Tuesday, October 14, 2014

The Benefits of Deep Tissue Massage

Deep tissue massage is a type of massage therapy that focuses on rearranging deeper tissues of muscles and connective tissues. It’s very helpful for pains, chronic aches and contracted areas such as upper back pain, stiff neck, low back pain, sore shoulders, and leg muscles tightness.

Some of the strokes used are similar to those of classic massage therapy, but the movement is a bit slower and the pressure is deeper and concentrated on areas of pain and tension in order to reach the sub-layer of muscles as well as the connective tissue surrounding muscles (fascia)

The Benefits of Deep Tissue Massage

Reduces Chronic Pain- Deep tissue massage is more affordable and effective for relieving chronic pain compared to other conventional medicinal remedies. Since this massage improves blood flow through the body, it aids reduce the swelling that causes pain. This type of massage can additionally help reduce muscle tautness that is usually a side-effect of chronic pain by relaxing the tight tissue clusters.

Improves Blood Pressure

This type of massage helps ease tension and stress, which can have a positive impact on blood pressure. Individuals who have had this type of massage have reported that their diastolic blood pressure dropped by approximately 5.3mm Hg and their systolic blood pressure dropped by approximately 10.4mm Hg. This massage can also help increase the body’s production of serotonin; serotonin is a hormone that promotes good feelings and happiness.

Breaks up Scar Tissue

With time, this massage can help break-up and eventually eliminate scar tissue in the body. It achieves this by facilitating lymphatic drainage and circulation to improve adaptability and range of movement in the affected areas. Scar tissue is usually linked with ongoing stiffness and pain; therefore this massage will help improve these symptoms. What’s more, massage therapy is usually recommended to individuals who are recuperating from surgery.


Rehabilitates Injured Muscles

This massage can be a very useful remedy for injured muscles. Given the fact that it improves the motion of pollutants from the muscles and aids stretch twisted or tight muscle mass, this massage can additionally help promote healing. Since massage also aids relax muscles, deep tissue massage can reduce the tensions and agony caused by wounds. This type of massage is regularly used to rehabilitate sports injuries.


Stress Relief

For those individuals who suffer from chronic stress and all of its several, possible side effects such as rigid shoulders, tight muscles, and tension headaches; this massage will be very helpful for you. 

Sunday, October 12, 2014

Swedish Massage Therapy

If you are new to a spa, one of the things you need care about is choosing the best massage. This in turn means you have to know about the different types of massage styles available in spas and other facilities offering such services. This post aims at discussing the most common and perhaps the most beneficial type of message referred to as Swedish Massage

What is Swedish Massage?

Swedish massage is a style that combines a variety of hands-on techniques including kneading, gliding as well as cross-friction to break up muscle adhesions (also known as muscle knots). It differs from the other types massage (mainly Asian) since it is based on western concepts of physiology and anatomy instead of energy work. Depending on the therapist’s aims, the massage can be gentle and slow, or bracing and vigorous. 

You could be wondering why this message is referred to as Swedish yet it features western concepts of human anatomy and physiology. The technique is the brainchild of Per Henrik Ling (1776-1839) from Smaaland, Sweden, a physiologist and fencing master. Since Swedish massage is scientific, it requires to be performed by qualified and licensed massage therapist. The therapist uses a special massage oil to lubricate the skin with the process taking 50 to 60 minutes for whole body massage. 

The Swedish Massage Techniques 


As already been mentioned, this massage style is based on western medical concepts and it aims at relieving tension in the muscles thereby energizing, relaxing and rejuvenating. It may also with muscle injury following physical exercises. The following are the techniques commonly used in this style of massage: 


Effleurage

This is a French word referring to skim’ or to touch lightly on’. It is used in Swedish massage and characterized by smooth, gliding stroke used to relax soft tissue. 

Petrissage


This is a French word meaning to knead’ and refers to massage movements with applied pressure that are deep and compressing the underlying muscles. This technique is supposed to come right after the effleurage.

Friction


This technique uses deep, circular motions or movements causing layers of superficial and deep tissues to rub against each other thereby increasing blood flow and to stimulate healing of scar tissue. 

Tapotement


This rhythmic percussion is usually administered with the edge of the hands, tip of the fingers or a cupped hand. The types of Tapotement include hacking (uses edge of hand on pinky finger side), beating (closed fist lightly hitting area), tapping (uses just fingertips), slapping (uses of fingers to gently slap), and cupping (hand made to look like cup gently taps the area).

Saturday, October 11, 2014

Techniques and Benefits Of Sports Massage Therapy


Sports Massage Therapy is a type of massage that is designed to cater for professional athletes, amateur athletes as well as those people who do regular workouts. The technique encompasses a set of aggressive and sometimes subtle movements that are repeated over and over again depending on the recipients type of sport. 

The therapy is becoming very popular in sports circles as part of the training regimen. It is used by therapists as either a preventative measure or for treatment of injuries incurred during sports. When it is used a preventative measure, it is used to ensure that the muscle and connective tissues have optimum health. It works to ensure that things like symmetry, posture quality and muscle tone are in order either prior or after exercise.

Techniques used for  sports massage therapy.

1) Stroking a group of muscles. This helps to improve the movement of fluids, removing toxins that have built up in the muscle and supplying of fresh oxygen and blood in the muscle.. The movement of fluids is achieved when pressure is applied at the front of the muscle thereby creating a sanction at the back.

2) Targeting specific muscles and applying different motions with varying pressure and strength. The deep massage regulates the fibrous tissue pores allowing for nutrients and fluids to be delivered to the tissue.

3) Choosing a group of muscle and pulling in order to stretch them. The stretching is done sideways and lengthwise following the flow of circulation and tissue. The technique eradicated pressure and tension buildup.

Kindly note that individuals are different. A technique could work on one person but fail to be effective on another. It is, therefore, very crucial to carefully evaluate each patient carefully before settling on a particular technique. The following are important factors to consider before settling on a particular technique.

1) The root cause of the injury
2) The athletes tolerance, size and shape. 

Benefits of Sports Massage Therapy

  • The massage therapy targets specific tendons and thereby improving hip reflex movements by a wide margin.
  • The therapy can eliminate joint soreness when given either before or after the sports person's exercise. 
  • It increases the athlete's endurance and this contributes toward better performance.
  • It can eliminate fatigue that is common during regular training hence the athlete is able to work out more. The athlete is also able to perform better during competitions without easily getting tired.
  • The massage therapy helps to reduce injuries associated with sports.

Sports Massage therapy could be a great addition to your normal routine. It will help you become a better sports person overall, and it could also greatly reduce the amount of time wasted while recovering from injuries that can be avoided.

The Many Benefits Of Reflexology



The human body is a truly wonderful instrument; one of the most unique things about it is the way the reflexes provide ostensibly unrelated "cause and effect" results in other parts of the body. The primeval Chinese practice of Reflexology, a manual massage therapy focusing on the hands, feet and ears, has recently enjoyed an upsurge in popularity as a modern holistic approach to relieve stress and pain. It is estimated now that over 70% of ailments, aches and injuries can be alleviated by Reflexology that contributes to healing, relief and repair.

Benefits of Reflexology Massage

Nerve Function: As the bodies age, the nerve endings become less responsive in various parts of the body, especially in the extremities. Reflexology massage stimulates over 7000 different nerve endings in one session, thereby augmenting their reactivity and function. Opening and cleaning neural pathways like muscles, can help improve flexibility and functionality of many parts of the body.

Circulation: One of the most verified and well-known benefits of Reflexology is an improvement in blood circulation throughout the body. This means that oxygen and blood are being cycled throughout the body more effectively. This also implies that more oxygen reaches important organs, thereby optimizing their flexibility and functioning.

Energy Levels: By aligning the functioning of different muscle and organ systems, Reflexology can boost metabolism and increase energy creation processes within the body. If you always feels sluggish or wants a boost in the energy, a Reflexology Massage session can help put some vigor back in your life!

Stress Relief: The most obvious benefit of reflexology therapy is stress reduction. The techniques of massage involve thumb or finger walking, where the reflexologist walks the thumb or finger in a set sequence. The experience is smooth and gentle, leaving the recipient feeling extremely peaceful and relaxed afterwards.

Relaxation: The therapy is well known to open neural pathways, resulting in a more relaxed state in the body. It also floods the vital organ systems with a state of calm. It also cures sleep disorders, insomnia and anxiety issues.

Toxin Removal: Reflexology has been proven to improve bladder function and to mitigate urinary tract problems. It eliminates foreign substances and toxins, thereby protecting the body from various health conditions and diseases that can often arise from a convoluted urinary system.

If you enjoy the therapeutic benefits of reflexology massage, you must know that these benefits are compounded when often utilized as a therapy. The more frequently you go, the healthier you feel!


Amazing Benefits of a Massage Therapy

Massage therapy offers people to relax their body, relieve tension and revitalize their system both psychologically and bodily. Most people consider that a body massage offers no health benefits and is just a waste of time and money. However, people who have undergone the treatment have understood its significance and health benefits.

Massage therapy is a significant part of a health program, particularly when training with confrontation. They contain physiological advantages and are an immense way to treat subsequent to harder exercises. A recent study of different types of body massages revealed that the deep body massage following a severe workout caused muscles to expand and develop new mitochondria, which is the source of power of the cells of the human body, and responsible for transforming nutrients into functional energy.

One of the major benefits of the massage therapy is that it accelerates the blood flow all through your body, devoid of straining your heart, bringing more oxygen and nutrients to the muscles and organs. It assists your body renovate itself, reconstruct tissue, and you take pleasure in a more comfortable, relaxed feeling. 


The massage therapy eases nerves to your organs, which causes connected blood vessels to expand and to increase the blood circulation for curing more complicated disorders. Nearly all internal organs are delivered by nerves, which separate at the spinal cord.
One among the other major benefits is that it kindles the metabolic process to increase the velocity of the flow of lactic acid through the complex lymph system of the human body to either be discharged or reconverted to sugar. 

A study on massage therapy shows that after workouts, a five-minute relaxation causes a muscle revival rate of about 20 %. However, a five-minute body massage, using liquid release methods will enhance the revival rate from 75 % to 100 %. Massage oils used in a body massage can assist the skin to turn out to be more flexible and elastic.

Almost all body massage therapies are planned to make you relaxed and comfortable. People knew the benefits of massage therapy ever since they were existed in caves. Nowadays, massage parlors offer countless body massage therapies to their customers for different reasons. A few are for relief from stress and pain and a few others are there to make you comfortable.

The Swedish body massage is the most uncomplicated and admired body message offered by spas. This body massage therapy is offered with five dissimilar movements such as kneading, siding, shaking, rhythmic tapping and cross fiber. It is useful to lessen joint rigidity and increases the flow of blood in the human body, as well.

The major health benefit you get from a deep tissue body massage therapy is that it releases soreness from deeper muscles and the attached tissues. Back, neck, and shoulder are the appropriate places for a profound tissue massage. It is mostly supportive for sportsmen who exercise their muscles dynamically. The Hot Stone body massage therapy will deal with the smooth round stones that are heated up and positioned above the body. The purpose is to apply pressure and heat to the muscles softly. The stones will discharge heat gradually and the heat goes through the human body deeply. There are other types of massage therapies that are intended to treat special organs of the body.

Useful Tips for Beginners

Ensure that you feel like offering a massage, you have to be relaxed yourself. 
While you massage yourself, decide a Flow Massage Wax that has a pleasant smell.
Play some soothing, relaxing music in the setting. A leisurely style of music will cheer you to work gradually among your massage strokes.

Generate a comfortable position and warm atmosphere.