Foods to Help Your Muscles and Body

Most of the time we can address and take care of  many of our aches and pains by eating the correct foods. Yet often times we go to the store first too hungry to make healthy intentional selections. I know for myself if I've missed a meal before going food shopping I tend to purchase foods which are quick and easy. These choices often lack variety and generally are not balanced nor taking into consideration what is going on in my body outside of hunger.

Before I really started to think of food as medicine I generally didn't know what types of food to buy to target what I wanted to change in my body. I mainly purchased items to make a salad because a salad is healthy, right? I'd get some supplements because supplements will balance me out, right?

Now I'm a bit more aware. I try  to consider the season I'm in and how my body is reacting to that season. I notice if I need to decrease inflammation or prepare for the flu season. I'm aware if I can't warm up my feet and hands. Then I go for foods to address these issues.

I can go into more detail at another time about seasonal eating but for this write up I'm going to focus on herbs and spices that can help your body.

1. Turmeric: is not only for curry. It is one of the leading medicine foods and has been for decades.
                     It is a great anti-inflammatory
                     It is a strong anti-oxidant
                     It is an anti-coagulant
                     It helps improve brain function
                     It helps improve endothelial function
                     which plays a role in decreasing heart disease
                     It's an anti-cancer

       To improve the effectiveness of Turmeric we must enhance the absorption of it's chemical  Curcumin. This is done by combining it with ground black pepper.                

       Note: most research finds Turmeric to be an estrogen inhibitor. However, there have been a few articles that state too much turmeric can increase the levels of estrogen in the blood. Therefore, to be cautious, I try to limit the amount of turmeric and forms of turmeric in a day. In one day rather than adding it to a smoothie, drinking it as a tea, eating it as a curry and taking it as a supplement, I choose one or two of these options. This is true for any thing we consume; too much of a good thing can become a bad thing. 

       

     
2. Ginger: most widely know for is benefits to help reduce nausea and stomach upset.
                  It helps blood flow and circulation with helps
                  the body thermo-regulate
                  It's an anti-inflammatory
                  It's an anti-cancer
                  It helps break down and release mucus
                  It improves the immune system
                  It decrease plaque build up in the arteries

3. Cinnamon: is not just for baking
                 It helps reduce blood sugar levels
                 It supports blood platelets and thus
                  helps improve blood clotting
                  It helps reduce blood pressure

4. Mustard : not just for your sandwich
                 It is great as a quick combatant of muscle spasms
                 It helps reduce muscle pain
                 It helps improve nerve impulses

5. Cardamom: not just for rice pudding
               It helps detox the kidneys
               It's an anti-inflammatory
               It helps reduce muscle spasm


All of these to some degree are anti-bacterial, anti-fungal and anti-vital.

As with any medicine not every one should use these as a medicine, meaning take them at high levels on a daily basis for an extend period of time. For instance someone who is prone to gallstones should not take turmeric. Someone on blood thinners should not take the one's promoting anti-coagulation.

Always consult your Naturopath or other health care provide when seeking to change your system's regulators.            

Who is behind Eclectic Healing Guide

If you have been wondering who Colette is and how she became the therapist she is today, we put together a little insight here.

Colette Chavez Walker graduated from East/West College of Massage in Portland, Oregon. She was trained by some of the best massage therapist and instructors in Portland namely John Hart, TJ Ford and Allison Longstretg  Lurie.  Always striving for more knowledge and means to provider her clients with the best and most effective results ,Colette has taken extensive continuing education courses. Most recently, she traveled to Thailand with her instructor Allison Lurie. There she immersed herself in all things Thai; as Thai massage is more than just a series of strokes, it is part of a living culture where food, mediation and bodywork are all equal parts of bringing a person into their highest well being. Colett's techniques are also greatly influence by her time learning, Lomi(a form of Hawaiian massage)from Native Hawaiian, Kamaile Puaoi, who truly embodies the Aloha essence. Colette is also certified in Orthopedic Massage by founder James Waslaski. Another one of Colette's passions is women's health. To gain more knowledge in this realm, Colette studied with Dr. Randine Lewis, author of “The Infertility Cure” and Founder of Fertile Soul.

 Through her oral health studies at UCLA Colette is also trained in working with muscular conditions related to the jaw. Working with the Naturopaths at Tigard Holistic Health Clinic, Colette refined her understanding of the importance of alternative healing arts and was provided with methods for caring for clients going through cancer therapies. 

Colette is also a Reiki master and has been utilizing the Usui method of Reiki for over 10 years.  While in Thailand, Colette was introduced to Chi Nei Tsang (stomach massage, but oh so much more). This amazing technique blends beautifully with her Reiki practice of mediation. Colette’s other source of mediation, spirituality, empowerment and exercise is Belly Dance. Through Reiki, Chi Nei Tsang and belly dance, she has come to understand that all things are connected both macrocosmically as well as microcosmically; therefore the healing process must be dealt with on all levels, within all our bodies (emotional, mental, physical and spiritual). Colette understands that to find and maintain health, we should care for our bodies as though they were infants, addressing our individual needs, while balancing nutritional, emotional, mental, spiritual and physical aspects of our being.

Colette is a practitioner that listens to her client’s body, working on a myofascial, neuromuscular and energetic level to help release blocks and tension, easing the client back to their ideal alignment. She is dedicated to guiding rather than leading her clients to a path of balance within mind, body and spirit. Each of her sessions is customized to the client’s individual needs, desires and comfort.

Website: colette.massagetherapy.com

An Overview of Colette's Massage Modalities

Ever wonder what type of massages techniques influence Colette's fusion style?

Wonder what she is thinking as she plans your massage? Well, here you go:

In general Colette's massage sessions are eclectic. She pulls from several of the modalities below at any given area in a person’s body depending on what the muscles are asking for in the moment. The most important aid in her massage is the client’s ability to provide her with as much of the story of their muscles as they can in any given session. The more guidance she has as to what the muscles have been doing during the week, months or years, the more focused she can make the session and  better long term results will occur. 

Listed below you will see an overview of some of what goes on at Eclectic Healing Guide.

Therapeutic Massage:

This form of massage is geared to more chronic muscle tension and is a more focused massage targeting specific muscle groups rather than a generalized full body. The Therapeutic form of massage Colette utilizes is Deep tissue.  Her style of Deep tissue is based on Orthopedic Massage as taught by James Waslaski.

Deep Tissue Massage is not a massage just with increased pressure. It is a massage that employs the understanding of muscle action, tissue layers, tissue manipulation, muscle fiber direction, muscle shortening and lengthening capabilities and holding patterns. Deep refers to the therapist's ability to work with the muscles and tissue in a slow, focused manner that allows the body to take the therapist to a depth that will release the muscle restrictions. The goals of deep tissue are alleviation of pain, better posture, increased flexibility and range of motion and longer lasting benefits over time.

 Wellness Massage:

Wellness massage optimized touch to work with the body's chakra system, meridian system, circulation, lymphatic system and immune system to establish and maintain a good physical condition and health. The client is invited to relax and improve muscle tone leading to therapeutic effects on the respiratory, nervous and circulatory centers. Finding comfort the individual can more readily re-align in a state of mind, body and spirit balance.

Types of wellness massage:

Dry Brush Massage

As this technique takes about 5-10 mins. it is a great addition to the beginning of any massage. Our Skin is the largest organ of elimination. Many Naturopathic doctors recommend dry brushing for detoxification programs. This can be a way to combine your beauty and wellness routines. The process begins at the soles of the feet up the legs, hands and arms, back, abdomen, neck and ends at the chest.  Dry brushing removes dead skin and impurities, stimulates blood circulation and lymphatic flow, awakens skin nerve endings, and keeps pores open.  Therefore you will improve muscle tone, repair complexion and overall enhance your well-being. It is also recommend for those dealing with lymphedema.

Swedish Massage is the most well know form of relaxation bodywork techniques. It incorporates gliding, kneading, friction, vibration, compression and tapping (tapotement) in a stylized manner.

Thai Massage can be thought of as passive yoga for the client and active yoga for the therapist. It is an Eastern form of bodywork incorporating meridian stimulation (known as Sen lines), compression, abdominal massage, tapotement and emphasizing stretching. For the most benefit the therapist structures a routine to fit the client's needs and the balance between the client and practitioner. The client wears loose, comfortable clothing and remains clothed throughout the session. This massage takes place on a mat on the floor. Working on the floor allows the therapist to maximize leverage and increases the stretching benefits. Thai massage improves the flow of energy throughout the body, increasing vitality, flexibility and muscle tone. A traditional Thai massage has a minimal duration of one and one half hours.

Craniosacral Massage is a subtle form of bodywork in which the therapist works with the subtle third rhythm of the body that falls beneath the breath and the heartbeat. The therapist uses gentle holding, compression like hand positions to stimulate the client’s natural internal healing abilities. As the cerebral spinal fluid rhythm re-balances the skull bones are allowed to re-align, connective tissue unwinds and re-alignment within the connection of the cranium, spine and sacrum occur.  Clients wear loose comfortable clothing and remain fully clothed throughout the session.  Clients are on their back for the entire session. Hugely relaxing with clients often falling to sleep, this form of bodywork has been helpful reducing symptoms related to ADHD, migraines, TMJ and Chronic pain. It is also helpful when preparing to become pregnant and following child birth.

Therapeutic Aromatic Massage is a combination of Swedish massage and aromatherapy.  This is more than just for a pleasant smell to induce relaxation. The client selects from our list of oils to address their desired massage outcome and the oils are added to a base oil of coconut oil. The  essential oils Colette applies are free of copper, aluminum, herbicides and other agrochemicals.  Through this beautiful marriage of massage and aromatic oils the therapist seeks to promote emotional, physical and spiritual well-being.

Thai Aroma Massage is a combination of Thai pressure points to the head, face, feet, and back, Swedish and myofascial release techniques to back muscles, hydrotherapy and wellness supportive essential oils. The massage begins with energetic points in the head, face. Moving to the feet where the therapist applies oils while stimulating points in the feet. The client then turns onto their stomach for the therapist to utilize specific massage techniques and oils. The massage ends with heated towels on the back.

Reiki is a purely energetic bodywork technique. This session is mainly used for relaxation and chakra balancing. For those more familiar with Reiki the session will be customized to your physical, mental, emotional or spiritual needs. A full session will utilizes hand positions on both the front and back of the body. Energy travels from the chakras in the practitioners hands to the client’s chakras. This energy is experienced differently by different people. The sensations have been described as heat, cold, tingling or a variety of other sensations. Clients often fall asleep.  There is no manipulation of muscles or skeletal structure. The client wears loose, comfortable clothing and remains clothed throughout the session.

Foot soaks and massage:

This therapy is based on Traditional Chinese foot massage which consists of a foot bath followed by a massage on various pressure points in the feet, ankles and legs. The session begins with the client comfortable seated in a chair while soaking the feet in hot water infused with tea, herbs or essential oils and/ or Epsom salts for 5-15 mins. The feet are then removed from the water; one foot is wrapped in a warm towel while the therapist massages the other foot and low leg this should take about 15 mins. After both feet and low legs are massaged they are dried. The client can end the massage by relaxing alone with a cup of tea.

Maternity or pre-natal massage (I reserve this modality for established clients.)

This is a gentle massage that varies depending on the stage of pregnancy. At all stages the therapist avoids applying pressure to certain locations of the body. In the early stages of massage when the mother can still lie on her stomach the massage is similar to non-pregnancy massage except for avoiding heat and pressure points at certain locations. During later stages the therapist adds pillows or the use of a body cushion, for support and can even preform a full body massage while the mother is side- lying. The overall goal is the safety and comfort of both the mother and fetus.