22 years before graduating from Brenneke School of Massage In 1996. Rita had always been interested in health and fitness. As a dancer she pushed herself through hours of practice, sometimes dancing with injuries. She started out doing massage on a part time basis, as she was looking for a career change. She then became interested in pain management, injury treatment and injury prevention and realized she found her niche with massage. Rita went on to become an instructor for Brenneke Massage School from 1999 through 2005.

Rita was “Voted “Best Therapeutic Massage” by Seattle Magazine 2004, here is what they said: “Muscle aches are a fact of life for the active folks, and when rest and ice aren’t enough, it’s time to turn to the heavy artillery: a myofascial release massage from licensed therapist Rita N. Bojorquez. This deep-tissue workout for your muscles is no day at the spa, but it works magic on over used muscles. It’s an hour you won’t soon forget.”

I first met Rita in 2001 at Bellevue Place Club. I was heading up the running programs for Bellevue Place Club. Rita helped keep the runners injury free. When you are training for marathons and half marathons, you push your body to the limit. Massage helps keep the tissue healty so you can perform optimally. It can really make a difference in performance.

Lisa: “Can massage improve my performance?”

Rita: “Massage enhances circulation and balances muscle tissue, tendons and ligaments. Balanced muscles function optimally.”

Lisa: “ Can massage prevent injuries?”

Rita: “Absolutely, by ensuring nutrients are ready for any tissues repair that is needed, Massage aids the removal of waste products to ensure waste deposits don’t stay in the tissue. Massage also prevents adhesions (tissue that stick together because of injury or stress). Adhesions can reduce range of motion. Reduced range of motion negatively impacts performance.

Lisa: “When should I get a massage? Before a race? After a race?”

Rita: “Pre-race massages should be administered 3-4 days prior to the event. The purpose of a pre-race massage is to create a stimulus, to get the muscles ready for action. It is important to NOT get a massage the day before the race as massage can effect the performance of the muscles due to the change in proprieoceptors”

“Post race massages are for recovery, aid in muscle repair, maintenance, and to rebalance muscles that are sore and have micro tears.”

Lisa: “Should I get a massage if I have a cold?”

Rita: “Massage will spread the cold throughout the body. This will make you feel sicker, but you will recover faster. I wouldn’t recommend getting a massage when you have a cold if you can’t afford to be sick. i.e. not before a race or a vacation.”

Lisa: “What’s the difference between Swedish? Deep tissue? Sports massage? Trigger point massage?”

Rita: “Swedish uses an emollient to move fluid thru the body while affecting the proprioceptors to relax the muscle, break up tissue, etc..”

“Deep tissue a catch all phrase that can mean a lot of things, but consistently means deep pressure on the tissue. It includes myofascial release which uses no emollient for truly deep work”

“Sports massage is a system of compressions that can work thru clothing and does not use emollients. It can be relaxing but it is not intended to be relaxing.

“Trigger points are extremely sore points occurring in the ropy bands through out the body. They can also be found as painful lumps of hardened fascia (connective tissue) Trigger Point comes from the work of Travell and Simon. Travell was the MD for John F. Kennedy. In the past freone was used on the trigger point to release it. Currently a saline injection, administered by medical doctors and physical therapists, into the trigger point is used to release the trigger point. Licensed Massage Therapists use pressure to bring nutrients to the compressed site of the trigger point to release pain.”

I am a firm believer in massage therapy. Rita has helped keep me injury free. She has worked on many runners and athletes. She works youth to seniors.

rita.jpg

911 Massage

Rita Bojorquez L.M.P.

ritabee31@hotmail.com

206-709-8705