We talk about massages bandying labels around without true understanding what may lay in the name / label.

When looking for medical assistance, Spa massages or Thai massages are not the go to .



These massage have no definitive outcome, but are rather a pleasurable destressing and relaxing of mind and body.

A sport massage and medical massage is a means to an end, specific, targeted and meant to address not only the pain , but healing too.

Thus, as mentioned before eg. stroke sufferers would be referred, to be assisted with muscular deficiencies and mindset, while sport people of various disciples would be referred to address eg. Injuries leading to recovery and improved performance.

And not to forget the deep tissue massage to be administered over larger areas of ones body looking to relieve aches , pains and tension.

What sort of massage would you benefit from?

-.-

Fitness.

The importance of fitness, BUT understanding the phases required to reach a stage of fitness without injury .

Exercising is not a chore nor a punishment .

The various phases of exercising are about preparing the body, over a period of time , reaching that desired level of fitness allowing the body to recover from tiredness, strain, possible pulls and pains...muscles that have layed dormant for a long period of time and now the demand on them to perform.


Exercising should be safe and effective and not all exercises would be recommended to beginners looking to address their fitness.

When i work hand in hand with trainers, does help alleviate those demands on weak muscles addressing tension and avoiding injury.

I look fwd to being your personal wellness mind and body therapist addressing not only physical issues , but mindset revolving around personal understanding of limits and abilities.

-.-

To all who will be participating in the 2 major Cycle tours in Cape Town now in March as well as the Two Oceans race in April, I look fwd to being of assistance being pre or post care.

-.-

There is a fine balance between exercising and over exercising.

Is over exercising possible and why the concern?

Again, it is not a one model fit all. It is all about how much the body can handle.

In a previous post above, mention was made about phases of exercising...in this case pushing oneself too hard too quickly.

A compulsion that can lead to mood swings , tiredness and a need to rest more. The muscles suffering from a prolonged soreness and you begin to notice a decline in your performance.
The goals not reached as expected.

The same applies to medical or sport therapy. Understanding eg the injury or the required maintenance of muscles for various sport disciplines during training and then post competition is always the go to.

The purpose alway being to address the cause, reduce the pain and restore optimum action / performance.


Thank you for engaging and messaging and wanting to know more.

-.-

Sport psychology.

Can be applied in everyday life.

It is easy to deal with the pleasures of life. Greater achievement and success comes in knowing how to handle pressure and challenges.

Persistence, diligence boosting confidence is characteristic of a growth orientated mindset.

Quoted - key pointers that make a difference when addressing performance

When wanting to cultivate a sportmindset

Set a goal.
Self mindfulness practiced.
Positive affirmations.
Mental imagery .
Resilience.
Seek professional help if needed.

In general, life itself demands interaction with society both mentally and physically and understanding one's weaknesses ,playing to one's strengths knows to bring relief , even in small doses.

-.-

Mental toughness. - no matter the mistake, the failure or challenge the ability to persist and keep performing without being distracted.

Quoted from Eli Straw -
Mental toughness is


*Self-awareness
*Confidence
*Focus
*Resilience
*Calmness
*Self-management




To continue from my previous post

#Set a goal. - purpose, direction and motivation


#Self mindfulness practiced. - all about selfcare addressing ones spiritual, ones mental and ones physical self.


#Positive affirmations. - grows confidence, greatness, passion and the ability to not personalise challenges or instances and keep them in perspective.


#Mental imagery .- The mind's eye visualizing and even being able to feel what may be required to achieve success.


#Resilience. - Being able to bounce back keeping a positive equilibrium even in cases of trauma and sources of high levels of stress.


#Seek professional help if needed. - if not acknowledged, issues with Mental wellbeing, be it in sport or in daily living, can lead to subconscious barriers leading to various disorders.



Toughness in an ever evolving fast-paced world is not an easy task always keeping the humanness factor within arms length, but made easier when put in perspective and baby steps taken to become a stronger version of self.

-.-

Wellbeing.

Quoted - "how one feels about oneself and ones life."


It consists of many factors
Social
Physical
Mental
Emotional.

It is ever changing and influenced by external experiences that are at times out of ones control, an ever changing environment and demand on the mental and physical.

It is a process of learning and striving toward balance, as much as possible, in ones life.
The desire to educate oneself contributing toward a feeling of purpose and value.

Stagnation and procrastination, the source being fearful and doubtful.

And thus my constant reminder.." A healthy body is a healthy mind. A healthy mind is a healthy body"

Equipping oneself with knowledge and baby steps toward change begins to reflect in ones interaction personally, socially and professionally.

The art of knowing and addressing ones weaknesses without excusing them and turning them into the first step to self empowerment .

-.-

Postcare after sporting event- reparing muscle tissue and overall recovery

Cooling and stretching.
Ice treatment or ice bath to minimize inflammation and soreness.
Hydrating and resting.
Nourishment high in protein and carbs.
Massage.

Looking fwd to assisting with post care after the Cape Argus endurance cycle race and pre care before the ABSA cycle tour and the Two Oceans Marathon.

-.-

When looking for fast therapy.


The application of cold therapy is the go to post event or intense training.

This helps reduce possible inflammation, reduces aches and pains and decreases recovery time.


Heat therapy may be applied pre game to increase blood flow , warm muscles leading to flexibility and thus less risk of injury.

BUT...as simple as it sounds without that fine balance and knowing WHEN to apply either of the treatments can be a hindrance to optimal performance and healing rather than fast tracking recovery and muscle flexibility, resistance and strength.

Each sporting discipline engages a different set of muscles and at the same time having a ripple effect on the more dormant muscles.

Knowing what is required and when, is the trick.

I look fwd to assisting and guiding you when it comes to self help in cases of pains and strains while preparing for an event and being the go to therapist after a sporting event.

-.-


Nota Bene


For those preparing for the

ABSA Cape Epic 16- 23 March

And

Two Oceans 5- 6 April

The connection between mental toughness and physical toughness.


What comes first?

To quote Sun Tzu - The art of war

"A true warrior can win a fight without throwing a single punch, and that true warfare is based on strength of mind instead of strength of body."

The principle

The indestructible mind. He whose psyche is unbreakable, is physically unbreakable.

Rage, anger and aggression lead to rampant emotions and possible burnout.

Cognative and emotional harnessing, maturity allows one to be able to adapt, reframe ones mindset, turning an adverse situation into a stepping stone toward greater self awareness underlining the ability to reason and understand both internal and external factors as minimal root causes that are then put into perspective allowing for a more positive outlook and solution finding.

Instead of lashing out rather to reason it out.

And to end off with what happens when one is active ( exercising and sport of any discipline) or surrounds oneself with positive company .


Endorphins
Dopamine
Serotonin

All feel good , happy hormones released flooding the human "system" .

-.-