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Mother’s Day Massage Special Offer

Just for Mother’s Day we have a choice of Discounted Gift Cards available, they are instantly downloadable (and printable of course), so you will have an instant present. These Gift Cards are 20% off. Our Massages start with an introductory Massage for €49, while a regular 1 hour Massage is €65. Give your Mother the […]

Massage Therapy Helps Anxiety

Massage Therapy can help with Anxiety, which like depression, can be a debilitating condition that is little understood by those close to us. We all experience anxiety in life, but for those with anxiety disorders the anxious feelings never go away and may continue to get worse over time. This constant anxiety eventually begins to interfere with work, school, relationships and even our ability to perform basic activities of daily living. 

How can massage ease jetlag?

jetlagapps com timezone clocks shutterstock 24754498 72dpi komprimiertAs exciting as long-haul holidays can be, they have one significant downside – jetlag. People are affected in different ways, but it’s almost always more than a simple spot of tiredness. Often our bodies don’t know what’s hit them.

Jet-lag disrupts the body on a major scale, causing fatigue and digestive upsets, memory lapses, nausea, insomnia, swelling, irritability and lethargy – known under the umbrella term, ‘time zone change syndrome’.
Recent studies, however, have proven that massaging with an essential oil such as lavender can help stimulate circulation and general well-being, putting a spring back in your step if jet-lag has got you suffering.
Massage therapist Tina says a good massage works because it allows your internal body clock to adjust to the time zone naturally.
All too often, we resort to chugging down shots of caffeine to stay awake or medication to help us nod off, neither of which are anything more than short-term solutions, and just prolong the vicious jetlag cycle for days on end.
‘All types of massage work well to help alleviate the symptoms of jet-lag, especially Swedish and acupressure, paying particular attention to areas as calves and legs, shoulder back and neck,’ explains Tina.
‘I would also suggest for that finishing touch indulging in an Indian Head massage. Not only is it great for combatting the physical effects of jetlag, it works wonders for the mind – as mentally, we can feel quite fuzzy after a flight!’

Here you can find more about How can massage ease jetlag?

Massage Therapy

neck-massageResearch is still in its infancy, but there is evidence that massage works for a wide variety of everyday ailments.
Massage has been around for thousands of years, but it is only recently that researchers have begun to study its effects scientifically. Their aim? To find out exactly what it is about massage that makes us feel so good, and whether it lives up to its claims …
Anxiety and stress relief
“Massage is still woefully under-researched, but the best available evidence suggests that, among other things, it is effective for anxiety and depression,” says Edzard Ernst, professor of complementary medicine at the University of Exeter and author of Trick Or Treatment: Alternative Medicine On Trial. “It works through relaxing both the muscles and the mind, which it is thought is achieved through an increase in blood flow and levels of endorphins [feel-good hormones] in the brain.”
There is little evidence to show how long these effects last for, but it does seem massage can give you a mood boost or help you through tough times by temporarily relieving stress and anxiety.
Relieving back pain
Bad backs plague millions of us every year. A study in the Canadian Medical Association Journal compared methods of treating chronic lower back pain: it found that massage was the most effective treatment in terms of reduction in pain and anxiety, and increase in function.
“The emotional effects of massage play a huge part in the relief of chronic pain,” says physiotherapist Liz Paddock, who specialises in musculoskeletal and women’s health. “Living with pain can seriously affect people’s ability to relax – being touched is fundamental to our wellbeing and it helps sedate the nervous system. Your skin is packed with sensory receptors and touch is an important way of modifying pain signals – that’s why, if you hit your elbow on something, you instinctively rub it.”
 Getting a good night’s sleep
Studies so far only relate to children, but show good results for improving sleep. Researchers at the University of Warwick compared nine studies and found that (gentle) massage by parents on children under six months could have a positive impact on sleep patterns, crying, mother-baby interaction and levels of stress hormones, which can disrupt sleep.
Soothing headaches
Rubbing your temples is an instinctive way to try to relieve a headache and it seems that body massage can also help. It decreased the occurrence of headaches, sleep disturbances and symptoms of distress, and increased serotonin (a chemical that affects mood and sleep) levels in adults with migraines in a study published in the International Journal of Neuroscience. Other studies showed similar results.
Researchers believe that two mechanisms could be responsible. Firstly, the increased serotonin could help relieve the headache (many existing headache medications increase serotonin levels). Secondly, the increased hours of sleep and fewer night wakings may lower levels of substance P – a neurotransmitter responsible for pain.
Restoring mobility
Whether you’ve damaged a muscle from a hard tackle playing football or just while painting the ceiling, sports massage has been shown to be helpful for muscle repair. For example, research shows that it increases the blood flow in the capillaries of the muscles. “Blood is nutritious for muscles and assists healing,” says Spencer McGawley, director of the Sports Massage Association. Other studies suggest that sports massage techniques can stimulate the release of biochemicals such as prostaglandins. These are essential for tissue healing.
And again, the positive psychological aspect plays a part. A study in the British Journal of Sports Medicine showed that the perception of fatigue was less when a 20-minute massage was given between two intense bouts of cycling, despite no actual difference in power produced

Here you can learn more about Massage Therapy 

The Power of Infant Massage

Baby-MassagenThe dynamic of parent-infant interaction is the most important foundation upon which a child learns about the self, and about trust and respect. It is this first relationship that influences the way relationships are perceived. Infant massage is a natural way that parents can learn about parenting, and that infants can learn about being loved and honored.

Manual Lymphatic Drainage

Pula
How would you describe Manual Lymphatic Drainage for someone who knows nothing about it?

To a better understanding of this therapy we need to know what is the Lymphatic System.
The lymphatic system is a complex network of small vessels and lymph nodes call that carry lymph fluid (lymph) of the tissue back to the circulatory system. The lymphatic system is an important component of the immune system as it collaborates with white blood cells to protect against invading bacteria and viruses. The Manual Lymphatic Drainage is a massage therapy aimed at stimulating the immune and lymphatic system for disposal of produced and accumulated toxins in the body.

What are the benefits of Manual Lymphatic Drainage and what kind of issues do you find you treat the most?

Benefits:
The Lymphatic Drainage prevents cellulite and helps to clear body toxins. This treatment eliminates the swelling body and increases the short-term skin oxygenation, helps on a healthy skin appearance as well as providing a better blood circulation.

Most common issues:
Manual Lymphatic Drainage is a common therapy in the treatment of heavy or tired legs. For those who spend a lot of time sitting or standing, have a penchant for the appearance of edema, varicose veins and bruises. It is also recommended in cellulite treatment, slimming, anti-stress, anti-aging, sinusitis, rhinitis, otitis, migraines, arthritis and to combat premenstrual syndrome, circulatory problems, edema of pregnancy, postoperative and post-traumatic.

Is there any preparation needed for your first appointment?
You don´t need any kind of preparation, however this treatment is not recommended in the following cases:
Decompensated heart failure; phlebitis; thrombosis; thrombophlebitis; carotid sine syndrome; hypertension; certain types of skin affections; cancer, bronchial asthma and asthmatic bronchitis, any unusual swollen body part or pain.  On your first appointment we will discuss the best treatment and adjust it for your needs.

Book your Introductory Lymphatic Drainageand with Paula and get €10 off. Just please mention this Article. Book your appointment  (01) 440 4343.

Massage Becomes Medicine

neck-massageWhile massage may have developed a reputation as a decadent treat for people who love pampering, new studies are showing it has a wide variety of tangible health benefits.
Research over the past couple of years has found that massage therapy boosts immune function in women with breast cancer, improves symptoms in children with asthma, and increases grip strength in patients with carpal tunnel syndrome. Giving massages to the littlest patients, premature babies, helped in the crucial task of gaining weight.
Is massage just for pampering or does it have true biological effects? A recent study showed muscles rebounded better if massaged after exercising to exhaustion. Andrea Petersen on Lunch Break has details on Lunch Break.

The benefits go beyond feelings of relaxation and wellness that people may recognize after a massage. The American College of Physicians and the American Pain Society now include massage as one of their recommendations for treating low back pain, according to guidelines published in 2007.
New research is also starting to reveal just what happens in the body after a massage. While there have long been theories about how massage works—from releasing toxins to improving circulation—those have been fairly nebulous, with little hard evidence. Now, one study, for example, found that a single, 45-minute massage led to a small reduction in the level of cortisol, a stress hormone, in the blood, a decrease in cytokine proteins related to inflammation and allergic reactions, and a boost in white blood cells that fight infection.
There’s been a surge of scientific interest in massage. The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, part of the National Institutes of Health, is currently spending $2.7 million on massage research, up from $1.5 million in 2002. The Massage Therapy Foundation, a nonprofit organization that funds massage research, held its first scientific conference in 2005. The third conference will be in Boston next year.
The research is being driven, in part, by massage therapy’s popularity. About 8.3% of American adults used massage in 2007, up from 5% in 2002, according to a National Health Statistics report that surveyed 23,393 adults in 2007 and 31,044 adults in 2002, the latest such data available. Massage was expected to be a $10 billion to $11 billion industry in 2011 in the U.S., according to estimates by the American Massage Therapy Association, a nonprofit professional organization.
“There is emerging evidence that [massage] can make contributions in treating things like pain, where conventional medicine doesn’t have all the answers,” said Jack Killen, NCCAM’s deputy director.
The massage therapy field hopes that the growing body of research will lead to greater insurance coverage for its treatments. Washington is the only state that requires insurers to cover massage therapy.

Research Findings
A full-body massage boosted immune function and lowered heart rate and blood pressure in women with breast cancer undergoing radiation treatment, a 2009 study of 30 participants found.
Children given 20-minute massages by their parents every night for five weeks plus standard asthma treatment had significantly improved lung function compared with those in standard care, a 2011 study of 60 children found.
A 10-minute massage upped mitochondria production, and reduced proteins associated with inflammation in muscles that had been exercised to exhaustion, a small study last month found.
Another common type of massage, so-called deep tissue, tends to be more targeted to problem muscles and includes techniques such as acupressure, trigger-point work (which focuses on little knots of muscle) and “deep transverse friction” where the therapist moves back and forth over muscle fibers to break up scar tissue.
Massage is already widely used to treat osteoarthritis, for which other treatments have concerning side effects. A study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine in 2006 showed that full-body Swedish massage greatly improved symptoms of osteoarthritis of the knee. Patients who had massages twice weekly for four weeks and once a week for an additional four weeks had less pain and stiffness and better range of motion than those who didn’t get massages. They were also able to walk a 50-foot path more quickly.

Scientists are also studying massage in healthy people
In a small study published in the journal Science Translational Medicine in February 2012, a 10-minute massage promoted muscle recovery after exercise. In the study, 11 young men exercised to exhaustion and then received a massage in one leg. Muscle biopsies were taken in both quad muscles before exercise, after the massage and 2½ hours later.
The short massage boosted the production of mitochondria, the energy factory of the cell, among other effects. “We’ve shown this is something that has a biological effect,” says Mark Tarnopolsky, a co-author of the study and a professor of pediatrics and medicine at McMaster University Medical Center in Hamilton, Ontario.
A 2010 study with 53 participants comparing the effects of one 45-minute Swedish massage to light touch, found that people who got a massage had a large decrease in arginine-vasopressin, a hormone that normally increases with stress and aggressive behavior, and slightly lower levels of cortisol, a stress hormone, in their blood after the session. There was also a decrease in cytokine proteins related to inflammation and allergic reactions.
Mark Hyman Rapaport, the lead author of the study and the chairman of psychiatry and behavioral science at the Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta, says he began studying massage because, “My wife liked massages and I wasn’t quite sure why. I thought of it as an extravagance, a luxury for only people who are very rich and who pamper themselves.” Now, Dr. Rapaport says he gets a massage at least once a month. His group is now studying massage as a treatment for generalized anxiety disorder.

Here you can get more information about massages and prices

If you want to learn more Don’t Call It Pampering: Massage Wants to Be Medicine

8 Most Popular Types Of Massage

Here is a quick guide to some of the most popular types of massage therapy:massage-therapy-pict

1. Swedish Massage Therapy
This is the most common type of massage therapy. It is also known as Swedish massage or simply massage therapy.

Massage therapists use long smooth strokes, kneading, and circular movements on superficial layers of muscle using massage lotion or oil.

Swedish massage therapy can be very gentle and relaxing. If you’ve never had massage before, this is a good one to try first.

Interesting facts about massage

Did you know massage is probably the oldest and simplest form of healthcare?
It is depicted in Egyptian tomb paintings.
It is mentioned in ancient Chinese, Japanese, and Indian texts.massage-therapy

The ancient Greek physician Hippocrates describes the practice of anatripis or “rubbing up.”

Massage is scientifically shown to be effective treatment for the following conditions:

– Cancer-related fatigue
– Chronic low back pain
– Frequent headaches
– Post-operative pain

Therapeutic massage is increasingly being promoted by healthcare providers to their patients.
Almost one in five adult Americans (19%) report discussing massage therapy with their doctors or healthcare providers. Of those 19%, more than half (58%) said their doctor strongly recommended or encouraged massage.

More than half of massage therapists (63%) receive referrals from healthcare professionals.
Massage is beneficial for infants, children, adolescents, adults, and the elderly.

– Babies fall asleep faster when massaged than when rocked, and they stay asleep rather than waking the moment Mom tiptoes away.
– When massaged regularly, children suffering from juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, asthma, and autism experienced decreased pain, decreased anxiety, and decreased inattentiveness.
– Massage therapy can help to partially restore mobility to the elderly afflicted with Parkinson’s disease and arthritis, and can also reduce levels of anxiety, depression, and the effects of loneliness.

Reap the benefits of massage as it helps all your body’s natural systems function efficiently. Massage is effective in relieving a broad spectrum of symptoms People with a wide variety of conditions, ranging from insomnia to tendinitis to asthma to high blood pressure, receive relief from therapeutic massage. Massage can help us feel less stressed, boost our immune system and increase our mental alertness. Studies have shown massage to reduce heart rate, lower blood pressure, increase blood circulation and the flow of lymph, relax muscles, improve range of motion and increase the body’s natural painkillers.
massages1The most immediate and most noticeable response to massage is relaxation. Not only does relaxation feel wonderful but it also serves an important physiological purpose: when your body relaxes, the functions that heal and restore your body are allowed to take place. Your muscle tension releases, blood flow and hemoglobin levels increase, cellular nourishment and detoxification accelerate, lymphatic flow improves. Your stress and anxiety levels decrease, your immune system is stimulated, body awareness improves, mental alertness increases and depression diminishes. A sense of well-being emerges.

Make Massage a Habit
As with exercise, massage has the greatest benefit when you receive it regularly. The more “practice” you give your body’s systems at functioning in a stress-free and efficient manner, the more “skilled” your body becomes at functioning optimally under challenging circumstances. Whether weekly, semi-weekly, or monthly, a program of regular massage will help your body maintain its overall health.

Massage can help with:

Stress Massage is one of the best known antidotes for stress. Reducing stress gives you more energy, improves your outlook on life, and in the process reduces your likelihood of injury and illness. Massage can also relieve symptoms of conditions that are aggravated by anxiety, such as asthma or insomnia. 

Painful or Tight Muscles
Massage can relieve many types of muscle tightness, from a short-term muscle cramp to a habitually clenched jaw or tight shoulders. Some massage techniques release tension directly by stretching, kneading, and compressing your muscles. Others techniques work indirectly by affecting your nervous system to allow your muscles to relax.

Delayed Muscle soreness
After vigorous exercise, a buildup of waste products in your muscles can leave your feeling tired and sore. Massage increases circulation, which removes waste products and brings in healing nutrients.

Pain or Tingling in Arms or Legs
Muscles can become so contracted that they press on nerves to the arms, hands and legs, causing pain or tingling. If this happens, a massage to release the contracted muscles can bring relief.

Injuries
Massage can help heal injuries that develop over time, such as tendonitis, as well as ligament sprains or muscle strains caused by an accident. Massage reduces inflammation by increasing circulation to the affected area, which removes waste products and brings nutrients to injured cells. Certain massage techniques can limit scar formation in new injuries and can reduce or make more pliable the scar tissue remaining around old injuries.

Prevention of New Injuries
By relieving chronic tension, massage can help prevent injuries that might result from putting stress on unbalanced muscle groups or from favoring or forcing a painful, restricted area.

Joint Pain or Restriction
Besides releasing tight muscles that can restrict joint movement, massage works directly on your joints by improving circulation around them and stimulating the production of natural lubrication within them, relieving pain from conditions such as osteoarthritis.

Posture
As massage releases restrictions in muscles, joints, and surrounding fascia, your body is freed to return to a more natural and healthy posture. Massage can also relieve the contracted muscles and pain caused by abnormal spinal curvatures such as scoliosis.

Improve sleep
Not only can massage encourage a restful sleep—it also helps those who can’t otherwise comfortably rest.
Also, if you’re a new parent, you’ll be happy to know it can help infants sleep more, cry less and be less stressed, according to research from the University of Warwick.

Relieve headaches
Next time a headache hits, try booking a last-minute massage. Massage decreases frequency and severity of tension headaches.
Research from Granada University in Spain found that a single session of massage therapy has an immediate effect on perceived pain in patients with chronic tension headaches.

http://www.natureofmassage.com/benefits-of-massage/interesting-massage-facts/#.VZBpKBt_Okp

http://www.besthealthmag.ca/best-you/health/6-surprising-health-benefits-of-massage-therapy?slide=1#WX1G3qVLMyiPV34O.9
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