Archive for the ‘ Spa ’ Category

Benefits of Hot Stone Massage Therapy

Benefits of Hot Stone Massage Therapy include a deep state of relaxation, release of tight, tension filled muscles and increased blood circulation to the areas which are massaged with stones. But, there are other amazing, unexpected benefits of hot stone massage therapy.

This is one of those types of massage therapy that, if you’ve never had it before, can really be a powerful experience.

The level of intense relaxation is that great!

Hot Stone Massage Therapy is performed with stones that have been allowed to rest in water that has been heated to around 120 degrees. Stones are placed in specific areas of the client’s body to open meridians (or energy pathways).

The heated stones are placed on muscles to warm them instantly and provide an immediate sensation of relaxation. The greatest benefit of this therapy is that it also allows the therapist to perform deep tissue work without unnecessary pain for the client.

Other benefits of this therapy include:

1. Reduction of Stress – As you feel the warm stones moving over your body, it is almost as if they are melting the stress away. Until you experience this treatment, you really cannot even imagine how accurate this description truly is!

2. Calms the Mind – Yes, massage therapy has this ability to take us to another place. Some even describe it as a one hour vacation, where we are actually escaping the reality of life for an hour or so. But, hot stone massage therapy takes us farther, to an even greater realm of relaxation. You can get so caught up in the heat of the stones that your mind releases the worries, stresses, and confusions of everyday life!

3. Reduces pain – Heat has this ability, because it warms our muscles and allows more natural blood flow (as opposed to the unnatural restriction of blood flow we experience with tight muscles) to make muscles relax. When muscles are relaxed, pain is reduced.

4. Releases toxin and waste build-up – Everyone has this buildup of toxin and waste around the muscles. Because the muscles are relaxed during hot stone massage, it allows the toxins to be “pushed away” and they begin their journey of exit from our bodies, and that’s where we want them- out of our system. Continuous waste and toxin build-up can lead to sickness and disease. So, get massage and send them on their way!

5. Increased blood circulation – Our blood carries the oxygen and nutrients needed for healing and basic survival. Tight muscles decrease circulation and increases the strain on your heart. This can make you feel tired and weak. With massage, and especially hot stone massage, there is an increase in the body’s oxygen, which increases red blood cell count, which helps to bring even more oxygen to your body’s cells.

So you can see how this treatment can go far beyond offering a deep state of relaxation, release of tight muscles and increased blood circulation. It may actually rejuvenate the mind, body and spirit.

Hot stone massage therapy is beneficial for patients with fibromyalgia, pain syndromes, arthritis, insomnia and many other health problems.

Choosing Your Variety of Luxuries At a Spa With Massage Stones

A spa with massage is a place of luxury, and one where massage stones are used offers an even more relaxing experience. You may have seen ads where spa customers lie on massage tables with basalt stones on their backs as they are getting hot stone therapy. What you see in those ads is just the tip of the iceberg. There is so much more to getting a massage using stones.

The massage therapist uses either hot stone therapy, cold stone therapy, or a combination-style therapy where both kinds of stones are needed. Some spas only offer one of the choices. If your spa offers all three, it helps you if you understand the differences.

In hot stone massage, smooth basalt stones are placed in water and heated to a very warm, but safe temperature. The massage stones are placed on certain points of the body, particularly on the back. Some people like to have the hot stones placed in their palms or even between their toes.

One of the nice things about hot stone massage is that it can warm you up on a cold, winter day. Yet, it has other benefits as well. When the massage stones are rubbed lightly on the muscles, it produces a much deeper result. This is great for someone who does not like to be kneaded vigorously but wants the deep-down benefits of a strong general massage.

You can also get a world of help for various ailments with hot stone therapy. Your circulation will improve quickly. Your stress levels will go down rapidly as you relax. You can get pain relief from arthritis, and massage can even improve depression.

Cold stone massage is another choice at many spas. This type of massage is especially helpful if you have an injury with swelling and inflammation. The inflammation can be relieved to a large extent when the marble massage stones are placed on the areas of injury.

Cold stone massage also invigorates you, making you feel more energetic and alert. You will feel less anxiety, and your circulation will improve tremendously. This type of massage has a couple of very specialized uses; it helps with menstrual pain and sinus troubles. The cold stone massage session is one that you will enjoy and want to repeat.

The final type of stone massage is the combination therapy massage. Some spas offer a type of massage that combines using both the hot basalt stones and the cold marble stones. They are used in alternation, on various parts of the body, and in various ways to create an experience of completely luxurious and healthful relaxation and renewal.

Stone massage is based on ancient truths, but it is done with up to date techniques at your local spa. The massage stones, chosen especially for their smoothness, will relax you and improve your massage. Take advantage of this luxurious type of massage therapy next time you visit your local spa. Whether you go in for hot stone therapy, cold stone therapy or a combination, you will not regret your decision.

Day Spa Services Are Stress Busters That You Should Try

Stress is a silent killer that many people don’t realize lurk around. Most people just brush off the feeling of fatigue and weakness which are the primary symptoms of this medical condition, instead they take pills and try to rest a bit. But experts say the problem is more complicated than it presents itself to be. For one, it is quite impossible to get the right amount of rest in this modern age because distractions are everywhere. This is why we recommend going to day spa expert for the right venue to relax.

Why cant you just go home and sleep to feel better?

Medical experts say this should be the ideal way to rest but modern lifestyles are making it hard for most people to get the proper rest your body needs. Unlike decades ago when the home was considered a quiet place to relax and destress, the homes today are fastly becoming extensions of the work place and at times even school.

It is tough to get the right amount of sleep when you are surrounded by devices that can disturb you at anytime. Mobile phones are great for communications but oftentimes the hours you should spend resting are eaten up by messages and phone calls. This is the reason why most day spa services request patrons to turn off cell phones or leave them in safe lockers when coming in to relax.

How can you really relax in a day spa?

There are many therapeutic treatments available to induce your body to relax and get rid of stress. Body massage is a favorite among those who have tried it and it comes in many forms. You can choose whether you like the traditional massage, the Asian methods like Thai or Japanese, or other western forms like Swedish or French. Whatever it is you desire, you will never run out of choices cause there are hundreds of day spa services all over the world.

Another way to relax is to pamper your skin. Women just love to get these skin treatments in day spas because they can come in anytime they feel like getting a facial. Facials are very popular choices as well as full body scrubs. Cleansing is a very good way to relax your body and releive stress. According to experts, stress can also be caused by toxins from the environment that people are exposed to all the time and getting rid of them from time to time helps refresh the body. This is why day spa services are located in busy and highly populated areas and they offer treatment to those who need them the most.

Life is tough and making a living is even tougher. But regardless of the amount of work you do every day, you must never allow your body to become stressed. Try to relax and take a breather every now and then. Visit one of the nearest day spa services and let them help you bust stress from your life.

Day Spa: Different Services Available

Who does not love a day at the spa? It is a time to get pampered and forget about anything that is concerning you in the outside world. It can be such a relaxing and enjoyable experience, once you get inside the spa for your services. However, looking at a spa’s menu of services can be the exact opposite experience. Every day spa will offer a different variety of services. However, most spas will have the same types of services, but maybe a different variety. You need to plan out and think about which services you would like to have done before you go to the spa.

Every day spa is going to offer one very traditional service, the manicure and pedicure. A manicure if where they will trim your cuticles, nails, massage your hands and most often paint your nails. The pedicure is the same service, but for your feet. Within this service, there are different varieties of manicure and pedicures. They can vary by the time allotted for the service, the type(s) of products (lotions, salts, etc.) used for the service among other things. One type of pedicure that is becoming increasingly popular is the hot stone pedicure. It is a little more costly than the traditional, but the hot stones do wonders to relieve stress and sore muscles in the feet. It is a great added bonus to an already wonderful day spa service.

Most day spas also offer massages. Massages are another service that usually comes in many different varieties. It is important to know what kinds your day spa offers so that you may choose the one that is best suited for your own needs and desires. Most spas will offer different massages ranging from traditional, deep tissue, and even hot stone massages. They will also have massages that will vary by the type of oils used for the massage. If you are not sure which massage to choose, you should consult your spa and they can walk you through the different options.

Facials are another popular spa service. A facial can be relaxing; however, it can also be somewhat of a painful experience as well. A facial can have long lasting impacts on the healthier of your skin. Keeping your pores open and clean will lead to a better completion. People who get facials often have skin clear of blemishes. Day Spas offer different varieties of facials as well.

These are the most popular services offered by most every day spa that you will get in contact with. However, there are a variety of different services that can be found at most spas as well ranging from waxing, body wraps, and some will even offer spray or mystic tanning. You can even find day spas that cater to men’s needs and offer spa services specifically for men. Whichever services you choose to do, make sure your spa offers that. Then, relax and enjoy!

Hot Stone Therapy: A Treatment for Infertility?

We all think that once we are happily married and ready to have a baby we will simple get pregnant and voila! There’s a happy, healthy baby. However many couples find to their dismay and heartache that’s not always the case. When couples have trouble conceiving, they may consider going to a fertility clinic after they’ve tried other options. However, did you know that in some cases infertility could be addressed by a professional massage therapist? That is right…it is possible to increase your chances for reproduction through a massage therapy session. Why? Well, medically, massages help increase blood flow to the uterine region… blood flow that could help the uterus function better. And it also helps the women to relax and all of the system in our body respond better when we are in a relaxed state of mind.

Yet, what if a woman loves hot stone therapy… the type of massage where heated stones are used instead of a therapist’s hands? Can that offer similar benefits? It depends on who you ask. Holistic doctors would probably encourage Chinese fertility massage. With this type of massage, the principles of acupressure are addressed, which helps free up the body’s energy.

However, some massage therapists are very sensitive to metaphysical philosophies when performing their massages. In fact, one of the propagators of hot stone therapy, Mary Nelson, even based her special “LaStone Therapy” training on these belief systems.

In addition, a hot stone massage adds heat to the affected area. When this happens, circulation improves. This is vital for good health, especially in the reproductive region. Combine this with the concepts of acupressure, and a woman could substantially increase her chances that such therapy could help get her body revved up for conception.

But there is one factor that should also be considered. If a woman does become pregnant, it may be dangerous for her temperature to rise. This is why women are often told not to take long hot baths or go to saunas in their latter stages of pregnancy. Yet, that’s the ultimate keyword here… ‘later.’ Hot stone therapy probably wouldn’t have an effect in an early pregnancy, since there are many massage therapists that will do the procedure during this time. Then there are others that won’t do it at all, just to be on the safe side.

Either way, you will want to keep a close eye on your body during the time you get hot stone therapy. If you miss your period, get a pregnancy test as soon as possible. Don’t undergo any more hot stone therapy until you get the approval from your gynecologist. And, if they feel uncomfortable with you doing that type of massage, simply tell the masseuse to give you a more ‘traditional’ treatment. Save the hot stone until after the baby is born. Sure, you won’t get some of the additional health benefits, but your child’s development is much more important.

Day Spa – Useful Terminology

If you are new to the spa concept, or have never been to a day spa, you may find yourself a little confused with terminology. For example, things like reflexology and microdermabrasion may sound like something straight out of a sci-fi movie. If you do not understand these terms, it can be hard to decide on spa packages or spa treatment options. As such, you may find the following definitions of common spa terminology helpful before you start shopping for a spa package.

• Microdermabrasion. This is a process by which light abrasion is used to remove the outer most layer of dead skin. It is most often used on the face, neck, and chest – areas that are commonly exposed to the most toxins and harmful UV rays. The result is smoother, younger, more radiant skin. Not all day spa centers offer this procedure.

• Reflexology. Many scientists and medical professionals believe that the bottom of the feet provide an access point to the rest of the body. Through careful application of pressure on certain points in the feet, tension is alleviated, circulation improves, and as a result, organs function more effectively. This provides relief from all types of pain and tension, as well as encouraging your body to expel toxins.

• Infrared Sauna. Several day spa centers offer this specialized form of sauna session. By using infrared technology, the body is warmed in a sauna safely and effectively. Far infrared saunas provide all the benefit of sitting in a sauna to sweat out toxins and rejuvenate skin, but without the risks associated with steam baths.

• Ear Candling. This procedure may sound strange, but it is actually pretty basic. By removing excess ear wax and other build ups in the ear, those who suffer from chronic headaches, sinus problems, hay fever allergies, and other discomforts associated with the ear often find relief. As an all-natural option, there is no medication involved and no trips to the doctor or pharmacy to find relief.

When pursuing information or options available at various day spa facilities, be sure to ask spa employees to explain any procedures or treatments with which you are unfamiliar. These folks are accustomed to explaining not only what each treatment is, but what benefits it can offer you. If you do not know what a particular treatment is called, simply explain what discomforts you feel or what experience you would like to try. They can then highlight what they offer without the fancy terminology.