Posts Tagged ‘massage therapy’

• Massage Therapy | Type of Massages | Benefits for Massages

  Date: 2010.11.16 | Category: Body And Beauty Treatment Tips | Response: 0

  Type of Massages and there Benefits

  Massage is the practice of soft tissue manipulation with physical, functional, and in some cases psychological, purposes and goals. The word comes from the French massage – meaning friction of kneading, and from the Arabic Massa – meaning to touch, feel, or handle. Acting on and manipulating the body with pressure, a massage can be done manually or with mechanical aids. There are a number of different massage types available, each targeting specific points using a variety of pressure, technique and movement.

  Let us look at some of the most popular type of massages and what benefits they offer.

  Swedish massage

  This method is one of the most popular types of massages available and includes a variety of long smooth strokes, circular movements and kneading. A Swedish massage is very gentle and therefore relaxing, which makes it great for those who have never had a massage before. This type of massage is beneficial to promote the feeling of well-being and also helps to reduce emotional and physical stress. If you are suffering from neck and back, pain or inflammatory or muscle related conditions, the Swedish massage therapy is there to help alleviate pain by relieving knots and tension, increasing flexibility and mobility by reducing stiffness in muscles and joints.

  Aromatherapy massage

  The aromatherapy massage is a massage that uses scented plant oils to address specific needs. Oils can have different effects on stress-related conditions in particular, as they add an emotional component. When you inhale the scent, messages are sent to your brain’s limbic system – the part that controls emotions and influences hormones and your nervous system. Lavender is perhaps the most common oil used in aromatherapy massage, it has a calming effect, and the same goes for geranium and chamomile. Rosemary is said to be cleansing and energising, while tea tree, eucalyptus and pine is decongesting.

  Deep tissue massage

  This is a massage that targets the deeper layers of muscle and connective tissue. People benefiting from a deep tissue massage are those struggling with chronically tight and painful muscles, repetitive strain and postural problems. Stiff necks and sore shoulders, often a result of too many hours spent in front of a computer, can be relieved by having regular deep tissue massages. You should expect to feel sore and stiff for a couple of days after a deep tissue massage, as the massage therapist concentrates on areas of pain and uses direct deep pressure or friction here.

  Lymphatic massage

  This massage is a technique used to help increase lymph flow – using a very light pressure combined with soft pumping movements in the direction of the lymph nodes. A lymph drainage massage is particularly useful in detoxifying the body and to boost the immune system, and can be helpful in cases of edema, sports injury or for people experiencing a sluggish immune system or those suffering from a lack of energy. Endermologie

  Reflexology

  Reflexology is a method involving the practice of massaging, squeezing or pushing on parts of the feet, or sometimes the hands and ears, with the goal of encouraging a beneficial effect on other parts of the body – or just to improve general health. Reflexology can also be seen as a treatment that can help your body heal itself after an injury, illness, trauma or stress. Reflexology is a form of zone therapy and the idea is that areas on the foot correspond to areas of the body, and that by manipulating these one can improve general health through one’s energy flow. Working well to relax your mind and body, reflexology has been proven to be effective for back pain, migraines, fertility problems, arthritis, sleep disorders, sports injuries, hormonal imbalances, digestive disorders and stress-related conditions. Most patients say they feel calmer and more relaxed after a treatment, and enjoy the non-invasive and safe approach of this alternative practice.

  Hot stone massage

  Hot and smooth lava rocks help to decrease tension in this massage by loosening tight muscles and balancing energy centres in the body. Your therapist uses the hot stones as a massage tool, applying gentle pressure with them. Heated to more or less 45 degrees, the stones slide up and down your skin, heating and soothing away tension as they go. And the warmth they give is very comforting as well.

  Pregnancy massage

  The prenatal massage is used to target symptoms related to pregnancy – such as stress, swelling, aches and pains, indigestion, anxiety and depression. Becoming increasingly popular with expectant mothers, a pregnancy massage is performed by therapists who are certified and know how to support a pregnant woman’s body correctly during the massage.

  For more information, please contact us on:

  011.327.4490 (From 8:30 to 5:00, Mondays to Saturday)

  Alternatively email Mariette Prinsloo on:

  info@somabodytherapy.co.za

  Or visit our Stunning new website on:

  www.somabodytherapy.co.za

• 5 Effective Ways to Lose Cellulite

  Date: 2010.09.29 | Category: Body And Beauty Treatment Tips | Response: 0

  

  Medical science confirms that reducing body fat doesn’t necessarily mean getting rid of cellulite.  Those stubborn pockets of fat are largely due to genetics, lifestyle and eating habits, and over 80% of women battle cellulite on any given day. 

  Cellulite is most pronounced on the outer thighs, buttocks and arms, and can affect any size or shape.  However, there are several ways to reduce the appearance of cellulite and even get rid of those extra fat cells for good.  Here are just five effective ways to lose cellulite in the short and long-term:

  1. Endermologie treatments. Endermologie treatments continue to be a popular cellulite reduction procedure at medspas and cosmetic surgery centers across the country, and make use of high-intensity massage to help reshape and tone up the skin. The treatment is designed to break down fatty tissue under the skin’s surface, while the massage can help shuttle away the loose fat cells and improve lymph and blood flow throughout the body. A series of endermologie treatments can then tighten and tone up the skin, soften the tissues and break down fatty deposits that are causing cellulite.

  2. Dietary changes. Cellulite can become more obvious when the skin is holding water because of dehydration. Eliminating excess caffeine, sugar, salt and alcohol in the diet can help detoxify the body and bring water levels in balance. This can help reduce the appearance of cellulite and may make it easier to burn off those extra fat cells in the future.

  3. Body wraps for cellulite.  Many spas, weight loss centers and aesthetic centers promote ‘anti-cellulite’ body wraps and other body treatments that promise to tighten and tone the skin. These topical treatments can be fairly intensive, and help to detoxify the skin and increase blood circulation. These wraps can provide temporary results as they tighten the skin and deplete the body of extra water; this process can make cellulite less noticeable, and a series of body wraps may help smooth out and tighten the skin.

  4. Massage therapy. Vigorous massage treatments can boost circulation and improve skin elasticity. A series of massage treatments also help reduce excess fluids and toxins from the body, making the skin appear firmer, smoother and more resilient. This can reduce the appearance of cellulite and may even make it easier to lose weight.

  5. Mesotherapy injections. Mesotherapy is another increasingly popular solution for cellulite, a procedure that does not require any surgery, but one that can break down fatty deposits and help the skin become firmer and smoother with time. Mesotherapy does target actual fat cells, so once they are removed from the body they are gone for good. However, there are several health risks involved with mesotherapy injections, and a series of treatments is required to achieve lasting results.

  From body wraps to endermologie treatments, there are several options for getting rid of cellulite. Learn more about cellulite treatments in our information guide, or consult with a cosmetic surgeon in your area for the best treatment plan for your needs.

  Losing cellulite

  Cellulite is the pet peeve of many women. It usually appears on the bum and thighs, but can also show up on the arms and stomach. Cellulite is diet-resistant and affects the thin as well as the fuller-figured! Here’s our guide to getting rid of it.

  What is cellulite?

  Cellulite isn’t an illness; it’s just unsightly. It’s linked to hormones and mainly affects women.

  It’s a superficial layer of fat underneath the skin that is affected by the size of fat cells (adipocytes), made worse by water retention (bad blood and lymphatic circulation) and fibrosis (change in collagen fibre). There are 3 types of cellulite: cellulite caused by excess fat storage cellulite, caused by collagen dysfunction, and cellulite caused by water retention due to poor circulation.

  Causes

  Cellulite is the result of a combination of several factors:

  - Genetics. Some people have an imbalance between lipolyse (fat mass) and lipogenese (fat storage).

  - Hormones. The balance between oestrogen and progesterone regulates the spread of fat in the body, and hormonal change due to puberty, pregnancy and the Pill cause variation.

  - Circulation. The poorer your blood and lymphatic circulation, the higher the risk of cellulite.

  - Muscle. Muscle tone regulates fat mass.

  Solutions

  There is no miracle cure for cellulite, but several treatments give good results if they are targeted to your type of cellulite, used in the long term and combined with a healthy lifestyle (low fat diet, regular exercise etc). Here the main ones:

  - Mechanical treatments. Endermology or Cellu M6 is a massage machine that gently pinches and rolls the skin. It uses rollers and gentle suction to massage affected areas deep down, accelerating the elimination of toxins and water retention, and releasing the fat back into circulation. Pressotherapy and lymphatic drainage are carried out with a special machine using pulsed air to gradually inflate a pair of boots worn up to the thighs.

  - Medical and surgical treatments. Mesotherapy involves injecting cellulite-fighting products beneath the skin. Liposuction is done under anaesthetic and involves sucking out excess fat from beneath the skin.

  - Electrotherapy and ultrasonolipolysis. These methods are currently booming. They employ electric currents, ultrasound or infrared through electrodes placed on affected areas or to appliances placed on the skin. They are supposed to increase the temperature of the tissue, increase cell permeability of fat cells and break down fibrous tissues present in the skin.

  - Creams. With drainage ingredients to fight water retention and unblock tissue, burn fat (with caffeine) and smooth the skin, creams reduce the number and size of fatty cells and improve the look and feel of the skin.

  - Hydrotherapy. Lymphatic aquadrainage is a specific form of exercise done in water. It strengthens the postural muscles which act four times as much on venous circulation than superficial muscles. Hydromassaging baths and showers with jets also stimulate the veins and lymph glands.

  CONTACT US ON:

  011.327.4490

  info@somabodytherapy.co.za

  www.somabodytherapy.co.za