Massage

4 Things You Should Know About Getting a Massage

Massage is meant to be therapeutic and relaxing, don’t let it become uncomfortable and unsettling by not doing your research before seeking treatment. Doing your research about your massage therapist and understanding their services sets the right expectation for a good experience. If you arrive to your massage therapist with a good grasp of how they will be assisting you, it will be beneficial for both practitioner and patient. Check out the four things every patient should know about getting a massage before booking an appointment. continue reading »

At Home Massage Therapy

Did you know, to get a massage you don’t have to go into a massage clinic? Lots of massage practitioners also offer at-home service. Experts have said at-home massage can provide a lot of unique benefits for clients that they can’t receive from a clinic experience. Reasons for this include: being able to feel more comfortable in your own home, not having to drive your vehicle after your massage, experiencing a more personal connection with your therapist and even approaching the massage treatment in a more relaxed manner. continue reading »

Signs You May Need a Massage

How do you know if you need a massage? What tell-tale signs will your body or mind exhibit to let you know it is time to schedule a massage therapy appointment? Believe it or not, there are some key indicators most people commonly experience before they head into a massage therapy appointment. If you experience any of these signs, chances are you are ready to schedule a massage therapy appointment today. continue reading »

Clinical Deep Tissue Massage

Deep tissue massage is one of the most sought-after massage therapy techniques. Many  massage practitioners choose to use deep tissue massage because of the energizing and healing effects it provides to their patients. Deep tissue massage addresses your muscles and connective tissue in ways that help restore proper muscle tone and balance. With this directed attention to connective tissue and muscles, deep tissue massage promotes healing and relaxation in areas of chronic or acute pain and tension. continue reading »

8 Reasons Why Massages Are So Popular

by Colin Steinway

Who doesn’t like getting a massage? Over the last decade or so, there has been a
steady increase in the number of massage practices and spas in and around Sydney,
thanks to the increasing popularity of massages.

Here are eight reasons why massages have become so popular in recent years.

• Stress Buster—Massages are the ultimate stress buster. When life gets to be a little
too stressful, both your physical and mental well being suffer.

A nice, relaxing massage is a great way to relieve stress. Of course there’s evidence that

an hour or two in the gym can also help relieve stress.  In addition to sweating it out in the gym, try getting a relaxing massage to  complement and reward yourself for your hard work.

• Regroup and Re-energize—More and more corporate professionals are using massages as a way to recuperate and recharge.  A popular trend in the corporate world
is to go for a massage during the lunch break.

Taking that time for yourself to get away from your hectic work environment helps to calm your mind, melting away all the built-up tension and helping you get back to work on top of your game. …

• Health Benefits—Scientific studies have proven that receiving
massage is indeed beneficial to your health, in a number of ways.  From boosting your immunity to encouraging better blood circulation and helping you get rid of
toxins in your body, massage can do wonders for your body when done on a regular basis.

Massage also relieve pain and promote healing of sore muscles, which is why many professional athletes and sports enthusiasts choose therapeutic massages to keep their body performing at the optimum level.

• Promotes Better Sleep—If you have trouble falling asleep at night, a good massage
might be the answer to your problem. Lack of sleep can lead to a host of other complications
such as weakened immunity, depression, higher risk of heart disease and weight
gain. Massages have been proven to help you rest and sleep by increasing delta waves
(linked to deep sleep) in the brain.

• Better Posture—If your job requires you to sit down in front of a computer for long
hours, chances are your posture is being affected. You can tackle this problem by
getting regular massages. Research has shown that massages can help undo the
damage of bad posture by loosening your muscles and joints. This in turn helps you
reclaim your natural posture. A poor posture can lead to hunchback, neck and back
problems. So, if you find yourself slouching at your desk, it’s time to make a massage
appointment.

• Flexibility—As we age, we are more likely to notice that our joints ache and our body is just not able to move as it used to. Massages can combat these troublesome signs of aging by making our joints fluid, which in turn makes us more flexible and less prone to joint ache.

• Keeps Headaches Away—If you are prone to headaches, then making massage a weekly affair can do wonders for you. Regular massages will help reduce the severity of the headaches in the short run, and will help reduce the frequency of the headaches in the long run.

• Instant Mood Booster—According to a study, massage increase the levels of dopamine and serotonin (neurotransmitters linked to happiness) in the brain significantly. This means that a massage has the power to boost your mood.

And last but not the least, massage is so popular because it feels so good. Who wouldn’t love to spend an hour getting a massage, helping you loosen up and relax? Do we really need any more reason than that to love massage?

So, go ahead and make massage a part of your lifestyle. A weekly, biweekly, or even monthly, massage routine can work wonders in so many aspects of your life. Whether you’re a working professional, an entrepreneur or a stay-at-home parent, we all need a little extra attention to our bodies every now and then to keep up with our busy lives.   Source: www.theglobaldispatch.com

Massage for Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis is no fun for anyone, and those with osteoarthritis can experience pain, stiff joints, decreased mobility and minor to major swelling of the tissue surrounding the joints. Although it can be hard to find a ton of ways to manage the pain that comes with osteoarthritis, massage therapy has been proven to help alleviate arthritic pain and strengthen your flexibility and mobility. continue reading »

How Massage Can Help Sciatica

Sciatica is characterized by pain in the buttocks that that often radiates down the outer and back leg and possibly even to the toes. If left alone, sciatica can be very debilitating. The sciatic nerve is  the longest nerve in the human body, arising from the lower portion of our spinal cord and following the same pathway through the leg that typical pain patterns occur. The sciatic nerve runs through so much of our body, it’s no wonder having sciatica can be such a literal pain. continue reading »

5 Reasons Massage Can Improve Overall Health

Massage is great for your overall health. Most people assume that massage can only help correct your sore muscles and reduce tension present throughout your body. But, that is a false assumption. Massage therapy is a great way to keep your overall health in tip-top shape. Check out these five reasons as to why massage is great for your overall being. continue reading »

Massage Therapy for Sleep Improvement

Have you been having trouble sleeping lately? If you’ve answered yes, you should consider setting up a massage therapy appointment. Massage has been proven to help decrease restlessness, and to reduce the likelihood or frequency of insomnia. Routine massage therapy appointments are a great remedy for those experiencing trouble with their sleeping patterns. continue reading »

Massage Therapy Complements Cancer Therapy

National Cancer Institute-Designated Health Systems Increasingly Utilize Massage Therapy  by Karen Menehan

A cancer patient might face such medical procedures as surgery, medication and chemotherapy,
as well as ongoing treatment post-recovery.

Increasingly, therapies such as massage are used to mitigate pain and anxiety.

A new analysis of U.S. cancer centers’ websites indicates massage, along with acupuncture,
consultations about nutrition and dietary supplements are the integrative therapies most
commonly offered in National Cancer Institute (NCI)-designated health systems. …

MASSAGE Magazine spoke with a leading oncology massage educator to help determine the
reasons behind this growth.

Johnnette du Rand Kelly is a massage therapist who practices oncology massage. She is also
founding director of Greet The Day, an organization that provides therapies for cancer patients.

MM: The authors of the analysis mentioned that conventional cancer treatments can produce
challenging effects like hot flashes, nausea and fatigue. How does massage therapy benefit
cancer patients?

JK: Research shows that massage reduces pain and anxiety.

When a cancer patient or family member asks me about the benefits of massage, I often like to
also add that it is touch that feels good at a time when touch often does not, and that massage is
a reminder for the patient that they can feel better, possibly even good, at a time when their body hurts.

Being able to meet the basic human need of safe and comforting touch is in and of itself
therapeutic.

MM: In your experience, what has the response been by cancer patients to massage therapy?
Are they aware of it, do they feel better after receiving it, do they request it?

JK: In both in- and out-patient settings, patients’ response to massage is, unsurprisingly, very
welcoming and overwhelmingly receptive. In the two academic cancer centers that Greet The Day works in, the patients who are aware of massage as an available service regularly request it. For others, it’s a pleasant surprise to be offered massage as a part of their care. … Source: www.massagemag.com