Tag - benefits of Essential Oils

Why Mobility Matters and How Massage Can Help

  “Mobility is the ability of a joint to move freely through a given range of motion (ROM) without restriction from surrounding tissues. Flexibility is defined as the ability of soft tissues (which include muscles, tendons and ligaments) to lengthen correctly, which allows a joint to move through its optimal ROM” ~ movebybjc.org You probably don’t think too much about the gift of mobility in your life. Most of us hop out of bed in the morning, drive our car to work, and freely [...]

Massage, Touch and Your Emotional Wellbeing

  By nature, we are social beings who need connection with our fellow humans. Healthy touch is one of the most powerful ways to accomplish that. Healthy touch is a basic and vital human need that from our birth is a source for emotional wellbeing in us all.  When caregivers hold and nurture an infant, it provides a sense of safety and creates necessary bonding with others that reverberates throughout life. Touch is so impactful as we grow that it [...]

Does Aromatherapy Enhance Massage?

Have you ever stopped to inhale the fragrance of a flower and noticed a momentary smile and feeling of calm and peace come over you as you did? The physiological response to scents has been used for thousands of years to provide healing and enhanced wellbeing to human life. This knowledge forms the basis for the practice of Aromatherapy. Aromatherapy uses unique concentrated extracts (essential oils) that have been distilled from the blossom, fruit, leaf, stem, bark, wood or resin [...]

What Can Cupping Therapy Do For You?

Inflammation and pain go hand in hand in the physical body and are often the result of chronic muscle stress from such bad habits as poor posture, or repetitive movements such as slumping over a computer everyday or spending extended time holding a phone between your ear and your shoulder.  Swelling at the site of pain can be immobilizing and uncomfortable and can actually increase the tension of muscles, which intensifies the cycle. Enter the ancient Chinese therapy of Cupping… Cupping [...]

Suffering From Frozen Shoulder? Massage Can Help!

Your shoulder provides strength, flexibility and a wide range of motion that allows such everyday tasks as lifting, reaching, pulling, and pushing. It is one of the largest joints in the body. It is also one of the most vulnerable sites for injury and damage due to its complex structure and the necessity for looseness within the area so that fluid motion can occur.   The Shoulder’s Physiology The shoulder system is a network of ligament, cartilage, bones and tendons that provide [...]

How Massage Can Energise You

Hidden within the relaxation effects of massage is also an opportunity for an energy boost. While massage is usually associated with relaxation and calm, there are a number of subtle ways it helps stimulate energy and optimises body functions to help pull you through those winter days of gray and chill.  A little extra energy can be a grateful gift during times of the year when there is less sun and colder temperatures.   Energy-Giving Benefits of Massage Better sleep – Lack [...]

How Massage Can Improve Posture

“Our necks and backs hurt, and poor posture is the No. 1 culprit,” says Janice Novak, M.S., author of the book, Posture, Get it Straight! Poor posture is one of the signature physical patterns that reflect our lifestyle and our stress. While it can be an inherited disability, it most often is the result of developed bad habits in daily living. Today, you are asked to adapt to a world that operates against the natural tendencies of good posture in your [...]

Sports Massage and Mobility

Our body’s mobility is a result of the synergistic interactions of a complex system of muscles, tendons, ligaments, bones and brain signals that work together to initiate movement. The integrity and strength of our mobility is a primary consideration in our overall health and well-being and it can be impaired by injury or disease. This is particularly true for athletes. Whether you are a professional or amateur, injuries do happen that can interrupt muscle function, cause pain and diminish [...]

Can Massage Promote Better Sleep?

“Every day we have new scientific connections about sleep and [its connection to] every aspect of our health, from obesity and hypertension to heart disease, cancer, every aspect of our emotional intelligence and mood.” ~Arianna Huffington Scientific sleep studies have discovered that, next to pain, sleep deprivation is one of the prime issues that affect our well-being. What Causes Sleep Deprivation? Any number of issues can be at the heart of your inability to experience vital, restorative sleep. Stress and worry about [...]

MASSAGE FOR IMMUNE SYSTEM HEALTH

The immune system is the body’s defense mechanism that is responsible for preventing infections and disease. It is a complex system of antibodies, white blood cells, chemicals and proteins that attack and destroy bacteria and viruses when such threats to the body are present. The immune system also includes tonsils, thymus, spleen, bone marrow and the lymphatic system as part of its defense network. Symptoms of a Compromised Immune System  When your immunity is not operating at full capacity, there are [...]