HARA SHIATSU
(CHI NEI TSANG)

Overview
Hara Shiatsu (Chi Nei Tsang) also known as Taoist Massage works with the energy-flow of five major systems: energy-meridian, fasciae-tendon-muscular, nervous, vascular and lymphatic.
The navel area, the centre where all systems meet, connects - or separates - our upper and lower parts, left and right, front and back, inner and outer, mind and body. Here we feel our emotions, the causes of internal blockage and distortions, which often manifest as symptoms elsewhere. Many recipients of Hara Shiatsu (Chi Nei Tsang) have reported relief of some of these symptoms.

BACKGROUND KNOWLEDGE
Source: Chi Nei Tsang, by Mantak Chia (referrred as CNT pp 000-??? For terminology and techniques outside the “generally understood” shiatsu register and not self-explanatory in the context.)

Classical Oriental Medicine
Taoism, Five Elements, Classic 14 Meridians

Theory of Winds
Energy blockages arising from organ obstructions and congestion in the abdomen can result in knots and tangles at the centre of the body’s vital functions, impeding the flow of Qi, the life-force or bioelectromagnetic field described by Deepak Chopra as energy-intelligence. Emotions such as fear, anger, anxiety, depression and worry are related to different organs. When the Qi of an internal organ is in a state of imbalance, it emanates toxic wind. Diagnosing the energetic condition, the practitioner uses intention and touch to influence the participant’s Qi and “chase the winds”.

Wind is an energetic vibration which, whether toxic or the vital source of life, enters the being through the “mountains”, which include the pointed bones of the nose, coccyx, fingers, toes, knees and elbows. Winds drain out through “marshes” such as the anus, vagina, eye of the penis, pores of the skin, mouth, armpits, backs of knees and front of elbows. The mouth, navel, palm, sole and perineum are among the two-way conduits. A practitioner disperses or directs winds through marsh or mountain, often using supplementary meridians or points.

When obstructed the internal organs store unhealthy energies that can overflow into other systems and manifest as negative emotions and sickness. In search of an outlet these toxic energies create a cycle of negativity and stress, festering in the organs and overflowing into the abdomen, the body’s garbage dump. The energetic centre of the body at the navel becomes congested and seem cut off from the rest of the body.

Principles of Protection
Avoidance of depletion or contamination of practitioner’s own energy-field. CNT pp 59-117

Contraindications
Conditions for which Hara Shiatsu (Chi Nei Tsang) would be unsuitable or dangerous

DIAGNOSIS

Diagnostic knowledge:

Knowledge of the external manifestation of “normal” Winds:

Heart: warm and energetic
Lung: cool and dry
Liver: warm and dry
Spleen: warm and moist
Kidney: cool and moist

Information gathering;
Observing the Body: Looking, Feeling and Asking (CNT117-140)
Hara
Body Structure
Navel shape
Hand-scanning internal organs

TREATMENT

Knowledge
Anatomy, Physiology and Pathology

Location
Internal Organs
Front Mu or Bo points
Source Points
Meridian Start and End points

Handling Techniques (CNT pp 165-201)
Spiralling
Scooping
Rocking
Kneading
Shaking
Patting
Elbowing

Skills
Opening Wind Gates and Chasing the Winds (CNT pp 143-163)
Detoxifying Skin and Intestines (CNT 165-201)
Tonifying organs (CNT 203-227)
Detoxifying organs (CNT 229-255)
Lymph Detoxification (CNT 259-273)
Centering Balancing and Flushing (CNT 277-292)
Common Ailments (CNT 295-334)
Working Procedures (CNT 337-349)
Stress Management (CNT 353-361)

TRAINING

Hara Shiatsu (Chi Nei Tsang) Practitioner training is in four parts:

Specialist Training

Self Development

Theoretical Learning

Practical Application

Accreditation of Prior Learning
Recognised Diploma in Shiatsu, Acupuncture, Acupressure or Tuina, gives exemption from Classical Oriental Medicine modules of Theoretical Learning (i.e. non-specialist training)

ASSESSMENT

Intended Learning Outcomes

By the end of the training the candidate is expected to:

Know
Classical Oriental Medicine
Theory of Winds
Principles of Protection
Contraindications
Four Forms of Diagnosis
Anatomy, Physiology and Pathology
Location and Functions of Internal Organs
Location and Functions of Front Mu or Bo points
Location of Source Points
Location of Meridian Start and End points
The answer to any question taken from the source reference

And be able to Do, as defined in source reference
Handling Techniques
Opening Wind Gates and Chasing the Winds
Detoxifying Skin and Intestines
Tonifying organs
Detoxifying organs
Lymph Detoxification
Centering Balancing and Flushing
Common Ailments
Working Procedures
Stress Management

And to Show
By presentation of case-studies the ability to put theory into practice
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ANCIENT HEALING THERAPY HIJACKED BY BUREAUCRATS

How did it happen?

The Yellow Emperor of ancient China created foreplay techniques to help sustain the interest of his harem of 1200 wives and concubines. And found that it worked for healing too. A psychologist in modern Japan devised a protocol. And the West institutionalised it.

Huang-Ti (2697-2598 BCE) the Yellow Emperor codified the theory behind the therapy. Treatment, from acupuncture to herbs, he decreed, should vary according to the life-style (obviously!) environment and geographical location of his subjects. For those dwelling in the mild climate of the central regions who were “able to obtain a varied diet without great exertion” massage was recommended to harmonise the elements of Fire, Earth, Metal, Water and Wood and thus maintain spiritual, energetic and physical health – and the interest of however many partners.

Local healing traditions evolved across the “Middle Kingdom” (between Heaven and Earth) and its spheres of influence, from Tibet to Japan, Siberia to Siam. Earth medicine flourished among the Fang Shi - Masters of the the Formula, barefoot healers, witches, wizards and shamans.

Under the Han (208 BCE-220 CE) and successive dynasties religious and magical Taoism emerged, peacefully co-existing with behavourial Confucianism, until the Northern Wei (386-534 CE) saw the rise of Buddhism and persecution of the shamans. Healing had become politicised.

Immortality being considered the best kind of good health, Chinese alchemists sought an Elixir to render their Emperors immortal, retaining a few drops for themselves, but external alchemy lost its appeal when it did for a few courtiers and kings as well as a number of alchemists.

The search continued. Physicians in the Tang Dynasty (618-906 CE) vivisecting condemned prisoners described flows of energy through certain invisible channels which ceased at the moment of death. If this flow could be sustained…

…..1500 years later: In the 1950s so-called Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) synthesised local and traditional approaches and purged the spiritual aspects, overlooking the less obvious magical which had been absorbed into orthodoxy as Five Elements.

20th Century standardised TCM was now fit to be practised alongside dialectically materialist and politically correct western medicine, in the hospitals of a new China.

In modern times things happen fast: In 1977 the Japanese psychologist Shizuto Masunaga and his student Wataru Ohashi developed a complex set of protocols integrating psychotherapeutic thought, meridian connection and physical pressure.

Masunaga described how to induce the phenomenon that occurs between meridian points under pressure, and published it as Zen Shiatsu – how to harmonise Yin and Yang for better health. By making his name and system synonymous with Zen Shiatsu Masunaga reinforced the trend towards standardisation.

But in the post-war restoration of Japan the rival and even more rationalistic Namikoshi system, based on western neurology, became the one officially recognised.

Shiatsu went West and found a welcome among the eclectic materialists of the New Age. Yin, Yang and Zen, it involved touch, was supported by an suitably complex theory, alleviated symptoms of many chronic conditions resistant to orthodox medicine and could reduce the need for medication.

Described as a Japanese form of physiotherapy by certain Western Schools, the intuitive loving-touch practised by barefoot blind healers wearing red head-bands became the subject of theses and dissertations by earnest people in white.

The gap between rational/physical and traditional/spiritual began to close with the publication in 1988 of Hara Diagnosis - Reflections on the Sea. Matsumoto & Birch wrote of the flicker of life, the moving Qi between the kidneys, and explored the connections between Eastern and Western medicine.

In 1989 at the Columbia Hotel in London Dr Motoyama and his Qi-machine demonstrated energy flowing through the connective tissues at 1.5 volts – hey, presto! energy is real, meridians exist! But among the dignitaries present, representing interests from scientific to esoteric, there were those who feared an end to their mystique.

Shiatsu-related techniques multiplied in the 80’s and 90’s with the development of such as Ohashiatsu – Touch for Love, Shizuko Yamamoto’s Barefoot Shiatsu, Macrobiotic Shiatsu, Mantak Chia’s Chi Nei Tsang: internal organ energy massage, Five-Element Shiatsu, energy-shiatsu – kiatsu, water-shiatsu or watsu, even tantric: tanatsu. Unrecognised was the one style licensed by the Japanese Ministry of Health.

Potential for harmony between the main approaches, Masunaga-Zen, Five-Elements and TCM was illustrated in 1995 by Carola Beresford Cooke in Shiatsu Theory & Practice. Then, in 1996, the English Zen Shiatsu Master, Simon Fall, inspired a return to the Source with As Snowflakes Fall, Shiatsu as Spiritual Practice.

Realisation dawned: its not all just finger-push!

Two years after Fall, the American acupuncturist, Lonny Jarrett, wrote Nourishing Destiny, the Inner Tradition of Chinese Medicine reviving the spiritual origins excised by Mao’s dialectical materialists.

Shiatsu in the West was ready to enter the new millenium. But the shadow of European bureacracy threatened English freedom to practise, since the repeal of the witchcraft legislation in 1947, any complementary therapy without restriction or, indeed, qualification.

On the principle that if more than two Englishmen gather they start a club British institutionalism proliferated. Playing politics in the race for orthodoxy and acceptance by what they perceived as the Establishment, Shiatsu organisations vied for authenticity with regulation, examination, assessment, accreditation, validation and moderation in apparent belief that more rules would attract a greater membership with a louder voice in the meridians of power, not to mention subscription income.

Competition intensified. Rumours of poaching rippled through the bazaars. Databases disappeared to resurface under clouds of denial in rival offices.

While older organisations stagnated in vested interests, elitism and exclusivity, nouveau upstarts canvassed bewildered students and practitioners with the relentless enthusiasm of a time-share seller.

Fragmentation ruled in the world of gentle healing until early in 2001 when Tom Litten, a former trades-union organiser whose love of Shiatsu equalled his passion for politics, called a meeting of the rivals. The General Shiatsu Council was born, to front a unified team in the game of Europe.

Beyond the politics, the Tao of Zen Shiatsu Practitioner uses the caring touch of love, drawing down Heaven Qi to cleanse and Earth Qi up to heal. The spirit of real Shiatsu, following a proven theory based on the ebb and flow of the force known as Qi, bioelectromagnetic energy or energy-intelligence, throughout the organ-meridian networks.

Zen Tao Shiatsu combines the wisdom of the Tao with the Beginner’s Mind of Zen, trusting in the perfection of now, however it should manifest.

Based on an article by Kris Deva North originally published in and reproduced here with permission of Positive Health magazine entitled Ancient Techniques for the 21st Century.

For more information on Zen Tao Shiatsu visit http://www.healing-tao.co.uk/Zen Tao Shiatsu.htm

Organic almond oil is one of the most versatile and beneficial elements available. Of the 2 types of the almond plant - sweet or bitter - almond oil is culled from the nuts of the sweet almond plant. The sweet almond’s kernels actually hold the oil and emulsion.

As recently as the 20th century, almond oil was administered orally in medicine to treat liver problems, to bolster the body’s immune system, and to fight inflammation. Today, it’s used widely in alternative treatment and Ayurveda.

Almond oil is friendly to sensitive skin, since it’s naturally hypo-allergenic and has a mild, unobtrusive scent. Consider these amazing benefits:

• Considered the best base oil for massage therapy because its light weight adds just the right slip to the skin.

• Anti-inflammatory properties make it ideal for use in deep tissue massage.

• Almond oil is the preferred carrier for essential oils used in aromatherapy and aromatherapy massage.

• Contains oleic and linoleic essential fatty acids (EFAs), so it’s easily absorbed into the skin. EFAs facilitate the delivery of the high content of Vitamins E and F in almond oil.

• Valued as an emollient that heals skin irritations like dryness and itchiness common in winter months.

• Immunity boosting and anti-hepatotoxic properties help protect the skin.

• Apply before toweling off after showering or bathing to seal in moisture.

• Extend your pedicure or get ready for the beach; at bedtime, apply almond oil liberally to the feet and slip on cotton socks.

• Be sure to keep it with you during air travel to soothe “airplane skin”.

• Replace your body shimmer with almond oil; apply lightly to arms, legs, and shoulders just before a big night out to give your skin a warm, healthy glow while moisturizing the skin at the same time (a much better choice for mature skin than glittery, messy, too-shiny powders).

• Perfect for massaging into dry, cracked cuticles.

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Aromatherapy is unique form of message therapy because it utilizes unique essential and aromatic oils during the therapy session. During any single session the therapist may choose one or more from a selection of over 90 aromatherapy essential oils. These essential oils have been used for centuries to promote psychological and physical benefits to the body.

Many of the bases used during the aroma therapy sessions include natural ingredients such as dried herbs, milk powders, hydrosols, sea salts, sugars, clays, and even mud baths. Using synthetic ingredients is generally frowned upon.

Aroma therapy techniques are widely practiced in both the United States and across Europe. Normally they are integrated right into other holistic treatments. In addition to the application of essential oil products, aromatherapy can also include candles, bath salts, massage oils, and even rubs which can all be used in your home.

Home treatment kits can be purchased or you can make your own. These usually include massage oils, essential oils, bath salts, lotion bases, candles, and diffusers. Most of the products come in very small bottles or jars and can be easily stored in a small sealed box. The bottles should all be labeled and it would be a great idea to purchase a book to go with your kit. If you are not familiar with a particular product you can always research it. Reference guides are kept near essential oil display shelves and can easily be found online. Most stores have tester bottles left out for customers to smell or try.

You do not need to use very much of the oils to achieve great results. Essential oils are extremely concentrated forms and they do need to be diluted before using them. You will only need to add between 2 to 10 drops of the oils to your application methods, massage oils, lotions, candles, diffusers, bath water, etc. You may even hold your head over a steaming bowl of water or create a tent effect with a towel. Simply inhale the fumes. Oils can also be added to baths, your favorite lotion, compresses, room diffusers, or diluted with light olive oil and misted onto or applied to the skin.

Aromatherapy is not designed to cure any type of illness it is only designed to alleviate symptoms and promote relaxation. It has been known to aid in the relief of minor problems. Before you try aroma therapy you should consult with your doctor.

If you do decide to utilize the services of a massage therapist, talk to the practitioner before you begin your session and discuss your medical history and any current conditions. This vital information will help hem select the best essential oils to be used in your treatments session.

Women who are pregnant or nursing should not use aromatherapy as a treatment. Many of the essential oils may be harmful to the fetal development or nursing baby and many more have unknown side effect to infants.

If you wish to learn more about aroma therapy, there are many websites which provide valuable information. If you would like a deeper understanding, simply purchase a reference guide and study materials or take some classes at your local adult Ed or community college. There are some online courses available.

Aromatherapy is thought to aid people psychologically and physically because the scents can alter brain chemistry to produce desired effects. These effects may bring therapeutic relief according to the oils used and the person’s body and brain chemistry. One example is eucalyptus oil, which helps to alleviate congestion in some people. Lavender also aids others to relax and helps to detoxify.

The oils can be inhaled or applied to the skin. When they are applied to the skin they are instantly absorbed into the blood stream and become an aid in certain health and beauty applications.

If you take classes to learn more about aroma therapy you can expect them to be a little pricey. Single day classes which give a good basic overview can usually cost about $75 to $125. To become certified in aromatherapy you can expect initial introductory classes to start at about $500. These classes include books and tuition, but sometimes not the oils. These classes teach more about mixing oils and creating different products as well as applications for ailments.

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Spa… This word sounds mysterious and alluring. On whispering it one can feel tender sea breeze on the face and hear the lash of the waves. But what is SPA, indeed? In its contemporary meaning a SPA is a place where with the help of various sophisticated treatments based on the healing properties of mineral waters, thermal springs, mineral salts, therapeutic muds, and seaweeds as well as different types of massage, body wraps, masks, scrubs, and so on you can relax and restore your physical and mental health.

Today’s SPA doesn’t suppose you have to go somewhere out of the city and spend a couple of weeks in meditation moving from one mud bath to another and eating only healthy SPA meals. These are called resort SPAs and are usually situated in various exotic places good for spending a vacation. Taking into consideration that most people don’t have that much time to spend on their beauty, there are plenty of other options to enjoy a serene and quite atmosphere after an exhausting working day.

There are numerous day SPAs that offer their clients a wide range of services, where you can drop in at any time and immediately immerse into the relaxing world of soothing aromas and herbal teas. At a day SPA you can experience such healthy and relaxing procedures as massage, different body treatments and facials. You may try various types of massage (hot stone massage, Thai massage, etc.) to find the one that you like most. During a facial performed by a trained specialist your skin will be deeply cleaned and rejuvenated. A good day SPA will also offer you SPA manicures and SPA pedicures, which are slightly different from those you can have at an average nail place. These SPA procedures usually involve additional steps like a hand soak or paraffin dip.

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Choosing a massage therapist can be difficult. Whether you have used massage for years or are new to the experience, there will always be times when you need to find a new therapist and, in the case of injury, fast! This article outlines what I look for when choosing a therapist and why.

My four top considerations in choosing a therapist are:

Location
Technique
Gut feeling
Availability

1. Location

From a practical perspective, it is great if my massage therapist is close to home. I am not entirely myself by the end of a massage. As well as being fatigued, I can sometimes feel a bit ill and I don’t trust myself to drive long distances in that state, so this criterion largely relates to self preservation.

The other point that I take into consideration is the type of practice the therapist operates within. If they are independent then I will immediately skip to their profile, but if they are working within a centre, then I will take its key features and service offering into consideration. These can vary considerably and typically speak to the therapist’s background and preferred style of treatment.

2. Technique

Each therapist will have a preferred massage technique and over time, you will learn those that you respond to. As an example, I will only consider therapists that specialize in variations of remedial massage and sports massage. Other techniques such as pressure point or shiatsu are also interesting to me. I will avoid anyone that is focused purely on relaxation as this tends to be too gentle my needs.

3. Gut Feeling

Massage is a very personal experience. I will look at the photos and profile to help judge whether the therapist is a person I trust. After all, you are going to be lying there with nothing but a towel between you and this person, so I care about what my gut is telling me. This is where it becomes really important to trust your instincts. My personal preference is for therapists that work with athletes or have a sporting background, as they are more likely to understand my specific needs and propose an appropriate treatment.

4. Availability

I am an extremely disorganized person. Whilst I will occasionally book in advance, there are frequently times when having a massage is a last minute decision for me. So, availability is quite important to me. Some people are happy to take a more structured approach and book well in advance, in which case this criterion is less relevant.

Over time, I have found an approach to address this issue, and that is to have a panel of therapists rather than just one. I typically have my ‘Number One’ who is the person that I would ideally see and I have developed a relationship with. When I am organized, I will make the effort to book in advance with my Number One.

Then I have my back-up providers. These are generally larger clinics that I know have a strong overall standard and a number of therapists on staff. This is where I go for my last minute needs. I may not know the specific person that I am getting, but I know that the practice hires quality professionals. In this case, I am generally after point treatment to fix a specific ailment so these massages are a transaction for me.

So, in summary the four criteria that I consider are location, technique, gut feeling and availability. These may not be the most logical, but they work for me. I really hope you find them useful.

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Often times, parents get caught in the hustle and bustle of daily routines: preparing meals; driving to work and school; volunteering for PTA functions; attending after school activities; explaining the why and why not of instructions given to children; reviewing homework; budgeting household finances; and more. The perpetual list goes on and on, yet parents rarely have time to stop and take a break. Imagine how much more demanding these routines can be for the single parent.

Spending long days and longer nights interacting with the family and the outside world is tough. Countless moments are surrendered to attend to the needs of everyone and everything else around you. Sleep is disrupted or dismissed. General aches and pains are often ignored. Meals are even occasionally sacrificed to arrive at a destination on time or to ensure that all the children are satisfied at the dinner table. Rarely does a parent take the time to attend to his or her own self-care.

These small sacrifices can lead to larger problems, like insomnia, anxiety disorders, chronic fatigue, poor nutrition, and muscle tension. Moreover, mental and physical ailments can effect how parents interact and care for their children. Think about the severely depressed parent who struggles to get dressed in the morning. How much more difficult must it be to care for someone else? When a parent does not feel well, the hub of the family life slows significantly. Sometimes, it stops. Taking time to listen can be the first step in the right direction. You hear your boss talking. You hear your children talking. Do you hear your body talking too?

Receiving routine massages can help parents reduce some of the negative effects of stress and strain. Massage is known to encourage relaxation and support the natural ability of the body to heal. Some of its common benefits are reduced anxiety, greater range of motion, pain reduction, increased metabolism (i.e. how the body uses energy), and detoxification. Research studies have also documented the benefits of massage for pregnancy, preterm infancy, arthritis, behavioral problems, hypertension, sexual abuse and other areas of health. When applied properly, therapeutic touch between a massage therapist and a client, or simply a parent and a child, can encourage positive, healthy effects.

Here is the best part: massage is no longer a distant dream or exclusive privilege for the wealthy. It can be accessible and affordable for almost anyone! Most chair massages are as low as $1 per minute, and full body massages can start as low as $40 per hour. These services are rendered by trade schools, independent massage therapists, chiropractors offices, spas, and other areas. Finding an option that works best for you and your budget is as simple as picking up a telephone directory, surfing the internet, obtaining a referral from your doctor, or asking your employer to start a wellness program that includes on site massage.

So, when you hear your boss talking, and you hear your children talking, be sure to hear your body talking too. Respond with a massage. It can be a wonderful sanctuary for any parent in need of solace.

Cassandra Harmon operates the massage therapy practice, BodiTalk Massage. She is a single parent and a massage therapist in the Atlanta Metro area. The challenges she has faced in raising a special needs child and undergoing her own healing journey from physical and emotional pain are being overcome with the help of massage therapy.

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Wanting to know how to learn massage is a question that many people ask themselves. After all, how could people not want to know - the health benefits of massages are amazing, they’re fantastic for making people feel good, and knowing massage can result in a very lucrative career.

There are plenty of options in trying to figure out how to learn massage - and we’ll discuss a few of them here.

Massage Schools - While massage schools can be a fantastic choice for some people, for others, it’s a big pain and a huge drawback. You do get a solid education - but the trade off is that you need to spend thousands of dollars, you need to adjust your schedule so that you can make it to classes, and you need to be completely emotionally invested in it.

Massage schools also take quite some time to go through.

Books - Learning from books can be a great way to get some quick education. The only drawback with books is that you don’t necessarily know which are the best books to get. You might end up wasting your time if you read books from poor teachers, or if you’re not the type of person who can get things done without daily action plans and such.

Online Massage Training - We might be biased, but we think online massage training is the best option. You get the same educational element as a school, but you don’t have to spend tons of money or invest tons of time into it. Online massage training is generally a fraction of the price of a general school, and the right training will allow you to work at your own pace.

With good online courses, you also get action plans so that you can still hold yourself accountable and make sure you’re getting work done.

Marsha has been studying massage for years and is very passionate about teaching others how to give a massage.

Our legs are an important part of our body as they help in supporting the overall body weight. So it is very important to take proper care of our legs. This article will discuss how to massage lower legs, upper legs and knees. Massage helps the skin to glow naturally and make bones strong and healthy.

Steps to massage lower legs and knees -

Warm a little oil in your hands.

1. With one hand behind the other, smooth the oil on to the front of the leg, starting at the top of the foot and working up to the knee. This movement distributes the oil and soothes and relaxes the whole area.

2. Rub across the front of the leg using both hands to create frictions. This increases the blood circulation to the area and reduces aches and pains.

3. Lift the leg up so the knee is bent. Squeeze and relax rhythmically down the muscles of the calf from knee to ankle. Repeat several times. Put the leg down.

4. Work around the kneecap in little circular motions with both hands. Be careful not to use too much pressure.

5. Now using your thumbs gently slide them around each side of the kneecap.

6. Stretch out your thumbs from your fingers to create an arch. Sweep over the whole knee using alternate hands several times. Now wrap up the lower leg and proceed to the thigh.

Steps to massage upper legs -

1. Apply oil as for the lower leg.

2. Glide up the leg from knee to groin, using one hand behind the other. This movement should be fairly slow and rhythmical. Make sure your movements cover the whole of the thigh area. Repeat four to five times.

3. Strokes the upper inner thigh diagonally from knee to groin hand over hand. Repeat four or five times.

4. Squeeze and release rhythmically first along the inner thigh from knee to groin, then along the outer thigh.

5. Using your knuckles rake quickly up from the knee to the groin, taking in the whole thigh area. This is a friction movement and increases the surface blood circulation. You will notice the skin colors quite quickly and feels warmer to the touch.

6. Uncover the lower leg, then effleurage the whole leg from foot to groin.

7. Finish off by enclosing the foot in your hands a couple of times. Cover the leg then repeat all the movements on the other one.

Massaging the legs will not only make them more beautiful and strong but also give relief to restless and painful legs.

Disclaimer: This article is not meant to provide health advice and is for general information only. Always seek the insights of a qualified health professional before embarking on any health program.

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Are you currently living your life with a superbly busy schedule? If you are, then what is your favorite place to visit whenever you want to clear your mind from stress and take a moment off from the busy activities of life?

I’m sure you can come up with several different choices of places to visit. However, for somebody who truly wants to experience real relaxation and de-stressing solution, then I have just the perfect solution to recommend. When was the last time you enjoyed having one relaxing massage therapy? I’m not talking about having just any kind of common massage that is available in massage centers, I’m talking about a relaxing massage therapy.

There are several types of relaxing massage therapies, and the most popular type is called the Swedish massage. However, there is another new type of relaxing massage therapy I have encountered recently, and this type of massage is quickly becoming popular particularly from the place where it was originally introduced which is in Austin, Texas.

Zen massage as they call it, is a is a highly intuitive, soothing, energy-balancing massage which incorporates a variety of advanced techniques to create a seamless, effortless relaxation experience. This type of massage targets to relax your muscles and lets you experience that mental state wherein you suddenly feel naturally calm and peaceful from within. Zen massage is a completely therapeutic massage technique. All of the procedures involved in applying it are all designed to produce healing effects to the body.

Here are some of the procedures you can expect to experience when having a Zen massage:

Hot Stone Treatment - involves the use of therapeutic stones gliding along your muscles with the perfect combination of heat and pressure.
Hot Towel Pore Cleanse - involves using fresh steamed towels opening the pores while deeply cleansing and rejuvenating all the skin layers.
The Bio Mat - the Bio Mat relaxes tight sore muscles, soothes jangled nerves and provides an overall sense of well being.
Aromatherapy - the inhalation of pure essential oils that aid in relaxation, stress relief, balance and well-being.
Peppermint Bliss Foot Massage - soothe and soften your tired, over-worked feet through the use of acupressure.

If you are currently living or at least touring within the United States, Austin Texas is the best place that offers the finest programs and services for relaxation.

Do you want to discover the best massage Austin Texas has available for you?

“Zen Blend” offers the finest services for complete mental and physical relaxation. Experience the best therapeutic Zen massage Austin TX can ever offer through its expert services on relaxation.

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