|
|
||||||||
In the Media
Healthy growth in spas from coast to coastNumber of facilities in Canada nearly doubled between 2002 and 2004, new report showsBy ALBERT WARSON Spa developments across Canada have been massaged by at least $2.5-billion worth of investment, with developers expanding facilities from the Cariboo region of British Columbia to a former monastery in St. John's. Relaxation, wellness and pampering has become a huge business. Over the last two years alone, the number of spas across Canada has nearly doubled, according to the latest International Spa Association (ISPA) study of the North American industry. One industry expert expects growth of 20 per cent or more annual growth, especially in condo-hotels, resorts and prominent office towers in Canada. And foreign interests are grooming the industry for more expansion. The industry has matured to the point that one of Canada's leading spa schools expanded to a 20,000-square-foot space in Toronto. The $2.5-billion investment figure is based on ISPA's estimated 12.5 million square feet of spa space across the country, and industry estimates of $200-a-square-foot building costs. This excludes land and equipment, and depends on location. The costs can soar to closer to $350 a square foot, depending on the level of wall and flooring finishes, lighting and general decor, says Gordon Tareta, director of spa facilities at Hyatt Hotels Corp. in Chicago, which operates spas in its Toronto and Calgary hotels. Spa operators are making those kinds of investments to cater to a huge market of people "who want to look or feel younger, want relaxation, and possibly need services offered at medical day spas, which have grown at a rate of 100 per cent in recent few years," he says. (Medical day spas operated by doctors can offer botox injections, and other services beyond what estheticians can offer.) Vivienne O'Keeffe, president of Vivienne O'Keeffe & Associates Inc., a Vancouver-based spa consulting company that helps develop spas from the ground up, foresees "phenomenal spa growth in [upscale high-rise condos and condo-hotels], resort and destination spas, and in office towers in Canada. There could be, conservatively speaking, a 20-per-cent increase in that growth." There is also foreign interest: Chinese, U.S. and European investors have contacted her firm about developing spas in Canada, she says. Although healing and rejuvenating facilities date back to early civilizations, spas in their modern incarnations -- day, destination, hotel or resort, or medical -- are a recent phenomenon as a new type of property development category. The latest spa association study indicates that the number of spas in Canada increased from 1,200 to 2,100, and revenue rose from $610-million to $1.1-billion, between 2002 and 2004. In 1982, Sherry Brydson, a health and wellness entrepreneur, opened a private women's club with a small spa and Thai restaurant in what was originally a YWCA residence in downtown Toronto. Today, the Brydson Group Inc. health and wellness empire, which she runs from Victoria, is renovating the four-storey, 38,000-square-foot building -- now one of the largest day spas in Canada. The company also owns one of Canada's leading spa schools, the Elmcrest College of Applied Health Sciences and Spa Management in northwestern Toronto, which aside from teaching massage therapy and esthetics, has developed a leading-edge spa management program, according to industry association Leading Spas of Canada. The school helps meet the surging demand for trained spa personnel, and Ms. O'Keeffe, who helped design the college's curriculum, hires its graduates to staff international clients' spas. The college outgrew a 7,000-square-foot building and acquired a 20,000-square-foot former factory in northwestern Toronto for $1.8-million. The renovation cost $5-million. Paul Stevens, a principal of Toronto-based ZAS Architects Inc., who designed the renovation and interior design, says the college is "an excellent example of how a vacant, run-down factory on a well-located urban site can be stripped to its bare bones and rebuilt. We installed three turret-style skylights to allow natural light to penetrate, rebalanced the floors and replaced the roof, in an energy and technologically efficient building." The lobby contains a ceiling-high waterfall fountain and the layout of therapy rooms were designed with the advice of a master from Victoria in Chinese feng shui layout design. Although a certain hesitation characterized some earlier spa projects, the public's increasing use of these facilities is emboldening developers from coast to coast. In St. John's, Paul Madden, a suburban infrastructure and commercial development builder and developer for 20 years, and more recently president of Spa at the Monastery and Suites, expects to start construction in June of a $2.4-million, 20-suite luxury spa overlooking the ocean. The project is about 20 minutes' drive from his first spa venture -- an abandoned 10,500-square-foot monastery in the downtown core of the provincial capital, which he bought, redeveloped and opened in 2001. Then he acquired an adjacent religious school and turned it into a 20-suite property connected to the spa by a tunnel he added and which opened late last year. The two facilities cost about $3.1-million. Mr. Madden recalls he had been "nervous about the [first] project" because he wasn't sure how Newfoundlanders would react. As it turned out, he needn't have worried. "I started out with a staff of eight, now there are 63. We went from five days a week to seven days and then six evenings..." he says. "We had 265-per-cent growth from the first year to the next and it has only come under control last year." There wasn't any opposition to redeveloping the former monastery and school, Mr. Madden says, because city planners and neighbours realized an upscale spa and accommodation with king-sized beds and fireplaces is infinitely more desirable than a parking lot, which was in the works. Nor would there be any traffic problems or disturbing noises, or late evening boisterousness because there is no bar. On the other side of the country, Pat Corbett has also been in land development and construction for more than 20 years, and is president of Hills Health Ranch Ltd., at 108 Mile House, in the Cariboo region, more than 480 kilometres north of Vancouver. His company opened a 26-room health and fitness spa in 1985, in a 25,000-square-foot central lodge it built on a ranch-style 20,000 acres, and added 20 Swiss-style chalets. Mr. Corbett says his spa attracts about 8,000 guests a year from across North America and abroad. He intends to start work this year on a $50-million, 250-unit "health village" on the site, with regional government zoning and development application approvals in hand. Given the rapid growth of the spa industry, it is appropriate that 108 Mile House takes its name from the stations on a road travelled by gold rush prospectors flocking to the Cariboo in the 19th century. Spa speakAverages for Canada from a 2004 industry study
SOURCE: INTERNATIONAL SPA ASSOCIATION BOOMING Spa Industry, can take you awayBOOMING Spa Industry, can take you awayThe spa industry has grown at an astounding rate of 20% annually over the past eight years. It is poised to double over the next five years. This explosive growth continues to outpace the number of qualified spa personnel available. This unprecedented growth has also produced new challenges for the industry including the need for professional Spa Managers, Supervisors and Service Providers, who are a critical part of client care. According to the International Spa Association's 2004 Spa Industry Study:
Throughout North America the number one major challenge to continued industry success was the lack of quality staff. The number two major challenge was educating and maintaining quality staff. These concerns have been consistent for the past number of years. * A recent survey by Statistics Canada found that an estimated 5.4 million people reported having used some type of alternative or complimentary health care. The most common form was chiropractic followed by massage therapy. This sustained growth means lots of career opportunities for well-trained individuals in massage therapy, esthetics and spa management. Career Colleges like Elmcrest College, the first private Career College in North America that is wholly dedicated to the Ministry approved curriculum for the spa and wellness industries, lead the way with new groundbreaking training and education programs. Full-time Spa Management programs qualify students, with or without prior spa experience, who want to drive their careers to the next level in this booming industry. Spa Manager/Director diploma programs equip participants with the essential business skills required to face the challenges of managing in today's fast-paced spa environment. Over the course of this comprehensive program, focus is placed on strategic decisionmaking, developing management skills, understanding of accounting and marketing principles through case studies and group assignments in relation to the spa industry. Courses like the Spa Leadership certificate program are for those seeking the knowledge and skills necessary to manage day-to-day spa operations and positions graduates for growth into senior management roles. With the tremendous growth in the spa industry, spa management graduates are in high demand. Spa services such as Massage Therapy, Esthetics and Spa Management are careers that can take you all over the world because many of these positions are in vacation and luxury resort areas or on cruise lines. Spa Management and Spa industry careers can really take you away. As appeared in 'Training Places', April 2005 The Market for Complementary MedicineLarge numbers of Canadians use various forms of complementary and alternative therapies and products to prevent and cure carious health ailments as well as to contribute to a general sense of well-being. The highest levels of awareness are for: acupuncture (26%), herbals (15%), chiropractor (12%), Massage Therapy (12%), yoga (7%), aromatherapy (7%), and homeopathy (7%). 62% of the samples have used some type of complementary medicine activity over the preceding 12-month period. The highest levels of usage over the preceding 12-month period are for herbal remedies (36%), massage (29%), nutrition counselling/diet therapy (21%), meditation (20%), chiropractor (18%), aromatherapy (16%), relaxation therapies (16%), yoga (15%), naturopathic medicine (11%) and homeopathy (11%). The two major reasons cited for first using primary complementary medicine activities are: to enhance well-being and health or to deal with a specific health problem. Summary: The market for complementary medicine is currently significant and likely to grow larger in the future. Currently, herbal medications, chiropractic, Massage Therapy; medication and nutrition counselling/diet therapy are the main types of interventions used. Most of those who use these interventions either do not consult or use a practitioner, or do so only once or twice a year. The major reasons cited for using complementary medicine are to enhance well-being and health or to deal with a specific health problem. Satisfaction levels are generally high and respondents overall find the specific intervention they use effective. -Excerpt: John DeMarco - Summit Strategy Group AMTA Consumer Survey Fact Sheet - 2001 Massage TherapyWhere do Americans get a massage?17% got their last massage from a Massage Therapist at a day spa, while 14% got their massage in the Massage Therapist's office and 10% say they received their massage in their own home. Where would Americans prefer to get massage?Of the 62% of adults who see massage as beneficial, the highest percentage of all adults surveyed (40%) say they would prefer to receive massage from a therapist in their homes, 26% in the therapist's office and 23% at a day spa. -Excerpt: AMTA Consumer Survey 2001 Touch Research Institute StudiesThe Touch Research Institutes are dedicated to studying the effects of touch therapy. The TRIs have researched the effects of Massage Therapy at all stages of life, from newborns to senior citizens. In these studies the TRIs have shown that touch therapy has many positive effects. For example, Massage Therapy:
The Touch Research Institutes have conducted some 83 studies on the positive effects of Massage Therapy on many functions and medical conditions in varied age groups. Among the significant research findings are enhanced growth (e.g. in preterm infants), diminished pain (e.g. fibromyalgia), decreased autoimmune problems (e.g., increased pulmonary function in asthma and decreased glucose levels in diabetes), enhanced immune function (e.g., increased natural killer cells in HIV and cancer), and enhanced alertness and performance (e.g., EEG pattern of alertness and better performance on math computations). Many of these effects appear to be mediated by decreased stress hormones. Some of Touch Research Institutes Studies:Asthma: This study showed positive effects of parents massaging their asthmatic children including increased peak air flow, improved pulmonary functions, less anxiety and reduced stress hormone (cortisol) in the children. Parental anxiety also decreased. Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis: Positive effects of parents massaging their arthritic children included less pain (particularly at night) and less morning stiffness as assessed by the Parent, Child and Physician's Assessment as well as lower anxiety and cortisol levels. Hospital Massage Program Provides ComfortA Colorado-based hospital massage program is taking the idea of inpatient care to a whole new level. Since June 2001, patients at Valley View Hospital in Glenwood Springs have been offered complimentary massage by one of three full-time Massage Therapists on staff. "We need so much more compassion in a hospital," said Kem Carroll, C.M.T., director of the hospital's complementary therapies program. "Being here we also get to teach doctors that it's OK to touch their patients." Massage is done in the patient's room and sometimes in pre-op, where a gentle touch is often useful to ease nervousness. In addition to the prenatal massage service offered in the clinic, Carroll, who is also trained as a duela, or labor assistant, does labor massage. She also works with the hospital's hospice patients. " The premise while patients are here, is comfort," she said. "We are here to offer comfort in an uncomfortable position." " All of our doctors have been so wonderful about being approving of this program; we've shown them how we work with the patients," she said. Carroll said that most of the people who request the service have had massage before and know the kind of comfort it can offer. Often people just appreciate having the company. She recalls one elderly woman with rheumatoid arthritis, who was in the hospital for surgery on her spine. After receiving one 15-minute hand massage, she asked for massage each day of her 28-day stay. " There was nothing that we could do for her hands, but the fact was that we touched her and gave her our undivided attention," Carroll said. "Sometimes just being in the room with them is more healing than our touch." Massage therapy & Hospitalized patientsContext: Some acute and long-term care facilities are instituting Massage Therapy programs to support their patients' health, healing, and quality of life. Evaluation of the impact of these programs from the perspective of patients, providers, and therapists is important for administrative decision making and the design of future outcomes research. Perinatal Massage Therapy Offered at St. Mary Mercy HospitalThe Massage Therapy Department at St. Mary Mercy Hospital now offers perinatal Massage Therapy from a certified therapist. Perinatal Massage Therapy focuses on the needs of the mother-to-be. It helps foster a nurturing maternal touch, reduce stress and promotes relaxation. It has also been shown to reduce muscle and bone strain and pain, relieve varicose veins and reduce blood pressure and swelling. Massage therapy contributes to shorter, less painful labor, reduces labor complications, the need for medications and interventions and improves infant well being. After childbirth, Massage Therapy reduces pain, helps realign the spine, and aids in postpartum emotional, physiological and family adjustments. Perinatal In-Hospital Massage Therapy ServiceSince 1996, Cindy McNeely has acted as the Outreach Supervisor of Massage Therapy students completing a Perinatal practicum at Sunnybrook & Women's College Health Sciences Centre, Toronto, Ontario (a Level III hospital). This program began as a pilot program which was visioned and developed by Cindy, and has been very successful for hospital patients, staff, and the Massage Therapy students and Registered Massage Therapists who have attended the practicum's. Massage Therapy has been provided in the Antenatal (High Risk Pregnancy), Labour & Delivery, and Postpartum Units. Infant Massage Instruction is provided for parents as part of the services of the Breastfeeding Clinic. In addition, Infant Massage has been taught to parents whose babies are in the Transitional Care/Care by Parent Unit. In 1998, Allison Hines piloted a second Outreach Program in a North York Level II Perinatal hospital setting. During its two years' existence, the program received very positive feedback from staff and clients. Cindy and Allison are very interested in expanding the role of Massage Therapy within hospital settings, and are happy to act as consultants in projects related to establishing hospital-based Massage Therapy programs. Prenatal Massage: Giving Expectant Moms a HandThe sweet burden of motherhood begins long before the baby is born. Throughout her pregnancy, an expectant mom watches her body change and experiences new aches and pains with each passing month. But thanks to the increased popularity of prenatal massage, pregnancy today has become easier. " Women are becoming more aware of what massage can offer them," said Sallie Mowles, L.M.T., a therapist who specializes in prenatal massage at Urban Oasis in Chicago. Massage is contraindicated until after the first trimester, due to the danger of miscarriage during that time. But after that, massage can ease pain and provide comfort during those nine long months. In the second trimester, for example, when the baby sits high in the uterus and presses on the organs, massage around the diaphragm helps the mother relax and breath more freely, Mowles said. Light work around the hips and a gentle lifting of the baby can reduce pressure on the bladder, she added. Around six months, when the hips really begin to spread, many women complain of sciatica, Mowles said. Massage during this time can ease some of the constriction of the gluteus and periformis muscles that leads to pain. " So often they have so much difficulty getting comfortable at home," said Mowles, who works on clients on Urban Oasis' pregnancy massage tables and occasionally goes to the hospital when clients go into labor. "It is great for them to get off their feet and relax." Most of Urban Oasis's pregnant clients have received massage before. Others come because a friend or family member gave them a gift certificate. Mowles said that women also hear about massage in playgroups or from their doctor and decide to try it out. After one 70-minute session, most are hooked. " I haven't met a pregnant woman who didn't like it. They savor the moment, because they know that at the end of nine months, moments of free time and quiet are few and far between," Mowles said. Pain Research – Massage Therapy Relieves Nurse's PainsModern-day nursing carries with it certain occupational hazards; commonly reported symptoms affecting nurses are tension and back pain. The Department of Psychology at the Toronto Hospital, Canada investigated the use of Massage Therapy for their nursing staff with a series of eight 15-minute massage treatments whilst at work. The researchers were attempting to determine whether the Massage Therapy reduced the levels of pain and stress experienced by the nursing staff at a large teaching hospital. Twelve hospital staff (10 registered nurses and 2 non-medical ward staff) participated in the study. Each nurse received up to eight, 15-minute Swedish massage treatments by registered Massage Therapists. Pain, tension, relaxation, and the Profile of Mood States were all measured before and after each massage session. The results indicated that the intensity of pain and tension levels were significantly reduced after the eight-session massage programme. The therapy also improved the overall mood and morale of the nurses working at the teaching hospital. The response to the Massage Therapy was so positive that the researchers recommended further research be carried out to study, in more detail, the efficacy of conducting massage in the workplace for reducing stress, alleviating pain, and improving the overall mood and staff morale. Massage for Spinal-Cord InjuryMassage benefits people with spinal-cord injuries by increasing their range of motion and muscle strength while decreasing anxiety and depression, according to a recent study. " Spinal Cord Patients Benefit from Massage Therapy" was conducted by Miguel Diego, Tiffany Field, Ph.D., Maria Hernandez-Reif, Ph.D., Sybil Hart, Ph.D., and Tory Field, of the Touch Research Institute at the University of Miami School of Medicine, along with Bernard Brucker of the university's psychiatry department and Iris Burman, co-founder and director of Educating Hands School of Massage in Miami, Florida. Fifteen males and five females participated in the study. Their average age was 39 and each had C5-C7 spinal cord injuries for at least one year. The subjects were stratified by range of motion and randomly assigned to either a massage-therapy or exercise group. The massage-therapy group received two 40-minute massages per week for five weeks. The exercise group was taught an exercise routine that they performed on their own twice a week for five weeks. On the first and last days of the study, a physiotherapist with no knowledge of group assignment assessed participants' range of motion and muscle strength, and administered the Modified Barthel Index, which rates self-care and mobility skills. The massage group showed a greater increase in muscle strength than the exercise group on the Manual Muscle Test, designed to assess motor function after spinal-cord injury. Range-of-motion tests revealed that both groups improved in shoulder abduction, but the massage group showed greater improvement in wrist extension and flexion. The Center for Epidemiological Studies-Depression scale was completed on the first and last days of the study, and the State Anxiety Inventory was used to assess participants' anxiety immediately before and after massage on the first and last days of the study. Members of the massage group showed a greater decrease in depression scores on the last day of the research. They also had significantly lower levels of anxiety than subjects in the exercise group immediately following massage on the first and last days of the study. " The increased muscle strength and range of motion may have contributed to the decrease in their depression and anxiety," state the study's authors. "These data suggest that patients with spinal cord injury can benefit from Massage Therapy." The authors recommended future studies to assess Massage Therapy for other problems related to spinal-cord injury, such as spasticity and pain. Massage Improves Function, Reduces Pain and Anxiety Associated with Sub-acute Low-Back PainAdults with sub acute low-back pain reported improved function, less intense pain and a decrease in the quality of pain and anxiety after six sessions of Massage Therapy and remedial exercise, according to a research study. " Effectiveness of Massage Therapy for sub acute low-back pain" was conducted by Michele Preyde, a Ph.D. student in the Faculty of Social Work at the University of Toronto and a member of the College of Massage Therapists of Ontario. It was originally published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal. Ninety-eight subjects with an average age of 46 participated in the study. Each subject complained of sub acute low-back pain lasting anywhere from one week to eight months, and 60 percent of the participants said their pain lasted longer than three months. Subjects were randomly assigned to one of four groups: comprehensive Massage Therapy, which included soft-tissue manipulation, remedial exercise and posture education; soft-tissue manipulation only; remedial exercise and posture education only; or a placebo of sham laser therapy. Each participant received six treatments in one month. Members of the comprehensive massage-therapy group received half-hour massages aimed at promoting circulation and relaxation of spasm or tension, through techniques such as friction, trigger-point and neuromuscular therapy. This group's members were also taught to perform stretches for the trunk, hips and thighs, including flexion and modified extension in a pain-free range. Each stretch, held for about 30 seconds, was performed twice per session for related areas and more often for affected areas. The comprehensive massage-therapy group was also encouraged to exercise for general mobility and overall fitness, through walking, swimming, aerobics or another sport. They also received a brief education on posture and body mechanics at work and in day-to-day activities. Participants placed in the soft-tissue manipulation group received the same massage as those in the comprehensive massage-therapy group, but no additional treatments. Subjects in the remedial exercise group underwent the same exercise and education components as the comprehensive massage-therapy group, but did not receive massage. The control group was given sham low-level, infrared laser therapy with a laser that appeared to work but did not. Subjects' functionality, pain, anxiety and lumbar range of motion were evaluated before the first session, after the last session and a month after treatment had ended. The Roland Disability Questionnaire was used to assess participants' level of functionality when performing daily tasks. The McGill Pain Questionnaire measured intensity of pain and quality of pain. Lumbar range of motion was evaluated with the Modified Schober test, and the State Anxiety Index measured subjects' present levels of anxiety. " Soft-tissue manipulations were shown to have considerable benefit, and the addition of remedial exercise and posture education was shown to improve the clinical results moderately," states the study's author. "Comprehensive Massage Therapy seemed to have the greatest impact on pain scores but was only marginally better than soft-tissue manipulation alone for improving function." All subjects in the comprehensive massage-therapy group reported levels of pain decreased in intensity from the study's start to finish, an outcome that did not occur for any other group. At the end of treatment, and at follow-up, the comprehensive massage-therapy group had significantly lower levels of anxiety than the control group, whereas no other group did. One month after the treatment had ended, 63 percent of the comprehensive massage-therapy group reported no pain, as compared with 27 percent of the soft-tissue manipulation group, 14 percent of the exercise group and none of the control group. " Both the comprehensive Massage Therapy group and the soft-tissue manipulation group showed clinical significance for the improvement of function," states the study's author. "Massage therapy that is based on physiology and emphasizes the soft-tissue manipulation component of treatment was found to be effective in the nonpharmacological management of subacute low-back pain." Movement Therapy Benefits Senior CitizensSenior citizens who participated in four movement-therapy sessions showed improved balance and gait, increased leg strength, and significantly decreased leg pain, according to a recent research study. " Senior citizens benefit from movement therapy" was conducted by Kristen Hartshorn, Jesse Delage, Tiffany Field, Ph.D., and Loren Olds of the University of Miami School of Medicine. Field is the director of the university's Touch Research Institute. The study was published in the Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies. Thirty-two subjects with an average age of 86 were recruited for the study from two retirement communities and randomly assigned to either a movement-therapy group or a wait-list control group. The movement-therapy group attended four 50-minute sessions throughout a two-week time period. Each session began with a warm-up, during which subjects typically sat in a circle and focused on breathing; raised their arms and legs; and rolled their necks. Self-massage was also performed. After the warm-up, participants engaged in large, whole-body movements, such as swaying, pushing, stamping, twisting, turning, stepping and swinging. This was followed by resting and sharing, when participants took a break to notice any changes in themselves, such as increased heart rate or expanded respiration. The last portion of the movement therapy was most intensive, as subjects were encouraged to fully explore the dynamics of a movement, such as the feeling of rocking or swaying. At times they worked in pairs, mirroring each other, or used props to take the movement further. Breathwork, progressive relaxation of the entire body, imagery and visualization were also used. Range-of-motion data and self-reports were collected from subjects in both the movement-therapy and the control group on the first and last days of the study. Overall body pain, back pain and leg pain were rated on visual analogue scales (VITAS) ranging from 0/no pain, to 10/worst possible pain. Leg strength was rated on a 10-point scale, from very weak to very strong. The Tinetti balance and gait evaluation was used to measure subjects' range of motion. Each item was rated from 0-2, and a higher total score was considered optimal. The balance evaluation included items such as sitting balance, arising, standing balance, turning 360 degrees and sitting down. The gait evaluation included items such as step length and height, step continuity, step symmetry and walking stance. " Although there were trends in the reduction of back pain, only the leg pain significantly decreased over the course of the study," state the study's authors. " The combined effects of the movement therapy on leg strength, gait, and reduction of leg pain suggest that this may be an effective therapy for these problems in the elderly," state the study's authors. "The freer movements and lesser degree of structure and concentration required of the elderly make this a more enjoyable kind of movement therapy than the more frequently studied Tai Chi." Massage Helps Keep Seniors HealthyGeorge Sarkisian never intended to go into geriatric massage when he attended massage school in the early 1980s. But his elderly clients kept making an impression. First, there was the 95-year-old gentleman who came to Sarkisian for his first massage thanks to a birthday surprise from his grandson-and loved it. Then there was the gentleman in his 80s, who came into the health club in Colorado where Sarkisian was working shortly after graduation. During the massage the man started to chuckle quietly. When Sarkisian asked what was going on, the man said that he was remembering a Little League baseball game of his youth. "I was running and I caught that ball and I was so happy," the man told him. " I have no idea why that massage triggered that memory, but here is this older person having a memory of when they were 10 years old," Sarkisian said. "It was so moving and touching, it was like he was back there in that time again." In 1994 he began working with a woman who lived at an assisted- care facility outside of Boston, where his practice had moved five years prior. Over the next six years of weekly sessions, they forged a deep bond. " She was quite a remarkable person; she painted and wrote poetry. We had some very good conversations. When she died, it was like losing a friend," he said. Then two years ago, he was hired by a family to work on their 83-year-old mother who lived in an assisted-care facility. Although he works on younger people as well, Sarkisian said these elderly clients give him a special kind of professional satisfaction. " It is very rewarding to know that you are helping and that they are gaining so much through touch," he said. He does a combination of Swedish massage, trigger-point therapy and acupressure, scaled down for more frail clients, usually in their own beds and bolstered by pillows. For female clients with osteoporosis, Sarkisian said that a gentle massage around the spine can offer some pain relief. For others, especially those with poor circulation and limb swelling, he said that light massage and elevation can help relieve pressure. He also tries to gently increase their range of motion, taking care not to go beyond the joint resistance and asking clients for feedback about their comfort level. Sarkisian is working toward national certification, which he believes will carry weight when approaching assisted care facilities, especially in states without licensure, like Massachusetts. He encourages other Massage Therapists to pay attention to this special population. " The elderly really do need massage, [because] it helps them on so many levels," he said. "This has been a very enriching experience for me." Massage Goes MainstreamLots of people are feeling the need. According to an American Massage Therapy Association survey, 17% of American adults had a massage in the past year, twice as many as in 1997. And nearly a quarter of those polled said they expect to get a massage this year. Of these, only about 35% are feeling kneady for medical reasons; most of them want to relax, relieve stress and pamper themselves. Certainly there are more places to get rubdowns than ever before. Anywhere that can accommodate one chair, two people and lots of stress seems to be fair game, including airports, offices, factory floors, military bases, sports stadiums, day-care centers and soup kitchens. Massage Therapists were on-board the Acela Express on April 15, offering 10-min. "tax break" massages courtesy of Amtrak. Nearly half the 103 Wild Oats grocery stores in North America offer massages, as do many of the high-end Whole Foods markets, the largest natural-foods chain in the U.S. Why the new enthusiasm for massage, a practice at least as old as grooming? (Earliest known spa: the Roman bath.) Many therapists attribute it to people's greater awareness of the effect stress has on health, and the wider acceptance of alternative or complementary medicine. The rise of spa culture also plays a role in the mainstreaming of massage. Hotels, such as the hip L'Ermitage in Beverly Hills, California, that formerly touted their state-of-the-art gyms are ripping them out and replacing them with spas. Radissons are adding spas, as are many health clubs. But for many, massage is not simply about paying someone to help them relax. It's about maintaining their health. Massage has long been part of the treatment for muscular and arthritic conditions, sports injuries and chronic pain. Prenatal and infant massages are also catching on and a rape-crisis center in North Carolina even offers massage or "safe touch" as part of its therapy. A national survey of employer-sponsored health plans by William M. Mercer found that 15% of HMOs offer massage. Cigna and Blue Cross Blue Shield cover massage in some packages too. How The Spa Industry Promotes MassageConsumer demand for Massage Therapy is higher than ever before, and the rapidly growing spa industry is playing an important role in that. Many of today's regular massage clients received their first massage at a spa - and many new therapists are starting their careers at spas. As the massage and spa industries increasingly over-lap, it's essential that each group understands how best to work together in the wellness arena of the future. A recent poll, 2001 Massage Therapy Consumer Survey Fact Sheet, commissioned by the American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA), found that the percentage of Americans who had received a massage in the previous year had more than doubled between 1997 and 2001 - from 8% to 17% of the population, and that those who received massage did so, on average, seven times a year. Most people who try massage for the 1st time do so in a spa or clinic setting, and whether they become lifelong devotees largely depends on whether they like that initial experience and feel comfortable with it. Guests Keep Shipshape With Carnival Legend's Sophisticated Spa FacilitiesToday's health- conscious vacationers can choose from a number of options to stay in shape and pamper themselves while cruising on the new 88,500-ton Carnival Legend. The 14,500-square-foot Fountain of Youth Spa aboard Carnival Legend will feature the latest exercise equipment and spinning and aerobics classes, along with a number of luxurious "European-style" treatments. "Keeping fit as well as indulging in soothing mind and body treatments has become an important part of today's lifestyle and the spa on Carnival Legend provides these options to our guests in a most sophisticated environment," said Bob Dickinson, Carnival president. Dickinson added that approximately 1.2 million guests - roughly half of Carnival's total passenger base - are expected to use the line's fleet wide spa services this year. The Carnival Legend spa will also offer a variety of exotic "European-style" treatments, including "aroma stone therapy," which is based on an ancient ritual that combines heated and scented oils with a full body massage using warm basalt stones, creating a relaxing and rejuvenating sensation. These treatments will complement a sophisticated menu of full body and scalp massages, seaweed wraps, mudpacks, and various slimming and toning therapies. Treatments will be conducted by the Carnival Legend's highly trained staff, who also provide nutrition and training tips, wellness counseling sessions, and fitness evaluations such as height/weight and body fat composition analyses. Also housed within the spa are 10 private treatment/massage rooms, complete locker facilities, sauna and steam rooms, and a full-service beauty salon. The ship will also feature four swimming pools and four whirlpools -- one available in the spa itself and three others on Lido Deck 9 - as well as a padded jogging track encircling Sports Deck 11. Spas ahoyCruise lines have jumped on the spa vacation trend with a vengeance. Almost every ship now offers massages, mineral facials and mud baths. But only a few manage to pull off a truly luxurious experience. Norwegian Cruise Lines' SS Norway started this trend when it unveiled its 560-square-metre Roman Spa in 1990: a decade later, that figure has soared to about 50 full-fledged shipboard spas. Seafaring spas are beginning to rival land-based, resort destination spas in both facilities and treatments -- as we personally discovered during a recent Baltic/Mediterranean cruise aboard the 758-passenger Seabourn Sun. Expanded and redesigned as part of ultra-luxury line Seabourn's $16-million (all amounts in U.S. dollars) Royal Viking Sun makeover last year, the 450-square-metre, Spa du Soleil exemplifies the increasing sophistication of floating spas. We found the Seabourn Sun's menu of spa services unusually impressive for a cruise ship, but sought an expert's perspective, too. "It offers more for the serious spa-goer than any other ship I know of," confirmed Bernard Burt, founder of the International Spa Association and co-author of 100 Best Spas of the World (Globe Pequot Press). Though exemplary, it is not alone. The 976-square-metre QE2 Spa options include a body-temperate thalassotherapy pool and a Jet Blitz/Hydrajet treatment in which a trained technician turns a high power hose on your body to increase circulation and promote lymphatic drainage. In response to the growing popularity of spa services among its passenger base, Silversea's two new 388-guest ships, debuting this fall and early next summer, will be 60-per-cent larger than the spas aboard its twin, 296-passenger ships. (Silversea Cruises' newly revamped spa program emphasizes Balinese treatments like a "Javanese Honey Steam Wrap" which incorporates cinnamon, ginger, coffee, sea salt, and honey.) STRESS - What is it and Why can it kill you?By Dan Rutz The mind, which before massage is in a perturbed, restless, vacillating and even despondent state, becomes after massage, calm, quite, peaceful and subdued; in fact, the wearied and worried mind has been converted into a mind restful, placid and refreshed." - Dr. Stretch Dowse Stress is an insidious disease, largely because we don't recognize it as life threatening. We all suffer from stress, who doesn't? It's part of our 21st - Century lives. So even when physicians tell us the importance of eliminating stress, who amongst us hasn't waved off the warning knowing we can always so it tomorrow? But have we considered that tomorrow might be too late? According to the American Institute of Stress, 43% of adults suffer adverse health effects due to stress; 75%-90% of all visits to primary care physicians are from stress-related complaints or disorders; and an estimated 1 million workers are absent on an average workday because of stress-related complaints. The reality is, we all experience stress; some just handle it better than others. We all, however, should be dedicated to trying to learn how to manage it. That's why massage, meditation, stretching, exercise and other elements of self-care are so important. These are the things we can control. And what happens if you continue to live life from both ends of the burning candle, expecting perfection, demanding even more from yourself? Links have been made between unfettered stress and all the leading causes of death, including heart disease, cancer, lung ailments, accidents and suicide. It's also instrumental in high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, arthritis, diabetes, musculoskeletal disorders, immune deficiencies and depression, to name a few. Benefits of Massage - Massage its Good MedicineThe S word: Experts estimate that 80% to 90% of disease is stress-related. Massage and bodywork is there to combat that frightening number by helping us remember what it means to relax. As a society, we are touch deprived and this can lead to disease or emotional dysfunction. From the cradle to the nursing home, tactile stimulation and the emotional assurance of caring touch bring about a sense of well-being and security. In numerous studies conducted on massage for infants, TRI researchers have found improved weight gain and development in preterm infants, improved weight gain and motor behaviour in cocaine-exposed infants, and improved weight gain and decreased stress behaviour in HIV-exposed infants. Full-term infants also benefit with increased alertness and social behaviour, less crying and increased weight gain. Broadway - avenue of neon lights, dazzling costumes and golden dreams, represents the pinnacle of a performer's career. But contrary to popular belief show business isn't all glamour. The actors and dancers who perform eight shows a week have to be in peak physical condition in order to give the audience its money's worth. And increasingly, Massage Therapists are helping them reach their goals. There's been a trend over the past five years for bodywork therapists to be unofficial "cast members" in shows up and down Broadway. Producers of The Lion King, 42nd Street, Oklahoma, Riverdance and The Producers have all hired licensed massage and physical therapists for on-call, backstage sessions, in addition to office sessions, for cast members. Theatre professionals consider the services these professionals provide a necessary adjunct. The performers appreciate the regular fine tuning, and the therapist benefit from the association, as well - from being invited to A-list parties and attending opening nights to massaging entertainers such as Brooke Shields, Molly Ringwald, Matthew Broderick and Nathan Lane. Behind the Scenes - Riverdance Dance Troupe'Do your feet hurt?' is one of the most common questions posed to Riverdancers by fans. Well, they hurt a lot less thanks to the fine attention of the health teams who travel with the show, working on injury prevention and treatment for the 100 plus dancers and musicians on international tours that last over 20 weeks. Irish born Seán Reidy joined the Liffey Company as second Massage Therapist in January 1999, not knowing quite what to expect. Fast forward to Summer 2002, London and he's an experienced part of the team having massaged his way through countless cities in Europe and Asia. Seán and Canadian Rodney Squires are the Liffey Company's massage team. Seán outlined his and Rodney's workday: 'Our normal work day starts at 6.30 and we do eight or nine treatments, each 20 minutes long, right through to about 10 at night and then we've a break before we start again with 30 minute treatments for Breandan or Joanne (our lead dancers) For example I've Breandan tonight, before and after the show while Rodney takes Joanne before and after, and that alternates.' How many hours of massage would you and Rodney give a week?'It varies depending on the number of shows that week. It gets quite difficult here (London) because we have eight shows each week, whereas some weeks touring in other cities we might only have six or seven shows. It gets very busy when you've eight shows and it's hard on the hands, so Rodney and myself have worked out a system whereby we've worked in an extra treatment most nights so we can take a day off, which we need. It's worth it. We were finding it very tough in Edinburgh because we'd eight shows every week, it just wrecks you and tires you out.' 'We get on really well, you always have a laugh with Rodney, we'll have our moments like any pair on tour but we'll know when to get out of each others hair. We also work closely with Heidi the Physiotherapist, exchanging information on the dancers problems and on their general form.' Can you tell us about the type of massage you do?'I am a sports and remedial Massage Therapist. The most commonly used massage for athletic training programmes is a traditional western technique such as Swedish massage. I have special training in sports massage and will often combine traditional massage with other techniques such as deep tissue, trigger point work, soft tissue release, myofascial release etc. I particularly like the fascial and trigger point work. Fascia is the connective tissue that runs right through the body surrounding all the muscles and joints. By working on the fascia first it tends to soften the surface tissues and allows me to progress into the deeper tissues. 'I can then work on trigger points, the points that hold an area of tension in the muscle. At this stage I can also separate all those tight bands and fibres that can cause a lot of tension in the muscles. So I'll show you, (taking hold of my forearm) if I was to press into your arm here, because you probably work on a computer a lot, I'll find an area of tension there and just by holding it for up to 90 seconds or until the pain has gone, you can release tension throughout the whole muscle. 'So a lot of the work involves palpation skills and being able to judge when to apply the various techniques. Its similar to knowing when to change gears while driving a car.' What are the particular areas of concern for the Irish dancers?'Working right up from the joints in their toes, their feet, Achilles problems, tight calves, general problems like instabilities in the knee and ankle ligaments. Dancers also suffer with neck tension and headaches. The muscles around the hip, the glut muscles in particular can become excessively tight due to the fact that these muscles create a lot of the movement in Irish dance. It is also quite common for dancers to sprain ankles. One of the most dreaded injuries would be the stress fracture most commonly occurring in one of the small bones in the foot.' 'One of my main concerns with dancers is that they become more injury prone if their dietary habits are not adequate. Good nutrition along with regular massage will go a long way towards preventing most injuries. It is also necessary to have proper warm up routines, regular stretching, muscle strengthening and balance training etc as part of a regular exercise routine.' When Riverdance started there was no massage provided for the dancers. 'Now it's more of a ticking over process, the finger is nearly pointed at us if someone gets an injury. Like, did you not check that or see that the muscle was tight. And of course you are going to get stuff, like ankle sprains, you can't help that. You're going to get problems, like someone falling onstage but we like to think that they're going to pick up very few muscle strains or muscular spasms, and they are the things, long term, if they weren't getting massaged and if there was lots of that going on, they'd have severe problems.' Massage Reduces Dancers' Stress, Helps Range of MotionMassage lowers anxiety, improves mood and increases range of motion among dance students, according to a recent study. Researchers at the Touch Research Institute showed that twice-weekly massage lowered the stress hormone cortisol, eased neck, shoulder and back pain, and helped range of motion, including neck extension and shoulder abduction. Thirty female dance students were randomly assigned to a massage or relaxation therapy group. Both groups otherwise continued the same daily dance and school regime. Those in the massage group received 30-minute sessions twice weekly for five weeks. The massage was focused on the upper body and consisted of moderate to firm pressure, stroking, stretching and rocking. With a prone dancer, the therapist began the session with firm strokes to stretch and warm the neck, back and shoulders. Next, friction and then squeezing were applied to both sides of the spine and then along the sides of the body. This was followed with a sequence of up-and-down and side-to-side strokes along the collar bone and scapula. Firm pressure was applied, moving muscles away from vertebral column. Firm gliding motions were made down the neck, shoulder and upper back, finishing at the bottom of the scapula. Continuing with the dancer lying on her side, massage was applied with firm pressure on the muscles along the rib cage, releasing tension before continuing. The chest muscles were then lifted, squeezed and stretched. The arms were circled up by the head and behind the back and down again while applying gentle pressure to the chest and side. The lateral neck muscles were then pressed. Lastly, the arm was circled in reverse, using its own weight to stretch the middle back and chest muscles. In the relaxation group, dancers listened via earphones to instructions on a series of guided muscle relaxation exercises while lying on a mat. Sessions lasted 30 minutes and consisted of tensing and relaxing muscles, starting with the feet and moving up the body, ending at the face. These sessions also occurred twice weekly for five weeks. To assess the effects of the massage and relaxation sessions, researchers used five measurements: a State Anxiety Inventory (a questionnaire that assesses anxiety levels), a Profile of Mood States questionnaire; pre- and post-session pain scales to measure perception of pain in the neck, shoulders and back; pre- and post session saliva samples to measure cortisol levels; and measurements of range of motion, including neck extension and shoulder abduction. Results showed that both groups had less anxiety, better mood, and less pain in the neck, shoulder and back. Only the massage group experienced a decrease in cortisol and an improvement in range of motion, including neck extension and shoulder abduction. " Perhaps Massage Therapy stretched the dancers more than relaxation therapy, thus leading to the improved range of motion for the Massage Therapy group," the study authors wrote. The authors stated that further study should be devoted to the effects of Massage Therapy for preventing and treating dance injuries. Sports Massage: Not Just for Elite AthletesOnce upon a time, sports massage was something reserved for Olympic competitors or marathoners referred by their orthopaedic physicians. But over the past decade sports massage has become the buzz for athletes of all ability levels, from 10K runners to high-school football players. Thanks to its acceptance in professional athletics, the benefits of sports massage have become widely known,. Massage Therapists are today members of the Olympic medical teams and play an important role in professional sports clubs. Many athletes, like Brandi Chastain of the U.S. woman's soccer team which earned an Olympic gold medal in 1998, credit regular massage for helping them with winning performances. Massage has also become a regular fixture at road races, and even high-school sports departments call in professional hands to keep their young athletes in top form. Today sports massage is viewed as an integral component to a winning game plan. " We approach [sports massage] as part of an athlete's goal setting and success," said Marion Burch Cimbala, R.M.T., owner of Body Therapy Center in Austin, Texas, which counts among its clients professional athletes like Olympic cyclist Lance Armstrong and PGA tour competitor Tom Kite, as well as the sports teams of the University of Texas. Massage has long been known to warm muscles and increase range of motion. It also helps reduce lactic-acid build-up and realigns muscle fibers-important components in muscle recovery. But today's sports Massage Therapists, who are often trained in exercise physiology and kinetics, offer more than just muscle relief. They add a strategic edge to athletic training. Burch Cimbala compares the work she and her 12 staff therapists do to that of financial planners. "Massage Therapists ought to establish the same type of relationship with an athlete: evaluate their abilities and establish their long- and short-term goals," she said. "[Sports massage] is an investment you make with your body." Workplace MassageOne of the main contributors to our everyday stress is our workplace. 70% of workers surveyed by a national survey stated that their job is very stressful. Stress is the #1 cause of disability. It costs employers billions of dollars a year on lost productivity and healthcare costs. (You can learn more about stress in our section on stress management.) Since workplace is stressful, it seems commonsense to provide some means of stress relief at the workplace. More and more employers are recognizing that a regular massage can reduce the physical and mental effects of stress, thus reducing burnout and stress related diseases. " More and more companies offer Massage Therapy not only as a perk, but also to increase their employees' productivity and morale," said E. Houston LeBrun, president-elect of the American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA). "You get immediate results - the employees experience stress reduction and greater satisfaction with their jobs." Indeed, studies have shown that massage improves bottom line of employers. A study by the Touch Research Institute at the University of Miami found that after five weeks, a group of 26 employees who had twice-weekly, 15-minute massages in the office fared better than a control group of 24 employees who were just told to close their eyes and relax. The massaged group experienced reduced stress and improved performance, while the control group did not. Using electroencephalograms (EEG), researchers measured alpha and beta waves in both groups, and found massage recipients to be more alert. Stress hormones in the saliva of the massaged group were lower than in the control group. The massaged workers completed math problems in half the time as normal and with half the errors they had before they were massaged. The math skills of the control group did not improve. The massage recipients also said they were less fatigued and more clear-headed. Every year, more companies are heeding the call. There are no statistics on the number of companies that offer Massage Therapy onsite, but those that have offered it include law firms, hospitals, manufacturers and major corporations, such as Boeing, Apple Computer, PepsiCo, Sony Music and United Airlines. Most companies contract with Massage Therapists who schedule appointments with employees during breaks. The recipient is seated in a specially designed chair which allows the therapist to work on the back, neck, shoulders and arms addressing the common problem areas of today's workers. There is no oil used and the worker is fully clothed. The massage session usually lasts 10- 15 minutes, the time for a coffee break. Benefits of therapeutic massage:Relieves physical problems associated with repetitive tasks Therapeutic massage helps balance the effects of stress in our lives, and avoid stress related disease and dysfunction by:
Massage in the WorkplaceThe number of organizations that offer Massage Therapy to lower stress and improve productivity is growing every year. In Atlanta, Stress Recess provides massage to companies large and small, including corporate leaders like Coca-Cola, Delta Airlines, SunTrust Bank, Northside Hospital, and IBM Interactive Media. So, do such people-friendly policies result in higher revenues? You bet, says Fortune Magazine. In fact, Eddie Bauer, one of Fortune Magazine's 100 Best Companies to Work For, provides on-site massage twice a week at corporate headquarters. Whether you provide a Stress Recess massage to your staff on a regular basis, during especially demanding periods, or as a special treat during a sales meeting or retreat, massage can really make a difference in productivity, job satisfaction, and health. |
|
|||||||
