Shiatsu Foot Massage Techniques and Benefits

Standing on your own feet is an oft heard cliché which we may have heard at some time or the other. But in our ever so busy fast paced lives, we find no time to rest our weary feet. Here’s where shiatsu foot massage steps in. This massage will leave your feet revitalized.

Shiatsu means `finger pressure ‘in Japanese. This technique has been followed for centuries and is based on the philosophy that vital energy flows through various body points called meridians. The massage involves the use of fingers, thumbs, palms, elbows, knees, and feet to massage the body. Whenever blood circulation is stimulated through the process of massage, it releases essential nutrients and takes away the toxins. This purifies your systems and makes you feel refreshed.

Shiatsu foot massage therapy involves the application of pressure at the appropriate meridian points to promote the proper functioning of the related body systems. Initially, your feet are gently rubbed to loosen the feet and prepare them for a massage.

The feet are lightly stroked to induce the blood vessels to produce a little heat. This is called stroking, to get the blood flowing better. Then your ankles are massaged in a clockwise and anti clockwise direction to relax them. Your feet are then swiveled and pressure is applied to relieve fatigue in the ball of the foot. Knuckles are used from your heel to the toes in a kneading motion. To relax your toes the therapists will slip their fingers between two toes and pull them, squeeze them, and rotate them. There is yet another technique in which the therapist use their bare feet to massage your feet and the soles. For this you may have lie on a mattress. The therapists will stand with their back to you, placing their heel on your foot and their toes on the ground. They slowly work up to your toes.

To start with, the massage relaxes and revives your feet. It also reduces or puts off headaches. Eyes strain and stress are also lessened. It eases stomach aches and helps in improving the functioning of the kidneys, bladder, and the excretory system. It alleviates pain in the spine and improves posture. The massage stimulates the lymphatic system, thus clearing the toxins in your body. It also energizes the nerves that control the lungs and the complete bronchial system.

With all these benefits, you feel pampered and all the tensions melt away. Now, with zest and life in your feet, go ahead and stand on your own feet.

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This entry was posted on Monday, March 23rd, 2009 at 12:20 am and is filed under Massage Therapy. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

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Shiatsu Massage Techniques and Benefits

Developed by the Chinese in around 530 BC, the Shiatsu massage technique evolved and later moved on to Japan, Southern Asia, and Korea, where it was predominantly practiced. Shiatsu is derived from the Japanese word `shi’ and `atsu’ literally meaning finger pressure. It does not stop with the use of finger pressure but also incorporates the use of thumbs, palms, knees, elbows, forearms, and feet. This massage technique is meant to unify the spiritual, philosophical, and medical aspects of its patients.

Shiatsu balances the body’s natural energy centers. It removes any blockages by applying pressure on the energy lines, or meridians, and promotes good health. It restores the normal flow of essential bio-energy in the body. The `chi’ brings in fresh, strong energy and bears away the spent energy along with the toxins. Shiatsu is done not only for relaxation but also to relieve a wide range of ailments and symptoms. Some of them are rheumatoid arthritis, muscle pain, migraine headaches, pregnancy, and ailments of the circulatory and digestive system.

A shiatsu massage therapist first makes diagnosis about how the energy flows, where it is blocked and where it is needed be released in your body. The therapeutic process begins with a gentle massage by stretching and manipulation of the skin to invigorate and relax the muscles. Gentle or high pressure may be used while massaging, but it is never painful. The session can last from four minutes to an hour.

When you go for a massage session, wear loose comfortable clothing such as linen or cotton. You may be asked to lie on a padded mat on the floor. It could also be a beaded mat or a futon. Allow yourself to relax and let the masseuse know about any medical conditions or areas of concern so that you can obtain the maximum benefit from the massage session.

Shiatsu stimulates blood circulation in the capillaries of the skin’s soft tissues, and excites the sebaceous glands keeping your skin soft and supple. When shiatsu massage is applied on the hands and legs it gets rid of the symptoms of arthritis and eases muscular pain. It also lessens migraine headaches. It aids women during labor and also inhibits menstrual pain. The massage assists in proper digestion of food and the removal of waste products.

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This entry was posted on Monday, March 23rd, 2009 at 12:16 am and is filed under Massage Therapy. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

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Benefits of Amma Massage Therapy

Origin: Amma Massage is a very ancient therapeutic form of massage which is more than 5000 years old. It has its foundation in traditional Chinese medicine. Amma is actually a very old Chinese word, which means ‘push-pull’ (am-ma). It has been adapted as Amma Massage Therapy, and is practiced in China, Japan, as well as in the West, one such place being Bethesda.

Principles: According to ancient Chinese medicine, Qi or Chi, is the life force flowing through our entire body. When this flow is interrupted or blocked for any reason, the person suffers from some ailment or disease. The aim of Amma Massage is to remove these blockages by applying pressure at specific points (just like in acupuncture), in order to re-start the smooth flow of chi, so that the person becomes healthy again.

Benefits: Amma Massage Therapy has proved beneficial in preventing and treating diabetes, arthritis, sprains, hypertension, chronic fatigue, gastrointestinal and circulatory ailments, neuromuscular disorders, respiratory diseases such as asthma and bronchitis, as well as auto-immune diseases such as scleroderma. It also benefits those with back pain, headaches, insomnia, irritable bowel, edema, while being effective in cases of infertility and for reducing stress and anxiety. It also helps to build and fortify the immune system and so results in a reduction of health problems.

Some massage therapists also claim that they have used these techniques effectively in cancer treatment.

Many hospitals also provide Amma Therapy as an additional holistic treatment along with allopathic treatment.

Principles: Amma Massage therapists use a combination of stroking, stretching, kneading, vibrating, pressing and tapping on the 361 pressure points of the body in order to remove the blockages and restart the free flow of chi. While the therapist relies mainly on the strength and sensitivity of their hands, in some case they may also use their elbows, arms, feet and knees for the massage.

Diagnosis: A good practitioner will carry out a thorough assessment to diagnose the specific ailment. They will enquire as to what the patient likes or dislikes, diet, bowel movement. They will feel the pulse, observe complexion, and even the smell and color of the tongue.

After the diagnosis is over, the patient changes into loose clothing and undergoes a massage session of approximately one hour.

Amma massage goes beyond mere massage - the therapist also makes various dietary and nutritional recommendations, along with exercise requirements.

Bethesda in Washington DC offers certified and licensed professionals, with massages tailored for each individual.

Tags: amma massage, amma massage bethesda, amma massage therapy, amma massage therapy bethesda

This entry was posted on Thursday, March 19th, 2009 at 5:23 am and is filed under Massage Therapy. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

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Benefits of Baby Massage

In Asia, the benefits of baby massage have been recognized for thousands of years. Sometimes a maid is employed for this purpose, but now, more and more mothers, and fathers too, prefer to do it themselves. Every day a time is set aside for the infant to be gently with oil.

Bonding: First and foremost, massaging helps to increase bonding between parent and baby. Bonding is not an automatic process; it is created day after day, and the best way is interaction through this non-verbal language of touch, which is one of the major senses. This also sets up a channel of body communication, and many experts feel that babies who have been massaged since birth have better communication skills. As the mother spends time massaging her baby, both get to know each other better.

Relaxation: Baby massage benefits also include a feeling of relaxation, not just for the baby, but also for the parent. Although we may think that a baby’s life is the ultimate in relaxation, the transition from a warm, dark and tranquil womb to an outside world full of light and sound can be quite stressful. Massage helps to relax the muscles, and when done on a regular basis, ensures restful and longer sleep at night. Blood pressure and heart rate too slow down and stabilize with a massage, helping the baby to relax. Stroking and touching also releases a feel-good chemical called oxytocin, which benefits and de-stresses the parent as well as the baby.

Stimulation: Another infant massage benefit is that it also provides stimulation for the baby. While certain muscles need to be relaxed, there are some muscles which need to be stimulated for better performance. Some babies have poor circulatory systems and their hands and feet are always cold. A few minutes of gentle massage helps to increase blood flow, warm them up and make them more comfortable.

Better digestion: Massage also benefits the baby by stimulating their digestive system. A gentle massage encourages the expulsion of colicky gas and can provide immense relief.

Relief from pain is another benefit of baby massage. Other than colic pains, there can be other pains which parents could be unaware of and massage provides relief from these.

Weight gain: Baby massage has also been known to result not only in resistance to disease, but also in weight gain and is thus especially beneficial for pre-term or underweight infants.

Tags: baby massage benefits, benefits of baby massage, benefits of infant massage, infant massage benefits, the benefits of infant massage

This entry was posted on Thursday, March 19th, 2009 at 5:30 am and is filed under Massage Therapy. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

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Benefits of Shiatsu Facial Massage

The face that launched a thousand ships, a famous figure of speech, would leave us craving for some such splendor in us. However, with the strain and stress that we go through each day in addition to the pollutants in our environment, having healthy skin seems more impossible each day. Fortunately, a shiatsu facial massage can ensure not only improved skin tone but also rejuvenates and relaxes facial stress.

In Japanese, `Shi’ means fingers and `atsu’ means pressure. This massage technique is exceptionally effective for achieving glowing, healthy, and younger-looking skin. The therapist uses his or her fingers, thumbs, and palms to loosen up tension. The massage also enhances blood circulation and replenishes the skin. A facial massage involves a blend of mild strokes applied on the face and neck region. It should be noted that no oils or lotions are used in this type of a massage.

The mild strokes applied by the therapist restore the flow of vital energy and correct imbalances within the skin.
Apart from the obvious cosmetics benefits of a facial massage, such as younger-looking, softer, healthier, and glowing skin, a shiatsu facial massage also helps alleviate health problems related to the face area. However, the most significant benefit of a shiatsu facial massage is the total relaxation of the mind and body that one experiences during and after the session.

A shiatsu facial massage also helps in enhancing blood flow to the face area, thereby improving skin tone. The mild, circular strokes help in relaxing the face and eye muscles, which, in turn, relieve stress and ease eye strain and stiffness of the neck. Shiatsu facial massages are also known to be extremely beneficial for people suffering from insomnia; this is because they reduce nervous tension and alleviate anxiety and its related symptoms.

Since a shiatsu massage ensure that all the trigger points are massaged correctly, it also helps in treating nasal congestion. In fact, this kind of massage has been known to be extremely effective for people affected by sinus problems.
Strangely, a shiatsu facial massage also improves and restores the functioning of the liver and gall bladder.

The benefits of a shiatsu facial massage are multi-fold; in fact, by applying pressure to the key trigger points, a facial massage of this kind can ensure that you remain stress-free, completely relaxed, younger-looking, and above all, healthy.

Tags: eye muscles, nasal congestion, shiatsu facial massage, sinus problems, total relaxation

This entry was posted on Monday, March 23rd, 2009 at 12:25 am and is filed under Massage Therapy. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
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