Archive for the ‘Massage Therapy’ Category

 

Traditional Hilot Massage

Friday, June 21st, 2013

Traditional Hilot Massage - Massage Therapy

Even in Western culture, men and women have taken advantage of ancient practices which have originated from all over the world in order to cure their aches, pains, and ailments. Traditional Hilot massage is one of those, and the practice has grown to be quite popular in the United States.

If you haven’t heard of this treatment method, read on — maybe traditional Hilot massage can benefit you.

What Is A Hilot Massage?

Originating in the Philippines, Hilot massage incorporates traditional massage, chiropractic manipulation, and holistic health. Together in practice, this method is believed to not only cure aches and pains, but also other health issues.

This practice is carried out by a Hilot, which is considered a healer in the Philippines.

What Is The Theory Behind It?

The idea behind traditional Hilot massage is that aches, pains, and illnesses all originate from an imbalance in the body. This imbalance can be physical or it can be an imbalance of energy.

The Hilot examines the body to find areas of imbalance. By using their massage methods, they correct this imbalance, which gets rid of whatever is ailing you.

What Is A Hilot Massage Like?

This treatment is akin to deep tissue massage, but it is typically gentler. Often, the Hilot will use oils to help relax the muscles and loosen them if they are tight. This is why a Hilot massage is perfect for someone who is experiencing a lot of stress, which tightens their muscles.

Gentle manipulations are also administered during this process. Some very traditional Hilots even incorporate herbal medicine and chanting throughout the massage.

Where Can I Get A Traditional Hilot Massage?

Not all massage therapists offer this unique treatment. Don’t waste your time talking to professionals who can’t help you. Use TalkLocal to weed out irrelevant results in your searches. We take it one step further by actually connecting you via telephone to professionals who can help.

Benefits Of An Esalen Massage

Wednesday, June 12th, 2013

Benefits Of An Esalen Massage - Massage Therapy

As a fairly new type of massage therapy, Esalen Massage has a small cloud of confusion around it. There are many benefits of an Esalen Massage, easily explained by its origin and reason for practices.

Esalen Massage, named for a Native American tribe that lived in the part of California where the massage style originated, is all about the importance of touch to the human body.

The Benefits Of An Esalen Massage Include:

Personalized treatment: Esalen Massage is a unique massage treatment combining different facets of all sorts of massage styles based on your needs and the experiences of your massage therapist. Instead of getting a typical Swedish massage, or the same style of deep tissue massage that the next guy gets, you’ll have a unique massage suited specifically to your needs. Your therapist will draw on his or her experiences gained by helping others with similar and different needs. With fewer guidelines, Esalen Massage has more freedom to meet your needs instead of straining to follow a list of rules.

Personal touch and human contact: Once the massage begins, no matter what style the massage therapist uses for inspiration, he or she will constantly keep a point of contact with your body. You will not stop feeling your therapist’s hands or arms until the massage ends. This is based on the philosophy that human contact is vital to our health and happiness, and that having contact helps relieve the stresses and anxieties that arise from daily life.

Reading your body: Sometimes, we feel pain in our neck that is actually caused by our spine. Sometimes we don’t even realize that certain muscles are sore and require more attention. Your Esalen Massage therapist, while constantly massaging your body, will read its reactions to determine what areas truly need attention. Or bodies might trick us, but they don’t trick a professional Esalen Massage therapist.

TalkLocal Helps You Find Massage Therapists

Although this is a new style of massage founded within the last half century, there are already therapists who are considered to be experts in the field. If you need help connecting with an Esalen Massage professional, TalkLocal can help. Our service helps you immediately weed out all massage therapists that do not offer this form of massage, thus, saving you time and energy.

How To Use A Lumbar Roll

Wednesday, June 5th, 2013

How To Use A Lumbar Roll - Massage Therapy

If your back hurts often or feels weak, you may have lumbar problems. Most lumbar problems and back injuries are caused by poor posture. When your posture is not correct, your spine cannot align properly and this puts strain on your muscles. This can lead to a myriad of other issues, too.

A lumbar roll can help support your back and relieve any pain you may be experiencing. Before it can work, you must know how to use a lumbar roll properly.

Here is how:

– Choose a lumbar roll that contours to your body and feels comfortable to you. Lumbar rolls come in various shapes and sizes and are made of different materials. Consider how often you will use the lumbar roll and choose a fabric that will be easy to clean. You can buy lumbar rolls at many pharmacies and some department stores.

– Find the part of your back that needs the support. Sit up as straight as possible and look for the arch in your back. This is where you should put the lumbar roll. Knowing how to use a lumbar roll on the proper part of your back is the key to getting the relief you need.

– Place the lumbar roll between the arch in your back and the chair or wall you are sitting against. The lumbar roll will support this part of your back, so you can sit with proper posture. The lumbar roll should be used any time you are sitting for long periods of time. Many people choose to use them while sitting at their desks at work or even in the car on long drives.

Lumbar Roll Not Working? Seek Medical Help

Now that you know how to use a lumbar roll properly, you can start sitting more comfortably and get the back support you need. Back pain is a common problem for many people. A massage therapist or chiropractor can tell you the reason for your pain, and may even suggest that you use a support cushion. They can also assist with procedures of their own.

When seeking out medical help, go straight to TalkLocal. We eliminate the long search process and connect you with the help you need right away.

Postural Integration Therapy

Sunday, June 2nd, 2013

Postural Integration Therapy - Massage Therapy

With so many types of massages and physical therapy available, figuring out how to help your back pain and body aches can be almost as painful as the aches and pains themselves. Sometimes the solution is as simple as fixing your posture. That said, just sitting up straighter doesn’t always solve things, and sometimes it even hurts more.

Postural integration therapy (PIT) is a form of massage therapy meant to help you “straighten out” your postural habits to live a healthier, pain-free life.

What happens in postural integration therapy?

– Your therapist will work with the fascial planes of your body. No, that doesn’t mean your face. “Fascia” is a type of tissue that wraps around your muscles and is malleable, like plastic. It holds your muscles together in bundles.

– Fascia molds to hold your muscles in a position built from your daily life experiences. That means if you are constantly hunched over, even though that’s really bad for your body, your fascia grows used to it. So, when you try to sit up straight, you’re actually straining your muscles against the “plastic” that has held them in one position for so long.

– It’s kind of like if you take a 12-inch ruler made of plastic and bend it every day. Eventually, it will just stay in that bent position, even though you know it is supposed to be straight. When you try to straighten it, you can’t do that very easily, because the plastic is now used to the new position and fights against the change.

– In postural integration therapy, your therapist works in steps to fight this unhealthy position your muscles have gotten used to holding. This is not a one-time thing; you come back for multiple visits, getting better little by little.

– Unlike some types of massage therapy, postural integration therapy is not intended to feel relaxing. You are doing work to your muscles to get them back to a healthy state. It’s kind of like how going for a run or working out doesn’t necessarily feel good because you’re pushing your body and exerting yourself. Afterwards, though, you do tend to feel better and healthier.

Find PIT In Your Area

Not all massage therapists are trained in PIT. You need to make sure you find a professional that knows what he or she is doing and can actually help you. TalkLocal can connect you to the professionals in your area who can help you get your posture back and make your muscles love their healthy, natural position.

Magnetic Trigger Point Therapy

Monday, May 27th, 2013

Magnetic Trigger Point Therapy - Massage Therapy

Magnets are not just used to decorate your fridge; they can help relieve physical pain as well. During magnetic trigger point therapy, magnets are placed on specific locations on your body. The magnetism increases blood flow in your body, reducing inflammation. Keep reading to find out more about magnetic trigger point therapy.

What Are Trigger Points?

When your body is injured or overtaxed, contraction knots can develop in tissue and muscle, which result in stiff muscles or trigger points. These painful points often send the pain to another part of the body, causing doctors to often misdiagnose the source of the pain.

What Causes Trigger Points?

Muscle trauma, muscle strain, stress, anxiety, poor nutrition, and postural strain can trigger a trigger point. When your body undergoes any of these, it tries to adjust itself accordingly, which ends up putting more stress on other parts of your body. Your blood flow can become irregular, which leads to more serious health problems. The accumulation of all this triggers a trigger point, causing the pain.

How Can Magnets Relieve Pain From Trigger Points?

Magnets can be used on aching feet, back pain, headaches, arthritis, and tennis elbows, as well as many other common types of muscle pain.

A medical magnet can cost between $5 and $900 and can come in various shapes and sizes. They also come in various strengths, which is called gauss. Ask your doctor about which magnet works best for you.

The magnet should be placed directly on the skin over the affected area. By relaxing the capillary walls, magnets increase the blood flow to the affected area of your body. This enables the healing process and promotes pain relief. You may rub the magnetic over the area. You can also leave the magnet over the painful area for a while; medical tape is a great way to hold the magnet in place.

Find A Qualified Therapist Today

Ask your local massage therapist about magnetic trigger point therapy. TalkLocal can connect you with quality, local therapists in just minutes. Simply tell us what you need, where you are located, and when you are available, and we will connect you with qualified professionals in your area, for free!

Massage Technique Tips

Thursday, May 23rd, 2013

Massage Technique Tips - Massage Therapy

A massage can be a useful way to alleviate stress and tension, as well help heal injuries, and heighten your immune system. With the help of a trusted friend or spouse, you can have a massage at home! There are a number of different types of massages that you can give or receive. This article will help you with a variety of different massage technique tips.

Acupressure

Acupressure is a Chinese massage technique similar to acupuncture, but without the needles. Applying pressure to specific pressure points can get rid of blocks in your meridian system, which helps the immune system and makes you just feel better in general.

Balinese Massage Therapy

The Balinese massage is a traditional, ancient technique from Bali, an island in Indonesia. To perform the technique you must strongly knead and roll the skin over every muscle in the person’s body. Using scented oils to lubricate the massages skin is also an important part of the Balinese massage technique.

Deep Tissue Massage

A deep tissue massage is useful when you have particular aches and pains that need to be addressed. However, it can be intense and sometimes painful. It should not be used for infections, after surgery or chemotherapy, when you are pregnant, or if you have heart disease or osteoporosis. However, if you have strong or continuous pain somewhere in your body, or a specific trauma or injury, it can be very helpful. It is performed by applying very firm pressure and friction to muscles in the area of pain, using hands, knuckles, fingertips, elbows, and forearms. A deep tissue massage can help blood to circulate properly and heal tissue that is inflamed.

Swedish Massage

A Swedish massage is the most common type of massage, and what you may think of as a “regular” massage.” In order to perform a Swedish massage, you must apply pressure to the deepest bones and muscles on the person’s body. Both kneading motions and circular motions are used to do this. Additionally, soft tapping of finger tips and the side of your hand, as well as pressure from the thumbs can be used in order to create an enjoyable and effective Swedish massage.

Get A Professional Massage

If you do not have someone you feel comfortable with performing these techniques on you, you can contact a professional massage therapist to give you a massage. With the help of TalkLocal, you can be on the phone in minutes with up to three, high-quality massage therapists, who offer the massage techniques you’re looking for.

Massage For Lower Back Pain

Wednesday, May 22nd, 2013

Massage For Lower Back Pain - Massage Therapy

When you experience lower back pain, whether due to normal stiffness over time, or you have a specific injury, having a lower back massage can alleviate a lot of the pain and discomfort. Lower back massages are the go-to for the all-too-common lower back issues. No more Ibuprofen or Tylenol; check out the benefits of massage for lower back pain for once!

How Does Massage For Lower Back Pain Work?

Massages are aimed at loosening up the muscles and tissue in specific areas of the body. For lower back pain, the massage is geared towards loosening the surrounding muscles of the lower back in order to take the pressure off of your strained muscles. A 10-week intervention program of massage for lower back pain has proven results to almost completely eliminate the pain from your back. That is definitely something to check out!

The Benefits Of Massage For Lower Back Pain

Not only will the lower back messages decrease your pain, it will also improve your range of motion. You will be back to functioning like your old self with better ease of movement. In addition, having a massage relaxes your mind from a stressful day and can be used as a meditation exercise. Not only will you feel a sense of relief throughout your back, the muscles in your back will then cause other parts of your body to become loosened and will experience pain reduction.

Getting a massage for lower back pain can extend to your overall mental health, and even to other areas of your body. Overall, you will feel looser, healthier, and much more relieved!

Find Yourself A Massage Therapist

To get more information about the best massage therapists near you, check out TalkLocal. You will be connected directly high-quality massage therapists right in your neighborhood. It is quick, easy, and free to use. Check it out!

Scientific Benefits Of Massage

Sunday, May 19th, 2013

Scientific Benefits Of Massage - Massage Therapy

Massage is not only known for its relaxing properties, but also its overall health benefits. It includes applying pressure by rubbing, kneading, and pressing the skin, ligaments, and muscles. A masseuse may use their hands, elbows, forearms, or even feet to massage a client. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, there are over 100 unique massage techniques that target different symptoms or areas of the body. There are several scientific benefits of massage that improve well-being both physically and mentally.

Stress Relief

One of the health benefits of massage is stress relief. Stress is detrimental to our health, as it forces our heart to work harder and brings our body to a negative state. We also have difficulty sleeping when we are stressed, and massage is a natural way to promote better sleep patterns.

Blood Circulation

Massage stimulates blood circulation, which encourages muscle recovery and healing. It also lowers blood pressure, which further facilitates healthy blood circulation.

Pain and Posture

Rubbing and kneading the muscles helps relieve pain and tightness. A relaxed body is a painless body. Massage therapy also makes you more flexible by releasing tension in tight muscles. This flexibility actually helps to improve your posture. If you have serious back problems, see a chiropractor. However, massage makes the muscles around your spine more supple, therefore allowing you have more firm control over your posture. When you have better posture, you actually breathe better and release tension. Oxygen circulation is crucial to a health body.

Anxiety

We usually feel tension in our shoulders, neck, and lower back. Most of our anxiety is stored in these areas of the body, and it is hard to focus when we are anxious. By massaging these tension areas, we can relax and feel light, thus making our minds more productive. We become more alert and are able to think clearly, freeing ourselves of trivial worries.

Find Your Own Massage Therapist

To experience the scientific benefits of massage therapy, use TalkLocal to connect with a quality local massage therapist. We’ll help you find the right professionals in your area, for free!

When To Seek Trager Therapy

Tuesday, May 7th, 2013

When To Seek Trager Therapy - Massage Therapy

Trager therapy is an alternative form of massage therapy that focuses on achieving deep relaxation and releasing deep-seated mental and physical pains.  While most other types of massage therapy can be effective in relaxing muscles, Trager therapy can be a viable alternative or option for those who feel that traditional massage therapy isn’t effective for them or feel like they need a more immersive massage experience. Continue reading to get an idea of when to seek Trager therapy.

What Is Trager Therapy?

Trager therapy focuses on two different aspects: the passive and the active.  During the passive portion, the client will be lying on a table while the practitioner uses natural motions and a light touch to gently move the patient.  These sessions generally last between 60 and 90 minutes and no lotions or oils are used during this portion, differing from the traditional types of massage therapy.

The active portion involves what is called “Mentastics,” which are simple, active motions that the client does throughout his or her daily routine.  Many clients end up integrating “Mentastics” into their daily  lives so that they can better take care of themselves.  These “Mentastics” supplement the table work and continue to help release deep-seated problems and patterns in your body, which may have developed as a result of physical or emotional trauma, or simply the stress of everyday life.

Benefits Of Trager therapy

Since Trager therapy uses natural and free motions, many individuals say that they can either stay more limber or loose, or gain a greater freedom of movement.  Trager therapy is very non-invasive and many people enjoy the naturalness that permeates the entire experience, both in the active and passive portion.

Find Out More About Trager Therapy

If you think Trager therapy is right for you, you should consult a Trager therapist to discuss your goals and what you want to achieve.  While Trager therapy is an alternative type of therapy that isn’t practiced as widely as most other types of massage therapy, TalkLocal can connect you to high-quality, local Trager therapists in just minutes!

Where Are Trigger Points?

Sunday, May 5th, 2013

Where Are Trigger Points? - Massage Therapy

If you are aching after a workout or experiencing deep muscle pain after sleeping in an awkward position, you may be wondering: Where are trigger points? How can they be utilized to get rid of the pain?

You do not have to search hard for them, but they may be difficult to reach with your own hands. Many people seek a professional massage therapist’s help in working out their trigger points. Here are just a few facts you need to know to determine if you need professional assistance.

What Are Trigger Points?

Trigger points are areas that are hypersensitive to pain. They generally occur in the center of a muscle and can cause pain to radiate outward to affect conjoining areas. For example, a trigger point (many people refer to these as a “knot”) in one’s shoulder may cause pain that extends into the neck or head.

They are usually relieved with manual pressure. This is typically done gently at first and then pressure is gradually increased to work out the spot. While it usually will be painful, most people describe this as a “good hurt”, such as one feels after a workout.

Where Are Trigger Points? How Can You Find Them?

You can locate your trigger point by pressing the muscle that is causing pain. Work the muscle from the least sensitive area to the most sensitive. Often, these knots will cause the surrounding muscle to tense as well, so it may be difficult to locate the exact spot. If you can reach the spot yourself, work the muscle from the outside in to relax the muscle and locate the point.

Often these points occur in areas that are difficult to reach. If you believe you have a trigger point that is causing pain and you cannot reach it, you may need a professional to massage the area.

Find One In Your Area

You will not have to ask a professional masseuse: Where are trigger points? They can find and remedy them for you. Seva Call can hook you up with a highly-qualified professional in your area absolutely free.