In my lifetime I have received and given hundreds of massages. While this doesn’t make me an expert on massage, there are some things I have learned through the years about the subtle energy exchange that happens before, during and after a treatment. As a practicing psychic, who loves to get body work done, I am very particular about who I have work on me. When choosing a massage therapist, I want them to have a mindful presence. I appreciate a therapist with a conscious intention that the massage be positive, healing, relaxing, and therapeutic. I know that In addition to the physical touch, there is an energy transference that occurs during a session. I want this energy exchange to be positive. It is important to me to choose a massage therapist that I trust to hold a “sacred space” so I can relax and release any tension or stress and feel safe on the table. I learned this discernment after I experienced some massages that impacted me negatively and left me feeling drained.

Some massage therapists are more intuitive than others and can “read” the needs of my body and my emotional state even before I speak to them. Other massage therapists are doing their job, giving a massage, but it is from a much more detached and automatic place. Their heart may not be in it or they may not have developed the extra sensitivity to intuit what I need. Unfortunately, some other body workers may also have an agenda of their own which detracts from the healing nature of a massage. My goal when receiving a massage is to let go and open to the experience, so I can relax and go deeply within to receive the healing transmission. I’m not there on the table to teach, entertain, stimulate or please my therapist. When I book a massage, it is because I am feeling depleted, tense or in pain and want to relax. So it is important I select a therapist that resonates with me.

Many massage therapists are quite psychic and receive intuitive messages, pictures and the causes for pain in the client’s body. They may pick up on an old car accident or an injury as they are working silently on the client. This ability to psychically “read” the client’s energy field can develop over time. As a massage therapist for many years, I noticed my intuition getting stronger and stronger as I risked sharing little bits of information I received while working on the client’s body. Some massage is done in silence or with just soft music playing. There is a grace that happens in the stillness and quiet. When I was open and listening to the messages from the client’s body, I learned about their emotional and spiritual needs, as well as the needs of their body’s pain and tightness. I studied energy work and learned how to direct a universal healing source of energy, along with the muscular therapeutic touch while giving massages. This combination of healing energy and therapeutic touch produced a positive effect for the clients.

This subtle energy exchange before, during and after a massage can make the difference between feeling refreshed and relaxed from a positive exchange, or depleted and victimized from a negative exchange. Choose your massage therapist carefully. Rather than basing your selection on credentials only, tune into your intuitive feeling about the person and whether or not they are a vibrational “match” for you. A massage can be a sacred, holy gift that energizes and heals on deep levels. Choose wisely.

As far as the demand and popularity is concerned, massage therapy is all the rage in the here and now. A few decades back, it was taken as a not-very-effective approach. However, today it has turned into a fringe approach. Many insurance providers also cover for the treatment sessions. Moreover, this type of therapy involves relief from anxiety, stress reduction, sleep improvement and better circulation, to name a few. Let’s go into detail and find out more about the benefits.

Relaxation

When your body is going through a good deal of stress and anxiety, it produces cortisol that can cause weight gain, headaches, digestive issues and lack of sleep. According to many research studies, massage therapy reduces the cortisol levels helping you get into the recovery mode.

Stress reduction

You can get relief from stress with regular sessions of massage. Over the long haul, it can help you enjoy a higher level of energy, reduce pain and improve your overall performance.

Lower blood pressure

With regular massage, you can keep your blood pressure under control. As a matter of fact, many studies have shown that massage can control both diastolic and systolic blood pressure. Apart from this, it may control the cortisol levels in your body. By keeping your blood pressure under control, you can control your depression, tension, hostility and anxiety, which will reduce your likelihood of having a heart attack.

Muscle relaxation

The role of the message therapy is to help you get rid of pain by eliminating muscle tension, providing relaxation and increasing flexibility. With massage, you can trigger circulation in different parts of your body, especially to the injured parts. As a result, your muscles get the relaxation they need. This promotes pain management, feelings of euphoria and healing.

Improved circulation

Make sure you don’t underestimate the long-term benefits of the therapy. With better blood circulation, you can stay relaxed. The reason is that proper circulation may also relax your tense or stiff muscles, which will promote recovery from possible injuries.

Improved posture

A large number of US citizens suffer from the pain of neck, back and muscle. However, in most cases, the pain occurs because of bad posture. As a matter of fact, chronic back pain may cause missed workdays and, in worse cases, disability. Furthermore, if you are overweight or have bad posture, you may suffer from neck strain and a lot of other issues.

Strengthened Immune system

With regular sessions of message, you can enjoy a lot of physical benefits. If you experience a lot of stress, you are more prone to injury and illness. When combined with stress and poor nutrition, your immune system loses its strength. As a result, you become more prone to different types of pathogens, infections and bacteria. But getting message on a regular basis makes your immune system stronger.

In short, massage therapy was considered a fringe approach. Now, it has become a mainstream phenomenon. So, if you want to enjoy the benefits mentioned above, make sure you get message on a regular basis.

Massage therapy is the practice of manipulating the soft tissues and muscles. Its goal is to provide the receiver with physical and psychological benefits. By manipulating the soft tissue and muscles with a series of orchestrated movements, massage is thought to result in relaxation and pain relief. Massage has been practiced in most cultures and since the beginning of recorded time.

The literal meaning of massage is friction of kneading. Kneading is one of the more famous movements. It is performed by making a side to side squeezing action. This is similar to the kneading action for making bread dough.

The use of massage can be found in the writings of many ancient civilizations. There are references in Chinese medical books and even references to massage in the Bible. There were references to the ancient Romans using it to treat some forms of illnesses.

Clearly, massage therapy has been used throughout the world to help restore health to the body. Many of these civilizations develop very distinct types of massage techniques. Each technique brings about slightly different benefits.

Some of the more famous techniques are Swedish massage, shiatsu, reflexology, acupressure and many more. Many of these techniques can now easily be found being offered in most spots around the world. They are also being integrated into massage chairs.

The practice of massage is about applying direct pressure to certain points in the body. When this is done correctly, it will bring relief to those areas. In scanning the techniques offered by massage therapy schools, there are approximately 200 variations of massage technique. These are constantly evolving and subject to interpretation by the therapist.

A new study was published in September 2004 that used a need for analysis of peer reviewed scientific journals using massage therapy and the adult population. The conclusion of the study is that massage therapy provides a wide range of physical and psychological benefits.

This study monitored the blood pressure, heart rate, negative mood, anxiety state and the immediate assessment of pain levels. The patients were given a single massage treatment once a week. According to the research, the average participant experienced a reduction and anxiety was greater than 64% over the control group.

The study also showed that it was effective in reducing blood pressure and heart rate. As results of this study, researchers theorize that massage may provide a benefit that parallels a model of psychotherapy. However, researchers do not believe that the benefits derived from massage are slowly psychological.

Another study conducted in May 2004 and published by the national Center for complementary and alternative medicine showed that massage was the ninth most popular form of alternative medicine. It also showed that 5% of the adult population used therapy at least once in the past 12 months. The popularity of massage treatments continues to rise.

So far, there have been very few studies the benefits of massage. The main problem with connecting clinical studies is the cost involved. Most companies have little incentive to fund massage therapy studies as there is no way to control the methods in order to profit. This is perhaps the biggest hurdle to getting thorough studies conducted. Unfortunately, most clinical studies are driven by the profit motive. These procedures need to be protected by intellectual property or there is little incentive to fund them.

Hot stone massage is different than the better known traditional full body massage or a therapeutic massage in that it requires a more gentle touch and in some cases the therapist may not even touch you, other then to position the hot stones.

The heat in the stones is effective in enabling the muscles to loosen up and relax the stiff muscles. Hot stone massage helps the client relax and allows better sleep. It’s really hard to get a good quality sleep when you’re over fatigued. With the relaxation you get from this therapy, it makes it easier for you to doze off into a deep sleep which your body needs to recuperate from daily fatigue. This is why people who have Insomnia are often advised to have a hot stone massage.

A massage of any type can give you a happy feeling, usually because you are in such a warm relaxed space. A calming and soothing massage can do wonders in giving you an emotional boost, leaving you with a happier and more positive outlook in life.

Taking a break from work and from life is truly a necessity that most people overlook and take for granted. No, you don’t need to fly and have a vacation every once a week. Just being able to give yourself some down time to unwind and relax is a healthy habit. You need to think about your total wellness and set aside some time to pamper yourself. If you are happier and healthier, you can better serve the needs of loved ones. So not only can pampering yourself with a hot stone massage improve your life, it could benefit others that are close to you as well.

There are differing opinions but for my own personal choice when doing hot stone massage, I like to use natural materials. My number one choice for a massage oil is rice oil. In fact I go a step farther with the rice, I even fill bags with rice to hold the stones in place.

Choosing the correct size and type of stones is extremely important in hot stone massage. The size of stone I select for hot stone therapy range from very small for doing toe work to large for working on the back. I prefer the smooth basalt stones. I prefer very smooth river stones for warming and loosening the muscles.

I always test the heat of the stones with my client so that the heat does not exceed the clients comfort level and I set the mood in the room by using soft lighting and music to help each client relax.

Massage Chairs are one of the best sources of relaxation, therapy and luxury all rolled into one, right in the comfort of your own home. The massage chairs available today are powered by electricity and come in various different colors, under various brands and in many different models. People who own one generally get addicted to the feel good response they get during and after a session on their massage chairs. If you are not among them but would like to own one of these chairs we suggest you look at both sides of the story before you splurge on a massage chair for your house, because of course these chairs are generally pretty expensive.

People with pacemakers and other such electromagnetic implants need to be careful about the models of massage chairs they buy. Although most modern massage chairs manufactured by the top end and reliable brands are safe, it is best to consult your physician when in doubt. This is also true for those who are morbidly obese, patients of arrhythmias and known epileptics.

The basic mistakes that potential buyers make while deciding to ‘go for’ a chair like this is thinking that a simple daily massage routine on these chairs will make all their medically compromising muscle conditions disappear. This might not be true. A massage chair is simply one of the adjutant tools that work by increasing blood circulation and relaxing the muscles. They may or may not be effective in treating a full fledged subluxation, disturbed alignment or other such serious postural complication, for which a qualified professional should be consulted. It is best not to be fooled by exaggerated claims on advertisements. When you understand the realities and therefore adjust your expectations, you will feel much better and less cheated with your purchase.

Now that the above point has been cleared, let us state the obvious: whether therapeutic or not, these chairs do make you feel good. As the various pressing, rolling and massaging components of the chair take over your body, you do feel more relaxed and at peace with the world. There are some healing effects of a good massage offered by some massage chairs, which include the benefits of reflexology, various specialized massages like the Shiatsu, the Swedish massage and other such specialized techniques which are offered by different brands.

We suggest you keep a level head when you invest in one. As long as you buy it for the right reasons like some daily self care and relaxation, you will not regret your decision.

Massage is all a matter of touch. We are all sensual beings and as a result our bodies respond well to massage and human contact. When there is touch, more healing takes place.

These are some of known health benefits of Massage Therapy:

In fact, increasing evidence show that massage therapy helps to bolster the immune system of a person. Some studies show of cellular changes in immune function following massage therapy, including the new research on healthy women that indicates increases in disease-fighting white blood cells and natural killer-cell activity.

Before a Massage Therapy session, you may wish to consult with the Massage Therapist as to your treatment goals. Different combinations of massage techniques may be used to attain these goals. For instance, if you have a sports injury, you may wish to have specific massage strokes targeted to reduce swelling and to improve blood flow in that area. Or the therapy session may just well be a general de-stressing and relaxing one.

If you agree that many of today’s illnesses are due to stress-related issues, then Massage Therapy which helps in the reduction of stress, can really help in the process of building white blood cells. For a better immune system and reduced stress levels, try Massage Therapy today!

With workplace stress becoming more commonplace, so the cost to industry increases with it as more and more individuals take time off work due to stress related illness. To combat these growing figures, a number of new stress combatant measures are being implemented into the workplace. One of the most popular is a workplace massage. The top ten massage techniques are listed below.

1. Swedish Massage

This is the most basic of all massage techniques, and the more popular, as it is usually the first to be learnt by masseuses. The Swedish massage technique consists of five basic steps or sub-techniques.

Effleurage. This first step involves long, sweeping strokes with the hands, gliding over the body. The main purpose of this is to relax the muscles.

Petrissage. This next step, the muscles are gently manipulated by being squeezed and lifted from the body. This is to relax the muscles and to improve circulation.

Friction. The masseuse applies heat to the skin and muscle in this step, by rubbing the surface with deep, circular movements. This stretches muscle fibres, breaks down any knots caused by binding of muscle fibres and improves muscle and joint flexibility.

Tapotement. Additionally known as percussion, the masseuse will quickly and rhythmically tap, cup or chop the skin with their hands. This stimulates the muscles into promoting gas exchange to improve circulation and also firms the skin and releases muscle tension and spasms.

Vibration. This last step entails gently shaking the skin with the fingers or hand. This releases any remaining tension that may reside in the muscles and also boosts circulation.

2. Deep Tissue Massage

This type of massage technique is especially good for treating specific areas of the body. The masseuse will typically use their elbows or the knuckles on their fingers, working with slow, deep movements across the fibre of the muscle and across tendons. This will restrict and release blood to the muscle, re-energising the tissue with fresh oxygen, and remove more complex knots in the muscle fibres.

3. Sports Massage

The Sports Massage technique is a combination of other massage techniques. The chief techniques used are Swedish massage, Deep Tissue massage and Trigger Point massage. With the last-mentioned, Trigger Point massage involves the masseuse pinpointing the muscle area affected by detecting a hardness in the tissue, and then working directly on that area with the fingers until the muscle relaxes. Sports massage will reduce muscle swelling and tension, relieve muscle fatigue and increase the flexibility of the muscle tissue.

4. Indian Head Massage

This ancient massage technique, also known as Champissage, covers the neck and shoulders as well as the head. The neck and shoulders are first deeply kneaded and squeezed to remove any muscle tension. Once completed, the masseuse will move on to the head and scalp. With the wrists resting on the head and using their finger tips, they will lightly claw at the scalp, as if shampooing the hair. This will increase circulation thus improving blood supply to the brain. Before the final step, the masseuse will perform a facial massage, gently rubbing the temples in a small circular motion. Once finished, they will gently rub the forehead, moving away from the centre down each side of the face to the temple, before finally stroking slowly from the forehead towards the back of the head, becoming lighter as they do, until the fingers lift away from the head. This technique will remove tension from the shoulders and neck, release sinus pressure and relieve stress that can ultimately lead to headaches.

5. Reflexology

This massage technique is specifically for hands and feet. Firstly, the foot/hand is gently stoked and rubbed to warm the area before being worked. The masseuse will then use their thumbs and fingers to explore the subject, including the area between the fingers and toes, to find any anomalies. An area that needs specific attention will be gently compressed and rubbed before the masseuse moves on to the next area. Once the hand or foot has been finished, the masseuse will gently rub and stroke the hand or foot again, to relieve any stress.

6. Hot Stone Massage

As the name suggests, Hot Stone Massage utilises heated stones. The stones used are smooth and are pre-heated in water beforehand. Once the stones are at working temperature they are placed on specific parts of the body. The heat from the stones penetrates the muscles, which make them relax, stretching the muscle fibres and improving circulation. The stones are then used to massage the area, whilst they are still heated. Hot Stone Massage is used over the whole body, except for the face, and will relieve pain and muscle tension, improve muscle flexibility and increase blood circulation.

7. Shiatsu Massage

This eastern oriental massage technique uses the fingers and thumbs on the acupuncture pressure points on the body, and is often known as acupressure. Some masseuses even use their elbows and knees during a massage session. The body’s pressure points are manipulated by tapping, squeezing, rubbing and deeply probing, which releases and restores the energy flow around the body. This technique relieves pain and relaxes the muscles, and improves the circulation of blood around the body.

8. Neuromuscular Massage

This particular technique focuses on a specific muscular complaint. The masseuse will concentrate on that distinct area and locate the trigger point within that muscle which is causing the problem. The masseuse will apply continuous pressure with the fingers, knuckles or the elbows, for a prolonged period. This will improve the circulation within the muscle and relieve any pain or discomfort.

9. Pregnancy Massage

Pregnancy massage techniques are specialised due to the nature of pregnancy. The areas that are covered are primarily the back and buttocks, legs and feet. For the back and buttocks, the masseuse will use a soft fist and will draw their knuckles from the neck down to the hips and will then run the fist back upward to the ribs. The masseuse will also apply pressure just below the base of the spine between the buttocks using the palm of their hand. Legs and feet will be rubbed softly. These techniques will relax the muscles and increase the blood circulation.

10. Aromatherapy Massage

This is not strictly a technique, more the addition of essential oils to the techniques mentioned above. The masseuse will use the more relaxing strokes and compliment them with essential oils. The oils chosen vary depending on the result that the masseuse would like to achieve. Different oils will produce differing feelings of well being, and this is something that the patient and masseuse would discuss beforehand.

These massage techniques can benefit employers and employees alike. By re-energising the mind and body, workplace morale improves creating a more pleasant, stress free working environment that all can benefit from.

There is no question that conservative therapy is the best option for those suffering with a Repetitive Strain Injury. From Trigger Finger to Thoracic Outlet Syndrome, conservative therapy produces the best results, limited side effects (if any), quicker results and long-lasting relief.

There are many types of conservative treatments that provide a variety of positive benefits to the user. Massage Therapy is a terrific conservative treatment that provides good results by itself, and even greater results when combined with a stretch and exercise routine.

Massage is used to help relax and lengthen tight, restrictive muscles, break down scar tissue in injured muscles, reduce adhesions on affected tendons at their point of attachment to the muscle or to the bone, remove toxins from muscles and increase overall circulation and nutrient delivery to the associated tissues. All of these wonderful benefits help overworked muscles to relax and injured muscles to recover. The problem is this. Massage Therapy does not correct the muscle imbalances causing the Repetitive Strain Injury. Massage Therapy can greatly assist the rehabilitation / treatment process, but once a muscle has been injured and has atrophied to any significant degree, or a muscle has gone into a state of chronic hypertonicity, other therapeutic elements must be added to the treatment regimen in order to completely eliminate the Repetitive Strain Injury.

An integral part of treating Repetitive Strain Injuries is the implementation of a stretch and exercise routine specifically designed to create structural integrity and muscle balance where the injury exists. If the injury is Tennis Elbow, there must be an equality of strength between the wrist and elbow flexors, wrist and elbow extensors, and wrist and forearm pronators and supinators. By creating strong flexible muscles surrounding the specific joint, that joint will no longer be highly susceptible to Repetitive Strain Injuries.

The integration of Massage Therapy, stretches, exercises and hydrotherapy is a highly effective treatment protocol for many types of injuries. An example of a treatment sequence for a ‘chronic injury’, no matter the affected area, should follow along these lines:

Hydrotherapy Heat – Heat to increase circulation

to the area, making the soft tissues relaxed and pliable.

Massage Phase-I – Specific massage treatment

utilizing Trigger Point Release techniques to release muscle spasm and Transverse

Friction Massage to break down adhesions.

Stretch – Stretch overly restrictive tissues

to increase their length and reduce their compression of underlying tissues.

Exercise – Perform strengthening exercises

for the affected tissues in order to reduce tensile strain on the injured area,

heal micro-tears and increase healing nutrients to the injured area. Strong

muscles create stability and prevent future recurrence of micro-tears to

a previously affected area.

Massage Phase-II – Perform light Petrissage

and Effleurage towards the heart to remove the toxins created from undergoing

Trigger Point Release, Transverse Friction Massage, stretches and exercises.

Hydrotherapy Cold – Cool the injured tissues

in an elongated position as to not lose range-of-motion (ROM) of the affected

tissues and to further remove toxins from the area.

Massage Therapy and the involvement of the techniques listed above are very effective in eliminating chronic Repetitive Strain Injuries. Any one element by itself is OK, but by implementing several sound conservative techniques, the success rate of the treatment increases dramatically. Remember, when injuries are present, choose the “Conservative Alternative”.

Are you looking for that special chair that will warmly embrace your body after a hard day of work? Looking for a chair that will welcome you home and reward you with a human touch that knows every inch of your body and what it needs? I introduce to you the Human Touch 7120.

The HT-7120 massage chair is an “upgrade”, if you will, from the HT-125/135/136 model series. It has the lumbar heat, adjustable massage intensity, and calf width adjustment, which I will go into greater detail later in this article.

The Human Touch 7120 massage chair resembles a comfortable office chair with concealed features. At the bottom of the massage chair is a rotating calf and foot massager that offers restorative relief to weary and aching muscles. Included in this feature are two fifteen minute programs that offer a gentle or intense foot and calf massage that demonstrates the squeeze and release techniques of a live massage therapist. Calf pain is the most common complaint from folks using a massage chair. Human

Touch has added a width adjustment to deal with this issue. A simple press of a button on the ottoman will set the width at just the right comfort level for any body size/type.

My favorite feature of this massage chair is the lumbar heater that soothes the lower back muscles which is followed by remedial massage which imitates the techniques of a massage therapist. This gentle warming sensation provided by the chair gradually reduces soreness and tightness. I feel that every massage chair should have a heat feature of some sort, particularly in the lower back, where most folks have some pain. With the ergonomic hand control you can adjust the intensity or gentleness of your massage with 7 different levels of intensity.

No massage chair is complete without a reclining feature. With the full stretch body mode, the foot and calf massagers hold your legs as the chair slowly eases back. The recliner feature allows you to stretch your spine which increases blood flow to the vertebrae and disks which allows rejuvenation for the lower back. To ensure that you are comfortable when reclining, the HT 7120 tilts back to a 170 degree angle to guarantee comfort. To heighten your massage experience, there is a cushion head pillow that allows additional comfort during your massage.

For convenience, there is an outlet on the side of the chair that allows an easy reach for you to plug in your leather miracle into any outlet nearby. Also, on the side of the chair is a recline lever that permits you to adjust how far back you would like to adjust the chair. In addition to the lever and outlet, there is a pocket for your remote control, so there is no excuse for losing it!

The only drawbacks to this model, as I see it, is that there is no true foot massager as part of the ottoman and the massage is not quite as smooth as some of the more higher priced massage chairs. But, for the list price, it is an exceptional bang for your buck.

You can choose from black or brown leather, but it won’t matter what color it is once this chair seduces you with its human-like qualities. With luxurious leather upholstery, the Human Touch 7120 proves itself to be more than just a massage chair.

A Reiki massage table in the treatment plays a vital role in order to provide the maximum effect. You can use chair, bed or table and can select the one which suits best to the client. To give the best result to the treatment, the selection of sitting must be done carefully, as the client should be comfortable enough to remain in that position for at least one hour.

Reiki massage table must be like that, you could adjust the elevation of its back in order to get the best comfort and result. The client must go with the manual adjustment feature in the table. During session of this method the adjustment of table plays a vital or very crucial role. The reiki table allows you to enjoy the treatment by sitting or by lying down on the table. The upper part of the table must be soft and smooth in order to provide ease and comfort to the client. Some of the reiki tables contain buttons at their handles, which helps the client to adjust his or her sitting according to the level of comfort.

You might be thinking of where to find these reiki massage tables. There are number of places and stores, which deal with these tables. You can also take help of internet and various websites with which you can purchase your reiki table. The samples and demo of the tables can be easily seen in on internet. The difference between online shopping and local store shopping can be easily seen after purchasing of these reiki massage tables. Reiki massage is not actually a massage therapy. In reiki healing method life force energy plays a important role and allows the practitioner to give its hundred percent for the best results.

Except reiki massage table there are lots of things to have some of them are pillow and pillow covers. The body of the client must be covered with some stuff in order to get rid from different sensation problems. The sensation can be in the form of cold or warm. The sensation that occurs in this treatment is for a small time and the client can be in normal condition in hours or in a day.

One thing must be remembered before starting of the session is to protect you as well as to the client from the protection symbol. Before starting the treatment you must check out the areas in the body that are need of high energy as compared to other parts. The life force energy is a powerful one and can help you out in lots of body and health related problem. The procedure can also be applied to a single area of the body. The reiki energy is intelligent in itself to move to the body part that requires large amount of energy.