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Monthly Archives: September 2021

Blog

Thai Yoga Class

Posted on by Giovanni La Rocca
Self Thai Massage
25
Sep

Thai Yoga, is an exercise practice that would take you to a place of relaxation and better physical and mental well-being. As you may already read on the website page about Thai Yoga, this exercise aims to improve your mobility, motility, and body awareness. Those exercises are based on the principle of Thai Massage and Myotherapy approach. I did study Thai Massage with Arjan Pichest Boonthumme, at his home school in Chiang Mai. Indeed is Pichest the pioneer of this type of exercise. Book now your next private Thai Yoga class with Giovanni. He teaches his students to practice those exercises in order to help us, students, to understand how to reduce physical tension from the body, and to be a better practitioner. Even though he doesn’t call them Thai Yoga. When I left Thailand after my 1st period of training with Pichest (early 2018), I start practising these exercises nearly daily. I was not following a specific sequence, and I was not offering yet the workshop. As I kept working as a massage therapist, and I was suggesting these exercises to my clients, to keep tensions low and enforce the job done with the Thai Massage, I then realise how all these exercises put together, could actually help others heal their bodies and improve their health. I start then offering these classes at the Dancehouse in Carlton, and occasionally I will offer free classes at the Carlton Garden too. So how it works a Thay Yoga class? Well, as per Thai Massage based, those exercises aim to work on muscle’s tensions and reproduce physiological responses that massage would usually generate. Said so, as you work on your body, and you feel in first person the stimulus and the response given to the stimulus, you would be able to improve your body awareness. How it does differ from a regular Yoga class? The difference from a regular Yoga class is that along with a Thai Yoga class, most of the exercises don’t require a specific elasticity or mobility capacity, even though, once you practice them you would realize how easier is to move a joint and how freer the body is feeling. This happens because during the class, as we stimulate the blood flow starting from the upper limb, and moving down the lower limb, the body gets warmer, and the stiffness gets cleared away. Furthermore, during the class, I would show how the usage of the breathing wave technique helps in mastering the practice. This way of breathing, not only improves the oxygenation of the body, and so the healing of it, but also helps the participant to learn how to deal with the body sensation that arises along with the workshop. Yes, I would not lie to you, some of these exercises can reproduce pain. But hey, have you ever heard of a Thai Massage pain-free? Well, Thai Yoga exercises are not so different from it. In conclusion, Thai Yoga is not recommended for those with conditions like hypertension, osteoporosis and or diabetes n. 1 or whilst pregnant.

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Blog

Scoliosis

Posted on by Giovanni La Rocca
Scoliosis
18
Sep

Scoliosis is a sideways curvature of the spine that most often is diagnosed in adolescents. Firstly, let’s say that there are 2 main types of scoliosis: Functional and Structural. Indeed, Functional S. is a type of scoliosis due to a muscular unbalance in the body. The spine presents a curvature but no rotations. On the other hand, Structural scoliosis is due to a structural abnormality, like a bond deformation along with the skeleton and it diverges from a functional S. due to rotation in the spine, and not just a curve. Said so, to diagnose the differences between functional and structural, we can ask the client to band forwards from a standing-up position, by trying to reach the floor with the hands. As the client band forward, if there is torsion in the torso, that’s a sign of structural scoliosis. About 80% of scoliosis, is structural. There are then different levels of scoliosis: Mild Cobb angle measurement of between 10 and 25 degrees Moderate: Cobb angle measurement of between 25 and 40 degrees Severe: Cobb angle measurement of 40+ degrees Very severe: Cobb angle measurement of 80+ degrees The Cobb angle is the most widely used measurement to quantify the magnitude of spinal deformities, on plain radiographs. Scoliosis is defined as a lateral spinal curvature with a Cobb angle of >10°. Furthermore, the different levels of scoliosis can be defined as: Idiopathic This is the most common type of scoliosis and as it doesn’t reproduce any pain at a young age, it is often missed diagnosed becoming the cause of pain in the adult stage of life. It does affect more women than men. Are you struggling with pain and or body ache? Book now your next massage appointment at Fitzroy North Clinic. Neuromuscular As per the name, in this case, scoliosis is associated with neuromuscular issues. Often it is diagnosed at a young age, and the 2 conditions have to be treated separately. Degenerative As per the name, this type of S. is due to a bond degeneration at the level of the facet joint. As per the result, the symptoms are like: lower back pain, (that’s where most commonly a degenerative facet can happen), sciatica pain, and difficulties in walking. Congenital Congenital scoliosis is a condition that affects a child that is not born yet. As the fetus is forming, one or more vertebrae may fuse together, or bony spinal segments or vertebrae fail to form properly. Traumatic Traumatic scoliosis, as the term already described, can be the result of an accident or a major physical trauma. Like a car accident. Given now a clear explanation of this condition, we are a bit more aware of what a curve in the spine is about. Corrective exercises are the key answer to scoliosis. Physiotherapy is probably the best medical practitioner to refer to for corrective exercises related to this condition. Said so: Q: “I got lower back pain. That means I got scoliosis?” A: “No. Lower back pain is one of the symptoms of scoliosis, but there are several reasons why you may suffer from lower back pain.”        

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Blog

Lower Cross Syndrome

Posted on by Giovanni La Rocca
Anteriar Pelvic Tilt Thai Massage
12
Sep

The Lower Cross Syndrome as for the Upper Cross Syndrome is an unbalance between the forces of muscle groups that cross each other between the anterior and posterior of the body. For Lower Cross Syndrome, we look into the Pelvic area. The pelvis’s role The pelvis acts as a hinge between the upper and lower limbs. It is made from a group of bones, ilium, ischium, sacrum, and coccyx interconnected by ligaments. The pelvis is constantly under the force of pressure or force of pull, which either comes from the upper limb or the lower limb muscle group. Said so, we have to point out that, between women and men there is a difference in pelvic shape. The women have a more rounded girdle than men, this is obviously for evolutionary reasons, due to the fact the woman gives birth. Furthermore for a woman is more common to have a wider range for Anterior pelvic tilt. For Women is acceptable an anterior pelvic tilt between 1 and 2 cm, wherein man it should be up to 1cm. This is because of the girdle shape. In fact, when we look into the pelvic level from the side point of view, we expect to find an anterior pelvis tilt, that doesn’t take over the parameters mentioned above. This anterior pelvis position, allows the lumbar spine to be slightly arched, so that it can better take the pressure, without the risk to create injury to the lower back. How to measure the A or P pelvic tilt? To do so we look sidewise at the difference in high between the ASIS (Anterior Superior Illica spine) and the PSIS (Posterior Superior Illiac Spine). As the L and R sides of the pelvis are independent of one another one, we can find a dissociation in the tilt of the opposite side. That means that L can be anteriorly tilted and R. posteriorly tilt, or vice versa. Moving on, now we can analyze what muscles are involved in Lower Cross Syndrome. For an Anterior Pelvic tilt, we look into tensions for this group of muscles: Erector spinae group Iliopsoas muscles Rectus Femoris Are you struggling with pain and or body ache? Book now your next massage appointment, at North Fitzroy clinic. For a Posterior Pelvic Tilt, we look into tensions for this other group of muscles: Gluteus Max Hamstring Rectus Abdominus External Oblique   As one or the other group of muscles is tense, the other one as consequence would be weaker. For example, a person that drives for long hours, or an office worker would commonly suffer from an Anterior Pelvic tilt from Lower Cross Syndrome. That’s because their Psoas is in constantly forced contraction (hip flexor) and the hamstrings are constantly weakened from the long seating hours. So when I treat someone with Thai Massage, before the treatment I always make sure to analyze the pelvis level. This would instantly give me an idea of the balance and unbalance that the person eventually suffers from. The work that I would do for this type of dysfunction involved the relative muscles, mentioned above, but not only. During the Thai Massage, as the client lying on a side position, to access areas like the back and or gluteus, I would also work on the client’s shoulders. If initially, I would not work on the shoulders, after a few minutes the client will find discomfort in the area. What I like about this Thai Massage technique, is that is not demanding on my body and give me a wider range of access to the client’s body. Because I can use my feet, knees, elbows, and hands to give a massage, I can freely change the type of pressure to the client’s needs. Whereas if I was working with a Remedial Massage, the limitations are broader. Working with a table would make it much harder to access certain body muscles. Furthermore, it would be hard if not impossible to use feet or knees for massaging.      

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Blog

Psoas Muscle

Posted on by Giovanni La Rocca
Psoas Muscle Massage
05
Sep

The Psoas Muscle. The Psoas muscle is a muscle that seats in the Lumbar region of the body. It is palpable through the abdominal region when the client is in the supine position. Psoas Muscle is often related to and taken into consideration with iliacus muscle, as those 2 muscles share the insertion tendon and point. For this reason, they get called Iliopsoas Muscle. Origin, Insertion, and Action of the Psoas Muscle: Origin: Body and Transverse process of the Lumbar Vertebrae (L1-L5) Insertion: Lesser Trochanter of the Femur Action: with the Origin fixed: flex the hip externally rotate the hip with the Insertion fixed: flex the trunk towards the tight tilt the pelvis anteriorly flex the vertebral column laterally. Innervation is supplied from the anterior rami of spinal nerve L1-L3 Blood Supply from the lumbar branch of the iliolumbar artery The Psoas muscle has a reference pattern that involved the abdominal area but even the front of the tight. It is often tight for people who spend a lot of time seating on a chair, like office workers and or who drive for long hours. This happens because the muscle is in constant contraction when we spend time seating. On the other hand, the Psoas Muscle is often also related to emotional distress. This can happen because when we live with negative emotions we tend to contract the abdominal area and tight the muscle-up, especially for reaching out a fetal position, which recalls maternity safety. By analyzing the action of this muscle, it is easy to notice how is involved in assuming a fetal position, as it is a hip flexor. In fact, it contracts the 2 limbs, the upper and lower to gain one with each other. Treating the Psoas Muscle directly is not always recommended as direct work unless the person has been going through a series of treatments already. This is because where the muscle is lying it is a sensitive spot to access and as it holds a lot of tension, can be a bit sensitive to the touch. In need of a massage? Book now your next appointment, at Melbourne Massage and Treatment clinic. To treat the Psoas Muscle the client is lying in a supine position. Firstly we identify the muscle. For doing so after the client did lie in the supine position, the therapist will place her/his hands off the rectus abdominis, on its lat. border, and will create resistance on the client’s tight as it goes for active flexion. With the hand seating next to the rectus abdominal area, the therapist can feel the muscle activating. Once the Psoas has been isolated, the therapist can place both hands or one on the muscle, asking the client to breath-in deeply as is flexing the knee (foot running along the table) and as the client’s breath out (it is important here following the breathing wave) the therapist can apply a force straight down. Furthermore, to ensure that we can release tension from the Psoas Muscle, we have to work on the muscle surrounding it, like the other muscle that holds the same Origin/Insertion patterns, like: Erectus Spinae group, Quadratus Lumborum, Quods Hamstring In fact, the psoas muscle can be involved in presentations such as lower cross syndrome (LCS). Are you struggling with pain and or body ache? Book now your next massage appointment, at Fitzroy North clinic. Often as therapists, we would work on the surrounding muscle before doing direct work on the Psoas. This is because direct work in such a sensitive area can be too intense to start with and could make the client feel vulnerable or uncomfortable. A good exercise to keep the Psoas muscle in shape is a daily walk, even though for a nice and balanced walk we want to make sure to have a correct Extension Leg Firing Pattern.    

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Melbourne Massage and Treatment - - - Close for Holiday till the 25th/9/2023 - - -
To all the new and returning clients, thanks for being here . I am currently in holiday, and I will be back to give treatment on the week of the 25th/Sept/2023. If you are in severe pain, and feel unwell, please reach out for your GP. If you have any inquire, contact me by clicking here. Booking are open for the month of September and onward. Click here to book your next appointment.