Massage Therapy for Hattiesburg

Nicole Gwaltney, Licensed Massage Therapist #1780

Visit my website for specials and more info:  www.nicolesmassage.vpweb.com

Christmas Special!

• Buy one gift certificate, get the second one for $10 off!

• Buy 5, get each additional one for $10 off!

• Buy 10, get one FREE!

  • Examples:

    • Buy 3 one-hour massages for $200 (First at $70, second at $60, third at $70)

    • Buy 11 one-hour massages for $630 (First, third & fifth at $70, second, fourth, sixth-tenth at $60, eleventh one free)

    • Buy 6 half-hour massages for $210 (First, third & fifth at $40, second & fourth at $30)

 **All gift certificates expire three months after purchase, but for the holiday season they will expire on July 1, 2012!**

Special Ends Dec. 25

A Little About Nicole

Growing up with neck and back pain, I thought it was normal especially since my parents had the same problems.  I would massage my parents' backs and also my friends' and they would say "you should do this for a living!"  I thought, well, maybe, but I wanted to get my degree first.  While I was in college working on my BSBA at The University of Southern Mississippi, a friend of mine was going through massage therapy school and she would use me as practice.  I didn't realize how much stress I was holding in my neck, shoulders and back and how beneficial it was for her to work on me on a regular basis!  I became a believer in massage. 

After I finished my degree and joined the corporate world, I realized it wasn't for me.  What a great opportunity to go back to school for massage.  I graduated from Healing Touch School of Massage Therapy in Hattiesburg, Mississippi November 2010 with the highest GPA in my class and scoring the highest on the national exam among all Healing Touch graduates.  Going through massage school, I learned so much about the body and how everything is connected.  Your stress levels affect the muscles.  The muscles in your neck affect the muscles in your low back, all the way down to your feet.  The human body is amazing and massage is an all-natural way to allow the body to heal itself.  Massage is my way of using a God-given talent to help people.  I know exactly what it feels like to not be able to move without pain, to miss work because of back pain because it hurts to walk, or to have even the milder but very annoying chronic pains that you assume you'll just have to live with, like headaches.  Massage benefits all these and more.

Keep in mind that all massage therapists (MTs) are not the same.  And all massages are not the same.  Just because you have one underwhelming experience doesn't mean they all will be.  The best way to find one is word of mouth.  Talk to people who have similar problems as you and who like the same kinds of massage as you.  Massage therapists are required to get continuing education hours to renew their licenses, and they usually get them in the areas that interest them most.  Many will eventually specialize in one area, say the neck or in one technique, like myofascial release.  However, someone may specialize in one area because there is a greater demand for it but still be very good in other areas.  The only way to find out for sure is to "shop around" for MTs and keep going to the ones you like.  A professional massage therapist will not take it personally if you decide to go to someone else. 

Facts About Massage Therapy

Did you know that massage does the following?

• Reduces pain

  • Reduces need for pain medications

  • Decreases intensity and frequency of headaches

  • Reduces and can help prevent muscle pain, spasms and cramps

• Improves blood and lymph circulation, which is necessary for tissue healing

• Decreases blood pressure temporarily (which lasts longer with regular massage)

• Activates body's relaxation response

• Reduces edema/swelling and fluid retention

• Reduces stress, anxiety and feelings of depression

  • Increases secretion of "feel-good" hormones (serotonin and dopamine)

  • Reduces secretion of stress hormones (cortisol, epinephrine, norepinephrine)

• Relieves muscle tension, soreness and fatigue

• Increases range of motion and flexibility

• Decreases scar formation and reduces scar tissue

• Promotes overall health and feelings of well-being

Pain Management

Pain is not something you should have to live with on a daily basis.  Pain is your body's way of telling you something is wrong, and unfortunately, it's usually one of the later stages of a problem.  Has someone ever touched a spot on your back, and you say "I didn't know that was sore until you touched it!"?  That's because a problem exists that you don't know about.  Once it becomes painful without you touching it, it is already in bad shape.  That is why regular massage is very important.  Ideally for overall health and wellness, one one-hour massage once a month is all that's necessary.  However, people who are under stress, have chronic pain, have some sort of injury, are athletes, etc. may need to come more often, especially in the beginning.

Stress Management

Stress is a huge contributor to muscular pain, especially in the neck and shoulders.  Massage therapy is a great way to lower stress, relax and get the knots worked out.  However, stress-management shouldn't stop there.  There are many things you can do to lower stress overall, and it's very important in maintaining the effects of massage as well as increasing your wellness!  Here are some practical examples:

• Reduce caffeine intake.  One, maybe two cups a day is ok, but anything more and you're stimulating the stress hormones cortisol and adrenaline.  Some people are sensitive to caffeine and should avoid it altogether.

• Deep breathe.  Breathe in through the nose for two counts, and out through the mouth for 4 counts.  Repeat for a minute (or more if you have time).  Do this several times a day...on a bathroom break at work, right before you walk into work or the house after a hard day's work, at a red-light...whenever!  All you need is one full minute.

• EXERCISE!!!  Exercise does so much for mental health that it should be the first thing "prescribed" by doctors for anxiety, depression, stress, headaches, you name it!  Not only does it release endorphins, but it gives you a sense of accomplishment that you are doing something great for your body.  Exercise at least 30 minutes most days of the week, and exercise outside if you can because sunshine is a great mood booster.  Exercise gets your blood and lymph flowing which is absolutely critical in healing damaged tissue.

• Learn how to say NO and recognize your self-worth!  You are one person and you can't do everything yourself.  Learn how to say no and ask for help.  Don't know how to start?  Do some research, check out a book at the library, ask for some advice from a person you know who is nice but assertive, talk to a counselor or life coach.  Invest time in yourself.  This is your life.  Take charge, and don't let guilt control your actions. 

• Practice yoga.  If you can't afford to take a class, buy a DVD, go online to look for free videos or buy a book.  The act of deep breathing while toning your muscles (which also will help reduce knots and tension) is a great way to relieve stress and is beneficial to your body overall.

• Reduce sugar and junk food.  It affects your blood sugar in a negative way, which stimulates stress hormones.  Junk food also has chemicals and other man-made substances that your body is not designed to digest so if they don't remain "stuck" in the liver, they may be deposited into your muscles along with other metabolic waste (like lactic acid).  Massage literally forces these out and pushes them toward and into your lymph nodes.  The lymphatic system then brings everything to the kidneys where they are filtered and flushed out.  This is why drinking EXTRA water after a massage is so important.

• Nurture your relationships by spending quality time together, having open and honest communication and being thankful for each other.

• Get in touch with your spiritual side.  There is a reason so many people lean on a Higher Power.  It creates a sense of peace and hope. 

Try adding some of these suggestions to your daily/weekly/monthly routine (hey, most are free!) and I know you will see a difference in your stress levels.  Massage is so beneficial in so many ways but it can only do so much.  It is up to you to take care of yourself.

Frequently Asked Questions:

How Often Should I Go?

It is recommended to get one one-hour massage once a month.  The rule of thumb is, the longer the problem has been there, the longer it will take to correct it.  And if you can't remove yourself from the situation that is causing the problem in the first place, the problem will probably never fully go away and you may need to do extra massages and/or chiropractic care to manage it.  For example, if you are under a lot of stress, and you do nothing for stress-management outside of massage, the one massage a month will probably not keep the tension from going back into your shoulders and neck.  Or if you are an athlete, you are obviously not going to stop doing the repetitive movements that are required for your sport, so you may need to get pre- and post-event massages as well as sports-maintenance massages. 

People say, "I don't want to get a massage because the effects don't last long enough" or "I can't afford it."  You have to invest in your own body if you want to have the best quality of life.  Let's look at a comparison.  It is just like taking insulin if a person has Type-II diabetes.  Although the problem is that the pancreas has stopped working properly, the actual cause of the problem is overtaxing the pancreas by eating too much sugar causing it to secrete a lot of insulin to compensate.  You can keep yourself in the situation (eating sugar) and take insulin for the rest of your life (which is expensive, time-consuming, and emotionally draining), or you can change the situation by adjusting your diet and exercise habits and then only have to go to the doctor for check-ups.  I can massage the knots (the problem) and send you on your way, but if the cause of the knots (like performing an awkward movement at work on a daily basis or chronic stress with no relief) is not addressed and corrected, they are more than likely to return.  Regular massage is like regular check-ups.  And the sooner you catch problems, the easier and quicker it is to work them out.

What is the difference between a Swedish and Deep Tissue massage?

Swedish uses light to firm pressure and is mainly for relaxing and increasing circulation.  Deep tissue uses firm, deep pressure and is more for pain management and rehabilitation.  A deep tissue massage will produce the "feel-good pain" associated with tightness, stiffness, and knots.  A Swedish massage will not hurt at all.

What are "knots?"

Knots are a build up metabolic waste in the muscle tissue caused by chronic tension, stress, overuse and strain, junkfood and poor diet, caffeine, poor posture, misaligned vertebrae,etc. You can usually feel knots when touching muscles. When gliding over skin with a knot, it feels like rolling over a bump or marble and will generally produce feel-good pain.

Do I have to get fully undressed for a massage?

No, you may undress to YOUR comfort level, leaving your underwear on or off. There are even massages where you are fully clothed.  I use oil in my massages unless you request otherwise, so I recommend taking off all underwear (bras, undershirts, etc.) with the option of leaving lower underwear on. It's your massage, you should feel comfortable.  Regardless, you will be covered and draped in a professional, comfortable and modest way. It is illegal to provide a massage to a client with the gluteal crack, genitalia or breasts (on women) exposed. Your comfort and security are of the utmost importance. Please report any massage therapist that does not uphold this law and code of ethics to the state's massage board.

Other Information

• Hours: Tues/Thur/Fri: 9:00am – 5pm; Wed: 9:00am – 5pm.

• Prices: 30-min = $40, 60-min = $70

• If you need to come in earlier or later, I will try to work around your schedule.  Just call and ask! 

• When making appointments please keep in mind the cancellation policy.*  Please give the massage therapist at least a 24-hour notice when cancelling or rescheduling.  Failure to do so will result in a 60% charge ($24 for a half-hour massage or $42 for an hour massage) and your credit card number may be taken with the booking of your next appointment.  Many people have specific times when they can schedule appointments so please be mindful that your spot, once booked, is no longer available to anyone else. If you are calling to cancel/reschedule after hours, please call 601-467-5998 to ensure you do not get charged. 

• If you are a new client, please come in about five minutes early to fill out the massage intake form.

Thank you and I look forward to seeing you in the office!