Posts Tagged ‘ massage

How to Become a Massage Therapist

One of the fastest growing fields in medicine right now is massage therapy. More and more doctors are recognizing the benefits of medical massage to provide pain relief for their patients. There are a number of large medical practices which now have a massage therapist on staff and a growing number of insurance companies are providing at least partial coverage for massage when it is medically merited. Professional sports teams are hiring massage therapists to work for them and so are the major college sports programs creating an abundance of opportunities.

To become a massage therapist, it is necessary to complete an educational program. There are schools across the country which specialize just in medical massage and there are programs at community colleges and universities which offer degrees in massage therapy. A minimum of 500 hours of training is required in most states to become a licensed massage therapist. One of the tests that is required for certification is administered by the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork. You are required to know in detail anatomy, physiology and kinesiology. You also must be able to answer questions pertaining to Therapeutic massage assessment and application. Plus, there is a section on the test that covers professional standards, ethics, business and legal practices.

When you decide to enter the field, you also must decide what type of massage you want to specialize in. There are over 80 types of massage being practiced around the globe which are distinguished by the techniques which are used. Some employ the deep muscle kneading that most of us associate with massage while others use warm oils or even hot stones. There is one type of massage that does not use the hands of the therapists at all, the therapist uses their bare feet.

Whatever you decide to specialize in, one of the keys to becoming successful is professionalism. Unfortunately, massage has been misused by people who have used it as a front to provide sexual services. It is absolutely critical for the massage therapist to avoid any inappropriate contact with a patient. Make sure that the person is comfortable with what you are doing and always allow them to decide if they want to be clothed or covered up.

There are exciting opportunities for massage therapists to work in a variety of settings. You could choose to be employed in a doctors office, a chiropractic office or sports medicine clinic. There are a number of spas all across the country which offer massage services and you could even do a stint on a cruise ship where massages are routinely offered each day by the pool. Once you are a certified as a massage therapist you will have to go through additional training to maintain your certification. You are required to have 50 hours of continuing education every four years to keep your certificate up to date. It is also required that you document performing at least 200 hours of massage therapy over that time.

Couples Massage Therapy

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.

Tips for a Healthy Massage

A whole day of work can bring exhaust and health problems to our bodies. Why not have a massage rest in the evening or noon breaks? It is a good idea to do exchange massage between two partners, for massage can make whole body relaxed and reduce some illness risks. However, bad massage could cause serious body injury, so it’s necessary to know some tips for healthy massage.

Keep your hands in good conditions

You are not advised to make use of lotions or oils at the start of a massage. They can be helpful only if massage hand are in good conditions. Hands are considered as most important tools for good massage. It’s better to keep hands warm, clean and tender, which makes massage comfortable and healthy. Unclean hands may pass virus to the massage receivers. Fingernails should also be kept well not to leave skin injury on the one who take your massage.

Keep proper posture

Body relaxation plays a important role in massage. Good posture can help keep receivers’ body relaxed. Receivers are advised to lie down without benting parts. You can put something under the feet of the receiver, which help him keep balance of whole body and reduce pressure on the lower parts of his body.

Aware massage reactions

In massage process, you should be aware of the receiver’s body and feeling reactions. Make sure not to press too hard. Over-pressure on body parts may cause unexpected injuries. You can ask the receiver how he feel. Avoid some massage skills that are likely to cause pain. There are many skills that will not cause discomforts. Take a short break in the process and injury would be less likely to happen.

All in all, massage could release us from work tensions and it can be good for our overall health if we get good command of it.

Cellulite Massage Technique Options To Consider

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.

Benefits of Getting a Good Massage

In present times, each and every person is very much in tension because of the workload and job pressure. There is an instant need to lower this pressure otherwise everybody will be bored of the work they do. Consequently the quality of the work is going to be ruined. The best way to lower this pressure is either plan for a vacation, dance, or get a soothing massage. Getting a massage is the best way to look and the best thing about it that people don’t have to spend anything and get relaxed and refreshed at their home itself.

To attain wellness we need to do away with stress and tension. But doing away with it with some medicines is still a risk. Medicines have side effects that may trigger more problems in the future. A safe way to do away with the stress and tension is through massage. There are many benefits of massage such as you heart starts working more efficiently. In a survey conducted in United States of America it was found that people who have massage every month twice they live two years more than the normal person. The best thing that massage does to a person’s body is that blood circulation is very frequent and nice.

Nowadays, a wide variety of different massage chairs are very common in the market. A consumer looking for a chiropractic chair is offered dozens of brands to choose from, all of them promising better features and that too at a very low cost. There are various devices such as g5 professional massager, etc, which can be used to have a good massage. More importantly patients with musculo-skeletal problems are benefited from this a lot.

G5 massage therapy is very common among people living in urban areas, and there are various companies which offer such services at very minimal rate. Shoulder pain and tension affect many different people, regardless of how they live or how old they might be. Many times, this pain can be a result of old trauma to the neck, shoulders or back as well as other parts of the body. However, it may also be due to being out of shape, bad posture, over-extension, sitting or lying in the same or odd position for extended amounts of time, these problems are curbed by a good massage. These are very common problem among people who are into office job, so if in a month these people have massage, they can save themselves from such problems.

5 Reasons to Massage Your Partner

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.

Tips on Finding Massage Courses

Let’s begin with some advocacy on massage. What is massage? Or what is a massage therapy? Humbleness is always respected in massage therapy. The existence of massage is one of the oldest as well as the simplest stems of therapy that not only earmarks equanimity to ones mind. It is additionally a method of pressing, kneading as well as stroking various areas of the body to alleviate pain, and it also helps in relaxing as well as stimulating, along with toning the body. More than creating a pleasant sensation on ones body, this therapy additionally behaves on the delicate tissues (the muscles, tendons, as well as ligaments) which furthermore benefits in improving the muscle tone.


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However massage therapy copiously affects those muscles that are just under the skin, it also benefits by reaching those deep layers of muscles as well, and mostly it benefits the organ themselves. It also helps in increasing ones blood circulation along with assisting the lymphatic system (that liquefies parallel to the circulatory system), which further helps in improving the abolishment of lay waste throughout the body. Let us now talk about some benefits of it. Benefits of therapy could be relaxing, soothing, healing, reassuring, eases tension, stiffness, and pain. It also benefits us by improving ones breathing system, circulation system and enhances ones well being.

A Brief explanation on the effects of massage therapy:

Single massage is really enjoyable, but later the effects of massage are cumulative and unbeatable, and a course of massage treatments will experience the best benefits, it’s like a boon. proper massage can allocate the effect of strengthening and further toning ones entire body mechanism, and at the same duration it benefits to dissuade unnecessary strains as well as injuries that might otherwise abide due to excess antagonism and any resulting syntactical weaknesses.Massage therapy helps one body to stimulate or calm the entire nervous system-that depends on am individual body type and requirements -and further helps in reducing fatigue, with a feeling of positive and fresh energy.

In today’s world we have many career fields of massage therapy available nowadays and therefore training for being a massage therapist is very much possible, which therefore is a great step towards creating a stimulating as well as rewarding job. for getting admission in any of the massage courses, you have to look appealing to the schools who at the same time need to operate as a business; they got to search and give admission to the best candidates to help safeguard their name as well as increase their income through the fees they earn from their various massage courses available for the students. Hence forth they set a massage institutes entrance requirements to help them get the “wheat from the chaff”.

Massage Therapy – Hands On Relief

Once seen as a luxury for serious athletes and the rich and famous, massage therapy is now widely accepted as an integral part of a healthy lifestyle.

There are many benefits to getting a massage. It can relax your muscles, relieve pain and stress, and improve circulation. Physically, this hands-on relief therapy stretches and loosens muscles; facilitates blood flow and removal of metabolic wastes throughout the body; increases the flow of oxygen; and stimulates the release of endorphins, the body’s natural painkillers, reducing anxiety. And emotionally, it satisfies the basic human need for that nurturing touch.

Three popular types of massage are Shiatsu, Swedish, and Sports. The Shiatsu/Acupressure type is an Asian-based finger-pressure massage to treat special pints along acupuncture “meridians”, channels of energy flow in the body. It aims to open blocked channels, which can cause discomfort. It is best for those who suffer from tension in specific areas–shoulders, back or neck.

The Swedish technique was developed by a Swedish athlete in the 19th century. It incorporates long strokes and a kneading and friction technique to target superficial layers of muscles. This technique is good for everyone, especially if it’s your first time. It promotes better circulation, reduces muscle tension, and alleviates stress.

The Sports technique is deeper and more vigorous than the other techniques. This is a pressure massage to prepare you for a workout, competition, or performance, or to help recover after. It is designed to move lactic acid out of the muscles to prevent soreness and cramps, and is best for fitness buffs who constantly suffer from sore muscles.

Before undergoing any of the above techniques, here are some inquiries to make:

1 If you’re pregnant or have any kind of cancer, the therapist will most likely recommend that you first get permission from your doctor.

2. Discuss any known allergies to scents or oils (paba and almond oil are common allergens). Migraine and sinusitis sufferers should identify themselves, as certain essential oils will be chosen to help with these ailments.

3. Bring up any kind of back problem, sore muscle, especially recent injury or surgery.

4. If you’re a sports enthusiast, tell the therapist what you participate in so he can concentrate on the muscles commonly used in that sport.

5. Skin conditions such as acne, eczema, psoriasis, or even bruises should be pointed out, because the therapist can avoid direct contact, but work around the affected areas to enhance circulation.

The more often you receive massage therapy, the more sensitive you become to your own body. As a result, you become more aware of the stress signals your body sends out, and you can respond more quickly and effectively to those signals.

Deep Tissue Massage Therapy Perfectly Compliments Strength Training

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.

Does Massage Fit Into Your Workplace?

More and more companies are bringing massage into the workplace. Although at first it seems like a major investment in time, money and space, they’re discovering that those costs are far outweighed by the benefits they’re seeing in reduced employee stress, as well as increased morale and productivity.

If you’re wondering why so many companies are finding ways to fit massage therapy into the workplace, read on for the answers to some common questions:

Why would a company bring in a service reserved mostly for the spa and for sports teams?

Although massage therapy really can feel like a luxury, the benefits go far beyond pampering or sports injury therapy. One of the major benefits is stress relief, which also happens to be a major cause of workplace absenteeism.

These days it seems as though everyone is stressed, particularly with the way the economy has been in the past year or so. Our bodies are designed to react to that stress by either fight or flight; in other words, we’re programmed to burn off stress with physical activity. As the stress occurs, the hormonal system kicks into action: insulin is secreted to open up pathways to the muscular system; and cortisol, the protection hormone, is secreted. Next, the digestive system diverts blood from the intestines to your muscles; and your liver diverts blood to the muscles and secretes blood sugar. All for the anticipated exertion.

In other words, stress is more than just a feeling – it’s a complicated response and our muscles are the system that is supposed to control it.

Unfortunately, in our society today, we don’t handle stress with any kind of physical activity, particularly not while we’re sitting at a desk dealing with the latest job pressures. You end up with a body that is primed for intense physical exertion, and contains damaging levels of cortisol, with no outlet.

This is where massage comes in. Recent studies have shown that a therapeutic massage has benefits far beyond that feeling of well-being:
• Reduced cortisol levels
• Lowered blood pressure
• Reduced heart rate
• Reactivated digestive system (you’ll know that when your stomach gurgles)
• Released tension in the muscles

When you combine all of these positive reactions from a massage, you get a much more productive employee. Studies have actually shown that when employees get a quick massage at work they are able to complete math questions faster and more accurately than they could before their massage.

So if productivity is something your company is looking to improve, on-site massage could be a program to look at.

But, how much space is needed?
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Perhaps you’re wondering whether you’re going to need to set aside a private space big enough to house a massage table. Well, the good news is that a massage table is no longer the only way to receive a massage.

On-site massage is now almost always done on a massage chair. This is a chair designed specifically for workplace massage and the space required is minimal; usually a small meeting room will work quite well.

To measure the space needed, take the chair you’re sitting in right now, put it in the middle of the room and walk around it. That will give you a fairly accurate idea of the space you’ll need for the massage chair. You should also have room for a table where the therapist can write receipts and place a laptop for managing the schedule. So, your massage therapist can work quite comfortably in a room as small as 10′ by 10′.

What about privacy?

Massage chairs were designed, not only to address space issues, but also to negate any privacy concerns. When you get a chair massage you remain fully dressed and you might only need to remove an outer jacket for example. The massage chair is even skirt or dress friendly. This means that the room doesn’t necessarily even have to be window free, either. Any room can be used as long as it is separated from others walking around, although the more privacy that can be offered the better.

How much time is this going to take?

Many companies worry about how long their employees are going to have to be away from their desks. Doesn’t a massage usually take an hour?

The answer to that is that on-site massage sessions are usually somewhere between 10 minutes and 30 minutes, depending on the massage company and how they schedule their services. Generally 15 or 30 minute massages work best for the workplace.

So for the same amount of time it takes for a coffee break any company can offer massage in the workplace.

Scheduled on a weekly or monthly basis, that is a minor amount of each employee’s time, in return for a huge potential gain in productivity.

A silver bullet to increase productivity and morale?

This is the golden question, and I’m afraid the answer has to be no. Most companies are looking for ways to improve productivity and morale but there isn’t any single service that can guarantee that.

However, massage can be an important piece of the puzzle when it comes to building a healthy, productive workplace. Used in conjunction with other productivity tools, it helps to create a well-rounded environment that supports employees in many ways.

So don’t hesitate to look into on-site massage for your workplace. Even though massage may not be for everyone or every workplace, it is a service that can be offered to employees, with minimal space and positive results.

Finally, if your company is interested in starting up an on-site massage program it is critical to have buy-in at the executive level. The best health-friendly offices come from the top down, and when executives participate by getting a massage themselves and sending out reminders to employees, the best results follow right behind.