August is here and I'm feeling bittersweet.  On the sweet side....the weather has been gorgeous-not too hot or rainy, my backyard wildflowers are beautiful, we're excitedly getting ready for the big JDRF walk, and we're still enjoying the pool, the hikes and the time in the sun.  But the rapidly passing summer also feels bitter.....we did the dreaded back to school shopping this week, the realization that my first born son is about to turn 12 and start middle school is setting in, and my baby is already 8 and going into the 3rd grade! I love spending summer days with my boys and I miss them terribly when they head back for a new school year. They're growing up, times are changing, and the days are whipping by at a furious rate. Time to seize the day!

We took some time in July to do just that, to  slow down and enjoy the moment, and our beautiful state.  For 6 days we hiked, explored and made lifelong memories around CO. We had a great time on our adventure, but all that activity (and the cheap hotel beds) left me with some hip and low back pain. Now that I'm home and I've done some self massage, I think I've found the culprit....a muscle that tends to cause a lot of issues for a lot of people, but isn't very well known. This month's muscle is a doozy......
Muscle of the Month: Psoas

*Location-The Psoas is one of the largest and thickest muscles of the body. It's a 14-16 inch long, rope-like muscle located deep in the core, running from the front side of the lower lumbar vertebrae down to the inside of the upper leg bone. 

*Action- Fl exes the hip, bringing knee to chest, and arches the lower back.

*Common Complaints-Problems with the Psoas generally show up as a deep low back pain, difficulty in standing up straight, pain running down the leg, sciatica, and even knee pain.

*Typical Causes-  Too much time sitting causes the Psoas to shorten and become weak, making it  incapable of helping to stabilize and control the movement of the leg in the hip socket which leads to pain in the front of the hip and/ or pain and stiffness in the lower back. A shortened or contracted Psoas can also cause the spine and pelvis to tilt and torque leading to a whole host of other back/hip/leg issues. Tears and ruptures happen most with people who do a lot of running, jumping, kicking and squats with weight.
*Stretches- Stretching is very important as self massage is not really a viable option for most people. 
This link has great written instructions for stretching, and this one is a good YouTube of an active Psoas stretch and here's another more passive stretch. Or, check out one of these apps- Sworkit or Select Stretch Trainer for more stretching videos and info.
*Helpful hints-  This muscle is difficult and uncomfortable to massage, but it can be done. If the Psoas is the cause of your pain, we should definitely address it at your next appointment. I like to think of Psoas massage as the magic button. If the Psoas is the culprit, we push the button and after a few minutes of deep breathing and some discomfort, the pain releases almost immediately. 
And as always, if adding stretches and  i ce/heat doesn't help, talk to me and we can discuss what your specific problem may be so we can come up with a workable solution. 
Announcements
***One more month to take advantage of my referral special.....
*Refer a new client this month and you will receive either $15 off or 15 minutes extra towards your next massage. 
*Plus your referred friend, family member, neighbor, co-worker, etc will also receive $15 off their first massage. 
*Discount or extra massage time for you and your friend gets a discount on a great massage.....Win/Win!
***Team E is ready to walk in the JDRF One Walk 2015 on 9/13/15!
We're just 6 weeks away from the big walk day and I would love to invite you all to join us and support my son Ethan and other Type 1 Diabetics!  To sign up to be a part of the best team around, or to donate to our team, click here.  
As I've said many times, you all aren't just my clients, you are my friends and part of my village and it would mean so much to me to see your smiling faces at our big event. And stay tuned for our Team E video coming very soon....
I hope you enjoy the last days of Summer and get out and make some memories! 

 
 In gratitude,

Bryn Rath
Tranquil Massage
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