Team Franciscan Center: Setting Goals!

Kristin Pitstick
Spa Manager 

While the holidays offer us time to spend with family and friends, they tend to leave us a bit lethargic (not to mention a few pounds heavier!). Now is the perfect time to take an honest look at yourself, decide where you want to go, and set some goals to get there! For this month’s issue, I’m going to talk a little bit about massage and how it could benefit your exercise regime.

Muscles that get moderate to heavy exercise tend to become chronically tight compared to those that don’t. This tightness in turn causes a loss of flexibility which predisposes you to injuries. Poor blood flow due to muscle tightness also means pain and discomfort. Enter massage therapy. Some of the benefits for injury prevention and exercise include:

Increased range of motion and flexibility

Improved performance

Shortened recovery time

Increased supply of nutrients/oxygen to muscles.

Elimination of lactic acid (a by-product of muscle tissue during strenuous exercise)

Relief from muscle soreness and pain

Overall, I encourage you to make massage part of your wellness program. Not only will it help you perform better, it will make you feel better. Make 2013 the best year of your life!

The Franciscan Center Day Spa offers several different types of massage.  Please feel free to stop by the spa and take a look at our menu of services!  We are happy to answer any questions that you might have.  Or, call 

Team Franciscan Center: Hydration and Massage

My congratulations to all who participated in the St. Leonard 5k on Saturday, June 9th! Good times were had by all and what an exciting event! It was a beautiful day for running, walking, and socializing. In this month’s issue, I wanted to talk about the importance of hydration and how it relates to massage.


Water is the most important nutrient for your health. It’s no coincidence that it is the most abundant nutrient in the body. According to the USGS, up to 60% of the human body is water. The brain is composed of about 70%, lungs nearly 90%, lean muscle 75%, body fat 10%, and bone around 22%. Water provides several functions in the body, including: regulating body temperature, protecting and cushioning vital organs, aiding in digestion, lubricating joints, moisting air for breathing, and removing waste.

So, water is important for your body, but why is it important for massage? From the point of view of a therapist, when muscles and ligaments are properly hydrated they are easier to manipulate. In certain types of bodywork, such as lymphatic massage, accumulated materials get released into the bloodstream and need to be flushed out. Most importantly, you should drink water after a massage because massage itself can be dehydrating. By drinking water, you can rehydrate, decreasing the chance for pain and soreness following a massage.

Kristin Pitstick

Manager of the Franciscan Center Spa

Franciscan Center Day Spa 432-6540