Ashland Chiropractic
& Wellness
Massage therapy
Are you familiar with the benefits of massage therapy? Getting a massage is a great way to unwind and relax, but research also shows that the benefits of massage therapy go far beyond simple self-care and stress reduction. Consider visiting us and adding massage therapy to your regular wellness routine.
Help us welcome Alexa Rapier LMT to our family here at Hoyle Chiropractic!
Alexa integrates Myofascial Release and Thai Yoga Massage into a therapeutic massage, imbuing her Yogic knowledge. At 15, she had the opportunity to study hands on with John F Barnes in the Myofascial Release Healing Seminar in Sedona, Arizona. In such a beautiful place with many healing vortexes and the chance to experience authentic healing, Alexa's interest in the healing arts began to bloom.
Alexa obtained her massage therapy license in 2016. Her primary focus has been John F Barnes' Myofascial Release approach and since graduation she has also attended Myofascial Release I, II and Unwinding. Alexa searches for the root source of pain in the body to promote the healing process. Alexa has also studied Yoga with WE Yoga in St Louis, hot stone therapy and Thai Yoga Massage.
Alexa is excited to be joining our family here at Hoyle Chiropractic and we are ever so fortunate to have her! You will love her knowledge of the body, muscles and how pain can be released!
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**Susan Hoyle's personal experience with Alexa:**
"If I may say so myself, I have never experienced a massage like this. With integrating the Myofascial release with her massages, I found them to be so specific and each appointment is different depending on what my body needs that day! A-Mazing!" ~Susan Hoyle
Massage with Alexa is sure to be a healing experience. Massages are $70/hour, those of you who book every month they will be $60! Call our office to schedule soon! Her appointments are filling fast! 573-657-2500
MEET OUR MASSAGE THERAPIST
The benefits of Massage Therapy
Reduced stress and improved mental health
One of the most immediate benefits you’ll recognize after getting a massage is a feeling of relaxation and calm. This is what most of us think about when we imagine getting a massage, and it’s worth mentioning as one of the biggest benefits of the practice in today’s world of constant busyness and stress. Massage therapy is proven to reduce levels of stress hormones in the body and prompt the release of endorphins - the brain neurotransmitters that produce feelings of happiness and wellbeing.
Research shows that massage relieves stress in many different groups of people including psychiatric patients, people with chronic pain, cancer patients, and children with illnesses. After just 10 to 15 minutes of massage therapy, subjects have shown lower levels of several indicators of anxiety including oxygen consumption, blood pressure, and salivary cortisol.
Improved flexibility and circulation
A good massage will loosen your muscles and tendons significantly, and this alone provides multiple benefits to your body. First, relaxed and loosened muscles will allow your body to achieve a wider range of motion and reach its full potential during exercise and other activities that require movement.
Additionally, more relaxed muscles lead to increased blood flow and improved circulation, which comes with a multitude of benefits including pain management and reduced fatigue. The pressure created by various massage techniques moves blood through congested areas, and the release of the pressure causes new blood to flow in. Massage also flushes lactic acid from your muscles and improves the circulation of the lymph fluid - all great things for your overall health!
Improve Sleep
If you’ve ever had trouble sleeping because of muscle pain or tension, massage therapy could help. It loosens your muscles and causes your body to relax overall, which will help you get to sleep and have a more restful night. The stress reduction that comes with massage therapy will also help you sleep better and feel more energized the next morning.
Enhance Immunity
With recent events in mind and cold and flu season approaching in a few months, many of us are looking for ways to boost our immune systems. Massage therapy has been shown to assist our body in defending against viruses by stimulating the lymph nodes. This also links back to the stress reduction benefits of massage therapy, as higher levels of stress hormones like adrenaline and cortisol are proven to impair the immune system.
Massage therapy can have a truly positive impact on your mental and physical health, especially when practiced on a regular basis. If you have questions about massage therapy, we’d be happy to discuss how it might benefit you.
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