Aug 30
One weekend I was doing chair massage at an event in the Georgia World Congress Center, and a woman and her 10 year old daughter came over. As they sat down to wait for their massages, they were arguing over who deserved the massage more.
The daughter insisted she was more “stressed out” than her mother. And the mother replied that the daughter “didn’t even know what stress was.” Finally they asked me to determine who won the “I’m more stressed” contest for the day based on who had the tightest muscles. And surprisingly…
it was the 10 year old daughter.
A lot of people just like the mother might assume, “what does a 10 year-old child know about stress?” This situation helps point out one of the biggest misconceptions about stress, which is:
Stress Misconception: The more responsibilities I have, the more stressed I am
Stress is not actually determined by external factors. It does not matter how many items are on your to-do lists or how many irritating people you encounter during the day.
Stress is really determined by your perception of what’s going on around you. When you perceive yourself to be stressed out and under a lot of pressure, then your mind, emotions, and body will follow suit into a stress response state. Not the other way around. Stress begins in your mind.
However, if you perceive yourself to be relaxed, peaceful and healthy, then your body will respond accordingly.
The good news is you can train your mind to adapt to stress. Trying to see the good in people and situations is not just the expression of a person with an optimistic personality. It’s better for your health and your muscles! Every time you’re annoyed, bothered, irritated, or frustrated, your body perceives these emotions as stress and it acts accordingly.
So what if someone cuts you off on the way to work, or your coworker says something inappropriate? Is your negative response to these or similar situations worth the pain your causing to your muscles and your body? Even more serious situations like lack of money don’t deserve our stress. When you’re stressed, all of your energy goes towards reacting to stress rather than thinking about creative solutions.
Next time something “stresses you out,” realize you are in control. You have the power to just let it go. Instead, focus your attention on something that is going to keep your shoulders down and back, your heart forward, and your muscles relaxed. Your body will thank you for it.
Aug 18
You’ve been thinking of going to school to learn to be a massage therapist, so why not consider massage therapy schools in Hawaii? This could be a life changing move for you! It would really change the pace for you – unless you already live in Hawaii, of course.
Among the good things about Hawaiian massage therapy schools is that you have lots of choices. There are many approaches to massage therapy taught in Hawaii and several locations to choose from. Massage therapy schools are found on most islands – Kauai, Oahu, Molokai, Maui, Lanai, and the Big Island of Hawaii.
You can learn several massage therapy arts, and you’ll enjoy every minute of your stay. The warm ocean, the gentle climate, and the lush surroundings of the tropics will give you the most exquisite setting for your educational experience.
In massage schools in Hawaii, you’ll study the same subjects as you would find in any other state – anatomy and physiology, kinesiology, theory and practice of massage – but you’ll do it in a magical environment. You’ll learn to assess client needs and treat ordinary conditions, as well as learn to provide neuromuscular therapy, hydrotherapy, reflexology, spa treatments, and possibly study body-mind integration. You will learn therapeutic massage for wellness, stress management, and exercise. You’ll also find opportunities to study sports massage, deep tissue massage, and clinical massage.
Several massage therapy schools in Hawaii teach Eastern styles of massage, giving you the chance to branch out into more exotic forms of massage, like Reiki, Thai, Jin Shin, Shiatsu and Hawaiian lomi lomi massage, as well as acupressure and aromatherapy. Your massage therapy education may even encompass other, more advanced areas of natural healing, such as acupuncture or chiropractic.
If you should decide to remain in Hawaii after graduation, you will need to know about state laws and area regulations that apply to practices of massage therapy. You can get information by contacting the Hawaii State Board of Massage Therapy. Also check with local city or regional authorities for local laws. Licensure is required for massage therapists to practice in Hawaii. You can qualify for examinations for licensure after you have completed 570 hours of massage training.
To learn more about Massage Therapy Schools in Hawaii, and even Online Massage Therapy Schools, search our site for more in-depth information and resources.
DISCLAIMER: Above is a GENERAL OVERVIEW and may or may not reflect specific practices, courses and/or services associated with ANY ONE particular school(s) that is or is not advertised on SchoolsGalore.com.
Copyright 2007 – All rights reserved by Media Positive Communications, Inc.
Notice: Publishers are free to use this article on an ezine or website, provided the article is reprinted in its entirety, including copyright and disclaimer, and ALL links remain intact and active.
Aug 03
Massage is used for the purpose of blood circulation in your body parts. Generally, massage is defined as kneading or rubbing of body parts. Actually, muscle therapy relaxes your muscles inside the body. Massage therapy, also give another names like, therapeutic and manipulative therapy. These names are given only when massages are used for the purpose of psychological advantages as well as for some physical work.
Suppose, you are facing any kind of blocking, stops in blood circulation or any other physical problems related to blood circulation. You should always select massage therapy as your solution. It helps you for channeling energy and maintaining balance. It also helps reduce blood clotting. In the case of muscle therapy, a therapist carry’s out movements as well as muscle tests. Ultimately, it proposes treatment plans like, hydrotherapy. Other things included are soft tissue manipulation as well as remedial exercise courses. Massage therapy does include clients helping out themselves; this kind of course is also conducted. There are many therapists, who provide you with many different medical courses. These medical course treatments help you and your injuries. At the same time, it also helps you for different medical treatment programs as well as working with professional healthcare, which promotes good health and other health programs.
Massage therapy is being developed from all different sources available. There have been approximately one hundred and fifty types of massage therapies you can definitely try any of one hundred and fifty which can be tried. Well, here are some of the most famous like, breema as well as Chinese Tui Na massage there are some others too, which can be helpful in your day to day life like, Chair, deep muscle therapy. Other therapies are foot or sole massage and deep tissue massage.
Some of the most traditional massage therapies continued like, traditional Hawaiian massage as well as myofascial release and neuromuscular therapy. Some of these are special like, scalp massage. There are many others like, stone, Swedish, and Thai massage, there are many that are performed with a lot of pressure ranging from superficial to deep. Ideally therapeutic massages are resulted only when the receiver experiences some kind of discomfort in their body. Many at times, the receiver does experience activating the body’s natural healing response.
Jul 25
Those who are interested in learning the art of massage will find many opportunities in Massachusetts Massage Therapy Schools to prepare for various massage therapy professions. Aspiring massage therapists can study for certificates or diplomas, or advance their studies to obtain two-year Associate of Science (AS) degrees or four-year Bachelor of Science (BS) degrees.
The courses taught at all massage schools are geared toward helping students prepare to successfully pass national certification exams. They offer courses designed to develop skills in sports massage, prenatal massage, neuromuscular therapy, lymph massage, therapeutic massage, reflexology, acupressure, and kinesiology. Many of the various massage therapy schools in Massachusetts will even provide courses to facilitate smooth client relations, as well as client assessment and communications.
All massage therapy schools, in every state, have the option of becoming accredited, and students should consider only those schools that are accredited by state and national organizations. Affiliation with various massage and bodywork organizations can also give massage therapy programs and massage therapy institutions credence. Accredited massage schools assure that students will receive a quality education leading to a successful employment path. The basic training received in massage school can also be a stepping stone to advanced natural healing studies, such as acupuncture or chiropractics, to name just two exciting possibilities.
Massachusetts massage therapy schools (and others, for that matter) provide students with classroom and hands-on training to qualify for positions at the entry level. Courses in anatomy, physiology, pathology, nutrition, health, and hygiene provide students with basic knowledge to help manage pain and prevent physical incapacity due to injury or disease. Later, students will take courses in theory and practice of massage, hydrotherapy, and reflexology to provide additional skills. Hands-on massage experience in a clinical setting will round out the students’ preparation for serving clients in athletic organizations, spas, and medical facilities. Some massage therapy schools even provide courses in management, marketing, accounting, and business ethics that give students the complete set of business skills for operating their own massage therapy practice.
Demands for the services of qualified massage therapists will continue to escalate in the U.S. as well as Canada. Graduates of massage therapy schools in Massachusetts should find numerous employment opportunities, as the industry is expected to grow steadily for the next several years. Massage practices in Massachusetts may be regulated by state statutes, and individual towns and municipalities may also regulate massage practices; however, many areas have no licensing requirements. The savvy massage therapist will carefully check with state and local governing bodies before beginning a practice.
Would you like to learn more? You can get more in-depth information about Massachusetts Massage Therapy Schools and other Massage Schools and Massage Therapy Schools by visiting our website today!
DISCLAIMER: Above is a GENERAL OVERVIEW and may or may not reflect specific practices, courses and/or services associated with ANY ONE particular school(s) that is or is not advertised on SchoolsGalore.com.
Copyright 2007 – All rights reserved by SchoolsGalore.com, in association with Media Positive Communications, Inc.
Notice: Publishers are free to use this article on an ezine or website, provided the article is reprinted in its entirety, including copyright and disclaimer, and ALL links remain intact and active.
Jun 22
There’s a lot of talk about cellular memory these days. I remember the first time I was aware of my body’s capacity to house information. Before I went to massage school or understood the body in any way other than what I’d learned growing up in Southern Appalachia, I was in a car wreck. As part of my rehabilitation, someone suggested I try out Trager Therapy. I hadn’t even gotten a massage at this point in my life.
During one of my sessions, when the Trager therapist was working on my right ankle and I felt a rush of heat in my body and, though my eyes were closed, I saw a field of red. Afterward, I told my therapist about this and she said, “Oh, you must be storing some anger there.” I immediately dismissed this notion. First of all, it seemed impossible that I could store an emotion anywhere in my body and second, I never felt angry, so this just couldn’t be! (I had a lot to learn about anger!!)
A week later, the incident buried in my consciousness, I returned for another session. This time, as she began moving my ankle, I was filled with a feeling of rage. It lasted only a few moments before I experienced an incredibly vivid memory. The memory was very real–as if I was reliving the moment. In the memory, I was 5 years old and my parents were hosting a 4th of July party. Something (I didn’t recall what) happened and that made me very angry. I took off running and ran down a steep portion of our yard. At the bottom, I landed wrong on my ankle and sprained it badly. I had not thought of this event in many years and was astounded at what had transpired as my ankle went through the gentle movements of the Trager session.
After that, I began to relate to my body in a new way. I was a believer in the concept of cellular memory.
In the first ever massage therapy class at Rocky Mountain Institute of Healing Arts, one of our students did not have a sense of smell. She hadn’t been able to sense smell for many years although she did not know why. One day, I was teaching neuromuscular therapy for the abdominals. This is such a sacred region of the body that I had prepped the students for being especially sensitive. During the practice, the student who couldn’t smell was receiving the treatment. She began to feel emotional and started crying. Her partner in the trade was a good friend and high school classmate, and he did a wonderful job just softly maintaining his touch without pushing any agenda. She couldn’t understand why she was feeling such grief, but was willing to stay open to the experience.
All of a sudden, she smelled a strong smell of cigarette smoke. (At the time, she thought someone was smoking outside the window). Then came a memory of her grandmother when she was dying of lung cancer. Her grandmother had been a lifelong smoker and even at the end of her life, as she was using an oxygen machine, she continued to smoke. The student felt a lot of sadness with this memory. She had loved and missed her grandmother tremendously. She continued to let the feelings and tears flow. After a while, the emotions subsided and her trade partner finished of the session with some soothing and soft strokes. After that massage session, her sense of smell returned and has remained since.
Our bodies are amazing. They are excellent guides to healing, not only physically, but also emotionally.
Apr 20
The ancient civilizations of the Chinese, Egyptians, Hindus and Persians used massage therapy as a principal treatment for many an ailment. Now, the fact that Americans spend 6 billion dollars annually on massage therapy gives an idea of its popularity in treating a wide range of disorders.
It is important to clearly differentiate massage therapy from sensual massage, as the word ‘massage’ calls to mind massage parlors, which were used to peddle sex. Today, health professionals who are well trained, certified and insured give the therapy in a clinical and comfortable atmosphere.
Massage is part art and part science. Hands manipulate the skin, muscles, soft tissues, joints, tendons and ligaments. The therapist strokes, kneads, squeezes, presses or taps to achieve the aim of treatment. The patient is made comfortable, and some lubricants like oil, cream, jelly or lotion are applied. The therapist keeps the patient covered and exposes only the area that he is working on. A typical massage session lasts about an hour.
The massage relaxes the muscles and soft tissues, improves circulation, stimulates the lymphatic system and calms the nerves. There are a wide range of mental and physical disorders for which massage therapy is very beneficial. It eases tension, knots, cramps and spasms in the muscles. Massage therapy is a prime component of most relaxation therapies and stress management. As stress is perceived to be the root cause of many problems like cardiac diseases, diabetes, gastrointestinal disorder and hypertension, stress management via massage therapy is an excellent supporting treatment for these disorders. There are quite a variety of massages – some for general purpose and some others targeting a specific problem. Some of the popular ones are Swedish massage, sports massage, shiatsu, acupressure, aromatherapy, neuromuscular therapy and prenatal pregnancy massage.
Today’s therapists are trained in professional schools, both in theory and practice. They need to pass a board examination and many states have certification standards. Therapists are registered with their professional associations. These associations like the National Certified Board for Therapeutic Massage and Body Work (NCTMB), Associated Massage and Body Work Professional (AMBP) and American massage therapy Association (AMTA) set a high standard of professional ethics and competency.
This is a treatment well suited to hectic modern lifestyles even without any illness, and has no comparative competition in relaxing the body and mind, and relieving stress.
