by admin on April 4, 2010
Are you one of the millions who try and convince themselves that a few hours in front of the television in the evening is a good way to unwind from the day’s stressors? Is it that you really believe this to be true or have you just fallen into a rut and have forgotten what it is to honestly feel good?
We live in a non-stop world where we are bombarded with distractions and stimulation 24 hours a day. Multi-tasking has become a standard entry on most resumes and is seen as a plus in the ideal employee rather than the fact that it actually reduces performance and competency levels and increases stress. Most people have become so used to carrying near-debilitating tension that they no longer consider it abnormal.
The truth, however, is that we are not designed for the pace we are desperately trying to maintain. Our “fight or flight” mechanisms are stuck in the on position and it is taking a deadly toll on our bodies, not to mention our mental and emotional states. Since there’s not always an option in what we are forced to deal with, the next best thing is to eliminate stress before it has time to do more damage.
One of the absolute best ways to release stress is through one of the many massage techniques available today. Exercise and a healthy diet are essential for good health but when tension becomes chronic and is trapped in muscles and connective tissue throughout the body, it may be necessary to look for professional help. Nothing feels better than the relaxing strokes of a gentle Swedish massage but for more serious tension, the services of a deep tissue massage therapist may be more appropriate. Often combined with the increasingly popular hot stone massage, the deep tissue techniques focus on breaking up of knots and adhesions that may have formed over time or through injury.
Whatever modality of massage you choose, the most important part is that you are taking action to release stress. The difference this can make in your life really can feel miraculous.
by admin on March 17, 2010
There are many different types of massage therapy techniques that you can benefit from as a massage receiver or study from as a massage therapy apprentice. Different types of massage techniques have been utilized by numerous different cultures over many periods of time.
Today there are ancient practices still respected and used as well as hybrid methods that incorporate both ancient techniques and modern techniques. There are different types of massage therapy techniques that specialize in different part of the body and focus on different outcomes for the receiver.
For instance, there are ancient eastern techniques, such as acupressure that is utilized in the Chinese Zhi Ya massage therapy and Shiatsu massage therapy.
Acupressure focuses on finding certain pressure points in the body that can hold tension that might be present in other parts of the body. For instance, there are pressure points in your feet that when triggered can create pain or relieve pressure in say your legs or back. Acupressure is beneficial because it targets the source of the problem as apposed to other techniques that focus on the larger muscle as a whole.
There are other techniques, such as deep tissue massage therapy, that focuses on specific parts of the muscle that might be causing pain throughout a larger portion of the body. Deep tissue massage is mostly targeted to relieve chronic pain that is muscle related and can heal or relieve serious injuries. If you are searching to be a masseuse or are looking for a relaxing massage at a spa, this is not the massage for you. If you have a sports related injury where a muscle in your hip might be causing you constant pain, you might want to indulge in seeing a deep tissue massage therapist or chiropractor.
Another technique that is popular in the western societies is the Swedish massage. This massage therapy technique focuses on entire muscle groups in order to give the receiver relaxation and comfort rather than focusing on one specific point of pain on the body. It utilizes movements like rubbing, stroking, and kneading over all of a given muscle. This is the massage you would receive if you went to a day spa.
by ChangeYourLife on February 5, 2010
Some people may enjoy doing massage at home or are perhaps considering joining the ranks of those who call themselves professional massage therapists. They might be thinking about buying a massage table, but don’t know why it would be necessary- why not just use the bed, or a couch? There are many reasons portable massage tables are the ideal work surface for massages and are preferable to an improvised surface. For anyone who does or would like to do massage on at least a semi-regular basis, it is a wise investment.
The first and most important reason to use massage tables is that they are designed to make life easier when giving and getting massages! That’s obvious, but it means that the client will generally be better supported and more comfortable on the table. Especially in the prone position, the use of a face cradle is a huge improvement over laying facedown on a flat surface.
But the greatest difference will be for the therapist- the massage table is scaled to allow easy access to all parts of the client’s body. Table height is usually adjustable, which allows the therapist to customize the table to their own preferences. This is not just about comfort- it can and has saved many a therapist from back problems and other physical problems associated with improper body mechanics. It eliminates the awkward reaching you often have to do if massaging someone on a bed or the floor, for example. The table can also be adjusted higher or lower depending on the work the therapist is doing. When using deeper pressure, for instance, the therapist may wish to lower to table to more effectively use his/her body weight to apply pressure. When doing more energetically oriented treatments, the therapist can raise the table to allow for a more relaxed posture.
For the reason that it allows a massage therapist to do his/her work , the massage table is truly a massage therapist’s greatest helper.