Massage Blog

Massage and Valentines

noreply@blogger.com (Robert) — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 00:42:00 +0000

Just wanted to say Happy Valentines, which is right around the corner and also got me thinking...

Do you know what your plans are for this year? The standard fare? Cards, flowers, chocolate, diamonds, etc.

Yeah, I am sure diamonds would be appreciated. But so would a lot of other things, especially anything requiring fore-thought and some effort.

And coming from a male perspective, I know men in general probably don't want diamonds for Valentines. Flowers? Doubtful. Chocolate? Might be a winner or a good start...

But what about something even deeper?

It would seem like what most people want deep down is to simply be acknowledged.

How's that??

Simple. Try ignoring them, especially while they are trying to talk to you. Turn your back on them. Walk out of the room, mid-sentence.. Hang up the cell phone while they are gabbing away and see what happens.

I bet you get a response from them. I would even bet it won't be pleasant.

But seriously, please don't do that. Although at many levels because we are so busy and so caught up in our day to day lives that can happen all too often at the unconscious level.

We spend a lot of our time ignornig each other. And if we are not careful, that can become habitual.

So what's the opposite of that?To pay attention to, fully. To be in the present moment with the person you love and be on the receiving end as much as on the giving end. Some people call that dance, Love.

A simple give and receive process of acknowledging one another and just being there for the other person and experiencing them without judgment.

To start, we can put aside ourselves and our agendas and our own desires temporarily and simply pay attention to the person in front of you and get curious as to who that special person truly is and how grateful you are to have them in your life...

I bet that would get you a different response vs. ignoring them. If you don't do that already...often enough.

Now some people are pretty stressed out these days. And getting and giving their full attention is not easy. But one of the fastest ways to short circuit stress is through simple touch.

As humans, we have the capacity to carry around so much tension and be totally oblivious to it until someone else is kind enough to touch us and help us remember that it's ok to let go and relax for a change. It's ok to feel in the moment.

With a simple touch, you can literally help the other person to relax more fully, which in turn helps them feel more and gives them the opportunity to stop functioning on habit and begin functioning in the moment or as close to it as is possible.

So there are all sorts of things and ideas to play around with for Valentines Day, or any other day for that matter. We're only limited by our imaginations...

Enjoy & Happy Valentines!
Robert

Massage - helping you relax in the world

noreply@blogger.com (Robert) — Sun, 31 Aug 2008 05:47:00 +0000

One of the obvious things about massage is that it is truly relaxing from head to toe, if done correctly. And the benefits of relaxing the nervous system are huge.

For most of us, day to day stress sneaks up on us. It's insidious really. And if we are not careful it can take quite a toll on our health and our relationships with other people.

How many times have you seen someone get upset about something totally non-related? It's like an old fashioned pressure cooker getting ready to blow it's lid. Dreams are one way of dissipating stress. There are of course many other ways, like meditation, exercise, tai chi, food, drugs, sex, music, baths, etc. Some better than others.

But utlimately, there is nothing like a good massage. It quickly and without side effects can help people decompress and unwind. And it does so at the physical level first. If your body is tense and tight and stressed out, that directly affects your mental state as well, whether you are aware of it or not.

And guess what happens when a person acts from a position of relaxtion vs being stressed out? They respond totally differently. It can be the exact same trigger, but if they are relaxed, they'll respond quite differently, more often than not.

A typical example is road rage or road annoyance. You have seen this or might even experience this yourself from time to time. Someone cuts you off or is driving like an idiot and if you're stressed out or late to work or whatever, then it's possible you might raise your blood pressure, say a few choice words or give a hand symbol or two to communicate your sincere concern for their moronic driving.

BUT...if you are relaxed, breathing well, free of built up stress and tension, then your repsonse might be 'Who cares?' or 'I am feeling so fine". You might even hear a little James Brown music in your head like - "I FEEL GOOD...nah..nah..nah...na...LIKE I SHOULD....I FEEL FINE....". And maybe even you can come from a place of compassion or even love for your fellow human being. You could even wave and smile at them and send warm thoughts. How about that as a response? I am sure they won't be expecting that.

Or at the very least, you can control the one thing you ARE in control of. And that's how YOU FEEL. It's your body, your mind. It's up to you how to respond. Either you can be in charge of how you feel OR you can let other people dictate your responses. It's up to you.

One thing is certain, the more relaxed you are, the greater the chances that you'll respond in a more healthy pattern for you...

Advanced Massage DVD Videos

noreply@blogger.com (Robert) — Thu, 23 Aug 2007 05:56:00 +0000

My friend Judah Lyons, of the Lyons Institute, has just released a series of advanced massage videos. This goes beyond our basic How to Massage Video Lessons and gets into the ideas and concepts of the legendary Ida Rolf.

Understanding the importance of fascia in the role of massage is critical for long term massage success. Even in our videos, we explore the benefits of release the fascia (protective covering around the muscles and viscera). And then in Judah's 3 DVD's on Structural Integration : Conversations with the Body, he takes it a step or two further.

I have watched the videos and picked up a couple new techiniques even as a seasoned pro whose been doing massage for nearly a decade now. So there's really no limit to what you can learn and what the body is willing to teach you, if you are listening to the body.

The late Dr. Rolf has really created a whole field of advanced massage. The massage modailty of Rolfing, while always hasn't enjoyed the best reputation (because it is a deep tissue modality and has been known to be painful from time to time) is still as valid today as it was 30 years ago.

Judah's adpated style of Structural integation offers a kinder, gentler take on the modality. Probably corrupted by his Biodynamic Cranial Sacral background, Mr. Lyons shows that Structural Integration can be highly effective without the pain and discomfort commonly associated with it.

Massage techniques? Is more better?

noreply@blogger.com (Robert) — Sun, 03 Dec 2006 03:09:00 +0000

Recently I have seen a rash of massage videos spouting hours of new massage techniques and some even offering 300 or so massage techniques.

How much is too much? In my opinion, human beings can only remember a handful at any one time. According to George Miller, people can typically only handle 7 +/- 2 bits of information at any one time. And depending on how you chunk the information together that can be a lot or a little. Might have to do something with why phone numbers are only 7 digits long, don't know for sure.

So what's that got to do with massage? Everything. Having been a therapist for more than a few years now, I have forgotten most of what I was taught in school and continuing education. Why? Because most of it was just stuff people make up to have something to teach, in my opinion.

I think when it comes right down to it, in order to give a great massage, you only need to know a handful of massage techniques. The rest might be good to know if you somehow got to the point where you mastered the fundamentals of massage. Easier said than done by the way.

Massage is very similiar to martial arts and life for that matter. It's not how much you know, it's what you DO with what you know. When it comes to massage, I sincerely think quality is more important than quantity.

3 New Massage Video Lessons just added!

noreply@blogger.com (Robert) — Wed, 26 Jul 2006 00:05:00 +0000

Learn-Massage-Online.com has just added 3 new lessons to our online massage video library. This brings the total to 18 massage video lessons. All for just $25? That's crazy.

Clearly, this is the tremendous benefit and advantage to joining Learn Massage Online, free massage video updates as well as instant access to the lessons at one low lifetime membership price.

If you've ever wanted to learn some new tips and techniques for how to give a great massage, then now's the time.

Join today and you'll get instant access to all the massage video lessons, including the new ones and any more that we come up with.

Enjoy,
Robert
www.learn-massage-online.com

The value of weekly massage

noreply@blogger.com (Robert) — Tue, 28 Mar 2006 14:50:00 +0000

When was your last massage? I recently just had a massage and I gotta say, everytime I do get a massage I remember how good they feel. AND how much better I feel afterwards.

Massage Therapy is truly an amazing thing. It's so easy to let stress and tension just sneak up on us. I didn't realize I was THAT stressed out. But it isn't until you get a massage that you realize that. At least for me anyway.

So my latest thing is to try to get a massage weekly, and at the very least monthly. You wouldn't think it would be that tough of a commitment, but like all of us, time and scheduling becomes a factor.

I guess it's all a matter of priorities. Feeling good vs. working all the time? Tough choice, right?

Last minute Valentines Day Gift Idea

noreply@blogger.com (Robert) — Mon, 13 Feb 2006 14:49:00 +0000

It's still not too late to give a great gift for Valentine's....You. Starting in just a few mintues from right now, literally, you can easily learn how to give a great massage with our online massage video lessons.

Imagine the surprised look on your Valentines face, when you have a whole candle light, soft music, deeply relaxing massage waiting for them...

Click here to start - online massage video....

Massage Tips for Valentines

noreply@blogger.com (Robert) — Wed, 01 Feb 2006 01:58:00 +0000

Massage could just very well be the ultimate gift to give to your loved one this Valentines. The benefits seem endless... relaxing, sensual, allows you to connect with your mate at a much deeper level, paves way for more pleasurable experiences, and more.

But in my opinion, as a therapist and massage instructor, there's a big difference between a good massage and a GREAT massage.

And anyone can learn how to give a great massage this Valentines and it doesn't have to be a huge effort. In fact, we created some online massage video lessons which helps to make it easy & fun to learn.

Starting today, anyone can learn how to give a great massage. To help get you started, here are 5 tips to giving a great massage.

1) Speed - For a valentines massage, the speed of your massage should be slow and lingering. Try paying attention to your partners breathing rate and massage at the same rhythm.

2) Pressure - Pressure is a biggie. Start off light and gradually increase the pressure. Unless you're really into S&M, pain is NOT the goal. Some of the most powerful touch therapies in the world only use the weight of a nickel. Keeping your touch light will help pave the way to trust and deeper intimacy.

3) Consistency - Being consistent with your strokes and your pressure will help to create a sense of trust. Trust is the ultimate with massage. They want to know they can trust you with their bodies. Consistency helps give them an idea of what to expect and allows them to relax their guard and really begin to relax. Think of massage as coaxing the body into relaxing rather than forcing it to relax.

4) Focus - Pay attention to what you're doing. Be FULLY PRESENT is crucial to give a great massage. People can tell when you're not focused an paying attention to their bodies. And it's easy to stay focused, just really get into the lay of the land of their bodies. Allow your hands to simply blend and meld with the skin and person you're massaging. If your using oil, try to see how much of your hand you can make contact with their skin.

5) Some Key Massage Techniques - Massage is an innate thing. It's something we all know how to do. And learning a few key massage techniques can greatly enhance your skill level. As with everything in else in life, there is always more we can learn about massage and touch.

Besides chocolate and flowers, ultimately it's YOU they want for Valentine's. The real beauty of learning the gift of touch is it will only get better in the years to come.

Happy Massaging and Happy Valentines
Robert Sigler
www.learn-massage-online.com

Touching Massage : Human or Machine?

noreply@blogger.com (Robert) — Sat, 21 Jan 2006 12:28:00 +0000

Which would you rather be touched by? A human being or a machine?

Recently I ran across this article...

http://www.charlotte.com/mld/charlotte/living/style/13667868.htm?source=rss&channel=charlotte_style

It was suggesting that robots are beginning to replace human beings at certain spas. And that a new invention could be paving the way. Makes for a nice story and PR release, but give me a break.

As a professional massage therapist, I have tried and used many machines for 'relaxation' and NONE of them come even remotely close to the value of two warm hands and the rest of the human being attached to those hands. The electromagnetic distortion alone created by those machines is enough to cause me more stress, not less.

I have sat in those massage chairs that are designed to heat, vibrate and shake and cajole you, and they can begin to allow for the physiological relaxation response, but that's about it. I certainly don't feel like I do after a REAL live massage.

It's quite ironic, one of the reasons we carry so much stress is that the majority of us sit behind machines all day. Now we're going to go to a machine and have that machine work our muscles and relax us? Not me. Give me a real live person any day. You can feel the energy or resonance of compassion and caring and universal love from another human being. A machine doesn't care.

When two people touch each other, there is an exchange of energy. Literally. In one of my classes I show people the energy ball. It's a little plastic ball with two metal strips on it. I stand in a circle of about a dozen people all holding hands. Except I have one finger on one strip of this little energy ball and instead of holding hands with the person next me, they are also touching a strip on the energy ball. Guess what?? It lights up and makes a noise. In fact, one person anywhere in that circle can stop holding hands with the person next to them and the energy ball light goes out. It's a great metaphor to show that we're all connected. And that we transfer energy to and from each other.

And in complex ways that we certainly don't understand and shouldn't have the arrogance to think we do. Considering all the different possible frequencies and harmonics involved in that energy exchange, that we don't even think about or for the most part aren't even aware of, it's truly a mind boggling experience. Just simple human touch. And actually we transfer energy just being close to one another, but that's a different topic.

If you've ever had a massage and paid attention to the exchange of energy flow between you and your therapist, then you have an idea of what I am referring to. You can tell, even with your eyes closed, what your therapist is sensing, whether or not they are paying attention to you, whether or not they are focused, whether or not it's going to be a great massage or they're still working on the basics. You can feel how well the energy is flowing through them and where the restrictions are in them. Try it and see for yourself, next time.

Massage is so much more than a mechanical response. It's one of the oldest healing art forms. It truly does involve body, mind and soul. And the information and energy you can perceive through your hands is and always will be more than a machine could even begin to offer.

So my vote might be a little biased, but for my money, give me a real live person any day of the week.

Learn how to massage before Valentine's Day

noreply@blogger.com (Robert) — Fri, 30 Dec 2005 03:08:00 +0000

Valentine's Day is the perfect holiday for massage. What a great way to express your love and appreciation!

You can learn how to massage to pamper your partner and heal yourselves naturally. It’s fun and now, you can actually learn how to give a high quality massage in time for Valentine's.

One of the ultimate ways to pamper someone special is with a professional quality, full body massage delivered by your own hands.

If you’ve ever had a massage, you might have found your mind wondering. You may have been thinking, “Wouldn’t be great if my partner could massage me like this! Or maybe you thought, “I love being this relaxed and I wish my partner were here.” You may have even wished you could make your partner feel this deeply relaxed all over!

Well, someone was listening because brilliant how to massage video lessons are now available to all of us right online. Check out www.learn-massage-online.com for more. Make sure to enter the coupon code 'bemyval' to save $5.

Taking the time to learn how to massage and then sharing the deeply relaxing and healing benefits with your partner shows just how much you care...in a big way! You can surprise your sweetheart with your massage technique or learn how to massage together! It only takes about an hour to learn what you need to know to give a massage that deeply relaxes and heals.

You can set up a soothing spa environment and use specialized massage techniques to give your love the massage of a lifetime! Your partner will deeply appreciate this gift from your heart and the many healing benefits of the massage, too.

Take turns, and you’ll get that massage you dreamed of from the person you really want massaging you!

Massage during the holidays

noreply@blogger.com (Robert) — Mon, 12 Dec 2005 10:14:00 +0000

Just a quick note about the value of massage during the holidays. It's easy to get caught up with shopping, traffic, crowds, etc. So if possible, we would highly encourage people to remember to take a day or more for themselves this holiday season. So our suggestion: Go and get a massage. It can help reduce stress and tension, alleviate body aches and pains, soothe the nervous system, and boost the immune system plus on top of that, it feels soooo good.

Recently, I had been working so much, I forgot about taking care of myself. Finally my partner and I had the chance to go to a nice spa and get a massage for a change. And man, was it great! I had completely forgot how good they feel and how good I felt afterwards. The little aches and pains that had been bugging me soon became a thing of the past.

Now, it makes me wonder if some of those aches and pains are simply my body's way of reminding me to pay a little more attention to myself and create a little more balance. And, for me, apparently to get massage more often. It can and does make a difference.

Happy Holidays!

How to massage

noreply@blogger.com (Robert) — Fri, 16 Sep 2005 13:48:00 +0000

We just posted a new article titled how to massage on our main site. It goes into detail about something very important to consider if you want to learn how to massage...

Believe me, learning massage doesn't have to be complicated, and it doesn't have to take alot of time, or money. If taught well, anyone can learn how to give a massage easily and in no time at all.

To learn more please read our how to massage article.

Benefits of massage therapy

noreply@blogger.com (Robert) — Mon, 12 Sep 2005 13:04:00 +0000

What are the benefits of massage?

The definition of massage is the scientific and systematic manipulation of soft tissue. Soft tissue in this case means muscles, skin, connective tissue (i.e., fascia), ligaments and tendons.

Massage therapy has been well studied and more importantly, time tested. And there are some extremely beneficial things massage has been shown to do:

1) Massage increases circulation. This is one of the most important benefits. Massage helps increase circulation to the tissue. Why is this helpful? Because, very simply, circulation brings oxygen and nutrients to the cells and also removes waste products from the cells. Improving circulation helps the whole body. Any stagnation or interference with that process can cause lack of optimal blood flow, swelling and pain. It is extremely common to see people with areas that are tight and tender. These areas are referred to as ischemic tissue, or areas lacking optimal blood flow. Massaging the tender areas typically can help reduce the pain by improving circulation to those areas. Massage therapy has been shown to significantly improve circulation overall.

2) Massage stimulates the lymph system. The lymph system is an instrumental part of our immune system. When get sick, sometimes the lymph glands get swollen. This is a sign that our body is battling the infection. But physical injuries can also cause swelling. This swelling is a natural healthy response. However over a sustained period of time, the swelling can cause a slower recovery time. Interestingly enough, the lymph system doesn’t have a pump. It moves via exercise and deep breathing, as well as direct touch, like massage or manual lymph drainage.

In one study, it was suggested that the optimal breathing ratio to help pump the lymph was 1 – 4 – 2 . Meaning inhale for a count of 1, hold for a count of 4 and exhale for a count of 2. So if you could inhale for a count 4, you’d hold for a count of 16 and exhale for a count of 8. However if you do this, make sure you don’t strain or struggle in the attempt.

Exercise also moves lymph. There is some evidence out there that rebounding on a mini trampoline is one of the best ways to stimulate the movement of lymph. Try rebounding for 3 to 10 minutes per day.

Manual lymph drainage is a form of massage that focuses entirely on moving lymph and helping people reduce swelling. It is a very gentle, rhythmic massage. Therapists who perform manual lymph drainage understand the flow of lymph and their routine is specifically designed to help move and drain extra lymph in the body.

There are many more benefits of massage and massage therapy that we will continue to explore in upcoming posts…

Improving the image of massage therapy

noreply@blogger.com (Robert) — Fri, 19 Aug 2005 13:22:00 +0000

Recently I set up an RSS feed with MyYahoo to get all the news concerning massage and massage therapy. Interestingly enough the majority of news was about massage ‘parlors’ and prostitution. And amazingly enough it wasn’t just an occasional story. There were numerous news stories from around the country.

And just when we thought we had reached the 21st century. I was under the naïve impression that massage parlors were a thing of the past. Apparently not. Even in our local phone book, there are still two sections for massage. One is for certified massage therapists and the other is for ‘escorts’. It’s amazing that this mentality is still going strong.

One of the first things professional and ethical massage therapists learn is that there is a significant difference between a healing touch and a sexual touch. And there is a different energy associated with those. Any certified or licensed therapist who has reached any level of competency knows and respects that difference.

Massage between a couple in the privacy of their own home has it's own healthy uses and place. But there is a HUGE line between that and professional massage therapy for the public. Massage therapy is and always has been non-sexual in nature.

Massage therapy is entirely concerned with the healing benefits of touch. Granted, it probably had some negative connotations early on, but as of 2005, there are now over one-hundred-thousand certified or licensed professional massage therapists who are making a sincere effort to provide a safe, non-sexual therapeutic environment for people to truly relax and heal.

It’s sad and unfortunate that the news is focused so much on the negative. And in spite of a few bad apples, the vast majority are ethical, up-standing and valued members of the healing community. It's also sad, but important to realize that because of those few bad seeds, it's a good idea to always check out the credentials and the reputation of the massage therapist before making an appointment. Safety first.

Now, with continued eduction for the public about the positive, valuable and much needed role massage therapy plays in our society, the image of massage therapy will further improve it's legitimate reach.

It is even hoped that there will be news stories about how individuals are improving their everyday lives by receiving the proven therapeutic benefits of massage. Or how massage therapy continues to gain in popularity and the statistics show more and more people are trying massage therapy now more than ever.

Communicating with your massage therapist

noreply@blogger.com (Robert) — Mon, 11 Jul 2005 20:57:00 +0000

It's interesting to see how many people are shy when it comes to telling the massage therapist very important things. So here's a list of some things to keep in mind and use your voice when you are receiving a massage.

Important things to communicate to the therapist:

1) If it hurts. - Frequently, people will just grin and bear the pain. Sometimes the therapist might not be able to tell that it's painful. So it's important to communicate that information to the therapist. The goal really isn't pain, occasionally it might be, but only temporarily and certainly not intolerable.

2) If you are uncomfortable being undraped - Most massage therapists, if they have been doing massage for a while, get totally anesthetized to nudity or partial nudity. For most therapists, it's just skin, fat or muscle tissue. So if you feel like you are exposed, it's up to you to communicate that to the therapist. If they are professional, then they will make sure you are draped and understand your concerns.

3) Temperature - Being cold on the table is not relaxing. Most massage therapists have blankets they can use to make sure are completely comfortable.

4) If you need to go to the bathroom - Again, because of our western-be-polite sort of society, people will hold having to go the bathroom. Believe me, massage therapists want you to go. And they will usually have a robe or some kind of way to make sure you can easily go to the bathroom and then come back to enjoy the rest of the massage.

5) If you don't want to chat - From time to time, therapists will chat with their clients during the massage, if you don't want to chat, that's totally ok, just let the therapist know. The massage therapist will understand.

Those are some of the major ones. Massage therapists are really there for you. It's your experience. So speak up, if something is bugging you, let them know. It's ok. It's also ok to let them know when they are doing something right as well.

Until next time....

How to pick a massage therapist

noreply@blogger.com (Robert) — Tue, 07 Jun 2005 16:34:00 +0000

As the saying goes, not all massage therapists are created equally. Some have more training than others, some have no credentials and others are just beginning (which can be great or not). In fact the laws vary tremendously from state to state as to what even constitutes a massage therapist. So it can be quite a daunting task choosing a therapist that you like.

There are now thousands and thousands of massage therapists, so the question becomes how do you know which one is right for you?

Unfortunately the only way to know for sure is to get a massage from them. But before you do, there are some general rules of thumb that can help you pick the best therapist (or at least weed out the ones who might not be right for you).

Depending on your goal, keep in mind there are essentially two types of massage. One is therapeutic and the other is a relaxing massage. The difference is that the therapeutic massage will often times only address a specific area and will frequently use deeper pressure. The reasons for visiting a massage therapist for therapeutic massage varies but usually is related to some sort of specific muscle injury or discomfort.

Relaxing massage is typically a whole body routine designed to free the body from stress and tension. Relaxing massage uses more flowing strokes and seeks to help the person relax overall. This type of massage is frequently found in spas, for example.

Both are great, but it depends on what you would like to achieve with the massage. Some people just want a relaxing massage and they end up getting a well-intentioned therapist who specializes in deep tissue therapeutic and if not communicated can become less than what you expected.

And because massage is such an intimate experience, it's a good idea to ask the therapist some questions on the phone before deciding to give them a try as your massage therapist.

Here are some questions to consider...

1) Are they certified/licensed to practice in your state?
Some states don't have licensing at the state level, but do at the local level. If you live in one of those states, ask them if and where they went to massage school.

2) How long have they been doing massage?
Obviously someone who has been doing massage for 17 years ought to know what they're doing. But don't discount recent massage graduates, they often times have more energy and are eager to build their practice.

3) What type of massage do they offer? What kind of pressure? Deep / light
If they say they offer deep pressure, it can sometimes be a little uncomfortable if you haven't had that many massages. Typically as you receive more massage, you can enjoyably tolerate more pressure.

4) Do they have a particular specialty?
If you want a nice relaxing massage and the person you go to is a Rolfer, then that's a huge mismatch. Rolfing is deep tissue fascial work. It can relaxing, but it can also be intense. If you need more info as to what specialties are out there, then check out our free body guide.

5) Do they charge by the hour or by the session?
Some therapists are very time oriented. A one hour massage means one hour from the time you enter the room (which includes getting undressed and on the table). Others charge by the session, so keep that in mind.

6) Do they use draping?
Some states don't require draping. Personally, I think massage therapists should drape. This means using a top sheet to cover you, and often a couple towels for the genitals and breasts. That way you won't feel exposed at any time during the massage and you'll always be covered where it counts. It's tough to relax when you feel uncomfortable. Draping is a way to help the client feel more relaxed.

7) Do they accept tips?
Some therapists don't accept tips, but the majority do. Massage is hard work and it's a service, so if they do a great job, consider tipping. For most therapists, it's nice to receive a tip, but certainly not expected.

8) Do they do outcalls? Is there an additional charge?
Consider having a therapist come to your home. That way you won't have to drive anywhere and you can just relax. But if you do this, there is frequently an additional charge to cover the massage therapists time and effort. What many people do is they will try a therapist first at the massage therapist's office, then if they like them, they'll have them come to their house, if possible.

9) If it's a spa, can you choose a male or female therapist?
If you're not comfortable with a therapist of the opposite or same sex, then when at a spa, let them know in advance. They should be able to accommodate you.

10) If it's therapeutic, do they have experience with your particular problem?
If the therapist has been around long enough, they will have encountered most musculoskeletal issues, and since it's your time and money you should make sure.

Now, just these questions alone can help alleviate any kind of confusion as to your choice in picking a massage therapist. Carefully listen to the responses, a good therapist, in my opinion, will take their time and talk to you. You can tell a lot about them during that conversation if you keep your ears open.

Remember, the goal is to choose a massage therapist you can trust so you can let go and really relax. It is often worth the time to shop around a bit, til you find the right one. Ask your friends (although your friends have a different body and might like someone different than you), check out the internet, the yellow pages, and the local health food stores. Often times chiropractors have massage therapists working with them.

It might take a little more time to be picky, but it's your body and once you find a therapist who you like, it will be well worth it in the long run.

Coming up in a future article...Communicating with your therapist.

3 Keys For A Better Massage

noreply@blogger.com (Robert) — Tue, 31 May 2005 12:45:00 +0000

When giving a massage, there are some basic ideas to keep in mind. We'll cover 3 of them here to think about when giving an overall relaxing massage. They are...Speed, Pressure, and Consistency. While these 3 aspects of massage are critical, it's important to note that every body seems to like a different massage. So the most important key is to pay attention to whom your massaging and allow them to be your ultimate guide. After all, it's their body.

Speed
How fast or slow you massage makes a difference. Fast strokes are often used in conjunction with shorter strokes. A fast, rapid, quick stroke is often more appropriate for something like a sports massage. It has a tendency to be more stimulating.

The slower massage techniques are more relaxing and tend to be used with the long sweeping strokes. The slower strokes allow you to feel more of the tissue as it's relaxing. Slower strokes also give the body time to relax the muscles and specifically the fascia (connective tissue that holds everything together). There is more control when using the slower, longer strokes.

Often times no speed is required, just holding. Frequently the best releases (a time when the muscles tissue completely relaxes) is when there is no motion. Just by temporarily pausing your massage and holding, you can simply allow an area to soften on its own regard. This 'wait and hold' massage technique is an extremely powerful technique which is used in the more advanced body therapies, like craniosacral or myofascial release.

Pressure
How much pressure you use depends on when, where and whom you are with. As far as when, areas like endangerment sites (areas which should be avoided or used only with a very light stroke) are obviously areas where you want to use little to no pressure. The bigger muscles and the deeper muscles can generally handle more deeper pressure.

But it's important when massaging to NOT cause pain when you are massaging. Pain is a signal that you're too deep or that you're moving too fast. This is counter productive because it causes the body to tighten up and protect itself. Which really isn't the goal of massage. When the person is grabbing a hold of the table with white knuckles, or wincing or screaming in pain, then those are dramatic signs that let you know it's WAY too much. Go lighter and gradually use more pressure noticing the result. Let the body be the guide, it will show you.

Pressure is a very individual thing. Some people love deep pressure, others like the gentle light massages. Keep an eye on whom you're massaging and they'll let you know either verbally or non-verbally what the right amount of pressure is.

Consistency
Consistency is ultimately what will build trust. If the person receiving the massage knows your style and knows there aren't any surprises then they'll have a tendency to relax more. You can learn how to lull the body into relaxing by being consistent.

Things like working both sides of the body the same way or using similar pressure throughout the massage, or if you are using a fast stroke, then follow it up with a smoothing slower stroke consistently.

For example, let's say you are giving a nice long slow sweeping stoke and then suddenly decide to use an elbow in a tender spot. And you go in too deep, real fast. That lack of consistency can cause an unpredictable massage. The goal is to coax the body into relaxing. If you are going to suddenly switch tempo or depth, then just let the person know ahead of time.

By the way, most people relax much more on their second massage with the same person, because they know what to expect. There aren't any surprises.

Consistency in a massage also means consistent rhythm, consistent pressure and consistent communication. In the future we'll do a whole article just on communication during a massage. The body has it's own language.

There are other components to a great massage, like intent, communication, trust, sensitivity, watching for body signals, etc. All of these are things that simply take time to learn and master, but will be well worth it in the long run.

So vary and play around with speed, pressure and consistency and notice the results. If you'd like to learn more, try our online massage lessons.

Massage Therapy & Aromatherapy

noreply@blogger.com (Robert) — Thu, 26 May 2005 12:41:00 +0000

Although massage therapy is primarily designed to be an enjoyable kinesthetic and tactile experience (i.e. touch), other senses can be opened to soothe the savage beast (or at least a stressed out one).

One of the other primary senses which is extremely sensitive and can be easily calmed with the right tools is smell. Smell can elicit powerful responses, particularly through emotions and remembering memories associated with that smell.

In massage therapy, Aromatherapy using essential oils are often employed. Either put into a diffuser to allow the whole room to smell nice or placed directly in the massage oil and applied topically. If it is placed in a massage oil, the massage oil is called the carrier oil. Since essential oils are so strong, typically only a few drops are needed. Sometimes, candles or incense which contain the essential oils are also used.

By far, the most popular essential oil used is Lavender. Other popular ones include Rose oil, Chammomile, and Geranium among others.

It's easy to start using essential oils, most are offered by your local health food store. But with essential oils you really do get what you pay for. Quality and purity counts when picking essential oils.

When it comes to essential oils, a little goes a long way. You will definitely need to do your research first, some oils are not supposed to be placed on your skin even when diluted.

Case in point, I have a friend who put bergamot on her skin and was outside for a prolonged period of time. And it actually created a 3rd degree burn. She never noticed it, since it was a 3rd degree, there was no pain. However, it is now discolored and looks to have left a scar.

So be careful. Do your homework. There are alot of terrific aromatherapy sites and books out there. Heed the warnings, use the oils and you'll begin to experience the powerful and healing results of essential oils and aromatherapy during a massage.

Massage Therapy - More than just a luxury...

noreply@blogger.com (Robert) — Wed, 25 May 2005 13:17:00 +0000

In a recent survey by the AMTA (American Massage Therapy Association, 2003), sixty-nine percent of the people polled viewed massage as more than just a luxury.

With all the stress and tension people go through, it's no wonder. As the popularity of massage increases, more and more people are finding out the immense value massage has to offer. Relaxation, stress reduction and pain relief were the major reasons people received massage.

Still though, according to the surveys, approximately two-thirds or 66% of the population still hasn't had a professional massage in the United States. That's alot of people. Are you by chance one of them?

Coming up next time we'll go over how to choose a therapist that's right for you...

No proof that surgery is better than rehab for back pain

noreply@blogger.com (Robert) — Wed, 25 May 2005 00:27:00 +0000

In the May 23, 2005 edition of the British Medical Journal, researchers found no clear evidence that back surgery, specifically spinal fusion, was better than rehabilitation.

As someone who has had back surgery, I can't personally recommend back surgery. There are definitely other alternatives out there. Massage and CranioSacral are two of the ones I would try if I had to do it all over again. At the time I was unaware of all of my options. And when people are in serious pain, they tend to get desperate and make rash decisions.

It should be noted that if you go to a surgeon, chances are good they will want to do surgery. The problem with that is that surgery is permanent. When they take out a disc, it's not going to grow back. And what happens 10 years later when you find out you might just need that disc. So a good surgeon, in my opinion, will tell you that surgery should be your very last option, not your first.

There are some other resources you may want to research on your own. Somatics and The Egoscue Method are a couple other ones worth mentioning.

We have a FREE GUIDE TO BODY THERAPIES if you're interested in more information.

Learn Massage Online

noreply@blogger.com (Robert) — Tue, 24 May 2005 23:37:00 +0000

We recently created an online massage workshop to help people learn how to give massage. The workshop consists of 15 online massage videos, basic anatomy, massage safety, tips from the pros, and much more.

If you ever wanted to learn how to give a great massage, then this resource was created just for you. Check it out...

Click How to massage for more.

We also have a free relaxation e-course on the same site for other ways to learn how to relax and let go of stress.

Massage Therapy

noreply@blogger.com (Robert) — Tue, 24 May 2005 18:19:00 +0000

Welcome to the Massage Therapy Online Blog. This blog is all about massage and the language of touch.

My name is Robert Sigler and I am a certified Massage Therapist by the Nursing Board of Virginia. I was nationally certified back in 1999. I am currently an instructor at the world renowned Cayce / Reilly School of Massotherapy.

The school is famous because of the late great Edgar Cayce, but also because of Dr. Reilly. Dr. Reilly was Bob Hope's massage therapist. And Bob Hope only had Reilly trained therapists massage him. Coincidentally, it is said that Bob Hope got a massage daily and lived to be over a 100 years old.

Over time we will cover different aspects of massage, from training to modalities to rants and raves about the world of massage. I'll try to include the latest news and updates as much as possible.

Hope you enjoy it and find it benefical...

Thanks,
Robert Sigler, C.M.T.