How to give an oil massage

How to give an oil massage - A massage can be soothing and invigorating. Our step-by-step guide to relaxing massage will teach you how best to give a massage. Hopefully — once you’ve given somebody a massage — you will get one in return. 

Step 1: Create the right ambiance. 

• Make sure the room is at a comfortable temperature. 
• Dim the lights to create a warm, cosy ambiance and ensure the drapes are closed, so that there are no distractions. 
• Light a scented candle or an aromatic dhoop. 
• Prepare a playlist of relaxing music beforehand. For relaxation’s sake we recommend you stick to instrumental composition. 
• Ensure you won’t have any interruptions till you’re done. 

Step 2: Lie on a hard surface 

The person you’re giving a massage to must lie down on a hard surface so that all the muscles are adequately supported. A firm mattress or a yoga mat on the floor is your best bet, if you don’t want to invest in a massage table. Also, ensure there is enough space for you to move around to massage different parts of the body. You can fold a blanket and leave it at the foot of the mat or mattress (the person lies between the mat and the blanket). 

Provide either a folded towel or small pillow for the head. 

Step 3: Keep towels handy 

It is important to cover the areas that you have already massaged to ensure that the heat you have generated while massaging doesn’t escape, leaving the person chilly. 

Step 4: Prepare massage oil 

Stock up on different types of body oils. You can choose to use herbal 

or aromatherapy oils like lavender and chamomile, both of which have relaxing properties. Some other good options include, jojoba oil, almond or coconut oil (which are also cheap), olive oil, grapeseed oil (known to be great for the skin and also, doesn’t leave a thick residue behind like most other oils). 

Step 5: Prepare yourself 

Cut your nails, take a bath and relax yourself. Put on some comfortable clothes and do some deep breathing before you get started. 

Step 6: Getting started 

Have the person take off his/her clothes and lie on his/her stomach. It would be ideal to take off all clothes, but if the person doesn’t want to, then it’s OK to keep the underwear on. If it’s a woman, you can open her bra during the back massage and close it before turning over. 

Start the relaxing massage by pouring a small bit of oil on the palm on one hand. Now, gently rub your hands together to warm the oil with your body heat. Follow this method of warming the oil, every time you pour oil. 

Step 7: How much pressure 

Check to see how much pressure the person you’re giving a massage to wants and make sure you stick to that degree of pressure for the rest of the massage. 

The neck and shoulders: 

Gently rub the shoulders back and forth, then up and down to release any stress. Work your way to the neck muscles, the back of the neck as well as the sides. Don’t rub too hard or apply too much pressure, as said earlier. 

Once you’re done, change the direction of your fingers and hands by moving them in circular motions. 

Arms and hands: 

Rub the arms, hands, and yes, even their fingers. Massaging the hands and fingers will help increase blood circulation. 

Do the back of the arms when the person is lying on his/her stomach and the front when he/she is lying on the back, later. 

The back:

The next area of their body is the back. A person’s back is the largest area of skin, so pour a generous amount of oil on to your hand. Once you’ve warmed the oil between your hand, start by placing your hands flat on the middle of their back. Massage the area up and down. Reach up their neck and down to their lower back to relax them. 

Once you’ve massage the middle back, move on to the rest of the back. Use circular motions to relieve tension and stress from the back muscles. You could also fold your arm and use your elbow in circular motions. 

Use the thumbs of both your hands. Place it on either side of the spine and gently move up and down the spine. Make sure you don’t do this on the spine, but on the two sides of the spine. 

Use a kneading motion to soothe the sides of the back. Use this motion up and down the sides a few times. 

Legs and hips: 

Use a kneading motion on the hips to soothe that region. 

Next comes the leg. Massage each leg, one at a time. Use a kneading motion on the thighs. Put pressure and press the sides of the thigh muscles. Do the same on the back of the calf. Massage the feet using circular motions. Pull the toes gently and release to ease tension in the toes. The foot has many nerve endings, so don’t leave this part out. Now repeat on the other leg. 

The front of the legs must be done when the person turns on his back. Repeat the same kneading motion on the front of the thigh and calf. Use circular motions to massage the front of the feet. For the toes, gently pull them and release. Use circular motion on the nails to relax the toes. 

Face: 

Gently massage the forehead, temples and cheeks. But don’t get any oil into their eyes or mouth. Rub the temples in light circular motion, this helps relieve tension and stress. Use vertical strokes on the forehead to release stress. 

Note: Oils like menthol or eucalyptus help open up clogged nasal passages. 

Chest: 

Use your two thumbs in circular motion to massage the chest, three inches below the sternum to release tension around that region. This too is very soothing. 

Stomach: 

Gently rub the side of the stomach in a kneading motion. Use your whole hand and gently rub the stomach clockwise a few times. ( Mdhil )

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Five Ways to Give Yourself a Massage

Five Ways to Give Yourself a Massage - Talking, texting, typing, cross-training… Life takes its toll on your body, leading to painful muscles and joints. Just take a look at pain meds: According to an Associated Press investigation, prescription pain medication sales have jumped 90 percent since 1997. That's a lot of pills, especially when massage can be just as effective in some cases, and almost free. Whether it's your head, shoulders, knees, or…feet that need attention, we've got an easy massage you can give yourself, no expensive meds required.

Trouble Spot: Your hands

The Solution: A wrist workout

Sitting at a desk all day long can lead to carpal tunnel syndrome, irritation of a nerve in your wrist and fingers, but this series of exercises, ideally done every hour, can prevent pain from creeping into your day.

1. Hold your left hand up, palm facing outward. Using your right hand, pull the fingers back toward your wrist until you feel a stretch, and hold that position for 5 seconds. Repeat the stretch on your right hand.
2. Press the palms of your hands together at chest height. Lower them towards your lap until you feel the stretch in your wrists. Hold for 5 seconds.
3. Spread your fingers wide for 5 seconds.
4. On your left hand, gently pull the thumb back toward your wrist until you feel the stretch. Hold it for 5 seconds, and then repeat the move on your right hand.
5. Curl your fingers into a fist: Start with your pinky finger, and gradually fold the remaining four fingers into a fist. Then curl your wrists inward until you feel the stretch, and hold it for 5 seconds.
6. Massage the inside and outside of each hand, and then gently shake them out.

Trouble Spot: Your feet

The Solution: A tennis ball and frozen water bottle

Whether you have a job that requires you to be on your feet all day or you're a devoted runner, lots of factors can play into foot pain. The key to keeping it at bay is to massage and ice those feet after a hard day (or a long run).

Massage your feet with the tennis ball: Place it under one heel, and then stand and sink your body weight onto the ball. Slowly roll the ball from the heel to the base of the toes, spreading your toes wide when the ball passes near. Repeat on the opposite foot. A soup can or a golf ball can also stand in if you don't have a tennis ball handy. Use the water bottle to ice your feet down afterward, rolling it back and forth under each foot.

Trouble Spot: Your shoulders or back

The Solution: Another tennis ball

This basic massage move will help anyone who sits hunched in front of a computer screen all day or suffers from any form of back pain. Lay on the floor with a tennis ball placed near the area that hurts most, such as your lower back or the spot between your shoulder blades. Roll the tennis ball around until you hit the spot that's most tender, and lie there for 1 to 5 minutes, or until you feel your muscles relax.

Trouble Spot: Your knees

The Solution: A foam roller

Made from hard foam, these rollers will run you anywhere from $11 to $19 at most sporting goods stores, but you can also just go to your local hardware store and buy a piece of PVC pipe to pick up a discounted version. When you place a foam roller or the pipe underneath your muscles, the pressure gives your muscles a much deeper massage than you'll get from simply rubbing them.

How does that help your knees? Foam rollers help massage muscles that, when tight, can lead to knee pain. One is your iliotibial band, commonly called the IT band, which is a tough strip of connective tissue that runs down the outside of your thigh, starting on your hip bone and connecting just below your knee, writes Jordan D. Metzl, MD, in the Men's Health Athletes Book of Home Remedies. When it gets tight, it can lead to knee pain.

To fix that, lie on your right side and place your right hip on your roller. Put your hands on the floor for support. Cross your left leg over your right and place your left foot flat on the floor. Roll your body to your right, allowing the roller to move from your hip to your knee as it massages the entire length of your outer thigh. Then roll back and forth for 30 seconds. Switch to your left side and repeat with the roller under your left hip.

Whenever you get to a sore spot, stop. Applying extra pressure to sore areas will help release tension.

Trouble Spot: Your whole body

The Solution: Cool gadgets

If you have a lot of spots that get creaky or sore, it might be worth investing in some tools that will target certain areas (or doing lots more foam rolling; check out these whole-body foam roller exercises from Prevention). Here are two of our favorites.

Spoonk Mat: The mat uses acupressure (a form of massage based on traditional Chinese medicine) to relax your muscles. When you lie or stand on the mat, the plastic stimulation points apply pressure to nerve endings, which increases blood flow and the release of endorphins that, in turn, reduce levels of stress hormones in your body. You can stand on it, lie on it, or roll it up and place it behind your neck or lower back to ease tension in any of those areas. $79; spoonkspace.com

PTFit Multi-Roller: A few rolls with this thing and you might understand why dogs shake their legs when you scratch their bellies. It just feels so good! The solid-wood massager is shaped like a hook with rollers on the tip and along the handle so you can target small spots, such as your neck, or larger muscle groups like your calf or quadriceps muscles (the manufacturer's site has lots of how-to videos to show you how to use it). It functions much like a foam roller, placing pressure on tight muscles to massage them and cut down on pain. Unhinged, it gets at those hard-to-reach sore muscles between your shoulder blades, and hinged (as in the picture), you can use it on your legs and lower back. It beats foam rollers, though, for people who aren't nimble enough to lie down on a roller on the floor and for office-bound workers with stiff muscles—you can use the device while sitting in your chair. $54.95; ptfitusa.com ( rodale.com )

 

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Getting a Massage : Dos and Don'ts

Getting a Massage : Dos and Don'ts - On your way to your massage appointment? Maybe you've been given a certificate for massage as a gift? (Lucky you!) As a licensed massage practitioner (and an ardent massage customer for years before that), I've lived both sides of the massage transaction. Here are some pointers for getting the most out your experience:

DO:

• Be on time. About 5-10 minutes before your scheduled appointment is ideal. You want to be sure to get your fully-allotted time as well as make time for any paperwork you need to fill out.
• Shower before your session. Either before you leave the house or at the massage place (if they have it). It's common courtesy, and it makes the experience better for everyone.
• Wait until your practitioner has left the room before you begin undressing. No, we haven't "seen it all," and we don't want to!
• Tell your practitioner about any major surgeries or injuries you've had. Yes, in your entire life. That thing you're thinking, "They need to know about that?" We do. It has bearing on how we will choose your course of treatment. (My very first massage client ever failed to tell me that he had been in a car accident the night before!)
• Speak up if something isn't right. Many folks like to relax and "tune out" during their massage, but if something is not to your liking please let your practitioner know. They won't take it personally and you'll get a better experience. Your massage shouldn't be something you have to endure; it should be something you enjoy!
• Leave on time. I know, I know. You're very relaxed. The massage was wonderful. Your practitioner was charming and kind and you want to tell them more about your trip to Jamaica. But there is work to be done after the session and he or she needs to get to it.
• Tell your friends. Most massage practitioners are trying to grow their practices. If you like what they do, tell your friends. It's the highest compliment you can give your practitioner, and the good karma will surely come back to you.

DON'T:

• Come in if you're sick or have a contagious condition. There are 3 main reasons for this:

  
  - We don't want to catch what you have.
  - We don't want our other clients to catch what you have.
  - Massage can greatly worsen the symptoms of a virus or cold.

  Please call your practitioner or their reception desk and explain to them that you are ill and need to reschedule.

• Apologize if you haven't shaved your legs. This one's for you, ladies. We massage guys with very hairy legs, we're used to it. Really.
• Fret about the state of your pedicure. Again, ladies, this one's for you. (Stop apologizing so much!) We're more concerned with whether your feet are clean than whether your toes are polished.
• Come in if you've had alcohol or drugs in the past 24 hours. Narcotics are obviously not something you want coursing through your system when you're receiving massage, and it is both unethical and dangerous to massage someone under the influence of alcohol. In fact, it's best to avoid alcohol entirely for 24 hours before your massage. If you've had a fair amount to drink, massage can actually get you re-drunk (I've seen it happen). The last think I want to do is put a drunken client in their car to go home.

Massage is a wonderful way to relax, de-stress, and improve your health. Remember these dos and don'ts and you're sure to have a consistently great experience. ( huffingtonpost.com )

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Spa spectacular

Spa spectacular - Resorts and salons are using the wow factor to bring more luxurious treatments to their guests

From color therapy and medipedis to frigid blizzard rooms and swankier eyebrow bars, fresh trends are surfacing around the world in the $60 billion spa industry, according to an annual forecast.

As destination resorts, day spas and beauty salons shake off economic worries, new luxury is playing out in all price ranges through more intimate pairings with healthy fine dining, glamour and child-welcome options, said Susie Ellis, president of the online spa portal SpaFinder.

Past trends like wellness pampering and organic treatments haven’t been replaced but are being joined by a broader range of foot healing, multisensory experiences and icy cold therapies, Ellis told reporters recently when she rolled out SpaFinder’s 2012 trends report.

Look for more wow, fun and wellness, and for more spa options in Asia, which she said leads the world in industry growth.

With more than 100,000 spas worldwide, making sense of often-pricey services, along with tracking evidence that they work, can be difficult. A nearly year-old, industry-funded website, SpaEvidence.com, is a small but growing clearinghouse for clinical trials and published research on services ranging from yoga and music therapy to Ayurveda, the ancient holistic system of medicine from India, and “thalassotherapy,” the use of seaweed, algae and other materials from the sea.

“You are now moving from not only wellness but to wellness empowerment,” said Dr. Daniel Friedland, an internist and consultant who worked on the site.

Helping spa-goers hunt down research is a game changer, especially now that more insurance companies and employers are willing to reimburse them for preventive care, Ellis said.

More from the SpaFinder report:

Cold and ice: With saunas, steam rooms, Whirlpool baths and rock massages, spas have traditionally used heat to de-stress and detoxify, but the industry is taking a cue from the Romans, who more than 2,000 years ago finished spalike experiences with a trip to the “frigidarium.”

Look for more ice therapies and cold rooms alternated with hot treatments to reduce pain and inflammation in muscles and joints, Ellis said.

At ESPA locations around the world, clients can scoop ice crystals from fountains to rub down after saunas. At the Qua Baths&Spa in Caesars Palace Las Vegas, visitors can head to the “arctic ice room” to sit amid falling snow as a more gentle tran-

sition from heat and steam than the usual cold plunge into a pool.

The luxury Dolder Grand in Zurich has a room for snowball fights. Visitors to the AquaSpa at the golf resort the Belfry in the U. K.’s West Midlands can head to the “igloo” room and grab handfuls of ice for rubbing.

In February, spa designer Thermarium will introduce touchscreen technology allowing users to choose between light, moderate or blizzardlike snowfalls in cold rooms, Spa- Finder said.

With cryotherapy, spa-goers in bathing suits wear protective socks, gloves, mouth and ear gear to avoid frostbite in rooms cooled to minus 184 degrees (visits last just moments). The chambers are available at the new Sparkling Hill Resort & Spa in Vernon, B. C., and Champneys Tring Health Resort in Hertfordshire, England.

Elite athletes first took up cryotherapy. It has earned mixed reviews from researchers for relieving pain and ailing muscles. The first U. S. Cryotherapy Center, a 4,300-square-foot facility in Roseville, Calif., opened in April.

Color, light, music, vibration: Incorporating them as ambient afterthoughts is nothing new for the spa industry. Now they’re “becoming the main event,” the report said.

One innovation is software that creates real-time music, tones, beats and other sounds like wind rustling and rivers to beats generated by a therapist’s movements in tandem with the client’s bodily responses during massages, SpaFinder said. The client leaves with a CD of the “well-being music-art” they helped create. The technology, MUUSA, is from Italy and in use at the Tombalo Talasso Resort in Castegneto Carducci in Tuscany.

During Aura-Soma, a person chooses four bottles of dual-colored liquid containing oils, flower essences and the “energy” of crystals for a reading of spiritual and emotional well-being, complete with a rubdown. Aura-Soma color readings are available in the United States at the Mii amo spa resort in Sedona, Ariz., and Qua at Caesars Palace Las Vegas, in addition to spas in the United Kingdom, where the practice originated.

“I think you’ll see more of it,” Ellis said. “It’s quite an interesting new way of looking at and using color.”

Too far-fetched? Not farfetched enough?

A Viennese artist who goes by the name “sha.” created canopied, cradlelike “tranquility pods” for use in “AlphaSpheres” built into spas around the world, including Berlin’s Mandala Hotel ONO Spa and Bulgaria’s Kempinski Hotel’s Zalez facility. Guests are surrounded in blue light, sound and vibrations while they sway to the rhythms of their own breathing.

Happy feet: Chinese reflexology has been around for years. Now spas and wellness centers are targeting problems like high-heel pain as part of menus for the feet.

Computer gait analysis and foot treatments in zero-gravity chairs are available at the Canyon Ranch SpaClub in Las Vegas.

New York City’s Yamuna studio has stiletto classes, and the feet-only Stride in Palo Alto, Calif., includes foot Botox to reduce odor and a “Walking on Clouds” treatment of filler injected into the ball of the foot for padding and pain reduction.

Yamuna Zake, the founder of Yamuna, uses small knobby spheres to condition aching feet and teach foot care. “You can’t get anywhere without those feet, yet they come with no education,” she said. “If you get it in your head what feet need, you can turn it around.”

The Mandarin Barber and Mandarin Salon in the Mandarin Oriental in Hong Kong are targeting men for a traditional Chinese foot treatment involving 10 razor-sharp blades performed by masters Samuel So and Ben Cheung.

Glambition: While health and wellness have been a spa focus for several years, full-on Hollywood glamour and old European grooming are back at all price ranges.

In addition to affordable blowout bars for the hair, Blink bars for eyebrows have multiplied in the last year at London department stores—along with Henri Bendel in New York City — for eyebrow threading. Some offer brow tinting and false lashes.

Hershesons hair spas at five London locations let customers pick walk-in hairdos from a dozen celebrity photos including Brigitte Bardot and Kate Moss, about $37. The Blushington Makeup Beauty Lounge in Los Angeles charges $35 for full makeup from a set menu that includes “Pure & Simple.”

“We’re seeing a glam factor at both ends of the economic spectrum,” Ellis said.

On the high end, the Waldorf Astoria’s Guerlain spa, which hosted the recent Spa- Finder media event, offers guests post-treatment free makeup retouching and clothes pressing. The new Trump International Hotel & Tower in Toronto will assign guests a personal “spa concierge” when its Quartz Crystal Spa opens Tuesday, offering old world quartz treatments.

Family affair: More spas are accommodating adults and kids together. “The new thing is that it’s the family. People want to go with their children to spas. Not all of them, of course. Some want to go without,” Ellis said. “We’re seeing now the spas responding and very much making it more of a welcome place for kids.”

Ellis predicts more will reconsider age restrictions. Kidspecific spas are also on the rise, Ellis said. Some are adding Dad to the mix. Karma Resorts in Indonesia offers “father and son chill-out massages,” the report said.

The Jiwa Spa Resort at Conrad Bali Hotel has a “Mum and Me” package, where kids choose from foot baths, foot masks, back massages or chocolate milk baths and get a bath toy to take home while Mom picks her own selection of facials and massages.

At the Grand Wailea Resort Hotel & Spa in Maui, Hawaii, guests can book the “family spa suite” and treatments like chocolate- coconut scrubs and massages for kids as young as 6. At Disney’s new family resort and spa Aulani on Oahu, the Laniwai Spa offers family suites; babies are welcome and young children can have massages.

Wows big and little: Some spas are trying to wow and woo with unusual, eye-popping decor that defies traditional minimalism.

At the Boscolo Milano’s Atomic Spa Suisse in Italy, LED-illuminated mirrors cover treatment room interiors, sauna and baths for a bubbly champagne look.

In Thailand, a luxurious rain forest wicker treehouse, “The Nest,” serves as a private spa suite suspended from the branches of a banyan tree at the Coqoon Spa at Indigo Pearl in Phuket. Canada’s Sparkling Hill Resort is adorned with 3.5 million Swarovski crystals and has crystal glass fireplaces.

Not all spas are zen quiet or dead serious. The spa at Travassa Austin in Texas offers a workout on a mechanical bull. The CosquilleArte Spa in Madrid is the world’s first “tickle spa,” using feathers and light touch as stress-relievers during treatments. ( buffalonews.com )

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Top Ten Massages To Try

Top Ten Massages To Try - Massages To Get When You're Ready For A Change - Most people want a Swedish massage or deep tissue massage when they go to the spa. They're the hamburger and cheeseburger of the spa industry. But sometimes it's good to break out of your rut and try something new. Here are my top ten massages to try when you're feeling more adventuresome.

1. Thai Massage

Thai massage takes place fully clothed, on a thick cotton mat on the floor. The therapist uses passive stretching and pressure along the body's energy lines to increase flexibility and relieve muscle and joint tension. The therapist literally uses his/her whole body during the massage, so you have to be comfortable with the contact. Best for experienced spa-goers!


2. Aromatherapy Massage

Aromatherapy is a Swedish massage with essential oils added to the massage oil. The essential oils smell good and have a therapeutic effect on body and mind. Massage therapists usually put the oil in their hands, cup them under your nose for a few moments so you can inhale the wonderful scent, then apply the oil to your body.

3. Craniosacral Therapy

Craniosacral therapy is a form of therapeutic touch that addresses imbalances in the craniosacral system -- the membranes and fluid that surround and protect the brain and spinal cord. It's very gentle, but can yield big results.


4. Lomi-Lomi Massage

Lomi-lomi is an ancient form of Hawaiian massage with a deeply spiritual component. Lomi-lomi originated in Hawaii and is commonly found in Hawaiian spas, but it has also traveled around the world. Traditionally, lomi-lomi (sometimes spelled lomilomi or lomi lomi) was practiced by family members, native healers, warriors and servants of royalty.


5. Hot Stone Massage

Hot stone massage is at its best in winter. The therapist uses smooth, rounded stones that have been heated in water as an extension of his/her hand. The heat helps warm up muscle tissue and is deeply relaxing. (As long as it's not too hot!) Hot stone massage requires a lot of skill, so quality can vary widely.


6. Lava Shell Massage

Lava shell massage is another way to get heat. The therapist uses highly polished shells that stay hot for about an hour due to the chemical reaction of minerals, algae and salt water inside the shell. The pressure is light and the therapist doesn't have to change out the shells as often as stones, so it's a super-relaxing experience.


7. Shiatsu

Shiatsu is another style of Asian bodywork that generally takes place fully clothed on a mat on the floor. It was developed in Japan and uses finger pressure (sometimes a little intense!) to restore the healthy flow of energy throughout the body.


8. Watsu

Watsu is a very soothing type of massage that takes place in a special watsu pool heated to the exact same temperature as your body. You and the massage therapist both wear bathing suits, and you wear floats to help your buoyancy. The therapist cradles you, and twirls you through the water, first one way then another, taking your body through a series of passive stretches and twists. Being held in the warm water is deeply relaxing.


9. Psychic Massage

No, it doesn't tell your future. Psychic massage is a form of energy work that involves awareness, and when done well can give you insight. "It is helpful if the person is truly interested in getting to know themselves better. It isn't a treatment you should book to be entertained," says Bhadra Ruttiger, who gives psychic massage at Mii amo, A Destination Spa at Enchantment in Sedona, Arizona.


10. Reflexology

Love to have your feet rubbed? The therapist works primarily on your feet, stimulating reflex points in the feet, hand and ears to promotes health in that organ via the body's energetic pathways. When done by a skilled practitioner, reflexology is a deeply relaxing treatment with benefits that can be felt throughout the body. (If they're less skilled, you'll just feel like you've had a very long foot massage.) ( about.com )

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Psychic Massage Won't Predict The Future

Psychic Massage - Psychic Massage Won't Predict The Future - A psychic massage is a specialty spa treatment where you receive very gentle massage and energy work that leaves you feeling balanced, centered and supported. During psychic massage, the therapist gives you verbal feedback on what they perceive in your body and helps you release old patterns and develop healthier ones through awareness and touch.

Psychic massage is not about predicting the future or anything a "psychic" might do, according to Bhadra Ruttiger, who gives psychic massage at Mii amo, A Destination Spa at Enchantmentin Sedona, Arizona.

Psychic massage was developed by Sagarpriya (formerly known as Roberta Delong Miller) while directing the massage program at Esalen Institute. She wrote her first book, "Psychic Massage", in 1975. Sagarpriya says psychic massage is a way for the therapist to share love through bodywork. The client feels accepted as he is, relaxes deeply and experiences trust.

"Psychic massage is about awareness, meditation and real transformation," says Bhadra, who was trained by Sagarpriya in 1984. "It is helpful if the person is truly interested in getting to know themselves better. It isn't a treatment you should book to be entertained."

My Psychic Massage at Mii Amo

I received a psychic massage from Bhadra at Mii Amo in Sedona, which is known for its metaphysical spa treatments. The psychic massage took place in a beautiful treatment room that had spectacular views of the canyon walls that the spa is famous for. We started by sitting across from each other and having a chat. "What are your expectations?" Bhadra asked. "I don't have any," I said. "What are the possibilities?"

Bhadra said if there was an issue that I wanted clarity on, it would be a good time to bring it up. I talked about a subject he has a lot of experience with -- working with a spiritual teacher -- and he gave me practical advice and insights. After 15 or 20 minutes he invited me to get on the massage table, face down, and left the room so I could take my robe off.

When he came back I kept talking -- apparently I had more to say! -- and he kept sharing his viewpoint as he did very gentle massage and energy work. He pointed out that my "fear and uncertainty" were located around my shoulders (always hunched and knotted) and that lower down, in the area that corresponds to the second chakra, I had more of a sense of "knowing" and self-trust.

He had me turn over onto my back, as you would in a typical massage, and continued to give gentle massage and bodywork. At a certain point I fell quiet and just experienced the work, and at the end felt much more balanced, centered and whole.

According to Bhadra, psychic massage reconnects you with that part of yourself that lies beyond all problems and conflicts. "It supports a state of resting within yourself, where you feel relaxed and you don't wish to change anything because the moment is full and complete."

After my psychic massage, I took a two-hour nap, and the next day spent a lot of time by the pool, gazing at the looming cliffs. "It is helpful that Mii amo is a very protected environment and that people have the luxury to take time to rest and integrate," says Bhadra. "An atmosphere of meditation helps transformation and integration."

What To Look For in A Psychic Massage Therapist

If you want a psychic massage, ask if the therapist was trained and certified by Sagarpriya. The trainings are only open to people who have years of meditation experience and have been interviewed to ensure sure they have a high level of integrity. "There might be people out there that call their treatment psychic massage but did not have the training," says Bhadra. ( about.com )

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Acupuncture generally safe in children

Acupuncture generally safe in children - Acupuncture treatment appears to be safe for those who are under 18, with very little risk involved when qualified practitioners are wielding the needles, although there may be minor side effects in a small number of cases, a study said.

Acupuncture is used as an alternative therapy for a range of conditions, including pain, headaches and constipation, but few large, long-term studies until now have examined either its effectiveness or its safety in youngsters.

“Based on the available evidence, in trained hands, acupuncture is safe for children,” said Sunita Vohra, from the University of Alberta in Edmonton, who worked on the study.

Serious side effects were rare and likely to be caused by substandard practice, researchers wrote in a report in Pediatrics.

The study reviewed 37 other studies, ranging from randomized trials that compared side effects with acupuncture and other treatments, to single reports of acupuncture illness and injury.

“We calculated a mild adverse incidence per patient of 168 in 1,422 patients, or 11.8 percent,” the researchers wrote.

“Mild” side effects included things such as pain, bruising, bleeding, or worsening of symptoms.

“Of the adverse events associated with pediatric needle acupuncture, a majority of them were mild in severity. Many of the serious adverse events might have been caused by substandard practice,” the researchers wrote.

Among them was a case of a 17-year-old French boy who was diagnosed with HIV after acupuncture treatment for tendonitis, and 12 thumb deformities at one Chinese center in the 1980s.

“There’s some pretty unusual circumstances. Those sorts of things don’t really seem to happen now under modern-day circumstances,” Vohra said.

Others agreed, noting that there are ways to make sure children are getting safe, appropriate treatment.

Parents should get a recommendation from their child’s pediatrician, then should talk with the acupuncturist about the medical condition prior to any appointments, said Adeline Ge, senior Chinese medical consultant with the US National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Maryland.

Parents should also go to the appointment with their child, make sure the needles being used are clean, and be wary of acupuncturists who offer inexpensive treatment, she added.

Acupuncture is not recommended for children under two.

“In general, acupuncture is a very safe therapy. It should be good for kids. But consider their age, and we do need to be very careful and recommend that the parents are always involved,” Ge said. ( arabnews.com )

READ MORE - Acupuncture generally safe in children

Look after your skin in hot weather

Look after your skin in hot weather - Your skin is a reflection of your inner health. When our skin looks good, we feel so much more confident. Following that, it is fair to say that our skin plays a central role in our beauty — the overall appearance gives that come-hither message.

Worries about skin affect us whatever our age. The young worry about spots and acne, and the over-thirties worry about lines and wrinkles.

The appearance of our skin says so much about us. We all make quick assessments when we meet someone for the first time; to check out their age we look at their skin and hair. Healthy hair and skin can transform a person and the good news is that with recent research it is something that can be achieved naturally at any age. Blooming skin says you are healthy, vital and that you take care of yourself.

What does it take to keep our skin looking young and healthy?

Skin is the largest organ of the body and it has many functions. It is this wonderful, waterproof coat, which regulates our temperature, holds our bodies together, defends it against trauma, infection and invasion, and has the most amazing capacity to heal itself when injured.


So, how can we look after and improve our skin?

What you eat affects the skin. Everything you do or don’t put into your mouth affects the quality of your skin. For example, a clogged, spotty complexion betrays a diet high in fats, sugars, and processed foods. The amazing news is that you can transform your skin by making simple changes to your eating habits. External factors, such as traffic fumes, air-conditioning and stress; VDU screens can dry out the skin, and excessive sun exposure can also affect skin quality.


What to eat?

Generally speaking, the nutritional guidelines for whole health apply to beautiful skin too. Eat five portions of fruit and vegetables every day. Fruit and vegetables are great natural healers.

You can make a healthy fruit salad as a between meals snack. Include figs, grapefruit, grapes, kiwi fruit, melon and pineapple. Make sure you have a colorful, healthy salad every day, and ensure that you also have a portion of steamed vegetables.

Lemons are one of the skin’s great cleansers, packed with twice as much Vitamin C as oranges. Be good to your skin by starting the day to a wake up drink of cleansing hot water with a slice and squeeze of fresh lemon.

Yogurt a traditional food is one of those foods that heal and give your skin a special glow. Choose plain yogurts that are ‘live’ or ‘bio’. Some people find that goat yogurt suits them.

Honey is also recommended for its healing properties. Medieval soldiers used it to put on arrow wounds to speed up the healing process.


Supplements

Take a good quality daily supplement to make sure that you are getting the best intake of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. Many cheaper supplements have low levels of active ingredients, so be sure to examine labels carefully as you tend to get what you pay for. Quality supplements have potent cell regeneration properties that improve skin condition and retard signs of aging. For acne, or to fade old scars, rub in a little natural Vitamin E oil at bedtime.


Sun damage

A little sunshine is a valuable source of Vitamin D, but prolonged sunbathing damages the skin and ages it prematurely. People who sunbathe regularly age quickly. So always use a sunscreen on your face and hands.


Skin loves water

Your body is made up of 70 percent water and your skin loves it. Dehydration shows first on your skin. Drink at least 2 liters or 8 glasses of water every day. Take a bottle of water with you in the car. Caffeine can cause dehydration so increase your intake to 1 glass of water for each cup of coffee, tea and can of cola.


Exercise

Take some exercise every day. Note how wonderful your skin looks after exercise. Exercise boost the circulation, boosts the metabolism, and brings oxygen to your skin cells.


Good skin care

Practice good skin care. Use gentle products to cleanse, moisturize, and gently exfoliate. A daily massage is a great way to keep skin looking fresh and young. I met an old lady of 80 who had fabulous skin and I asked her what her secret was. She told me that her mother had passed the benefits of gentle massage to her. Follow me on Twitter “@alvacarpenter” for a daily health tip toward a healthy life.


Face lift

Due to the pull of gravity, the skin on the face can start to move southward at around the age of 40. To prevent this, or help turn back the clock, contact me at facialan@ardenhealth.com and I will e-mail you some mini morning facial exercises. ( arabnews.com )

READ MORE - Look after your skin in hot weather