Massage for Santa Cruz

September 2010

September in Santa Cruz is a time of warm breezes, sunshine and great produce at the farmer’s market. It is also a time of back to school shopping, moving in and out of apartments and buckling down to put in more hours at the office. If you feel like your vacation is over and your body is aching from a more rigorous schedule, here are a few tips to keep you feeling vibrant and serene all at the same time.

Put your legs up. It’s not an old wives tale. There is real science behind achy legs after standing up for hours whether it be waiting tables or shopping for school supplies. Gravity can inhibit the proper circulation of lymph fluid and the fluid can pool in your ankles and feet. Even if you can’t see significant swelling, this may be the cause of achiness in your feet. Try putting your feet up above your heart. It is ideal if you can lay with you buttocks against the wall and your legs in a vertical position up the wall. This allows gravity to move the fluid in the right direction and can relieve swelling or achiness.

Lay in “neutral back.” This is an “exercise” I learned from Carolyn Albanese, an awesome local physical trainer. The reason I put “exercise” in quotes is that you simply lay in a completely supported position for 5-10 minutes and your back is renewed. Lay with your back on the floor with your legs up on a chair or couch in such a way that your hips and knees are each at 90 degree angles. Put your arms out at about 45 degree angles from your body with the palms face-up. This position is fully supported in order to allow all of the muscles around the spine from the sacrum all the way up to the neck to relax. This is great if you feel tension in the low back from lifting too much or neck and shoulder pain from driving and typing too much.

These exercises are extremely calming and restorative. There is extremely little risk. However, I must remind you that I am not a doctor and if you have any concerns about the impact of these exercises on your own body you should consult your doctor.

About Me

Miriam Janove, Certified Massage Therapist, massaging a client

Photos by Kwai Lam

“I reduce back and neck pain by relaxing muscles and minds through Deep Tissue and Swedish Massage with elements of Reflexology, Shiatsu and Lymphatic Drainage Massage.”

The human body has always intrigued me. From a young age, the logic and science behind the way our muscles and bones work together captivated me and made me want to pursue medicine. As I continued to learn more about the body, I found that the healing arts were the perfect path to working with people to relieve pain.

I received Reiki attunements and loved using energy healing. After graduating from college, I pursued learning more about healing through bodywork. My massage training has a base in Deep Tissue and Swedish Massage, with elements of Acupressure, Lymphatic Drainage Massage, NeuroMuscular Therapy, Pre-natal Massage, Reflexology, Reiki, and Shiatsu.

I thoroughly believe that relaxation improves our overall health. During bodywork sessions, I pay close attention to your overall comfort, including warmth, body positioning, draping and music so that you can fully let go of your bodily tensions and allow your mind to settle.

I continue to be amazed at how much there is to learn and how lucky I am to have found such a rewarding career. I am a member of the Associated Bodywork & Massage Professionals. I am pursuing further education in Lymphatic Drainage, Cranio-Sacral Therapy, Trager Massage and other massage techniques.