Massage

How Did You Sleep?

How Did You Sleep?

Do you wake up in the morning in pain and wonder why? Have you wondered how exactly you should position yourself for sleep? One pillow? Two pillows? Five pillows? Where do all of those pillows go? Find out if your sleep position is effecting your body and if your mattress is to blame!

Coping With the Final Weeks of Pregnancy

Coping With the Final Weeks of Pregnancy

While birthing parents are typically excited for their babies to arrive, the final weeks of pregnancy can be exhausting, uncomfortable and emotional.  You have a small person, or multiple people inside of you, just about ready to be born.  It can take a toll on you and your partner as well.  Here are some easy ways to help you enjoy those last few weeks.

Massage


Traditional Massage

Massage promotes healthy soft tissues by increasing circulation, improving delivery of nutrients to soft tissue for growth and repair, while facilitating the removal of metabolic waste. Benefits you may experience include: improved sleep, strengthened immunity, reduced blood pressure and heart rate, reduced anxiety, an increased sense of well-being, and beneficial stimulation to internal organs.


At Jade Integrated Health, we provide customized massage therapy performed by our licensed massage therapists, who have advanced training in all areas of massage including:

  • Prenatal Massage
  • Swedish
  • Deep Tissue
  • Sports
  • Infant


Prenatal Massage

Not only is massage relaxing, but it also contributes to a healthy pregnancy. Bodywork has been shown to increase circulation, decrease prematurity, relieve aches due to pregnancy, promote a sense of well-being, and reduce labor complications. Nancy is certified in prenatal massage, ensuring that you have a relaxing, safe experience.


All sessions are tailored to address specific areas of concern. We also strive to educate you in caring for your physical health.


Experience Balanced Energy and Balanced Life

Save $70

At our recent open house we unveiled a new package of services.  By combining 3 treatment methods, Acupuncture, Massage Therapy and Yoga you can optimize the overall benefits that each one has to offer.

For only $200 your package includes:
1- Acupuncture Treatment
1 - Seven Week Yoga Series
1 - Massage Therapy Session

This is an ideal way to explore treatments options you might not have otherwise tried in the past.  It not only makes economic sense for yourself, but makes a unique gift for that person you never know what to get.



The World Health Organization, National institute of Health, and individuals, such as former Surgeon General E. Koop, recognize Acupuncture as an effective treatment. It can be used for the management of back pain, headaches, migraines, and sports injuries. However, acupuncture provides more than pain relief. It is helpful in treating anxiety, insomnia, digestive problems, abdominal, menstrual cramps, weight control, infertility and much, much more.




The initial benefits of massage therapy might appear obvious, but there are a few facts you might not have known.  In response to massage, specific physiological and chemical changes cascade throughout the body, with profound effects. Research shows that with massage:

  • Arthritis sufferers note fewer aches and less stiffness and pain.
  • Asthmatic children show better pulmonary function and increased peak air flow.
  • Burn injury patients report reduced pain, itching, and anxiety.
  • High blood pressure patients demonstrate lower diastolic blood pressure, anxiety, and stress hormones.
  • Premenstrual syndrome sufferers have decreased water retention and cramping.
  • Preterm infants have improved weight gain.



The Mayo Clinic states the potential health benefits of yoga are numerous and may include:
  • Stress reduction. With its quiet, precise movements, yoga draws your focus away from your busy, chaotic day and toward calm as you move your body through poses that require balance and concentration.
  • Increased fitness. As you learn and refine new poses, you may enjoy improved balance, flexibility, range of motion and strength. And this means you're less likely to injure yourself in other physical endeavors or in your daily activities.
  • Management of chronic health conditions. Yoga might help with a variety of health conditions, such as cancer, depression, pain, anxiety and insomnia, by helping with sleep problems, fatigue and mood. Yoga also can help reduce heart rate and blood pressure.


Make your appointment today and start living the balanced life you deserve.  773-5778

Does Your Insurance Cover Acupuncture or Massage Therapy?

IT MAY ... if you work for the following:

* City of Portland
* State of Maine
* Maine Education Association (MEA)
* Maine Medical Center
* MaineHealth

Call today to make an appointment 773-5778.

If you are not an employee of one of the above organizations, you still may be covered. Please call your insurance provider to check benefit eligibility.

Anthem: 1-800-482-0966
Aetna: Member Services
Cigna: 1-800-244-6224
Great West: 1800-663-8081
Medicare: 1-800-633-4227

Questions About Prenatal Massage?

We have some answers


I became interested in treating pregnant women for many reasons.  Mainly because it is such an amazing opportunity for women to learn how to take better care of themselves.  Often times, women are highly motivated to improve their health and well being as they realize the positive impact it can have on their unborn baby.  Prenatal massage is just one way to pursue better physical and emotional health in pregnancy.  Women also have very good questions about prenatal massage so I would like to share my experience and expertise in this area!


Gentle Yoga

Seek out a massage therapist that is CERTIFIED in prenatal massage.  Massage therapists are required to be licensed, but do not necessarily receive training in prenatal massage.  Massage therapists may pursue continuing education to advance their skills to provide safer and more effective massage to pregnant women.  The advanced coursework includes optimal positioning for comfort, massage techniques to address specific areas of complaint and contraindications to massage.


Massage can be very rewarding from the first trimester through the post-partum year. Prenatal massage is safe from the onset of pregnancy.  Typically, monthly massage through the first 34 weeks and weekly massage during the last 6 weeks is most beneficial. When you are in early labor, if you can get in to see your massage therapist, it is a wonderful time to have relaxed focus in preparation for active labor.


Massaging the feet and ankles is safe and feels great!  Massaging firmly, even in the areas around the acupuncture points, will not initiate early labor.  Positioning on a massage table is best in side-lying and reclining. Lying face down on prenatal pillows or with a hole cut out of the table has the potential to increase fetal blood pressure, strain the abdominal musculature and strain uterine ligaments. Lying on your back is also safe well into pregnancy as long as you do not experience shortness of breath, dizziness or nausea.


Deep massage is safe, but should never be painful.  The only areas that should NEVER be massaged deeply are the inner calf and inner thigh.  Pregnant women have an increased risk of developing blood clots. The inner calf and inner thigh are typical areas where a blood clot may develop. Deep massage has the potential to dislodge a clot or cause microtrauma to form a clot.


What are the benefits of Prenatal Yoga?


  • Increases strength and flexibility
  • Helps diminish swelling and joint inflammation
  • Prevents and decreases pain in the lower back and sciatica pain
  • Stress Relief
  • Creates and maintains a sense of well being
  • Relaxation, imagery and breathing are useful in labor
  • Aids in digestion

  • If you have any questions or concerns please feel free to contact me.


    - Nancy Charlebois, PT,MT