Monday, April 30, 2007

Massage Monday

Introducing.....

Massage Monday!

I was a massage therapist for 7 1/2 years before we moved here and I became a stay-at-home-mom.

While working as a therapist, I came up with a seminar I gave to businesses called, "Of Tennis Balls and Towels". It's a whole lotta self-massage techniques and stretches you can do at your desk or, well, anywhere, really. We'll start with my favorite...

Take a tennis ball and put it under your desk while you are working. Take your shoes off and roll your feet around on the ball for a few minutes. Then really press and release, press/release, press/release the ball into the floor. (You always want to work from toe to heel.) It's a fabulous foot massage while you're working! (Or sitting and knitting, studying, insert seated activity here.) (Not driving.)

Believe it or not, that simple exercise also helps keep your hamstrings loose. (If you learn anything in massage school, it's that every thing's connected.) Don't believe me? Stand up and touch your toes (or try to). Sit and roll the tennis ball under, say, your right foot for 3-5 min. Stand and try to touch your toes again. Your right hand will be closer to your toes then your left. Go ahead, I'll wait....

See! Ain't it cool!

Come back tomorrow for a more yarn-related tip on Tippa Tuesday.

See y'all then, Ruth!

5 comments:

Chris said...

Hey, this sounds kind of familiar! ;)

Faith said...

Thanks for the tip! I always forget these things until I'm so stiff I need to crawl into bed.

Laurie said...

Oh wow, you are a goddess!! Thanks for this - I have ALWAYS had tight hamstrings. This is the coolest blog feature ever!

knitnzu said...

I'm bringing my balls to work! Ha! My hams have traditionally been loose and as is typical for women underdeveloped vs the quads. Which in part played a role in the great acl tear...of course being thrown over a short man's hip while my foot stayed behind him didn't help. I'm about to post the interview!

Me7of11 said...

I have never wanted a tennis ball as badly as I want one r-i-g-h-t NOW!