Minggu, 20 April 2008

Aquatic Massage Therapy

Floating on water is very relaxing. Even if you cannot swim very well, you can still benefit from the freedom of movement that you can get from just floating on water. It does not take much effort, floating on water; all you need to do is to lay back on the water’s surface and let the water carry your body. The water instantly washes away your cares and worries, and it lets you move in ways that you cannot move when you are on a solid surface.

The relaxing effect of water on the body and the wider range of movement that water lets people do while floating on it is something that massage therapists have taken advantage of in promoting health and well-being with their clients. A particular technique has been developed that relies exactly on this, and it is called aquatic massage therapy.

Aquatic massage therapy is done while the client is either floating or soaking in a therapeutic pool. To further relax the body, the water in the pool is always kept at 95 degrees Fahrenheit. The heat of the water seeps into the skin and helps loosens the muscles. It also calms the nervous system and makes the patient feel good.


Sensual Massage

Sensual Massage is an intimate art, an ancient practice which is great for old and young alike. Sensual massage combines the physical with the spiritual, it is a fusion of environment, preparation and pressure points. It is as much about how to touch as it is about where to touch.

This massage can be performed by anyone, with a little practice, and it is proven to improve intimacy, trust and relationships.

Sensual massage is the ultimate stress reliever. Your partner will feel relaxed throughout the experience. Sensual massage tickles the senses, it shows the recipient the promises of unbridled passion if ever it is unleashed.
Although it holds back to emphasize the emotional over the physical, it can promote heightened sensuality, which can lead to less inhibitions during lovemaking.
Sensual massage is the perfect mood-setter for romantic encounters.

Sensual Massage Preparation

  • The temperature in the room needs to be comfortable; it is better to have the room too warm than too cool.
  • Turn down the lights and use several candles throughout the room.
  • Sensual lingerie is always an eye-pleaser, so use it.
  • Put on a CD with gentle, relaxing, romantic music.
  • Floral fragrances like jasmine, vanilla, rose, strawberry, raspberry are considered aphrodisiacs, so use scented candles, scented massage oils, or incense sticks.
  • Your hands should be warm. Rub oil in the palms of your hands to warm them up before they touch your partner's skin.

The Massage

Start out by lightly stroking your partner's body with the tips of your fingers (start on your partner's back).
Move from one area of the body to another covering shoulders, arms, thighs, calves and buttocks.

When your partner is completely relaxed, begin the sensual massage by making long, gliding strokes over your partner's body.
When you’ve covered the shoulders, arms, thighs, calves and buttocks, switch from long gliding strokes to short deep strokes.
For the deep strokes you need to lightly use your body weight rather than your arm strength, but be gentle.

As you work your way around using short deep strokes, also massage their feet and hands, brush over their buttocks and if you’re massaging a female partner, make sure you gently stroke her breasts.

When you think the time is right, begin working your way very slowly down your partner's legs gliding your hands as you go. Tease your partner by stroking their inner thigh.

When the sensual energy has had time to build, continue the massage with more strokes to the front of the body. Then, ... well, you can take it from there!

You Can Also Give Her A Sensual Bath

Simply fill the tub with warm water and bubbles, blindfold her and put her in the bath. You have the option of getting in with her, but you will likely have more freedom to maneuver and focus on the task if you stay out.

Massage Video Demonstration

Massage therapist Susan Winchester shows some tricks of the the trade on how to massage your partner.



Tip: Sexual Energy Release Points - neck and ears. Encourage your partner to breathe in a deep and relaxing manner as you gently massage their neck, making small circles over the release points on the upper neck and about halfway up the ears.

Acupressure

If you watch martial arts movies, it is highly likely that you have seen a character in such a movie take down his or her enemy through the simple act of pressing certain points in the enemy’s body. The application of pressure on these particular points on the body of the enemy can debilitate him or her in many ways, like making him or her paralyzed or blind.

In defeating his or her enemy through the simple power of the fingertips, these martial artists apply the principles of what is called acupressure. Acupressure, however, is not a mere combat maneuver; it is actually an ancient massage technique used by practitioners of traditional Chinese medicine. And by ancient, we mean that acupressure has been around for around 5,000 years.

In acupressure, it is believed that the body has 14 meridians running through it, and through which energy, also called as chi, flows through the body. An imbalance in the hot and cold elements of the body, more known as an imbalance between the yin and the yang, can cause this flow of energy to be blocked, leading the body to experience pain and illness. The purpose of acupressure is to remove these blockages in order for energy to flow more freely by pressing certain points along the 14 meridians. In releasing this latent energy, the natural ability of the body to heal itself is revived and the body becomes rejuvenated and healthy.

Acupuncture actually works on the same principle followed in acupressure. However, unlike acupuncturists, a massage therapist who specializes in acupressure does not have any need for using needles. Acupressure is a non-invasive healing technique, and the massage therapist only uses her fingertips, hands, elbows and knees in manipulating the pressure points on her client’s body.

Whichever pressure points are manipulated by the massage therapists depends on the client’s condition that is being treated through acupressure. Certain pressure points correspond to certain parts of the body. For example, it is said that applying pressure to specific acupoints on the soles of the feet can relieve migraine. Abdominal problems are treated by pressing some parts of the abdomen. The application of light pressure on the backs of the knees is claimed to be a treatment for lower back pain.

Acupressure is said to be effective in treating various types of illnesses, not just stress and muscle pain. There are claims that such ailments as eyestrain, nausea, motion sickness, morning sickness for pregnant women, arthritis, fibromyalgia and a host of other illnesses can be healed through acupressure. This is not proven yet according to conventional scientific means, but there are tests that prove that applying pressure on specific focal points of the body encourages the release of endorphins, the body’s feel-good hormones. Acupressure also stimulates increased circulation of cell-nourishing blood through the body, not to mention lymph fluids that take away the cell’s waste materials.

Acupressure, however, is not a miracle procedure. Whatever pain the body feels will not go away in just one session. Treatments often take as much as eight sessions, and sometimes even more depending on the seriousness of the condition being treated. Acupressure is nonetheless quite easy enough to learn, and you can do it on yourself if you need to.

Some people who suffer from certain ailments should avoid acupressure; in particular, people who are afflicted with infectious diseases and skin ailments; pregnant women; and people who have problems with their heart, lungs or kidneys.

Source: http://www.massageden.com/acupressure.shtml

What is Massage?

Massage is the treatment and practice of manipulation of the soft body tissues with physical, functional, i.e. mechanical, medical/therapeutic, and in some cases psychological purposes and goals.[1] The word comes from the French massage "friction of kneading," possibly from Arabic massa "to touch, feel, handle" or from Latin massa "mass, dough". [2][3] (In distinction the ancient Greek word for massage itself was anatripsis [4], and the Latin was frictio.)

Massage involves acting and manipulating the patient's body with pressure (structured, unstructured, stationary, and/or moving), tension, motion, or vibration done manually or with mechanical aids. Target tissues may include muscles, tendons, ligaments, skin, joints, or other connective tissue, as well as lymphatic vessels, and/or organs of the gastrointestinal system. Massage can be applied with the hands, fingers, elbows, forearm, and feet. There are over eighty different massage modalities. [5] The most cited reasons for introducing massage was patient demand and perceived clinical effectiveness.[6]

Peer-reviewed medical research has shown that the benefits of massage include pain relief, reduced trait anxiety and depression, and temporarily reduced blood pressure, heart rate, and state anxiety.[7] Theories behind what massage might do include blocking nociception (gate control theory), activating the parasympathetic nervous system which may stimulate the release of endorphins and serotonin, preventing fibrosis or scar tissue, increasing the flow of lymph, and improving sleep[5] but such effects are yet to be supported by well designed clinical studies.

Massage can be performed by a professional Massage Practitioner, or by other health care professionals, such as chiropractors, osteopath, Athletic trainers, and/or physical therapists. Massage therapists work in hospitals as allied health professioners, in nursing homes, sports and fitness facilities, spas, beauty salons, cruise ships, private offices, and travel to private residences or businesses. [5] Contraindications to massage include, deep vein thrombosis, bleeding disorders or taking blood thinners such as Warfarin, damaged blood vessels, weakened bones from cancer, osteoporosis, or fractures, and fever. [5]

In professional settings, massage involves the client being treated while lying on a massage table, sitting upright in a massage chair, or lying on a pad on the floor. Except for modalities such as Acupressure, Shiatsu, Tui Na, Thai Massage, or Barefoot Deep Tissue, the massage subject is generally unclothed or partially unclothed, also referred to as disrobed, and their body would be "draped" with towels or sheets.

For more information please read http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Massage