Health Holidays

MASSAGE

Swedish Massage
Shiatsu
Sports Massage
Pre-Natal Massage
Reiki
Therapeutic Massage/Deep Tissue
Tuina-Chinese Massage
Lymphatic Drainage

Massage therapy is the systematized manipulation of soft tissues for the purpose of normalizing them. Practitioners use a variety of physical methods including applying fixed or movable pressure, holding, or causing movement to the body. Therapists primarily use their hands, but may also use their forearms, elbows, or feet.
The basic goal of massage therapy is to help the body heal itself and to increase health and well-being.

Touch is the core ingredient of massage therapy and also combines science and art. Practitioners learn specific techniques for massage and use their sense of touch to determine the right amount of pressure to apply to each person and locate areas of tension and other soft-tissue problems. Touch also conveys a sense of caring, an important component in the healing relationship.

Massage improves circulation, which increases blood flow, bringing fresh oxygen to body tissues. This can assist the elimination of waste products, speed healing after injury, and enhance recovery from disease.

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Swedish massage was originally developed in the late eighteenth century by a Swedish fencing master as the first systematic application of therapeutic massage in the West. It was based on European folk massage, oriental techniques from the Middle East and the then emerging knowledge of modern anatomy and physiology. The strokes and manipulations of Swedish Massage are each conceived as having a specific therapeutic benefit. One of the primary goals of Swedish Massage is to speed the venous return of unoxygenated and toxic blood from the extremities. Swedish massage shortens recovery time from muscular strain by flushing the tissues of lactic acid, uric acid, and other metabolic wastes. It increases circulation without increasing heart load. It stretches the ligaments and tendons keeping them supple and young. Swedish Massage also stimulates the skin and nervous system and soothes the nerves themselves at the same time. It reduces stress, both emotional and physical, and is suggested in a regular program for stress man agement. It also has many specific clinical uses in medical or remedial therapy.A therapeutic massage consisting of continuous effleurage strokes, deep kneading and stretching to tight muscles, lasting anywhere from thirty minutes to one hour. Usually uses oils or lotions. It is the technique upon which most other styles of massage therapy are based. Benefits: Reduces stress levels, stretches and tones muscles, helps the body to maintain homeostasis.

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Shiatsu

Shiatsu is based on the Chinese theory of the circulation of subtle energy, or Qi, through meridians running through and over the body which ultimately govern the internal organs and thus our entire metabolism. Situated along these meridians are points, the same as those used in Acupuncture, where this energy can be effectively manipulated by the therapist. Although the foundation of this massage is deep pressure exerted upon these specific localized points, this system also includes a wide variety of stretches, rubbing, hacking and other common massage techniques. It is a somewhat subtler form of massage since it deals with a higher level of body mechanism - the etheric Qi prana -- or energy, rather than just the gross physical bones, joints, muscles, etc. It can be used as a complete system of health maintenance, or simply for stress reduction, relaxation, and a general improvement of feeling-tone. Unlike Swedish Massage, Shiatsu requires the recipient’s participation with the therapist in coordinating the breath with the manipulations. It is a quiet and contemplative form of massage having profound results.

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Sports Massage
Sports Massage is for the athlete who wants to stay as finely trained as possible without going over the edge. The massage includes assisted/resisted stretching and is focused on the muscles of the specific sport. The results are: less soreness after a workout or event, and thereby a faster recovery time; an avoidance of injury due to more supple muscles; a better performance due to increased range of motion - such as a longer stride; and a faster injury recovery. Both the competition athlete and the "week-end warrior" can appreciate these benefits.Serious training to improve performance means that you are always working your muscles harder and harder, so even with regular stretching and warming up they are likely to become tight and sore. Tight muscles are more susceptible to both acute muscle pull injuries, and overuse injuries. They also lose their flexibility so for each stride you take you move less far and therefore take longer to cover the ground.
Regular massage will increase flexibility and prevent pulls, tears and overuse injuries. Recovery time and muscle soreness from hard training or competition will be reduced and performance enhanced.
Scar tissue from an old injury will restrict movement or cause pain, and can be broken down over a number of sessions.
Recovery from recent injury can be speeded up and the formation of scar tissue prevented.

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Pre-natal Massage is focused on the specific muscular needs of pregnancy caused by the change in posture, length of ligaments, tension, and weight. The massage can include myofascial technique, circulatory work, acupressure, reflexology, and other techniques. Pre-natal massage decreases neck, back and joint pain; relieves muscle spasms and cramps, and sooths nerves. Special attention is made to body support and draping.Prenatal, labor and postpartum massage techniques are useful in helping to relieve soreness in the back, neck and shoulders; reduce stretch marks & swelling; reduce pain and labor time; improve recovery time and reduce connective tissue damage after birth.

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Reiki is a Japanese form of healing that is becoming increasingly popular worldwide. What makes Reiki unique is that it incorporates elements of just about every other alternative healing practices such as spiritual healing, auras, crystals, chakra balancing, meditation, aromatherapy, naturopathy, and homeopathy.

Reiki is a Japanese word representing universal life energy, the energy which is all around us. It is derived from REI, meaning "free passage" or "transcendental spirit" and KI, meaning "vital life force energy" or " universal life energy".

Reiki is believed to have begun in Tibet several thousand years ago. Seers in the Orient studied energies and developed a system of sounds and symbols for universal healing energies. Various healing systems, which crossed many different cultures, emerged from this single root system. Unfortunately, the original source itself was forgotten.This 2500 year old technique involves the laying on of the practitioner's hands along strategic "energy doors" or "chakras" in the body, accelerating healing by promoting the relaxation response.Reiki involves the transfer of energy from practitioner to patient to enhance the body's natural ability to heal itself through the balancing of energy. Reiki utilizes specific techniques for restoring and balancing the natural life force energy within the body. It is a holistic, natural, hands-on energy healing system that touches on all levels: body, mind, and spirit.

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Therapeutic massage/Deep Tissue Massage can be used to promote general well-being and enhance self-esteem, while boosting the circulatory and immune systems to benefit blood pressure, circulation, muscle tone, digestion, and skin tone. It has been incorporated into many health systems, and different massage techniques have been developed and integrated into various complementary therapies. This type of treatment is the oil-based massage that is better-known in the West. It has similar properties to Tuina but the differences are that this massage calms the body rather than boosting energy. It is ideally suited to those who feel their body is tight, tense and taut – perhaps with a mind that is anxious, restless and unable to relax or switch off.

Because treatment utilises oil and balms directly onto the skin, this massage is excellent for working into the deeper muscles and structures to relieve pain that has built up over time. The oils have properties to stimulate circulation and activate the body’s own healing properties.

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Tuina - Chinese Massage is a dynamic, energising-but-relaxing treatment that helps all the body’s systems to function normally. In China, massage is practised in the hospitals and clinics alongside acupuncture and herbal medicine. Tuina means "push and grasp" and is massage in its loosest sense. It is used to treat a variety of ailments - including those to which a Western doctor may comment "you’ll just have to live with it". Chinese doctors use Tuina to help people who have, for instance, suffered a mild stroke or acute digestive conditions. It often gives immediate relief from pain, improves mobility and function and provides the sufferer with a better quality of life

Tuina has been described as "acupuncture without needles" It works on the same principles as acupuncture but uses the practitioner’s thumb/hand/elbow pressure on the points and meridians instead of needles, so it is perfect for those who are needle-phobic!
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