03/28/2024
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The ancient arts of massage therapy and acupuncture are known all the world over for being methods of stress relief and healing.

The members of the Elizabethtown-White Lake Area Chamber of Commerce welcomed Elizabethtown Massage R & R as a new member during Tuesday’s luncheon meeting. Chamber Members also learned more about the services the company offers.

Massage Therapists Judith Brogdon, Carrie Kelly, Wanda Thomas, and Acupuncturist Leslie Brown, discussed the various procedures performed and how they help their clients.

Brown spoke first regarding acupuncture. She said while many people fear needles, such as getting shots, the needles used in acupuncture are very different. The acupuncture needles are small and do not cause pain.

Brown said there is an acupuncture treatment to help people to relax in a time of crisis or high stress, such as Hurricane Florence. The purpose of acupuncture is to help the client relax and let go of their daily stress.

“Stress is a thing that makes everything worse because it compromises your immune system, said Brown.

She also said acupuncture is good for treating addiction.

Brogdon spoke about the benefits of a deep muscle massage and the Swedish massage. She said a deep muscle massage can be painful the first time a client experiences it, but the benefits outweigh the discomfort.

The Swedish massage is the massage many clients will typically opt to receive, and many people are familiar with. The Swedish massage helps a client to relax and relieve tense muscles.

“It (Swedish massage) really is a good massage for a first-time massage,” said Brogdon.

She explained that a deep tissue massage involves strong, deep finger and elbow strokes into the muscles. Brogdon explained this massage can be painful to anyone who has never had a massage.

Brogdon also talked about the therapeutic massage, which is a combination of both types of massages.

She also talked about the use of the hot stone massage. Brogdon said this allows the client to relax more.

Carrie Kelly spoke about massage therapy for clients who are pregnant. She said massage therapy during pregnancy can help to relax the client before childbirth.

“I had a client who was pregnant. She got a massage about one week before she gave birth. She said it really helped with the birth,” said Kelly.

Kelly also said massage therapy is a good to relieve stress, and some clients even report receiving pain relief after receiving a massage.

Thomas also spoke of the benefits of massage therapy and why she chose it for a career.

“I can help them (clients) feel good, and feel good about themselves,” said Thomas.

She related a story regarding her time attending nursing school. Thomas said an instructor once received a massage and scheduled regular appointments. She said she noticed the professor walked straighter and got relief from his ailments.

“It helps you feel like a whole new person,” said Thomas.

Elizabethtown Mayor, Sylvia Campbell, who is a client, said, “They give you things you can do at home to keep your muscles working, exercising every day (between massages).”

She explained she has been a client, and the massage therapy has helped her with back issues.

Chamber Executive Director, Dawn Maynard, also said she has been a client and massage therapy helped her with the back pain she has experienced. She also explained that when she was 18 years old, her doctor told her to seek massage therapy as she got older to help her in dealing with issues with her neck.

Elizabethtown Massage R & R is at 109-B Mill Street, Elizabethtown (behind the McDonald’s). They are open Tuesday through Friday from 10 AM until 6 PM, and Saturday from 10 AM until 2 PM.

Also speaking was Yvonne Whitely, the Disaster Survivor Representative with FEMA.

“What I do with FEMA when there is a disaster, my team and I go into a community and go physically knocking on doors and finding survivors who have had damage to their home,” said Whitely.

She said there is a Disaster Recovery Center now open in the Bladen County Cooperative Extension Center at 450 Smith Circle in Elizabethtown. Whitely said they can check your registration status or appeals.

The Small Business Administration is also on hand at the Disaster Recovery Center to assist both homeowners and businesses.

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