Molly Pearl Co.

Yes! Massage can help!

Can massage relieve symptoms of depression, anxiety and stress? - Mayo Clinic Health System Can massage relieve symptoms of depression, anxiety and stress?

Who knew? The word massage comes from the Arabic word mass'h, which means "press gently."

I've had quite a few questions on foam rolling this week. Here's a great article to give you some introductory knowledge and easy beginning stretches.

What Is a Foam Roller, How Do I Use It, and Why Does It Hurt? So you've got a foam roller, but do you know how to use it? Do you know what it's actually doing and why it hurts? Here's some info on how to do self-myofascial release (that's what it's called).

Slide show: Back exercises in 15 minutes a day - Mayo Clinic

Slide show: Back exercises in 15 minutes a day - Mayo Clinic Want to prevent back pain? Improve your strength and flexibility with these back exercises.

It seems like everyone is talking bout fascia lately. Have you ever wondered what it is and how it can affect your movement?

The Top 5 Ways Fascia Matters to Athletes Turns out we're kinda like oranges. Here's some info about fascia and how you can use it to maximize not just your performance, but also just your ability to feel good in your body.

Join me for The Lumberyard Bike Park Launch Party this Saturday night! Free chair massage from 4-7, and many more fun activities all evening. Come by and see the first indoor bike park on the west coast!

Great results from a new client! After four 30 minute deep tissue sessions for a musician struggling with chronic shoulder and arm pain: "Just wanted to let you know I had the BEST 30 minute playing session yet. Absolutely no numbness etc..." I love my job.

"The preservation of health is a duty. Few seem conscious that there is such a thing as physical morality."

~Herbert Spencer

Sweethearts love massages...

Great research despite the antiquated "masseur" references!
http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/02/06/how-massage-heals-sore-muscles/?src=me&ref=general

How Massage Heals Sore Muscles Researchers have found what happens to muscles when a masseur goes to work on them.

Need a gift idea for Portlanders?

Interesting study for pregnant mothers from the Touch Research Institute:

Twenty-eight women were recruited from prenatal classes and randomly assigned to receive massage in addition to coaching in breathing from their partners during labor , or to receive coaching in breathing alone. The massaged mothers reported a decrease in depressed mood, anxiety and pain, and showed less agitated activity and anxiety and more positive affect following the first massage during labor. In addition the massaged mothers had shorter labors, a shorter hospital stay and less postpartum depression.

Field, T., Hernandez-Reif, M., Taylor , S., Quintino, O., & Burman, I. (1997). Labor pain is reduced by massage therapy. Journal of Psychosomatic Obstetrics and Gynecology, 18, 286-291.

http://www6.miami.edu/touch-research/AdultMassage.html

Touch Research Institute Hart, S., Field, T., Hernandez-Reif, M., Nearing, G., Shaw, S., Schanberg, S. & Kuhn, C. (2001). Anorexia nervosa symptoms are reduced by massage therapy. Eating Disorders, 9, 289-299.