Abundant and Amazing Benefits from Massage
March 26, 2011 by Marc Innes
Filed under Pregnancy
Maybe you feel as though a massage is pure self- indulgence or do you consider it to be a necessity of life? After learning about the wonderful and beneficial advantages of massage therapy perhaps you will start thinking about professional massage techniques in a completely new way.
Research and clinical studies are available that prove massage reduces inflammation, strains and pain. This body therapy can even rejuvenate tired or overly stressed bodily functions. A therapeutic massage during work hours can motivate employees and many companies are using desk massage sessions to keep their workers efficiency and productivity at peak levels. Even kids who suffer from some form of learning disability have had their cognitive skills improved with simple massage techniques.
Athletes and Massage Benefits
Competitive professional athletes, weekend warriors or those individuals who exercise daily will also discover that massage has many benefits to offer both body and mind.
Why not help prepare for an athletic event with a deep tissue massage that allows you to perform at your optimum level of competition? With a relaxing and invigorating massage your body will recover even faster after an especially tough workout.
Massage has proven to be a particularly healthy answer for those who have sustained sports injuries. The use of professional massage helps restore normal circulation, relieve muscle aches and alleviates joint tenderness. These are the perfect techniques to use if you need to speed the healing of body aches, strains and sprains.
Aches Away!
A deep tissue Swedish massage, pressure point massage or the use of hot rocks can quickly help relieve a number of body aches and pains. Individuals who have tried pressure point massage can attest to the fact that this technique is very beneficial for joint discomfort and will even increase range of motion in most cases.
Whenever you have muscle pain or other discomfort that results from surgery, muscle strain, torn ligaments or chronic health conditions massage therapy can create positive changes that will make your life better. Even top health care professionals readily admit that massage is a healthy and realistic treatment option that should be used by more of their patients.
Making a Positive Impact on Pregnant Moms
Pregnancy is frequently associated with a number of common discomforts such as low back pain, joint pain and sore muscles. Today more expectant moms are opting for specialized massage techniques that can help reduce these discomforts safely and naturally. Light touch massage is even used to help reduce labor pains and ease the stress of labor.
Effortlessly Eliminate Stress
Many techniques can be incorporated into massage sessions and these can be tailored to give your body the results that are most needed. It does not matter if you feel the need to pamper yourself, want to lower your stress level, or have a medical problem that requires therapeutic intervention it is an indisputable fact that massage can give you the most beneficial results.
At the present time it is well known that many diseases and health issues are the result of stress. Health care specialists are well aware that extremely high stress levels can cause disease, poor health and can even speed up the process of aging. It may not be realistic to expect all stress to be eliminated from daily life but therapeutic massage can help your body combat the symptoms that stress can cause.
Massage therapists can help clients lower their anxiety levels and reduce their fatigue. The benefits of massage will also produce additional positive results such as better sleep, sharper mental focus, improved memory, better concentration and more energy.
Dynamic Results that are Noticeable
It does not take an expert to see the results and benefits that massage can bring to the table. With deep tissue massage a person can expect to notice an improvement in their circulation. Even those cells and tissues in your body will undergo a faster regeneration. The skin and complexion often show a wonderful improvement after just a few sessions with a qualified massage therapist.
You will soon notice that your body feels better and your skin looks healthier and more vibrant. Older cells on the surface of your skin are sloughed away and healthy new cells begin to appear as your body begins to channel more nutrients and oxygen to the underlying cells below the skin’s surface.
Healthier Life
One of the biggest and most important benefits of massage revolves around the change in your immune system. Massage involves repeated motions that help energize the lymph flow in the body. This boosts your natural defense system and builds your immunity.
Treating Depression with Massage Therapy
People who must deal with signs and symptoms of depression can also benefit from massage. Most of these individuals show an improvement with their symptoms and in a majority of cases the signs can even be eliminated completely. In addition to an improvement in the quality of sleep there is also an improvement in attitude and energy levels.
Healthy Pain Relief
There are also important changes that are noticed when massage therapy is used as a treatment for people who suffer from chronic pain. Many individuals with pain or drug dependency issues have seen improvement when massage therapy is added to their regimen. In fact health care specialists state that massage can reduce or alleviate pain and body aches that have failed to respond to traditional therapies. Migraine headaches that fail to respond to pain medications are able to be treated with specific massage techniques that release the body’s natural ‘pain-killing’ endorphins.
Still More Massage Health Benefits
It should also be noted that massage produces other health benefits. Massage can be helpful at treating arthritis, asthma and even high blood pressure and other circulatory problems. Today massage is frequently being used to speed recovery time and reduce pain in patients who have undergone surgery or suffered from burns.
The natural principles of massage are also becoming part of the treatment plan for most patients who have undergone serious operations. Even burn patients are having their recovery period speeded up thanks to the use of massage techniques. An expanding clientele are now enjoying the many positive and healthy benefits of massage therapy. Today many health care professionals are adding licensed massage therapists to their offices and clinics. This means that these healing and soothing therapy sessions are being introduced and promoted by a widening group of doctors and clinicians. As a result the use of massage in mainstream society is becoming more widely embraced, understood and accepted.
Marc Innes is a Holistic Therapy Trainer and runs the School Of Natural Therapies. Take a look at how our Sports/Remedial Massage Level 5 (BTEC) Course London can help you advance your career Sports Massage Course London
de-stress face and head self massage
Our massage therapist, Kylie discusses the benefits of massage during pregnancy, birth and for baby throughout our DVDs. This month, she talked Tarni through a massage that she can do anytime and anywhere. We often rub our forehead or our temples when we have a headache, or are feeling a little stressed. In this short video, follow Tarni as she takes 3 minutes for herself. Self massage is easy and relaxing. In the process of rubbing and putting pressure into various parts of your face, neck and scalp, you touch pressure points that help to calm and relax you. Start by: 1) Rub your hands together quickly to warm them up, and use a little olive oil or face cream to reduce friction if desired. 2) Take some deep breaths, breathing in through your nose, and out through your mouth, letting your tension go with your ‘out breath’. Feel your shoulders drop lower with your out-breath. 3) Press ‘play’ and give yourself a face, neck and scalp massage that will help to rejuvenate you for your day.
Prenatal Massage Techniques
During a prenatal massage, the mother-to-be should always be situated on her side supported by several pillows for the best comfort. Discover the benefits of getting massages during pregnancy with tips from a spa technician in this free video on prenatal massage. Expert: Willow Hajicek Bio: Willow Hajicek is a licensed massage therapist in Vancouver, Washington.
Massage Envy Atlanta – Prenatal-Why Massage During Pregnancy?
Prenatal Why Massage During Pregnancy? Massage during pregnancy offers undeniable physical benefits. At Massage Envy, our professional massage therapists will work to stimulate your lymphatic system, increasing immunity and the removal of excess toxins, while also stabilizing hormonal levels…
Pregnancy massage from Scooter
The Tulsa Whitaker’s cat, Scooter, giving me a massage.
Side Lying Massage Draping for Pregnancy
Draping a client for side lying massage.
Massage is Good for Babies
March 11, 2010 by Dr. Elaine Ferguson
Filed under Pregnancy
Babies born prematurely are exposed to many stresses during their stay in intensive care nurseries, such as bright lights, blood drawing, invasive procedures and loud noises. Their immune system can be negatively impacted by stress. Research now shows that massage therapy has positive effects in terms of lowering stress and enhancing their immune system’s functioning.
Massage has been used in premature and low birth weight babies to promote growth and development. Before birth, babies are exposed to physical stimulation.
Also, premature and low birth weight babies are often placed in incubators, open beds, attached to numerous monitors that interfere with them being touch as often as full term babies.
Researchers at the University of Miami’s Touch Research Institute have reported for over two decades on the benefits of infant massage. It increase the baby’s resistance to infection by enhancing the immune system. Also, babies receiving massage experience faster weight gain.
Massage also raises oxytocin levels, a hormone that possess pain relieving abilities and a calming effect.
Fourteen randomized massage studies involving premature and or low birth weight babies were reviewed.
The review included studies in which a group of babies did not receive massage and were used in comparison to those who did. In most of these studies babies were rubbed or stroked for about 15 minutes, three or four times a day, usually for five or ten days. The studies found that when compared to babies who were not touched, babies receiving massage, gained more weight each day (about 5 grams). They spent less time in hospital, had slightly better scores on developmental tests and had slightly fewer postnatal complications, although there were problems with how reliable these findings are. The studies did not show any negative effects of massage. Massage is time consuming for nurses to provide, but parents can perform massage without extensive training.
Benefits for Babies:
* Improves weight gain
*Helps the baby to become more organized
*Allows the baby to be more alert and interactive with others
*Helps start oral feeding earlier (rather than tube feeding)
*Promotes healthier bones
* Supports parent-infant interaction
* Facilitates weight gain in preterm infants
*Lowers cortisol levels, a significant stress hormone
*Improves muscle tone
* Improves sleep and awake patterns
* Shortens lengths of stay in hospitals
*Improves cognitive and motor development at eight months of age
*Infant massage is a cost effective tool
* Can be used as part of the developmental care plan of preterm infants
Benefits for Parents and Caregivers
* Provides all of the essential elements of intimate parent-infant bonding and attachment: eye-to-eye, touch, voice, smell, movement, and thermal regulation.
* Encourages pre-verbal communication between infant and caregiver
* Helps parents feel more confident and competent in caring for their children
* Helps parents to ease their stress if they are a working parent and must be separated from their children for extended periods during the day
*Gives parents one-on-one quite time or interactive play with their child
*Creates a regular time of infancy between parent and child
* Increases parents’ self-esteem by reinforcing and enhancing their skills as parents, and validates their role
* Gives parents the tools for understanding their child’s unique behavior and patterns
* Teaches parents how to read their infants’ cues and recognize their states of awareness
* Gives parents a special way to interact with their children who may be hospitalized. Helps parents feel a greater part of the healing process
* Daily massage helps parents to unwind and relaxe.
* Provides a positive way for fathers to interact with their infants/children
Looking to find the best deal on holistic family health, then visit www.howtogetwellfaster.com to find the best advice on infant massage#2 for you.
Pregnancy and Childbirth: An holistic approach to massage and bodywork
Pregnancy and Childbirth: An holistic approach to massage and bodywork
