Author: Melissa Banno

What is a Movement Snack?

Most of us know that in order to be healthy we need to exercise, but most of us don’t have lifestyles or occupations that involve exercise. So how do we find the time?  Well, I have some good news!  A recent study found that small bursts of exercise were actually more

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What is TMJ?

If you’ve ever heard anyone say “I have TMJ”, it’s a bit of a misnomer because TMJ actually is an acronym for temporomandibular joint, which is the anatomical term for the joint where the mandible (jaw bone) and the temporal bone (bone in the skull) are located. The true term for

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Why is Massage Effective?

In Deane Juhan’s book, Job’s Body, he talks about how the body adopts habitual patterns of holding and movement based on our jobs, social situations, general dispositions, injuries and repetitive motions. He says, on pages 220 and 221: Over the years, it is the habitual repetition of these preferred fixations

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Who is Deane Juhan?

Recently I was very lucky to have an opportunity to train with Deane Juhan. I attended a three-day workshop on Trager Fundamentals with Resistance and Release, focused on neck and shoulders. Deane is the author of Job’s Body, a book that is a “Bible” for massage therapists. It is possibly the most

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Human Anatomy Fascination – The Shoulder

Over my 15 years of practice, I have gone through phases of fascination with various aspects of the body. At one point it was the temporomandibular joint (the jaw), another time the ribs, another time the ankle and foot, etc. Most recently I am fascinated by the shoulder, particularly where

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Recommended Oil for Massage Therapy

Since 2006 the only oil I have used in my practice is Jojoba Oil. It technically is not an oil, but a wax derived from the jojoba seed. Its chemical composition is very similar to human sebum, so it leaves no oily residue, is hypoallergenic and never goes rancid. It

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