Wellness Fairy is about your good health and creating new habits of self-care.
I'm Pixie Campbell, a Licensed Massage Therapist who specializes in relieving chronic pain with the use of deep tissue therapy, myofascial release, trigger point therapy and a number of other healing modalities. I help professionals and parents stay pain free and recharged for the demands of the modern lifestyle, and claim restful downtime for themselves. I am on a mission to help my clients understand that humans are not designed to race along at a breakneck pace, never stopping to check in with their bodies' needs. Most of us have figured out the hard way that injury and debilitating tension result when we do not care for ourselves.
This blog is a peek into what I do and how you can locate me or hire me for an outcall.
My studio space is located within Via Bella Spa & Salon at 2800 F Street (catty corner from Rosemary's Creamery) and you can make an appointment for a massage with me by calling the salon directly at 661-322-5474.
I can also be hired to come to your office with my chair massage and relieve stress in the backs, necks and heads of you and your overworked employees or co-workers. Please phone or email me directly to book half or full day office sessions at 661-203-9243. Questions are always welcome!
I happily sell the infamous 4-Pack, monthly packages of combined treatments and discounted rates for sending referrals my way.
Very pretty gift certificates are available for the stressed or undernurtured loved one in your life.
October 22, 2007
October 21, 2007
Thai Herbs and Hot Stones
Massage therapists all have their tricks of the trade for working out knots and stubborn trigger points. I am no different. I keep a crock pot brewing like a cauldron next to the table with an assortment of rocks, steaming towels, essential oils and sometimes, Thai herbal poultices.I was very lucky to have studied hot stone technique under Heather White of Hands on Healing Institute in Tujunga when she was still going out and hand collecting river rocks for her students, and I only use this set today. I think they are superior because they are all composed of different geologic materials instead of just black basalt stone like the ones you receive in the hot stone packages online. Using different types of rocks means some stones are really big and heavy (they feel great at the base of the spine or over the heart) and others are small, smooth and hold heat for a very long time-great for using in the shoulders and neck where the tight spots hole up.
I use steamed towels for lots of reasons: to clean the oil off of someone's feet so they don't slip around in their shoes after having bodywork done, but also to open the pores in the neck and back and allow essential oils to absorb into the body. Some essential oils* have a relaxing or medicinal effect on the tissue and aid in the process of releasing tension in general.
Steamed Thai herb packs are one of my favorite secret weapons against soft tissue knots. I use a blend which originated in Northern Thailand, hand mixed in the U.S. and contains organic or ethically wildcrafted plants inclucing cardamom, turmeric, kaffir lime, cinnamon bark, lemongrass and camphor. The result is a literal melting of those horrible shoulder knots. The compresses smell incredible and leave the recipient feeling warm and healed from the inside out. I've often been amazed at how a very bound-up muscle can feel like melted butter when I remove the compress. It has to be magic!
*Please note that because essential oils are derived from plants and flowers, many can have an allergic or toxic effect or must be applied by first being diluted in a carrier oil such as almond oil. Don't go pouring essential oils on your skin without a good resource for instructions or better yet-see a professional!
Photo credit: Mango Grove Medicinals
October 08, 2007
Before, During and After
For some clients who find themselves wanting to have a massage but have never received one, this entry is for you. Most massage therapy protocol is rather obvious, but there are a few things you need to know about what to expect:
*You will be asked to take off your clothing. However, I suggest leaving your unders on if it is your first time unless you have low back issues that will be worked on during the massage. This will give you the opportunity to see how the draping of the sheets works and you can be relaxed without worrying about whether the therapist will expose you. If you do have low back muscle pain, some therapists will work in the glutes which are more accessible if you aren't wearing underpants. It is possible to work the glutes through the sheet, so ask for what you are comfortable with and don't assume that your boundaries might have to be crossed in order to have an effective session. Be sure to find a professional establishment you can trust when you make your appointment. Referrals from friends who have had positive experiences are great in this situation.
*Deep tissue is a specialized modality which uses deep pressure in targeted areas to release painful restrictions in the soft tissue. It is not a Swedish massage that is just more intense or heavy handed- it actually uses different techniques. Expect to pay about $10-20 more per treatment if deep tissue is what you need. Perhaps ask your therapist to demonstrate deep tissue technique for you during your Swedish (if they are trained to do DT) so that you know what to expect if you choose to enjoy this massage later. DT is not for the faint of heart. It can leave you a bit sore the next day and the detoxification can be a bit more intense.
*Always ask your therapist to increase or decrease the pressure if you would like more or less. We want you to be happy when you leave! I tend toward a moderate amount of pressure and adjust from there unless instructed otherwise by a seasoned massage recipient.
Tell your practitioner what you love to have worked on and what you would prefer not to. Many love extra time on their feet but are afraid to ask, while some do not prefer for their faces or tummies to be massaged. Ask- your therapist should be happy to customize your treatment!
*After your massage, you can expect to be in a detoxification for the next day or so. Drink plenty of water (8- 8 oz. glasses per day), take a hot bath or shower that evening and squeeze in some extra rest. Avoid drinking alcohol or caffeine for the remainder of the day. If you get a headache, apply a cold compress or ice pack to the pain site and put your feet in warm water. The coldness constricts the blood vessels that cause the throbbing. Call with questions.
*Between sessions, add a stretching practice or yoga to your daily routine to keep the spine flexible and the neck mobile. Hold your stretches for a minute or longer and remember to breathe down in your belly as you stretch.
*Take good care to ask your body what it needs from you and take the time to find the right medicine. You will know it is the right one if it nourishes you instead of drains you.
"It is never a mistake to search for what we require. Never." --Clarissa Pinkola Estes, Ph. D.
*You will be asked to take off your clothing. However, I suggest leaving your unders on if it is your first time unless you have low back issues that will be worked on during the massage. This will give you the opportunity to see how the draping of the sheets works and you can be relaxed without worrying about whether the therapist will expose you. If you do have low back muscle pain, some therapists will work in the glutes which are more accessible if you aren't wearing underpants. It is possible to work the glutes through the sheet, so ask for what you are comfortable with and don't assume that your boundaries might have to be crossed in order to have an effective session. Be sure to find a professional establishment you can trust when you make your appointment. Referrals from friends who have had positive experiences are great in this situation.
*Deep tissue is a specialized modality which uses deep pressure in targeted areas to release painful restrictions in the soft tissue. It is not a Swedish massage that is just more intense or heavy handed- it actually uses different techniques. Expect to pay about $10-20 more per treatment if deep tissue is what you need. Perhaps ask your therapist to demonstrate deep tissue technique for you during your Swedish (if they are trained to do DT) so that you know what to expect if you choose to enjoy this massage later. DT is not for the faint of heart. It can leave you a bit sore the next day and the detoxification can be a bit more intense.
*Always ask your therapist to increase or decrease the pressure if you would like more or less. We want you to be happy when you leave! I tend toward a moderate amount of pressure and adjust from there unless instructed otherwise by a seasoned massage recipient.
Tell your practitioner what you love to have worked on and what you would prefer not to. Many love extra time on their feet but are afraid to ask, while some do not prefer for their faces or tummies to be massaged. Ask- your therapist should be happy to customize your treatment!
*After your massage, you can expect to be in a detoxification for the next day or so. Drink plenty of water (8- 8 oz. glasses per day), take a hot bath or shower that evening and squeeze in some extra rest. Avoid drinking alcohol or caffeine for the remainder of the day. If you get a headache, apply a cold compress or ice pack to the pain site and put your feet in warm water. The coldness constricts the blood vessels that cause the throbbing. Call with questions.
*Between sessions, add a stretching practice or yoga to your daily routine to keep the spine flexible and the neck mobile. Hold your stretches for a minute or longer and remember to breathe down in your belly as you stretch.
*Take good care to ask your body what it needs from you and take the time to find the right medicine. You will know it is the right one if it nourishes you instead of drains you.
"It is never a mistake to search for what we require. Never." --Clarissa Pinkola Estes, Ph. D.
September 28, 2007
All Massage Oils Are Not Created Equally
When I receive a massage, I'm always interested in what oils are being used and how the scents are derived. I don't like products with synthetic preservatives and unnatural ingredients.
Perhaps I care more than most people, but then, it is also my job to know what I am applying to my clients and what effect it will have.
Recently I was out of state and went for a Swedish massage at the local resort and was a bit disappointed that the "body butter" used during my massage was really sticky and smelled of fake vanilla that stayed with me all day. I looked at the tub as I prepared to leave and read all sorts of unpronounceable ingredients including the dreaded parabens. Yuck!
While some may not mind the smell of synthetic vanilla and harmful preservatives slathered over them, I mind very much. I keep a variety of oils and butters on hand, all created with real essential oils from nuts, plants, and flowers and no strange preservatives.
One of my favorite oil blends is Weleda's Arnica Massage Oil.
Arnica works sort of like a topical herbal aspirin. It isn't cooling like a Bio-Freeze-instead it smells of lavender and earthy birch with the added benefit of a muscle soother. It has a heavy body and works well with deeper tissue work.
Weleda is a Swiss company that uses only organic and biodynamic medicinal herbs in their oil blends. Our own local Lassen's Health Food Store carries many of their products, including a natural deoderant that actually works.
What we put on our bodies is just as important as what we put into them. The skin is the largest organ of the body and is quick to absorb and distribute products and pollution into the bloodstream. In this era of awareness, it is totally acceptable to ask your technician about ingredients in skincare products- as it is never a mistake to take very good care of oneself.
September 22, 2007
Why I Love Myofascial Release
I think myofascial release, or MFR, is cutting edge therapy for chronic pain sufferers and I'm amazed that more physical therapists don't make room for it in their practices.
Because of the time needed to acheive the release of the connective tissue, perhaps some P.T. offices are not set up to allow patients to lounge for the hour you get when you come to a spa or salon setting.
In a nutshell, trauma in the body from impact such as a car accident or even an occupational trauma to the connective tissue from overuse of a certain area containing muscle, tissue and fluids cause the areas to be caught in traction. Remember those chinese finger traps from childhood, that once you tried to pull your fingers out they became more deeply stuck?
Connective tissue responds to trauma like that. And from there, as time passes, the tiny sticky, displaced, spiderweb-like strands continue to reach out and lock on to other tissue in the area. This results in immobility, the pinching of nerves and general pain-sometimes debilitating pain.
By using sustained pressure on the tissue by first sinking into the fascia and then giving it a pull or push just to the edge of its stuckness, the webs release very slowly and seemingly one by one.
Connective tissue melts down with the stretch and the heat of the hand, but it takes time to do this. One can't acheive release of bound up tissue in under one minute of pressure.
Understandably, physical therapists and chiropractors don't have the kind of time it takes to apply this modality. I happen to think it is the missing link in soft tissue related pain relief.
Because of the time needed to acheive the release of the connective tissue, perhaps some P.T. offices are not set up to allow patients to lounge for the hour you get when you come to a spa or salon setting.
In a nutshell, trauma in the body from impact such as a car accident or even an occupational trauma to the connective tissue from overuse of a certain area containing muscle, tissue and fluids cause the areas to be caught in traction. Remember those chinese finger traps from childhood, that once you tried to pull your fingers out they became more deeply stuck?
Connective tissue responds to trauma like that. And from there, as time passes, the tiny sticky, displaced, spiderweb-like strands continue to reach out and lock on to other tissue in the area. This results in immobility, the pinching of nerves and general pain-sometimes debilitating pain.
By using sustained pressure on the tissue by first sinking into the fascia and then giving it a pull or push just to the edge of its stuckness, the webs release very slowly and seemingly one by one.
Connective tissue melts down with the stretch and the heat of the hand, but it takes time to do this. One can't acheive release of bound up tissue in under one minute of pressure.
Understandably, physical therapists and chiropractors don't have the kind of time it takes to apply this modality. I happen to think it is the missing link in soft tissue related pain relief.
August 26, 2007
As Easy as Breathing
Healing stress can be as easy as altering the way we breathe. In massage practice, many of us incorporate the use of breathwork to make your treatment more successful.
It has been written that overbreathing or hyperventilation occurs when breathing takes place in the chest or upper respiratory region, as opposed to down in the diaphragm, where it is supposed to. By placing one hand on your solar plexus (pinky finger just above your navel) and the other on your chest, take a deep breath while lying on your back. Your upper hand should barely move, while the hand placed over your abdomen should rise and fall. If your clavicle moves, you could be one of many who tax the thorax and other accessory breathing muscles while disallowing the diaphragm from doing its job and staying fit.
Try to think of it as filling the belly up with air on your inhale and pulling the belly back toward the spine on the exhale. By consciously taking slower, fuller breaths, we can lessen the strain on accessory muscles and cut down on some of the tension that gets stored in the trapezius and upper body.
When I work on your trigger points, I will often have you take a deep inhale and then as you exhale, I will apply even pressure for as long as a minute to the trigger point. Your exhale lets the area down, so that by disengaging the soft tissue completely, the trigger therapy is more effective.
I had a teacher once that said healing can only take place while we are vulnerable-that is to say disengaged, even from our working, chattering left-brains. Being conscious of our breath during the day can prevent painful conditions such as trigger points from worsening as you wait for your appointment with your therapist.
It has been written that overbreathing or hyperventilation occurs when breathing takes place in the chest or upper respiratory region, as opposed to down in the diaphragm, where it is supposed to. By placing one hand on your solar plexus (pinky finger just above your navel) and the other on your chest, take a deep breath while lying on your back. Your upper hand should barely move, while the hand placed over your abdomen should rise and fall. If your clavicle moves, you could be one of many who tax the thorax and other accessory breathing muscles while disallowing the diaphragm from doing its job and staying fit.
Try to think of it as filling the belly up with air on your inhale and pulling the belly back toward the spine on the exhale. By consciously taking slower, fuller breaths, we can lessen the strain on accessory muscles and cut down on some of the tension that gets stored in the trapezius and upper body.
When I work on your trigger points, I will often have you take a deep inhale and then as you exhale, I will apply even pressure for as long as a minute to the trigger point. Your exhale lets the area down, so that by disengaging the soft tissue completely, the trigger therapy is more effective.
I had a teacher once that said healing can only take place while we are vulnerable-that is to say disengaged, even from our working, chattering left-brains. Being conscious of our breath during the day can prevent painful conditions such as trigger points from worsening as you wait for your appointment with your therapist.
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