Are You Stretching the Wrong Way? Try the Right Way

Below is a link to a well-written article regarding stretching. It is worth a look, especially if you are worried you might be over doing it with your stretching routine, or if you are confused by the conflicting ideologies of stretching versus not stretching before a workout. Some experts believe that stretching before a workout prevents injury; others believe that the long hold stretches most people are taught can actually cause injury (an increasingly accepted idea). The AIS method of stretching bridges the two camps with a different way of thinking.

Are You Stretching the Wrong Way? Try the Right Way:

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Epic FAIL: "The View" and Elisabeth Hasselbeck

I saw something today that made my mouth drop and my blood boil. It was a clip from "The View", an unfortunately popular television show that tends to influence its audience.

In it, the hosts and their guests begin to discuss Al Gore's alleged behavior with a Portland, Oregon massage therapist. It quickly turns into a gossip fest about how this one massage led to the break-up of Gore's marriage before quickly turning into a defamation of the massage therapy profession.

Misconceptions like this keep members of the public from trying massage and seeing for themselves just what massage therapy is all about. It also keeps health insurance companies from covering sessions, despite their therapeutic nature that can actually prevent larger insurance payouts.

It also has political ramifications. It leads to things like this:

... the Zoning Committee in Chicago is voting on an ordinance to require that massage establishments only be allowed in areas that are zoned B-3, which means limited to industrial use, heavy commercial use, and taverns.

This amendment was introduced by Alderman Ray Suarez, who feels that by prohibiting massage therapists from operating in retail areas and neighborhoods, that he is somehow fighting prostitution.  His heart may be in the right place, but this misguided notion will not accomplish anything except to penalize legitimate massage therapists. (Laura Allen 4/18/2010)

In short, a legitimate massage therapist isn't going to seem so legitimate if his or her practice is in between a warehouse and a bar.

Recently, there was also this guilty-by-association law in New York state and this proposition in California to have the police, and not a board of professional massage therapists and members of the public, regulate MTs.

If you believe in the healing benefits of massage as a preventative and remedial health and wellness profession, whose professionals take seriously the commitment to help those in pain, please sign this petition and get "The View to make a public apology.