Modern life can be stressful, so what better way to relax than to visit a spa for a massage treatment. Whether you have only a few hours or several days, take some time off work and get a massage to benefit your health.

Types of Spas

There are several different types of spas to best suit your needs. Here are several common types to guide you in your choice.

Day Spas

Sometimes, you need a break from the stress of your day and want to treat yourself to something special. Day spas are perfect for these occasions and offer a variety of massage services to pamper you. If you have the time, massage appointments are usually easier to get during the week and are sometimes offered at lower rates. Another advantage to Day Spas is possibly finding an excellent massage therapist that you can visit regularly. Regular massage treatments can lead to a healthier life.

 

Medical Spas

Medical spas differ from traditional spas by offering the services of health care professionals to provide more holistic health services. Alternative medicine practitioners, such as acupuncturists, naturopathic doctors, chiropractors, or integrative medicine doctors, will be available to provide a wellness program to improve your health. Acupuncture facial rejuvenation or other natural cosmetic procedures may be offered in conjunction with a variety of massage treatments.

Spa Resorts

Spa resorts can be an excellent way to spend your vacation. These establishments commonly offer high-end treatments in conjunction with outdoor activities to create a fulfilling and relaxing experience. Embracing several days of treatments can make profound changes in your mind and body, renewing your health. Spa vacations are often all-inclusion, providing fitness activities, healthy dining, and top-quality spa treatments.more...

Relaxation techniques are a great way to help your quest for stress management. Relaxation is not just about peace of mind or enjoying a hobby. Relaxation is a process that decreases the wear and tear of life's challenges on your mind and body.

Whether you have a lot of stress in your life or you have got it under control, you can benefit from learning relaxation techniques. Learning basic relaxation techniques is not hard. Explore these simple relaxation techniques to get you started on de-stressing your life and improving your health.

The benefits of relaxation techniques

With so many things to do, relaxation techniques may take a back seat in your life. But that means you may miss out on the health benefits of relaxation.

Practicing relaxation techniques can improve how you physically respond to stress by:

* Slowing your heart rate
* Lowering blood pressure
* Slowing your breathing rate
* Reducing the need for oxygen
* Increasing blood flow to major muscles
* Reducing muscle tension
You may also gain these overall health and lifestyle benefits from relaxation techniques:
* Fewer physical symptoms, such as headaches and back pain
* Fewer emotional responses, such as anger and frustration
* More energy
* Improved concentration
* Greater ability to handle problems
* More efficiency in daily activities

Types of relaxation techniques
Although health professionals such as complementary and alternative medicine practitioners, doctors and psychotherapists can teach relaxation techniques, you can also learn some on your own. Relaxation techniques usually involve refocusing your attention to something calming and increasing awareness of your body. It does not matter which technique you choose. What matters is that you try to practice relaxation regularly.

There are several main types of relaxation techniques, including:
Autogenic relaxation: Autogenic means something that comes from within you. In this technique, you use both visual imagery and body awareness to reduce stress. You repeat words or suggestions in your mind to help you relax and reduce muscle tension. You may imagine a peaceful place and then focus on controlled, relaxing breathing, slowing your heart rate, or different physical sensations, such as relaxing each arm or leg one by one.

Progressive muscle relaxation: In this technique, you focus on slowly tensing and then relaxing each muscle group. This helps you focus on the difference between muscle tension and relaxation, and you become more aware of physical sensations. You may choose to start by tensing and relaxing the muscles in your toes and progressively working your way up to your neck and head. Tense your muscles for at least five seconds and then relax for 30 seconds, and repeat.

Visualisation: In this technique, you form mental images to take a visual journey to a peaceful, calming place or situation. Try to use as many senses as you can, including smells, sights, sounds and textures. If you imagine relaxing at the ocean, for instance, think about the warmth of the sun, the sound of crashing waves, the feel of the grains of sand and the smell of salt water. You may want to close your eyes, sit in a quiet spot and loosen any tight clothing.

Other relaxation techniques include those you may be more familiar with, such as yoga, Tai chi, music, exercise, meditation, hypnosis, massage.

Relaxation techniques take practice
As you learn relaxation techniques, you will become more aware of muscle tension and other physical sensations of stress. Once you know what the stress response feels like, you can make a conscious effort to practice a relaxation technique the moment your muscles start to tense. This can prevent stress from spiraling out of control.

Remember that relaxation techniques are skills. And as with any skill, your ability to relax improves with practice. Be patient with yourself. Stay motivated to reduce the negative impact of stress on your body and to experience a greater sense of calm in your life.

And bear in mind that some people, especially those with significant psychological problems and a history of abuse, may experience feelings of emotional discomfort during relaxation exercises. Although this is rare, if you experience emotional discomfort during relaxation exercises, stop what you are doing and consider talking to your health care professional.

Source: www.thedailystar.net

Summer shoes can lead to heel pain and foot cramps, but a little pampering can help.

Reviving your feet

Pretty summer shoes have their ugly side: heel pain and foot cramps.

But in a recent survey by the American Podiatric Medical Association, 51 percent of women said they were willing to wear those cute strappy sandals and slides no matter how much the shoes may hurt.

Fortunately for these hardy soles, simple remedies, such as massage and strengthening exercises, can give feet sweet relief.

 

Massage
 
How it helps: "Like a deep-tissue massage anywhere on the body, kneading the feet will help relieve cramps, knotting, and tightness," explains podiatrist Marlene Reid.

Massage improves circulation and can alleviate heel pain caused by a tense or inflamed plantar fascia, the band of connective tissue that runs along the bottom of the foot to the heel. Real Simple: Summer skin care tips

 

How to do it:

• Coat your palms with a thin layer of lotion or balm infused with a circulation-boosting ingredient, such as peppermint, pine oil, camphor, or rosemary.

• Using long stroking motions, slowly massage the sole of one foot with both thumbs, starting behind the toes and moving toward the heel. Apply extra pressure along the arch and at the ball of the foot, two places that are especially prone to tightness.

• Grip the foot with both hands and gently twist your hands from side to side as if you're wringing a towel. "This may help remove the pain that can develop after hours of standing," says spa owner Barbara Close.

• End the massage by gently pulling and releasing each toe. Repeat on the other foot.

Real Simple product picks: L'Occitane Shea Butter Foot Cream, $25, Jurlique Uplifting Foot and Leg Lotion, $35

Strengthening exercises

How they help: "Oftentimes people have pain in their feet and ankles because they don't have sufficient coordination and strength in their feet," says exercise physiologist Mike Siemens.

But doing simple strengthening exercises every day, he says, can help enhance the neurological pathways between the brain and the muscles, reducing your likelihood of developing foot and ankle troubles. That means less pain in your arches and legs, too.

 

How to do it:

• You'll need a small towel and a wooden or tile floor. Stand barefoot on the floor and place the towel in front of you, with its edge underneath your toes.

• Scrunch up your toes to grip the towel, pulling it toward you, then release; repeat until most of the towel is bunched up under your toes.

• Then reverse the motion to push the towel away from you. "This provides excellent strengthening for the muscles on the underside of the foot, particularly those in the arch," says Siemens.

• Repeat the entire exercise. As your feet get stronger, you should be able to complete the sequence three or four times.

• Rolling your bare foot over a golf or tennis ball can also stretch and strengthen foot muscles while relieving tension. Real Simple: The best anti-aging treatments

 

Pampering your feet

Once you've worked out all the kinks, raise the relaxation level -- and get your feet looking fit for flip-flops -- with foot soaks, scrubs, and creams. Not only do they feel luxurious but their moisturizing and exfoliating ingredients can also help keep your feet healthy. Choose the right products by determining exactly what you need.

Soaks to soothe -- Feet swell throughout the day. To bring down the puffiness, Close recommends soaking feet in a mixture of water, a dozen ice cubes, six drops of tea-tree oil, and rosemary leaves (or use a store-bought tea tree--oil soak).

Submerge one foot for 30 seconds, remove from water, then rub vigorously with a towel. Repeat with the other foot, and keep soaking until the swelling subsides.

Real Simple product picks: Desert Essence Tea Tree Oil, $19.50, Earth Therapeutics Tea Tree Oil Foot Soak, $8

Soaks to smooth -- While all soaks help soften skin, certain ones also exfoliate dead skin cells, making feet smoother. "Both milk and fruit juices contain natural acids that gently dissolve dry, rough patches," says spa owner Donna Perillo. Using a soak that contains these ingredients can heighten the silkening effect.

Real Simple product picks: H2O+ Buttermilk Bath Soak, $20, Freeman Barefoot Softening Foot Soak, $4

Scrubs to soften -- Frequent exfoliating is not just about looking good. "Thickly callused skin can crack, leading to pain and infections," explains Reid.

Pumice-based pastes can swiftly eliminate scaly skin, keeping feet soft for longer. If you prefer scrubs, go for a salt scrub with added oils to help hydrate. Avoid razors and callus scrapers, which can break the skin and cause infection. And be sure to slough gently: Calluses actually protect the feet, so you don't want to strip them away entirely.

Real Simple product picks: Olay Thermal Pedicure Foot Treatment, $9, Kerasal Exfoliating Pumice-Paste, $6 Real Simple: Summer skin survival guide

Creams to hydrate -- "Foot creams are generally thicker and more viscous than body formulas because they're supposed to deliver more moisture," says cosmetics chemist Jim Hammer. The best ones hydrate and soften with petrolatum, glycerin, hyaluronic acid, and shea butter, so make sure one of these is at the top of the ingredient list.

Real Simple product picks: Neutrogena Cracked Heel Moisturizing Treatment, $6.50, ShiKai Borage Dry Skin Therapy, $10.50

Creams to remedy roughness -- If thick, scaly calluses are a persistent problem, podiatrist Jane Andersen recommends using a foot cream that contains exfoliating lactic acid, which dissolves dry patches while it hydrates. Lotions containing urea can also break down calluses and smooth hardened heels.

The room smells of blended coconut and vanilla. A quiet resonant clack is the only clue that Holly Dillenburg massages with two stones. They glide like silk over the skin – feeling neither like fingers nor rocks – but hot pressure that seeps into the body. Called “Stone Silence,” the massage is a signature luxury treatment at The Spa at Whitefish Lake. “The stones are an extension of tools that are our hands and hearts,” says the licensed massage therapist of this unique brand of wellness care. “It’s the equivalent of three deep tissue massages.”

One of only two spas in the U.S. offering Stone Silence, The Spa at Whitefish Lake targets more than tourists for its treatments. Its location in The Lodge at Whitefish Lake’s ground level poises it to be part of the hotel’s summer and winter visitor experience. But its seven-day-a-week, year-round operation speaks otherwise. “People think we’re just servicing the hotel, but we’re here for the locals as well,” says spa director Stacey Averill. That’s not just a lip service claim and a warm welcome; the spa gives discounts who locals to avail themselves of monthly or weekly treatments.

Their Montana Membership Club cuts prices for locals akin to a frequent skier card. Running for a minimum of three months, membership garners 20 percent off all services, personal training, gift certificates, products, hotel rooms, and the Boat Club Restaurant. “Consistency is key,” says Averill, citing both mental and physical health benefits to continual wellness care. “We have so much stress in our lives and run at such a high pace that relaxation is good.” With no initiation fee, the $20 per month membership is flexible. “You can quit and sign up again anytime,” she adds. The spa also runs coupon specials. One right now offers two treatments, with the second one at half price.

Stone Silence, a 90-minute riverstone massage, is the most comprehensive of three signature treatments using stones from the Flathead River and organic Balinese lotions and oils from Jamu, a Whitefish-based company. The $175 service combines massage, detoxifying aromatherapy, and exfoliation. The stones, heated in water to 140 degrees, have high iron content that holds the warmth. Because of the heat, Stone Silence is not good for pregnant women, diabetics, or those with high blood pressure.

Dillenburg starts by placing a few stones, varying from fat quarters between the toes to dessert plate sizes on chakra points. She adds one cold marble bar at the nape of the neck to regulate body temperature. After rubbing on oil, she alternates massaging with heated stones and chilled marble. The effect, scented with pure coconut and vanilla, sends you from basking on a Balinese beach with the sounds of trickling water to tingling like a roll in snow after a hot tub or sauna.

After one hour of hot stones, Dillenburg switches to massaging with kalapa – in Bali, a moisturizing exfoliation scrub made from rice flour and small bits of risotto-like matter. A hot shower follows, then a lotion and oil mini-massage. “There’s such a wonderful energy in this centuries-old stone technique,” says Dillenburg. “We just modernize it into the spa setting.” more...

Ayurvedic massage techniques provide respite, circulation and elimination of toxins. If implemented as a daily practice, Ayurvedic massage techniques can even help to revitalize the body.

In ancient times, Ayurvedic clinics did not frequently offer massage, as everybody gave and received it. Only when patients needed a particular treatment, they were referred to massage specialists that used the suitable Ayurvedic massage techniques.

Today in India, massagers roam the public places in great number and give head and body a go for a few chunks of rupees. Although they often have little knowledge of Ayurveda but they do know how to work with muscles, joints and bones. Many have received training based on the massage developed by wrestlers and body builders.

Ayurvedic doctors who were also wrestlers developed a special system of their own that contained the knowledge of the Ayurvedic as well as Unani (Greek) systems of medicine. These conventional Indian massage techniques are based on the Ayurvedic humors (vata, pitta and kapha) and marmas (pressure points like in reflexology). They also comprise Muslim massage techniques with pressure points called Muqame Makhsoos.

Specific Ayurvedic massage techniques have also been developed for massage therapy, used in certain therapeutic treatments like in panchakarma (means five techniques). These massage techniques should only be practiced in a particular diseased condition under supervision of a well qualified Ayurvedic doctor or vaidya.

In rural areas, weekly massage is still a family scene. People in India love it - they know that like a best friend it brings joy and relaxation to the body. The popular image of Lord Vishnu reclining on a serpent (Sesh-naag) and receiving foot massage from his consort Goddess Lakshmi shows it as a preferred pastime even of the gods.

Massage techniques can also help to uphold a loving relationship between husband and wife. After this kind of calming relaxation, it is easier to share and give love. Before marriage it is one of the few ceremonial massages in the Hindu ritual that is compulsory even today. Urban Beauty Massage is also very popular.

It is also often used to help the aged and special techniques have been developed for young and nursing mothers as well as babies. Babies are usually massaged with a small dough ball dipped in vegetable oil.

Source: American Chronicle

Our body needs to relax after a hard day's work and one way to do is to have a massage. The act is a therapy wherein the muscles and soft tissues of the body are being stimulated to improve health and well-being. For centuries, this has been practiced as a healing therapy. It helps relieve muscle tension, reduce stress, and evoke feelings of calmness. Although massage affects the body as a whole, it particularly influences the activity of the musculoskeletal, circulatory, lymphatic, and nervous systems.

That is why spas are sprouting in many parts of the country. Even so in Iloilo City. One of them is Body and Sole, located in General Luna Street. Body and Sole, since its opening has been enjoying a growing clientele who are very satisfied with the company's services.

Owned by Armand Regalado, managed by John Lañosa and opened last May 5, 2007, Body and Sole offers foot spa, deep cleansing facial with laser, foot relax with back massage, body massage, facial scrub and body scrub with massage. Soon, they will offer manicure and pedicure and put up a sauna.

Those who visit the center will be greeted with the soothing smell of peppermint eucalyptus and very clean surroundings. "We also focus on cleanliness outside and inside the spa," Regalado said. He was referring not only to the spa itself but the people who revolve their lives around it. "Our staff is not into vices," he said.

Regalado boasts of the importance that they give on the comfort of the client. "Added to that, we are an aggressive team." more...