Reflexology is so much than just a foot massage. As well as being super relaxing, a good reflexology session is an effective way to re-balance your body and address certain medical issues naturally and gently.
How Does Reflexology Work?
Trigger Points and Muscle Knots
What to Expect During your First Massage
For many, massage therapy isn’t really on the radar as part of routine healthcare. It may have just been something that was part of a spa gift certificate the family got mom for Mother’s Day or a splurge before a big event, like a wedding. But the massage industry has only grown over the last several years, and with it, a new public acceptance of massage therapy as part of a healthcare and self-care protocol. While it may seem a little intimidating to get your first massage, let me put you at ease by filling you in on all the details of what to expect.
Listening To Your Body
The human body to me is such an amazing thing. Not only can it create life, but it can fight off sickness, adapt to its environment, and be molded and formed into what we choose for it. But the most amazing part about the human body to me, is that if you are in tune with your body, it will speak to you. Your body will tell you what it wants or needs and what it doesn’t want or need. Your body will talk to you in many ways, you just have to be sure you’re listening to it.
Using Essential Oils in Massage
Post Sports Event Massage – How Does It Help?
After a big sports event your body will be stretched to its limits, and ou will more than likely be feeling tired and sore. The ideal time for a massage, we think!
A post-event massage is typically performed anything from 30 minutes up to a day and a half after a race or event. It’s designed to help improve your blood circulation, get lymph flowing and relax tired muscles after you’ve pushed them hard.
The Benefits of Pre-Event Sports Massage Therapy
Why Massage Therapy Can Give Athletes a Competitive Edge
You train hard to reach your goals, but injuries can send you back to the couch! Prevent injury and recover faster with regular sports massage therapy. Massage stimulates your body’s own natural healing process, so you can keep challenging yourself and keep winning. Read more about sports massage here!
Think You Need to Stretch Your Back?...Maybe Not!
When your back is hurting, it’s common practice to stretch it. That usually means bending forward at the hips and allowing the low back muscles to stretch a bit. This can also help to stretch out the hamstrings, calves, and with the right arm position, the shoulders and upper back as well. But what if this sort of stretching is actually doing more harm than good?
Massage and Chronic Pain
Millions of people throughout the world battle chronic pain. While many think of it as just some mild achyness or soreness somewhere that comes and goes on a regular basis, those who live with it every day know it is far more than that. If you suffer from chronic main or just wish to learn more on how it can affect the body, read this week’s blog.
Why Your Hands (and Forearms) Need Massage
Gripping a steering wheel. Working a trackpad or mouse. Hovering over keyboards. And stoves. And laundry. You get it.
We put our hands and forearms through an awful lot of stress every day. Squeezing and clenching and buckling and writing. All of it. And yet, when I start to massage a hand and forearm, I often hear, “Oh! I had no idea my arms were so sore!” It’s a common surprise, but not really a surprise.
Five Massage Myths Busted
How often do you REALLY need a massage?
Why You Need to Get Mom a Massage Gift Certificate this Mother’s Day
Why you can't afford NOT to get a massage
Why you can’t afford NOT to get a massage
It’s a myth that you can’t afford massage – the truth is that if you want to stay happy, healthy and full of vitality for longer, you can’t afford NOT to fit regular massage therapy sessions into your schedule.
Massage might have a reputation for being something that’s a treat, a fluffy afternoon in a spa with aromatherapy candles and whale music, but that’s not what it’s all about. Massage is healing, reviving, relaxing and in fact it can save you a whole lot more money than it costs you.
Massage therapy has been proven to treat the symptoms of conditions as diverse as depression, chronic pain, fibromyalgia and MS. This is according to the Touch Research Institute, who has carried out over 100 separate studies into massage and its many benefits.
Even if you’re not managing a particular health condition, you still need massage in your life. It can help you if you’re an athlete, or just enjoy a workout. Massage can help keep your joints and muscles supple so that you’re less prone to injury. It’s great for dealing with stress, even if you’re not actually depressed, and improve immunity and sleep, making you more present and productive at work.
How expensive is massage, really?
According to recent figures, the average massage session costs about $50 for 45 minutes. {1} That’s about the same as tank of gas and an oil change, erring on the cheaper side. The average price for a trip to the doctor, spending approximately 10 minutes with a doctor – is $68 {2} (without insurance). Although most insurance companies aren’t enlightened enough to cover massage, there’s no arguing that massage DOES play a bit part in injury and disease prevention. Experts know that a regular massage session will help to keep your body healthy.
Worst case scenario?
What’s the worst that can happen if you neglect your massage routine? Plenty of people struggle through with sore backs, a bit of repetitive strain, or hurt themselves while running, what’s the big deal?
Did you know that back injuries are the second most common reason for worker’s compensation claims? That’s everything from muscle spasms, problems with discs, and injuries leading to disability. Thirty-one million Americans are thought to experience low-back pain at any given time.
Most of these injuries could be prevented with better posture, rest and massage. So many back problems can be directly attributed to over-use and fatigue, and most problems are mechanical that is, not caused by serious conditions, such as inflammatory arthritis, infection, fracture or cancer.
On average, managing back pain costs Americans over $50 BILLION a year. Still think you can’t afford that massage?
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