Archive for July, 2011

Learn Massage in 3 Easy Steps

Apply enough oil (or moisturiser if you don’t have oil) so that flat hands can just slide over the back.

Note: Make sure you NEVER MASSAGE THE SPINE. You can massage the muscles just next to the spine but never put pressure on the spine itself.

Level 1 strokes are the lightest. They are designed to warm up the muscles, ready for the deeper strokes. Level 2 is a bit deeper, designed to warm further and knead out tight spots. Once the muscles are warmed up, Level 3 is designed to really iron out knots and release tension in really tight muscles.

When you are doing level 3 strokes, ask the person how hard you can press remembering that different muscles are more sensitive than others. For example the muscles supporting the spine can handle quite deep level three where as you will need to press a lot lighter on neck muscles.

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1. Level 1

Start by using flat hands and applying level 1 pressure. My favourite stroke is figure of 8 stroke. Stand on one side of the body, place two hands side by side on the lower back. The two hands follow each other in a figure of 8 motion. Do this up the body to the shoulders and then back down. Repeat 8 or so times. This stoke is hard to master so practice on your leg or on a pillow!

2. Level 2

I will explain two different level 2 techniques. 1. Using the heel of your hand. Place a flat hand on the back, knead tight spots with the heel of your hand up to where up to where your fingertips are. Don’t apply any pressure with your fingers, just use them to stabalise your hand or you will pinch the skin and muscle. 2. Pick up and knead tissue between your thumb and the rest of your fingers in a wipe on, wipe off motion. Don’t let your thumb and little finger touch as this will pinch the skin or muscle. This stroke will take some practice.

3. Level 3

For this stroke, use the deepest pressure the person can take. Position your body high enough above the person that you can extend your arm from the shoulder straight down. Extend your thumb in line with your arm. You use your thumbs to apply the deep pressure, using your body weight rather than tiring yourself out. You use this stroke for knots and muscles that support the spine.

Happy massaging!

Is Massage A Healing Art For Everyone?

Massage has already been considered as a healing art in the past and even at present. There are people who get regular massage just to do away with stress and tension from work while some consider massage as a way to relieve themselves from severe pain caused by arthritis and other conditions. Massage is really beneficial and helpful to a lot of people. This is regardless if the massage is performed by a professional massage therapist or a massage recliner or massage chair. The quality, strength and intensity of the massage may not be identical, but it is closely similar. All you have to do is decide on which option works best for you. But is massage for everyone who wants to enjoy all its benefits? Despite of all the good things that it offers, massage is not a healing art for everyone. There are some instances when you should not consider getting a massage.

For instance, when you are suffering from fever, it is best that you should refrain or even avoid getting a massage for the time being. This is because when you have a fever, your body is already in the process of dealing with the toxins that cause the high temperature. Your body is already doing everything just to get back to its normal condition. Now, if you visit a massage parlor or a spa for a massage, more unwanted toxins will be released inside the body and this makes it harder for the body to do its job. Therefore, you have to wait for the fever to be gone before you can consider getting a massage.

When you are suffering from an inflammation is another situation when massage therapy should be avoided. In the event that pressure during massage is applied on the inflamed area, it may worsen the inflammation and cause a more serious problem. Massage may cause the spreading of the infection to other parts of the body.

Osteoporosis and bone fractures are also among the conditions when massage should be avoided. Most of the time, elderly people are the ones who are experiencing osteoporosis which means that the bones have already become weak and fragile. So if you already have this kind of condition, you should refrain from getting a massage or perhaps only get light massage. The same idea applies when you have a bone fracture or a broken bone. Massage is definitely not the best option that you should choose when talking about mending the bones.

Aside from these conditions, there are many more conditions that are considered to be massage contraindications like having skin diseases, hypertension, varicose veins, cancer, epilepsy, infectious diseases or if you are pregnant. Therefore, you should speak with an expert first before getting a massage. You should determine if you have any of these said conditions to avoid your problems to get worse. Even if you are perfectly fine, there is a need for you to seek the advice of your physician first and find out the best massage technique for you.

Massage Therapy For The Head

Massage Therapy For The Head – Origins

Massage is perhaps one of the oldest therapies known to man, and has been practised in the East for at least the past 5000 years.

Head massage originated in India over a thousand years ago. The origin of the word shampoo comes from a Hindi word ‘champi’. Originally it meant having your head massaged and began as a way for mothers to help their daughters keep their long hair in great condition.

The majority of mothers in India still practise head massage as an everyday part of family life and mothers would normally perform this service on family members at least once per week.

Benefits of Indian Head Massage

The benefits have been acknowledged for generations, and massage is commonly part of everyday activities, carried out within the family from an early age.

In the 1970′s Narendra Mehta brought Indian head massage to the west and the therapy has since been extended to include the shoulders, upper arms,face, ears and neck, and is available in good beauty salons.

Indian Head Massage is very relaxing, calming the mind, body and emotions.

Working with a firm and gentle rhythm it aids relaxation and helps to relieve muscular discomfort and tension. It also is reputed to improve circulation in the head, thereby enhancing the senses and promoting clear thinking.

Application

The massage often begins with the upper back, where the application of deep massage technique helps to relax the muscles and to loosen and melt away knotted areas.

Working through the upper arms and shoulders further releases the common areas for holding tension, and then working deeply into the neck to melt away tension where it often accumulates.

Moving up to the head itself, methods are employed which relax, stimulate and revive the whole of the head, increasing circulation and promoting healthy hair.

Finally the treatment may include a gentle face massage which improves circulation, enhances skin tone, and may assist with sinus and headache issues.

Massage therapy for the head can be performed with or without oils with the client sitting and fully clothed, so it can conveniently be performed anywhere without the need for a massage table. As such it is also particularly good for people who are wheelchair bound or are partially immobile.

Indian Head Massage In Beauty Salons

Typically upon arrival your therapist will take you through a free consultation and you will be asked to get comfortable so the massage can commence.

Size of establishment is not the main criteria in selecting a salon. Look for establishments, whether large or small, that offer a highly professional standard and where their therapists are fully qualified and insured giving you peace of mind that your treatments will be carried out safely and competently.

After receiving a relaxing massage therapy for the head it is best to take things and to take on board plenty of water during the rest of the day.

About Carrier Oils

Significant role to play

Carrier oils play a far more significant role in aromatherapy than many people realise, and in comparison to the essential oils some people feel they are of little importance. To believe this would be a mistake though, ecause they offer a wealth of health-giving benefits of their own. They contain vitamins, minerals and essential fatty acids, and many of them soften and improve the condition of the skin. Some of them are also highly effective in treating irritated, sensitive conditions such as eczema and psoriasis as well as helping to reduce wrinkles and scar tissue. And in case you hadn’t already done the mathematics; carrier oils make up 98% of a typical aromatherapy treatment. Think about it. Technically classed as ‘fixed’ oils because they do not evaporate, carrier oils are also known as base oils and vegetable oils. They are largely derived from nuts and seeds, although there are a few exceptions to this generalisation. For example, coconut oil is extracted by a special process from the white flesh which is known as ‘copra’, and jojoba oil is extracted from a leathery-leaved shrub and is actually a liquid wax rather than an oil.

 

Extraction methods the oil obtained from nuts and seeds is usually extracted by one of two different methods. The first process is known as ‘cold pressing’ and is restricted to relatively small-scale production these days due to the higher cost. The nuts or seeds are placed in a horizontal press with a rotating screw known as an ‘expeller’ and the oil is literally squeezed out. Despite the processing name, a certain amount of heat is produced during the process due to friction, but this rarely exceeds 70° or 80° c and causes little damage to the oil. The oil is then filtered and sold as a finished product. Large-scale industrial production uses a method called ‘hot extraction’ and uses a similar process, but tremendous heat is applied during the process to increase the yield of oil, and temperatures used can reach up to 200° c which destroys the important vitamins and fatty acids. The waste product from both methods of extraction, known as ‘cake’ is often re-processed using solvents to extract even more oil. This oil is re-heated again, refined, deodorised and the colour is bleached out. Finally, artificial colour, preservatives and vitamins are added back. These highly refined, solvent extracted oils usually end up on supermarket shelves for use in cooking and are therefore totally unsuitable to use in aromatherapy. All the vitamins, minerals and fatty acids have been destroyed during the extraction process and they are a ‘dead’ product. You should always buy cold pressed oils for aromatherapy and your skin will be sure to feel the benefits. Regrettably, grapeseed oil cannot be produced by cold pressing since a realistic yield of oil cannot be produced without applying heat.

Refined or unrefined?

Some oils like avocado, coconut and wheatgerm are available in both a ‘refined’ and ‘unrefined’ form, and where you have the choice you should always choose the unrefined oil. Unrefined coconut oil is impossible to use since it sets like butter, and is therefore made available in the form of a ‘fractionated’ oil and is very useful in

aromatherapy. Unrefined avocado oil is a dark green colour and has a very strong odour which is not to everyone’s liking, but nonetheless is rich in lecithin and vitamins a and d. Likewise, unrefined wheatgerm oil is a dark orange colour with a strong fragrance typical of the cereal, and contains high levels of essential fatty acids and some vitamin e. The cosmetics industry prefers refined oils since the darker colours and heavy odours can have an adverse effect on the final product. Because of this, unrefined oils are often only produced in much smaller quantities and can be a little more difficult to find – especially if you only buy from health shops. Fortunately, most reputable aromatherapy stockists will normally offer a selection of unrefined, cold pressed vegetable oils. How to choose a carrier oil there is a wide range of carrier oils to choose from, plus some other infused or macerated oils such as calendula and st john’s wort. The variety of vegetable oils available to a newcomer can seem a little bewildering at first, since there is very little written on this important subject in many books. But choosing which one is for you is not really complicated at all.

Choosing a carrier oil is exactly the same as choosing an essential oil really, you choose one with the properties that you need for your particular needs. You just need to know some basic facts about the properties, actions and viscosity of vegetable oils, and then choosing becomes easier. Our simple reference chart here ill help get you started. All of these vegetable oils are the very finest that you can use for intensive facial treatments and body massage, and they can be combined to suit your particular requirements. Experiment with Your oils until you find what works best for you – that’s one of the keys to success with aromatherapy. Sweet almond, peach and apricot oils are highly versatile and can be used for both body massage and facial treatments since they are light and easily absorbed. If you are concerned about the possibility of nut-allergy reactions then sunflower is a perfect body oil since it is extracted from seeds, and the same applies to grapeseed. Black seed, borage, evening primrose, jojoba and rosehip oils all deliver outstanding results in facial treatments, but may need diluting with another lighter oil if you want to use them in body massage. None of these oils are extracted from nuts either. Unrefined avocado and wheatgerm are perfect for nourishing the skin in an overnight treatment, but are a little too heavy to use in body massage.

They have a strong odour that some people do not like, but please don’t let that put you off! They are excellent, deep-nourishing oils that will provide essential fatty acids and nutrients to soften your skin. If you want to use these richer oils in body massage or facial treatments just add them to a lighter oil such as almond, apricot or peach oil at around 15-20%, then you can enjoy all their therapeutic benefits without the odour. Of course you can do the same with any of the other deepnourishing oils – and it helps keep the cost per treatment down too. To complete your massage or facial oil, simply add 1 drop of pure essential oil to every 5mls of carrier oil that you use. If you are having a facial treatment, remember to avoid the delicate undereye area and don’t apply too much oil – a little goes a long way. Gently work the oil into the skin until it has all been absorbed, and your skin will be left feeling soft and silky smooth.

Amusing Massage Packages Offered at Your Comfort

Massage is not simply the action of fondling or making you flexible. It has some amazing benefits to offer you. It gives a soothing and relaxed experience along with improving your blood circulation. It is proven that gentle massage can keep you beautiful and young. Lots of beauty benefits with a facial massage… Stretches tissues, enhances collagen production, and rejuvenates your skin. Other than beauty benefits, massage offers excellent health benefits. Pleasant touch along the spine and waist has the power to reduce back pain. Gentle massage cures swelling of joints and muscle pains, improves breathing, regulates the nerve cells and also enhances the immune system. Moreover, massage is the great reliever of stress and tensions. Massage brings harmony to your mind and body. That’s why the system of massaging has been in existence from ancient times and is getting familiar among people nowadays.

Do you know the excellent benefits of massage in pregnant women? It’s because during pregnancy, a woman suffers more from pains and aches. The body experiences considerable changes in times of pregnancy and so a good massage provides enough relaxation and thus benefits both the mother and the child. People opt for a day spa to get massages and other beauty therapies like manicure, pedicure and more. The prices may be expensive and varies with different massage therapies but professional massage therapists offer excellent services for their clients. The silent atmosphere with all the possible facilities for relaxation provides you excellent spa experience. Soothing music, freshness of nature and the ambience of light is something extraordinary for everyone. If you don’t have time to spend in a spa or massaging centers, there are services which offer you spa experience in the comfort of your home. Just by making a call

It is now possible to gift your special ones with an excellent massage package. Available separately for both male and female, it is easy to purchase and print gift vouchers in little time. The massaging spas have beauty therapists as a team to satisfy the clients’ needs at their comfort. How nice it would be to present someone with gift certificates in minutes? Your friends will be surprised with this wonderful gift. Luxury packages are available for special events and occasions. Facial and beauty packages for kids would make your little princess look charming during her birthday party and other festive occasions. Get the dazzling look to attract the guests in times of parties and night events. Health and massage spas get popular and are found in large numbers in Brisbane. Book for your packages and enjoy the spa experience with mobile treatments at your convenience.