A Foot Massage - The Ultimate Foreplay

Who doesn't love a good foot massage! Done right, it's one of life's great pleasures. It's also very therapeutic according to reflexology's school of thought.

It is thought that reflexology can relieve stress, promote well being and healing by applying pressure on specific areas of the hands and feet. By applying pressure, a reflex action occurs through the nervous system to corresponding organs and glands freeing up circulation and energy flow.

Although this practice of massage dates back as far as the Egyptians, Mayans and even Native Americans, it wasn't until 1917 that Dr. Fitzgerald gave credibility to reflexology. He called it Zone Therapy. Whatever you want to call it, we know how relaxing and pleasurable it is to get a good foot massage. Even a completely untrained person doing a massage can get results. But if you would like some help with some of the basic techniques, then here are some steps you can follow to help someone relax, relieve stress or even pain.

Have the person soak in a foot bath for about ten minutes. You want to be sure their feet are really clean before you start.

Set the mood with some soft music and maybe some candles. Have the person lay down with their feet just over the edge of the bed. Place a rolled towel or pillow under each knee. Get yourself a chair or stool so you can be relaxed too. Note: You will do one foot at a time.

1. Wash your hands with soap and water and then apply massage oil. Start at the top of the foot near the toes, thumbs on the bottom and remaining fingers on the top. Make smooth upward motions towards the leg. Repeat this motion 3 to 5 times.

2. Place your hands on each side of the foot starting near the heel. (The next motion you make will be similar to washing your own hands where you rub your hands together as if you want to make friction). Slowly and gently rub the sides of the feet (your hands are moving in the opposite direction) and work your way up towards the toes. Go all the way up and then back down again in a smooth continuous motion. Do this 3 to 5 times.

3. Now the toes. Start at the base of the big toe, gently apply pressure at the bottom and slowly squeeze in an upward motion until you reach the top of the toe. Repeat 3 to 5 times and do that on each toe.

4. If the person is not too ticklish then you can run your finger between each toe. Do this 3 to 5 times.

5. You are now with your thumb going to put pressure on the bottom of your feet. Right under the big toe is the round fleshy part. Just underneath that is the beginning of the instep. Apply pressure, not too hard, and make tiny circles. Move downward towards the heel in that continuous circular motion. Then move back up. Do this 3 to 5 times.

6. Now do the opposite side of the bottom of the foot exactly the same.

7. Now you can massage the fleshy part right under the toes and the do the same with the heel.

8. You are now going to move away from the bottom of the foot and place you thumbs on both sides of the soft fleshy part between the ankle bone and the heel. In tiny circular motion massage in a circle around the entire ankle bone. Do this 3 to 5 times. This is the 'reflex point' that stimulates the male and female libido.

9. Repeat all 8 steps on the opposite foot.

And there you have it! A great foot massage that can really help someone!

The Essential Magic of Touch

The Power of Touch

Touch as defined in the dictionary means to "put a part of the body especially the fingertips, in contact with something so as to feel it". The sense of touch is most likely the strongest and most powerful of all the senses for without it we would live in a world with no connection. A person can exist without sight, hearing, taste or smell and still be emotionally well balanced. To live without touch or without being touched leads to emotional disconnection and upheaval.

Think of when babies first come into the world and the bonding process that begins. Those children that are held and soothed are made to feel safe and loved. They bond with the people that treat them in this fashion - it does not matter if they are biologically linked together. Children build their trust through this manner of touch. If they are not cradled, stroked and supported, children do not learn trust. They do not trust their caregivers, their surroundings and therefore lose the ability to trust in themselves. The emotional destruction that can happen in this first phase of life is overwhelming. To rectify damage that occurs when touch is withheld is not easy. It can cause severe emotional problems as well as physical symptoms including slowed metabolism, failure to thrive syndrome and high blood pressure.

The chemicals released through the brain as the result of touch have much to do with a baby's development. Medical studies have shown that premature infants who are massaged for fifteen minutes three times a day gained weight 47 percent faster than those left alone in their incubators. Those babies that were massaged also showed signs that their nervous system was maturing more rapidly; they became more active than the other babies when stimulated with sound and color.

Our human bodies are wondrous maps of our entire lives - they hold the records of everything that we have experienced. Each emotion, each trauma, each encounter we have is held inside your body. Our bodies are composed of cellular memory. You know that kink in your neck...or how about that knot in your shoulder that you've had for years? These are all a result of some incident you've had that has become stored inside your body. Touch is a wonderful way to release these pains. Not only can healing touch - meaning massage or energy work - help to release the physical symptoms, but it can also assist in the letting go of the emotional attachments tied to the symptoms as well.

For example, when I was in massage school I was giving a massage to a fellow student. I was working on her neck and her occipital points, and as I applied pressure she began to cry profusely. I became alarmed, thinking I had hurt her, but as she regained her composure she explained what had happened. When she felt the release surrounding the muscle tissue, she began to recall vivid memories from her past. These memories were of a time when she was attacked, held around her neck and raped. She had blocked these memories for so long, but as the physical body was worked on - the emotions came forward for her to look at.

Does this mean that every time you have a massage some deep, dark secret will come forward? Of course not. But there are certain modalities that will assist in clearing your emotions that go hand and hand along with the bodywork. Rolfing and Amanae are methods that involve deep body work specifically designed to help clear the body and the mind. Rolfing, created by Ida Rolf, is structural integration designed to put your body back into structural alignment. While undergoing the structural alignments, many emotions are brought through and cleared. Amanae, introduced by Christine Day, is hands on, emotional release body work that opens "doorways" that have become blocked by deep emotional distress and trauma. The practitioner combines deep tissue massage and energy work to help the client achieve balance and release. I can personally attest that one Amanae session for me was equivalent to about two years of psychotherapy. In one session, I was able to let go of deep seeded anger and fear I had been holding onto since childhood. Not only was my body cleared of symptoms I had held onto, but my heart was also cleared.

Touch is an extremely vital component of our lives. It is important to give and receive touch as often as possible - be it through an embrace, a handshake, or a massage. Touch is a wonderful way of grounding our energy into our bodies. We live in a fast paced world. It is important that along with everything else on our "to do" lists, we make our bodies - our physical and emotional well being - a priority.

Experience something new. Treat yourself to a massage, bodywork or energy treatment. Find out what great healing awaits you. The more you discover about yourself, the healthier and happier you become.

Can Massage Chairs Be Bad for You?

Massage is an effective way to get rid of stress, tension and some other problems related to heavy work, fatigue and existing health conditions. Unlike before, massage is not only provided by massage therapists. Nowadays, if you do not have enough time to spend in dropping by a spa or massage parlor, you have an option to take a look into different types of massage equipment. Because the leading manufacturers of electronic devices/appliances were able to see the problem of the people with very hectic schedules, they were able to come up with such massage equipment. If you read some reviews online about the equipments, you would have an idea on how they work, etc. You may be able to find some reviews that tell you about how the equipment can help you, massage chairs in particular. But so much about the good things, it is also important for you to consider the possible negative effects of massage chairs.

The first possible negative effect of using a massage chair has something to do with our blood circulation. Massage is known to improve the circulation of your blood in the body but if you have an existing problem related to this like blood clot or deep vein thrombosis, massage and using a massage chair can make your condition worst. Evidently, you would not want this to happen, would you? Thus, you have to be careful before you actually use any massage equipment.

In addition to the circulation issues, there is also a possibility that you may experience allergic reactions or suffer from infection using the said massage equipment. Massage chairs are made of different materials like cloth, leather and many more. So if you won't check on the materials used for the equipment carefully, you will not know if your choice is really suitable for you. When talking about infection, you should be aware that the massage therapy will eventually help your body to release enzymes and toxins. This means that along with regular us of the equipment, you should drink a lot of water to easily get rid of the toxins. In this way, you can avoid any infection.

Using a massage chair can also cause you a lot of pain instead of relief and relaxation. Because you are not going to get the massage therapy from a professional massage therapist, you will be the one to adjust the settings on the equipment. Hence, if you do not know how to properly adjust the settings, your might suffer from a lot of pain. For instance, you did not use the settings of the Shiatsu massage technique; you will probably feel pain that may last for a couple of hours to a few days.

However, you are only going to experience all these possible negative effects of using a massage chair when you have some existing health problems. A massage chair can be bad for you if you do not know how to use it properly or if you are going to overuse it. So to avoid this, you should consult your doctor first before using the said massage equipment and make sure that you are knowledgeable enough about it.

Equipment Requirements For a Traveling Massage Therapist

Massage therapists use their skills to help relieve their clients' stress and physical pain. They will also provide relief of soft tissue injuries with little or no pain to the client.
         
Most massage therapists work not only in clinics, wellness centers, sports facilities and such, but many travel to the private homes and the businesses of their clients. This requires them to take their office with them. So, armed with a desire to make people feel better and teach clients how to care for their injuries, the traveling massage therapist needs to have their own equipment.
 
The most important piece of equipment is a massage table. Since there are dozens of designs to choose from, this is not always an easy choice. A portable table is preferable and needs to be comfortable for the client and not agitate any injuries. Side pockets are very useful and make it easier to work on the client. The face cradle will need to be considered. The padding should be relaxing for the client and the size should be adjustable. The table should hold 550 pounds comfortably. This sounds like a great deal of weight for the table, but it is more of a safety factor. In addition to all these factors to consider, one should also not forget to think about the weight of the table as well as how easy it will be to transport. You do not want to buy a top of the line table only to discover that it is too awkward or impossible to carry.
 
The next important piece of equipment for the massage therapist is a chair or stool. Choosing the wrong chair can result in the therapist needing their own massage therapist. The chair needs to be adjustable. Many therapists will buy the massage table and the stool or chair at the same time so that they are sure they will work together. Do not scrimp on the cost of a good chair or stool. There is nothing worse than being stuck hunching over clients all day in a painful position.
 
Depending on the therapy method that the massage therapist chooses to offer, other items to travel with can include a variety of massage oils, hot stones, a portable stereo, and a few relaxing music CD's to help the client relax. The more benefits a therapist offers, the larger the client list and demand for their services.
 
Having an assortment of oils is important because it helps to enhance the client's experience. Scented oils can be used to calm, relax, or rejuvenate the mind and body's senses. When choosing oils, make sure that you consider the type that you buy. Some oils do not keep well for very long and can turn rancid, leaving a very unpleasant odor. Others may cause a negative reaction to the client's skin so make sure that you ask about any known allergies before applying oils or lotions to the client's skin. Sweet almond is the most common and popular. The price is very reasonable, so this would be a good oil to start out with.
 
Because stress is rising not only in the workplace, but in life in general, massage therapy has become more popular over the last few years. Stress can also cause pain and injury to the body, and as a result, the demand for high quality and professional massage therapists is on the rise. Being prepared with the proper equipment and attitude can make massage therapy a very satisfying and lucrative career.

Type of Ayurvedics Massage Therapies For Different Diseases

Ayurveda is one of the alternative medical systems originated from India. Ayurveda in India is famous for curing various types of curable diseases including inflammation of the stomach, infections of the gums and teeth, formation of cataract, disorders of the fallopian tubes, acidity, disorders of the brain, tension, neuralgia, severe ulcers, the spinal nerves, disorders of urinary tract and many more. All these diseases are easily get cured by ayurveda massage therapies and exercises. In India you will find number of ayurveda massage centers that offers various types of massage therapy courses at different rates and packages. Not only in Kerala but these ayurveda centers are now able to follow the paths of Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Noida, Gurgaon, Bangalore and many more states of the nation. Every year numbers of tourist from western side of the globe coming to India for their recovery from different diseases. Here they will find number of world class ayurvedic institutes that offer a number of specialized massage training programs that can make you adept at administering ayurvedic treatment for illness.

The basic philosophy of Ayurveda medical system is based on the panchamahabhoota theory that believes on human body is made up of five elements earth, air, fire, space and water. Ayurveda massage system is the science of life which is dealing not only with treatment of some curable diseases but also maintains the complete body structure. Ayurveda is one of the renewing and revitalizing your body and mind without any side effect like in case of allopathic medicare system. During ayurveda treatment, these five body elements combine to form controlling forces and biological humours called Dosha. This product is used to recover the body's energy from protecting body from several diseases. Ayurvedic treatment is one of the ancient medicare systems has its own natural world that uses ayurvedic herbal and oil for curing diseases and massage therapies.

Ayurveda and massage therapies form an integral part of the cultural heritage of India. Ayurveda in India has been practiced in all parts of India including Kerala since time unknown of this alternate medical system and still regarded as one of the safest alternatives to many other conventional systems of medicine. India houses large number of Ayurvedic resorts offering a wide range of massage therapies and ayurveda exercises. In India as compare to all other states Kerala is one of the states with pristine and refreshing surroundings of beautiful backwaters, exotic beaches and hill stations. Here in India kerala-ayurvedics.com brings you with some of the popular ayurvedic massage resorts in India where one can avail the world class services of Ayurveda massage therapies include the Somatheeram Ayurvedic Beach Resort, Heritage Resort, Keraleeyam Ayurveda Resort, Kairali Ayurvedic Resort, Taj Garden Retreat Kumarakom, Aquaserene Ayurvedic Resort, Susya Ayurvedic Health Resort, Olasha Ayurvedic Center and Kumarakom Lake Resort. Here you will find number of ayurveda resorts that comprises a large team of well qualified Ayurveda massage practitioners and therapists who can examine you and then recommend the required massage therapy.

You Can Have Carpal Tunnel Pain Relief Naturally

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS) happens for a reason. Everything does. And a "syndrome" is a collection of symptoms. Symptoms are your complaints. Natural therapies can help you heal your carpal tunnel symptoms. They can help you get rid of the reasons for your pain. Then your syndrome will go away!
Some of the benefits of natural therapies for CTS include: no surgery, no anesthesia, no recovery, no recurrence, whole body wellness and no side effects.

Natural therapies include ice, heat, Vitamin B6 and other supplements, natural anti-inflammatories, correcting your posture (that's a big one) and habits, massage and possibly night braces to prevent curling your wrists while you sleep. Natural therapies can be used along with conventional medical therapies and the sooner you start to correct the symptoms in your hand, wrist and arm, the more quickly you will heal.

When you sleep on your side or stomach, you can squeeze the nerves and blood vessels that serve your hand. Side-sleeping also causes shortened, tight muscles in the front of your body. All of these things can cause carpal tunnel symptoms. Sleeping on your back can help relieve symptoms because it allows your chest muscles to stretch and relax. The best pillow would be a smallish one that supports the natural curve in your neck. If you need a little height under your head to create comfort, then do that, too.

You can even make your own neck roll or pillow from fiberfill batting. You can get fiberfill batting at a fabric store. It's very inexpensive. If your neck is like my neck, it's not always the same. Having a few different pillows gives you options.

Massage can be very valuable for carpal tunnel symptom relief but every massage therapist is different. We have different personalities, outlooks, levels of confidence, training, skill levels and beliefs. Here are some questions that you can ask your potential massage therapist to determine whether you might like to work with him or her. See whether their answers make sense to you.

The questions are:

* What do you think are the most common causes of carpal tunnel syndrome?
* Will you be able to figure out the cause of my pain?
* Do you have a pain treatment strategy? (Where will you work and why?)
* What type of massage training did you have? (What did you learn in school or advanced training? Some schools are geared to therapy and pain relief; others to relaxation techniques.)
* What muscles are most likely involved in my specific situation? (This is easiest for the therapist to answer if she or he can see you.)
* How long do you think it might take for me to feel better?
* Will the massage hurt?

It is very possible there will be discomfort with massage and the reason is simple. Tight muscles just aren't used to being pressed into. It may be just a little uncomfortable, or feel like "good pain" (Yes! your body says. That means it's the appropriate place) or it may be quite intense. Some discomfort during or after therapeutic massage is generally unavoidable, but a good therapist will work within your tolerance level and explain why an area is tender.

Always give your massage therapist feedback. He or she wants to know how you are feeling, and also wants you to have carpal tunnel pain relief. You can also do self-massage.

Specific Conditions and Health Issues That Can Benefit From Physical Therapy

There are many health conditions and mobility issues that can be treated using physical therapy. Most practitioners of this kind of healthcare service specialize in different fields of physiotherapy. And even though this type of medical practice has been around for quite some time now, most of the general populace is still unaware of the various advantages and benefits that physiotherapists have to offer. The following is just some of the areas where physiotherapy has long been used to evaluate and treat physical disabilities and conditions that have long plagued mankind.

• Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Physical Therapy - for individuals who have suffered from cardiopulmonary conditions or those who may have undergone cardiac or pulmonary surgery, a good cardiovascular and pulmonary rehabilitation program may be necessary to restore their endurance and overall physical health. Physiotherapists practicing in this field have a basic goal in mind, to help the patient gain his strength and independence in terms of mobility and functionality.


• Neurological Physical Therapy - sufferers of neurological diseases and disorders like cerebral palsy, Alzheimer's disease, ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis), Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis, as well as people who have gone through brain injury, spinal cord injury and stroke are all susceptible to mobility issues and seriously impaired motor functions. A neurological physiotherapist's job is to assess and aid these types of patients in restoring their independence through a specially designed physical therapy or rehabilitation program.


• Pediatric Physical Therapy - more often than not, some of our youngsters need some type of physiotherapy, especially those who may have genetic or congenital diseases that have left them unable to function properly in the outside world. A pediatric physiotherapist can help in diagnosing, treating, and managing certain health issues that some infants, children, and adolescents may be suffering from. These types of physical therapists have the capacity to detect specific symptoms in infants and toddlers who cannot really communicate yet and provide a workable and effective treatment that will allow these children to function and grow up as normally as possible.


• Geriatric Physical Therapy - just like our children, most of our elders will require the services of a good physical therapist as well. With the various health issues that most senior citizens are suffering from these days, a geriatric physiotherapist will never run out of patients to treat any time soon. As we grow old, our body will begin to show signs of degradation. Osteoporosis, arthritis, certain types of cancer, Alzheimer's disease, and other health issues associated with old age are just some of the conditions that geriatric physiotherapists can and will encounter. Senior citizens who suffer from or have undergone hip and joint replacement, incontinence, and balance disorders can also benefit from geriatric physical therapy.


• Orthopedic Physical Therapy - perhaps one of the most common specialties in physiotherapy, orthopedic physical therapists diagnose, help manage, and treat conditions and injuries related to the musculoskeletal system. People recovering from orthopedic surgery, sports related injuries, and amputations are the main focus of orthopedic therapists. Apart from diagnostics, management and treatment programs, practitioners of this field are also capable of providing strength training and prevention programs to individuals leading an active lifestyle.

The above mentioned physiotherapy specialties are just some of the practices in the field of physiotherapy.

Although there is a specific discipline of physical therapy for every type of injury, health disorder or physical disability, their expertise as physiotherapists are a welcome addition to the healthcare service industry.