Massage Therapy
There are many different types of massage wellness solutions such as: massage chairs, masseuses, acupuncture, and so on; we will attempt to address as many of them as possible if not the main basic options.
The reality is western thinking and even perhaps ideology feel it is a luxury to be able to have these possibilities or believe that the remedy is only for medical, injury, or elderly reasons, but the reality is massage therapy is an essential component to increase blood circulation, relieve stress, and aid in sleeping longer. Here are some of the important methods that you can choose from; I would recommend that you experiment with each solution in order to determine which best fits your specific needs as I have tried several throughout my travel and work days both abroad and within the states:
Massage Chairs
Massage Chairs: Selecting massage chairs can be tricky and since we do not endorse any one specific make or model, we show you what to look out for; the sales person at either the local store or over the phone may also not necessarily know or be the best option to place a recommendation as the intention is to sell you a product. So learning from a product specialist is often a better resource. Doing research and trying out several different styles aides in the decision making process. As you conduct your research be sure to check with the better business bureau for complaints or compliments as besides yelp reviews, the Bureau can also provide useful background data.
When choosing a massage chair, consider what areas of focus you need it mostly; for example, is the area of attention the lower back, neck, calves, or arms? Also, consider these factors: where would you place it, would you acquire more than one, price, ease of use of the remote control, does the company offer delivery and setup, standard and extended warranties, training, and so on. While it’s never a good idea, to buy these items prior trying them, consider those factors I mentioned to aid in your decision.
Here are other forms of massage therapy to consider:
Hot Stone Massage
Acupuncture
Deep Tissue Massage
Craniosacral Therapy
Pregnancy Massage
We shall go over all of these massage therapy options to help determine which one is right for you; I experimented with many styles of massage therapy. So I can provide some knowledge as to what they do, and what ailments, if any, they help alleviate, and whether you should choose a temporary therapy or a longer-term option; either way massages are a form of recovery. So if sleep depravation is one challenge you face, you’re in the right area to learn about some potential solutions!
Hot Stone Massage
BENEFITS OF A HOT STONE MASSAGE
If you want to try an alternative way of relaxing, one method is to try experimenting with a hot stone massage. It’s a type of massage therapy done by placing hot stones in various sections of your body. The stones used are volcanic rocks, and the heat they release gets deep into your skin and the muscles resulting in relaxation and relief from tension. Hot stone massages are beneficial for ailments such as muscle pain, arthritis, and stress. However, I’ve never thought of massage therapy improving digestion, but that is a benefit in addition to improving blood circulation.
DIFFERENCES BETWEEN HOT AND REGULAR MASSAGES
A hot stone massage uses heated stones to relax the body and requires you to lie on a massage table; the therapist then places the hot stones on your body beginning with the shoulders, the back and the neck; they then work the muscles through a traditional massage technique like the Swedish Massage, for example. This type of massage is perfect if you are looking for deep relaxation and relief from tension; I often prefer Swedish Massages and most places that I have visited indicated that the Swedish Massage is the most popular and requested. On the other hand, a regular massage uses the hands to massage the body; I am fine with regular massages well. A hot stone massage, however, is more relaxing, especially after a week of work, a strong strength or cardio session; regular massages suit folks interested in muscle tension aid, knots, and pain relief; both types of massage have many benefits, but what’s better for you depends on your needs. If you’re considering a hot stone massage, please speak first with a therapist to see if the massage is suitable for you. During several conversations with specialists, they recommend that you not have it if you have medical conditions such as heart disease, diabetes or high blood pressure. Here are other benefits of a hot stone massage:
RELAXES THE BODY THROUGH HEAT AND RELIEVES PAIN AND TENSION
One of the major benefits of hot stones is the heat, which penetrates deeply into the body, relaxing the muscles and the veins. The therapist then applies light pressure during massage. Studies have proven that a hot stone massage can reduce stress and anxiety. Specifically, it triggers the production of feel-good hormones like endorphins and reduces stress hormones like cortisol and norepinephrine.
PROMOTES RESTFUL SLEEP AND FORTIFIES THE IMMUNE SYSTEM
According to the American Massage Therapy Association, a massage can ease insomnia and promote good sleep, especially in menopausal women. If you have trouble sleeping, you can have a hot stone massage that may lead to a more enjoyable restorative sleep. A hot stone massage often comes with a Swedish massage for better relaxation, and studies have shown that a single session of Swedish massage can have significant health impacts. For example, it can help manage autoimmune and inflammatory conditions. A hot stone massage with Swedish massage also increases lymphocytes, which help the body fight infection.
MANAGES CHRONIC PAIN AND MANAGES CANCER SYMPTOMS
A hot stone massage lowers substance pain levels, responsible for transmitting pain signals. Some conditions that can be less painful with the aid of a hot stone massage are fibromyalgia and rheumatoid arthritis. A hot stone massage can help cancer patients alleviate their symptoms. Combined with Swedish massage, a hot stone massage can reduce nausea, depression, pain and fatigue.
RELEASES BODY TOXINS AND STIMULATES ENERGY
Physical therapists believe a hot stone massage can release toxins to the skin's surface through sweating. Just drink plenty of water after your massage to help flush out these toxins. A hot stone massage can also greatly improve blood flow and circulation. Aside from relaxation, you can achieve a wonderful radiant glow. A hot stone massage is a traditional medical practice that started thousands of years ago in India and China. They placed hot stones on key areas of the body (called meridians), believing it released stagnant energy.
IS A HOT STONE MASSAGE SAFE FOR PREGNANT WOMEN?
If you are pregnant, you can enjoy a hot stone massage to an extent because it can relieve some of the common discomforts that come with pregnancy, like swelling and back pain. But first, ask your therapist if they have a pregnancy massage table. This table has a supportive cutout that keeps your tummy safe from pressure. A massage requiring essential oils and other herbal extracts may not be safe for pregnant women. These may promote preterm labour and affect neurological functions. The warm stones, along with arm and leg palpation, should be enough.
Acupuncture
Acupuncture is the act of penetrating the skin with thin needles which are then activated through gentle and specific movements of the specialist hands or with electrical stimulation. This is a method I have never tried, but often when I meet with a masseuse, I bring up the topic of acupuncture because I have been curious about the benefits, but worried about having needles poking me. I am also sure many folks have the same concern. However, it turns out that the benefits are extremely important for all the reasons many of us find relaxing or sleeping, for that matter, challenging.
So to better understand Acupuncture, I dove into its history and discovered that it’s part of the ancient practice of Traditional Chinese Medicine; Traditional Chinese Medicine Experts understood that the human body has more than 2,000 acupuncture points connected by pathways. These pathways create an energy flow, also known as Qi, and pronounced as "chee." The energy flows throughout the body and is responsible for overall health; any disruption of the energy flow can cause diseases. By adopting acupuncture techniques to certain points of your body, it is believed to improve the flow of energy, and thus improving health. Many of the masseuses I have spoken to state that acupuncture is effective for a variety of ailments, illnesses, or symptoms, and here are some examples:
Arthritis, back pain, neck pain, muscle pain, headaches, migraines, knee pain, menstrual cramps, sports injuries; other health conditions acupuncture may assist include: face pain, other nerve discomforts, cancer, cancer treatment side effects, immune system complications, infertility, menopause, hot flashes, pregnancy discomforts, and repetitive strain disorders. So as you can see, there’s a ton of benefits, and I thought worthy of bringing it to your attention as a potential solution to some recovery challenges. There is also another method called Auricular acupuncture; auricular acupuncture or ear acupuncture is defined as a type of acupuncture that involves stimulating specific areas of your ear; a specialist inserts needles in certain points in your ear to alleviate chronic back pain and cancer pain relief.
PLEASE NOTE: acupuncture is not for everyone. If you choose to see a specialist, please let your doctor know; also ensure that the specialist is not only licensed, but also that additional credentials or references are present.
Deep Tissue Massage
Don’t be afraid of harder massages—Deep Tissue Massage targets chronic tension in muscles that lie far below your body’s surface. Deep muscle pressure encompasses slow strokes, direct force, or compression movements that go across your strained muscles. I can understand why muscles need this form of therapy because I tend to go all out some times straining my muscles like crazy. So spending some time gaining some much needed TLC after a tense two hour workout makes the most sense.
It is also highly essential if you’re recovering from some chronic muscle tension or injury; there are usually adhesions or rigid tissue in muscles, tendons, and ligaments. Adhesions can block circulation and cause pain, limited movement, and inflammation. So, circulation is a highly important job that the body needs to do because good circulation brings damaged and tense muscles oxygen-blood they need to heal. Massages facilitates circulation because the pressure created by the massage technique moves blood through the congested areas. The release of this same pressure causes new blood to flow in. Thus, deep tissue massage works by physically breaking down these adhesions to relieve pain and restore normal movement. It’s a concept that took me a long time to understand and hope that you practice this important therapy; many of us view massages as either a luxury or just another from of exercise believe it or not; the remedy is so underused in western society such as in the United States. So don’t be shy get into the groove and enjoy a nice deep massage session!
I should also mention that masseuses will use their fingers, thumbs or occasionally even elbows to apply the needed pressure; during many sessions I can feel and hear them move around using their elbows, which I think is hilarious, but yet feels so good! However, it is especially necessary for chronically tense and/or contracted muscles and stiff necks, low back tightness, and sore shoulders; Some of the same strokes, as I call them, are used as traditional massage methods, but the process is slower and the tension is deeper and centered on your muscles where the concentration is needed most in.
Again, I seek out deep tissue massages because of my constant strenuous workouts, but please keep in mind that deep tissue massage is typically sought for relief from issues like: chronic pain, limited mobility, recovery from injuries (such as whiplash, falls, sports injury) repetitive strain injury, osteoarthritis pain, fibromyalgia, and muscle spasms.
Craniosacral Therapy
Here’s another type of therapy that I have not tried, but must feel really good, and it involves both your head and back; it’s called Craniosacral Therapy; craniosacral therapy is also known as cranial sacral therapy (CST); the term implies a process that is gentle, hands-on treatment that may provide relief from pain, like headaches, and neck pain. In my continuous discussions with various masseuses throughout Latin America and the states, this type of therapy is lesser common than the ones mentioned above; still, craniosacral should be considered as you attempt to find the most appropriate solution for your specific needs when it comes to recovery and your wellbeing. My colleagues in this field of expertise say sometimes a healthcare provider may recommend CST in addition to other forms of treatment. However, the bottom line of CST, and from what I have learned, your body is interconnected, both structurally and functionally; this means that one area of your body can affect another, and therefore the goal of CST is tension relief or, how my experts put it, fascial clearance. The process may aid other connected parts of your body function better through either self-regulation, self-correction, or self-healing.
Pregnancy Massage
One last section worth mentioning and likely highly important for many women is Pregnancy Massage Therapy; my female colleagues whom are experts in the field tell that this experience is designed to relieve some of the problems that are common during pregnancy. It can relieve stress and reduce swelling in your arms and legs. A qualified therapist will know which areas to target, and which to avoid. Massage in pregnancy can involve many different massage techniques.
Conclusion
Here are some basic tips that I have been told throughout my experience gaining massages: Arrive at your appointment well-hydrated. Drink plenty of water prior to your hot stone massage. As much as possible, don't drink caffeine and alcoholic beverages a few hours before your appointment. Do not eat a heavy meal before your massage. Consume something light and nutritious instead. Be sure to communicate with your therapist. Let them know if the stones are too hot or if you feel discomfort in any way. Relax and breathe deeply; this will help you get the most out of your massage. Finally, Drink lots of water to flush out the toxins. Avoid alcohol and caffeine for a day. Do not engage in heavy activities for the rest of the day. Instead, take it easy and enjoy some relaxation time. So there you have it folks, massage therapy in a nutshell. Try it!
So as you can see folks, overall massage therapy is available and conducted in some many ways, and proven helpful for various conditions, but the main purpose of bringing massage therapy to your attention is to know that it is yet another form of recovery; the goal is to identify as many options available for you to experiment with and call them a possible solution to any sleeping/recovery challenges. The recovery part of the THREE PRONGED APPROACH is critical to your well being.