He loves food, chocolate, wine, music, motorcycles, going for movies, etc. The problem is, I don’t know what I can get him. I’m not going to be able to go back to NY for Valentine’s Day since I’m in school, but I want to get him something. Any suggestions or ideas would be GREATLY appreciated! Thanks!

and here are my facial choices ( once again I don’t know anything about them) : elemental nature facial, green science plant peel, botanical skin resurfacing, and deep cleansing facial.

thanks :]
she doesn’t get massages a lot
and those are the only choices I have

A fine example of how a 48 year old Ironman triathlete has benefited from sports massage therapy was chronicled by Amy Lynn in an article at the Massage Envy magazine’s Spring 2008 issue online. She interviewed triathlete Terry Gerber of Phoenix, Arizona and his licensed massage therapist, Alan McGarrity.

Lynn describes the Ironman triathlon as being comprised of three arduous races done in succession with no pauses. These include a swimming competition for 2.4 miles, a biking competition of 112 miles and a running competition of 26.2 miles.

After the second year of Gerber’s competing in the Ironman triathlon, he suffered from a pulled back muscle and was in great pain. He approached McGarrity who successfully treated his injury and relieved his pain. Gerber realized that undergoing regular sports massage therapy had not only helped heal his injury but had actually improved his performance.

McGarrity explains that this is so because “Massage therapy increases blood flow to the muscles and, by doing that, it enhances athletic performance. The increased blood flow enhances a number of other body systems, including the immune system, which also contributes to improved performance.”

Gerber discloses that his regular sports massage therapy sessions make him less prone to sports injuries and enable him to recover more quickly from his arduous daily workouts. He adds that his flexibility has improved thrice over, further preventing injuries. It also enables him to train harder and boosts his actual performance in sports events. Of course, doing better in the competition is very important to him. He says he has more stamina and staying power than other competitors who do not undergo regular massage therapy. He also found himself running much faster than before.

Gerber asserts that “regular massage is a worthwhile investment to keep my muscles in shape.” He credits McGarrity’s being a licensed massage therapist with much of his beneficial experiences with sports massage. He recommends finding a reputable and qualified massage therapist who will be able to understand the client’s particular needs, and with whom the client can build an ongoing professional relationship.

McGarrity, on his part, recommends that his clients establish a pattern of regular massage therapy sessions at least once every two weeks or, better yet, once a week in order to make the most of its therapeutic benefits.

Hopefully, Gerber’s story proves to be inspiring to the athlete in your life, whether he or she be middle aged or much younger or even older. Your recipient does not even have to be an Ironman triathlete like Gerber. Sports massage therapy will give even a simple sports enthusiast or fitness buff the same health and performance optimizing benefits.

Giving an athlete or a sports enthusiast a sports massage therapy gift card to a massage clinic in South Tampa 33629, Downtown Tampa, Macdill AFB and Hyde Park sends the message that you care for his or her health and well-being, and that you fully support his or her sports activities. It will also make you a part of his or her success. You may want to show your support further by also booking yourself a session for sports massage therapy, Swedish massage therapy, deep tissue massage therapy or, if appropriate, pregnancy massage therapy in the same massage clinic in South Tampa 33629, Downtown Tampa, Macdill AFB and Hyde Park.

If there is an athlete in your life, whether a loved one, a family member or a friend, consider giving him or her a sports massage therapy gift card to a massage clinic in South Tampa 33629, Downtown Tampa, Macdill AFB and Hyde Park. He or she will surely appreciate the benefits that massage therapy will bring to his or her game.

June 21, 2009 is Father’s Day, a day when fathers are given honor and thanks throughout the world. People are all agog planning how to best show their love for their fathers. On this day, therapeutic massage gift cards make perfect presents for all the great fathers you know in Sugarloaf, Lawrenceville and Gwinnett GA.

Some people denigrate the celebration of Father’s Day as a mere marketing ploy of greeting card companies that has been exploited further for profit by other commercial establishments. After all, we see Father’s Day specials in all the malls, stores and restaurants. Everyone seems to be making money from the celebration. History proves that this day is not just a cheap sales gimmick, though. Father’s Day has already been celebrated way back when greeting cards were not yet being mass manufactured and commerce was not busy as it is today.

The tradition of celebrating Father’s Day began as early as 1909 in Washington State. A certain Mrs. John B. Dodd was the proponent of the celebration. She proposed to have a special day to actually honor her own father, William Smart, for his strength and selflessness in raising six children all by himself as a single widower parent in a rural farm in the eastern part of Washington State. He was a civil war veteran and his wife had died while giving birth to their sixth child. He had to raise the newborn along with their five older children. The proposal of his daughter, Mrs. Dodd, came to fruition with the very first Father’s Day celebration held in Spokane, Washington on June 19, 1910.

Father’s Day was soon adopted and celebrated by many other towns and cities across the United States. President Calvin Coolidge expressed support for the idea of having a national Father’s Day celebration in 1924. It was only in 1966, however, that President Lyndon Johnson signed a presidential proclamation marking the third Sunday of June as Father’s Day.

Father’s Day honors not only biological fathers but all other men who, in one way or another, fulfill the role of a father figure. This includes grandfathers, stepfathers, foster fathers, uncles, brothers and even mentors and close family friends. Let the men in your lives know how much their concern and care is recognized, appreciated and valued.

The gift of massage is perfect to let them know that you are equally concerned for their well-being and want them to take better care of themselves. Massage therapy will help ease the burden on their shoulders. A few hours on the massage table will give them respite and will melt away fatigue and tension. All the stress from the outside world is soothed in the massage room.

Massage will also help alleviate any existing illnesses of your loved ones. Studies have shown that almost all medical conditions benefit from regular massage therapy. It will likewise strengthen their resistance and help prevent the development of any new illnesses.

Most of all, massage increases your loved ones’ happiness quotient. Massage has been scientifically proven to increase endorphins that create the buoyant feeling of joy and exhilaration. This goes a long way in preserving all the positive benefits of each massage session to stay long afterwards.

The fortunate fathers who will receive massage therapy gift cards can avail of their choice of massage styles, including, among others, Swedish massage, deep tissue massage and sports massage. The only massage style they cannot avail of, obviously, is pregnancy massage. Massage therapists will surely recommend what massage style is most appropriate for their specific needs in Sugarloaf, Lawrenceville and Gwinnett GA. Your favorite father figures will surely feel much loved.

If you know someone suffering from back pain, whether chronic or not, think about giving this person the gift of comfort with a massage therapy gift card to a massage clinic in 4th Street Downtown St. Petersburg and Tampa 33607. All massage modalities, including Swedish massage therapy, deep tissue massage therapy, sports massage therapy and pregnancy massage therapy, can be customized to focus on easing back pain. The patient should just disclose his or her condition to the trained massage therapist of the massage clinic in 4th Street Downtown St. Petersburg and Tampa 33607.

Back pain is said to be next to the common cold in being the most common reason for work absenteeism. This was reported by Shelley Flannery in her article in Massage Envy magazine’s Fall 2007 issue online. She adds that over 25 billion dollars is being spent every year on back pain relief efforts alone.

Flannery refers to a study done in 2003 that proved massage therapy to be more effective than acupuncture and spinal modification in providing relief from back pain. Massage therapy actually reduced the participants’ need for painkillers by up to 36 percent. The study was published in the Annals of Internal Medicine and its findings were validated by the American Massage Therapy Association. Flannery interviewed licensed massage therapist Kristen Sykora, spokesperson of the American Massage Therapy Association, who said, “Massage is quite effective for treating lower back pain. It’s the MVP in the health care arena because it’s more of a hands-on treatment.”

Indeed, people everywhere seem to agree, as well, because massage therapy has become one of the most widely used treatments for back pain in recent years.

According to Flannery, back pain is relieved and its recurrence is prevented by massage therapy in various interconnected ways. Stress and lack of activity cause muscle tension. Massage therapy eliminates such tension and eases muscle stiffness by inducing muscle relaxation. Specific problem spots with knots in the muscles can be focused on. This results in better muscle flexibility. Concurrently, the nerves are calmed and the natural endorphins of the body are released. Such endorphins are commonly referred to as “feel good” chemicals. The massage therapy strokes also bring more blood flow to the massaged areas, improving cellular nutrition and facilitating healing.

The effects of massage therapy may not be immediately felt, though, Flannery warns. Sykora explains this by saying, “Your back pain didn’t start overnight, so don’t expect it to be cured overnight either. It’s best for chronic back pain sufferers to be on a maintenance plan for massage, once every three to four weeks.”

Sykora also says that aside from massage therapy, lifestyle changes should be adopted by back pain sufferers, as well. She advises that patients ask for instructions from the massage therapist. Lifestyle changes cover the adoption of proper posture, proper movement in work habits and proper exercises such as stretching, yoga and Pilates. The exercises help strengthen back muscles to relieve back pain. Weight loss may also be necessary for some people because too much extra weight may be too heavy for one’s muscles.

According to Massage Envy, it is very important for one to choose a professional massage therapist who is an expert in using massage to treat back pain. When you go to a Massage Envy clinic, ask for such a specialist. One session alone will not be enough, though. Massage therapy is effective as back pain treatment when done regularly by the same massage therapist who can customize a program for each individual and track his or her progress.

Ease someone’s back pain through a massage therapy gift card to a reputable professional massage clinic, like Massage Envy, in 4th Street Downtown St. Petersburg and Tampa 33607. It will be a true gift of kindness and caring in St. Pete and Tampa.

Are you starting to plan your Christmas gift list? Take note that any adult in your circle of family and friends would love to receive a massage therapy gift card to a massage clinic in Valrico, Riverview, Bloomingdale and Brandon 33511. Availing of a massage therapy session through a gift card will definitely help improve anyone’s level of flexibility that is a major factor in achieving a feeling of wellbeing, optimum physical capacity and good health.

Jen Bondesen says in Massage Envy magazine’s Spring 2009 online issue that a person’s muscles tend to tighten with age, especially if the person is not very active. Tight muscles result in a loss of flexibility and decreased range of motion.

To loosen up tight muscles, lengthen them and prevent them from reverting to tightness, Bondeson recommends stretching. She points out that this produces a relaxed state by relieving tension and reducing stress. Since it has long been proven that mental and physical stress result in a weakened immune system, the state of relaxation in both mind and body logically leads to a stronger immune system and better health. Add to this the fact that circulation is boosted by stretching. Healing and recovery from illness is, therefore, facilitated other diseases are prevented.

Stretched muscles that are loose and elongated bring about wider range of motion and better posture. Even the American Council on Exercise or ACE advises that every fitness regimen should include stretching. This not only facilitates more efficient and powerful movement but also protects the muscles against susceptibility to strain and injury.

Bondeson interviewed Fabio Comana, one of the exercise physiologists of the American Council on Exercise. She says he recommends warming up first at the start of each stretching routine since stretching cold muscles results in temporary beneficial effects. He says stretching should start slowly and should be accompanied by rhythmic breathing. One should inhale first and then exhale during the slow and gentle stretch which should then be held steadily for about 15 to 30 seconds. Bouncing should be avoided since this will cause the muscles to contract and could cause injury.

Bondeson reiterates the American Council on Exercise warning that stretching should be done in moderation and should never be painful. A “pleasant tension” should ba aimed for. When pain is felt, the stretch should immediately be released lest it cause muscle tearing.

Bondeson also advises that a person should first consult a doctor and have his or her muscular and skeletal system evaluated first before undergoing a stretching workout. Once the doctor’s clearance has been received, the person should then ask for the appropriate stretching exercises and schedule the stretching workout for a minimum of three times a week.

Like stretching, massage therapy has been proven to loosen, lengthen and relax tightened muscles, according to Bondeson. It stimulates the body’s production of natural lubricants needed by connective tissues. This improves flexibility and increases the person’s comfortable range of motion. Massage therapy also dissolves any build up of lactic acid within the muscles. This eases the soreness that is usually experienced after exertions, such as in workouts or sports. Healing is hastened by the improvement in blood circulation brought by massage.

Giving a family member or friend a massage therapy gift card to a massage clinic in Valrico, Riverview, Bloomingdale and Brandon 33511 will enable him or her to incorporate massage therapy into his or her stretching regimen, thereby improving flexibility and overall health. He or she can choose among Swedish massage therapy, deep tissue massage therapy or, if pregnant, pregnancy massage therapy from your chosen massage clinic in Valrico, Riverview, Bloomingdale and Brandon 33511.

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