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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (May 29, 1998)
Massage Facts Massage once seen as shady practice Believe it or not, mas sage wasn’t always as highly regarded as it is today. Massage used to be a common front for prosti- / tution and was ( generally re garded as a shady practice, says Byron I nanus, massage in structor at Lane Community College. However, World Wars I and II sparked a conversion of pub lic opinion toward the activity as veterans required increas ing treatment for their war wounds. “Doctors were shorthanded, nurses had their hands full, and the growth of occupational and physical therapy really blossomed,” he says. "People started seeing the value of body working—that was the boost." The change in public opin ion was not instantaneous, however. In fact, much of the change has occurred during the past 10 years, Hanks says “People realize massage has its own health value. Now there’s a clear split between the shady aspects and the health factors.” —By Nicole Krueger Happy Massager created by therapist to reduce strain of massage on hands Jennifer Thompson, a senior ma joring in journalism, used to have a Happy Massager. “I was living in Carson, and my Happy Massager became famous," she says. “Everybody wanted to come over and borrow it." Thompson said the tool was use ful because it kept her hands from getting tired when she gave back rubs. “My hands would always end up hurting, but with the Happy Mas sager you could do it forever.” The Happy Massager,a wooden massage tool (pictured above), is a product of the company Tender Loving Things Inc. It was created by California native Mark Juarez, an in ventor and certified massage thera pist. Juarez was practicing and teach ing massage in Europe when he be gan to notice that many of his col leagues were developing carpal tunnel syndrome, according to a press release. He developed the Happy Massager to help reduce the strain of massage on the hands without reducing its effectiveness. After patenting his product, Juarez raised $20,000 and returned to the United States in 1992 to found Tender Loving Things Inc. Revenues jumped from $35,000 in 1992 to $19.5 million in 1995, and the company grew to include 303 employees. Today, more than seven million Happy Massagers have been sold worldwide. Thompson no longer has her massager, which she gave to a friend who needed it one day. But she said she would like to own one again. “I think it relieves a lot of stress just because it's kind of a funny little object,” she says. “It kind of makes you laugh. “It makes you happy.” — By Nicole Krueger In addition to relieving stress, massage has many health benefits Everyone knows a good back rub both relaxes and relieves stress. But some of the other beneficial effects of massage are much less known. | Massage: »IMPROVES BLOOD CIRCULATION: By dilating blood vessels, massage increases the flow of blood and relieves conges tion throughout the body. * INCREASES NUTRITION TO MUSCLES: Toxic lactic acid, which is produced during voluntary mus cle contractions, is not produced when the muscle is stimulated by massage. ■ IMPROVES MUSCLE TONE: Massage also helps prevent mus cular atrophy, which results from forced inactivity. ■ STRETCHES CONNECTIVE TISSUE: Massage breaks down or prevents the formation of adhe sions and reduces the danger of fi brosis. ■ CAN PARTIALLY COMPENSATE FOR FOR LACK OF EXERCISE: Massage helps return venuous blood to the heart, easing the strain on it. SOURCE: Southampton University Massage Club Web site AMANDA COWAN/Emerald All Wavs Travel Experience Europe like no other, Contiki Tours are available!! Want to explore the U.S. this summer? TiytheUsbus. Eurail passes issued instantly and no service/ticket fees! E-mail: awt@luv2travel.com 1200 High St. + 338-4199^ Student Travel Experts* '-poppi*/— __/4n3rk)lt3k "The Land East" Traditional “V Greek & Indian Food 00187; Lunch Monday through Saturday Dinner 7 Nights a Week 992 Willamette Eugene, Or 97401 343-9661 MTMOITO I CARROT TOP SUNDAY, AUGUST 30 8:00 p.m. Tickets On Sale STARTING MAY 22 TICKET PRICE INCLUDES FAIR ADMISSION presented by THE OREGON STATE FAIR Aug. 27-Sept. 7 1998 224-TIXX all SEATS RESERVED • RAIN OR SHINE ALL ACTS SUBJECT TO CHANGE
