In some capacity, either professionally or personally, I have been an activist for a variety of causes for the past 25 years. I cannot stress enough, the importance of any community coming together to lend its energy, time and skills to further a cause.
In keeping with my longtime and strongly held beliefs that impact of giving is paramount, I am pleased to announce that I have signed on as volunteer massage therapist for the 2015 Cycle for the Cause -- the Northeast AIDS ride.
Every September hundreds of riders and crew members come together and embark on a journey like no other: Cycle for the Cause. Together they train, fundraise and prepare to make the roughly 275-mile trek from Boston to New York. Some are veteran riders and some have never cycled before, but they all share one common thread: their dedication to the cause -- fighting HIV/AIDS.
In addition to volunteering my professional skills, I am fundraising. If you are so inclined, and would like make a donation to this effort, please CLICK HERE.
Friday, May 8, 2015
Wednesday, April 29, 2015
2015 pring and Summer Specials
Spring Special: Student Discount
Current students of all kinds, full time, part time, continuing education, all vocations and more, take 20% off any session at either location. Present a current schedule or student ID to receive discount. Offer valid until June 21, 2015.
Weekday Special at WellSpace StudiosTake 20% off any service booked at the Union Square Location on a Monday, Wednesday or Friday between the hours of 10 AM and 7 PM. Offer valid from May 1, 2015 to July 1, 2015.
Visit www.robzlmt.com for more information.
Friday, February 20, 2015
Speaking at the Arthritis Foundation Mind Body Symposium
On Wednesday, March 18th, I will be speaking at the 2015 Mind Body Symposium on
Therapies to Reduce Arthritis Pain. The symposium includes a variety of medical professionals and covers various movement and complementary therapies that can help relieve pain, stress and fatigue. Event details follow.
Wednesday, March 18 from 5:30 PM - 8PM.
Mount Sinai Medical Center
1468 Madison Avenue
(at 101st Street)
Guggenheim Pavilion, 2nd Floor
Hatch Auditorium
New York, NY 10029
To Register: Call 212 984 8730 or email info.ny@arthritis.org
Therapies to Reduce Arthritis Pain. The symposium includes a variety of medical professionals and covers various movement and complementary therapies that can help relieve pain, stress and fatigue. Event details follow.
Wednesday, March 18 from 5:30 PM - 8PM.
Mount Sinai Medical Center
1468 Madison Avenue
(at 101st Street)
Guggenheim Pavilion, 2nd Floor
Hatch Auditorium
New York, NY 10029
To Register: Call 212 984 8730 or email info.ny@arthritis.org
Tuesday, January 6, 2015
New Location in Willamsburg, Brooklyn
I am very pleased to announce that in addition to my other
locations, that I will be accepting clients in Williamsburg, Brooklyn as a
partner in the newly formed Richardson Bodywork Collective.
In true Williamsburg fashion, the private studio is located
in a converted warehouse that is home to an assortment of artists, designers
and other creative professionals. Located near McCarren Park at 87 Richardson
Street, it is a 7 -10 minute walk from the Bedford Avenue L train station
through the heart of Williamsburg or a short walk from the Nassau G train
station.
To celebrate this new venture, I am offering a special price
on massages booked at this location. From January 15. 2015 to February 15,
2015, 60 minute massages will be offered at a rate of $80 and 90 minute
massages at a rate of $110. Appointments can be scheduled at any time and will
begin on January 15, 2015.
Monday, November 24, 2014
Hot Stone Massage
Hot stone massage is a natural massage therapy modality in which warmed, smooth stones are used to perform the massage strokes to maximize the therapeutic benefit. The stones that are typically used are a form of river rocks or some other very smooth surfaced stones made of basalt. The stones come in a variety of shapes and sizes to accommodate larger areas such as your back and upper legs, small stones for detailed foot work and an assortment of sizes in between to use on a variety of muscles and surfaces. These stones are heated in water or a steamer before use to an ideal temperature between 120 and 140 degrees. It is the high iron content in basalt helps the stones retain heat during the massage. During your session, the massage therapist will often flip the stone during strokes to ensure the heat sufficiently gets into your muscle tissue from both sides of the stone.
As with any therapeutic or complementary or alternative medicine treatment, it is recommended that you speak with your doctor before having a session. In the case of hot stone massage, there are certain cautions and contraindications that must be observed, such as, high blood pressure, arrhythmia's and other cardiac issues and diabetes, to name a few. Your massage therapist should also do a health intake prior to your session.
The heat of the stones combined with the therapists pressure can help your muscles to relax, allowing the massage therapist to manipulate tissues more effectively. Certainly, all types of massage can help ease pain resulting from tense muscles, stiff joints or injuries, but hot stone work may very well provide a heightened level of relief. Some clients have noted that because the application of heat allows the massage therapist to penetrate deeper, that the affects are akin to deep tissue work, without the additional pressure.
Cold, as we know, can lead to decreased circulation. Heat, on the other hand, may help increase circulation; it causes the blood vessels to widen, known as vasodilation. With greater circulation comes health benefits. Poor circulation can lead to fatigue, which tenses the muscles, and a buildup of fluid and lactic acid in the muscles. Increased circulation delivers more oxygen to the muscles, which can help ease aches and pains.
Robert Zukowski is certified in Hot Stone Massage by the Swedish Institute of Health Sciences
Winter Massage Therapy Special through December 31, 2014: Hot Stone Massage
Now through December 31, 2014, any 60 minute Hot Stone Massage is is on sale for $60. Hot Stone Massages are available only at the Astoria location.
Tuesday, November 4, 2014
November Meassage Therapy Special - Student Discount
College students, trade schools, technical schools, continuing education, part time or full time. Students of any kind take $25 off any 60 minute session or $30 off any 90 minute session. Visit www.robzlmt.com for more information.
Saturday, September 20, 2014
Swedish Massage and the Sympathetic and Parasympathetic Nervous Systems
While there are many diverse and effective massage modalities that can help in managing illness, injury, pain, recovery and the like, one should never underestimate the health benefits of a classic, Swedish massage. This modality is also often referred to as a relaxation massage. Relaxed is more than a state of mind, it is a state of health and body on a physiological level. There are, without question, real, positive physiological affects that take place at the hands -- pun intended -- of skilled therapist and Swedish or relaxation massage. Many studies have shown that trained, moderate touch, such as effleurage, quells the sympathetic nervous system, or the stress response, and initiates the parasympathetic nervous system. Why is this important to your overall health and wellness? I'm glad you asked.
The autonomic nervous system (ANS) is responsible for regulating the functions of our internal organs. The ANS is part of the peripheral nervous system and also controls some muscle function. We are usually unaware of ANS related activity in the body, such as pupil dilation or a change in heart rate or blood pressure, because these functions occur on an involuntary and reflexive basis. There are three main divisions of the ANS -- the enteric, sympathetic and parasympathetic systems. As it pertains to Swedish massage, we will focus on the sympathetic and parasympathetic systems.
The Sympathetic Nervous System and the Fight or Flight Response
The "firing" of the sympathetic nervous system is what initiates the flight or flight response (stress response). The physiological impact of fight or flight on the body can easily be considered a foundation on which stress related medicine is built. Triggered by episodes of stress, the fight or flight response is our body's automatic, inborn and unconscious response that is designed to ready the body to defend or flee from real or perceived harm or threat. Fight or flight is a mechanism of survival. When you are confronted with stress of any variety, whether it be from internal factors or the world around you, fight or flight is triggered. This response corresponds to an area of the brain called the hypothalamus, which when stimulated, initiates a sequence of nerve cell reactions and the release of chemicals that prepare the body for running or fighting.
Hormones like adrenaline, noradrenaline and cortisol are released into our bloodstream and move through our bodies, causing a series of changes. Our rate of respiration increases, for example. A portion of our blood supply is diverted away from our digestive tract, hence halting digestion, and is redirected into our muscles and limbs, which require extra energy and fuel for retreat or physical retaliation. Our pupils dilate, we become more aware and our vision sharpens. Our impulses become sharper and faster, the sensation and perception of pain diminishes and our immune system mobilizes with increased activation. We become prepared, on every level, for fight or flight. You can surely imagine the long term affects on a body in a stress induced, frequent or chronic fight or flight state of being.
According to the Mayo Clinic, "The long-term activation of the stress-response system — and the subsequent overexposure to cortisol and other stress hormones — can disrupt almost all your body's processes. This puts you at increased risk of numerous health problems, including anxiety, depression, digestive problems, heart disease, sleep problems, weight gain, memory and concentration impairment."
The Parasympathetic Nervous System and Rest and Digest
On the flip side of the stress induced, fight or flight, sympathetic nervous system response is the kinder, gentler parasympathetic nervous system and rest and digest. To be more specific, the parasympathetic system is responsible for stimulation of the rest and digest response and activates during times of low stress. You need the rest and digest response for health and balance. This physiological state of being conserves energy as it slows the heart rate, it increases intestinal and gland activity, relaxes muscles, as well as sphincter muscles in the gastrointestinal tract. Your parasympathetic nervous system maintains and restores your energy. It directs blood to your digestive tract and makes sure you actively digest food. It also maintains your blood pressure, heart rate and breathing rate at a low level. It brings the body to a neutral and homeostatic balanced state where you can function better and heal. There is a tremendous amount of research indicating that relaxing, moderate massage therapy relaxes the autonomic nervous system, initiating firing of the parasympathetic nervous system and resulting in a state of rest and digest. The relaxation and wellness you feel after a good, quality Swedish massage is more than just a moment. It is a state of physiological health radiating from the inside out.
The autonomic nervous system (ANS) is responsible for regulating the functions of our internal organs. The ANS is part of the peripheral nervous system and also controls some muscle function. We are usually unaware of ANS related activity in the body, such as pupil dilation or a change in heart rate or blood pressure, because these functions occur on an involuntary and reflexive basis. There are three main divisions of the ANS -- the enteric, sympathetic and parasympathetic systems. As it pertains to Swedish massage, we will focus on the sympathetic and parasympathetic systems.
The Sympathetic Nervous System and the Fight or Flight Response
The "firing" of the sympathetic nervous system is what initiates the flight or flight response (stress response). The physiological impact of fight or flight on the body can easily be considered a foundation on which stress related medicine is built. Triggered by episodes of stress, the fight or flight response is our body's automatic, inborn and unconscious response that is designed to ready the body to defend or flee from real or perceived harm or threat. Fight or flight is a mechanism of survival. When you are confronted with stress of any variety, whether it be from internal factors or the world around you, fight or flight is triggered. This response corresponds to an area of the brain called the hypothalamus, which when stimulated, initiates a sequence of nerve cell reactions and the release of chemicals that prepare the body for running or fighting.
Hormones like adrenaline, noradrenaline and cortisol are released into our bloodstream and move through our bodies, causing a series of changes. Our rate of respiration increases, for example. A portion of our blood supply is diverted away from our digestive tract, hence halting digestion, and is redirected into our muscles and limbs, which require extra energy and fuel for retreat or physical retaliation. Our pupils dilate, we become more aware and our vision sharpens. Our impulses become sharper and faster, the sensation and perception of pain diminishes and our immune system mobilizes with increased activation. We become prepared, on every level, for fight or flight. You can surely imagine the long term affects on a body in a stress induced, frequent or chronic fight or flight state of being.
According to the Mayo Clinic, "The long-term activation of the stress-response system — and the subsequent overexposure to cortisol and other stress hormones — can disrupt almost all your body's processes. This puts you at increased risk of numerous health problems, including anxiety, depression, digestive problems, heart disease, sleep problems, weight gain, memory and concentration impairment."
The Parasympathetic Nervous System and Rest and Digest
On the flip side of the stress induced, fight or flight, sympathetic nervous system response is the kinder, gentler parasympathetic nervous system and rest and digest. To be more specific, the parasympathetic system is responsible for stimulation of the rest and digest response and activates during times of low stress. You need the rest and digest response for health and balance. This physiological state of being conserves energy as it slows the heart rate, it increases intestinal and gland activity, relaxes muscles, as well as sphincter muscles in the gastrointestinal tract. Your parasympathetic nervous system maintains and restores your energy. It directs blood to your digestive tract and makes sure you actively digest food. It also maintains your blood pressure, heart rate and breathing rate at a low level. It brings the body to a neutral and homeostatic balanced state where you can function better and heal. There is a tremendous amount of research indicating that relaxing, moderate massage therapy relaxes the autonomic nervous system, initiating firing of the parasympathetic nervous system and resulting in a state of rest and digest. The relaxation and wellness you feel after a good, quality Swedish massage is more than just a moment. It is a state of physiological health radiating from the inside out.
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