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5 Ways to Make Your Office Chair Suck A Little Less

June 7th, 2010 .
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As seen on Unplggd.com

041210-chair.JPG Unless you have a pocket full of cash, picking up an office chair that embodies the words attractive and comfortable can feel a little like a dream. Instead of spending your days pining away for a new one, try jazzing up the one you’ve got and see if it lifts your spirits until one day, your dreams come true.


1. Add New Wheels: It doesn’t matter if your office chair is old or new, most have wheels to make movement around the room easy. Changing them up can make for smoother gliding, plus add a bit of color. If your chair doesn’t have wheels, now is a great time to add them. There’s all sorts and sizes and sure to be a perfect match no matter what your aesthetic is.

2. Spray Paint It: Although the idea of busting out a can of spray paint on an office chairs sounds a little ruthless, there are specific paints for the job making the results lasting ones. You can purchase paint for fabrics, plastics and more. They don’t wear off, chip or flake and are a great alternative for one that has seen better days.

3. Reupholster It: We’ve talked before about reupholstering this piece of furniture. It’s not as tricky as you might thing and can actually have super-star results. You can match the look to other fabrics in the room, creating a cohesive look that can bring your space together in a snap.

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4. Pillow/Lumbar Support: Some chairs just don’t quite cut it when it comes to actual support. That doesn’t mean they are worn per se, it just means the way you sit in them isn’t really doing much for you. Personally we use a vintage molded Herman Miller chair and although it looks great, man it sucks for support. We have a pillow that switches back and forth from behind the back to under our bum. Although it’s not an attractive option (which we move when company comes over), it’s a $7 solution that works just fine!

5. Footrest: Often times, chairs either aren’t adjustable or don’t adjust and still work with the height of your desk (if you want to tuck the arms under when you are through). Try adding a footrest to take the pressure off your knees and ankles, making your chair feel brand new and like an old baseball glove, broken in and still going strong!

Making the Most of Your Massage: Questions To Ask

May 13th, 2010 .
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If you’ve been reading our blog for a while (many thanks!) you know the questions that massage therapists often ask their clients. But what kind of questions should you ask when you come in for a session?

What can I do to maximize the benefits of my massage?

Have you ever had a fantastic massage session only to have pain come back in a few days? Part of the problem is formed habits: After we walk outside, our shoulders go up to our ears. We carry really heavy bags on one shoulder. We cram our feet into uncomfortable shoes. We hunch forward and hold our wrists at a strange angle to type out our daily emails. The most amazing thing about chronic pain is how simple it is to avoid in its early stages. Ask your therapist this question and don’t be afraid to give their advice a try!

What are some good exercises to try between sessions?

There’s a lot we can do between massages to increase and lengthen the results of your sessions. Engage your massage therapist concerning movements (or maybe even postural changes) that you can try out at home or the gym. As Swedish Institute graduates, we were taught a lot about what exercises can help target specific muscle groups to have the greatest impact.

What products do you use in your practice?

Some spas or practices use products containing harsh chemicals or preservatives, such as parabens. If you have sensitive skin or any allergies, it’s important to ask your massage therapists what kind of products they use.  We stick to Sweet Almond Oil with Organic Lavender, or simple and moisturizing Grapeseed Oil for our sessions.

I would like to become more healthy. Is there any treatment we could try to help me with this goal?

Whether you are trying to become more healthy, flexible, or energetic, your massage therapist can assist you in reaching your goals. Massage therapists are trained in various exercises, stretches, and techniques that won’t just change the way you feel but the way you look at movement and your body.

I would like to try some complimentary therapies. Do you know of anyone in the area?

A good massage therapist is well connected in their local community! Massage Williamsburg recommends specific acupuncturists, yoga instructors, personal trainers, and even chiropractors. Just have a conversation with your therapist about what you would like to do, and he or she will send you in the right direction.

FAQs: Do I Have Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?

May 10th, 2010 .

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: the bane of every office worker and overworked musician around the globe. But what is it, and how can one be so sure that their wrist and hand discomfort is carpal tunnel syndrome?

The “carpal tunnel” in the name refers to the area in the wrist where the median nerve—which enables your hand to move and feel sensation—and your hand muscles run together in a big cable-like grouping. If overused the muscles can squeeze the median nerve, which causes pain and numbness in the middle, ring, and pinky fingers. This numbness is one of the things doctors look for when diagnosing CTS. You can also experience tingling in your hand if you have carpal tunnel, especially at night.

There are other conditions that mimic CTS that could cause similar discomfort. If the numbness presents on the forearm as well as the hand, it could be something called Thoracic Outlet Syndrome, where there is pressure on your shoulder’s brachial nerve. Both CTS and Thoracic Outlet Syndrome can be attributed to overuse or repetitive strain of the muscles in your arm.

The good news, is that massage therapy can be an effective tool in both treating and preventing carpal tunnel syndrome.  Your therapist can use stretches and other techniques during your session to relieve pain and tension in your hands, restoring much needed circulation to your arms. Here at Massage Williamsburg we use White Flower Oil on inflamed muscles to help ease pressure on the sensitive nerves in your arm. And valuable advice from your massage therapist can aid you in managing CTS—and show you ways to prevent it from happening.

As always, if you think you have CTS, or any other condition involving numbness and pain, consult your health care professional. And if you can’t go right away, here are some things to try to soothe your injury in the meantime.

  • Use heat to relax tight muscles that may be putting pressure on the nerves in your arm.
  • If you use a computer everyday, make sure your hands are in neutral position—not flexed up nor down. Keep your shoulders away from your ears, too.
  • Try this stretch: Turn your outstretched hand palm up, placing your other hand across the fingers. Pull the stretching hand down and back towards you. This opens up the carpal tunnel! Switch hands and repeat.

Happy Mother’s Day from Massage Williamsburg

May 8th, 2010 .

Libby, Rachel's Mom with Neice Hannah

We’d like to take this moment to thank all of our Mothers who’ve supported us, nurtured us, and helped us to grow. We couldn’t have been where we are today without you. Wishing you a Very Happy Mother’s Day to all of the moms of Massage Williamsburg! We love you very much!

- Rachel Beider

5 Yoga Moves You Should Know

May 6th, 2010 .
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Plank: Build strength in those arms by putting yourself in Plank position. From Cat and Cow, put your feet straight back behind you. You should be in a push-up position—this is Plank! Stay here for a few seconds, making sure your feet, pelvis, and torso are all one straight line.

Cat and Cow: Come to all fours on your mat (hands and knees). First try Cat—arch your back towards the ceiling, looking into your navel. Now comes Cow, where you arch towards the floor this time, and bring your head up to look ahead of you. Do this as many times as feels right, timing your breath as you go.

Downward Dog: This is probably one yoga pose you’ve seen before if you’ve ever watched workout TV! From Plank position, simply push your hips to the sky.

Try to keep those hips up while pushing your feet back to the earth. If this is too rough for you, you can bend your knees a tad. Keep your shoulders as far from your ears as you can!

Pigeon: Great for stretching hamstrings and hip extensors! From Downward Dog, send one of your feet up to your hands. Lean forward for a lunge. Right now you should look like a track runner. Supporting yourself on strong arms and your back foot, place your forward leg on its side. Take the support away and let yourself down over that front leg. More advanced tip: Bring your back leg up by bending your knee – this is the goal to strive towards.

Chair: Take yourself out of pigeon by going to hands and knees (and repeating the routine over again from Cat and Cow to Downward Dog). Now step one foot forward, then the other. Keeping your legs bent, come up to standing but ‘sit back’ a little, as if you were about to sit in a seat. Stay here, and raise your arms to feel the energy coursing through those quad muscles!

FAQ: Can Massage Complement Acupuncture Treatments?

May 3rd, 2010 .
According to The Beijing Journal of Acupuncture and Tui Na Science, acupuncturists often use techniques you see in Western-style massage such as effleurage, and pressing strokes to examine the body’s responses to movement on the meridians. The meridians are the series of points on the body that your acupuncturist applies their treatment, usually in the form of needles. Acupuncturists also use massage techniques to locate these points. While acupuncture may treat specific conditions, such as allergies or a cold, massage therapy can treat circulatory and muscular issues which conditions tend to stress.
Receiving massage therapy in addition to acupuncture can actually maximize the benefits of that session. All New York state massage therapists are trained to identify acupuncture points and meridians, also used in Shiatsu. With this training they can use their own bodywork style to go hand in hand with your acupuncturist’s treatment plan.
Margaret Hallisey is one of our awesome community acupuncturists here in Williamsburg. Contact her at margarethallisey@yahoo.com for how to achieve wellness using both acupuncture and massage therapy!

Why Stretching Works

April 29th, 2010 .
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When you get up in the morning, you lift your arms towards the ceiling, take a deep inhale and stretch. After a long day at the work, you stand up from your desk, move your arms, wrists and back, and stretch. Go to bed, relax into your sheets, and stretch out your arms and legs. Stretching seems instinctual to do, but why does it feel so good? And how does it help the body?
Simple! In the attachments of each muscle, there are receptors called Golgi Tendon Organs, or “GTOs”. These receptors relax a stretched muscle so it won’t overstretch or tear. With time, good stretching takes advantage of golgi tendon organs, lengthening muscle while still keeping its integrity. This causes improved range of motion and flexibility!
So what are the downsides of not stretching regularly? Short, tight muscles for starters, and also ischemia—this occurs when a muscle is so tight and stressed that blood circulation through the muscle body is disturbed – it can cause Trigger Points, Adhesions (knots), tension and pain.

Stretching is a wonderful tool because it’s something at the very core of our wellness, and it only takes minutes to do! Try some of these, our favorite stretches:

Glutes Stretch

Lay on your back with your knees bent and feet planted firmly on the ground. Position your right leg so that the bottom of the ankle is resting on the knee of the left leg. Bring your legs toward your chest and feel the stretch in your glute muscles and hip. Hold it for a few deep breaths, and then release. Repeat on the other leg.

Pectoral Stretch

Find an open door or the edge of a wall. Raise your arm and place it there, bending your elbow to 90 degrees. Now lean forward a little. Feel that pull in your chest and shoulder? Those are your pectoral muscles, or “pecs”. Do this a few times on both sides to reward those tired, tight muscles.

Latissimus Stretch

Go near a table, your desk, or you bed (if it’s high enough). Brace yourself with the hand closest to the table top and place your faraway leg behind the leg closest to the table. Raise your faraway arm over your head. This is stretching your latissimus dorsi (your “lats”) and it’s great for everyone! Do a few seconds and then switch sides. Great!

Tendonitis: What You Need To Know

April 26th, 2010 .
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Tendonitis is the inflammation of a tendon, which can appear as pain, redness and swelling at the affected area. Usually the condition brings pain to the entire joint where the tendon connects.

Tendonitis happens because of overuse. Overusing a tendon—for example, typing for hours at your desk, thrashing your guitar for hours, or doing repeated movements in a sport, can create very tiny tears in muscles and tendons. Some tears, which are normal, are collectively called microtrauma. Microtrauma that is unaddressed, or done in excess, can lead to tendonitis.

How can massage help? Massage is a helpful tool for relieving the tension and pain associated with tendonitis. Massage increases bloodflow to your body’s tendon attachment areas – so not only will a relaxing session with your therapist be good for stress, but also for the tension and inflammation linked to tendonitis. Also, talk with your therapist either before or after a session to learn how you can maximize the effects of massage on your injury.

How can you avoid tendonitis? Proper rest, hydration, and also stretching can be good weapons in the fight against tendonitis. Be more aware of how you hold your hands when you are doing everyday activities, like typing and exercising. If your job is a little ‘technology intensive’, make small changes to your workspace. Get a mouse pad with a hand rest for the tendons in your wrist. Make sure your chair is not too high or too low.

As always, if you’re concerned about tendonitis, consult with your doctor for more information.

Happy Earth Day!

April 22nd, 2010 .
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Take a moment today to celebrate Earth Day Today! Plant a Square Foot Garden, invest in Green products for your home, start a recycling program at your office. How you celebrate Earth Day is up to you! Do something good for the planet and yourself today.

Eating Seasonally: Foods to Look For

April 19th, 2010 .
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Eating locally and for the season isn’t just good for the environment, it’s also good for you. The nutrients and vitamins our bodies need can change according to the temperature outside. Plus shopping Spring foods can be a whole lot of fun! Here’s a list of foods to be on the lookout for at your local market.

Asparagus

Chard

Cilantro

Kale

Spinach

Radishes

Beets

Carrots

Navy beans

Okay, bought some new provisions but not sure on how to prepare them? Check out Laurel’s Blog, Tofu Robotics for some seasonal ideas. Here’s a great vegetarian recipe for Spinach and Soba Noobles with Lemon-Ginger Dressing.

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