Thursday, September 9, 2010

The Benefits of Massage Therapy

Professional massages provide a number of benefits that many people are not aware of. Along with putting the client into a deep state of relaxation, it can also help to heal the body and clear the mind by ridding the body of harmful toxins. Massage therapy can be used to treat chronic diseases, tensions in the body, and common afflictions. For instance, it can help to lower blood pressure, improve flexibility and range of motion, improve posture, strengthen the immune system, and lessen the effects of allergies, depression and anxiety, arthritis, asthma, and insomnia.

Most importantly, massage therapy can help in healing the body. Massage therapy is often prescribed to clients who have suffered a serious injury or sports injury due to its natural healing abilities. For those with chronic pain in the body, massage therapy, coupled with physical therapy, can lead to the most dramatic and satisfactory results.

For Massage Lexington residents have a number of different types available, which can cater to your specific needs. The most common types of massages include Swedish, deep-tissue, sports, trigger point, and hot stone massages. However, there are a number of other massage types, which vary based on the massage therapist of choice.

Along with the undeniable benefits to the body, massage therapy also offers benefits for the mind. Massage therapy increases blood circulation and thoroughly relaxes the muscles, body, and mind. This can help to relieve stress, anxiety, and even depression. It can also help to increase mental alertness, which can benefit clients both at work and in their daily lives.

Massages are not only used to help treat a client, but also to deeply relax them. For anyone just looking to treat themselves, professional massages will relieve the body of any discomfort and will provide relief from the stress of everyday life. Although there are benefits to receiving only one massage, regular massages can dramatically increase the associated benefits.

Massage therapists must undergo specialized training in order to ensure that they can cater to their clients' specific needs. Make sure to inform your massage therapist of any ailments you are experiencing. This will ensure that they can focus on the correct areas of the body to ensure the most satisfactory results.

Massage therapy has naturally healing powers that can benefit both the mind and body. Anyone at any age or lifestyle can benefit from this natural healing, while enjoying the most thoroughly relaxing and rejuvenating experience imaginable.

Corey Proffitt Studios provides deep tissue massage Lexington, KY residents can receive. They specialize in achieving natural, healthy relief from muscle pain, using a variety of traditional massage therapy and Asian therapeutic bodywork techniques. (http://www.relaxyoudeserveit.com)

Understanding Hawaiian Lomilomi Massage

The earliest Polynesian settlers of Hawaii practiced their own form of massage, which evolved to become the traditional Hawaiian healing practice known as lomilomi massage. Lomilomi was practiced by all the peoples of Hawaii, from child to chief. Lomilomi practices varied by family, ahupua'a (traditional region), and island. Lomilomi used was mainly as a healing modality, as a restorative massage practiced within the family, and by the lohe lua (masters of the Hawaiian martial arts).

To understand the healing effects of Lomilomi, one must have a grasp of the Hawaiian view of life and energy, or the Ha. In Hawaiian Ha means life, to breath, and active prayer/prayer in action. The Ha is an integral part of the lomilomi practice, as are hula movements, which are used to ground and direct the flow of energy.

Lomilomi is a practice which looks at things in terms of energy flow, following the idea that a belief can block energy flow as much as musculoskeletal stress can. Lomilomi helps release the blockages, while assisting the energy flow into new direction. Thus the purpose of lomilomi is not only to facilitate healing on a physical level, but to also bring balance to the mental, emotional and spiritual parts of us. The lomilomi practice views all aspects of the body as one, and when healing is effected on one level (physical), all levels are affected (mental, emotional, spiritual).

Lomilomi practitioners can use the palms, forearms, fingers, knuckles, elbows, knees, feet, even sticks and stones. The massage is generally given in fluid, rhythmic motions, using the forearms, elbows and hands. Many people describe the feeling of a lomilomi massage to be like gentle waves moving over the body. Another feature of a lomilomi massage is that different parts of the body may be massaged at the same time, such as the shoulder and the arm, or the neck and the latisumus dorsi (Lats-longest muscle in the back). The dual movements of this type of massage assists the recipient in totally relaxing, as it is quite difficult for the brain to focus on the two separate areas of the body being massage at once. Thus the recipient can relax into a semi-awake state of the brain, allowing the nervouse system to relax, the digestive system to stimulate, and the musculoskeletal system to release excess tension.

Lomilomi massage is now practiced throughout the world, from living rooms to the majority of high-end spas. As in ancient times there are many different modalities, or styles of lomilomi massage. The Hawaiian islands are rich in gifted lomilomi practitioners, but there are also accredited teachers and practioners of lomilomi massage just about everywhere massage is practiced. And so it is with each style of therapeutic massage modality; being like a new instrument that the hands can pick up and use at any time.

Maui Mobile Spa provides the best massage Maui has to offer! We also offer organic spa therapies, Maui wedding and event coordinating, henna tattoo art, bridal hair and makeup design, and customized fitness classes. Please visit Maui Mobile Spa at http://www.mauimobilespa.com