That's Good Karma To You.

Karma Gaw is a Nationally Certified Licensed Massage Therapist & an AFAA Certified Personal Fitness Trainer.

[karmagaw]

Importance Of Muscle Lengthening

How many times have you done a work out at skipped the stretch. Only to find the next three days you are stiff and sore. When your muscles are contracting, they are shortening. So it only makes since to stretch that shortened muscle and lengthen it back out. "Anything you strengthen,you must lengthen". If you don't really know how to stretch just keep in mind that you stretch opposite of the direction you were contracting. Healthy muscle is pliable muscle not a tight band of tissue." When left in a contracted state "...it stays tight, but making sure you finish with stretching will give you "healthy, pliable, and flexible tissue, without the soreness you may have experienced. For your reference I have included a link of some common stretches. http://www.acefitness.org/blog/2966/what-are-the-different-types-of-stretching Until next time"Stay healthy and happy"

[karmagaw]

Pound Posse

Pound Fit class One of the hottest workouts for 2014. Try it at the YMCA in Louisiana, Mo. Friday Nights at 5:30. Rock out to top 40 hits, with the "pound Posse" and yours truly Karma Gaw ( certified pound instructor) Karma (That's Good Karma to you !!!)

[karmagaw]

Pound fit Great job pound fit posse. Rockin with your ripstix at the Y last night. Over 20 rockin to top 40 hits. You too can be a fit rock star when you join us at the Y Friday nights at 5:30 p.m. For Pound Fit class. Curious? Check it out at Poundfit.com.

[karmagaw]

I Won!!!!!!!!

The Spotlight Is On Our Video Contest Winners:

CHECK OUT MY WINNING VIDEO: HERE

We at NCB have had the pleasure of viewing and sharing what Certification means to our members through our very successful Video Contest. We would like to thank everyone who participated and congratulate our winners. Our Spotlight feature this month gives you the opportunity to learn more about each winner’s journey to Certification. Take a moment to find out what they see for their future and the future of Massage Therapy and the results they have achieved from being certified.

1st Place:  Karma Gaw

Karma Gaw has been NCBTMB Certified since 2006 and owns Custom Body Works, LLC in Missouri. It was not until after 20 years as a personal trainer and working hands on with a Chiropractor that she realized she was meant to do "Hands On" work.

Karma spends most of her time with clients who have specific problem areas; neck, shoulder, back, sciatica, etc.  She does not limit the modalities she practices, from trigger point work to stretching, range of motion and mobility. Her clients have told her that she has a radar in her thumbs.  She has a client as young as three weeks old, which is why she teaches new parents techniques for their new bundle.

Owning her own business keeps her quite busy, working at least six days a week and upwards of 25-35 clients a week. When she speaks of her end goal in Massage Therapy she feels as though there should never be an “end goal”. Especially in terms of education, she firmly believes you cannot get enough. When the day comes that it is physically impossible for her to keep this pace, educating others or becoming an advocate for the profession is likely in her future. She also has a desire to be on the National Board.

In one sentence, Karma shares what Certifcation means to her:

“My certification is my life and my passion. To help and educate people about their bodies so they can prevent poor health and allow their bodies heal with balance of the Mind, Body and Spirit.”

[karmagaw]

Tips for finding a Therapist.

When you are looking for therapist there are many things you should look for. Here's a few Tips to aid you in your search. A good therapist is one that will listen to you and what you need. The time you spend with them should be all about you.

My mission is to inform and educate clients to help them help themselves. If you have a dedicated therapist you have someone that does many different modalities. The key is to work with your therapist to find the best modality for you. All forms of therapy are good but what works for you is the most important.

If a therapist claims to "heal you" run for the hills. We are not the healers, we are doing the work to set your body up to heal itself. Our bodies are amazing and run like a machine if we just allow our minds to listen to our bodies.

Search until you find the one therapists that opens your eyes and mind to powerful healing. You will know when that right one comes into your life.

[karmagaw]

The Truth on Ice and Injury.

When you roll an ankle, twist a knee or wrist always grab ice followed by Rest, Ice, Compress, and Elevate or R.I.C.E.

But if you have an injury or ache that is persistent here is a thought....

Have you ever been chewing gum and ice cubes at the same time? Yes you guessed it the gum turns stiff and hard.  Well skin and muscle do the same thing.So instead of slapping that cold ice pack on try this. 

Get that ice pack out of freezer.

Pull a hand towel from cabinet and roll it up and thoroughly. Wet it, then squeeze until it is not dripping. Now Place the hand towel in the microwave for 1 minute.

You now take the steamed towel (be cautious of the steam) and wrap it around the ice pack and place it on the injury.

The heat feels wonderful to you, your skin and your muscles. The muscles become more pliable and are willing to except the cold that is penetrating through the towel. The cold pushes deeper into the muscle and the injury will respond faster.

and there you have it, a much more effective use of ice on an injury.