Q&A with Mantis Therapist, Laura Ann Gilpin!

Laura is an excellent deep-tissue therapist. She specializes in myofascial release and deep therapy. She's also really cool. And now you can know more about her!

Q What are your favorite things about being a massage therapist?

A The best part of being a therapist is helping people find relief from their pain.  I love to make people feel better and see them leave with a smile on their face!  Everyone uses their body differently, has their own story and history, and so I am constantly challenged to think creatively to address a wide variety of issues.  It's like being an anatomical detective! Every single day I learn and grow through my time with my clients and feel blessed to have found massage.

Q What's your favorite music to listen to when you're giving a massage?

A Lately I have been listening to some great playlists that my fellow therapists created, which are a nice mix of mellow and upbeat.  But Iron and Wine, Bon Iver, Fleet Foxes, Belle and Sebastian, Tycho, Royksopp and Polica.never let me down!

Q Do you have a favorite technique that a therapist has used when you have received a massage? Or what is your favorite area to have massaged?

A I love love love slow deep tissue work that borders on myo fascial release.  Also, Body Mobilization Techniques, which is a fancy way of saying moving a body part around while engaging a muscle to aid in its release.  Like most people who battle gravity with their posture, my neck and shoulders are always in need of attention!  And, of course, as a therapist my hands and forearms need a lot of work.  My legs too.  And my glutes.  And my feet.  Ok, so everything is my favorite.

Q Health is pretty important to you. Where is your favorite place to have a healthy meal in Austin? What is your favorite place to work out?

A Right now my fave place for a light but filling and uber-healthy meal is Beets Cafe off of West 5th St.  It is a great raw-vegan restaurant that makes you re-think the whole cooked food concept.  My bike is my fave place to workout and have adventures!  But I also adore the Townlake YMCA, it is such a fun and friendly neighborhood gym.

Q Do you have a favorite way that you stay active?

A Bikes and dancing!  

Q You're really strong and you do many massages each day. How do you keep up your energy?

A God bless nuts and seeds and almond butter.  Also, breathing is important.  I find if I use Yogic breathing it not only reminds my client to breath through the work, but revitalizes me as well. Never underestimate the power of hydration, either.

Q How do you take care of yourself after a massage?

AWater water and more water.  Drinking it but also soaking in the hot and bubbly variety ;) 

Q What did you want to be when you were growing up? How does that translate to what you do now?

A Like many young girls I was obsessed with Dolphins and the world underwater in general.  My favorite movie was (is?) 'The Little Mermaid.'  My mother asked me at the age of 10 what I wanted to be when I grew up and I replied in earnest, "Either a Dolphin trainer or a Marine Biologist."  I'm not really sure how that translates into what I do now, except perhaps both have an element of caring for or helping the world outside myself and (at least in my 10 year old mind) neither involved spending my life in an office.

Why drinking water before a massage is probably better than hydrating after

"Lots and lots of water for the next couple of days" is something we say a lot after a massage. But it would probably be more effective to tell you to drink lots and lots of water BEFORE your next massage. 

See, water after a massage is pretty effective. It helps the kidneys processs the various toxins moving through the body. It helps keep the muscles nice and pliable. But having the muscles super pliable would be much more useful when we're actually trying to manipulate them!

Has your therapist ever told you that you're dehydrated? How can she tell? Well, when muscles are really healthy and hydrated, they feel like play-dough fresh out of a brand new package. We can really grab on to them and move them around. But if you have kids, you know that when play-dough loses even a little bit of moisture it becomes much more difficult to manipulate. The same thing happens to muscles! We can get so much more done in a massage if the muscles are nice and hydrated.

So next time you're looking forward to a massage, remember to get plenty of water in your system and you might leave feeling even better!

Want to read more of us comparing anatomy to child craft supplies? Read our blog post about fascia!

Where did we get our name?

Well, we're almost done celebrating our birthday month. It's been fun! Thanks everyone for coming in and celebrating with us! Remember, there's still time if you haven't made it in yet.

Over the last few weeks, folks have been asking us how things are going. A question that comes up a lot is about our name. It is a bit unusual. A bug. Not exactly relaxing. And let's be clear that I knew nothing about the female mantis eating the male after mating. That's weird. And we got some funny calls.

See, the praying mantis has a reputation in eastern philosophy for being very calm and still. It's a word that makes you think of relaxation. They can sit in one posture for hours. These are all things that follow the classic massage reputation. 

But the praying mantis is also incredibly viscious. They can sit still and grab a butterfly in mid-air and swallow it in ONE GULP! That's intense. And kind of surprising.

We feel like we are kind of the same way. We eschew the whole spa-type relaxation theme and prefer to really get in to the anatomy and "attack" the tension. We're sweet and soft spoken but we can beat you up if you want us to. You'll feel better. We promise.

Kyra Gerhard

Owner/Therapist

Lactic Acid and Muscle Recovery

The soreness you feel after a rigorous workout or a challenging yoga class is actually a buildup of lactic acid that can inhibit performance and recovery.

The body produces lactic acid when you burn carbs for energy. It builds up in the muscles and temporarily restricts movement. This is your body's way of protecting the muscle and ensuring that it doesn't overextend or work to the point of failure. It's helpful. But it doesn't know when it's outstayed it's welcome.

That's where massage comes in! With deep muscle techniques, we get into the muscle tissue and lengthen the fibers. This helps with fascia buildup and muscle flexibility. But it also helps to increase circulation. Lactic acid is also called blood lactate. Unlike proteins, it's not stored on the strands of the muscle but in the blood. With greater elasticity and increased circulatory function, the body is able to efficiently flush lactic acid from the muscles so you can move more freely and improve your performance.

Pain Between the Shoulders? Release the Rib Cage!

Pain between the shoulder blades is one of the most common patterns we see. It is often on both sides and difficult to pinpoint the source of the pain. It may be dull or stabbing. Some even describe it as an electrical feeling. 

Commonly, therapists will release the fascia in that area, activate the trigger points, and strip the bellies of the romboids and traps. This is all very helpful for releasing the tension in that area. But that's usually not the only tension causing the pain. The ribs that attach between T3 and T7 have muscles between them called intercostals. When leaning forward (as we often do while driving, working at the computer, looking at our smartphones, or biking) the intercostals in the upper ribs bear extra weight while simultaneously being compressed. This causes inflammation in the area which affects all of the other muscles attaching to the thoracic spine. Hence, the pain pattern pictured above.

To release the ribs, we'll position you in a way that creates extra space between them. This is often a side-lying position. We'll use myofascial techniques to release the fascia in the area and then we'll strip the intercostals while looking for active trigger points. The result will be increased mobility in the rib cage, and over time, a decrease in inflammation in the area.

Try out our resident rib cage expert Laura, to have your mid back pain assessed and managed. Just remember to maintain that space between the ribs by stretching the rib cage a couple times throughout the day. Camel Pose and Side Angle Pose are excellent ways to do this.

May 2013 MASSAGE PLAYLIST

Lose yourself in the sunshine with this collection of summertime songs.

You'll find the link to listen to this playlist on Spotify at the bottom of the page!

Sun, Arise! / Phosphorescent

Transient Life in Twilight / James Blacksha

Bop Bop / Mean Lady

Why did we Fire the Gun? / Waldeck

Pacing / Julianna Barwick

Gold Tone / Kurt Vile

Fool of Me (feat. Chet Faker) / Say Lou Lou

Chancellor / Gordon Downie

I / Mark Kozelek

Mountain Crave / Anna Von Hausswolff

Alma / Mark McGuireFar Away / Mean Lady

Search for Me in theWastelands / Emeralds

Maraqopa / Damien Jurado

Desire / Dems

Old Dreams / Hayden

The Bird / Cassandra Jenkins

Out of Air / Broken Twin

Retrograde / James Blake

Old Beauty/Du Kan Nu Do / Anna Von Hausswolff

Marlene / Jackson C. Frank

For 12 / Other Lives

If I've Been Unkind / Lanterns on the Lake

Who Needs Who / Dark Dark Dark

Mayflower / The Glands

Sandusky / Uncle Tupelo

Too Hard / Kurt Vile

The Ghost on the Shore / Lord Huron

Find it of Use / Radiation City

Plastic Cup / Low

Dreamt for Light Years in the Belly of a Mountain / Sparklehorse

The Fountain / Future Islands

Colombia / Local Natives

Exile Vilify / The National

Just My Luck / Dawes

Shadow the Wonder of Life Prevails / Mark Kozelek & Jimmy LaValle

Click here to listen to the playlist!

Is Your Job Killing You?

Most of us spend a good portion of our day seated at a desk. When you consider that, the above infographic is pretty alarming. But what do we do? Quit our jobs?

Well, many of you have heard me say that I think it's better to make your body fit your life, and not the other way around.

As I'm writing this, I'm waiting on a skydiving instructor who would almost certainly stop feeling pain in his arms if he quit teaching humans how to fly. I've had many musicians say that their doctor told them to stop playing music so that their tendonitis would disappear. But if we can't play music and jump out of planes (or make a decent paycheck at a company that offers great benefits) then what's left?

Any recurring task is going to cause tension in your body. But that's what we do! We learn a trade. We study it. We do it over an over. We get really good at it. We work hard. It's a career!

So how can we make sure that the thing that fulfills us isn't also killing us? Well, there are some great tips for combatting the effects of sitting in this infographic. I've also posted some great office stretches on our Facebook page. Massage can also help to offset the toll your job takes on your body.

One of the main muscles affected by sitting is the psoas. Using active release, we can help to keep the psoas lengthened even if it's staying contracted at your day job. By using trigger point therapy in the glutes and QLs, we can ensure that the attachment sites are allowing those muscles to move freely and that they're not being held sedentary by fascia. (You can learn more about fascia in our previous blog post.) We can also do the same for the upper back and neck movement muscles which are usually affected when we're leaning forward over a computer.

So get to work! Just remember to get up, stretch your legs (and neck, arms, back, shoulders and hips) and get a massage regularly to keep you tuned up!

April 2013 Massage Playlist

Songs for bare feet, lighter hearts, and sunny afternoons.

You'll find the link to listen to this playlist on Spotify at the bottom of the page!

Kaddish / Secret Mountains

Vital / Grouper

Shadows On Parade / Laura Gibson

Into The Black / Chromatics

Grapefruit / Simon Joyner

Random Rules / Silver Jews

Pyotr / Bad Books

Two Weeks / Grizzly Bear

Judgement / French Quarter

The Book of Love / The Magnetic Fields

Longevity / Tiny Victories

Me and Jon Hanging on / Mac Demarco

Breath of Fire / Stephen Steinbrink

Baby / Os Mutantes

Letter to a Friend / Pregnant

I'm Still the Same Person / Sister Crayon

Love's Small Song / Baby Dee

Pale Blue Eyes / The Velvet Underground

Mr Peterson / Perfume Genius

Astro Zombies / Brave Horatius

Shut You Down / Caveman

Beasts / Saint Seneca

Dance For You / Dirty Projectors

Open Season / High Highs

Paper Heart / Saint Lucia

Cheshire Moon / Aaron Embry

Wind and Rain / Wild Leaves

Click here to listen to the playlist!

What the "fascia" you talking about?

One of the main purposes of massage is to break up stagnant fascia and allow the muscles to move more freely. But what the heck is fascia anyway? 

Well, if you want a really boring explanation, there's this. But I have a better one!

See, fascia is a connective tissue. It surrounds everything in your body including muscles, nerves, tendons, organs, etc. I like to think of it as being sort of like Elmer's Glue. When it's in its healthiest state, it's like Elmer's Glue straight out of the bottle. It moves around freely and allows your muscles to do the same.

However, due to various stresses, the fascia can often become stagnant. This is when I think of it as Elmer's Glue that has been left to dry. It hardens and makes it more difficult for you to move your muscles freely. 

But just as you're able to rub dried glue from your hand, massage therapists are able to use a technique called "Myofascial Release" to work the fascia into a softer state where it's able to move more freely and allow greater muscle movement!

Also, here is a recipe to make homemade Mod Podge using Elmers' Glue. Just because.

Recovery Massage

Many clients have asked me how soon after an event or training they should get a recovery massage.  The answer: AS SOON AS POSSIBLE!  Follow these steps and then get your butt in here.

1) Catch your breath.  During physical exertion your body is holding a lot of oxygen in your blood cells.  Take the time to breathe deeply and allow your heart rate to slow.  Your blood vessels will have the time to contract to their resting size.

2) Re-hydrate and nourish yourself.  Treat yourself to a chocolate milk, coconut water and a balanced carb and protein bar.  Your body will need to stock back up on its electrolytes and protein which will allow you to have an easier recovery.

3) Stretch.  Yes, you are warmed up after an event or training.  But that doesn't mean that your muscle fibers are lengthened.  Running and lifting mean that many of your muscles are in a state of contraction and the muscle fibers are shortened.  By stretching and thengthening the fibers, you're ensuring that any lactic acid build-up with be less concentrated.

4) Get your massage!  This is even better than the dreaded ice bath. Lactic acid shows up in your body to protect areas that have been exerted. An ice bath prevents lactic acid from moving in to those areas.  However, a recovery massage facilitates the healing of those areas so that it is unnecessary for lactic acid to move in in the first place.  

While recovery massage is one of the best ways to prevent pain and injury, it is also important to set up a maintenance program that will assist you in preventing injury and increasing performance throughout your athletic endeavors.  You can speak with your therapist to set up a program that caters to your activity, time, and budget.

"Give In" Massage Playlist

In the heat of the summer you may find yourself working against your surroundings.  We spend our time shuffling between one air conditioned space to another.  We spend more time driving in cars rather than walking or riding bikes.  We eat take out instead of cooking because it's just too darn hot.

I thought it would be fitting to make a playlist about just giving in.  The ability to give in to our surroundings is an important one.  After all, you've seen what an amazing release your muscles can have when you just breathe and give in to the pressure during a massage.  

I've included the playlist here in case you maybe wanted to play it in the car, in the Austin summer, windows rolled down, sweating like crazy with a grin on your face.  

1. Tippy's Demise / Stars of the Lid 8:19

2. Southbound / Sea Oleena 6:24

3. Mighty Love / Roman Ruins 3:59

4. Words In The Fire / Patrick Watson 3:54

5. Up All Night / Oliver Tank 3:10

6. My Favorite Girl / Megafortress 5:05

7. Xylophone Track / The Magnetic Fields 2:47

8. Dub For Cascadia / Loscil 6:07

9. Never My Love / Lambchop 3:02

10. Necromancy / Jessica Jalbert 4:23

11. Night Song / Family Band 3:31

12. Baby's Breath / Bill Callahan 5:31

13. Lover Of Mine / Beach House 5:07

14. Babys / Bon Iver 4:38

15. Better Times / Beach House 4:26

16. Flowers Bloom / High Highs 3:01

17. The Harvest / Teen Daze 4:09

18. A Little Lost / Arthur Russell 3:18

19. Love In The Shadows / The Magnetic Fields 2:54

20. The Night You Can't Remember / The Magnetic Fields 2:18

21. Riding For The Feeling / Bill Callahan 6:06

22. Open Rhythms / Bodies of Water 4:27 

"It Gets Better" Massage Playlist

Often, we need a massage when things aren't going so well. Knotting in the neck and shoulders is a sign of tension and stress, serious injury can bring on bouts of sadness. Sometimes you just need a massage to feel comforted.  

So this week we have the "It Gets Better" Massage Playlist. It includes songs of good times, bad times, and things-are-improving times, to remind us of the fluctuations in moods, situations, emotions, and life. And don't worry! Even if you're not feeling down you'll still be able to enjoy the soft, drony, and comforting soundscapes in this mix.  

Please support these artists by buying their music or seeing them perform.

Another Ballad for Heavy Lids-Stars of the Lid

A Little Lost-Arthur Russell

Creosote-Stephen Steinbrink

The Harvest-Teen Daze

In the Fog II-Tim Hecker

Song for the New Breed-Bonnie 'Prince' Billy

Creep On Creepin On-Timber Timbre

When Women Played Drums-White Birds

Beach Baby-Bon Iver

No Bad News-Bonnie 'Prince' Billy

Look for Me-Neko Case

Dopamine Clouds Over Craven Cottages-Stars of the Lid

Ephemeral Vision-Vidna Obmana

Buttons-Lambchop

Overture-Baby Dee

Better Times-Beach House

Tower of Meaning-Arthur Russell