Archive for December, 2008

Dec 03 2008

Massage and Health Boost

Published by Ross under Massage Therapy

Have you ever wonder why some people are less stress than others? Have you ever wonder why people make a New Year resolution only to get it broken within weeks if not days into the New Year? When it comes to health matters, everyone tends to be a master of what they should do to get their health on track.

Fitness and regular exercise comes top of the agenda. Probably you are different and you are not like thousands of other people who get enrolled as a gym member but never get the time to go to the gym to burn the calories. The truth is that we are all working very hard to make ends meet and to some of us, the quest for money never ends. So our time and energy is taken away by other things and the most important asset we have in life, which of course is our health takes the back seat.

Do you really know that by simply having a regular full body massage will improve your health? Let’s quickly take a look at what having a full body massage can do for you.

It has been found that Massage therapy reduces anxiety, depressed mood and the stress hormone levels but instead increases the dopamine levels. Hart, S., Field, T. Hernandez-Reif, M., Nearing, G., Shaw, S., Schanberg, S., & Kuhn, C. (2001). Anorexia symptoms are reduced by massage therapy. Eating Disorders, 9, 289-299

Adults with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) rated themselves as happier and also behaved much better after massage session. Teachers observed adults receiving massage as less hyperactive and were better engaged on-task. Also pupils with ADHD were better engaged on-task behaviour in the classroom and again they were rated as less hyperactive following one month of twice weekly massages. Field, T., Quintino, O. & Hernandez-Reif, M., & Koslovsky, G. (1998). Adolescents with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder benefit from massage therapy. Adolescence, 33, 103-108.Khilnani, S., Field, T., Hernandez-Reif, M., and Shanberg, S. (2004). Massage therapy improves mood and behaviour of students with Attention Deficit/ Hyperactivity Disorder, Adolescence, 152, 623-638

Massage Therapy reduces lower back pain, anxiety improve sleep and lessen depression. Hernandez-Reif, M., Field, T., Krasnegor, J., Theakston, T. (2001) Low back pain is reduced and range of motion increased after massage therapy. International Journal of Neuroscience, 106, 131-145.

The fact is depression, anxiety, back pain and the resultant lack of sleep which are causing major health concern in our society today could be lessen, lowered or even brought to complete halt by the art of simple massage therapy. The interesting thing about massaging is that you can learn to massage like an expert at the comfort of your own home and in your own time.

If you would like to know more about the art of full body massage, facial massage or the head massage please visit http://www.FitnessMassage.co.uk for a complete set of massage training DVDs and Massage relaxation music.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Michael_Mpieri

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Dec 03 2008

Losing Fat With Massages

Published by Ross under Massage Therapy

You’ve lost dozens of pounds dieting and exercising. Yet, when you look at yourself in the mirror, you wonder why you still appear ‘fat.’ What else needs to be done to get you the firm body you deserve? Perhaps the answer to this question can be found at the massage parlor.

That’s right… you can actually use massages to help lose fat. Why? Well, when a person gets a massage, everything in that area gets loosened up. As a result, oxygen can flow better through the body’s cells. And, when the oxygen reaches adipose tissue, fat breaks up, making their metabolism much easier.

Now, you might be wondering what type of massages people need to get to lose fat. The best ones are those that are vigorous. Slower massages won’t work as well, because they won’t stimulate the blood flow fast enough.

You can also consider hot stone therapy. What is hot stone therapy? Basically, it is a type of massage where heated stones are used instead of a person’s hands. The results are phenomenal because it applies massaging action as well as heat to a person’s skin and muscles. This intensifies blood flow, allowing even more oxygen to get to the fat.

However, be aware that in the United States, hot stone therapy is relatively new. So, not all massage therapists will be able to do it. That’s why you should probably ask ahead of time if a spa or parlor offers that type of service. If they don’t, you can find a plethora of others online or in your local phone book.

Of course, don’t think that hot stone therapy or any other type of massage is going to work miracles. Yes, massages do make it easier to lose fat, but if you don’t continue to diet and exercise nothing will happen. Ultimately, it’s important to view massages as an aid to weight loss, not a cure.

TIR Massage Stone is the market leader in Massage stone supply. This enterprise was born out of the desire to provide a high quality product at an affordable price.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Chris_Turley

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Dec 03 2008

Health Benefits of Acupressure

Published by Ross under acupressure

Acupressure is a form of massage therapy. It originated in China many years ago and is also used in Japan where it is called shiatsu. It was once used in Great Britain to treat headaches prior to the discovery of aspirin.

The theory of acupressure is based on the Chinese belief that all living things contain a vital energy, which is known as chi. Within the body are invisible paths called meridians that connect all the parts of our body. The chi flows along these paths. There are various points located on the paths, which can be stimulated to relieve pain. The points are named such as Large Intestine 4, Liver 3, and Stomach 36.

For example, Large Intestine 4 is a point located in the web of skin between the thumb and first finger. You can effect headache pain relief by applying pressure to and massaging this point in the direction of the index finger. But if the headache were a migraine, then you would apply the pressure to Colon 4 and Liver 3.

Liver 3 is located between the big toe and second toe in the back of the webbing. Massaging this point will also help relieve stress.

Unlike other massage therapies, acupressure uses no oils or equipment so it is simple to do. There are trained acupuncturists who administer acupressure but you can also learn to do it yourself. However, self-administered acupressure may not be as enjoyable as having someone else do it.

To perform acupressure, you use your thumb, finger or knuckle to apply pressure to a point. The pressure applied should be firm but not painful. The point should be massaged from five to fifteen minutes until the pain subsides. But be careful not to over-stimulate the point, as this will make the pain worse.

The challenge in self-administered acupressure is the correct location of the points. There are many books that have charts of the meridians and points together with complete directions. There are also charts available at various sites on the net.

However, these points are only .5mm in diameter so there isn’t much of a margin for error. If you are not feeling any benefit after applying the technique it is probably because you haven’t properly located the point. Therefore, you might want to schedule one or two visits to an acupuncturist to have them teach you the technique.

Acupressure has no significant side effects. The points may feel a little sore after a session and some people may experience a temporary feeling of lightheadedness.

Women who are pregnant should not use acupressure without the approval of their doctor. And even with a doctor’s approval, they should not self-administer but need to consult a trained acupuncturist. Some of the points are dangerous for pregnant women.

Acupressure should not be applied over any area that is bruised or swollen. It also shouldn’t be done over varicose veins.

People who have circulatory problems, osteoporosis, any type of bleeding disorder, a recent fracture or who are using blood thinning medication should only have acupressure administered by a qualified therapist.

Acupressure has been found to be helpful in treating nausea, motion sickness, headaches, muscle tension and stress.

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Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Brenda_Williams

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