Massage Therapy for the Elderly

Massage therapy is used to alleviate body pain and joint aches for elderly citizens. It systematically manipulates the different soft tissues of the body including the muscles, organs and tendons. Geriatric massage is specifically designed for senior citizens, involving tender, gentle strokes suitable for an aging body. Senior's massage targets mainly the hands and legs, where majority of the pain is located, and requires very little movement from the elderly.

Geriatric massages include stimulating, loving movements such as rubbing, tapping, rolling, pressing, kneading and feather touch. The main purpose of a massage is to relax each and every part of the body, which in turn alleviates the pain. Massage therapy has several benefits, and no side effects. Massage significantly reduces anxiety and lowers stress-generating hormones. It can diminish stiffness of the body, and eliminate fatigue, depression and insomnia. Frequent massage can increase immunity, especially for HIV patients, and rid the body of toxic waste. Toxic substances, such as lactic and uric acid present within the muscles, are released and ejected from the body. Massage therapy increases blood circulation by warming up the body using repetitive strokes.

For FREE classes / TRIAL lessons / FREE cd-vcd's
(+63 2) 638-8446 * (+63) 917-7121100 * www.bodyoptions.net

            

The Power of Touch

The Power of Touch

Since ancient times, people have understood that touch has profound physical and emotional effects. Premature babies thrive when they have frequent skin-to-skin contact with their parents. A famous Chinese sage once said that the key to long life is a daily massage. Being close to loved ones relieves stress and enforces positive feelings. It makes sense, then, that massaging your partner is the perfect way to keep your romantic relationship strong.

Massage oils are an indispensable part of a good massage for several reasons. The most obvious of these is that they reduce friction, allowing the recipient to have a more enjoyable experience. Also, the oils are absorbed by the skin along with any beneficial nutrients they contain. While massaging improves circulation and revives the skin from the inside, the oil moisturizes it from without. Certain fragrances are believed to promote feelings of passion, which makes them ideal ingredients in a massage oil. In short, a combination of physical and mental benefits makes massage oil the perfect way to enhance even the coldest love life.

For FREE classes / TRIAL lessons / FREE cd-vcd's
(+63 2) 638-8446 * (+63) 917-7121100 * www.bodyoptions.net
.

   

Special Note on Massage for Athletes

Sports massage is the technique of kneading and manipulating soft tissue in order to help prevent sports injuries, treat injuries already incurred and improve performance. As participation in sports becomes more popular at all ages, and performances improve from year to year, more is demanded of the athlete. This can mean that performances which were seen as outstanding twenty years ago are now commonplace. Mentally and physically, psychologically and emotionally, athletes are pushing themselves to deliver more and more, and they are looking for innovative and effective ways to improve their performances. Regular sports massage is part of the training program of all top sports people and its increased availability in clinics and health centers is now making it accessible for everyone.

For FREE classes / TRIAL lessons / FREE cd-vcd's
(+63 2) 638-8446 * (+63) 917-7121100 * www.bodyoptions.net
     

Prenatal Massage Therapy

Prenatal Massage Therapy provides a healthy attitude and treatment to help a mother along through all her pregnancy stages. Her comfort, care and relaxation are top priority. A pregnancy massage is different from a traditional Swedish Massage, as it involves lighter, shorter movements of the abdomen, lower back and sacral areas, especially in the first trimester. Deep massage or pressure is never used in these areas to ensure baby’s comfort and safety.
 

The therapeutic benefits of a professional pregnancy massage administered by a Registered Massage Therapist include increasing relaxation and circulation while promoting good health, increasing flexibility and energy level by day while also soothing and relaxing mom’s sore, expanding muscles for a better night’s sleep.

A pregnancy massage also promotes increased good health, self healing, and helps to reduce water retention, ease physical stress due to mom's changing body as well as alleviate physiological stress that comes along with the stresses of daily life.

For FREE classes / TRIAL lessons / FREE cd-vcd's, register now at http://www.bodyoptions.net/ *(+632) 519-6192 * (+63) 919-5664440 * (+63) 916-3410000 and look for Maricel / Jason..

 

Massage for Toddlers

Massage is known for its healing and balancing powers. It can be beneficial for everyone - from very young to very old. Hippocrates, regarded as the father of modern medicine, said in the fourth century BC, "The way to health is to have an aromatic bath and scented massage every day." Not many of us can afford to go for a massage every day (or even every month), but to give your child a regular massage costs nothing and can be immensely enjoyable for both of you. This article focuses primarily on massage for toddlers (for the purpose of this article, children from one to four years old).


Benefits:

Relaxation - Toddlers' lives can be very frustrating because they want to do more than their skills allow. Massage can be helpful in easing their stress and helping them (and you!) unwind after a busy-busy-busy day.

Bonding - Toddlers can be extremely demanding. Massage can help restore harmony between parent and child and strengthen their mutual bond. It allows focused attention on your little one - real quality time.

Stimulation - Massage aids digestion, stimulates the nervous and immune systems, promotes blood circulation and improves suppleness and skin texture.

Relief - Massage can help promote regular sleep patterns, and ease common complaints such as tummy ache, constipation, and growing pains.

For FREE classes / TRIAL lessons / FREE cd-vcd's

                              (+63 2) 638-8446 * (+63) 917-7121100 * www.bodyoptions.net

           

Massage for Obesity

There are physiological considerations when treating obese persons. Large people are often in constant, chronic pain; their joints ache, their muscles are fatigued. They are used to ignoring their body and its pain - they want to fit in, be 'normal' and often under-report discomfort because they don't know its O.K. to say that they are in pain. They are strong and have normal flexibility but may have trouble reaching their full range-of-motion (ROM) unassisted. Large people benefit from mobility work for their joints and muscles.

Many obese people suffer from sleep apnea, asthma and other breathing problems. Many of them are unable to lay on their back or belly for extended periods of time. If you can't breathe - you can't relax!

The benefits of massage for the obese include: reducing chronic pain, inflammation and swelling; improving mobility and circulation. Massage can help increase the amount of exercise you're getting by helping your body recover from exercise faster. It can reduce physical and emotional stress and improve sleep.

For FREE classes / TRIAL lessons / FREE cd-vcd's
(+63 2) 638-8446 * (+63) 917-7121100 * www.bodyoptions.net
.

            

Why Get a Massage?

Why get massage? Massage therapists have a ‘whole body’ perspective when approaching your concerns. Due to the interconnected nature of our bodies, symptoms may not appear to correlate directly with the best course of action.
For instance, working on your calves may provide relief for pain experienced in the back and neck.

It is indeed, with this knowledge and experience that therapists differ themselves from the others, addressing the cause of pain rather than merely treating the symptom. In addition to working on your muscles and tissues, therapists may provide direction with stretches and basic strengthening exercises, to assist in ensuring you are on the road to recovery and well-being.

For FREE classes / TRIAL lessons / FREE cd-vcd's
(+63 2) 638-8446 * (+63) 917-7121100 * www.bodyoptions.net
    

Self Massage of the Hands

Self Massage of the Hands

1. Stroke the back of your hand, pushing firmly up toward the wrist and gliding back gently. Then squeeze the hand all over, pressing it between your palm and your fingers.

2. Squeeze each finger and make circular pressures over the joints with your thumb. Then hold the finger at its base and pull it gently to stretch it, sliding your grip up the finger and off the tip.

3. Stroke between the tendons on the back of the hand with your thumb. Stroke in the furrow to the wrists, doing four strokes in each furrow.

4. Turn your hand over and support the back with your fingers. Do firm circular and static pressures with your thumb, working all over the palm and around the wrist.

5. Finish the massage by stroking the palm of your hand from the fingers to the wrist. Push into it with the heel of your other hand, then glide gently back and repeat.

For FREE classes / TRIAL lessons / FREE cd-vcd's
(+63 2) 638-8446 * (+63) 917-7121100 * www.bodyoptions.net

Self Massage of the Feet

Self Massage of the Feet

1. Put one hand on the top of your foot and the other under the sole. Stroke smoothly from your toes to your ankles. Glide your hands back to your toes and repeat.

2. Support your foot with one hand and work on each toe individually. Squeeze each toe firmly, and gently stretch with a gentle pull.

3. With one thumb on top of the other, do a line of firm pressures down the center of the sole and lines on either side. Then, with one thumb, do circular pressures on the arch and ball.

4. Support your foot with one hand and make the other into a loose fist. Do knuckling movements all over the sole by rippling your fingers around in small circular movements.

5. Still holding your foot with one hand, hack the sole with your other hand. Flick your hand away the moment you touch the foot, so that the effect is light and springy.

6. Stroke around the ankle with your fingertips, as you stroke up toward the leg and gently as you glide back. Finish by stroking the foot as you did at the beginning.

For FREE classes / TRIAL lessons / FREE cd-vcd's
(+63 2) 638-8446 * (+63) 917-7121100 * www.bodyoptions.net

Online / Long Distance Learning in Massage Therapy

There are many different types of strokes that can be used when giving a massage. Some of them are gentle finger tip touches and they work all they way down the line to a deep tissue massage. These strokes can vary in their speed and pressure and using a combination of them can make for the most effective massage. To be effective, it is important to remember to be rhythmic in your movements and gradually build up speed and pressure as you go along. Here are a few more tips to mastering this skill.

Basic Pointers
1. A rule of thumb when giving a massage is to start with strokes going in the direction of the heart. These strokes should be firm and then the pressure should let up on the return stroke.
2. Depending on the goals of the massage you are giving, the intensity of the strokes is going to be very different. The goal of some people is to relax, while others need massage to simulate or loosen muscles. Some are also given to stimulate blood flow.
3. The person receiving the massage should not feel like there is a herky, jerky type of routine going on. They should feel the strokes as one rhythmic, fluid series.
The best massage position is one that uses your entire body. Many people think they have to rely strictly on their arms and shoulders to do the work. You want to use the movement of your entire body to get behind the strokes and do your best work.

For FREE classes / TRIAL lessons / FREE cd-vcd's
(+63 2) 638-8446 * (+63) 917-7121100 * www.bodyoptions.net

Power of Reflexology

What is Reflexology?

Reflexology is a simple, non-invasive method to help balance the body. It has been described as a natural therapy that requires the application of a specific type of pressure on particular areas of the feet. It is based on the principle that there are reflexes in the feet which correspond to every part of the body.

Pain Relief and Foot Reflexes

You can notice profound relaxation and pain relief through the simple application of applying pressure to certain reflexes in the foot. Anything from stress, headaches to back pain or sinus congestion can be relieved by this technique. There are several reflexes around the toes that relate to the nasal and sinus area of the head. To relieve sinus congestion, for example, several reflexes around the toes are manipulated in order to drain the sinus passages and to relieve the pressure in your ears.

For FREE classes / TRIAL lessons / FREE cd-vcd's
(+63 2) 638-8446 * (+63) 917-7121100 * www.bodyoptions.net