To begin with, you will need baby massage oil, a massage cushion or comforter. Keep a blanket if the baby is cold and also a towel as a safety measure against accidents. Put your baby on the comforter …show more content…
and place some baby massage oil in the palm of your hands and rub them together to warm up your hands. Low light and soft music can add to the comfort of both parent and baby. If the purpose of your massage is not to relieve pain, carry on with the massage only if you are feeling relaxed and your baby is generally settled.
Babies love having their backs massaged as it helps to relieve the aches and pains of their growing muscles. Start by placing your baby on his or her tummy. Place your finger tips at the top of the back and begin sweeping and sliding the palms of your hands from side to side, moving down towards the buttocks. You should be careful so that your fingers remain close together and you apply pressure evenly. As you reach the buttocks, start sweeping back up towards the neck without lifting up your hands.
For doing a circular massage, place your finger tips on either side of the spine and make small circles. You have to move again from the top of the spine down towards the buttocks. Now make circles on the opposite side of the spine. Make sure you stay to one side of the spine or the other. Take care not to apply direct pressure on the baby's spine.
It is time to move to the legs. Again, gently place the baby on his or her back. They love to receive leg massages and it helps them as they learn to crawl. Squeegee is another type of massage that can increase the baby's circulation. To perform this, hold on to the ankle and foot with your left hand. Use your right hand to make the backward letter "C". Then wrap your fingers around his/her leg and stroke upward in long sweeping strokes. Now alternate your hands so that your right hand holds the ankle and your left hand makes the letter "C" and stroke upward. Then move to the other leg. Another type requires you to hold on to your baby's left foot in your hands. Take your thumb and press all over the bottom of his or her feet. Move to the other foot. When you stimulate the nerve endings in the feet, it will increase the baby's circulation and relax the whole body.
Infant massage provides numerous benefits and it will no doubt become a bonding experience between you and your child.
Hot stone massage has fast become a popular trend in spas worldwide. This luxurious massage combines traditional techniques with a unique form of heat therapy. Read on to find the answers to the top five questions regarding the history, benefits and techniques of hot stone massage.
What is a Hot Stone Massage?
Hot stone massage is a massage technique that uses special stones to transfer beneficial heat to muscles. The massage therapist uses heated stones as extensions of their hands to help work out knots in problem areas. The stones may also be placed on certain areas of the body, in palms of the hands, even in between toes to warm the muscles in those areas and increase circulation.
Hot stone massage commonly uses smooth polished stones heated in a basin of water, but other variations use special seashells and lava stones. Regardless of the type of material used, the goal of the massage is the same: to apply therapeutic heat to heal and relax.
Where did the Hot Stone Massage originate?
While hot stone massage has just recently become popular in modern spas, the technique has its roots in many different cultures dating back hundreds of years. Many Native American cultures have used hot stone massage as part of detoxification in sweat lodges. Heated stones are passed around in the lodge for participants to place on areas of discomfort.
Hot stone massage has also been used in Hawaiian culture for centuries. In ancient times, Pohaku, or lava stones, were heated and wrapped in leaves and placed directly on painful areas. The heat released the oils from the leaves which were meant to aid in pain relief. Today, the lava stones are used with traditional Lomi Lomi massage to help increase circulation and provide relief for various ailments.
The Philippines are the main provider of tiger-stripe clam shells that are used in lava shell massages. The smooth clam shells are used in a similar fashion to the hot stone massage. However, instead of heating the shells in water, essential oils, minerals, and algae are added inside the shell to create a chemical reaction that causes the shells to heat up.
What should I expect during a Hot Stone Massage?
I was skeptical the first time I scheduled a hot stone massage. Would the stones be too hot? Would the stones relieve my difficult knots? Would it be relaxing? My massage therapist was quick to reassure me that I would enjoy this treatment; five minutes into the hot stone massage I was sold.
The term "hot" in hot stone massage is not quite accurate and may lead one to believe that this is a painful procedure. This treatment should really be called "warm" stone massage, as the stones should never be too hot to touch or burning. If they feel too hot or you become uncomfortable, tell your massage therapist immediately so they can adjust the temperature. I find that as the stones are used along my back they cool quite quickly.
The therapist can use the stones in a couple different ways: by placing the stone in their palm for a shallow Swedish-style massage, or holding the stones in their fingers using them as tools to reach deeper muscles. Because the stones take a lot of the direct pressure off of the massage therapist's fingers, this allows them to work longer on my stubborn knots: a win-win situation for both the therapist and my back.
The massage therapist may also place the heated stones on areas of tension for a few minutes to allow the heat to fully reach the muscles.
In my experience, this is the most relaxing part of a hot stone massage. You can actually feel the knots and stress slowly melt away under the weight and heat of the stones.
What are the benefits of a Hot Stone Massage?
Hot stone massage is not only incredibly relaxing, but it can be very beneficial health-wise as well. Widely used for pain-relief: the heat from the stones combined with traditional massage techniques is very effective at releasing muscle knots and discomfort.
Hot stone massage can also help to relieve inflammation from chronic joint ailments. I noticed an immediate improvement in the range of motion in my shoulder (that has chronic pain from an injury) following a recent hot stone massage. In addition, this massage technique can also increase circulation and help to remove toxins from the muscles.
How should I prepare for a Hot Stone Massage and are there any precautions?
Hot stone massage doesn't require you to prepare any differently than you would a standard massage treatment. A warm shower may help to loosen muscle tension before your massage, and as with any spa treatment, you should always check with your healthcare provider before receiving a hot stone
massage.
Hot stone massage is not a treatment that you should try at home. It requires advanced training by licensed massage therapists to learn how to regulate the temperature of the stones, how to safely handle the stones, and special techniques when using them as part of the massage. Trying this at home could result in severe injury, so be sure to leave hot stone massage to professional hands.
Hot stone massage can alleviate muscle tension, relax your body and relieve stress. While slightly more expensive than other massage therapies, this treatment is worth every penny. Who knew a rock could be so relaxing?
For more information check out: 10 Tips to Prepare for a Massage.
(*The information provided in this article is meant for educational purposes only and should not be used to diagnose or treat any health issues. The information in this article should not replace the professional consultation and care of your licensed healthcare provider. Always consult your licensed healthcare provider prior to any spa visit.)
Sources:
Healthline, "Stone Massage" www.healthline.com
Brenner, Mara E., "The Original Hot Stone Massage," www.alaskawellness.com
Pelt, Greg Van, "Hot Stone Massage for Beginners," www.livestrong.com
Spavelous, "From Stone Age to New Age," www.spavelous.com
Would you like to become a masseur? Does the idea of being able to provide relief, and ease someone else's pain appeal to you? If looking to take massage lessons in San Diego, there are a number of options just depending on the curriculum you are interested in. This article will review the Body Mind College school of Massage and Holistics, one of the top schools to take massage lessons in San Diego.
The Body Mind Massage College of San Diego offers an excellent program for those wanting to take massage lessons in San Diego. Students learn in a nurturing environment with like-minded individuals creating a community and great support group for the learning process.
The principles embodied at the Body Mind College School of Massage and Holisitics is one where East meets West in those students are encouraged to not limit their learning to their mind. They are instead exposed to the concept of integrating Western technology with Eastern knowledge throughout their massage lessons in San Diego.
Students are taught in their practice encouraging the client to accept responsibility for his or her health, and being an involved participant in the healing process. The learning at the Body Mind College is more of an experiential learning concept. Holistic principles are promoted and practiced in the curriculum of learning massage therapy and other bodywork. Students are taught that each client is to be evaluated uniquely so that their therapeutic needs are custom made to their requirement.
The Body Mind School not only teaches massage lessons in San Diego, but also prepares the students to enter the field of Massage holistically and fully. The goal of the school is for the students to grasp the concept that their role is one of a Healer.
The massage lessons in San Diego at the Body Mind School encompass learning techniques in therapeutic massage, tension relief massage, relaxation massage, chair massage, express massage, pregnancy massage, shiatsu massage and more. The curriculum is quite extensive. Emphasis should be put on the fact that students are more so trained than taught in that they don't use a rote form of training.
All During the massage lessons in San Diego at the Body Mind College, all training is hands on experience so that the principles are embodied in the students' method of practice. Most importantly students taking the massage lessons in San Diego at the Body Mind School learn quickly that to be a Healer one must be healed. For that reason principles are taught before technique. The importance of mind body connection is embodied in the learning process.
The cost of the program is $15.00 per class hour with classes ranging anywhere from 12 to 24 hours. Classes taken individually as opposed to the complete program cost more. The basic Massage Therapist Program is a 520-hour program. Class sizes are kept to a minimum due to the importance of each student receiving individual attention in such an on hands experience. If you are interested in massage lessons in San Diego that embrace these principles visit the Web site for the Body Mind School.