How to stop muscle wastage as we age

You've heard the old adage, "Use it or lose" when it comes to anything from fitness, flexibility, keeping the mind engaged to prevent senility, alzheimers etc, and if like myself, that would seem to make common sense, well this article explains how research has proven it to be true!! Shock! Horror! 

It also means, I shall have to remain a regular gym bunny to retain my shapely bum & legs and continue with freestyle choreography to maintain my brain is firing on all cylinders.  Here's to the next 40 years then......

Read the article here http://bit.ly/1qM58lw

To receive my regular e-newsletter to your inbox packed with therapy news, healthy recipes, therapy offers etc, please fill in the box on the right and be entered into a monthly prize draw.  Ensure you add synergy_therapies@icloud.com to your contacts to avoid it being sent to your spam box.  

Thanks
MB

Popular Treatment Playlist

Many clients recently have expressed how much they have enjoyed listening to one particular playlist I have been using in treatments, that I feel duty bound to put up the track listing.  Unfortunately titled "Ballad Massage" (I was stuck for a name, honest :)) this 2.5 hour playlist has some cracking relaxing tunes as well as some surprises, with artists picked from the 70's all the way through to the current day.  If after reading what's on the playlist and you fancy listening to it the next time you are having treatment, feel free to request it.

• Alexandra Burke - Hallelujah
• Judy Garland - Over The Rainbow
• Dusty Springfield - If You Go Away
• Cyndi Lauper - La Vie En Rose
• Alicia Keys - Empire State Of Mind
• Randy Crawford - Almaz
• Leona Lewis - Bleeding Love and The First Time I Ever saw Your Face
• Florence & The Machine - No Light
• Roberta Flack - Killing Me Softly
• Annie Lennox - Why
• Randy Crawford - One Day I'll Fly Away
• Annie Lennox - A Thousand Beautiful Things
• Barbara Streisand - Memory
• Annie Lennox - Many Rivers To Cross
• Neil Diamond and Barbara Streisand - You Don't Bring Me Flowers
• Coldplay - Princess of China
• Katie Melua - I Cried For You
• Julie London - Cry Me A River
• Paloma Faith - I Just Wait
• Elbow - One Day Like This
• Florence & The Machine - Spectrum
• Tony Bennett with K D Lang - Blue Velvet
• Adele - Skyfall
• Mary Jess - Did I Make The Most of Loving You (Theme from Downton)
• John Williams - Hedwig's Theme
• Gloria Gaynor - Feelings
• Kontact - Show Me A Sign
• Alison Moyet - The First Time, Only You, That Ole Devil
• Madonna - Take A Bow, Forbidden Love
• Marc Almond - Glorious, For One Moment, Just Good Friends

Other Playlists are available, even one dedicated to all things Eurovision

Michael

New Monthly Prize Draw

We all like a good raffle, prize draw, or a go on a scratch card, don't we?  I was thinking how to introduce this element of fun and chance into the treatment room, an opportunity to

I hope you like what I've come up with,.  Starting in August & running to the end of the year, every time you visit me at The Riverside, equates to one entry into the surprise end of month draw. Simple, eh?  Prizes could include free Neal's Yard samples or products, money off an hour's treatment, a free mini treatment and more.  Then come September (did I just say September? Where's the year going?), the process begins again and all your visits go towards September's prize.

I hope to see you soon, and thanks for reading

MB  

Massage as a lifestyle choice

Unlike other countries, where massage is viewed as an essential part of a healthy lifestyle, the UK lags behind in its attitude towards this beneficial therapy.  Too often it is looked upon as something dodgy, sexual or a pampering treat.  If your view happens to be one of those, you are missing out on so many good things in your life that regular massage could bring to it, benefits such as improved moods, boosted metabolism and immune system.

Whether you need to benefit from relaxation, a reduction in muscle tension or to attain relief from a chronic, painful condition, a therapeutic massage can enhance an individuals overall sense of well being both emotional & physical, improving the quality of life.

Massage is for all ages, benefits the ill, the injured and the stressed, below is a chart of a variety of conditions that benefit from this therapy

Anxiety and depression	Asthma and Emphysema
Back, leg, and neck pain	Cancer
Carpal tunnel syndrome (repetitive strain)	Chronic Fatigue syndrome
Dislocations	Fibromyalgia
Fractures and edema	Gastrointestinal disorders
Headaches	Inflammatory conditions such as arthritis and bursitis
Insomnia	Kyphosis and Scoliosis
Multiple sclerosis	Parkinson’s disease
Muscle tension and spasm	Palliative care
Post-surgical rehabilitation	Pregnancy and labour support
Sports injuries	Strains and sprains
Stress and stress related conditions	Stroke
Tendinitis	Whiplash

Massage should be an essential part of your health plan, regardless of if you are an active person or sedentary, by providing the body with the following health benefits;

• pain reduction or elimination, improvement of joint mobility, reduction of muscle tension.  Muscle tissue is very clever, it can adapt to injuries to continue to function though at a reduced capacity.  How many of us get a niggly twinge in area where we had an issue months, even years before. This is because when your injury was healing, scar tissue & damaging adhesions formed, both of which reduce performance, flexibilty and produce discomfort and pain.  Massage can help break down adhesions and scar tissue thereby increasing flexibility, increasing strength due to the increase of oxygen through improved blood flow to the area.

• increased circulation, boost to the flow of lymphatic vessels lead to an improvement of your immune system, so you look and feel healthier due to the amount of toxins within the body being flushed out of the system.

• reduction in stress levels, anxiety and feelings of depression by acting upon the levels of the stress hormone cortisol.  Cortisol also enables the body to store fat cells in & around the abdomen, allowing fat cells to mature and grow larger.  The enzyme fat cells produce leads to the production of more cortisol that leads to the storage of more fat internally.  Therefore, an indirect benefit of regular massage, could be a reduction of fat cells/weight due to the treatment acting on the cortisol levels in the body.  In addition, massage can reduce cellulite by working upon the subcutaneous fat stores.  Massage places your body in a relaxed state that enables the body to reduce stress and in turn take the opportunity to begin repair of neglected parts of itself, for example damaged muscle fibres.

Taking an holistic approach to the body, regular exercise, healthy diet and yes, regular massage treatments allows your body to heal both inside and out, both physically and mentally.  The key strength to massage is as a preventative measure, having a trusted massage therapist in your "healthy corner" to stop conditions occuring before they cause you problems.

Michael is based at The Riverside Natural Health Centre, Trent Bridge, Nottingham (below Top Knot), providing Body, Indian Head, Pregnancy Massages, as well as Neal's Yard Facial treatments, Galvanic Faicals, Hope Ear Treatments and more.  

Email Michael at synergy_therapies@icloud.com

Prices for 30 minutes of massage begin at £20

New Treatment;Purifying Back Cleanse

NEW FOR SUMMER 2014

Purifying Back Massage with relaxing Aromatherapy Massage

Have you always had an issue with back acne (Bacne)?  Do you have regular breakouts on your back caused by hormonal imbalances?  And do these breakouts always occur just as you are off on holiday or planning on wearing a backless dress?  Guys, do you tend to get spots on your back after you've had your back waxed?

If you've answered yes to any of the above, then this new treatment could be for you.

Place yourself in my hands and begin to unwind with an indulgent, deep cleansing back treatment, enhanced with organic skincare that will leave your back looking and feeling softer, deep cleansed, brighter with a more even tone as redness is reduced.  To complement your experience, you will receive a deeply relaxing back massage with a selection of aromatherapy oils.

This amazing 60 minute treatment is available at Riverside Natural Health Centre at Trent Bridge for £40

If you would like to book this experience or would like some more information, please call 07794084666 or email me at synergy_therapies@icloud.com

Host a NYR Organic Event for free

With the world cup almost upon us, now has never been better to organise a "NYR Organic Event", for FREE, with myself and The Riverside Natural Health Centre, Trent Bridge.

You don't have to be a World Cup Widow this year.

Simply ask a group of friends & family to attend, 6-8 is ideal, we'll provide the snacks, nibbles etc but feel free to bring your own too, then relax with your party whilst taking advantage of these exciting offers

• a free NYR Organic facial & gift for you for simply being the hostess
• sample a range of NYR Organic Facial Products
• discounted facial & massage treatment for yourself and your party
• Up to £200 worth of free & discounted NYR Organic products for yourself 

The World Cup is being held between June 12 and July 13, and event dates are filling up fast.  

Book your event today by calling Sue on 0115 9864990

The Riverside is conveniently situated on The Victoria Embankment, below Top Knot hairdressers, opposite The Riverbank Bar (Ideal for a post event glass of wine)

Both the Riverside and myself hope to welcome you soon

Detox & Purify

Now available in my online store

Delicious Organic Detox Tea with burdock and nettle.  A great way to cleanse your body's internal organs of toxins and improve the appearance of your skin in time for summer.  Follow this link to the online store and read for yourself the benefits of this tasty tea http://bit.ly/1rHjauL