Five Exercises to reduce neck and shoulder pain

Regular readers of my blog know how much I bang on about how incorporating weights into your exercise programme is essential to maintain a good posture and healthy musculature.  Well, I've just found an article in Science Daily which backs up my claims:

"ScienceDaily (Nov. 18, 2009) — Strength training exercises using dumbbells can reduce pain and improve function in the trapezius muscle, the large muscle which extends from the back of the head, down the neck and into the upper back. The exercises also improve the muscle's ability to respond quickly and forcefully among women suffering trapezius myalgia, a tenderness and tightness in the upper trapezius muscle. The results are the latest findings from an ongoing Danish study aimed at reducing repetitive strain injury caused by office work."

To read the full article click here.

To see what the exercises are click here.

Posture affects thoughts




Whenever I see an old person who is very hunched over, to the point where they are only looking at the floor and can't look forward at all,  I always wonder if they've had a very hard life.

The saying "you look like you have the world on your shoulders" is so true.  When we're troubled, worried, depressed or lacking in motivation we tend to hunch forward.  Sedentary lifestyles and the fact that many people spend 8+ hours a day chained to their PC's, leads me to believe that kyphosis caused by bad posture, will soon be endemic and start to affect people at a younger and younger age.

I found this interesting article on MassageMag.com which says that posture also has an affect on thoughts  - it says "body posture can affect not only what others think about us, but also how we think about ourselves".

Learn more here.

This ties nicely into the holistic concept that the body affects the mind and vice-versa.   If the problem originates from bad posture there are many ways to reverse the problem:  yoga, Alexander Technique, Pilates, Rolfing  and massage to name but a few.

Does Exercise Boost Immunity?


I love the New York Times - their articles on health and fitness are second to none.  I've just read this really interesting article on reasearch done into exercise and the immune system

For many long distance runners, footballers and rugby players autumn heralds the start of training for the season ahead.  This coincides with an increase in seasonal flu which strikes horror into the heart of any athlete. 

Find out how you can keep healthy here.

Do you think exercising has an impact on your immune system? Leave a comment - go on!

Glossary of bodywork and complementary therapies



Ever wondered what some of the more obscure bodywork and complementary therapies are all about?  Then look no further. 

The MassageTherapy.com have produced this excellent online glossary.

Self massage for athletes - a podcast



I spend many a happy hour browsing for free podcasts on the i-tunes store.

I recently came across a video podcast called self massage for athletes.  They say athletes but don't let that put you off if you aren't one.  These massage techniques will benefit everyone. 

You don't even need an i-pod that supports video, you can simply watch it on your computer screen.  You will need to download i-tunes onto your computer if you don't already have it.

The "episodes" consists of short videos aimed at different body parts.  I have a peek at a few and they look good and easy to do.

So have fun!

In praise of sleep




I love sleeping - always have and probably always will.  Sleep is now being attributed with improving fitness, marriage and the immune system.

This article in the New York Times, explains how research has shown that athletes who sleep 10 hours a night improve their performance and go on to say that "sleep loading" may be just as important as carbo loading before an endurance event.

Music to my ears!

Photo courtesy of:  Freedigitalphotos.net

What sort of exercise can make you smarter?


Regular readers of my blog will know that I regularly expound the virtues of group exercise.  I can never understand people who do the same gym circuit over and over again, sometimes never increasing their time or reps.  What's the point?

Needless to say I was delighted to read that research has shown that a particular sort of exercise makes you smarter and here's the important bit - pushing yourself further than you normally would makes you even smarter!  I'm always pushed a lot harder than I might normally push myself in an exercise class, thats why I love them.

Here is an excerpt take from a New York Times article:  "For some time, researchers have known that exercise changes the structure of the brain and affects thinking. Ten years ago scientists at the Salk Institute in California published the groundbreaking finding that exercise stimulates the creation of new brain cells. But fundamental questions remain, like whether exercise must be strenuous to be beneficial. Should it be aerobic? What about weight lifting? And are the cognitive improvements permanent or fleeting?"

To find out which exercise is best for the braincells click here

Eddie Iz Running

Update:  Eddie has finished the challenge CLICK HERE for full story

I listened to the Chris Moyles Breakfast Show on Radio 1 yesterday and he was talking to comedian Eddie Izzard, who is doing an amazing challenge for Sport Relief.

He's running 6 marathons a week for 7 weeks!

I baulk at the idea of running a mere one [snivel] and he's doing this?  I didn't even think he was remotely sporty.  Just shows you what the human body is capable of.

To follow his progress click here.

To sponsor Eddie click here

Follow Eddie on Twitter

Why we ache after exercise

Did you know:

"The culprit for delayed muscle soreness is not, as some people used to think, the buildup of lactic acid, a byproduct of exercise that dissipates from the muscle tissues within an hour. That kind of soreness is considered acute. As soon as someone stops exercising, or shortly afterward, the burn goes away".

I've read about this "new" discovery over the last few years but never really found an article which explained this phenomonon really well. Until I found this excellent article in the New York Times from 2004.

It goes onto to explain:

"No one knows for sure exactly what does cause muscle soreness. But many scientists now think that the delayed pain is caused by microscopic tears in the muscles when a certain exercise or activity is new or novel. These tiny tears eventually produce inflammation, and corresponding pain, 24 to 36 hours later.

The good news is that as these little tears repair themselves, they prepare the muscles to handle the same type of exercise better the next time.

"The muscle gets more resilient, meaning the next time you do that same exercise you won't get damaged as much," said Dr. Priscilla Clarkson, a professor of exercise science at the University of Massachusetts and a leading researcher on muscle soreness. "That doesn't mean you are stronger, or mean you can lift more weight. It just means your muscle fibers are likely stronger so they won't tear as easily. Over time they'll build up and become a stronger fiber to lift more weight."

The article goes on to explain which exercise will guarantee soreness and how to limit stiffness and soreness with the right nutrition.

To read the article in full click here

So, if there's no accumulation of lactic acid to get rid of, then how does massage help with stiffness?  Well, microtears and the resultant inflammation causes the muscle fibre to swell slightly and this causes stiffness and nerve sensitivity [pain].  Massage reduces the swelling through improved blood and lymphatic system cirulation and assists in the removal of metabolites and other toxins.  Plus, it feels good!

Fitmix



I find exercising without music really difficult. Often, if I'm doing a long run I'll run to the half way point in silence and then reward myself by putting in my headphones and feeling really motivated for the last half of the run.

I've just discovered this great new site called Fitmix. Even if you don't fancy downloading their custom made exercise music compilations, it gives great ideas for tracks which you can download yourself.

"Whether you’re a fitness instructor or just looking for personal workout music, get the beats to boost your workout with our continuous non-stop mixes utilising dance, pop, R&B, disco and rock hits tailormade for all your personal fitness activities and classes including running, walking, elliptical and cardio machines, gym cycle/spinning and aerobics".

My two favourite tracks at the moment are:

Sean Paul - So Fine
Dizzee Rascal - Holiday

Anyone for a good "shmeissing"


I'm a long time fan of James Cracknell. Watching him and his team win the Olympic Gold reduced me to floods of tears. I also recently enjoyed watching "On Thin Ice" which was about his team racing to the South Pole. Besides seeing him in all his resplendent glory doing what bears usually do in the woods - on ice, I particularly liked the fact that he allowed himself to be portrayed in a less than flattering light. Even though he comes across as arrogant, stubborn and dangerously driven it gives an insight into the personality traits an olympian medallist probably has to have.

Anyway......I digress.......... he writes a column for the The Daily Telegraph and this week he wrote about a massage technique which he tried out called "shmeissing". This is a yiddish word for "beating" ..... I think you can work out the rest.

Read the article in full HERE

It's a real shame that James doesn't actually say how he felt after the treatment.

P.S I also found this article where the writer says the following:

"I am not a man lightly given to admitting to good health, yet so absolute are the relaxing, energising and stressbusting qualities of the shmeiss that even I emerge from a session with Big Lee feeling gleamingly clean (you wouldn't believe the gunk that emerges from a human back) and bereft of medical complaint".

Are sports drinks necessary?


I've recently discovered a sports drink I like. Often they are simply too sweet for my taste. It's lemon flavoured Taut. However, this new drink costs between £0.99 - £1.50 for 500 ml. I mean come on, it's 99% water, a few trace minerals and some sugar and salt. Imagine the profit margins on that! The words old rope and money spring to mind.

This got me thinking about making my own drink and then even how necessary they really are.

I found this excellent article on The Guardian, written by top athlete Sam Murphy.

In a nutshell, the right kind of sports drink at the right time can make some difference to performance and recovery rates.

At the end of the article is a recipe to make your own.

Do you think sports drinks make a difference. Please leave a comment. Go on!

Breathe Into Your Massage


To truly get the most out of a massage, it can take a bit of focus and mindfulness on the part of the client. Some people find it difficult to relax and let go and feel compelled to fill the silence of a massage with chatter. Obviously, some communication is welcome but constant chatter during a massage can actually work against the relaxation process.

In our busy world, with constant noise and stimulation it can be very relaxing to just enjoy the silence, breathe and connect with your body.

Next time you have a massage consider the following:

* As you settle onto the table, even before your therapist enters the room, feel the weight of your body on the table. Allow yourself to be supported by the table and begin to notice your breath.

* Feel your breath moving of its own accord. Where is it most noticeable? Where could it express more? Invite your breath to move into the spaces that feel less full (without effort ... just invite).

* When your therapist starts working, notice the pressure and rhythm. While maintaining a comfortable rhythm in your own breathing, notice when she lets up on her pressure and breathe in. When she applies pressure, breathe out.

* If your practitioner comes to a tender area, pay special attention to your breath. Work with the tenderness on the exhale, imagining that you're breathing out the pain.

* As your therapist works on different areas, imagine your breath moving there to meet her. Send your breath wherever she is working. Let her work on the outside, you work on the inside.

* Notice the changes as the massage progresses. Notice your thought patterns. Notice your comfort level. Notice your stress (and how it melts) as you send breath to the various areas of your body.

* When your session is complete and you sit up, notice how your breath feels. What do you notice about your body, the room, the light?

Click HERE to find out more about how breathe can transform your massage experience.

Lance Armstrong uses his massage time to Tweet


This year, for the first time ever, I've got into the Tour de France. Maybe because I'm doing a spin class at the gym and can appreciate the fitness involved to cycle for 85 hours over three weeks up vertigo-inducing mountains. Well done Alberto Contador - you're amazing!

I was interested to see that since beginning the Tour de France on July 4th, Lance Armstrong has updated his Twitter page more than 225 times, an average of 14 times per day. That's a pretty impressive total considering that he spent most of his day taking part in a gruelling 2,141 mile race. He's accrued around 1.4m followers and he reckons the short messages are ‘prob the most accurate’ way for people to gain a ‘good perspective’ of the demands of the 21-stage race and, taken collectively, they provide an intriguing insight into the mind of a one of cycling’s greats.

What particularly interested me was that he often used his time on the massage table to send his tweets. That's multi-tasking for you.

The photo of Lance [above] gives a real insight into all the muscles involved in cycling. Professional athletes know the benefits of massage for cyclists - they're living proof!

Click HERE to read more about tweeting Lance.

Homemade Energy Bars



Energy bars are a great way to have a healthy snack on the go. Unfortunately, they are often loaded with sugar and fat and can also be expensive. For a decent tasting bar - my favourite was Tesco Finest Fruit and Nut - you pay a whopping £2.54 for 3.

Why not save some money and whip up your own, customised energy bars with this simple recipe [I haven't actually tried it out yet but am off to the supermarket today to buy ingredients, so I'll keep you posted on the results].

Each bar is virtually fat-free, easy to digest and supplies 30g of carbohydrate - enough to fuel 30-60 minutes of hard running


• Combine 175g oats

• 85g muesli and dried fruit together in a bowl

• Warm 3tbsp of honey until it becomes runny - add it to the oat mix

• Stir in 150g dried fruit (raisins, dates, apricots, figs, apple, pineapple)

• 2 egg whites

• 175ml apple juice



Press the mixture into a lightly-oiled 18x28cm baking tin

Bake at 180ºC for 20-25 minutes until golden

Allow to cool slightly then cut into bars



Ideas for other ingredients:

Coconut
Hazel nuts
Peanuts
Cashew nuts
Sunflower seeds
Pumpkin seeds
Dried cranberries

Roll in sesame seeds while still slightly warm to coat

Andy Murray shivers his way to the top



According to an article in the Evening Standard - 01 July 2009:

" Andy Murray's run to the quarter-finals at Wimbledon, where he takes on Juan Carlos Ferrero today, has been assisted by regular dips in the cubes normally used to cool your gin and tonic".

Full article here

Ever since I heard about Paula Radcliffe having ice baths to aid recovery, I've given them a go. After all what's good enough for Paul is good enough for me!

OK, I don't actually have bags of ice cubes to hand, instead I sit in a bath of cold water [which in winter is icy] and it also does the trick. The water is so cold it literally takes my breathe away.

The reason behind this torture is:

"During exercise muscles suffer small fibre tears that cause small amounts of internal bleeding. When you get into an ice bath (for between five and 10 minutes), the cold causes the vessels to constrict and the blood to flow out of your limbs.

When you step out of the bath, and your body warms up, blood flows back and this invigorates the muscles with oxygen, helping the cells to repair themselves better"

It really does work! Whenever I do a run that is over about 90 mins I spend the last 10 minutes of the run actually looking forward to my ice bath. Why? Because that means it's over, I've done it and I can now relax for the rest of the day. My legs also don't feel so heavy afterwards.

I think I'm going to try a few ice cubes next time ........

In Depth Back Massage

Many clients express an interest as to what is going on during a massage. Such as which muscle is tight, why is it tight and how will massage help?

I've found this great video on YouTube showing a back massage, with the superficial back muscles overlaid.

Now you can really see why massage works!

Stretch and Relax Pt. 1

Many of my clients complain of an achey lower back at the end of the day. So I've devised this lovely, relaxing stretching routine which is great to do in the evening. You can even watch TV while doing it - so no excuses!

Pelvic Rotations

Lie flat on the floor and stretch your feet and arms away from you – making yourself as long a possible.

Hug your knees into your chest and very slowly make small clockwise circles with your knees – as you start to warm up you can make the movements larger and larger, thereby massaging more of the pelvis and lower back.

Repeat anti-clockwise.

Repeat 10-20 rotations each side

Stretch and Relax Pt. 2

Lying down twist

Lie flat on the floor and stretch your feet and arms away from you – making yourself as long a possible.

Draw your knees up to your chest.

Moves knees over to one side – working towards having the lower knee touching the floor.

NB: both shoulders to remain on the floor at all times.

If lower leg doesn’t touch the floor encourage it to do so by placing your hand on the upper knee .

BREATHE DEEPLY AND ON THE OUT BREATHE ENCOURAGE THE KNEE TO THE FLOOR.

IF THE KNEE REACHES THE FLOOR EASILY THEN TRY PULLING THE LEGS FURTHER UP TOWARDS THE CHEST.

Once you have reached your maximum position hold and breath for 20-30 seconds.

Repeat at least twice each side. On the second repitition you will go much further.

Stretch & Relax Pt. 3

Relax your spine using a chair

This stretch works wonder for the lower back and at the same time relaxes the muscles either side of the spine.
Best of all, you don't actually have to do anything.

Make sure the chair is snugly in the crook of your knees and that your lower legs form a 90° angle.

Even better than a pillow, is to get a telephone book and lie with your head on that. Make sure your chin is tucked into the chest, thereby de-compressing the vertebrae in your neck.

Lie in this position for at least 10 minutes – ideally 20 minutes

Regular exercise proven to significantly reduce back pain


If you're already a client of mine you'll know that no session goes by without me encouraging you be more active. I like to think I know what I'm talking about from my own personal experience. In fact, seeking treatment for a bad back is what lead me down the path to become a massage therapist.

I was seeking the help of a chiropractor in my early 20's for acute backpain brought on by work stress, a desk job and a sedentary lifestyle. This continued on and off, depending on how balanced my lifestyle was and how much exercise I was doing at the time, until I hit 40.

Then I discovered the wonder that is BODY PUMP. I'm now pleased to say my back problems have all but ceased to exist. I don't only do Body Pump [I also do yoga, spinning and running ] so I'm not putting it all down to that class. However, it makes perfect sense to me that strengthening the back muscles and getting them to work properly can only be a good thing.

The best thing is that ANYONE can participate. There are ladies of over 60 in my class. You work at your own level and pace. Click here to see the moves.

One other excellent side-effect is that you build lean muscle. Not only do inches disappear within months but weight decreases because more muscle means a higher resting metabolic rate. So, assuming your diet remains the same, weight will gradually decrease. So it's goodbye to thunder thighs and bingo wings and hello to more muscle tone. Like all things that really work, it does takes time and dedication. Most gyms and leisure centres offer either Bodypump or something similar called Pump FX.

Upper body strength is an often overlooked component of overall fitness. For instance, some people will say that they walk for fitness. However, that's only using the lower half of your body - what about from the waist up? I used to think I was fit but I couldn't do a single press up or hold the plank position for more than a few seconds.

I'm pleased to say my personal anecdotal evidence is now being borne out more and more by medical reasearch. To quote from an article in Marie Claire magazine about an American study:

"The researchers studied 240 men and women with long-term lower-back problems and found those that exercised four days a week suffered 28% less pain and 36% less disability. Those who exercised only two or three days a week did not show the same level of pain reduction"

To read the full article click HERE

More people turn to massage to manage stress


There's a saying which goes "where the U.S goes, the world will follow".
Since the global financial crisis got into full swing, management at the U.S website "Spafinder" noticed that weekly traffic to it's "stress management" category has doubled. When the economy was good, booking a massage was largely about pampering yourself, however, it's now seen as an investment of sorts, in well-being.


To quote from The New York Times online: "People are giving up on gold and caviar facials and honing in on core stress busters like therapeutic massage, especially if the price is right"


So just what makes massage such a great stress buster:


  • Our skin is full of many millions of nerve receptors that are linked to our nervous system.

  • When the skin is massaged it causes stimulation and release of chemicals in the brain
    it increases dopamine and serotonin [feel good chemicals] and reduces the stress hormones cortisol and adrenaline.

  • It increases the relaxation alpha brain waves and also increases pain relieving levels of endorphins.

  • on the massage table there's no mobile phone/blackberry beckoning for your attention.

What's particularly fantastic about a treatment at home, is that you don't have to get up and make your way home. Your toughest decision is whether to take a bubble bath, curl up on the sofa or take a nap. Oooh life can be tough sometimes ...........

How Massage Can Help Common Cricket Injuries


Driving past village greens on a sunny day and seeing local cricket teams is so quintessentially British.

Many cricket players are quite sedentary over the winter months and then get their kit out of mothballs and hit the pitch with a vengeance. Inevitably, using muscles which haven't seen action for months, can lead to aching and stiffness and in some cases painful overuse injuries.

In cricket you're throwing, lunging, twisting, running - really getting a good all over workout. This somewhat gentile sport can be very taxing on the body. If bowling or batting is your speciality you could very well pick up an injury within a couple of weeks.

It is possible to reduce your chances of injury by:
  • warming up, cooling down and stretching

  • proper conditioning

  • regular sports massage

  • good nutrition

  • having the right equipment

  • sufficient rest between matches

Common cricket injuries include:

  • throwers elbow - which is very similar to golfers elbow and is caused by additional stress placed on the muscles of the forearm through repetitive wrist flexion

  • back pain - bowling can cause soft tissue injury and potential disc problems

  • leg injuries - bruising and fractures from ball impact due to inadequate protection for the hands and face

Getting a regular sports massage can release tight knots in muscles, that if left can cause strains, tears and inflammation. Should you already suspect you may have picked up an injury, then massage can help get you back on the pitch a lot quicker.


REMEMBER - PREVENTION IS BETTER THAN CURE!

Arthritis of the Knee, Massage May Help


People who suffer from arthritis of the knee appear to gain lasting relief from a traditional course of Swedish massage, researchers report.

The findings suggest that doctors may want to advise arthritis patients to add massage to the treatments they are already using, like anti-inflammatory drugs. Massage may even be able to take the place of drugs for people who have mild arthritis or whose health does not allow them to take the medications.

Part of the benefit may come from attracting more blood to the knee, Dr. Katz said. Massage may also reduce pain in the same way rubbing injured areas often does, by sending out sensory stimuli that compete with the pain stimuli.

Click here for full article from the New York Times

Nintenditis


Being of a "certain age" I'mrather sceptical of the Wii phenomonon. I like to think there's nothing like the real thing when it comes to exercise.

So it was with a little schadenfreude that I read this interesting article in the New York Times website about the increase in Wii injuries.

I even came across this site called Wii Have A Problem which shows the damage this equipment can do to both body and home.

I'd love to hear from anyone who has incurred an injury by playing a Wii game?

I'm in training .......


It seems a long way off but I'm already in training for the Virgin London Marathon 2010. I'm currently up to running 2 hours [albeit at a snail like pace] and I'm on track to complete the St. Albans Half-Marathon on 14 June 2009. My goal is better my PB of 2h08, so I'm going to have to really concentrate on doing more speedwork. As they say - the only way to run faster times is to practise running faster!

To follow on from my previous post about Map My Run - a very useful site for people who don't own mobile GPS systems - I've discovered that I can put a link in my blog to my training runs.

So take a look at where I went to last Sunday - I ran across those very fields!

View Interactive Map on MapMyRun.com

Map My Run


I've recently discovered this great site called Map My Run.

Now, it doesn't have to be a run you map.  You could map your cycle or your walk.  

With the advent of satellite navigation lots of lovely, hi-tech equipment came on to the market for sports people.  They're great but for people with small wrists, small budgets or who are just starting a fitness regime, Garmin Forerunners are not always an option.

So, say you go out and about on your favourite mode of transport - be that legs or a bike - you can get back home and see how much ground you covered.  Or should you have a specific distance goal in mind, you can plot a route out beforehand.

If you're serious about your training and go on holiday or a business trip - you can log on  and see what routes the locals use - be that in Uzbekistan or Manhattan. 

Massage for Golfers

Do you know that for every golf swing fault there's a physical limitation causing it?

Think of a golfer and one doesn't normally think of an athlete. However, this is doing the sport a huge disservice. In order to be an excellent golfer you need to be in excellent shape.

These days you'll find the professionals in the gym almost as much as they're out on the course. In the words of Tiger Woods “I think that guys are finally starting to take care of themselves. They’re not out hitting it pretty hard at night, because they can’t. They used to all do it, hence it was a level playing field! Now when we come to the golf course, guys have rested, they’ve worked out, gotten stronger, they’ve stretched and they’ve got personal trainers that travel with them.”

Golfers are learning they don't need to be Tiger Woods to benefit from massage therapy. At destination spas and golf resorts around the world, massage sessions designed to target the specific needs of recreational golfers are gaining in popularity.

The most common golf injuries occur in the lower back, elbows, shoulders, hands and wrists, and are generally defined as either cumulative (overuse) or acute (traumatic) injuries. The impact and stress of the repetitive motion of the swing is can be hard on the muscles and joints.

More importantly, the average golfer spends more time hunched over a computer at work than on the green. The whole body is engaged during a golf swing and this is where muscular imbalances and tightness can mean the difference between hitting below par and ending up in the rough.

Sports massage can effectively free up any physical limitations, prevent injury, treat injuries and most importantly improve your golf swing.

Calling London Marathon Runners


Are you one of the 30,000 people training for the 2009 London Marathon on 26 April 2009?


If so, then you'll be in the final stages of your training - I hope all is going well.

Are you planning to get a massage before the race, to add the cherry on the top to your preparations? Or are you already looking forward to your recovery massage once your medal is safely in your hand?

If so, then please get in touch and book your massage now.  Last year my services were very popular and I had to end up turning people away.

I'll be watching on the sidelines on the 26th and I'm so looking forward to seeing one of the best marathons in the world.

Neck Pain Not Just Physiological


I noted an interesting article on Healthypages this week. Many of us already have experience and personal proof that the mind and the body are closely connected. However, the Western Medical community don't give credence to anecdotal evidence. They work on the principle that unless something can be proven with tests and data it doesn't count. So it's interesting that:

"Doctors from Germany have concluded that neck pain is not just the result of physical factors. The doctors are citing psychological reasons for neck pain as well. High up on their list for reasons are anxiety and depression.

Lead researcher, Dr. Martin Scherer from the University of Gottingen said "For successful long-term results, it is essential to consider psychosocial factors and to include them into therapeutic strategies........ "

Click here to read the full article.

This may sound like stating the obvious to those of us who can see a correlation between body and mind. However, many people are of the opinion that enough sessions of a hands-on therapy such as massage, osteopathy etc will cure the problem. In fact, this is only half the picture.

The additional therapeutic strategies which spring to my mind might include lifestyle changes, counselling, relaxation techniques and meditation.

New Year New Website


HAPPY NEW YEAR TO EVERYONE!

I'm pleased to announce that I have a new website. In case you didn't know, this site is actually a blog and not a "real" website in the traditional sense.

I've had many compliments about my blog and it's served me well, however, I've decided to invest in a website to complement my existing blog and raise my online profile.

I'll be posting articles that I write on my blog into the "news/articles" section of my site.

Take a peek at Therapeutic Massage 2 Go.