Let Go of Stress - Get a Massage
April 18, 2008 Health No CommentsOngoing stress is a recipe for disaster that can impact your ability to follow your daily routine. Once your body has reached its limit, you are more than likely to fall apart physically and be prevented from meeting your obligations or having any fun.
Stop your stress in its tracks before it’s gone too far. What better way to unwind and pamper yourself than with a relaxing massage.
Take a break during your day to investigate a nearby health spa or massage therapist. Spend some time gathering information on which services will be most beneficial for relieving your stress and pampering your body. There are actually numerous massage techniques, and some of them work better than others on certain problem areas. You’ll also want to know the duration of the treatment and the price range, so you can fit your relaxation time into both your schedule and your budget.
Choosing the Best Massage for You
Knowing how each type of massage therapy works and what its particular benefits are is a must before you dive in. Once you know the basics, go ahead and indulge.
1. Hot Stone Massage: Just like it sounds, this massage technique involves placing smooth, heated rocks on specific areas of your body. It’s perfect for relieving muscle aches and pains. The warmth of the stones loosens your tight muscles, giving you greater freedom of movement and reducing your pain. Your massage therapist will gently apply pressure and a little friction to relax the muscles even more.
2. Shiatsu. Originating in Japan, this technique is similar in some ways to acupuncture and acupressure, but has been practiced for much longer than either of those treatments. Shiatsu therapy corrects imbalances in your body by using the palms and fingers to apply pressure to key locations. It’s perfect for treating muscle stiffness and headaches caused by stress. It improves your circulation and helps to promote and maintain good health.
3. Aromatherapy. This is a very luxurious massage experience. The therapist will use essential oils on your body during the massage, most likely lavender which is known for its stress relieving properties. You’ll feel soothed and pampered, and your muscles will be loose and limber. During the massage, you’ll probably feel calm almost to the point of sleep, but afterwards you’ll have renewed energy. Aromatherapy massage is popular with those who suffer from emotional forms of stress.
4. Thai Massage. This treatment isn’t as gentle as shiatsu massage, involving more pressure and lots of stretching motions that resemble yoga. The best part is, you don’t have to exert yourself at all. The therapist will move your body through a range of postures and positions. You’ll benefit from increased range of motion and you’ll be considerably more flexible.
Knowing what your options are is the first step in eliminating stress from your life. If you want your body to feel pampered and your mind to be calm, it’s hard to find anything better than massage.
