#james rickner

I have been preaching the benefits of stretching for many moons. I have not been very good about practicing what I preach! Below is a link to a very good article on stretching from the American Massage Therapy Association website. -JR, CMT

"...Stretching is very simple. The essence of stretching is that it lengthens soft tissues. Taut soft tissues limit motion, whether they are tight muscles or any soft tissue that has accumulated fascial adhesions. Stretching can help to reverse this process. Even better, stretching on a regular basis can prevent soft tissues from becoming taut in the first place..."

I've tried massaging my cat Malaysia, as well as my brother/sister-in-laws' cats Dane and Sabrina.  I must say, they really seem to enjoy it.  But, cats are not dogs.  When doing feline massage, one must be more gentle.  Below is an interesting article I found on Feline Massage.  -JR

"Whether it’s a pat on the back for a job well done, a hug, or a gentle massage after a long day, touch can soothe your nerves and open the door to true relaxation.  Like their owners, pets also benefit from touch and massage – particularly cats.  In fact, a growing number of cat owners are finding massage provides an excellent way to strengthen the bond with their pet while improving their overall health at the same time...."

Knees hurt?  Ankles throbbing?  Need to rest those sore joints while still getting in regular cardio workouts?  I tried "running" some laps in a hotel swimming pool in Omaha, NE while on vacation last month, and it felt great!  Check out this article on Water Aerobics.  -JR

Water Aerobics: Everyone in the Pool

"Looking for a workout that is easy on your body, but still works your heart and major muscle groups? Water aerobics may be just the thing..."

I have blogged about colors before. Colors do indeed seem to have an impact on how we feel.  Its worth touching on this subject again.  The thought of colors affecting our moods may seem very subtle, but they affect us just the same.

Those who know me know that I love blues and greys.  My clothing usually seems to include blues or greys because those colors make me feel good.  Lately I have noticed that I enjoy the color combination of red and light orange.  Just check out my Facebook profile picture!

"Marilyn Kier knew the stresses of the workplace. As a business consultant for 15 years, she knew the aches in the fingers, the tightness in the shoulders, the pain in the neck. She knew she needed to bring wellness to the workplace.

She joined the chamber of commerce in Northbrook, Illinois, with the idea of sitting chamber members down and showing them what they'd been missing...."

When I first started doing massage, I relied heavily on my hands, wrists, fingers and thumbs to generate the pressure that my clients needed. As I specialize in DEEP tissue, my hands & thumbs wore out pretty fast.  That's when I happened upon a technique called "The Forearm Dance", created by Val Guin, which gave me a new way of thinking about practicing massage therapy.  I didn't have to rely solely on my poor fingers!  Although my style is not exactly "The Forearm Dance", conceptually it is quite similar. -JR

"Plantar fasciitis is one of the most common pain conditions of the foot; in fact, it is the most prevalent cause of foot pain encountered in clinical practice. Though athletes frequently experience plantar fasciitis, even those not involved in active lifestyles also experience this condition...."