Sciatica : What You Should Know

Ever get a sharp pain in the back of the leg? A leg cramp that won't go away? You might have sciatica. 
There a lot of issues people come in to the Backrub to remedy. One of these such issues is sciatica- an ailment some people do not even realize that they have. So, what is it and how can you get rid of it?

Sciatica generally comes from pressure on the discs that cushion the bone- a "pinched nerve".  The nerve might be pinched inside or outside of the spinal canal as it passes into the leg. 

Aging wear and tear also can contribute, with sciatica effecting people aged 30 - 50.

Common symptoms of sciatica include:
- Weakness, numbness, or difficulty moving the leg or foot- A constant pain on one side of the rear
- A shooting pain that makes it difficult to stand up
- Pain in the rear or leg that is worse when sitting
- Burning or tingling down the leg

The main goals you want to reach when you're looking to treat sciatica is to reduce the inflammation and muscle spasms. Luckily there are ways you can do this without heading to the doctor:

Icing and Heat: Ice your lower spine area and around your hips for about twenty minutes - this will lessen the inflammation. Follow by applying heat, either through a hot bath or heating pads - which will increase your circulation and quicken the healing process.  

Stretching and Core Muscle Strength: Although you may not want to, a few stretching moves will help release muscle spasms and help prevent sciatica pain in future. Try this short helpful video for a stretching guide.

Massage Therapy: If stretching is out of the question, a massage can get you immediate relief. The Backrub practitioners offer deep tissue massage - for sciatica that means calming the muscle spasms and restoring the "numb" feeling you may have in your legs and feet. Regular visits also contribute to restoring your balance and body structure, an important component to healing many body ailments including sciatica. 

Come into The Backrub today for a session to help restore you body's natural balance - we're open 7 days a week! Walk-ins or booking available - 651-698-4567

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AIS At The Backrub

Have you made it to an AIS class at the Backrub lately? You may know instructor Nikki Wells through her monthly Essential Oils classes at the Backrub - she is also instructing classes on AIS (Active Isolated Stretching). These classes and semi-private classes are helping to improve the bodies of many people over the winter months as our muscles turn tight from cold winter days. 

If you are unsure what AIS is and what the benefits are, read on! 

 What AIS is:

Uses full range of motion movements to contract and strengthen targeted muscles while at the same time stretch the opposing muscles.  

This simultaneous strength and flexibility training makes it functional and safe.  

Stretches hold for no more than a few seconds.

Concentrating on breathing - exhale on stretch, inhale on release.

What AIS benefits:

 Techniques benefit muscles, fascia, tendons, ligaments and bones.  

They also develop brain-muscle connectivity.  

Treats a range of musculoskeletal conditions to relieve pain and facilitate the healing process.  

Can relieve muscle tension, alleviate fatigue, improve flexibility and efficiency of movement, increase strength, and achieve a balanced alignment.  

Weakness, excess muscle tension and lack of flexibility of the neck, shoulders and back--which leaves you more vulnerable to injury--can be changed through training with AIS.

During a class, Nikki will teach and assist you in stretches that can benefit your problem areas- from neck and shoulder tension to abdominal and back pain. 

Taking home what you learn from one of these classes could be the progressional kick to feeling better in the long run - these are stretches you can do every day!

There are so many benefits to AIS that Nikki would love to talk to you about- drop us a line or an email anytime for more info and remember to check back here for more health and well-being tips!

info@greatbackrubs.com

651-698-4567

Essential Oils for Emotional Healing

If you haven't already attended The Backrub's class on essential oils, get your seat quick! This is fast becoming a popular session, dealing with the strength in essential oil's natural emotional healing. Unsure about what it's all about? Read on for a few facts:

The power of essential oils can be subtle and profound. From anxiety and stress to distractions, our bodies and minds benefit from their therapeutic value.

Essential oils are a natural route to better well-being and can be an alternative to finding relief from pharmaceuticals.

The Backrub carries products by doTerra - one of the best manufacturers of certified high-quality essential oils.

During a class at The Backrub, Instructor Nikki Wells will talk about doTerra oils we can use to help transition from a stressful day at work to a relaxing evening at home.

These are essential oils that are very easy to use within the home - in cleaners, applying topically to yourself or family, diffuser and even in your dryer.

Sign up for the next class and find out how a few drops can envelope your home into a peaceful and happy place.

Need more info? Email info@greatbackrubs.com
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Yoga And You - The Benefits

Yoga is like a self-massage; the perfect way to focus on your breathing and how your body moves. If you're curious to see how yoga can benefit you, we've got it covered. There are countless websites, videos and blogs devoted to this subject so we're dedicating the rest of the summer to seek out the best of the best....

Here are some facts to get you on the mat:

Practicing yoga regularly effects the body physically:

• Lowering blood pressure and heart rate
• Improving sleep
• Improving circulation
• Improving digestion 
• Relieving back and chest pain

and mentally, there are also many benefits

• Increased ability to manage stress
• Improved focus and concentration
• Better memory
• Helps combat depression, ADHD, Anxiety and PTSD

 

Still not a believer? Check out a few of these articles; proven studies on the health benefits of yoga:

 Huffington Post on Mental Health & Yoga

Harvard Health on Anxiety, Depression & Yoga

7 Proven Health Benefits of Yoga

YogaMedics on Back Pain

 Ace Fitness Study on Yoga

With so much to talk about we hope you visit back here every week from now til summer's end to find out how you can feel your best!