Posts Tagged ‘Massage Therapy’

Sports Massage Therapy - Types and Benefits

Friday, July 3rd, 2009

What is Sports Massage Therapy?
Sports and athletics put tremendous strain on the body, much more than normal and often more than what is safe for the human body. Not only that, but competitive sports put a lot of emotional stress on the mind. Repetitive training may injure joints, ligaments tendons and even muscles. Fatigue and injure may also pull an athlete down.

Sports massage has been in use for aeons, although it was known by different names. Massage is an integral part of one of the most ancient martial arts in the world, the Indian Kalaripayat. Japanese and European wrestlers have also benefited from massage. Today, though, sports massage has assumed very significant dimensions. It is normally given before, during and after athletic events. Depending on when it is given, its aim is to prepare or relax the athlete, and to rejuvenate the nerves and muscles. A good sports massage therapist can keep away fatigue and injuries. It can only be administered by a trained professional, with knowledge of how the muscular and skeletal systems work for athletes.

The massage itself eliminates toxins that are lodged deep in muscles, loosen them, minimise scar tissue buildup. It also lengthens muscles, which counteracts the ill-effects of strength training. Sports massage improves circulation, which in turn, improves recovery time.

Sports massage essentially borrows from the most applicable of Swedish massage and Shiatsu. Since different sports have different needs, various techniques may be used. These include basic, deep Swedish strokes, pressure point work, joint mobilisation and cross-fiber friction.

Types of Sports Massage
The different types of sports massage depend on when they are given.

  • Pre-Event: This massage helps loosen the muscles and warms them up. It fills the muscles with blood and nutrients. It makes an athlete psychologically ready. Normally, it’s given a couple of days before competition.
  • Post-Event: This massage relieves soreness from the anaerobic strain on the muscles. It also reduces emotional and mental stress. It reduces swelling, keeps the muscles supple, and dissolves lactic acid build-up. It also helps the body to heal faster.
  • Prevention: When a massage is given regularly, it helps repair small tears in the muscle. It also keeps the muscles loose, and helps muscle length to be maintained as they grow.
  • Rehabilitation: It is also given as part of a rehabilitation program, where it helps muscles regain their original strength and minimizes scar tissue build-up. Sports massage is also used as a last resort in the event of injury.

Techniques
The main techniques used are effleurage, petrissage and frictions. In sports massage, most techniques try to direct pressure towards the heart to increase blood flow. They also try to ensure that no damage is caused to the blood vessels.

Sports Massage Therapy Benefits :
A good sportsman must be strong physically, physiologically and psychologically, and a good massage must aim to boost all three. Some of the benefits of sports massage are:

  • Removes build- up of lactic acid.
  • Oxygenates the muscles, helping them to grow.
  • Breaks down scar tissue, which affects performance.
  • Helps lengthen muscles and increases flexibility.
  • Helps reduce pain.
  • Reduces stress and anxiety.

Tags: , , , ,
Posted in Massage Therapy | No Comments »

Massage Therapy - Hot Stone Massage

Friday, June 26th, 2009

As the name suggests, a hot stone massage is a massage given through heated basalt stones of various shape, sizes and weights. The stones are immersed in heated water and left so that they can absorb the heat and become heated themselves. Many people find the massage given through hot stones very comforting and relaxing. Also since the stones are hard, the therapist can use the stones in specific problem areas. A heavier stone can be used in places where more pressure is required.

A hot stone massage is generally used for relaxation purposes. The massage is especially beneficial for those who tend to have cold or chilly feet. The shot stone massage is also very light and therefore well suited for those who do not like intense massages or deep muscle pressure usually given in a traditional massage, but want to relieve the tension in their muscles using a  very light massage.

A hot stone massage can relive you of poor circulation by heating specific areas where the veins may be depressed. It also helps in curing back aches and other back problems. The heat relaxes the muscles and allows the built up tension to be released.

The pain caused in arthritis can also be remedied through this massage. Hot stone massage has also proved advantageous for those suffering from mild or chronic neurotic disorders like depression, stress, insomnia and anxiety.

The good thing about using basalt stones is that because they are well rounded, they are smooth and take in heat easily. They also retain heat for a longer time and feel excellent when placed on the body. The stones can also be heated in special heating units that are constructed in various spas. The thermostat however, has to be constantly adjusted because the stones should not be too hot or too cold.

To make sure that the stones are of the right temperature, the massage therapist will always hold the stones first to ascertain the temperature. The therapist will also ask you if the heat bothers you. Since every one has their own comfort level of dealing with temperature, it is always important to confirm the comfort of the person receiving the massage.

During the therapy, the stones are used in two manners. One is by laying the heated stones under a layer of fabric and then asking the client to lie down on them and the other one is by directly placing the stones on the client’s body.

In a typical therapy session, the stones are placed on either sides of the spine and on the energy chakras, which are actually points of concentration of life force within the body. Along with laying these stones, the therapist also keeps massaging the hands, legs and torso of the client with strokes from a heated and oiled basalt s

Tags: , , ,
Posted in Massage Therapy | No Comments »

Massage Therapy - Belavi Facial Massage

Thursday, June 4th, 2009

What is a Belavi facial massage: As the name suggests, a Belavi facial massage is performed on the face. The basic aim of any facial massage is to facilitate the appearance of younger and healthier looking skin. The typical steps involved in a facial massage include exfoliation, cleansing, massage, and the use of face packs, creams, or moisturizers. A Belavi facial massage differs from ordinary facial massages in that it uses several specific facial techniques that are not used in traditional facial massages such as acupressure. In particular, the Belavi facial massage promises younger looking skin without using any invasive or surgical technique. The use of acupressure allows the flushing out of toxins from the lymphatic system, and this is the key to its promise of younger looking skin.

The Belavi facial massage was created by Belle Tuckerman in the 1980s; it was then marketed by Nina Howard, the president of Bellanina. Today, it is also known as the Bellanina Facial Massage, and licenses to practice can be obtained at the Bellanina Institute of Facial Massage in Laguna Beach, California.

A typical Belavi facial massage will involve the use of a facial mask, followed by a massage, exfoliation, and the use of a hot towel. At the end of the facial, the entire body is pampered with a massage of the scalp, neck, hands, shoulders, and feet. It is for this reason that the Belavi facial massage is considered to be not only an effective anti-aging treatment but also the ideal solution for stress and tiredness.

Benefits of a Belavi facial massage: The most touted benefit of the Belavi facial massage is younger looking skin. The reason why the Belavi facial massage results in healthier looking skin is because of the emphasis it places on massage itself. Apart from the massage that stimulates the skin, cleansing and exfoliation help in the removal of toxins and dead skin cells. The hot towel treatment at the end of the massage helps to lock in the moisture, resulting in glowing, healthy skin.

Another aspect of the healthy, younger looking skin is firmness. The Belavi facial massage also promises firmer looking skin, which is why it is sometimes preferred to surgery by those seeking a cure for wrinkles and aging signs. Since the Belavi facial massage helps to make the skin firmer and smoother, it is also known as the Belavi face-lift massage.

Not the most sought after benefit, the Belavi facial massage helps to relax the body and mind. The acupressure used in the Belavi facial massage helps to ease the built-up tension in the face, neck, and shoulders. Moreover, during the hot towel treatment, the hands and feet are also massaged, resulting in complete rel

Tags: , , ,
Posted in Massage Therapy | No Comments »

Reiki Massage

Monday, April 6th, 2009

The first thing you need to know is that Reiki and massage and two completely different methods of healing. Reiki is a mental and spiritual method, while massage is totally physical. The healing art of Reiki deals with auras that could be found in and around a person or even an object. Those who practice Reiki in their lives believe that they can also use the powers of the mind as well as their own aura to influence and change the course of inanimate objects. How true this is would completely depend upon who is talking about it. While there is no scientific data available to support such realms of treatment as this one, it can be safely said that there is no scientific data available to refute them either. The laws of physics do claim that inanimate objects have a certain dynamic which cannot be changed or influenced by the mind. However, physics is hardly a science that has reached its own boundaries of exploration. While it is true that Reiki and massage are not connected, it is possible that you can make attempts to combine the two and use this combination to your benefit. If you are a believer of Reiki and are going to be resorting to massage therapy, then this could also possibly work for you. However, please understand that there are absolutely no guarantees that these type of combinations or even Reiki alone can work to treat or heal you in any way.

If you are going to be getting a massage and want to combine it with Reiki, the first thing you would need to find is a person who can practice Reiki effectively and properly. This is not easy, as with any spiritual method, there is no tangible evidence that the person you go to can practice Reiki. However, you can do your research and find a practicing Reiki person. If the person will also provide you with a massage, then this is the best possible solution that you can find. If not, you can find someone to administer Reiki while your massage is on. If you are getting a particular body part massaged, then it is advisable that you get Reiki to that particular body part only. This is a reason why it is better if your Reiki master (as the person who administers Reiki is known) is present in the same room where you are getting the

Tags: , , ,
Posted in Massage Therapy | No Comments »