Sore, stiff muscles? Tired, sleepy? Need Energy? How's your ...?

Cool or warm: Water prevents sore, stiff, painful muscles and gives you energy!

Tired? Wish you had more energy? Do you feel achey, sore, stiff? If you're taking days to recover after rigorous activity... If your muscles and joints are stiff and painful... If you feel like arthritis might be creeping in... Or if you feel flu-like, or under-the-weather...
Ask yourself this:
"Am I drinking enough pure WATER?"
Because-
Being dehydrated can lead to all these symptoms!

How much water do I need?
This question is oft-debated amongst health practitioners!
I'll give you #s in a second, but first...
Of course, we don't want to drink too much water, but... in my clinical experience, clients report signs of dehydration more often than over-hydration!
When was the last time you drank TOO much water?

Here's what I'm getting at: Dehydration is a common problem, and drinking MORE pure water, EVERY day, can make (most people) feel a WHOLE LOT BETTER, so let's try drinking more water and see how we feel!

How much water do I need?
This is controversial, but...
We have all heard the rule "Drink at least 8 (8-ounce) glasses of water every day". That's a start, although 8-10 glasses of pure water should be the minimum for a 130-lb adult.

A better gauge, in #s, is to drink half your body-weight in ounces. So, if you weigh 130 lbs., drink 65 ounces of water daily.
But don't forget...you need more if you are ACTIVE!

As a general indicator, aim to have "one clear pee" daily. Your urine should never be dark yellow (or any other dark color). But it shouldn't be clear all day, either.
My suggestion: chug 12-16 oz. when you first get up in the morning. You'll feel better, and your coffee will taste better, too (I promise!).

More tips, to drink more water:
* Always carry your own sport bottle, just for water. Fill it with cool, pure water throughout the day. (Unless you truly prefer drinking warm water; either way, refill it often).
* Focus on drinking just water. Avoid other drinks except pure water. Anything except PURE WATER has the potential to dehydrate you, or put on calories. Even coffee will make you sleepy if you are already dehydrated!
* Take BIG swigs of water at "transition" times, like when you go on a break, move rooms, leave the room/office, get ready to exercise or eat, and so on.
* Drink plenty of extra water when you're active. This includes running errands, shoveling snow, house-cleaning,and exercise workouts.
* If it makes you drink more, squirt fresh lemon or lime into your sport bottle. This adds a little flavor (without sugary calories), and it cleans your sport bottle.

GoooOOOO, WATER!  Drink ~ Drink ~ Drink!

Balanced Boulder Massage Cupping's Facebook Massage Page

   Did you know that my Facebook Massage page features articles, videos, pictures, and more, on a variety of topics to keep you healthy and motivated?! Or have you been missing out?

  In the past week or so, here are just a few of the topics covered there:
* (Today's post:)  Tired? Need more energy? Achey, sore, stiff? How is your WATER intake?
* Exercises for stronger KNEES
* Inspirational quotes and pictures
* The healing effects of MEDITATION
* My new video, explaining "What is Cupping?"

  So, please help yourself. Hop over to my Facebook Massage page, give it a "Like",  and discover all the goodness!




What else is happening in my Boulder office?

   This week's Pre-Holiday SpeciaL ~ THIS WEEK ONLY ~ Save on your favorite, a "Balanced Blend" treatment! Yes, the Massage & Cupping combo, with aromatherapy, my "signature treatment" and #1 most popular therapy is on sale! Just for a few days!
   Here's "the rub": 
> Get a 60-minute Balanced Blend for only $64 (reg. $84),
  or get a 90-minute Balanced Blend for only $74 (reg. $109)!
> Buy Gift Certificates for friends and Save $10 more off your Balanced Blend treatment!

  Support Small, Local Business (like mine, and others') when you holiday-shop, and you'll be rewarded! Take the "Small Business Pledge": pledge to buy 50-100% of your holiday gifts from small, local business. I will gratefully and generously reward you all year, with free upgrades, treats from local small businesses, special VIP days for pledgers, free decadent spa-treatments like scrubs and Steamers, and more!
  Please support your neighbors and your community this holiday: Take the Pledge, and Shop Local!

   Thank You for supporting my small, local biz! Enjoy that Facebook Massage page, Take the Pledge, and book your Balanced Blend treatment this week!
Call Nina Dropcho, 970-948-0179, to arrange your bliss!
Balanced Boulder Massage and Cupping
2975 Valmont Rd., Suite 200
Boulder, Colorado

Natural Immune-Boosters for Fall

5 Ways to Boost Your Immune System, Naturally:

1) Give your skin a light, gentle scrub. A loofah in the shower is a good way to invigorate. Include body-brushing (garshana) or exfoliating scrubs from a day spa visit.

2) Bounce: get on a mini-trampoline for 5-10 minutes. Rhythmic, total-body movement gives the lymph system a flush.

3) Get Cupped! Cupping therapy is the most effective manual therapy for lymphatic drainage.

4) Exercise. Aerobic or strength-training activities get muscles to stimulate lymph flow. Also, exercise reduces stress and fights disease!

5) Get a massage. Massage therapy boosts immunity by moving lymph, and by reducing stress.


This week Only, at Balanced Boulder Massage & Cupping:
* Immune-Booster Cupping for ONLY $29! (reg. $49)
Mention this article and ALSO get:
An Autumn-Spice Aromatherapy Steamer & a light, relaxing Dry-Brushing...both FREE!
CALL Nina Dropcho TODAY to book your Immune-Booster! 970-948-0179

National Therapeutic Massage Certification- Colorado massage clients benefit from Nina's NCTMB

Nina Dropcho is Nationally-Certified in Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork. What does that mean? What are the regulations in Colorado for becoming a Licensed Massage Therapist (LMT)?

Nina took the National Certification Exam (NCE) after finishing her 500-hour Massage program in Colorado, in 2002. At the time, there were no regulations for Massage Therapists in Colorado.

Nina took the exam to demonstrate a higher level of massage knowledge, to exceed standards in the massage therapy profession, and to jump ahead as Colorado considered regulation.

Colorado's first step in regulation was to require a background check for those calling themselves "Massage Therapists", or anyone claiming to perform "massage" or "massage therapy".

Every few years, Colorado added increasing qualifications. Currently, a new Massage Therapist, becoming licensed in Colorado must 1) go through the criminal background check; 2) graduate from an accredited massage school with a minimum of 500 hours; 3) take a certifying exam; 4) maintain Continuing Education, to keep the certification current; and in some cities in CO, 5) obtain a Massage Therapist license.

By having taken the NCE years before the state required it, Nina agreed to uphold a higher standard for herself, and for her clients, as a Massage Therapist. To maintain National Certification, she takes Continuing Education courses that directly benefit her massage clients.

Since completing her massage therapy school and taking the NCE, Nina has taken Continuing Education classes in sports medicine, orthopedic evaluations, postural assessment, post-rehab conditioning, ethics and business practice, and certifications in Sports Massage, Myofascial Release, Thai Massage, and Cupping Therapy.
Nina returned to college to earn a 2nd Bachelor of Science, in Biology, in 2012, from Metropolitan State University of Denver.

Obviously, holding the NCTMB is a reflection of Nina's dedication to skill and education.

But in the end, Nina strives to offer each client the most relaxing, therapeutic treatment possible!

National Massage Therapy Awareness Week: Boulder Celebration!

Yay, it's "National Massage Therapy Awareness Week"!

Here are some of the benefits YOU FEEL when you receive massage therapy:

• Relieve pain naturally
• Reduce stress & tension
• Heal repetitive stress disorders
• Aid sleep
• Loosen stiff joints
• Minimize headaches
• Recover from injury faster
• Increase athletic activity
• Improve body awareness (mind-body connection)
• Relax your mind
• Increase metabolism & digestion

Hear about exclusive email-only specials by signing up for my email list. Send me your email: nina@balancedboulder.com or post your email here (comments, below).

This week, I'm running a few MASSAGE THERAPY specials, including:
     Tell a Friend! and Receive-
60-minute Massage Therapy for Only $59 (reg. $79),
90-minute Massage Therapy for Only $79 (reg. $109)

> Receive a free Facial Cupping sample when you book a 60- or 90-minute Massage

Call Me, Nina Dropcho, 970-948-0179, to book your Massage in my Balanced Boulder Massage & Cupping office, in beautiful Boulder, CO, and...

...Spread the word: it's "National Massage Therapy Awareness Week"!

Why Cupping Therapy is So Relaxing!

Have you felt the relaxing effects of Cupping Therapy?

Why is cupping so relaxing? The reasons for your sedation are in its physical effects and the application by the cupping therapist.

First, let's look at cupping therapy's physiological benefits:

• Cupping boosts lymph flow. The boost to your immune system is relaxing. A fresh flush of lymph (fluid) to the tissues is calming to a stressed system. This is especially true for those who have autoimmune disorders, infections, injuries, or high mental stress levels.

• Cupping boosts circulation. Delivering fresh oxygen and blood cells to tissues can be invigorating, and bring a calming "sigh of relief". Over-worked muscles, stagnant or "stuck" chi, and stressed organs appreciate the improved circulation. They can relax!

And next, your cupping therapist's touch can enhance your relaxation:

• Stationary cupping has a swaddling effect. When cups are applied, then left on the skin to "brew" and heal, it can be sedating.

• Cups may be applied massage-style. After applying cups with a light vacuum, your therapist may move the cups around like a massage. This is called gliding, dynamic, or massage cupping. Like massage therapy, this style calms your nervous system as it relaxes the body.

You don't need any reasons to get relaxed, do you? But now, when you get cupped, you understand why cupping is so relaxing!

Call Nina at BBMC, 970-948-0179, to schedule your relaxing treatment!


-blog post written by Nina Dropcho, Licensed Massage Therapist & Cupping Therapist, Balanced Boulder Massage & Cupping (in Boulder, Colorado), ph: 970-948-0179

Cupping marks, Cupping benefits: Show off your healing!

  Cupping therapy has many health benefits, including:

• Relaxes tense muscles
• Improves circulation
• Relieves pain naturally
• Flushes stagnant tissues with blood and oxygen
• Detoxifies, Cleanses
• Immune-boosting
• De-stressing
• Restores, balances qi

  But cupping can temporarily leave marks, or discolorations on the skin where they are applied. What are the marks? What do they tell us about your body & your health?

  The marks are usually circular, and they show up during the cupping session where cups are applied to the skin. They can last for several days, up to 2 weeks. They are also called gua sa marks (Eastern medicine), or ecchymoses (Western medicine), and they result from blood being drawn through the tissues by the cup suction.

Shoulder cupping reveals ischemic area, removing toxins

   As the suction (from the cups) decompresses, pathways are opened. Blood, lymph and other fluids are flushed through areas of stagnation. Your tissues can be stagnant or ischemic (lacking blood-flow) 
due to:

• Adhesions and restrictions
• Repetitive activities, like work, hobbies, sports, bad posture
• Medical conditions, such as autoimmune disorders and poor circulation 
• Being overworked, or weak

Cupping is an excellent way to restore tissues to healthier states; i.e., restoring "qi".



What do the marks mean?
The marks tell us about the stagnation in an area; the need for blood-flow and detoxification. As you can see in the picture above, the shoulder area is getting slightly pink under the cups. And there are circles where the cups have been. This client might have slouched posture, a previous shoulder or back injury, or repetitive stress from daily activities. (The marks in this picture are not unusually dark, or abnormal, which would indicate a medical condition present).
If you have certain medical conditions, like an autoimmune disorder or poor circultion or toxicity, then your marks may be darker. They also might fade more slowly.

    Unlike bruises, cupping marks fade gradually. Because they are not bruises, they do not change colors in phases. But like any therapy, it's important to tell your therapist if they are suctioned much too tightly! Causing dark marks is not the goal of cupping therapy.

    As you receive continued cupping to an area, your marks will likely be lighter in color. They should also fade sooner. If you wait too long between cupping sessions, and you subject your body to the same stresses, cup marks might not be lighter-colored.

What if no marks appear?
   Then, perhaps your tissues are super-healthy and you have received cupping on a regular basis.
   Or your therapist chose to use gentle suction, which is appropriate in many cases.
   Or the cups were not applied for long.

Cupping can have powerful effects when applied gently, for a short time!

   At Balanced Boulder Massage & Cupping, Nina applies cups with no-more-than "comfortably strong" suction. A health questionaire, before your 1st treatment, helps your therapist guide your treatment so that it is healing for you but never uncomfortable.

   EMBRACE cupping marks, and RECEIVE an ancient therapy that will leave you feeling blissfully healthier!