Offered by many spas and massage centers, a couples’ massage is an excellent way for spouses, partners, lovers, and even friends to enjoy a massage at the same time. The massages can vary from traditional to sensual and erotic, but all of them have a few elements in common.

In most cases, the couples’ massages are performed in larger rooms, which have two massage beds and enough space for at least two therapists to move freely around them. The benefits of sharing a massage are many as partners can bond and feel much more comfortable when they are in each other’s presence. This is quite often the perfect way of introducing someone to the wonderful world of massaging and is also ideal for men, who are often more apprehensive about being nude during a massage or could feel vulnerable.

Various massage centers offer special couples’ massages, which aim at teaching the partners how to massage each other and introduce them to the basic techniques, strokes, and practices of erotic and sensual massage. These sessions are performed by experienced therapists or masseurs, who can show men and women or same-sex partners how to add new and beautiful element to their intimate life. The sessions could involve not only a hands-on approach, but also sharing of the deeper and philosophical aspects of tantric and sensual massages and teaching the partners how to channel their sexual energy, give each other great pleasure, and achieve even greater sexual satisfaction. Such lessons can also be part of complete massage courses, which are extremely beneficial for couples that wish to improve their lovemaking and can include various techniques of pleasuring and self-pleasuring, as well as Yoni and Lingam massaging.

In the stressful times that we live, the relationships could be easily harmed by financial problems, career concerns, and numerous other negative factors. Quite often, the physical aspect of these relationships is the one that suffers the most, but with the help of regular couples’ massages, this is the aspect, which can not only be rekindled, but also brought to new exciting levels.

In order to receive the full and long-term benefits from a couples’ massage, it should be done on a regular basis, with the full commitment from both partners, and approached with an open mind. For the Western couples, many of the practices and techniques could be seen as unusual or inappropriate, especially when it comes to sensual and erotic massages, but their aim is to improve the couples’ intimate life and strengthen their physical and spiritual relationship. If you are not a Tantric follower, you can still benefit from the spontaneous couples’ massage and use it as a wonderful form of relaxation and recreation. After all, what can be more rewarding than sharing this sensual experience with the partner that you love? Offered by many spas and massage centers, quite often you can design your own, custom, couples’ massage and ask the procedure to be performed in a way that you and your partner are completely comfortable with.

If you’re having a problem with cellulite, you may want to explore cellulite massage technique options. Cellulite is nothing more than a collection of fat cells below the surface of the skin. Massage has been shown to smooth out the bumpiness created by those collections.

Hand Massages

One cellulite reduction massage technique is a hand massage. It has to be done a particular way to be optimized for cellulite removal, though. So, it’s best to have it done by a licensed massage therapist. Typically, it will involve gentle pinching or lifting of the skin and circular hand motions. The idea is to stretch and smooth out the skin.

Of course, there is a down side to having a professional give you a cellulite smoothing massage by hand. It can take a lot of time and money. That’s especially true when you think about the fact that cellulite reduction massages are really only temporary. You need to get repeated massage therapy, if you want ongoing results.

Cellulite Massage Machines

Another good cellulite massaging option is to use cellulite massage machines. These mechanisms lift and massage the skin. They also sometimes use vibrations or heat to intensify the effects. Some of these machines are even designed for home use. So, you can use them to control your own cellulite management.

Cellulite machines for home use are usually very affordable. They’re also extremely convenient to use. You can easily find plenty of them on the Internet. Just be sure to familiarize yourself with the different types, before you choose one to buy. Product reviews can really help you to make a good decision.

More Powerful Machines

Of course, there are more powerful machines that can be used to smooth out your cellulite dimples. Typically, though, you can only find them in professional massage parlors. They can be used to give you a deep tissue massage that really hits the cellulite at its source.

Lasers

Laser treatments are another option. The light of the laser can target the fat deposits that are under the surface of the skin. It’s a procedure that needs to be done by professionals, though. One reason I that lasers can be dangerous in the wrong hands. Another is that the laser machine is just plain too big and expensive to get for your own home.

In general, you have to remember that cellulite massages are not quick fixes. They also aren’t one-time events. You need to get or give yourself treatments on a regular basis, if you want to see some real changes for the better. That’s why patience is key, no matter what cellulite massage technique you choose.

When we bump our body on something, we naturally put our hand on that body part. Rubbing a loved one’s back or shoulders when they are experiencing pain or stress is another thing we do without thinking. Touch, or massage, is one of the most natural expressions we have as human beings. There are some very compelling reasons to use massage as a tool to connect with those around you. This list includes what we feel are some of the most important reasons to massage your partner…specifically OUR Top 5 Reasons to Massage Your Partner. We’ve been teaching couples massage as a means for partners to reconnect to each other for over a decade, and have had a tremendous amount of feedback from participants in our classes. Some of the reasons below were reinforced by people who learned to massage their partner with us, and others are basic massage benefits.

1) Massage boosts your immune system. There have been medical studies that prove that massage increases the efficiency of the immune system, through stimulating the production of the cells that are the first line of defense for the immune system, as well as stimulation of the lymphatic system. Massage increases circulation and decreases blood pressure temporarily. This benefits your organs and the overall health of tissues in your body. Doing something healthy for your partner is a great way to show them you care for their health!

2) Massage gives you a chance to reconnect with your partner in the craziness of the everyday. Frequently the wear and tear of everyday keeps us from connecting to our partners in meaningful, thoughtful ways. When you give yourselves time to come back together, in a slower pace, it allows you to open up to your partner again. Taking time to breathe, and enjoy some calm physical touch, can bring you to a deeper level of emotional intimacy with your partner.

3) Massage helps you to de-stress. Massage has been shown to increase endorphins, while reducing cortisol and adrenaline secretion. In other words, massaging your partner allows you both to escape stress for a little while. The inevitable deeper breaths you take during giving or receiving a massage allows you to use another tool that is helpful in reducing the stress response in the body. Deep abdominal breathing helps to further the relaxation response in the body.

4) Massage gives you a chance to practice receiving. When we are constantly running around taking care of everything that needs to be done, many of us don’t take the time to receive. We suggest that couples exchange massage on different nights, so that each partner can truly relax into receiving, or focus on giving. This will allow each partner to focus on receiving the loving touch and attention, which will offer an enhanced experience to both.

5) Massage is a tool to increase awareness. When you receive a massage, you become more aware of tension and pain in your body. This allows us a greater tool for health, and a way to notice injuries before they get out of hand. It also allows you to recognize what feels good in your body, or what is supporting your overall level of well-being. In using massage in this way with your partner, it allows you to work together for better health for both of you. For instance, when your partner notices over and over that one leg or arm is tighter than the other, you can evaluate how you are sitting or sleeping, which can increase your level of comfort from day-to-day.

Have you ever started a new workout routine and felt sore in the same place all the time? How did this hold you back from advancing and making the most of your weight training? The cause of the chronically sore muscles is a combination of lactic acid build up and muscular imbalance. Deep Tissue Massage Therapy is a great solution.

Whenever I go to the gym to work out I see a lot of people that need a good massage. There are many body types presenting many different conditions. I see the huge guys that need massage because their muscles are so hyper-tonic (chronically contracted), and at the opposite extreme, women over 40 that never worked out habitually throughout life and so their large back muscles and core muscles are weak, which causes low back or thoracic pain. I notice many people working with personal trainers that need Deep Tissue Massage Therapy to help them balance certain muscle groups, which would help them get more out of their training.

Lactic acid build up is the muscle soreness you feel when you start a new weight training routine or do something strenuous you don’t usually do, like kayaking or sprinting. This is the kind of sore feeling that we have all experienced, and it actually makes you feel like you did something. This lactic acid build up is common, harmless, and goes away quickly. It is easily treated with Tiger Balm, ice, and stretching. Deep Tissue Massage Therapy will help the lactic acid soreness go away more quickly too.

In relation to strength training, though, I want to talk about the other part of the soreness combination — muscular imbalance. This is not what makes you feel like you did something, but the feeling that you did something wrong. This is the painful, constrictive feeling you get between your shoulder blades when you do rows, for example. Most people experience this feeling of muscle spasm at some point in their strength training routine, and it holds them back from advancing because it is not common lactic acid soreness, but a serious muscular imbalance that can lead to injury. Balancing muscle groups increases strength and flexibility; for example, the pecs are commonly short and hyper-tonic which protracts the scapulae causing neck and upper back pain.

Deep Tissue Massage helps to balance the musculature so that the body can perform optimally. No one is perfectly symmetrical. We all have our areas in which one muscle group is elongated, and another one is shortened. For example, look in the mirror and see if one shoulder hangs lower than the other or look at yourself sideways and see if your shoulders sit in front of the body’s coronal plane. Imbalances are very common in the lower body too. Lay on your back and see if one foot naturally splays out more than the other. In addition, one leg usually is slightly shorter than the other.

There is nothing wrong with this and it is perfectly normal, but when left alone it is not optimal for the advancement of one’s strength training routine. Deep Tissue Massage Therapy will help balance the muscle groups by releasing chronically tight and constricted muscles and getting to the root of the disequilibrium. Many common factors cause muscular imbalances; for example, repetitive motions at work, incorrect postural habits, scoliosis, old injuries, and emotional holding patterns. A good massage therapist will be able to identify the areas of imbalance, release hypertonic muscles, and balance the whole group (both agonist and antagonist).

A good way to get strong is by lifting weights to work both the agonist and antagonist muscle groups for a given area. Let’s use the pectorals (chest) group and the latissimus dorsi (back) group as our example. While doing pull-downs, some people might feel a spasm as if one side of the lats were shorter than the other, like the left side goes down before the right side and is tighter. This could cause a shortening of the left side of the latissimus dorsi, and might even cause the trunk to twist slightly left, with the right pec and anterior deltoid being shortened. This can cause pain that prevents a person from doing this exercise, even though it is good under normal circumstances.

One effective treatment is to have this client lay on his right side, and for the massage therapist to lengthen the left lat and serratus anterior. The therapist also has to release tight muscle bands in the deltoid and the rotator cuff, as well as under the shoulder blade. Then, with the client supine, the massage therapist works to release tight pectorals and the anterior deltoid of the right side. In this example, the SCM and trapezium would also need attention because the entire shoulder girdle and neck area will be affected and in need of relief.

Deep Tissue Massage Therapy also hydrates the tissues, increases blood flow, and makes the fascia more open and supple, increasing the muscles’ potential for growth. All of this makes people stronger faster, makes you feel more energetic, and look fantastic. It can help you become more flexible and aware of how your body balances. It is important to get a good Deep Tissue Massage on off days so you can feel the benefits and realize that deep tissue massage is vital to your strength training routine, health and wellness.

Unfortunately, it is very difficult to fix muscular imbalances yourself. If you work out regularly and have hit a plateau, are sore too often, or get muscle spasms frequently, please call a licensed massage therapist that specializes in Deep Tissue Massage Therapy to help you.

You can now find a number of helpful therapies contained in today’s massage chairs. Technology is enabling more types of therapies to be included into these recliners. They are perfect for home use on a frequent basis. Here are some of the more beneficial therapeutic treatments you can find in a massage chair.

Traction or stretching of the spine helps with greater mobility. Mechanical traction is defined as the application of a mechanical force to the body in a way that separates or attempts to separate the joint surfaces and elongate the surrounding soft tissues. There are a number of ways to accomplish traction.

Spinal traction is used to distract joint surfaces and stretch soft tissues. Joint distraction is defined as the separation of two articular surfaces perpendicular to the plane of the articulation. Traction applied to the spine or spinal traction is performed by some massaging chairs.

A massage chair uses supine segmentation traction. This is a 3-point bending method for spinal traction. It causes tensile stresses in the anterior spinal region directly above the roller. The subject is supine and the rollers push up vertically against the spine. The body weight on each side of the roller (cranial or caudal) is pulling the spine by gravity. The subject’s weight towards the surface of the earth, while the rollers push upward in between. The force of the traction is affected by the subject’s body weight and the angle of the chair back.

Leg elevation can also be performed by a massage chair. Leg elevation is defined as having the calves in the case of edema above the elevation of the heart. The massage chair is reclined while the leg rest is raised. The patient can adjust the level of the legs at or above the level of the heart.

There are some massages for the cervical spine such as the kneading massage. The kneading massage is a side to side motion performed by the rollers. The rollers use side to side strokes of 3 inches for each roller.

The kneading motion is used for pressure and deeper penetration. It delivers long strokes for the major back and shoulder muscles. The kneading motion helps to elongate the muscle fibers. Elongating the muscle fibers is believed to help reduce muscle tension, increase flexibility and improve blood flow.

Rapid tapping is used to loosen the major back muscles. Massage chairs perform an invigorating tapping massage. The tapping massage is a rapid succession of quick little blows. The rollers gently invigorate the muscles and loosen up the soft tissue areas.

Rapid tapping can help improve blood flow and to relax a muscle group. When the spine is misaligned, then the other muscles must pick up the slack. In addition to their normal load, they must also carry extra weight from a misaligned spine. The tapping massage helps to reduce this tension.

Heaters have been located in the leg rest, seat and the chair back. Each heating area has independent controls. Heat is applied by activating the heating elements in the chair. Heat is an aid to reducing stiff muscles or joints and is also used to increase flexibility and range of motion.

It is great that so many new therapies are being included into massage chairs. These are some of the more important therapies that are now available. I think that massage chairs are the most convenient way to get regular massage therapy.