Today as Isabella came into the office, I notice a different person. Isabella had a step in her walk, her head held high with her shoulders back. One could see the many changes that had come over her, on the outside as well in the inside. Isabella was able to break through the pain cycle that she believes was part of her everyday of living. Learning to listening to her body, and take control of her health by incorporating small changes into her life that have resulted into big changes.

Massage was only part of Isabella’s road to taking back her health, and life. Results will vary from person to person.

I wish to thank Isabella for her time and input; I look forward to working with her as part of her wellness program.

The biggest change was the smile on her face!

ABOUT ANN-MARIE:
My first experience with the healing power of touch took place at a nursing home. While holding my mother-in-law’s hand, the softness in her eyes communicated the importance of the body’s need for touch. This event was the catalyst for enrolling at the North Eastern Institute of Whole Health in Manchester, NH. While studying massage therapy, and the mind connection, I knew I was on the path for life’s next journey. I have been practicing massage since 2005 and continue to learn through ongoing education and my clients. It was through learning that I asked Isabella of Brookline if she would like to work on a case study to show how massage works with old injuries. Over a four-week time, Isabella came to see me five times. Her story and results are her own words.

I always thought massage was a luxury. Something that those with disposable income treated themselves to once in a while. I had never actually considered as a tool for healing and maintaining a healthy, functional body. I have tried it all: seeing a chiropractor 3-4 times a week, acupuncture, stretching, hot/cold therapy. You name it, I’ve probably tried it to get my back pain down. It all worked for a little while, but nothing ever seemed to last more than a day.

Yesterday I saw Ann-Marie for my last appointment as part of the case study. I had gone almost a week and half without seeing her. I was, and am still, amazed at how my body has responded to massage therapy. During that week and a half long period I was sleeping better, I was more relaxed and best of all my back barely ever hurt. I am not saying that massage was the miracle cure for me. I certainly still have back issues that will never go away and I know I will still have back pain from time to time. What I did discover is that she was able to help heal some of the old injuries from the car accidents that some of the other treatments I used didn’t touch, and help me cut the pain levels down significantly. There is still work to be done on my back and I have will have already made appointments to visit Ann-Marie now that the case study is over.

Here are some of the key points that I have learned over the past couple of weeks while receiving treatments from Ann-Marie and bombarding her with questions through the appointment:

• Massage is definitely NOT a luxury, it is a tool for healing
• You need to know where your problem points are and how to take care of them (sleeping with a body pillow, stretching with the foam tube)
• You should have some kind of regimen for keeping your muscles and spine relaxed and aligned (aside from massage I’ve been doing daily stretches and going to yoga when
• possible)

Thank you so much for all of your help Ann-Marie! I never thought I would see the day when I wasn’t waking up without a stiff neck or painful lower back. You certainly showed made a huge impact on my daily life.

ABOUT ISABELLA:
Isabella is an active 30-year professional women living in Brookline, NH. She has had three major car accidents in her life and has put together a wellness program that incorporates massage, yoga and exercise. With the wellness plan Isabella has reduced her pain, cutback on the number and severity of her headaches and has been able to a get a full night’s sleep on a regular basis.

(April 29th) – The day after my third session, I woke up with a stiff and sore neck due to sleeping in a bad position. In the past pain like this would last for a week at least, but I was surprised when it had diminished quite a bit by the end of the day, and it was completely gone by the end of the following day. I also experienced a pinch in my hip, but with all of the changes taking place in my body, it is only to be expected that there will be some soreness. I continued to stretch with the foam tube before bed and sleep with a body pillow, and have continued to sleep better each night.

ABOUT ISABELLA:
Isabella is an active 30-year professional women living in Brookline, NH. She has had three major car accidents in her life and has put together a wellness program that incorporates massage, yoga and exercise. With the wellness plan Isabella has reduced her pain, cutback on the number and severity of her headaches and has been able to a get a full night’s sleep on a regular basis.

Isabella reported feeling the pain, but on the pain scale being down from a 9-10 to a 7-8. I explained to her that pain would refer from the original injury site. I explained the use of a body pillow to help with her sleep and to take the stress of the muscles to allow them time to relax. She explained how she was becoming more aware of her body, and the changes that massage was having on her. I let her know that it would get better as time went on.

By explaining massage was only part of her wellness program, she would need to incorporate life style changes from exercising to strengthen her back muscles.

ABOUT ANN-MARIE:
My first experience with the healing power of touch took place at a nursing home. While holding my mother-in-law’s hand, the softness in her eyes communicated the importance of the body’s need for touch. This event was the catalyst for enrolling at the North Eastern Institute of Whole Health in Manchester, NH. While studying massage therapy, and the mind connection, I knew I was on the path for life’s next journey. I have been practicing massage since 2005 and continue to learn through ongoing education and my clients. It was through learning that I asked Isabella of Brookline if she would like to work on a case study to show how massage works with old injuries. Over a four-week time, Isabella came to see me five times. Her story and results are her own words.

Today’s goal was to work through the layers of muscles with the use of hot and cold stone therapy. Isabella was told that by stretching her upper body it would help keep the muscles loose in-between her sessions. She was given a list of changes to make with her sleeping habits and ways to reduce stress.

ABOUT ANN-MARIE:
My first experience with the healing power of touch took place at a nursing home. While holding my mother-in-law’s hand, the softness in her eyes communicated the importance of the body’s need for touch. This event was the catalyst for enrolling at the North Eastern Institute of Whole Health in Manchester, NH. While studying massage therapy, and the mind connection, I knew I was on the path for life’s next journey. I have been practicing massage since 2005 and continue to learn through ongoing education and my clients. It was through learning that I asked Isabella of Brookline if she would like to work on a case study to show how massage works with old injuries. Over a four-week time, Isabella came to see me five times. Her story and results are her own words.

(April 14th) – After meeting with Isabella in early April to use her gift certificate from Christmas, I informed Isabella that the pain she was feeling was due to the many accidents she’s been in over the past several years.

“Experts say the cause of back pain can be the result of several factors. High on the list is  stress. Hunched over a keyboard, late on a deadline, bogged down in worry -  many are the shoulders roll forward and move up to the ears, the  neck  disappears, and back tightens in the new posture… It’s an armoring effect.” -Body Sense 2010

Her body had an armoring effect. Over the course of my years of being a massage therapist, when asking someone about their back pain, people would say the pain in their upper and lower back has always been there. It has become part of who they are. This is how the armoring effect comes into play. This month as a case study, I will be working with a person who has had two whiplashes and felt there was nothing that could help her. I am hoping that by reading the results on my blog, whether they are positive or negative, helps show the power of touch through massage. I explained to Isabella that over a course of several sessions it was like peeling an onion to get to the cause or the problem.

ABOUT ANN-MARIE:
My first experience with the healing power of touch took place at a nursing home. While holding my mother-in-law’s hand, the softness in her eyes communicated the importance of the body’s need for touch. This event was the catalyst for enrolling at the North Eastern Institute of Whole Health in Manchester, NH. While studying massage therapy, and the mind connection, I knew I was on the path for life’s next journey. I have been practicing massage since 2005 and continue to learn through ongoing education and my clients. It was through learning that I asked Isabella of Brookline if she would like to work on a case study to show how massage works with old injuries. Over a four-week time, Isabella came to see me five times. Her story and results are her own words.