Tag: massage monday

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Guess Who Just Became a Certified Strength & Conditioning Specialist …

How’s it going, everyone?  Happy Monday.  I hope you and your loved ones are safe and healthy (and sane) as we stay-in-place and patiently wait out the spread of COVID-19.

This last week I accomplished another professional milestone and officially passed (nailed) my Strength & Conditioning Specialist final with the International Sports Science Association (ISSA).  I’ve been studying strength and conditioning the last six months after passing my Fitness Trainer certification in October and it’s really rounded out my understanding of physical fitness and sport-specific training principles.

What is Strength & Conditioning? 
Essentially, strength and conditioning is the science-based practical application of training techniques (including weight lifting and plyometrics, to name two) to improve sports-specific skills and performance with focused workouts, proper periodization, and goal-based planning.

What differentiates Strength & Conditioning from Fitness Training?
While fitness training focuses on developing strength, aerobics, flexibility and balance through exercises and proper training techniques, strength and conditioning specifically focuses on developing power and performance through sport-specific workouts adjusted to each training cycle (offseason, preseason, season, postseason).

I’ve really learned a lot over the last six months studying and applying all I’ve learned in the gym, and am looking forward to working with clients looking to take their exercise game to the next level.  I also can’t wait to get back into the gym (when they reopen) and get some bench press and deadlifts in; anyone else?
Now that I’ve finished my strength and conditioning certification, I’m ready to learn all about nutrition as I begin to study for my Nutrition Coach Certification and Certified Yoga Instructor courses over the next six+ months (or sooner, depending on this time in isolation).

Have any questions about personal fitness?  I’ve got some extra time on my hands if you have any questions about getting a solid workout in at home during this time.  Let me know!

Hope everything cools down soon and everyone remains healthy so we can get our massages going again in the near future.  Until then, we wait patiently and keep our communities safe.  Be well.  

P.S. Getting a little stir crazy here at home … anyone else?
Just me hanging out with all my elastic resistance bands (20-100lbs!), making sure to stay active during these isolated times.

They’re a major part of my mobile training sessions and a colorful addition to any ensemble.

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What is ‘Thixotropy’ and How Does Slow & Steady Win the Massage Race?

Ever wonder why I can’t dive right into those muscles fast and furiously?  No, not just because it’s not relaxing to be poked, pulled, and prodded repeatedly; it’s because the body’s physiology won’t respond to fast pressure, period.

Thanks to a property called ‘thixotropy’, relaxing those tense muscles requires slow, steady application of pressure.  Thixotropy is a way of describing a gel-like substance acting as a solid when a fast force is applied to it, while also acting as a liquid when a slow force is applied.  This means that if you hit the surface of a thixotropic substance with, say, a hammer; it will bounce off the surface.  But, if you lay that hammer down on the surface, it will slowly sink into the substance, instead.

The thixotropic nature of our muscles means that to sink into those deeper areas of tension or to get through one muscle and into another, a therapist must apply slow, steady pressure to truly access those layers of your body.  If we simply bat at the body, it will bounce us back.

Here’s a fun video thanks to the educators at Lamar University showing that visually demonstrates the property of thixotropy using a large vat of corn starch and water.  As you can see, students can literally run across this gel pool with quick feet, but once they slow down, they sink down into the mixture.

So the next time a therapist tries to quickly dig into a knotted muscle, especially if they don’t warm it up, don’t be surprised if unconsciously your body pushes back.  Just another one of the many interesting wonders our bodies hold in store to keep us going on a daily basis.

Need some slow, steady pressure applied to those problem areas?  Let’s get some deep tissue and myofascial release into your life.  Contact me to schedule your next massage and stay tuned for more interesting information next Massage Monday.  Have a great week!

Until next time,

Jason Brain

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