Massage And Relaxation

WASHINGTON - Welcome back to our final week of the New Year, New You series! I hope you’ve been able to incorporate some of our tips from the past few months — the power of writing things down, finding tranquility in nature, the joy of adding creative flair to your everyday. Remember, growth is about putting one foot in front of the other, even when you’d rather crawl back into bed. And sometimes, the best thing to do is to do nothing! Therefore, our final tip entails surrendering and completely letting go through relaxation (called savasana in yoga). This is truly one of the hardest yoga poses to master.

To begin, come to a comfortable position on your back. Draw your shoulder blades flat under your body so that your shoulder heads can drop closer to the earth and your chest blossoms. Open your feet the width of your yoga mat (about 2 feet) and let them splay open. Turn your arms so that the palms of the hands face up. If you find this challenging — as many people do —try to draw those shoulder blades down more toward your feet.

Close your eyes and connect to your breath. Once you’re settled into the pose, begin to observe the sensations in your body and alleviate any tension or tightness you may be feeling. Soften your jaw and relax the space between your eyebrows. Rest here for five to 20 minutes.

To come out of relaxation, begin to wiggle your fingers and toes, ankles and wrists. Gently roll your head from side to side. Savor this process. Hug your knees to your chest and rock from side to side to massage your lower back. Roll onto your right side and press up to a comfortable seated position. Take a few deep breaths here and slowly return to your day more aware, tranquil, and ready to face reality.

Source: Examiner.com

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Time to relax, turn off that cell phone and get a massage. The problem? Your local spa offers several different types of treatments and you don’t know which to pick.Should you get a Swedish massage or a sports massage? Are you going to throw in a hot stone massage or something even more exotic?

“I think most people are not sure what type of massage to get,” says Deborah Burnes, owner of Sumbody natural body products stores and the Sumtime Spa. “It’s very common.”

Burnes says her spas in Alameda and Sebastopol are staffed by a “very strong” front desk crew that can help a client decide which massage is the right one for that particular person. Someone who goes to Sumtime Spa fills out an intake form so the staff can further help the client have the best experience possible, she says.

It’s the same at Body By Melisa, a spa on Oakland’s Piedmont Avenue. Clients are counseled over the phone and fill out paperwork when they arrive. Owner Melisa Knapp says massages can be further adjusted by the massage therapist, according to a person’s specific pains or relaxation needs. “Any good massage therapist is going to feel the congestions,” Knapp says. “They will feel the knots, they will feel the pressure and adjust.”

Burnes, Knapp, and Claremont Resort and Spa’s Stacey Parks, director of spa operations, have offered to help us decode the mystery of massage.

Swedish massage: The most common form of massage, the Swedish massage is defined by long strokes and gentle pressure. Called a Euphoric massage at Body By Melisa and a Therapeutic massage at the Claremont, this massage is perfect for those new to massage and interested in a relaxing experience.

“It’s luxurious, it’s personal and it’s very pampering,” Knapp says.

Deep tissue massage: Offered at 50-minute and 80-minute increments at the Claremont, the deep tissue massage is more firm than the Swedish massage and really works the muscles.

“Deep tissue should be done very slowly to make sure the tissue has time to allow you in,” says Parks, whose resort spa packages include access to resort showers and a whirlpool bath. “You don’t want to rush a deep tissue massage.” more…

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All those tempting beauty treatments tried and tested before you part with your cash

Rin Simpson tried the Hot Stone Massage at the Laguna Spa, Park Plaza Hotel, Cardiff

They said…

Hot stone therapy is a type of massage using specifically heated basalt stones combined with Swedish-style massage movements, which heal both the skin and the muscles. The healing properties of the stones are harnessed by warming them in hot water and then anointing them with lavender essential oil, to aid total relaxation. They are then placed on the key energy points of the body to harmonise the spirit, and the body is massaged with deep rhythmic movements. The warmth and healing power of the stones draws out the negative energy within the body and revitalises tired and aching muscles. The warm frangipani and coconut oil nourishes and softens the skin, while body brushing increases the lymphatic system to help eliminate toxins with in the body.

We said…

Having had a hot stone massage a couple of years ago at a different spa, I was very much looking forward to a relaxing treatment at the Park Plaza, and I wasn’t disappointed.

My treatment started with a wipe down of my feet with a warm face cloth, which was surprisingly pleasant (nobody ever really touches your feet do they?).Then came the body brushing.

I’ve had an Elemis treatment with body brushing before and it wasn’t the most comfortable experience, but my therapist this time was a lot more gentle. In fact the brushing – with a cactus bristle brush – felt invigorating; I could almost feel the dead skin cells sloughing off.

Next, as I lay on my stomach, hot stones were placed along my spine and in my hands – a soothing, comforting feeling of being weighted down – before the massage itself started.

Relaxing isn’t in it – there’s something about being warm which allows you to relax even further than you would normally, making the massage all the more effective.

And just as I thought my massage was coming to an end I was asked to turn over and onto my back and the whole process started again, with stones under my back and on my stomach and chest. more…

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