Benefits of Cupping for Office Workers

Chances are, you’ve seen a bodybuilder at your local gym (or one of your favorite Olympic athletes) sporting what look like large, symmetrical, and very round bruises. These are actually cupping marks. Cupping is popular in the fitness scene as a muscle recovery tool. But for the average joe like you and I who just wants to stay healthy and look and feel good, is there any benefit to cupping?

YES! Especially as an office worker.

This study showed that cupping therapy was effective at reducing chronic neck and shoulder pain in individuals who self-reported it. The best part is, the study was exclusive to people who worked at least 40 hours a week and had work-related neck and shoulder pain. After all, it isn’t just athletes who get tight and stiff muscles. Any repeated stress on a muscle will cause this, such as...sitting for hours with poor posture!

This study showed less pain and greater flexibility after cupping therapy in people with chronic back pain. Additionally, this meta-analysis (basically a study of studies) also presented promising results for cupping as a treatment for back pain.

So...the evidence is in. While research does not currently support cupping as an effective treatment for more serious musculoskeletal, digestive, or other conditions (it’s been touted as a magical cure for anything from acne to lung cancer), there is strong evidence for it as a pain relief tool that aids in muscle tightness and pain.

Unfortunately for office workers, the duties of our job may leave us in less than ideal ergonomic conditions. However, we are here to help! Book an appointment today to experience a unique blend of cupping combined with deep tissue massage for an incredible release of tight or sore muscles as part of our deep tissue options.

#healingshandsmiami, #therapeuticmassage, #corporatewellness, #massage, #wellness, #servicespotlight, #healthylifestyle, #cupping

3 Ways to Motivate Employees and Employers

We’re probably all familiar with Maslow’s hierarchy of needs. A lesser known theory of motivation (the ERG theory) offers a much more condensed version of basic human needs. The importance of human needs as it relates to an employee or employer is that people will not be motivated to work if their needs are not met. This is the basic theory behind pay; offer a reward to meet the need of an employee.

That said, we’ve created a guide to meeting your needs and therefore creating motivation at work:  

1.    Meeting existence needs: This means all the physiological and material needs a person may have including food, water, shelter, and safety. You can help meet these needs at work by focusing on an ergonomically friendly work environment. Check out this article for super detailed suggestions. As an employee, you can take breaks to walk around, stretch, and make sure to stay hydrated and eat healthy foods. As an employer, you can invest in standing desks, ergonomic chairs, and even healthy food to stock the company fridge.

2.    Meeting relatedness needs: Human beings have a need for connection and inclusion. As an employee, you can focus on making connections with your coworkers by taking your lunch break together, or even partaking in some healthy group activities (like our mindfulness classes). As an employer, you can encourage employees to connect and work with each other (our group exercise classes meet both existence and relatedness needs!). 

3.    Meeting growth needs: Basically, we want to do things that matter, and we want to be better. That really sums up the need for growth. As an employee, if your workplace can make you feel like you’re becoming a better you, then you’ll probably love your job. As an employer, this is the need you can most help with. By providing opportunities and recognition for growth, you will motivate your employees more than any paycheck can. This is why our corporate wellness program is so crucial. Our job is to make your job better. We offer several services that will not only allow employees to connect with each other but connect with their better selves as well.

So, whether you’re an employer or an employee, talk to us today about how we can help meet your needs!

#healingshandsmiami, #therapeuticmassage, #corporatewellness, #massage, #wellness, #servicespotlight, #healthylifestyle, #workplacewellness, #motivate

The Ultimate Guide to A Healthy Workday: Part 2

The Ultimate Guide to A Healthy Workday: Part 2

Last week, we published Part 1 to this post.  So if you missed that, make sure to go check it out.  In it, we discussed the beginning steps to being healthier at work.  Today, we’re giving you the rest of our BEST (and easiest) tips, so that you can conquer that workday and feel good about yourself in the process:

4.   Drink enough water – This equates to around 9-13 cups (depending on gender and other factors), plus more depending on activity levels.  Overall, just make sure to trust your thirst.  It’s there for a reason.  Plus, since more water = more trips to the bathroom, use that time to work on the next tip below…

5.   Take the stairs – The odds are that you’re pretty sedentary for most of your workday.  Counteract this by doing things like taking the stairs, parking far away from your door, walking around on your lunch breaks, taking phone calls while standing/walking, etc.  Every little bit of movement contributes to our general health, and can even help with weight loss!  Look into a concept called NEAT (non-exercise activity thermogenesis) to see how even small energy expenditures add up.

6.   Maintain good posture – We know sitting for long periods of time is bad for you.  However, sitting for at least some long periods of time is downright inevitable in today’s workplace.  Making sure you’re sitting correctly when you have to do so can make a big difference to how you feel day to day.  Check out this article for an in-depth guide to posture at work.

7.   Limit Caffeine – When work gets boring and you need a break or a boost, it’s easy to see the endless supply of caffeine available at most offices as a blessing.  However, caffeine can interrupt your sleep and increase your stress hormones, neither of which you need more of!  Instead, try drinking cold water to give yourself a boost, and limit your caffeine to 1-2 cups a day.

8.   Take frequent short breaks – Taking short quick breaks from work will keep you more productive in the long run and is a great way to accomplish all the other tips!  On your 10-15 minute breaks, take a quick walk around the building, drink some water to stay hydrated, or even practice a few minutes of mindfulness.

All the tips we’ve provided you with will set you up for a MUCH healthier day at work.  The one thing that’s missing is stretching and with that, we’ve got you covered with our corporate yoga classes!  This is one of the components of our corporate wellness programs that include several ways to exercise at work and leave you with a well-rounded healthy lifestyle.

If your office does not have such a program in place, please contact us.  We will be happy to provide information regarding pricing and the many benefits of workplace yoga.  Namaste!

#healingshandsmiami, #therapeuticmassage, #corporatewellness, #massage, #wellness, #servicespotlight, #healthylifestyle, #workplacewellness, #yoga

The Ultimate Guide to A Healthy Workday: Part 1

As a working professional, it can admittedly be very difficult to manage your health.  With long days made even longer by long commutes, it’s easy to feel like your whole day is gone in a flash and your energy with it.  However, there are some steps you can take to be physically and mentally healthier at work.  While you still want to make sure you’re getting in those workouts and eating healthy, these steps are a phenomenal start to living a healthier lifestyle, and they’re all things you can start doing TODAY.

1.   Wake up one hour earlier – Okay, so this one isn’t technically at work.  But it will make a world of a difference to your work life.  Instead of snoozing your alarm up to the last possible second, practice waking up 10, 15, 30 minutes earlier each day until you manage to consistently wake up one full hour earlier than you need to each day.  With this hour, you can enjoy an unhurried morning that you can use to have a healthy, filling breakfast, maybe sneak in a quick workout, and enjoy some time to yourself to practice mindfulness.  This will start your day on the right note instead of on a rushed and stressed note.

2.   Pack your lunch – Not only will this save you tremendous amounts of money in the long run, but it’s also the easiest meal to prepare for, and will take away the temptation to order unhealthy fast food.  Making a protein-packed sandwich with a side of fruits and veggies the day before will take you maybe 15 minutes but it will save you money, calories, and time at work.  By not going out to buy lunch you’re free to enjoy your healthy lunch at your leisure, maybe outside in the fresh air.

3.   Practice mindfulness – This one doesn’t need much of an explanation.  The workplace is often associated with stress and hours spent zoning out in front of your computer.  By practicing mindfulness, you can calm your mind and become not only more present, but also more productive.  Here are some mindfulness ideas specific to the workplace.

In the coming week, practice these tips and pay attention to how much better you feel.  By the way, if you’re not sure how to practice mindfulness, let us help you.  We have a great mindfulness class we offer through our corporate wellness program that will leave you with tips you can do all day.

#healingshandsmiami, #therapeuticmassage, #corporatewellness, #massage, #wellness, #servicespotlight, #healthylifestyle, #mindfulness

Three Reasons Why Office Yoga Works

Happy [almost] July!  As the "dog days of summer" approach, and we’re all experiencing the summer slump, we thought it would be a good idea to remind you of a little trick we have up our sleeve that helps us enjoy work refreshed and rejuvenated in both our minds and bodies: office yoga.

Here’s the thing: regular yoga is amazing already.  But yoga at work?  Now that’s a powerhouse of benefits that goes well beyond your evening or weekend yoga class.  The yoga we provide through our corporate wellness program is specific to the workplace, meaning it focuses on techniques you can implement even while sitting at your desk.

So why do office yoga?  Because it works.  And here’s why:

1.    It just might be more fun than regular yoga – yes.  Work can be fun!  Think about it: you’re doing an activity that is already relaxing and good for you.  Except now you’re doing it around people you already know.  This means you’ll instantly feel more comfortable and be able to relax and ask questions.  This way you’ll get even more out of office yoga than you would out of a regular class.

2.    Office yoga leaves you refreshed – a good instructor will focus on relieving tightness from areas that receive overuse during the workday, and strengthening muscles that don’t get enough use.  By learning to engage and strengthen your core through techniques that can be used even at your desk, and stretching hamstrings that become tight after several hours of sitting, you are more likely to feel refreshed at the end of a workday instead of tight and tired.

3.   It reduces stress and increases focus – and keep in mind that a happier and more productive you is going to look a whole lot better come promotion season than a tired and unfocused you!  Studies show that brief distractions from a task can actually improve focus on said task.  What better way to distract yourself for a little while than doing something your body will thank you for?

We know (and your employer knows) you already take breaks from work.  Let us help you level up those breaks through our office yoga program.  Talk to your employer about bringing us in today!

#healingshandsmiami, #therapeuticmassage, #corporatewellness, #massage, #wellness, #servicespotlight, #healthylifestyle, #yoga

The ROI of Corporate Wellness

Corporate wellness programs can be summed up as programs implemented by employers to increase employee satisfaction, health, and engagement.  Healthcare.gov defines a wellness program as “a program intended to improve and promote health and fitness that’s usually offered through the workplace, although insurance plans can offer them directly to their enrollees.”

There are several options for what an effective corporate wellness can include.  Incentives for healthy behavior such as cash rewards or paid time off, discounted or free gym memberships, healthier food options at work, or access to exercise classes/wellness programs at work (which is where we come in, by the way).

But are corporate wellness programs beneficial for employers?  Well, take a look at Johnson & Johnson.  They enjoy a strong return on investment from their employee wellness program; about $1.88-$3.92 saved for every dollar spent on the program through lower employee medical costs.  Meaning, there has been up to a 300% return on investment.  Those are massive returns.  

One study also showed that employees who participated in a health promotion program at work and reaped the lifestyle improvements regained an average of 10.3 hours in additional productivity annually and saved their companies an average of $353 per person per year in productivity costs compared to non-participants.

Not only are there implied savings through a workplace wellness program, but there are also associated tax benefits.  On the federal level, employee wellness programs are deductible as a business expense.  While there has been talk of implementing a federal tax credit, some states have already done so.  Massachusetts, Kentucky, and Indiana already employ a version of a tax credit for employee wellness programs.  In addition, there are even small company grants available to implement wellness programs for companies with less than 100 employees who work more than 25 hours a week!  For more detailed tax information, check out this website.

As an employer, the numbers speak for themselves: corporate wellness programs work.  Even under a triple bottom line approach, CW programs are a no-brainer as they satisfy not only financial but social concerns as well in the workplace.  As an employee, we’ve just presented you with a strong case to make to your employer to bring one of our corporate wellness programs to your company.  Take action!  And don’t forget to let us know in the comments how you’re helping your workplace stay healthy.

#healingshandsmiami, #therapeuticmassage, #corporatewellness, #massage, #wellness, #servicespotlight, #healthylifestyle, #money, #savings

Corporate Wellness Services and Their Effects on Employee Stress

We all know that a relaxing massage is great for lowering stress, but how great would it be to get a massage with the goal to reduce stress while at work?  Enter our corporate wellness services!  They are proven to reduce stress and are designed to be efficient and effective.  We know you’re busy, but we want to help you be relaxed and better focused while you’re busy.  Here are some highlights that demonstrate just some of the effects on employees our corporate services can bring:

Chair massage

Again, it’s no secret that massages alleviate stress.  But while at work you probably don’t have an hour to spend splurging on a massage.  Good news, studies have found that even a brief 15-minute chair massage during work hours (ahem, we have that covered) once a week can lower stress.

Mindfulness Meditation 

Evidence suggests that MBIs (mindfulness-based interventions) are an alternative method of improving workplace performance and environment.  This study found that a 6 week long mindfulness training course improved attention at work, decreased work-life conflict, and even improved job satisfaction.  This suggests that our mindfulness meditation sessions might be a great option for long-term employee satisfaction and even a tool for stress reduction!

Yoga

This study examined a group of government office workers in Great Britain and found that the group that was instructed to perform yoga exercises for 50 minutes a week experienced not only less stress, but much less back pain, greater concentration, more peace of mind, and even increased confidence.  Seems like a win-win to me!

Pilates and Zumba

This study on the relative benefits of cardiovascular and resistance exercise to reduce work place burnout reports that “after four weeks of exercise participants had greater positive well-being and personal accomplishment, and concomitantly less psychological distress, perceived stress, and emotional exhaustion.”  Pilates is a form of resistance exercise, and Zumba is a form of cardiovascular exercise.  The result?  A well-rounded exercise program that will help you feel better and more relaxed at work. 

Acupuncture

Check out this blog we wrote all about our acupuncture corporate wellness program.  One of the highlights?  You guessed it: reduced stress.

Healing Hands has a well-rounded and most importantly evidence-based corporate wellness program.  Don’t forget to talk to your employer (or employees) about implementing one or of all our corporate wellness solutions at your institution for skyrocketing productivity, and incredibly reduced stress!

#healingshandsmiami, #therapeuticmassage, #corporatewellness, #massage, #wellness, #servicespotlight, #healthylifestyle, #pilates

Service Spotlight: Acupuncture

This week on Service Spotlight we’re looking at one of our services that at first glance might seem a little intimidating: acupuncture.  Acupuncture is a practice that entails penetrating the skin with needles in specific areas of the body in order to provide stimulation that helps alleviate pain and treat various health conditions.

Recently, there have been numerous studies on this ancient Chinese practice that prove acupuncture is a powerful way to treat pain and nausea.  A recent meta-analysis found that acupuncture is effective for managing chronic pain.  

Interestingly enough, scientists don’t really understand how or why acupuncture works, even though the evidence that it does work continues to build.  There are multiple hypotheses, spelled out in this article.  However, the one consensus is that it is not a placebo effect.  For a detailed (and science-loaded) explanation of the effects of acupuncture on the body as well as a detailed overview of why it may be beneficial as an alternative treatment as opposed to overused and unwarranted medical practices, check out this page.

One area of interest to all of you working professionals may be the evidence that acupuncture helps alleviate lower back pain…one of the most common grievances of office workers today.  Sadly, sitting all day can wreak havoc on our body.  In addition, headaches are another super common complaint (due to our high-stress lives) that can be effectively treated through acupuncture.  Hooray!

Of course, we can’t forget stress.

If you are a professional in the modern-day world, chances are you have high levels of stress.  But guess what?  Stress is yet another condition that acupuncture has been shown to help, and we’re happy to bring the solution right to the source of the problem (i.e., your workplace!).

Through our corporate wellness programs, we offer both individual and group acupuncture services.  The best part?  If you’re apprehensive about needles, we have something for you too!  Ear seeds and/or acupressure can be used to achieve similar results.  

Have you ever had acupuncture done?  Let us know in the comments how you liked it!  And talk to your employer about setting up an acupuncture session for your team to relieve some of that modern-day stress.

#healingshandsmiami, #therapeuticmassage, #corporatewellness, #massage, #wellness, #servicespotlight, #healthylifestyle, #acupuncture

Massage For Seniors

As we age, our bodies slow down and begin to incur chronic ailments.  Thankfully, geriatric massage offers many benefits to senior citizens without the side effects present in medications they may be taking.

Studies show that consistent massages improve quality of life, help ease the muscle pain associated with arthritis, and are also a positive intervention for Alzheimer’s and dementia.  Research on hand massages for those suffering from dementia reported a consistent reduction in verbal aggression and nonaggressive behaviors.  

Compared to concern about the long-term effects (not to mention the cost) of the medications associated with the ailments that come with age, massage can be a relatively low-cost and low-risk intervention that can be taught to caregivers.

This is great news.  It means that geriatric massage is not only a positive for elderly patients, but it also empowers their caregivers and may reduce their stress as well!

There are slight differences between geriatric massage and regular massages.  Generally, geriatric massage requires shortened sessions and a lighter touch, as well as avoiding stretching techniques.  Senior skin tends to be somewhat drier and more sensitive, but with the application of a bit more oil or lotion, the skin can be rehydrated and therefore more pliable. 

Massage also helps reduce inflammation around the joints and can aid in healing from injuries.  Skilled touch can improve circulation of the lymphatic system and increase blood flow, thus reducing recovery time.  This natural therapy helps improve sleep and enhance quality of life, which can be crucial for an aging senior suffering from trouble sleeping or increased inflammation (both common symptoms as we age).

And of course, touch is essential for everyone – no matter the age, gender, or nationality.  Humans are social creatures; children who are touch-deprived do not thrive physically or emotionally.  Unfortunately, many seniors are also touch-deprived which can result in chronic anxiety and/or depression.  But in the gifted hands of one of our massage therapists, we will do our best to soothe away the aches and pains of advanced age with our healing hands.  

Do you know someone who could benefit from Geriatric Massage?  Send them our way!  😊

#healingshandsmiami, #therapeuticmassage, #corporatewellness, #massage, #wellness, #geriatricmassage, #servicespotlight, #aging, #aging well, #healthy aging