Shirl's World

My Flovies table at the craft fair.

More Flovieness.

Flovies:

Fingerless fleece gloves keep your hands warm while retaining your grip with style.

In addition to my recession job of driving a school bus in our town, I operate a pet sitting business. This is not only for your regular cat and dog type pet, it also includes everything from fish to horses. This is a nod to my agricultural background and the fact that I've always had a great interest in animals and nature.
And, if that wasn't enough range, I went back to school and became a certified massage therapist. My specialty is in geriatric massage. My intent is to provide my clients relaxation, increased circulation and improved range of motion.

The Merck Manual of Geriatrics opens with the sentence:
“Among the many characteristics of geriatric medicine that differentiate it from traditional medical specialties is the prominence of certain recurring clinical problems which, though few in number, can originate in a wide array of organ system disorders.” Further down the page, Dr. R. W. Besdine, the author, states: “But accumulating a number of diseases does not necessarily result in serious loss of function. Rather, an independent, vigorous elderly person with a shockingly long list of serious diseases is more common.”
When we look at the ‘few in number’ clinical problems to which Dr. Besdine refers, we must do so in light of the effects massage has on the body:

Massage Increases Circulation
The circulatory system consists of blood and lymph vessels. It distributes oxygen, nourishment and hormones from the endocrine system. It also removes carbon dioxide and waste products from cell repair and replacement.
Massage increases the circulation of blood with all its capacities for cell building, energy formation and cleansing.

Massage Stimulates the Nervous System
The nervous system consists of two major divisions: the central nervous system and the autonomic nervous system. The CNS consists of the brain and spinal cord with its nerves that control voluntary movement. The ANS consists of the sympathetic nervous system and the parasympathetic nervous systems which control involuntary bodily functions. Stimulation of the tactile nervous system results in the release of endorphins, hormones and neurotransmitters.

Massage Relaxes the Mind
In addition to the warming effect and the neural stimulation through massage, a psychological feeling of well being and safety is created. The feeling of relation is partly due to the release of endorphins and partly due to the psychological reaction of the client to neural, safe touch. This type of contact affects the emotional well being on the often touch-deprived elderly.

Massage Softens Hardened Muscle and Connective Tissue
Due to the physical strains of a long life and the repetitive nature of most physical activity, muscles and connective tissue have a tendency to harden and become less efficient. Massage is able to remedy such problems by increasing blood supply to the affected areas and by the use of kneading techniques and passive joint movement.