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First of all, there are the short term effects. If you recall the last time that you had a good foot massage you will probably remember that it is one of the most relaxing experiences that you can enjoy. When you are getting a massage you can understand how foot massage therapy would it affect the rest of the body as you immediately start to feel better all over. Regarding things that happen over the long term, there have been studies that have shown that heart patients will show improved recovery times after they have received regular foot massage therapy. That may be in part because they are generally more relaxed. It may also have something to do with the fact that whenever you massage the body...

Dog massage therapy has been used since time immemorial both as a way of relaxing and treating people. A massage is well known for its great benefits in getting rid of stress. However, when it comes to therapeutic dog massage, many people take it for granted. Let us first of all look at how people benefit from a massage so that we can have a good platform for comparison with therapeutic massage. Basically, a massage involves the manipulation of body joints and muscles in deliberate motions. This helps in removing tension and stress from the muscles, bringing relaxation to the entire body. It also gets rid of stiffness, thereby enhancing elasticity. A massage does not only relax the body but also the...

There are a number of physiological and psychological reflexology benefits. Reflexology techniques are conducted by applying pressure physically to the hands, as well as the feet. This is accomplished by using finger, thumb, and various types of hand methods. It is believed that these methods should be done without the use of supplements such as lotions, creams, and oils. Throughout history, it has been believed that these techniques can create a specific change in the mind and/or the body of an individual when special applications are used to apply these applications. Here, you will be introduced to the physiological and psychological reflexology benefits. Physiological Reflexology Benefits: One of...

No matter how much the beauty and magic of Hawaii can relax or rejuvenate some people, mostly tourists and foreigners, there really are some ailments that no amount of relaxation or stunning surroundings can cure. This is where natural healing methods, such as shiatsu massages come in. Sure, people with headaches, arthritis, high blood pressure, and even insomnia can purchase medicine that would help cure those illnesses. But medicine sometimes does not work, has side effects, or are costly. Shiatsu massage, however, involves only the use of hands to heal or cure some ailments or maintain the harmony or balance of the body. It is a cheaper, healthier, and more enjoyable alternative to dozens of...

Massage therapy has been around for hundreds of years. If you need to relief from muscle pain or stress, you can choose from one of the ten best types of massage therapy around. 1. First is Swedish massage therapy. This happens to be the most common type to find in the US because it is very gentle and relaxing. Here, the masseuse will use long strokes, kneading and circular movements on superficial layers of muscle using massage lotion or oil. 2. Next is aromatherapy and the reason why it is called such is because one or more scented plant oils are used during the session. You will just have to select the oil you want to use. In fact, the most popular one is lavender as it is well suited for stress...

In Part 1 of this article on massage therapy business cards, we looked at why most business cards are pretty much useless in compelling someone to call for an appointment. So how can we take a wimpy marketing tool like your massage therapy business card and give it muscle? How do we put it to work so that it actually does something for our business? How do we adapt these little cards to elicit a response from potential clients? My suggestion is this... Include a direct response message on your card. Make them an offer that will make people take action. How about this as a little two-line message: "Get a FREE half hour massage with thepurchase of 30 minutes (limit one per person)" Then give your...

If you are looking for a home-based business and you are interested in helping people with their health and well being, massage therapy is an excellent option. You'll make good money, build a professional reputation and meet interesting people. It's not a piece of cake to build a home massage therapy business, but it can be relatively less stressful than many other businesses. The relationships you build as you help your clients with their stress management and wellness means that you can build a strongly loyal customer base that can make your business revenues thrive. Speaking about revenues, it can help to increase sales if you can offer your customers convenient ways to pay you for your services...

Many people consider massage therapy as luxury than necessity so in a time like this when everyone is cutting down on expenses even with necessities; it's not surprising if you find yourself with fewer clients than before. Truth is, with every adult out there trying to make ends meet, the stress level is higher than ever so more people are in need of therapeutic treatments. Ever thought of giving out massage therapy business cards to create a wider network of clients and to keep your spa or home service schedule filled with appointment dates? Get more with this small card When you hand out your business card, you automatically create an impression that you want to personally communicate with the...

Spending time promoting your massage therapy business yourself may not be the most fun thing to do but it is an important part of developing your business. It is just one of those things you need to do if you want to be successful. As a massage therapist you are probably more interested in the practical aspect. After all, that is what you went to college for wasn't it? That is what interested you the most, becoming a massage therapist, being able to heal clients, not the business promotion. As a massage therapist you have a business you want to promote, your business, your massage therapy business. So how do you do this successfully? Well there are many ways you can try. Design some leaflets, well...

This article discusses if and how a massage therapist really can make six figures in their massage therapy business. Truthfully, the median income for massage therapists is below $50,000 per year. Many earn much less than this. This is predominantly because many choose to work part time. But what about the entrepreneur who wants a full time massage therapy business and wishes to make a 6 figure income? How To Make Six Figures From Your Massage Therapist Business Well most massage therapists have a base rate that equates to around a dollar per minute, so an hour massage would be around $60. Mind you, I've seen much higher, in 2002 I stayed at an upmarket resort in Fiji that charged $250 USD per hour...

In this article we'll discuss key concepts to incorporate into your massage therapy business plan to ensure growing success and profitability in your massage therapy practice. Monetise Your Massage Therapy Practice in Multiple Ways Monetise your massage business to provide multiple streams of income. Obviously as a newly qualified massage therapist, the very first service you have at your disposal is your massage skills. Many massage therapists simply leave it at that and miss out on so much potential income they could generate from offering alternative massage related products and services. Even as a new masseur, you can offer a range of products to your customers, including: - books and videos...

Chronic back pain, most commonly lower back pain, is one of the most common complaints among adults and as the popularity grows throughout the world for alternative treatments and therapies, Back Massage Therapy has emerged as a favourite treatment of choice in trying to attain chronic back pain relief. Back massage therapy offers numerous benefits. While general massage is well known to stimulate blood flow to the muscles and provide relaxation and a pleasurable experience, it does not necessarily provide the therapeutic value required to provide chronic back pain relief sought by sufferers of the condition. Back massage therapy by a specialist however can bring about significant relief within...

What is a Deep Tissue Massage? Deep Tissue Massage is a specialised massage technique that focuses on the deeper layers of muscle tissue also called connective tissue. The Massage aims to release persistent patterns of tension in the body (also known as "adhesions") through slow strokes and deep finger, hand and forearm pressure on the tight areas, either going across or following the fibres of the muscles, fascia and tendons. Deep Tissue Massage uses quite a few movements and techniques that are similar to Swedish massage, but the pressure will generally be more intense. It helps to break up scar tissue. Deep Tissue Massage usually focuses on more specific areas and may cause some soreness or...

There are many different types of massage therapy techniques used by massage therapists across the world. Since ancient times, massage therapy was used in many cultures as a way of medicine and was viewed as very important for the spirit's connection to the body. In different cultures and geographical locations there were and still are very different approaches to massage. There are Eastern methods of massage that include yoga poses, use of scented oils, or the focus of pressure points that trigger nerves in the body. There are Western methods that focus on the various ways to massage muscles with kneading, tapping, rubbing, and effleurage (or gliding over muscle groups). In today's American modern...

As a practice building consultant for holistic health professionals around the world, I've seen the entire gamut of names that people come up with for their practices. What I've decided is this: You should name your massage therapy business something other than your own name, something that isn't too 'out there' and something that either evokes a very vivid and peaceful image or that describes your geographic location. This is the ideal combination of factors to get the most leverage out of your name. Why do I say this? Because if the name of your practice is John Smith, LMT, people will immediately perceive you as a 'one person show' who likely works out of your basement. It doesn't appear as...

As a massage therapist there are certain things that you need to know about the human body that enable you to effectively do your job. Other things that you can learn about anatomy and physiology will take your massage practice to the next level. Taking the time to educate yourself about the body and learning the intricate functions of the body will help you be a better massage therapist and you will show your clients that you are indeed an expert in the massage therapy industry and you have taken the time to further your education and be the best massage therapist that you can be for them. Traditional Massage Therapy Schools do not teach these advanced massage therapy techniques. Proprioceptors...

Holistic massage therapy works to incorporate all parts of the body into a healthy whole. Many practitioners use a wide variety of techniques in combinations customized to their clients' needs. Conventional Western medicine often concentrates on treating the symptoms of the disease. However, it does not look at the entire person. While an injury may be isolated to one lamb or organ in the body, the injury ultimately may be part of physical, mental, emotional, or spiritual problems the patient may be experiencing. By failing to treat the whole person, the doctor is doing them a disservice. For one of the best places to live, Austin still requires looking at the entire person. That is why healing...

While traditional massage techniques are used primarily for relaxation, deep tissue massage is designed specifically to reduce knots and chronic tension through the realignment of the body's deepest layers of tissue. This type of massage also works to eliminate scar tissue and reduce inflammation. Because it addresses deeper layers of tendons, fascia and muscle tissue, it is particularly helpful in the neck, shoulders and lower back, which are often the place where stress-related ailments begin. The strokes used are applied against the natural grain of the muscles, whereas traditional massage techniques are administered in the same direction. Some people claim to experience slight soreness or...

Baltimore is the largest city of Maryland and also has the distinction of being a major seaport. It is a major cultural and industrial center. Starting a massage therapy business can be a good idea because people tired of the stressful atmosphere seek measures to stay calm and relax and are in search of masseurs to help them. Masseurs are also helpful in alleviating several ailments. Masseurs use techniques such as stroking, kneading, tapping, vibration, stretching, compression and friction with or without hot pads and packs or cold water. It is said to help improve circulation, relieving pains and reducing stress, and improve health. Tips for Starting a Massage Therapy Business: You have to...

Stress is a natural part of life, no matter what line of business one is in or how many companies one owns. When that stress builds up, it can manifest itself into muscle pain, knots, and unhealthy situations occurring in the body. This could lead to poor circulation and a host of other problems with one's blood system and lymph nodes. Eventually, this could stress the heart to the point that it fails and as everyone knows, that mean the possibility of death by heart attack or valve blockage. There are several ways to prevent stress form damaging one's body and a very effective one is a deep tissue massage therapy. The purpose of deep tissue massage therapy is to help the customer relax, de-stress...

Do you play sports? Whether it is a professional basketball game, college baseball game, or neighborhood pick-up game of football, sports are a key part of our everyday lives. We watch sports. We listen to sports. And when we have time, we play sports. Sports are not only fun to play, but they provide us with many benefits, and even some potential drawbacks: 1. Sports improve your overall health Whether you enjoy football, soccer, tennis, hockey, basketball, badminton, or cheese-chasing, sports provide many health benefits. They can boost our endurance, make our muscles meatier, improve our lungs' and heart's operation, and increase our flexibility. Our bodies are amazingly adaptable things. However...

Shiatsu, a Japanese form of massage, takes its name from the Japanese words for "finger" and "pressure." Despite the name, however, the palms and thumbs can be used in Shiatsu massage as well as the fingers. Although diverse massage techniques have been practiced in Japan for many centuries, the first attempt to create a systemized form of Shiatsu came in 1940, when Tokujiro Namikoshi (1905-2000) opened the first Shiatsu school, which is still in operation today. Tokujiro Namikoshi claimed to have first discovered Shiatsu as a boy while trying to comfort his mother, who suffered from arthritis. His method incorporated Western concepts about human anatomy and health. Some forms of Shiatsu are also...

Article covering Acupressure information, benefits thereof and the history of acupressure. Acupressure Acupressure is essentially a technique used to access and release blocked or congested energy centers in the body. Chinese cultures believe the points to be junctures of meridian pathways that carry energy called chi. Modern scientists have also map out and prove the existence of these points using electrical devices. The Tradition Acupressure is based on the principles of chi, which is a fundamental concept of the Traditional Chinese Medicine that energy flows through the fourteen meridians of the body. During Holistic Massage finger pressure is applied to a number of...

If you have just qualified in massage therapy and are about to start your own business, you will need to have the correct massage therapy equipment. The most important item on your 'to buy' list is a massage table. You can get movable tables or stationary tables, but the space of your working area will need to be considered before deciding which is more suitable. Good massage therapists are always in demand. People of all ages can get tremendous physical and emotional benefits from a massage. In this 21st century, most of us are stressed out and overworked, and a professional massage can relieve pain, stress and tension. So you shouldn't be short of clients! If you are planning to do therapy...

Pregnancy is both a joyous time and a time of misery. There is a lot of back pain and pains that a woman never thought she could ever have. Many times, something as simple as a massage can make a huge difference, but not every woman can utilize the services of a massage therapist. Sometimes this has something to do with cost because there is a baby on the way and money is a little tight. However, this may entice her to buy massage therapy equipment in order to feel better. As for this being a good idea, it is certainly something that is not recommended. Amongst those massage therapy devices that should not be used is anything with an implanted electrode. These can offer a bit of a shock and can be...

Chinese Reflexology has become a world wide favourite for advocates of alternative therapies and is known must commonly as just Reflexology, although can also be referred to more generically as touch therapy or just foot massage. In ancient China when the therapy was formed, the Chinese found that by applying pressure or massage stimulation at certain points, the patient would gain benefit in corresponding organs that were thought to be linked to the point where pressure was applied. This was in line with the Chinese system of meridians, or energy channels. In western medicine it is explained as either a connection via a neural network or multitude of interconnecting nerves, or it is simply not...

The natural healing process of aromatherapy speaks of a unique procedure where all the elements are taken form natural resources and are used for the mental and bodily well being of the people. This science of healing has got a proven record of relieving stress and anxiety in human beings and of course, promoting relaxation. With aromatherapy information one can use the special blends of essential oils used in this natural process and can tap the amazing soothing power it has got, that can really change your life in a new way. The base of aromatherapy lies with the use of essential oils that are distilled liquids extracted from herbs and plants. They have the antibiotics, pheromones and cell...

Aromatherapy is a wonderful gift of nature. However, at times because of lack of proper information of aromatherapy, a large section of people are deprived of its amazing benefits. It is carried out with the help of volatile oils, obtained from plants and herbs. It is not a newly discovered phenomenon, and has been prevalent since long. In the earlier times, the aromatherapy information was widespread on a large scale. With a shift in times, in the present hectic world not much people are aware of the benefits of aromatherapy. It is extremely important to be aware of the relevant information regarding benefits of specific essential oils to avoid any chaos and attain maximum benefit from this...

Maternity acupressure techniques date back to ancient times, when reflexology for pregnancy consisted of Chinese methods. There were certain massage techniques marked as forbidden during pregnancy, because these pressure points proved to induce labor. Later on, people realized these acupressure pregnancy points could be used during the initial stages of childbirth for exactly that purpose - to help bring about labor naturally, safely, and easily. They also quickly learned that acupressure during labor could ease the painful symptoms associated with childbirth, relax the mother by reducing stress levels, and even help ease the baby downward by helping it descend into the birth canal. Pregnant massage...

The modern mum-to-be is a stressed out individual, having to cater to increasing pressures of a fast paced society and work place. Yet at the same time, she knows that her wellness is crucial especially during her pregnancy if she wants a smooth delivery process and the birth of a healthy happy baby. This increased awareness has led to the search for alternative approaches in addition to traditional health services. Pregnancy massage therapy is one such alternative approach. It has much therapeutic value as it enhances the function of muscles and joints, improves blood circulation and relieves mental and physical fatigue. Pregnancy Massage can be prenatal, postnatal or during the labour process...