What is massage therapy?

Massage therapy is a popular treatment involving the manipulation of soft body tissues, such as the skin, muscles, connective tissue, tendons, and ligaments. The form of movement and pressure that is used depends on the reasons for the treatment.

What techniques are there?

There are numerous types of techniques, that benefit both the mind and body. A professional massage therapist should be consulted to receive proper guidance on which technique will be most effective to treat aches or pains.

Deep Tissue Massage

What is Deep tissue massage?

Deep tissue massage is essential for physical healing, reducing pain and discomfort as well as enhancing the body’s ability to heal. This type of massage helps to relax the body and lengthen muscles that feel often tense and stiff.

What muscle groups does it focus on?

The focus is on major muscle groups susceptible to injuries such as the neck and lower back together with joints and tendons. Areas of the body that tense up often due to stress benefit the most from this type of deep manipulation. These are the hips, neck, and shoulders.

What benefits come with a deep tissue massage?

• treats chronic back pain
• helps lower high blood pressure
• reduces stress, anxiety, and muscle tension
• breaks up scar tissue
• improves athletic recovery and performance
• aids with labor pain and delivery
• reduces arthritis symptoms

Hot Stone Massage

What is a Hot Stone massage?

A hot stone massage is a therapy that uses smooth surfaced river basalt stones, which are heated in a sanitized water warmer before application. These stones are positioned on the client’s body to enhance their therapeutic benefits. Basalt has a high iron content that helps the stones maintain heat during the therapy.

How are hot stone massages beneficial?

These massages provide benefits on a physical and psychological level. The heat from the stones provides relief by releasing tension and easing soreness in the muscles allowing an effective manipulation of deep tissues. Muscles that are tight or stiff may hinder the massage procedure.

How is it offered at the studio?

It is offered as a 60-minute therapy with extra virgin organic coconut oil or rich vegan body cream.at $150.

Body Scrub, Natural & Organic Massage

What is the Body Scrub, Natural & Organic Massage?

The Body Scrub, Natural & Organic Massage is to exfoliate and detox the skin with an organic homemade body scrub. It is rubbed vigorously, massaged into the skin, and then rinsed off using hot towels, leaving the skin feeling revitalized. The therapy ends with an extra virgin coconut oil or a rich body cream of Shea butter massage.

Is there a possibility to customize a personal selection of scents?

This is possible with the following scents:

• Jasmine/Orange
• Rose/Tangerine
• Lemongrass/Eucalyptus
• Peppermint/Lavender
• Lemon/Sandalwood

What is the scrub made from?

This scrub is made with Himalayan or Sea salts and is blended with extra virgin olive oil from the company’s family farm in Greece, extra virgin coconut oil as well as an exotic combination of citrus and floral essential oils.

What is the scrub good for?

The scrub exfoliates the skin and removes dead skin cells, with the oil base of the scrub moisturizing and soothing the skin. The aromatic and calming essential oils blend promotes tranquility and balance, which helps one relax into a peaceful sleep.

How is it offered at the studio?

A 60 minute-therapy is being offered for $175.

Prenatal Massage

What is prenatal massage?

Prenatal massage uses safe techniques to stop aches and reduce the stress of pregnancy that affect the body. During the massage, the client is on her side with special cushioning and draping for comfort. Gentle pressure is applied to the pregnant woman’s body, with a focus on the breast, leg, and belly areas.

What are the benefits of massage?

• Lowered anxiety
• Decreased back and leg pain
• Improved sleep
• Decreased levels of the stress hormone norepinephrine

How does it fight depression?

It fights depression by increasing levels of serotonin and dopamine, which are known to be the “feel-good” hormones. Cortisol levels are also decreased, which is a hormone known to indicate stress. Another advantage is that the massage gives an overall improvement in mood.

How is it offered at the studio?

Sacred Splendor offers three different therapy options. One can either have a 60 minute-therapy for $125, a 75 minute-therapy for $145, or a 90 minute-therapy for $185.

Massages can be an intense and personal experience, in which there is an unusual amount of personal connection and physical contact compared to many other professions. For these reasons, it’s important to make sure that you choose the best massage therapist you can, and find one that you connect with and can relate to well. This will ensure that you have the most comfortable, relaxing, and enriching experience possible, leading to an overall healthier and happier life.  

Finding the Right Massage Therapist

Determine why you want a massage

There are two main categories of people who are interested in massage: those with ailments and health issues that massages can alleviate, and those just looking to relax more deeply than usual. If you’ve suffered an injury like a pulled ligament or muscle strain, a massage therapist with a background in physiology would be an excellent choice.  

If you are looking for real, tangible health improvements from a massage, then it’s worth shopping around to find a massage therapist who has a little more knowledge of human anatomy, more qualifications, and has studied the health benefits of massage therapy closely. However, since these specialists can often cost more, if you’re just looking for a better way to relax then you can focus more on an interpersonal connection, and what they offer like hot rocks, soothing oils, and aromatherapy instead.

Determine what type of massage you are looking for

There are plenty of different types of massages to choose from, with some of the most common being:

Swedish Massage

Likely the most popular type of massage in the world, Swedish massages use long, gentle presses and kneading to enhance blood flow and relax the muscles.  

Deep tissue massage

Similar to Swedish massage, deep tissue massage takes it a step further and can be more intense, making it ideal for athletes or those suffering from chronic pain.

Shiatsu Massage

This type of massage comes from the ancient Eastern cultures of China and Japan, utilizing a series of pressure points and acupuncture techniques to enhance the body’s energy flow, known as “Qi”. Finding the right massage type for you will depend on your individual preferences and goals for the treatment.  

Determine your massage preferences

This step largely depends on your personal comfort and preferences. Mostly, it will be about set and setting of the massage, such as:

• Do you want a massage at your home, an office, or elsewhere?
• What type of lighting do you prefer?
• What will you wear during the massage?
• What time of day will the massage be?

Try and determine these factors before talking to a potential massage therapist, as it will help you find one that works well for you more efficiently. 

Ask about their qualifications

One important step to take is to make sure that your massage therapist is fully qualified and certified in your locality to perform massages. This will help make sure that you have a professional experience that leaves you feeling better than before. Some things to ask are:

• Are they licensed or certified to be a massage therapist?
• How long have they been doing massage therapy?
• What types of massage do they specialize in?
• Are they involved with any type of continuing education for massage?

Set up a pre-massage consultation

While some massage therapists might do this immediately before the first massage, it’s a good idea to set up a meeting before any actual massages happen so you can get a feel for each other. If you’re looking for health benefits, this might include a brief discussion of your medical history, diagnoses, or what you are looking to get out of the therapy. Communicating well is key, as well as setting up an actionable plan for improvement and goals you hope to meet during the therapy. 

Set up specifics

Now, you’re ready to go! It’s time to book a date, place, and time, and make sure the cost is within your price range. Things to consider are:

• Are there any hidden fees you should know about?
• How long will the session be?
• Are these services covered by your health insurance? 
• What clothes or other materials should you bring?
• If you’re doing massage therapy for an injury, do you need to bring any paperwork from the doctor?

Once you’ve done this, there’s not much left for you to do except sit back, relax, and let them work their magic! Massages are a tremendous way to enhance your health that have been used for at least 5,000 years. From ancient India to Julius Caesar, massage therapy has a storied and proud tradition of helping people achieve the highest level of health and vitality possible.    

The proven and tangible health benefits of massage therapy are manifold, with far-reaching effects on your muscles, cardiovascular system, mental health, and more. Make this ancient and well-understood practice work for you, and take these steps to find the right massage therapist today.  

The art of massage is an ancient and well-understood medical practice of relieving stress, anxiety, and pain. Through various methods of applying pressure and rubs to painful areas, massage can alleviate the symptoms caused by stress in the fast-paced, difficult modern world. One of the most exciting new advancements in the field of massage is mobile massage, where the masseuse will come to you. 

Managing stress is critical in our modern lives. Stress contributes to over 100,000 deaths per year, due mainly to factors like heart disease, hypertension, and suicide. That’s why one of the most important things you can do for your health is to keep stress levels low, and mobile massage is one of the best ways to do that.  

What is Mobile Massage?

Mobile massage entails a professionally trained and certified masseuse coming to your home or work, and performing the job duties there. They will bring their own equipment, usually a massage table or chair, oils, towels, and any other tools they use to create a peaceful and relaxing atmosphere. This type of massage has many proven benefits that will enable you to live a healthier, happier, and longer life. 

Along with increased stress levels in the general population, our busy stress levels have necessitated the rise of the era of convenience. From fast food to online shopping, everything must be optimized to save time and keep you from traveling as little as possible, so as not to waste precious time sitting in traffic and commuting more than necessary. Mobile massage brings all of these benefits and more to the consumer, making this the ideal option for those needing a quick, at-home stress reliever.  

Benefits of Massage Therapy

Before we cover the specific benefits of mobile massage, it’s important to understand just how critical massage can be for those who need it. There’s a reason professional sports teams the world over keep masseuses on staff, due to their incredible ability to relieve pain, make training easier, and keep muscles toned, healthy, and in their proper positions. At the end of the day, this will make you a more effective athlete, professional, or just a happier and more well-rounded person.

There are various types of massage, from Swedish massage to sports massages, to acupuncture. To find the right one for you will take some experimentation, and no one is better at this than professional masseuses.

Mobile Massage Benefits

1. No Commuting 

Because the whole point of getting a massage is to relieve stress, mobile massage takes away one common stressful experience for many people: traffic. Especially if you live in a city like Los Angeles, Chicago, or New York, dealing with traffic is a frustrating and time-consuming experience that can have you showing up to the massage more stressed than you were before. Mobile massage eliminates this need and allows you to be in a fully relaxed state when the massage starts. 

2. Comforts of Home

Massage can be difficult for some people, especially at first. It requires you to be pretty comfortable with your body and having others touch and see your body in ways that aren’t quite your everyday consumer experience. While any professional masseuse will ensure that you are 100% comfortable at all times during the massage, having an in-home mobile massage can help relax you and make sure that you feel as comfortable and relaxed as possible, in the environment you feel safest in.

3. Save Time

One of the benefits of mobile massage is that it will save you time and allow you to spend more time in the massage process itself. Forget about wasting time driving and checking in, when the masseuse comes to you, you’ll be able to spend all the time you want on the massage, and not on other processes. This will enhance your life more than a typical massage parlor, and enable you to spend more time doing what you love.  

4. Scheduled Relaxation

While a massage parlor provides excellent services, it can be difficult to remain in a relaxed state afterward. When engaging in mobile massage, you can schedule it for a time where right after, you will go into a warm bath or straight to bed. This better enables you to take advantage of the long-term relaxation benefits of massage, without having to jump right back in your hot, sweaty car and think about the things that cause you stress.

5. Flexibility

Mobile massage services are usually quite flexible, with many requiring only about 1 hour to schedule a masseuse. Additionally, these services will almost always work holidays and weekends, as their revenue stream is based around being available for workers who are relaxing at home. A gift card for in-home massage services is an excellent choice that will allow the professional in your life to relax on their schedule when they want to.

Mobile massage is a beautiful and surprising way to enhance and improve your life. You’ll be shocked at the many benefits it brings, so schedule yours today and enjoy a happier, healthier, and more relaxed lifestyle.  

The history of massage therapy dates back at least 5,000 years to the esoteric culture of Ancient India, where they utilized it as a sacred and beneficial healing art. The ability of touch and massage to relieve pain, ease stress, and alleviate symptoms of many diseases and afflictions has been recognized by almost every culture since then, from the Chinese to the Romans. In fact, Julius Caesar is known to have had some sort of neuralgia or epilepsy, and documented historical records show that he employed massage therapists to aid in his recovery and treatment. What does this practice look like in the modern-day, and how can it work for you?

The science of massage therapy has been refined quite a bit from these early days. For those wishing to become a massage therapist, there are rigorous professional guidelines and rules that must be followed. Many modern massage techniques can be traced to a Swedish fencer and physiologist named Per Henrik Ling, who noticed that moving in a certain way when practicing his fencing relieved his painful symptoms of gout. From this discovery, he built a system of massage and physical therapy, the basics of which are still employed today.

Basics of Massage

The main goal of a massage therapist is quite simple: to make you more comfortable, relaxed, and healthy when you leave the massage room than you were when you entered it. This can be achieved through numerous ways, such as combining the right atmosphere and environment with personal communication and touch. Finding the right style of massage that works for you will depend on your personal needs and the areas and type of pain or ailments that you experience. However, there are some basic styles that work for many people, such as:

Swedish massage

As mentioned, this is the most popular and common type of basic massage, which provides relaxation and comfort for many people around the world. This type of massage used long, gentle strokes in the direction the blood flows to the heart, combined with soothing oils to release tension held in the body and muscles. Your massage therapist will use a combination of kneading, long strokes, deep circular motions, and joint exercises to increase blood flow and nervous system stimulation.

Deep Tissue massage

Deep tissue massage is similar to Swedish massages in many ways, but takes it a step further. Usually, more pressure will be applied, and this type of massage is common for athletes or those suffering from chronic pain or other injuries. The massage therapist will begin slowly, and then use techniques that apply pressure through their fingers, palms, knuckles, elbows, or forearms to increase pressure and break through to the problematic areas. Depending on where your pain is located, these deep tissue massages can either be focused on one area or spread out over your body.

Hot Stone massage

For a hot stone massage, the therapist will heat up certain stones, usually basalt river or volcanic rocks due to their ability to maintain heat, and use them to apply pressure and relax your muscles. This type of massage is commonly found in boutique and luxury massage parlors because of its incredible ability to relax and stimulate your body in a way that will leave you feeling the benefits all day. The hot rocks create pressure points and nerve stimulation in a way that can be more intense and relaxing than traditional massages, making this a favorite of many massage enjoyers worldwide.

Shiatsu massage

A shiatsu massage uses concepts derived from Japanese and Chinese traditions that are believed to reduce tension and pain, such as acupuncture. The goal of this type of massage is to use kneading and pressing techniques to manipulate the body’s flow of energy, known as “Qi” (pronounced “Chee”). Those who practice this art form believe that Qi flows along “meridians” of the body, similar to longitude and latitude lines on the Earth, and that by applying and removing pressure or acupuncture points, this energy can be shaped and manipulated in a way that will leave you feeling more healthy and relaxed.

Although there are many more types of massage, such as aromatherapy, sports massage, and reflexology, these are some of the basic types that can be utilized or combined in specific ways to benefit your overall health. The best way to reap the benefits of massage therapy and find yourself in a more positive and relaxed state of mind is to allow a massage therapy professional to work with you and evaluate your case. They are trained in many techniques, such as effleurage, or stroking motions, petrissage, kneading motions, tapotement, a light slapping motion, and using friction to perform a massage that will leave you feeling like you can walk on air.

Contact a massage therapist today and begin your journey towards overall better health and wellness by developing a massage treatment plan that will work for you, and watch as your stress melts away and your pain is reduced.

Do you experience aches and pains a lot more these days in places that you didn’t get them years ago? If you are in your 30’s or 40’s, then you know what it feels like to spontaneously get joint or muscle pain seemingly out of the blue.

Maybe you are younger, say, in your 20’s, and your body feels fine physically. But, mentally, you may be feeling more drained or overwhelmed lately, and can’t understand why. If any of these symptoms describe you, then you may benefit greatly from the services of a certified massage therapist.

Some folks may think that only people who are physically active most of the time (such as a career athlete or a person who has a job that requires a lot of heavy lifting and other extreme physical exertion) really need a massage therapist on a regular basis. But, that’s not entirely true.

For example, according to the Mayo Clinic, many people notice a significant amount of reduced stress and a heightened sense of relaxation from regularly experiencing applications of procedures such as a deep tissue massage (a slow, targeted message session that focuses on the lowest layers of your muscles) or a Swedish massage (which can have the effect of leaving you with spontaneous increased energy after a session).

One of the things that folks suffer with more and more today (especially because of the worldwide Coronavirus/Covid-19 pandemic) is increased anxiety. Some people feel that taking oral medication works best for them, but others are beginning to turn to massage therapists as another option of treatment. Massage therapy has also been proven to positively help people who have issues with digestion, folks who get frequent headaches throughout the day, and those of us who have high blood pressure.

Are you someone who just can’t seem to soundly sleep all the way through the night? Well, Prevention Magazine reported that people who engage in regular massage therapy sessions tend to get deeper, more revitalizing sleep. So, all of you frequent insomnia sufferers out there may want to consider looking around for a qualified massage therapist with a good track record.

As with any new therapy, it is always recommended that you talk to your primary care physician beforehand. And, in many instances, he or she may be able to point you into the direction of a wonderful massage therapist who will benefit your body and mind well into the future.

There are many different types of massages – including scalp, full-body or Swedish, lymphatic, deep, sports, and trigger point. It has gone from being something that only the well-to-do would get at their spas to being readily available for all kinds of people at locales that range from a gym to an airport. 

If you are seriously thinking of getting a massage, here are some of the benefits that you can reap. 

Stress Relief

When people think of massage, this is likely the number one reason that they would want to get it. They could want to get it to get respite from anything from a rough day at the office to relationship problems to just general stress. The massage could help them forget those issues for a short amount of time. 

Having massages could possibly help lower blood pressure and their heart rate, two things that, if elevated, could lead to health problems. They could also lead to acting as a sleep aid, since being so relaxed could ease someone into falling asleep much more easily instead of dealing with insomnia.

Pain Relief

Getting a massage to relieve pain is a close second reason for getting one. People who have suffered from certain conditions for years can feel great after a massage. It can be great for those who suffer delayed onset muscle soreness from workouts. 

Improving Circulation

Sometimes all you need is a pair of hands massaging parts of your body to get blood flowing properly. Another benefit is that your level of alertness may improve, which is good for all aspects of your life, including work. 

Improving Your Immune System

One type of massage is called lymphatic massage. This is usually done after some surgery to get the immune system bolstered. You can feel a lot better afterwards.

Like everything else in life, though, there is an element of risk with massage. If too much protein is released after a massage, it can get into your bloodstream. This is called “rhabdo”, and while it is usually mild, there have been cases requiring medical attention. 

This is just a small sample of the areas that massage can improve. Other possible things include relief for digestion issues, fibromyalgia, nerve pain, and pain all over the body, including neck, back, and headaches.

The number of times per week or months you can have these different types of massages can vary. Ask your professional for more advice. Then enjoy the benefits.