signals to contract even in the resting stage.  Years of bad posture, lots of repetitive movement - working as a potter, swiming, surf paddling, tennis, bench pressing and hunching over a computer. . . . . Hypertonicity also reduces fluid flow through the muscle, and extra tension on the assoiciated joints. Clearly extra joint pressure can lead to problems, and lower fluid flow contributes unhealthy tissue.  

To add to the mess, over time the muscle or facial tissue may shorten, causing a physcial restrictions.

What can we do about it?  

Basically we will work to relieve the tension through a variety of manners.  

I approach hypertonicity with an thorough assessement.  Each client has different movement patterns and restrictions.  However, a treatment plan usually involves:

• Massage to bring new neurological stimulus to the region. (heat, deep tissue, electrical stimulation may be used)
• Streching in session and some assignment for homework.  (Yes I give homework;) 
• Discussion of posture habits and possible reducation of body movements.  (Are you willing to change a posture or habit?)
• Treatment of related body regions - opposing muscles.  The body is a system so we treat the related regions.
• I may even refer you for chiropractic work (yes, I refer out what I can't do).  

If you would like to discuss your muscle pain, contact me at 646 128 5160 or EnsenadaMassage@gmail.com

Be Well,  Jesse

Why do I use rosemary essential oil most? (Copy)

Essential oils are powerful concentrations of oils from flowers and herbs.  Often they are used in aromatherapy and massage.  I use essential oils for the aroma, but do not apply directly to the skin commonly.  I use rosemary most because it helps my clients achieve stress and pain reduction – two common goals of massage therapy.  I use several essential oils, but rosemary is the most consistent to open my sessions of bodywork.  Why? Because it benefits have been demonstrated in some decent studies. 

The benefits that concern me and my clients are:

1)      Stress Relief:  Five minutes of inhalation of rosemary oil reduces the level of cortisol (your stress hormone) in your saliva.  My clients smell a few drops for about 20 minutes at the beginning of the massage, while face down.  This is the main benefit that I whole heartedly embrace.

2)      Pain Relief: Rosemary reduces inflammation, which is associated with lower pain.  On request, I will apply rosemary directly to sore hands, allowing it to absorb through the skin rather than the olfactory system.  This is a minor benefit, but anything helps - and when combined with the dopamine and seratonin effect of massage (see: http://bit.ly/stressmassage), pain reduction is tangible. 

3)      Immune System Boost:  That same study that identified lower cortisol levels resulting from inhalation of rosemary essential oil also found that the free radical-scavenging activity in the subjects’ bodies also significantly increased.  Free-radicals contribute to inflammation and aging, generally called oxidative stress.  I beleive this because of the study.  It is pretty hard to feel an immune system boost.  

I also use lavender, lemongrass, and mint. Lemon grass and mint are especially helpful to end a massage, so the client comes back to reality from ‘lala land’.  However, I find rosemary the most useful for my clients.  This is part of my effort to give my clients the best massage therapy experience possible.   If you are interested in the stress effects of massage even without the use of essential oils, see: http://bit.ly/stressmassage.

Jesse Atkinson, MA

Reference:

http://www.psy-journal.com/article/S0165-1781(06)00011-4/abstract

On Site Therapies to Valle de Guadalupe and Downtown Ensenada (Copy)

For the fall vacation and wine festivals, I am offering onsite therapies to select hotels in Ensenada and Valle de Guadalupe for groups of clients (two or more). 

Therapies available include:

Swedish Circulatory: Handed down from Europe, this style involves the use of oil and removal of clothing (we discretely use draping, revealing only the part of the body being massaged).  The strokes are light and flowing, increasing function of circulatory system.

Table Thai: Also called Thai Yoga Massage, because the therapist uses his hands, feet, and knees to move you in a series of yoga-like stretches.  It is energizing and rigorous, using muscle compression, joint mobilization, and acupressure. 

Deep Tissue: This style focuses on realigning deeper layers of muscles and connective tissue.  It is especially helpful for those suffering from chronic pain and/or recovering from injury such as stiff neck, low back pain, shoulder, and other areas.  The movement is slower and deeper layers of muscles are accessed.

Hot Rock/Towel: This therapy uses the heat and magnetic energy of stones to bring deep relaxation to the muscles.  The therapist uses stones and towels to soften tissue or feet, and assist in stretching the neck.  Many consider this the most relaxing form of massage, promoting physical and mental health. 

Prices depend on location and size of group.  

EnsenadaMassage@gmail.com

US 608 554 2007 MX 646 128 5160