Julia Hagins, owner of Keep In Touch Massage, knows the
wonderful advantages of a good rubdown.
Julia Hagins, owner of Keep In Touch Massage, knows the wonderful advantages of a good rubdown.
“I’ve been doing massage for about three years now,” said Hagins, a certified massage therapist. “My own issues are what got me into massage in the first place. I was having knee and back problems. After having knee surgery I decided there must be other ways to help my body heal.”
After careful research, Hagins learned about physical therapy.
“What massage does is open up the body more,” Hagins said. “It helps the body breathe. There are different kinds of massage. There’s the relaxing Swedish massage that helps oxygenate the body and relieve stress. Then there’s myofascial massage, which is a deeper massage. The myofascial massage works on unhooking the tissues, broadening and lengthening the muscles. If tissue becomes fatigued it tends to hook together. We need to unhook it so the muscles can get back on track.
Hagins said pain is often involved in massage, but what is usually occurring is actually the release of pain. The massage keeps working for up to 72 hours, and during that time, toxic waste products in the body are being recycled or are being eliminated.
According to Hagins, there is a lot more to massage than many people are aware.
“There’s the relaxation end and the therapeutic end of massage,” she said. “To get licensed you go into the massage practitioner program. I went on for my therapist certification. Then you can go into specific types of massage. These include sports, relaxation, therapeutic, spa and day salon massage. You can also choose to work with a chiropractor’s office. I like the clinical applications of massage. I like to incorporate accelerated pain relief and relaxation massage. It’s a combination of therapy.
“With the world being at such an accelerated pace, we are under incredible stress,” she added. “Stress hides in the body in a number of ways such as posture, gait changes, eating habits. With stress reduction massage, the joints can move more freely.”
Hagins not only works on the client’s muscles, but she tries to educate and encourage them to pay more attention to everything from breathing to posture.
“I try to give my client’s some awareness education,” she said. “If they’re more aware of how they’re moving and breathing, it can make a big difference. When they are aware, they can often change just a few little things and feel better.”
Hagins said clients with a lot of stress often schedule appointments once or twice a month. Also, if people are aware of every ache and pain, no one would get up in the morning.
“I tell my clients it’s like the monkey and the organ grinder. Sometimes the organ grinder has to stop and take care of himself,” she said.
Hagins understands that many people are initially reluctant to try massage.
“There’s a burden basket outside my door,” she said. “I tell my clients they can leave any vulnerability issues they have in the basket and pick them back up on the way out. Most people forget about the basket when they leave.
“It’s a humbling experience to work on the human body. When the body knows it’s receiving help, the vulnerability disappears. Every session is customized on depth and pressure. My requirements are to meet your needs. I’ll work on a body up to three hours if necessary. I also do pre-natal massage. I’ve been present during the delivery of babies. I’m there to help the mothers relax.”
Keep In Touch Massage is located at 330 Tres Pinos Road, Building 2, Suite 5. Business hours are from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Some Saturday and evening appointments are also available. For more information or to make an appointment, call 630-1011.
