Karina Braun's Blog (4)

In my years as a Massage Therapist, I have learned more about myself by helping other people. I have also learned that I have to care for my own body to give to others. I have been in the field for 11 years and have owned my own spa, been a massage instructor, and worked at a spa on the strip in Las Vegas.



The physical part of my job is what drove me but it also led to burnout and injury. I was working full time at the spa and writing the… Continue

To think of massage as something you only do with your hands is incorrect. A therapist who uses the hands for a palpation tool and the whole body for most of the pressure is working correctly. Massage is very physical and the muscles of the arms should not be used for long periods of time without taking a break. The arm muscles are not generally as aerobic and fatigue easily; however, the large muscles of the legs and hips can function efficiently for many hours at a time. Generate your power… Continue

The belief you have about soft tissue is important in how you use your body to apply pressure. Soft tissues of the body respond to touch and when applied in an artful manner, a healing response can occur. Massage therapy and bodywork require a comprehensive knowledge of anatomy and physiology and a variety of approaches to the treatment of soft tissue. Expert knowledge in the bodywork field involves both intuition and intelligence to be successful. You must investigate all possible techniques… Continue

Think of yourself as a massage athlete. Manual therapy demands skill, strength, and endurance, just like a track and field runner or baseball player. The symptoms of overtraining are just like an athlete and include fatigue, lack of energy, pain, insomnia, and depression. Rest is essential for the treatment of overtraining. You can take your resting heart rate in the morning and if it is higher than the previous day, you may not have recovered from the previous day.

Insightful strategies… Continue