We are proud to present a Charity Fundraiser to benefit the Durham Chapel Hill Jewish Federation! We will offer Hair Cuts, Shampoo Styles, Roller Sets, Hair Styling and Chair Massage. All money collected will be given to the charity.

The Jewish Federation Family Services is a non-profit organization that provides social services and addresses needs of the entire community. Some of the services offered by the JFS are:

• Individual and family counseling by licensed clinical social workers on a sliding scale
• Support Groups
• Emergency Financial Assistance
• Older Adult Support and re-location guidance
• Feed the needy
• Provide clothing to the needy
• Support to other nonprofits locally
• Support groups
• Financial assistance
• Elderly support
• Family education workshops

When:                                                                                   Where:

Sunday                                                                                  Destenee Salon and Spa

January 31^st, 2010                                                                6118 Farrington Rd

12:00 PM – 5:00 PM                                                              Chapel Hill, NC 27517
www.desteneesalonandspa.com

Book at www.desteneesalonandspa.com

People that have jobs or hobbies that require a combination of repetitive wrist or finger motions are at an elevated risk of developing Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. Pinching, gripping or working with vibrating tools are examples of activities that can increase a person’s risk of developing Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. Furthermore, women are three times more likely than men to develop the syndrome. Other contributing factors to elevating the risk developing Carpal Tunnel Syndrome are age, weight and taking oral contraceptives.

There are several options for addressing Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. The massage option can be extremely effective and is considered the first option by many. A splint or brace can be used to minimize the movement in the wrist. This is not an option in most people because a repetitive movement is typically a necessary movement. If the movement is required to complete your job, it would be difficult to wear your brace and perform your job. For instance, if you were a massage therapist it would be extremely difficult to perform a quality massage wearing a splint or brace. There are steroids and non-steroidal drugs designed to treat the symptoms. These drugs can be effective at times, but can involve painful injections and side effects must be considered. When all else fails, there are surgical options. The endoscopic option is the least invasive and preferred, but when it isn’t an option the surgeon will perform an open incision surgery to relieve pressure on the median nerve.

The best way of stopping the development of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is by not performing the repetitive motion that caused the condition. This is not an option for some people because they can’t perform their job any other way. Massage therapy can be an excellent alternative for these people. Massage therapy can be used to treat existing symptoms or as a preventative measure to insure that Carpal Tunnel Syndrome doesn’t develop. As a preventative measure for a person in a high risk category it is recommended to set up a schedule with a massage professional that can be tailored to your specific situation. These schedules are typically on a monthly basis and incorporate a lot of range of movement into the massage. The massage professional may also provide the client with exercises to do at home between sessions. Massage therapy as an intervention will be scheduled more frequently. The sessions are typically set up weekly until a breakthrough in pain is achieved. During these sessions the massage professional will perform thorough strokes on the hand, wrist and forearm flexors. The massage professional may determine that the nerve is constricted where it leaves the spinal area. In this situation, it may be necessary to include the shoulder and upper back area in the massage treatment. Gentle range of motion exercises are also incorporated. The client will be given exercises to do between sessions and as pain subsides, sessions will become less frequent.

There is a growing trend towards massage therapy being the first option as treatment for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome and studies have shown a lot of success. More people are choosing to take medication as a last resort and most everyone elects surgery when all else fails. Massage may not be the answer for everyone’s situation, but given the high success rate it has achieved, massage therapy should be tried before jumping into a surgery. Book an appointment with a massage professional at www.desteneesalonandspa.com.

Please don’t forget to vote for us starting November 12th!

Swedish Massage is a systematic and scientific manipulation of the soft tissue of the body. This manipulation is performed to promote good health. There are five primary strokes involved in Swedish Massage. They are the effleurage, petrissage, friction, tapotement and vibration. Effleurage strokes are long flowing strokes that allow the therapist to spread the lubricant and feel the muscle tone. Petrissage is a kneading stroke that lifts and squeezes the tissue and it helps flush out metabolic waste in that area. Friction is a strokes that involves fast short movements to create heat. This is good to bring blood flow to that area and is great for loosening ligaments. Tapotement is a series of light blows to the body designed to relax a muscle. This is the stroke most people are familiar with and sometimes looks like alternating karate chops. Vibration is a stroke that is used to create movement in the entire body and when done properly, is very relaxing.

Deep Tissue is a series of slow, specific and deliberate strokes and is best suited for postural deviances and abnormal muscle tone. The Massage Therapist will choose between several strokes depending on the size of the muscle that they are working on. They will “hook in” and start a slow moving down the muscle as it lets them. A good Massage Therapist will never force pressure into the muscle. They will continue to apply pressure until the muscle pushes back against them. The muscle will then slowly begin to release and allow the therapist to move along it. The pressure used should not be painful, but should walk a fine line between pleasurable release of tension and a pain-blocking response from the body (tensing up). The standard misconception in Deep Tissue work is “No Pain, No Gain”. This is simply not true. Pain causes the muscle to tense up and actually makes the massage less effective.

Unless you have an injury to a specific muscle or have postural concerns, I recommend you book for a Swedish Massage. You should communicate with your therapist about how much pressure you like. It is much more difficult to ascertain how much pressure a client needs in Swedish Massage than in Deep Tissue. Some clients have expressed that they don’t ask for more pressure because they feel like they are asking the Therapist to work harder. This is not the case. A Massage Therapist will use proper body mechanics to use leverage instead of strength to apply pressure. Our Therapist want you to have the best experience possible. To achieve this goal requires education and communication. Never be afraid to ask a Massage Therapist to back off of pressure or to apply more.

Book your next massage at Destenee Salon and Spa!

Aside from the general advantages massage offers, there are certain qualities that abdominal massage offers that are unique to it. The abdomen is an area that is often overlooked in massage. Some therapists will simply perform a few light strokes over the area. Other therapists may avoid the area all together. The abdomen is a very important area and needs specific attention. Massage in this area improves the oxygenated blood supply to organs. This stimulates the liver, gall bladder and pancreas allowing the release of metabolic waste products. Massage in this region aids in proper digestion and relieves constipation. By strengthening weak and relaxed abdominal muscles, it can take strain off of the lower back. A massage therapist can release deep muscle tissue spasms and help align pelvic bones.

Women have certain benefits from abdominal massage that are gender specific. This massage has shown to alleviate painful periods and ovulation. It has also helped correct irregular menstrual cycles and ease symptoms of PMS. Some studies show that abdominal massage can be helpful with the symptoms of Endometriosis.

There are a few gender specific benefits for men. The abdominal massage ensures full blood circulation to the prostate and prevents swelling and inflammation. Abdominal massage has also shown to help alleviate the need to urinate frequently.

The abdomen is an area of the body where vital organs are located. It is the area responsible for digestion, reproduction and elimination. It is the core of the human body and should not be neglected in your massage routine.

I suggest a combination of “at home care” and “professional skin care” through the fall and winter. We carry a great at home skin care line through Yon Ka, but you can save some money and make an exfoliante at home. It may not give the same results, but it will help a lot. My favorite formula is a mix of essential oils mixed with sea salt.

The Essential Oils I recommend is a mix of equal parts:
• Sweet almond oil
• Safflower seed oil
• Sunflower seed oil
• Lavender oil
• Grape seed oil
• Avocado oil
• Green tea leaf extract
• St. John’s Wort extract
• Apricot kernel oil
• Oil from Vitamin E capsules

I would highly encourage the use of Yon Ka’s Le Baume as a moisturizer. It is a moisturizer as well as an anti-oxidant. It is loaded with 5 plant butters, 3 essential oils, 5 balsamic resins and 3 vegetable and fruit oils. It deeply nourishes the skin with ingredients used in traditional Ayurvedic medicine.

I would also suggest setting up a series of 6 Alpha Beta Peels. Try to schedule them every 7-10 days for optimal results. This will create an improvement in your skin’s texture and tone. You will notice a reduction of fine lines and an increase in your skin’s glow and radiance. This treatment is ideal for acne, scarring, and hyper-pigmentation. Always acclimate your skin at least two weeks prior to your first peel. Use a cleanser or lotion containing a mild level of the effective ingredient in your peel.

Ladies, if you start now, your skin will be in top condition for the Holiday Season. You’ll look great in all of the low back, sexy dress styles.