With the busy holiday season fast approaching, our massage business located in San Jose, Ca. near Santana Row, decided to do something a little special this year. We now offer massage gift cards. Massage gift cards are the perfect gift for those individuals on your holiday list or any occasion that are hard to buy for.  Why, because just about everyone suffers from stress, whether it is physical or emotional, help someone cope with their stress much easier this holiday by giving them a massage gift card.

Right after Thanksgiving, our seasonal stress begins.  “According to the American Institute of Stress, more than 110 million Americans take medication for stress related causes each week.” Why become a number in this statistics?

We talk about giving out massage gift cards for the holiday but our massage business, RPM Therapy is implementing gift cards because we think that the concept of gift cards make sense to our business. We already have the options to buy massage gift certificates online through Paypal and have a printable version emailed to the recipient. You can also prepay for your massage sessions online through Paypal as well.

Why You Should Purchase Massage Gift Cards:

• Perfect gift for that “hard to shop” individual
• Massage Cards are re-loadable
• Convenient and easy to use
• Perfect staff gift or Employee Incentive

Eventually at RPM Therapy we would like to see some kind of internet system that would allow you to purchase massage gift cards for any dollar amount right from our website and have it mailed to you or the recipient. Our massage gift card program is brand new, but once we get it going we may offer special promotions for gift cards holders, i.e. buy a $125 gift card for $100. Or how about being able to re-load your massage gift card right from your computer so that you never need to bring any credit cards, checks or cash with you when you come for your massage appointment, great or bad idea?

We would like to hear from you, what are your thoughts about gift cards? And what can RPM Therapy do to make it more special for you. We like to know how we can make this successful, did you come across a website that offers massage gift cards or massage gift certificates that you really enjoyed using, if so please let us know, we would love to hear from you. We are located at 3097 Moorpark Avenue in San Jose, California, near Santana Row and Valley Fair Mall.

As many of you know, RPM Therapy, over the last 5 years have really gotten into giving back to our community and helping with several charities.  We are now helping promote friends and family with their charities and if you feel any of these are close to your heart, please help them! Karma is an amazing and powering thing!

Our dear friend and client Margie Alejandro is participating in a Walk to Fight Diabetes.  This charity is dear to us since Diabetes has affected both Robert’s mother and my parents.    I am pre-dispose to diabetes and on daily basis I fight it.  Because both my parents are Diabetics, I’ve always been aware of my changes of eventually developing it.  My biological father has also passed away from this disease.

There are 2 basic steps can help you stay on top of your Diabetes concerns: Exercise and Nutrition.  Having a proper balance can help not only help prevent and manage Diabetes but many other diseases.  Start by taking small steps and changing minor habits.  Take walks, or use the stairs instead of the elevator.  Choose fruits instead of Chips.  Try going to bed early by 5 minutes on a daily basis. Invest in yourself and your health!

We truly believe in Margie and thank her for her commitment to help find cure.  No matter how small or large, your generous gift will help improve the lives of the more than 20 million Americans who suffer from diabetes and another 54 million people with pre-diabetes, in the hope that future generations can live in a world without this disease. The funds they raise will support the American Diabetes Association.

Visit her personal page to donate or to join her Walk Team.

Today I write rather puzzled in regards to our economy.  I must admit that I’m not a morning person nor do I love waking up to NEWS on the TV.  Unfortunately, there isn’t much control to this aspect since my boyfriend loves to see “what’s going” as he puts it.  The last few weeks, I’ve noticed even though I don’t want to, how many “accidents, homicides, and hit-n-runs” there have been in the Bay Area.

Have you stopped to wonder what’s going on?  I mean, there is always bad news in the media.  Why would it impact me so much more now than it did before?  I pondered this question for a full day and realized one simple concept.  We as people are letting our circumstances get to us.

Circumstances can have many masks.  Some call it financial difficulties; others may say it’s a relationship issue or better yet, our government.  The only thing I know that we all have control over is OURSELVES.  You can have the power to change your mood, your perception as well as your outcome.

So how does all this tie into my first paragraph? It’s quite simple. It’s a domino effect.  The hardship we are experiencing in our lives due to our “circumstances” put so much STRESS and pressure upon us that our inner-being is in pain.  We start living each day as a haze.  One day fades into the next.  We get into our cars in this manner and soon enough, something happens to WAKE us up.

Recently, an elderly woman was fatally struck by a vehicle as she was on her way to get more supplies for her granddaughter’s birthday.  A 4 year old was fatally struck as he played.  A councilman in Fairfield age 21 years young was gun down.  Two different incidents like this happened in Oakland two weeks ago.

SLOW DOWN PEOPLE- literally and figuratively.  Live is busy, but we have to take each day at a time.  The economy is not going to improve anytime soon and as soon as we can realize that fact and learn to do our best with it, it will become easier.  The emotional stress that is put on our bodies from daily stressor can harm our decision making process. Get a massage, our massage business RPM Therapy is a perfect solution to life’s craziness.

I’m not saying that all the incidents are due to someone having a bad day, or that getting regular massages would help any but wouldn’t you admit that if things were going better or at least if “they” changed their attitudes towards their circumstances, lots of lost lives would have been spared?

Written by Doreen Jattan Owner of Roman Paradigm Massage

Have you ever had a cavity that became so painful that you needed to seek a dentist for pain relief? Did you feel it coming on? Most likely not, muscle pain and dysfunction is very similar in nature, you may not feel it initially until the pain becomes so great, that you seek a doctor for an explanation and all he or she does is prescribe pain killers and muscle relaxants.

Muscle pain and dysfunction begins much earlier than when you begin to feel it, because it is an accumulation of muscles becoming “stuck” to one another and because your nervous system as a job uses only 10% for pain sensory. Your muscle fibers are to slide against one another for contracting and releasing as we move throughout the day. Pain and dysfunction within the muscle structure occurs as a result of these fibers not having the freedom to move and slide freely, altering your natural movements.

There are many reasons why this occurs, you will find below just some of them.

• Overuse syndromes- these are probably the most common, repetitive strain injuries happen so often because they are job related in most cases.

• Sports injuries- if you play sports and do not stretch often, you will be subject to muscles becoming tight, overworked or traumatize by the high impact of physical activity or a fall.

• Car accidents- car accidents often cause more pain and dysfunction that what you initially feel or become aware of. An automobile is built to take a slow 5 to 10 mph crash, this is not necessarily true for your body. Even in a low impact accident a person’s soft tissue can be damaged. The back and neck are the usual problem spots for soft tissue injuries.

• A lack of sleep- your body isn’t healing properly during your deep sleep (non-REM sleep). This prevents your brain from getting the deep restorative sleep it needs to generate enough growth hormones. And it is the growth hormones that your body needs to keep muscles healthy.

A knowledgeable deep tissue massage specialist can do so much for each of these problems.

The primary goal for deep tissue massage experts is better posture, decrease of pain symptoms, increased flexibility and fluid movements. These are the very things that are impacted by the above list.

Deep tissue massage specialists are trained to look for these kinds of restrictions and improper muscle movements, even before you may become of aware it. A professional deep tissue massage therapists will utilize many different styles of massage that you will not receive with a spa that hires massage therapists with very little skill or know how.

A knowledgeable therapist has many massage techniques from which he will use on you to help you regain normal muscle function and decrease pain. Massage techniques such as cross-fiber friction, muscle stripping techniques, anchor and stretch, active release techniques and stretching. All these different techniques are muscle lengthening strokes and are designed to alleviate restrictive or stuck muscles that alter normal muscle function.

RPM Therapy is here to help

We are not a Spa, our massage work is therapeutic. Your massage session with us will address these muscle and pain dysfunctions that can only be corrected by deep muscle work. Doreen Jattan, John Dodson, Roger Kittle, Andrea Naugle and me (Robert Vignoli), we all take pride in helping you live an active and full life free from pain and dysfunction.

Aeriol Ascher is our relaxation expert she combines Reiki, hot stones and aromatherapy for those of you looking for that spa-like massage. Even though our massage is therapeutic and deep, you will feel much more relaxed after your session with us. The reason for this is simple, a muscle that is tight and restricted cannot ever be or feel relaxed when it is constantly at work even when you are resting.

To book your massage with us click here for our online massage scheduler, we now offer massage gift cards, thank you. Also if you please share this blog post across your social networking websites we would appreciated it very much.

Pregnancy brings great joy to everyone’s life that is impacted by it.  There are some disadvantages towards being pregnant.  Constant visits to the restroom and eventually the large belly putting pressure on vital organs and of course the pain created from the physical change that occurs to the body.  The smallest things that didn’t matter much before pregnancy become very noticeable with pregnancy such as taking hot baths during the first trimester, or lying on your back during mid-trimester.  Below you will find much needed information in regards to massage and your body.

What is prenatal massage?

Overall health, reduce stress, and relieve muscle tension are just a few things pregnant women can look forward to during their massages. Prenatal massage care can give pregnant women an alternative means of taking care of their pain and discomfort without medication. Prenatal massage therapy should be given careful consideration.

Should you lie on your stomach if you can?

Many professionals consider the best position for a pregnant woman during massage is side-lying. This is best only because lying face-down puts pressure on the tender breasts during the first trimester but most importantly, during the mid-trimester, the weight of the uterus puts too much pressure on the vein that returns blood from the legs to the heart. Tables that provide a hole in which the uterus can fit may not be reliable and can still apply pressure to the abdomen, or allow the abdomen to dangle, causing uncomfortable stretching of the uterine ligaments. Do talk to your massage therapist before your first appointment to confirm what method they use during their prenatal massages.

Most therapists have lots of comfy pillows to have the belly and breasts supported well.  I normally give pregnant women choices between a side-lying position or a Prego-pillow designed for women in the mid to late trimester which allows them to lay face-down.

Will prenatal massage help you?

Prenatal massage has many benefits.  From low back pain to possibly reducing chronic headaches.  Massage does decrease stress and promote relaxation, helping you cope with discomfort because carrying a baby changes your center of gravity and puts enormous amounts of stress on your back, neck, abdominal, and shoulders.   Pregnancy also relaxes your ligaments for birthing so your pelvic is less stable. This changes your posture and pulls your pelvis forward.  The baby weight upfront also pulls the body forward arching the lowback causing pain.

It’s always good to tell where your pains are but if your therapist is trained well, he/she will be aware of majority of them.

How do you find a great therapist?

Word of mouth is very powerful so ask your friends and family.  Local health practitioners are great resources or www.Yelp.com.  Make sure you ask all the questions you have before booking your session.

How much should a prenatal massage cost?

Depending on where you live, prices can range from as low as $50 to $120 an hour.  Most of the time, pregnancy massages cost just a little more than regular sessions because of the work involve in setting up and breaking down the massage tables and therapists are required to take additional classes to be knowledgeable to perform this technique.  Ask your doctor to prescribe treatments and see if your therapist will accept it.

Are there specific techniques I should look for?

Even though many pregnant women are advised to get Swedish or light work, trigger point therapy to release tensed muscle is a great technique if used by a trained therapists.  Don’t get scared about pressure.  Your therapist should know exactly which areas to avoid.

Are there any kinds of complications during or after the massage?

Just avoid massages in any area where there are any blood clots or any bone fracture.  Also avoid massage if you have skin injury or any condition which will irritate your skin by rubbing. Other than that, you should be fine.

Will the baby feel the massage as well?

I have given massages to pregnant women and have felt the baby move and respond.  The unborn child does respond to touch even before it is born.  This is good news for fathers because even if you don’t get regular massages, a loving touch to the belly is comforting to you and the baby.  Try bonding with the baby this way.

This article was contributed by Doreen Jattan