AuthorTania Hodder, founder of Touch Of Aloha, is a professional massage therapist, teacher, and consultant to the spa industry. ArchivesCategories |
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Touch has long been understood to have a healing effect when applied with loving intent and care to the human body. It is a natural physical expression of the compassionate human heart. Keeping this understanding in mind, it should come as no surprise that massage therapy has evolved into the effective and widespread healing art and science that it is today. Massage therapy has shown to release endorphins in the body, which act as natural pain-relievers, helping to alleviate inflammation and discomfort throughout the body. The discovery of endorphins came about from research into the physiology of pain and how to efficiently relieve it. This breakthrough occurred thanks to the identification of specific opiate receptors in the brain and other tissues. These sites on the surface of cells specifically interact with natural opiates (chemicals produced by the body) which produce therapeutic effects of analgesia (pain-relief) in the body. This analgesic effect is why massage therapy is a popular and useful choice for people seeking a natural alternative to drugs (or to complement their use) when it comes to pain management. However, pain-relief is not the only benefit from receiving regular massage. A rush of endorphins can also bring with it feelings of euphoria, bliss, happiness, and contentment. With such appealing, all-natural beneficial effects, is it any wonder why massage is such a respected and sort-after treatment. When was the last time you had a massage? If you'd like to experience a fantastic massage in Surfers Paradise on the Gold Coast, I invite you to make a booking with me today.
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How To Relax With A Healing Massage4/23/2018 Getting a massage, regardless of who it's from, can be incredible. Removing tension from the body goes a long way in improving one's emotional and physical well being. Keep reading to learn some more about how massages can help you. Try to use all of your hands when you engage in your massage, including your thumbs. Your thumbs are powerful tools that can allow you to add stronger pressure to your massage easily. Try not to push too hard, as this can cause discomfort to the person receiving your massage. Make sure you make adjustments to what your client likes because no two people that you massage have same needs. Pay attention to the signals your client gives you, and you will know in which areas to concentrate your massage. Always look for telltale sign of whether they are enjoying the massage or not. Make sure you ask questions when getting a massage. Dumb inquiries do not exist and the masseuse ought to be thrilled to give you answers. Your massage therapist wants you to feel safe, comfortable, and relaxed, and having your questions answered is a big part of that. A person living with arthritis knows the kinds of pain associated with it. Sometimes medication will work, but this is a more natural way to go about things. If drug alone isn't enough, consider a massage. Massages encourage blood flow, circulation and flexibility which could help relieve the pain. Read some online reviews before choosing a massage therapist in your local area. You need to read about how other customers were treated in the past so that you're getting the best service possible. Look for independent reviews to ensure honesty. Immediately after a massage, ensure you get up very slowly. You have been prone and relaxed for an extended period during the massage. You might feel a little lightheaded as you first get up, so be sure that you watch your balance. Deep tissue massages can help muscle injuries repair faster. The motions used in deep tissue massages cause friction that goes against the grain of the muscle. This type of massage can help with muscle spasms and sports injuries. If massaging is new to you or you don't know what to get, try a Swedish or deep tissue massage. These days there are many different styles of massage available, some of which may leave you very disappointed if you've got severe knots that need to be worked out. These messages will cover most basic needs until you can learn more about other types. Consider talking to your massage therapist about your health issues before the massage session. Let them know everything, especially if you are taking particular medications or are pregnant. Your therapist will consider all the information you give them to design a massage treatment plan that is appropriate for your needs. This process is essential as the more information you can provide to your therapist, the better they will be able to help you and support you in your healing process. Take the time to inspect your body before commencing with massage sessions. You should use your fingers and your palm to look for tense muscles and figure out which areas hurt the most. On bony regions, you should make use of your palms to prevent excessive pressure and to avoid causing pain. On the larger muscle groups, you can tackle kinks and increase blood circulation by using your fingers. Now you can make an educated decision regarding massages. Some people are not comfortable with massages. If you are someone that enjoys them (such as my clients at Touch Of Aloha - Massage Gold Coast), then you already know how good you can feel the next day.
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How to Give the Best Massage Treatment4/23/2018 You have come here to learn more about how to give a good massage. Plenty goes into this, and to reach a professional level; you will need to go to college and study. However, by the conclusion of this article, you should have a good idea of how to improve your massage techniques and skills. If you have issues with tension headaches and medication is just not working, consider massage therapy. A massage session will help to relax and relieve the body of built-up stress. Massage techniques can also be used to apply a therapeutic pressure to specific points that offer benefits, such as relief from pain, emotional calm, and feelings of well-being. Receiving a professional massage once a week or once per fortnight may be an effective and natural solution to get rid of your headaches and keep them away. If a person wants a deeper massage, you will want to use less oil. Yes, oil feels great on a person's back and causes less friction, but the latter is the problem for deeper tissue massage. Without that friction, you won't be able to offer a deep massage, as your hands will continuously slide. Minimize this issue by using just enough oil for the massage to be comfortable, but not so much that you lose all friction. Before you go for a massage, try to calm your anxieties about your body. Your massage therapist will find it easier to work on your aching muscles if you aren't wearing clothing. One skill that masseuses must know is sheet-draping. Effective draping allows you to maintain your modesty while receiving a full body massage. Therefore, you should not worry about your figure when getting a massage. Deep Tissue Massage The proper use of massage oil enhances the massage experience, helping to reduce tension and stress in the muscles. Applying great technique is one thing, but being able to apply the massage oil correctly (e.g., not dripping oil on the client) is critical to creating a relaxing and enjoyable experience. Using essential oils, too, can add an extra sensory experience to the massage. If you are someone who happens to suffer from frequent tension headaches, you may benefit from regular deep tissue massage in the neck, shoulders, and head. When performing a deep tissue massage, the massage therapist uses a stretching technique along with pressure to pull and stretch your muscles. Stretching in this way allows the muscles to relax; thus, relieving your headache and tension. When massaging someone, open your fingers up so that you can be more precise with the area that you massage. Focused work using the fingers helps to loosen up the muscles and is also a great technique to use when giving a deep tissue massage. After you massage this way, close your hands back up and use the heal of your palms to generate firm pressure and friction. When giving a deep tissue massage to a client, incorporate your elbows into it. Using your elbows may feel uncomfortable at first for the person you are massaging, but is a fantastic way of spreading out the muscle and causing a very pleasurable sensation. Never push too hard though, as this will then feel uncomfortable. Always maintain proper control so as not to hit the spine. When you are not sure about what to give as a Christmas or birthday present to friends or family, consider buying them a voucher for a great massage! Almost everyone enjoys the soothing and relaxing benefits of a deep tissue massage and who couldn't use the extra pampering? For the person who has everything, the gift of massage is perfect! Acupuncture Shiatsu massages are much like acupuncture, employing fingers in place of needles. Pressure points are targeted to get you to relax. Shiatsu massages are for boosting energy levels and well being. The Japanese love to engage in the form of massage called shiatsu. This ancient style uses the pressure from the masseuse's fingers pressed in a rhythm on your acupuncture meridians. In Shiatsu, moderate to strong pressure is applied to each point for a few seconds at a time, which helps to boost energy flow and return the body to balance. It doesn't leave you sore, either! When your feet are sore, tired, and achy after a long day, consider having some reflexology. Reflexology uses pressure on specific areas of the foot (also known as reflex points). Each area of the foot is connected to a different organ in the body, just like in acupuncture. It causes not only your feet to feel amazing, but also helps balance your systems and gives you a great deal of relaxation. A deep tissue massage in combination with cold therapy might be effective for treating sports injuries. Some examples can be chiropractic or acupuncture. These activities help address concerns for your bones, muscles, and nerve endings. These things have been known to quicken the pace of healing, allowing you to get back to normal much faster. If you enjoy massages, you should consider trying acupuncture. Acupuncture is a form of massage that focuses on nerve endings. If you do not want to use needles, find an acupuncturist that only applies pressure on nerve endings without penetrating the skin with needles. You may find that acupuncture is even more efficient than massage if you are dealing with stress. Swedish Massage Swedish massage is the most frequently offered modality available. Some people consider this to be just a relaxing massage. However, Swedish massage can be very therapeutic. The strokes are long, flowing, and smooth, done in a kneading motion, typically in circles. The masseuse will use a light vegetable-based oil during the process. It is not too rigorous and can be quite enjoyable. If massage is new to you, stick to a Swedish massage or if you want to treat a specific area of the body that is particularly tense, try deep tissue massage. If you have severe problems that need to be addressed (such as sports injuries), you may like to try physiotherapy. If you like gentle massages, request a Swedish massage. This type of massage uses long, gentle strokes. Swedish has been described by many as the most relaxing type of massage available. This massage gently massages the superficial layers of muscle tissue resulting in relaxation and peace of mind. This type of massage is excellent for those who are new to massage therapy. Go to the spa and ask for a Swedish massage. This massage incorporates five different stokes that use both friction and vibration to help relieve your stress and loosen up your muscles. Swedish massage is also a reasonably easy massage technique to learn if you are an up and coming masseuse looking to gain skills. How do you feel now? Do you think that you could give a better massage than you currently do? It's time to put these tips and tricks to the test as you see what you can do. You may be surprised at how well massages work and how much the people you love will enjoy them. If you'd like to have a professional Gold Coast massage with me at my clinic in Surfers Paradise, QLD then feel free to give me a call and make a booking. |