As massage therapists, we are familiar with what constitutes a healthy lifestyle. We recommend these applications all the time. But how easy is it to get caught in the hubbub of life, and ignore our own health? A massage therapist shares his story, and encourages us to stay conscious of our body and the environment that we function in.

Common sense dictates that a therapist can only give to their client what is present within themselves. This can present a challenge to many bodyworkers, because many of us are so tuned in to “caretaking” that we neglect our own self care. It can become routine to skip a daily meditation, wolf down a fast food burger and speed through traffic to get to the spa - where eight back to back clients await your services. The “caretaker syndrome” describes the pitfall of putting others needs before our own and often leads to burnout or illness.

In the May 2005 issue of Acupuncture Today, Certified Massage Therapist David J. Razo shares his life changing experience in an article entitled “A Lesson Learned the Hard Way: Caring for Patients Means Caring for Yourself”. In this article, Mr. Razo describes his emotional journey as his dangerously high blood pressure (220/120) landed him a trip to an emergency room and subsequent hospital admission.

Mr. Razo’s predominant reflection was on simultaneously fostering the health and well-being of himself and that of his clients. In observing the environment of the hospital and noting its impact, the idea that everything one is surrounded with contributes to the healing process really hit home. His awareness of the used alcohol swabs littering the floor, the institutionalized bluish-green wall color and the burials at the cemetery just outside his window escalated to a broader understanding of the effect a healing environment has on the immune system.

A new zest for creating a healing space was compounded by the admission that he was good at giving advice and poor at following it. In all of this reflection, it became apparent that he had allowed all of the healthful lifestyle habits (the very ones he suggests to his clients) erode. In keeping a busy schedule, being hurried became his norm. Stopping to smell the roses, exercise or eat a healthful meal were just words that he repeated to help others - they were no longer a part of who he was. This groove is easy for any healthcare practitioner to fall into. It requires constant self checking to ensure that the inner self is not only heard, but being joyfully nurtured.

Mr. Razo recovered from his chest pain and high blood pressure scare, and is now successfully managing his health. According to Mr. Razo, “…that TLC we nourish our patients with also needs to be directed toward us…take the time to quiet your mind and feel the wind brush past your face.” Wise words from a bodyworker recovering from the “caretaker syndrome.”

Posted by Nicole at 05:54 PM
© 2009 Institute for Integrative HealthCare Studies. This work is reproduced with the permission of the Institute. www.Integrative-Healthcare.org

A practitioner of Tantra does everything with absolute presence. The emphasis is on connection to and immersion in every moment. So sex is a Tantric practice when it is experienced in this way - this includes sensual touch and massage. There are a lot of things that create separation in sex - being goal-orientated or trying to get a ‘result’, anxieties about ‘performance’, having an idea in one’s mind about how sex ought to be or ‘what works’, guilt/feeling you shouldn’t enjoy sex, being distracted e.g. by what happened at work today, unresolved issues within the relationship etc. etc….

I read an article in a magazine recently in which couples were talking about their sex lives. One male partner said proudly of sex with his wife “we have become more efficient at sex - because we know what works ” - jeez!!
Tantric touch, massage or sex is not something you do to somebody. But it can become corrupted. I have had clients (predominantly male) who want to learn Tantric massage as if it is something you do to a woman. They are the guys who say “I just want the woman to have pleasure. That is what gives me pleasure” Call me a cynic but I interpret this statement as “I am an egomaniac. I am validated by feeling I am a good lover. Yet I am shut down. And the idea of just being one with another person is terrifying.”

GETTING HIGH
A lot of neo-Tantric groups, teachings and practices such as Tantric massage are a little bit like taking ecstacy. They create a high and a sense of being really open and connected. This can really plant a seed of how life can be so they can be a positive experience if they lead a person towards personal and spiritual growth. But you have to be able to be open and connected while waiting for the train, travelling to work, getting the groceries, cooking dinner etc. as well .

REGARDING KUNDALINI & CHAKRA CONSCIOUSNESS

You can awaken sexual chi and circulate it through the body and it has great health giving benefits. The kundalini however however and its journey through the chakras takes a little more work. Without going into too much detail think of the firing process and yin convergance - undoing the conditioning and returning to pure consciousness - that is the process of awakening the chakras. It is through the letting go of beliefs, opinions, false sense of self - everything that creates separateness that awakens the kundalini. Awakening is experienced on an energetic level - remember in class when Sam had that moment of letting go of a deeply held belief and he felt an energetic opening. In Tantra the conditioned mind is known as ‘differentiating mind’ and “when the differentiating mind is lulled and sleeps, kundalini awakens” I LOVE THAT LINE - SO TRUE!

So kundalini - its a bit more than moving sexual energy. Psychological transformation is needed exactly the kind of stuff we studied all last year. It is the letting go of what ever separates us from really being in the moment that is true Tantric practice. Tantric Hi Ross

Thanks for sending the article.

A practitioner of Tantra does everything with absolute presence. The emphasis is on connection to and immersion in every moment. So sex is a Tantric practice when it is experienced in this way - this includes sensual touch and massage. There are a lot of things that create separation in sex - being goal-orientated or trying to get a ‘result’, anxieties about ‘performance’, having an idea in one’s mind about how sex ought to be or ‘what works’, guilt/feeling you shouldn’t enjoy sex, being distracted e.g. by what happened at work today, unresolved issues within the relationship etc. etc….

I read an article in a magazine recently in which couples were talking about their sex lives. One male partner said proudly of sex with his wife “we have become more efficient at sex - because we know what works ” - jeez!!
Tantric touch, massage or sex is not something you do to somebody. But it can become corrupted. I have had clients (predominantly male) who want to learn Tantric massage as if it is something you do to a woman. They are the guys who say “I just want the woman to have pleasure. That is what gives me pleasure” Call me a cynic but I interpret this statement as “I am an egomaniac. I am validated by feeling I am a good lover. Yet I am shut down. And the idea of just being one with another person is terrifying.”

GETTING HIGH
A lot of neo-Tantric groups, teachings and practices such as Tantric massage are a little bit like taking ecstacy. They create a high and a sense of being really open and connected. This can really plant a seed of how life can be so they can be a positive experience if they lead a person towards personal and spiritual growth. But you have to be able to be open and connected while waiting for the train, travelling to work, getting the groceries, cooking dinner etc. as well .

REGARDING KUNDALINI &CHAKRA CONSCIOUSNESS

You can awaken sexual chi and circulate it through the body and it has great health giving benefits. The kundalini however however and its journey through the chakras takes a little more work. Without going into too much detail think of the firing process and yin convergance - undoing the conditioning and returning to pure consciousness - that is the process of awakening the chakras. It is through the letting go of beliefs, opinions, false sense of self - everything that creates separateness that awakens the kundalini. Awakening is experienced on an energetic level - remember in class when Sam had that moment of letting go of a deeply held belief and he felt an energetic opening. In Tantra the conditioned mind is known as ‘differentiating mind’ and “when the differentiating mind is lulled and sleeps, kundalini awakens” I LOVE THAT LINE - SO TRUE!

So kundalini - its a bit more than moving sexual energy. Psychological transformation is needed exactly the kind of stuff we studied all last year. It is the letting go of what ever separates us from really being in the moment that is true Tantric practice. Tantric massage can be good practice though same as meditation, Tai Chi, yoga, dancing …. can be good practice though same as meditation, Tai Chi, yoga, dancing ….

By Litza Hall

As both a healthcare practitioner and educator, learn how massage therapists can help offer symptom relief to clients with irritable bowel syndrome.

by Nicole Cutler, L.Ac.

Dealing with chronic digestive problems is frustrating, especially when medical intervention offers little help. Affecting up to 55 million Americans, one of the more common chronic digestive problems is irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Because it is so common, most bodyworkers will have at least one client suffering from IBS. In and of itself, relaxation-based massage can help IBS sufferers. However, several additional strategies for supporting bowel health and relieving symptoms helps massage therapists empower their clients with IBS.

About Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Previously known as spastic colon, approximately one in five American adults has IBS. While its symptoms are usually not as severe as the more serious intestinal diseases such as ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease, IBS can dramatically interfere with someone’s quality of life. Despite its prevalence, many people suffer silently because of the embarrassing symptoms, the most common of which are:

· Abdominal cramping
· Bloating
· Flatulence
· Diarrhea
· Constipation
· Alternating diarrhea and constipation
· Mucus in the stool

Although IBS does not injure the intestines or increase colon cancer risk, its symptoms can mask or be concurrent with other more serious diseases. Therefore, chronic bowel problems are always best evaluated by a physician prior to being labeled as IBS.

Experts do not agree on the origin of irritable bowel syndrome. Three proposed physiological causes for IBS are:

1. Muscular – Normally, the intestine walls’ muscles contract and relax in a coordinated rhythm to move food from the stomach through the intestinal tract. However, the intestines of someone with IBS tend towards a longer and stronger contraction time, resulting in cramping pain, gas, bloating and diarrhea. When the relaxing action of the intestine’s muscles dominates, the passage of food slows down and results in constipation.

2. Neurological – Since the nervous system regulates muscular contraction and bowel sensation, a neurological imbalance may be behind IBS. A typical reason for IBS pain is an enhanced sensitivity to the normal stretching of the intestines as food or gas makes their way through.

3. Hormonal – Since women are twice as likely to have IBS as men, some believe that hormones are a causative factor. Additionally, the symptoms of IBS are often worse during or surrounding a woman’s menses.

Massage Therapy Intervention
For a majority of sufferers, IBS symptoms are aggravated by certain foods and stress. However, most experts agree that stress and food sensitivities do not cause irritable bowel syndrome. Despite its unidentified origins, IBS can be controlled largely with dietary adjustments and stress management.

For massage therapists, helping clients release stress typically has a dramatic effect on lessening unwanted intestinal symptoms. For this reason, a traditional relaxation-based Swedish massage lessens IBS severity in many people. Additional suggestions for improving intestinal health include:

· Deep Breathing – Deep breathing can be taught during a massage session and should be routinely practiced by the client. Instead of breathing from the chest only, diaphragmatic breathing allows the belly to expand and contract fully, which helps relax local muscles fostering more normal bowel activity.

· Probiotics – Those with IBS may be overrun with symptom-causing bacteria. Found in yogurt and dietary supplements, probiotics are the good bacteria that occupy the intestines. For many sufferers, supplementing with probiotics improves the intestine’s bacterial balance, which ultimately eases symptoms.

· Heat – Because heat expands and thus relaxes muscles, applying a hot pack over cramping intestines often provides immediate pain relief. Additionally, heat’s ability to induce relaxation makes it a wise choice for preventing the stress buildup that typically precipitates an IBS attack. In addition to beginning a massage session with a hot pack on the lower belly, encourage your client to use one at home.

Because stress aggravates IBS, receiving regular relaxation-based massages typically reduces the frequency and severity of irritable bowel syndrome’s symptoms. However, giving your clients the tools to help themselves proves invaluable. By instructing people with IBS to practice a regular deep breathing routine, supply their intestines with good bacteria and apply heat to their lower abdomen, you can help your client gain control over their own intestinal health.

Recommended Study:
Advanced Anatomy and Physiology
Swedish Massage for Professionals

References:

http://www.massagemag.com/ExtraEdit/133/IBS.php, Stress Makes People Prone To Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Retrieved September 3, 2008, medicalnewstoday.com, 2008.

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/irritable-bowel-syndrome/DS00106, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Retrieved September 2, 2008, Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, 2008.

http://www.ultimatewatermassage.com/herbal-heat-therapy/big-pack-heating-IBS.htm, Therapeutic Heat for Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Retrieved September 3, 2008, Ultimate Water Massage, 2008.

http://www.webmd.com/ibs/, Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) Health Center, Retrieved September 2, 2008, WebMD LLC, 2008.

Posted by Editors at 03:54 PM

© 2009 Institute for Integrative HealthCare Studies. This work is reproduced with the permission of the Institute. www.Integrative-Healthcare.org

I do not know about you, but one of my dreams is to have a personal masseuse in my house, on call at any moment. Now whether that will ever happen? I do not know. And whether my wife would ever allow that is a different question. But besides massages just feeling great, what are some of the other benefits you can get from a massage or bodywork treatment. I am going to write about ten benefits that you can get from a body massage, although there are way more than just ten benefits.

1. Helps with back pains and range of motion - Have you ever hurt your back or neck in a car wreck? Therapists will use massage therapy to help relieve you of your pain.
2. Helps to decrease anxiety - Can you say, relax?
3. Helps muscles - If you are a person who works out normally or you are an athlete, than a massage can help your muscles recover quickly from a hard workout.
4. Improves Circulation - Massages can help blood flow, by allowing nutrients into your tissue.
5. Stretches tight muscles - Many times we get knots in our muscles, which can cause discomfort and pain, even headaches.
6. It’s a pain killer - Helps release amino acids into the body
7. Reduces Swelling - Any time you experience an injury, bodywork treatment can help the swelling.
8. Improves Joints
9. Helps your immune system - We can all use a better immune system
10. Improves Skin Tissue - Can help with avoiding stretch marks

Those are just ten easy reasons why getting a massage once in awhile is important, and the list could go on. We live such busy lives, all of the stress and all of the wear and tear can really take a toll on our bodies, but if we just take the time to give our bodies a treat, we can live happier and healthier lives. Do you ever wonder why we are aging faster, it is because of stress, stress and stress. In fact stress can actually cause disease in our bodies. Massage therapy helps us to release the stress of our daily lives and promotes us to have better sleep, better energy and better focus.

My dad always used a term with me when I got hit by a pitch in baseball, he said, “walk it off, son.” Now, I often tell people to ‘walk it off” as a joke when I see them stub a toe or get hurt in some sort of way. But we can use that term in our daily lives, just switch out the word “walk” with “massage.” Boss yelled at you today? Massage it off! Your son is learning how to play the drums? Massage it off! Family did not like your cooking? Massage it off! Do you catch my drift? Obviously we are not going to get some bodywork done whenever something bad happens, because we might be in the therapy room 24/7, but do not forget to give your body a little treat here and there.

Steven is passionate about living a healthy life, and helping other people find ways to improve their own health. Hiking, running and sports are a normal part of Steven’s life. Steven also enjoys finding new exercises to incorporate in his daily workouts. He has also completed the in home workout P90x and the ChaLean Extreme program.

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

One of the more pleasurable experiences for most people is receiving a massage from a qualified therapist. Massages are known to be very relaxing, yet energizing at the same time and are a great way to relieve stress from everyday life. If you have never been to a massage parlor, you should observe proper etiquette. Therapists, just like any other professional, expect respect and courtesy so they can perform their job better.

Here are some parlor etiquette tips to keep in mind the next time you visit a massage parlor or spa.

1. Make sure you call ahead and schedule a massage. Although many therapists do accept walk-ins, it’s better to call ahead so the therapist can plan expect your visit in advance and can provide excellent service on the timed service.

2. Be sure to be on time. If you arrive late, your session might be cut short due to another appointment right after yours.

3. If you can’t make a schedule, call to cancel your appointment so your therapist doesn’t waste their time and can possibly schedule another appointment in the place of yours.

4. If you have to fill out any forms, fill out the forms as accurately as possible. The forms are there for a reason and the therapist need to know certain pieces of information before the session begins.

5. If this is your first visit, try to get to know the therapist better to make the session more comfortable and get rid of any inhibitions.

6. Try to minimize the disruptions during the session so you and the therapist can get the most of the time. Remember to visit the bathroom before the session and also turn your phone on silent mode or completely off.

7. Do not apply any lotion or moisturizer on the day of your visit. The therapist will most likely use oils, which work best without any lotion or moisturizer applied.

8. Remember to have clean hygiene when you visit. It’s just rude if you don’t.

9. Don’t forget to leave a tip. Therapists mostly work for tips and be sure to tip for good service, just like you would at any full service restaurant.

Massage therapy has many benefits that is well worth the cost. If you are stressed, tired, or have body aches, you should research the parlors in your area and schedule one today!

Find Las Vegas massage parlors and Los Angeles massage parlors at MassageParlors411.com.

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

The reaction to stress is controlled mainly by three tiny glands: Two adrenals which sit on top of the kidneys and the pituitary which is situated under the brain. They produce unbelievably potent hormones which exercise a huge influence on vital body functions. It is the task of these hormones to combat stress and fight off any threat to the body’s welfare.
The glands attempt to adjust to the constant demands of stress, they pour out excess hormones to keep the body going and for the best part they succeed. However there is only so much this defence mechanism can stand and with time this will start to fail and break down.
The body has a great ability to adapt using other mechanisms for a while but there is a knock on effect and soon blood pressure rises, disease and other complaints may then develop and if stress is not controlled your life may well be at stake.

When you as a boss can see that your staff start to get stressed by the amount of work that may have to do. Then the cause of this effect will in turn not help in the production of there work. So by having a day once a month of onsite massage therapist to come in to your office will help to relieve this stress. Insted of the staff member concentrating on their stress when they get a onsite corporate massage this stress does go away, which helps them to deal with what they have to do rather than thinking of going home due to a headache or an over spill of hormones by either man or woman etc..

onsite corporate massages does work it is important for the bosses of this world to start to realise this valuable tool to help them and their business to grow more efficiently and get the best out of their staff.

for all your corporate massages, sport event massages, onsite massages visit:

www.therapy4u.biz

The click2revive.co.uk website is free and designed to help office workers and all computer operators’ combat problems such as RSI. Back, neck and shoulder pain, headaches, stress and many posture related problems at work or at home . It is full of useful health tips and timed exercise breaks.

Joyce Hardy Holistic practitioner. MICHT. Hol. Dip BTAA. IIAHS.
Bowen & Integrated Health clinic on 07781418456
© copyright 2008 Joyce Hardy

How stress starts

Fear, anxiety, anger, in-security, hostility and panic are all caused by our own learned responses, and are not caused by any external stimuli.

From the day you are born to the day you die your body remembers everything you do.

Response means tension for example: tension in muscles is a preparation for action.

So when you are relaxing at home and the phone rings, why is it you jump up without thinking and rush to answer the call?

The phone itself has no power to make you move. “Has it”?

For example at work you answer the phone as soon as it rings, because you become conditioned to respond at once, for fear that you may lose that client or business contract, this is a stimulus that you have learned from habit and rush to answer the call no matter what situation you are in.

Research has been done that indicated there may be a common cause for almost all disease, be it a heart attack, skin complaints, breathing difficulty, or just the feeling of being sick. It is believed that the cause is an imbalance in the body’s chemical workings caused by stress.

When you as a boss can see that your staff start to get stressed by the amount of work that may have to do. Then the cause of this effect will in turn not help in the production of there work. So by having a day once a month of onsite massage therapist to come in to your office will help to relieve this stress. Insted of the staff member concentrating on their stress when they get a onsite corporate massage this stress does go away, which helps them to deal with what they have to do rather than thinking of going home due to a headache etc..

onsite corporate massages does work it is important for the bosses of this world to start to realise this valuable tool to help them and their business to grow more efficiently and get the best out of their staff.

for all your corporate massages, sport event massages, onsite massages visit:

www.therapy4u.biz

The www.click2revive.co.uk website is free and designed to help office workers and all computer operators’ combat problems such as RSI. Back, neck and shoulder pain, headaches, stress and many posture related problems at work or at home . It is full of useful health tips and timed exercise breaks.

Joyce Hardy Holistic practitioner. MICHT. Hol. Dip BTAA. IIAHS.
Bowen & Integrated Health clinic on 07781418456
© copyright 2008 Joyce Hardy

Many clients have stated how much a massage helped them mentally and physically during their pregnancy. Not only does it soothes tired and sore muscles, but it also relaxes the mind and reduces the anxiety that many women face during pregnancy. Massage can also drastically change a woman’s hormones resulting in regulated moods and may even cause a woman to be happier.

A client can become extremely swollen during her pregnancy, so a massage can help the circulation in the body and stimulate a woman’s tissue. Back pain, joint pain, tension and sleep problems can all be associated with pregnancy, but massage is said to actually be able to reduce many of these common discomforts.

As a massage therapist you should always discuss massage treatment with your pregnant clients. While many of them may know about the advantages of getting a massage, they may not know what some of the precautions are. It is your responsibility to always ask the client if she has discussed the option of massage with her physician first. She may have complications that may endanger her or her unborn if she were to get a massage, so it is best to make sure the physician knows about any planning of massage treatment.

If you are a massage therapist, it is best to be certified as a prenatal massage therapist as well if you are thinking about performing massages of pregnant clients. There are many pressure points that only a prenatal massage therapist would know and are also trained to know where they should not massage on the client during pregnancy.

In most cases, prenatal massage is safe for all three trimesters. However, there are always complications that a massage therapist should know about before trying to perform the massage. Since there is a risk of miscarriage during the first trimester, many massage therapists do not opt for this treatment during this time. It is always safe to tell your client to speak with her health care physician before she starts any massage treatment

To learn more about prenatal massage and see FREE video clips , please visit Aesthetic VideoSource at http://www.videoshelf.com to find out more.

Michelle Pemberton is a writer in the spa and beauty industry.

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

When it comes to increasing more visitors to your corporate event stand. By having massage therapist present, this most certainly attracts people more towards your stand or event which means you are able to talk with a lot more people about your product for a lot long even more so when they are waiting for they massage. With this in mind after they have had their corporate event massage they are more easier to talk to as you have been the one who has supplied this service for them.
In today’s times it has become known to me at least, that people who do go to corporate events or conference’s do actually look for companies that host massage therapist. No matter what the reason is for, your companies name will have an effect with that person and what your products maybe. Not only that but people will talk in that corporate event and others will hear.
So really you have nothing to lose make sure you have massage therapists at your next corporate event or conference this will help you attain more information than you think.

for all your corporate event massage, sports events, conference

for all your corporate event massage, sports events, conferances

Ross Brouard
www.therapy4u.biz