Better Value for Your Money

Nobody could’ve had better describe the modern life we live today than Charles Dickens: “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times”.  With the country’s finances plunging into the abyss, it’s just a pain to realize how difficult it is to enjoy life’s modern pleasures.  Our world has brought forth great minds that have turned the bulky boob tube into a palm-sized gadget, cut the strings of a telephone so that one can slide it into his pocket, and a whole lot more.  This era has also upgraded health and fitness.  We now happen to have a wider array of exercise machines to choose from, more therapeutic meds and creams to make us look better, and a good deal of new and effective spa treatments  to target our specific needs.

More and more people are going gaga over salon and spa treatments.  Who wouldn’t?  These stressful times have pushed everybody into getting their own moments of relaxation.  But with the inevitable need to wisely spend our hard-earned cash, we can’t help but settle for something less than what we truly need.

Luckily, spa packages were created and popularized!  These boxed services are way cost-efficient than paying for single-treatment visits.  Spa packages are coupled with huge discounts if you would rather have a series of treatments and experience far better effects.  There are leg treatment plans, bust treatment packages, and the famous massage packages.

While you may mind paying for a relatively higher amount during the first visit, there is nothing more to worry about on the succeeding treatments.  All you get to do is to relax and enjoy the big savings that Spa Packages have treated you with.  Why not phone the best spa today and check out the huge treatment discounts they have in store for you!

Trigger Point Therapy

Trigger point therapy is also known as myotherapy or neuromuscular therapy. This massage modality was introduced by Janet Travell and David Simons and developed around the theory that pain is caused by myofascial trigger points which are tiny contraction knots that form in a muscle once it is injured or subjected to too much stress.

Muscles are made up of sacromeres, tiny units that alternately contract and relax in a synchronized fashion during body movement enabling blood circulation. Trigger points develop when sacromeres overlap and become entwined. Blood flow is impeded in the immediate area and the oxygen shortage results in the accumulation of metabolic wastes which irritate the knotted sacromeres.

These trigger points send out pain signals, not from its actual site but from another part of the muscle or body, hence the concept of referred pain. Trigger point therapists say that it is ineffective to treat muscle pain where it hurts. One has to look for the site of the trigger point and apply therapy there to guarantee successful treatment.

Travel and Simons reveal that headaches, neck and jaw pain, low back pain, tennis elbow, and carpal tunnel syndrome can be attributed to trigger points and that they are also the causes of pain in the shoulder, wrist, hip, knee, and ankle joints that is so often mistakenly diagnosed for arthritis, tendinitis, bursitis, or ligament injury.

Trigger points also display other seemingly unrelated symptoms such as dizziness, earaches, sinusitis, nausea, heartburn, false heart pain, heart arrhythmia, genital pain, and numbness in the hands and feet. Even fibromyalgia is said to have its beginnings with myofascial trigger points.

Using mainly finger pressure, trigger point therapy releases the interlocked sacromeres into a state where they are neither contracted nor stretched. Typical therapy lasts between 3-10 days in order to achieve marked results. In treating chronic conditions that have also persisted over long periods of time, results can be achieved in a span of 3 weeks.

Swedish Massage

Swedish massage is the classic or traditional form of massage in the United States developed in Europe in the early 19th century by Pehr Henrik Ling, a Swedish gymnastics instructor. Ling’s system was based on his classification of the massage forms used by ancient Greeks and Romans.

Swedish massage is characterized by 5 fundamental strokes: effleurage – gliding, petrissage – kneading, friction – rubbing, tapotement – pounding and vibration – shaking, where each stroke contributes particular benefits. The use of French terminology for these strokes was popularized by Johann Mezger, a Dutch physician who advocated the use of Swedish massage as a medical treatment. Massage therapists have developed their own versions of Swedish massage based on these basic strokes.

The principal aim of Swedish massage is to increase the circulation of blood and oxygen without giving the heart an additional work load. Strokes are made following the movement of blood as it flows towards the heart resulting in smoother circulation which purges the body tissues from accumulated toxins such as lactic or uric acid, natural by-products of metabolism.

The secondary purpose is to induce the relaxation of superficial muscles by rubbing them against deeper muscles and bones. Stretching the tendons and ligaments make them supple and pliant. In the process, the skin and nerves are equally stimulated.

Swedish massage promotes complete relaxation and reinvigoration from the general stresses of daily life through its positive effects on the nervous, circulatory, endocrine and the musculoskeletal systems. A typical full-body massage takes an hour or more to complete and is accompanied with the use of oils and lotions.

Sports Massage

Strokes intended for athletes include vigorous manipulation, assisted stretching for muscle warm-up prior to strenuous movement and soothing manipulation to ease muscle contractions and promote blood circulation after physical exertion. If injury occurs, focused massage movements are applied to lessen muscle inflammation, facilitate recovery and prevent scar tissue formation.

There are massage techniques aimed for particular body areas and also particular injuries. Specifically, sports massage can render the following physiological benefits:

1. Improved tissue permeability – deep pressure massage strokes enable constricted tissue membranes to open up and allow vital body fluids to enter and for metabolic waste products such as lactic and uric acid to be flushed out. The entry of much needed nutrients and oxygen through the blood enable muscles to heal faster.
2. Thorough stretching of muscles – massage stretches muscles, ligaments and tendons in a way that can not be achieved using traditional methods. Muscles are stretched lengthwise and crosswise. Massage also stretches the myofascia, or the thin membrane that holds muscles together, thereby releasing tension there.
3. Restores tissue elasticity – grueling training can cause tissues to become rigid and inflexible. Massage can make overworked tissues pliant and elastic.
4. Promotes micro-circulation – massage facilitates smooth blood flow to tissues by expanding blood vessels in order for oxygen and nutrients to pass through unhampered.

Deep Tissue Massage

Deep tissue massage is used as a rehabilitative treatment to muscle pain in constantly tense and compressed areas of the body such as the neck, back and shoulders. It is recommended for those recovering from injuries such as whiplash or falls as well as postural problems, repetitive strain injury (e.g. the carpal tunnel syndrome), fibromyalgia, ostheoarthritis pain and muscle tension or spasm.

Chronic muscle tension occurs when there are adhesions or bands of painful, stiff and contracted muscles resulting in the inability of smooth blood circulation in the area, inflammation and constrained physical movement. Deep tissue massage serves to break down adhesions and bring the muscles back to their normal state easing the pain and restoring unhampered movement.

A combination of massage strokes are performed slower and with more intense finger pressure localized on the areas of pain in order to align the deeper muscles, tendons and myofascia (connective tissues), layer by layer. Penetrating movements involve compression along the length of the muscle fiber and cross fiber friction as well. The knuckles, elbow, fist and forearm are also used by massage therapists in the process.

It is expected that there may be pain during and soreness after the massage and it is helpful for the therapist if the client voices out when the strokes are beyond their comfort zone. Pain normally subsides in a few days and applying ice on the area is recommended for relief.

Massage and Stress

Prolonged periods of stress can negatively affect many systems of the body. Stress has been shown to aggravate, or even cause, such problems as heart disease, gastrointestinal disorders, memory loss and decreased immune function. But it doesn’t just contribute to physical ailments. Stress can sap joy from your life, cause seemingly inexplicable fatigue, and leave you less able to enjoy your relationships and leisure activities.

Massage therapy is one of the best antidotes for stress. Massage boosts the body’s immune system, which can become compromised from extended periods of stress. Tension can build up in the muscles, causing a decrease in circulation and nutrient delivery to tissues. Manipulation of the soft tissue decreases muscular tension, increases removal of metabolic waste and promotes nutrient delivery to healing tissue. Knots in your muscles can inhibit your ability to perform regular, daily tasks. As other parts of body try to compensate for the ache of a tight muscle, they also start to become tight and uncomfortable. Before long, a tightness in the neck can trace to shoulder, down to the back and into the legs. Coupled with modest changes in nutrition and activity levels, massage can be the start of a profound change for better health and comfort.

Massage and Pre-Menstrual Syndrome

Massage relieves symptoms of premenstrual syndrome (PMS) to a great extent. Women suffering from symptoms of PMS, for instance irritability, headaches, anxiety and weight gain feel relief by getting regular massage sessions. The results of a study on massage and PMS indicated that women who went through massage therapy experience a decrease in anxiety, depression, and perceived pain (and an overall reduction in PMS symptoms including pain and water retention. Massage therapy may be an effective long-term aid for pain reduction and water retention, and short-term for decreasing anxiety and improving mood for women with premenstrual dysphonic disorder [Journal of Psychosomatic Obstetrics & Gynecology, March 2000, Vol 21, pp 9-15 ].

Why Should You Get a Massage?

Massages are meant to help you to relax and sooth your stresses away. It is a very relaxing experience that helps to eliminate most long term aches and pains that develop from pent up stress, tension, and constant yet repetitive activity. Massage will sooth and relax your muscles in order to help your body achieve increased blood circulation and oxygen flow. If you have specific problems, massages are available that will target and relieve your problem areas using the healing power of touch. At the end of a massage session, you will emerge with a long lasting sense of relief, relaxation, and calmness.

Massage will often deliver increased energy, heightened awareness, and longer periods of calmness, as well as greater productivity over a number of days after the session. A massage will help in calming the nervous system as well as the muscles that, when stretched out and relaxed, help the nervous system work at its fullest potential without the unnecessary burdens of both mental and physical stress. A massage will also help in flushing out of your body toxins and waste that are held in your body.

Why Should Pregnant Women Seek a Prenatal Massage?

The body of a pregnant woman undergoes a tremendous amount of physical and chemical changes that help keep the body centered and in a place wherein it can easily adapt to the needs of the baby growing inside. While the systems of the mother shift to the care of the unborn child, the mother also undergoes physical and emotional changes that place a lot of stress on both the mother and the child she is carrying. This is the main reason why an expectant mother should always seek regular prenatal massage care.

Expectant mothers need not to worry. Pregnancy massage differs from regular massage. The pre-natal massage is a highly baby friendly method that is carefully tailored to meet the varying needs of the mother-to-be. As a mother-to-be usually experience low back pain, calf cramps, insomnia, and sciatic pain, getting pregnancy massages on a regular basis will help in easing these symptoms. It has been said that massage will help in relaxing the mother so much that when it is time for the baby to come out, regular labor pains doesn’t hurt as much as they would normally. This is believed to be due to the muscles of the body being well relaxed and ready to cope with the tremendous stress and pressures that accompany childbirth.