Sports Therapy Fresno

Happy Tuesday! I hope I can see you this Afternoon!

Candice has a 2:15pm Available this afternoon for a 30 or 60min Sports Massage/ART/Cupping/Scraping session! TEXT US AT (559)367-4405 TO BOOK!

Meet Candice,

Candice Holtermann, Certified Massage Practitioner through the state of California ( #59559), has been practicing massage therapy since completing her training with the California Holistic Institute in San Luis Obispo in 2014. Candice has remained active in sports (volleyball, softball, cycling, swimming, hiking, CrossFit) a majority of her entire life, but by the age of Thirty, she had already had 3 ACL reconstructions, one hip bone graph, overcome chronic back pain and given birth to three beautiful children. She never let these injuries and life changes from keeping her active and continuing to process in health and wellness. They did however spark her passion for holistic health and well-being. She found relief from her pain through muscle releases and adjustments while under the care of a Chiropractor who is an Active Release Technique Provider and through continuous functional training. After massage school, Candice continued her education at Fresno State University studying Exercise Science. Candice received her Bachelors in 2018. She is also full body and long tract nerve Active Release Technique Certified (ART) , Functional Movement Screen (FMS) Certified, Selective Functional Movement Screen (SFMA) trained, and Dynamic Neuromuscular Stabilization (DNS) trained. Most Recently, she has become certified as a Birthfit Strength and Conditioning Coach to train prenatal and postpartum women and help support them through their motherhood journey. Candice also works for Neurotour, a physiotherapy company for performing artists and the entertainment industry, where she has worked on various cast for shows such as Bluey's Big Play and Come From Away.

-Sports Therapy Fresno

‼️TODAY, 2:15pm with Candice is Available‼️ Click here for an update from Sports Therapy Fresno!

ALMOST END OF MAY NEWSLETTER

Our May was insane... but here it is, and you won't want to miss these articles!

MUSCLE ACTIVATION BEFORE WORKOUTS... Make your muscles SMART AGAIN

Muscle activation is one of the most overlooked parts of a workout, but it plays a much bigger role than most people realize.

When people think about warming up, they usually picture a quick stretch or a few minutes of light movement before jumping into their routine. While that does get the body moving, it does not always prepare your muscles to actually perform well. That is where activation comes in, and it fills a gap that traditional warm-ups often miss.

Muscle activation is essentially the process of getting specific muscles to “turn on” before you begin exercising. It is less about getting warm and more about getting connected. You are intentionally engaging certain muscles so that when you start your workout, your body already knows which muscles should be doing the work.

Without that preparation, your body tends to fall back on whatever muscles are easiest to use. Usually, that means stronger or tighter muscles take over, even if they are not meant to handle the full load of the movement. Over time, this creates imbalances in how your body moves and distributes force.

Your body relies on coordination between different muscle groups to move efficiently, and when that coordination is even slightly off, the stress of movement starts to shift in ways it should not. Instead of being shared across muscles, it often gets redirected toward joints or smaller stabilizing structures that are not built to handle that kind of load on their own.
For example, if your glutes are not properly activated before a lower body workout, your lower back or knees may end up compensating.

At first, this might not feel like a big issue. But as those patterns repeat over time, they can lead to discomfort, tightness, or more serious strain. The same idea applies to the upper body. If your shoulders and upper back are not properly engaged, pressing movements can become unstable and place unnecessary stress on the joints. In many cases, the issue is not the exercise itself but how your body is prepared to perform it.

Activation helps bring your body back into balance by improving communication between your brain and your muscles. It reinforces proper movement patterns so that the right muscles are doing their job when you need them to. Instead of forcing your way through a movement, you are setting yourself up to move more naturally and efficiently from the start, which in turn helps keep your joints stable and your overall movement safer.

It is also important to understand that activation is not meant to be intense. You are not trying to tire the muscle out before your workout even begins. The goal is simply to feel the muscle engage and respond. In a way, you can think of it as a rehearsal. You are practicing the movement and the engagement before asking your body to perform under heavier load or higher intensity.

Adding activation into your routine does not have to be complicated or time-consuming. A few intentional adjustments can go a long way.
One of the most effective ways to start is by slowing down and isolating specific muscles. Before moving into full exercises, take a few minutes to perform controlled, low-load movements that target the areas you want to engage. Exercises like glute bridges, dead bugs, or scapular retractions can help you focus on individual muscle groups. The key is not how many repetitions you do, but whether you can actually feel the muscle working.
Another helpful approach is to use light resistance. Tools like resistance bands or light weights provide just enough tension to guide the muscle into activation without overwhelming it. This makes it easier to establish proper movement patterns before increasing intensity. For instance, banded lateral walks can help engage the glutes, while band pull-aparts can activate the upper back and shoulders.

It also helps to make your activation work match the workout you are about to do. This keeps everything purposeful and connected. If you are focusing on lower body exercises, spend a few minutes activating your glutes, hamstrings, and core. If your workout is upper body focused, bring attention to your shoulders, upper back, and stabilizing muscles. When activation aligns with your workout, you will often notice that your first few sets feel smoother and more controlled.

Over time, these small changes start to add up. Your body becomes more aware, your movements become more efficient, and your workouts feel more effective without necessarily becoming more difficult.

Muscle activation is not just an extra step to check off before training. It is part of building a foundation that supports how your body moves every time you exercise. When you take a few minutes to prepare your muscles properly, you are not only improving performance in the moment, but also helping your body stay more balanced and resilient in the long run.

By Cordell Winrow,
Sports Therapist
C.P.T - C.N.C
C.M.T - C.L.C
A.R.T Specialist (Level 1 Full Body & Nerve)

HAVE YOU HEARD OF THE RECOVERY BAR??

Our referral spot light these week is THE RECOVERY BAR in Clovis, CA! Steve and Ashley Overstreet are a power couple dedicated to getting you strong and keeping you healthy! Steve is a Physical Therapist who graduated from Fresno State's DPT program in 2016 and before that was a personal trainer and competed locally in Power Lifting. Ashley is the owner of Pilates Street Boutique Pilates. She is a certified Pilates and Barre instructor with over 15 years of experience instructing. She has used pilates most of her life to help her with her own health and successfully manage her scoliosis. TOGETHER they opened the Recovery Bar where they offer RED LIGHT THERAPY, PULSE ELECTROMAGNETIC FEILD THERAPY, COMPRESSION THERAPY, and CONCIERGE PHYSICAL THERAPY.

ABOUT RED LIGHT THERAPY
"Come and experience complete-body photobiomodulation with MITO’s premium industry leading medical-grade full body red and near-infrared light panels. Red light therapy is a non-invasive therapy in which light waves pe*****tes deep beneath the skin to support cellular energy production. It improves performance, eases aches and pains, supports longevity, and promotes healthier skin. This is a powerful full-body solution for healing, healthy aging, and improved vitality."

BENEFITS
"Increases energy by boosting ATP production for improved cellular activity
Supports muscle recovery, reduces inflammation, and reduces soreness
Enhances collagen production, improves skin appearance, decreases wrinkles, and reduces scarring
Alleviates symptoms of anxiety and depression by influencing hormonal balance and neurotransmitter levels
Enhances sleep quality and helps regulate circadian rhythms"

ABOUT PEMF (Pulse Electro Magnetic FEILD THERAPY)
"Our luxury, Pulse PEMF system is a non-invasive wellness modality, that delivers high-intensity pulsed electromagnetic fields that pe*****te body tissues to recharge your cells and stimulate deep, restorative healing. PEMF therapy is ideal for clients managing chronic pain, inflammation, slow recovery, or general fatigue. You will experience a gentle pulsing sensation as your entire body receives powerful energetic support that supports the body’s natural healing process."

BENEFITS
"Reduces pain and inflammation
Enhances circulation and oxygenation
Supports cellular repair and regeneration
Boosts energy, mood, and recovery
Strengthens immune function"

STEVE'S Concierge PT

I'm not going to copy and paste this from their website, but write a personal perspective. HOLY COW this guy is TALENTED!! I went in for shoulder pain and got WAY more out of his session than I was expecting. He assessed me and figured out my neck and shoulder pain was coming from my hips. He did manual therapy first and then activated my lower back and helped me turn on muscle groups that haven't been working right in a long time. I got immediate pain relief on my shoulders and neck and a good workout. He sent me home with exercises to do. The best part was I got a FULL BODY Assessment and Training. HE is my #1 PT recommendation and I have already referred many clients to him who have also gotten relief.

YOU GUYS! WE ARE ONLY 7 REVIEWS AWAY FROM 100 GOOGLE REVIEWS😱

You all have been SO INCREDIBLE already by reviewing us on GOOGLE! If you haven;'t done so already and would like to review us, please take the time to do so! We gain most of our clients by word of mouth AND GOOGLE. This helps us tremendously!!

No Food Article This Month...

I have no food article this month, just advice on surviving the last week of school, all the graduation parties, surviving the stomach flu and tick and flea season 😭. Actually, I have no advice except to keep moving your bodies during the hard times and spend a little extra (if possible) on the healthy food even when you want so badly not too. Cheers to a better summer than end of spring!

-Candice Holtermann
CMP, CPT, Full Body & Nerve ART Certified

Pulse Electro Magnetic Field Therapy, Muscle Activation, 7 Reviews Away from 1️⃣0️⃣0️⃣!! Click here for an update from Sports Therapy Fresno!

OOOPS, We messed up the Link to BOOK CORI!

CORRECT LINK BELOW!

FIXED LINK for Cori @ HARDCOR NUTRITION! Click here for an update from Sports Therapy Fresno!

SWAG ALART!

For the first time at our business we are selling SPORTS THERAPY FRESNO Shirts, Hats, and Beanies to help celebrate Candice's 10th Year Anniversary as a Massage Therapist and success of opening Sports Therapy Fresno 3.5 years ago!

ORDER BY 12/15!

ORDERS MUST BE PICKED UP AT OFFICE **Text us at (559)777-9165 if you live our of town or state and Candice will work on mailing your items to you:)

THANKS FOR SUPPORTING US!

Candice is Expecting!:)

If you haven't visited us in a while, we are happy to announce that Candice is expecting a sweet baby boy at the end of February! She is scheduling clients until February 11th (tentatively based on her health, of course) and doesn't expect to return until Summer of 2025. She will return with an even more limited schedule and gradually increase hours as the baby get's older. Her first priority and full time job is being a Mom and she is always so appreciative of your flexibility and understand of her schedule to raise and care for her family!

*Candice is booked until January, you can scheduled for then or add yourself to her waitlist on the link below!

Quick Reminder on our Cancellation Policy!

Sports Therapy Fresno's Cancelation Policy requires our clients to give us a 24hour notice if you cannot make your session. If you do not give us a 24hour notice, you will be charged for the full amount of your session! THIS policy can be found when booking your appointment, your email reminders, and on the last page of your intake form. We are self-employed and if you do not show up to your appointment we lose that time slot and potential income that we cannot make-up. Thank you for understanding!

Staff Update at Sports Therapy Fresno

The current staff at Sports Therapy Fresno remains to be Candice Holtermann and Cordell Winrow as our certified Massage Therapists and Personal Trainers. Dynasia is longer at our business. Annita is still doing lymphatic Drainage and Counterstrain at her main location and can be contacted at (805)202-1487 to schedule! Due to change in staff and my (Candice) leave approaching, I felt it was best to let go of my 2nd office for the time being and simply my business model to prepare for my growing family. We will not be adding any additional staff in the near future nor taking on any interns. We do not want to take away our focus on give YOU the highest quality care available.

CHECK OUT KIERSTEN'S NEW OFFICE!

Kiersten has opened up her own office across the way from Sports Therapy Fresno! She offers Deep Tissue, Hot Stones, and Cranial Sacral Therapy. She has given me one of the best neck and shoulder massages I have ever received! She can be contacted at (559)470-2398. She booking link is below and shared with Cordell (her Husband).

Cordell's Availability this Week!

Wednesday 12/4:
5:35pm, 6:10pm
Thursday 12/5:
2:00pm, 2:35pm, 3:10pm, 4:50pm, 5:25pm
Friday 12/6:
2:35pm, 4:15pm, 4:50pm, 5:25pm
Saturday 12/7:
2:05pm, 2:40pm, 3:15pm
Sunday 12/8:
3:10pm, 3:45pm, 4:20pm, 4:55pm, 5:30pm, 6:05pm

Thank you always for your support!! -Sports Therapy Fresno

NEW HATS, SHIRTS & BEANIES!, Candice's Maternity Leave, Cancelation Policy Reminder, Staff Update... Click here for an update from Sports Therapy Fresno!

I spy Dr. Vic🤩

💥 1 DEEP TISSUE SESSION LEFT THIS WEEK! 5:45pm Friday 4/28 with Anita 💆🏽‍♀️💆🏽‍♀️💆🏽‍♀️ Message us to book or tag someone who needs to give thanks to thier body 🙌🏼👏🏼

Sports Therapy Fresno My mission is to aid clients achieve their wellness goals by helping relieve muscular stress and tension.

Anyone who has had their Psoas released can relate to that feel good/ feels really weird pain lol. Totally worth it once you get off the table and feel tremendously lighter in places you didn’t realize felt heavy (common areas are legs, lower back and even foot heaviness) and usually a lot less back pain.. Share and Tag this release with someone who could use some pain relief!

Cordell’s Openings TODAY Thursday 9/1: 3:00pm, 3:45pm, 4:30pm, 5:15pm