Hey Earth’s Enrichers
Earth’s Enrichers, summer is coming to an end and this is probably one of the most stressful moments. This is the time the students are preparing to return to school and when work seems to be piling up the highest. However, just because the summer is nearing its end does not mean summer is over!
Now is the time to prepare yourself for what’s ahead, while enjoying the weeks of summer you have left. This is no time to get tense! Well some of you may already be tense. No worries we have a solution. First things, first; tension can be caused by anxiety and stress. Although these are forms of mental stress, they can manifest themselves in physical ways like headaches, back, or neck pain.
So, ladies and gentlemen, what’s the best way to remove physical tension, while also soothing your mental tension? A massage! Yep, the kind of massages you’d find in a spa. Massages are meant to work out the tension in muscles and reduce the discomfort it brings. They’re not just for relaxation purposes.
Massage therapy is an actual therapeutic and medical process of relief. It’s been known to be help with anxiety, headaches, sports/work injuries, joint pain, stress, sleep/digestion disorders, nerve pain, and pain & muscle tension. A nice natural, soothing, handy option for relief. It can also improve posture, increase range of motion, improve circulation, lower blood pressure, and can even strengthen the immune system.
Massage therapy or massages in general are a form of treatment and with most treatments there are some things you must do to help prepare your body. It is important that you prepare your mind for what is about to happen, especially if you have never had a message. So, do some research to find out what to expect and/or meditate on it. You must be open and relaxed in order to experience the benefits of the therapy.
To help keep your mind on what’s going on during the process, it is recommended that you not eat before your session. That way your body isn’t trying to digest your food, while it’s supposed to be relaxing. Also, to keep yourself relaxed, try not to frazzle yourself too much before your session. If you are relatively anxious or stressed, it may take you longer to relax during the massage.
There is no hidden rule that says you cannot talk during your massage. In fact, communication between you and your massage therapist is recommended. This way you can inform them of what is uncomfortable or what is making it harder for you to relax. For instance, if there is a certain part of your body that is particularly sensitive or if the music played is distracting, you can just let them know. They are totally cool with it. It’s about making your experience a relaxing and beneficial one.
Speaking of making yourself relaxed during your massage, you don’t have to be naked if you don’t want to be. Just let your massage therapist know what you’re comfortable with and wear clothes you consider fairly comfy. Also, be sure to tell them if you are allergic to any oils or lotions. That way you won’t end up breaking out after your session.
To complete your spa experience, be sure not to rush into movement. Take your time with getting back into your normal grove; getting up too fast might cause you to get dizzy. Remember your body will be going from extreme relaxation to outputting energy. So, take your time. Next, hydrate your body. The water helps flush out the toxins in the body.
Let’s not forget, a massage is not just therapy, it’s relaxing “me time.” So, enjoy it the way you want. Play the music you want to hear, use the oils you like the best, dress (or don’t dress) the way you see fit, and relax. The experience will be different for everybody and the benefits may not immediate. It may take some time to notice the changes after a massage. If you have never experienced a massage, we recommend you do more research and try it. You may love it! Remember, summer is not over yet!
The EE 411: Types of Massages
There are many types of massages and they are used for different purposes. We have ten popular massages listed below:
- Deep Tissue– This massage strives for deeper contact with muscles and the strokes tend to be slower. This is usually used for individuals with tight muscle pain, strain, issues with posture, or who are recovering from an injury.
- Back– Usually brief massages that focus on the back. Tend to be generic spa massages.
- Aromatherapy– Massages that usually incorporate complementary, relaxing scents to help relax the body and mind of the individual.
- Swedish– A very familiar massage that incorporates kneading, circular motions that target the superficial layers of the muscles. Usually, tame and soothing. This is the best options for newbies to start out with. J
- Sports– Kind of like the Swedish massage but more for folks with sport or activity related injuries.
- Shiatsu– This is a Japanese style massage that uses fingers to target acupuncture patterns. At each point, they linger for a few seconds to increase energy flow and maintain balance. A very pleasant experience.
- Thai– This is similar to a Shiatsu, but it uses pressure points to increase energy and you are a bit more active because of the series of postures and positions you’ll be in. Great for reducing stress, increasing range of motion and flexibility.
- Hot Stone– This is a massage that incorporates fairly large smooth heated stones that are positioned on certain parts of the body. They are there to loosens tension. The therapist usually applies slight pressure on the stones.
- Reflexology– (or foot massage) This uses pressure points on the foot that corresponds to different organs of the body.
- Trigger Point– This focuses on tight muscle fibers that usually happen when they are over used.
(This post was brought to you by Earth’s Enrichments. Similar posts can be found by visiting our Blog. More information about our company and products (USDA Certified Organic Soaps, Organic Bath Salts, Organic Sugar Scrubs, Organic Body Balms and Organic Lip Balms) can be found on our Website. Thank you Earth’s Enricher!)
