BEATING WINTER SLUMPS
We’re getting closer and closer to spring, but in Pittsburgh, our winters are long and overcast. For many people, that can affect how they feel. Less sunlight and a drop in your activity level during the winter both contribute to these changes, especially if your brain chemistry is predisposed to these conditions. So, what can you do to beat the winter slumps? Let’s look at options.
WHAT TO EXPECT FROM YOUR MASSAGE AT PFP
Walking into a new space for the first time—especially for a massage—can bring up a mix of excitement and uncertainty. Our goal at Pittsburgh Fitness Project is to make sure you feel comfortable, informed, and supported from the moment you walk through our front door. Here’s exactly what you can expect.
HEART HEALTH & MASSAGE
February is Heart Health Month. You can do a lot of things to improve your heart health, including regular exercise, eating a heart-healthy diet, and avoiding tobacco products. But did you also know that massage can actually help your heart? Let’s look at how massage can improve your cardiovascular health.
POSTURE RESET
How Massage Helps Undo Daily Tension: Our bodies are built to move on a daily basis. Yet over 50% of people spend most of their workday in a seated position. Sitting with poor posture can lead to neck and back pain, “tech neck,” rounded shoulders, and so much more! But how does massage play a role in keeping your spine aligned?
STRESS HAPPENS. RECOVERY IS A CHOICE
Better Sleep Starts with Better Recovery. If you struggle to fall asleep, stay asleep, or wake up feeling rested, stress is often the hidden culprit. Here’s how massage can help support your sleep.
MASSAGE THERAPY & HEADACHES
Did you know that headaches and migraines often manifest as a result of chronic tension patterns from the neck, shoulders, and jaw muscles? These tension patterns can be a result of postural stress, muscle imbalances, or nervous system overload. Massage therapy can be an effective treatment for addressing the underlying physical contributors of headaches and migraines rather than just treating symptoms.
PRENATAL MASSAGE: BECAUSE GROWING A HUMAN IS HARD WORK
Pregnancy is amazing. You’re literally building a person.
It’s also the reason your back hurts, your hips feel like they’re 87 years old, and tying your shoes now feels like an Olympic sport. Enter: prenatal massage, aka someone finally taking care of YOU. Here’s how it helps at every stage of pregnancy!
KEEP CALM & CRANBERRY ON
Thanksgiving: a magical time of year when we gather with loved ones, give thanks, and stress out over dry turkey, weird relatives, and attempting to cook 7 side dishes in a single oven.
Let’s face it, between travel delays, grocery store madness, and pretending you like Aunt Judy’s "casserole," this holiday can turn even the calmest pilgrim into a full-blown Butterball of tension.
But fear not, weary holiday warrior, massage therapy is here to gravy your nerves and carve away your stress.
HYDRATION & MASSAGE
You’ve probably heard it a thousand times: “Make sure you hydrate!” But did you know water actually helps your muscles move better? Fascia, the web of tissue that holds everything together, needs hydration to stay smooth and flexible. When it’s dry or tight, you might feel stiff, sore, or less mobile.
Let’s break down why hydration matters so much for your recovery and how massage therapy can help keep your body feeling balanced and free.
GETTING THE MOST FROM YOUR MASSAGE: TIPS FOR YOUR FIRST TIME
Getting a massage for the first time can be both exciting and a little nerve-racking. Not knowing what to expect for your first time is a totally normal experience; even your therapist was in your shoes once! We’ll go over a few simple tips to get the most out of your massage experience so you can come in with excitement and leave feeling rejuvenated.
RELAX, REJUVENATE, REPEAT
Big news, relaxation lovers! PFP is now offering CBD massage oil as an add-on to your favorite massages—and trust us, your muscles (and your mind) are going to thank you.
Whether you’re melting into a Swedish massage or targeting tension with deep tissue work, our CBD-infused oil takes your session to the next level. Think: the same amazing massage you love, now with plant-powered support for sore muscles, stiff joints, and overall zen.
CREEPIN’ IT REAL: HOW MASSAGE CAN IMPROVE YOUR MOBILITY
How massage can improve your mobility, even if you walk like a zombie!
Are your joints cracking like an old haunted house? Do you shuffle into the office every Monday morning like a creature from the crypt? Well, don’t scream just yet—massage therapy might be the spooky secret to bringing your body back from the dead.
Let’s get into the ghoul stuff.
SUMMERTIME ACTIVITIES & RECOVERY
We are officially well into summer, and Jason has been seeing more people out on the trails and in the parks. He wants to remind you that there are things we should do before and after an outside activity!
HOW MASSAGE THERAPY HELPS ATHLETES MAINTAIN PEAK PERFORMANCE
Athletes are constantly pushing their bodies to the limit—training harder, running faster, and lifting heavier, all in the pursuit of peak performance. But to perform at their best, recovery is just as important as training. That’s where I step in, your friendly massage therapist—not as a luxury, but as a crucial part of an athlete’s routine.
KNOTS OR ADHESIONS?
What are knots and adhesions? These are questions that I have been asked several times during my tenure as a massage therapist. My usual response is that they are the same thing. Through my education, I’ve learned that one is a more common understanding, and the other is a medical term. But pondering that question at home made me look into it more, and here is what I found.
FEELING TRIGGERED? TRIGGER POINTS & MASSAGE
Have you ever heard of trigger points? PFP massage therapist Jason Bye will explain trigger point therapy to help you understand a little of what it is and why it might be good for you.
MASSAGE FOR RUNNING RECOVERY
It’s training season for the Pittsburgh Marathon. While most runners will have a plan for their running workouts, most don’t incorporate plans for their recovery. Rest, regular sleep, and proper nutrition all work to improve training and performance. But what about massage? In this blog, let’s look at how massage may help sports performance and running recovery.
SELF-CARE BETWEEN MASSAGES
Self-care is as important as getting a massage or having an exercise/movement routine. Massage Therapist Jason Bye has a recommendation that he offers to a lot of his clients for self-care that you can do at home in between massages. He also uses this for his own self-care.
MASSAGE THERAPY FOR STRESS RELIEF
Recharging Your Body and Mind
We all need down time. We have been told that taking time for ourselves can be a great benefit to ourselves, but we do not always follow that advice. Massage can help with stress by allowing you the time you need to disconnect from everything else going on in the world or just allowing you some down time. Your massage therapist can be quiet or you can feel free to talk with your massage therapist, please just speak up for what you need or want because this is your time. There some physiological effects that also will benefit you.