Tuesday, October 18, 2011
Massage Career Advice and Information
Although massage therapy is mostly used for medical purposes, it may be given just to unwind or rejuvenate the individual getting massaged. Massage is practiced by individuals who are thoroughly trained and who also provide expert care, having the medical health of their clients in mind.
Those who graduate from programs that offer massage therapy are expected to land a career in massage therapy. The needs of many different individuals are catered by massage therapists. Some people just want to unwind and get rid of stress so they go to a spa. Others, however, employ the services of a massage therapist to help them recuperate from illnesses and to treat their injuries. If you are looking for a productive job then this may be right for you. When thinking about a career in massage therapy you also need to decide on which field you wish to get into.
Deep-tissue massage, sports massage, Swedish massage, reflexology, acupressure and neuromuscular therapy are all careers involved in massage therapy. You may specialize in one or more of these fields. You will provide yourself with more opportunities if you try to master more than one of them. Your success is determined by the number of clients you have and how good you are. However, before you get into this field, you should ensure that you comply with all the regulations for therapy in your state. Massage therapists are required by the National Certification Board of Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork to take a certification test. Additionally you are required to complete 48 hours of constant education for you to maintain the certification that you received. Two hundred hours of on hand practice of therapy massage are also needed every 4 years. This should not be taken for granted because if your certification expires, you have to pay fines and meet certain requirement to get it renewed.
You can search for available jobs when you are ready to begin. Lots of careers can be found n the internet. You need to make certain that the firms that posted the internet ads are licensed and are of good repute. Do not be too keen on job offers that just seem too good to be real. You should check out the companies’ profiles on their sites. Jobs can also be found in the classified ads section of newspapers. Asking around may help as well as visiting massage spas and asking if they have any vacant positions.
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
Swedish Massage Techniques
The ancient Greeks, Romans, Indians and Chinese had their own unique massage system. These massage modalities are the basis for Swedish massage, the most practiced form of massage in the West.
The ancient civilizations valued massage as a therapeutic practice and used it as a preventive and remedial instrument.
Modern Swedish massage techniques are the product of combining techniques from all other Eastern Massage modalities and of the constant evolution, adaptation and development of massage and historic events. There is also a strong social and trend component that contributes to the continually changing look of a massage session.
Swedish massage uses four basic massage techniques, each of these techniques having its own therapeutic value and.
The four basic strokes are: Effleurage, Petrissage, Friction and Tapotement. There are also other techniques that massage practitioners can incorporate into their session, including Vibrations, Nerve Strokes, Compression and Stretching.
Have a look at the Squidoo lens about Swedish Massage Techniques.
On my youtube channel I posted a few videos showing the various massage techniques:
http://www.youtube.com/user/dbodnariuc
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
How to Do an Indian Head Massage
Head Massage is Non-intrusive and Convenient
Indian Head Massage is a practice based on the Ayurvedic techniques and involves work on the upper back, shoulders, neck, scalp and face. Champissage, as it is also known, was brought to the west by Narendra Mehta. It is gentle, safe and non-invasive and just about anyone would benefit from a treatment. Head Massage, can be administered fully clothed. Therefore, many people find it less intrusive than a full body massage. This therapy is also known as Chair Massage, or Office Massage, and is very convenient since it can be performed virtually anywhere.
Benefits of Indian Head Massage
Indian head massage is particularly beneficial for alleviating stress, tension, fatigue, insomnia, head-aches, migraine and sinusitis, increase mental clearness, and for promoting relaxation. It is also useful for relieving: tension headaches, eyestrain, ear problems, insomnia, neck and shoulder stiffness, hair loss, hair thinning, scalp tension, intellectual fatigue, and anxiety.
A Powerful Preventative Practice
Indian head massage is a deeply relaxing practice. As a relaxation technique, it is a powerful preventive instrument in today's stressful lifestyle. Indian Head Massage is most efficient when used as a preventative tool, but it is extremely helpful even as a treating method.
Indian Head Massage Techniques
Champissage focuses on the upper area of our body: the superior back, shoulders and neck, skull and face. The techniques include general massage techniques as well as techniques specific only to Champissage.
Upper Back Massage
Upper Back - Palm friction
Using the heel of your palm, make clockwise circles on the upper back. Make the circles on both sides of the spine trying to cover as much as possible. This relives tensions and breaks up knots.
Upper Back - effleurage
Using your entire palm, point your fingers upwards, start from the mid section of the back and glide your palms towards the neck. Once neck area reached, continue onto shoulders. This relaxes the upper back muscles and the shoulders.
Shoulder Massage - a tension Reliever
Light thumb compression
Rest your hands on the shoulders and walk your thumbs lightly down the midline of the neck and shoulders.
Shoulders Petrissage (kneading)
Place your hands on both of your subject's shoulders near the neck and gently squeeze the muscles between your palm and your fingers. Do not use your thumbs. Apply light pressure; this area is sensitive for most of the people.
Neck Massage
Neck Kneading
Place your hand on your subject's neck and gently squeeze it. Do not grasp between your thumb and your palm, you rather use only the palm to apply the squeeze. You can use any for the hands. This stroke is improving the blood circulation in brain.
Neck stretching
Place your right hand on the right shoulder, and begin a gentle side stretching right. The stretching has to be done in a slow motion and the extension should be in the limits of comfort. Repeat this on the left side. Alternate the sides a few times. Keeping one hand on the shoulder, continue with stretching forward - backward in the same slow motion supporting your subject's back. Continue the stretching with alternative rotations; one clockwise the next one counterclockwise; Repeat this several times. This is a slow motion move. Proceed with extreme caution and if your subject complains about dizziness stop the procedure.
Ear Massage
Ear pulling
Ear massage will help reduce the stress, improve digestion, and normalize body temperature adjustment. Pull the ear backward with light force. Squeeze the ear between thumb and index applying a light pressure. Pull the earlobe downward with light force and release.
Effleurage behind the ears
Place the thumbs on the bone behind the ears. Applying a moderate pressure, (moderate effleurage), move your thumbs downwards to the neck until you reach the shoulders. This feels great and helps the release of endorphins. Ideally, you use some lubricant with this move.
Skull Massage Techniques
Eyebrows friction
Starting from between the eyebrows, rub with both of your middle fingers along the eyebrows to the temporal bone. When you reach the temporal bone search for a small cavity and do a small circle fingertip friction with your thumbs. This is an excellent instrument against headaches and fatigue.
Third Eye Stimulation - Head Massage
This is a miraculous technique to clear the mind and regain the focus: Place your both indexes between eyebrows on each side of the nose. Massage in a circular motion with light pressure. Massage for a few minutes.
You can find more Head Massage Techniques with pictures and descriptions.
Dorian is a Complementary Medicine practitioner who promotes touch as a life changing instrument. He contributes with articles about Head Massage.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dorian_Bodnariuc
http://EzineArticles.com/?How-to-Do-an-Indian-Head-Massage&id=3845767
Sunday, January 31, 2010
Head massage
Head Massage appeared in ancient India as part of Ayurveda. Later was brought in Tibet by the Indian Gurus which passed the science to Tibetan Monks. Today the Western Head Massage combines the two into a single powerful tool.
There is also another very effective practice related to Head Massage – Shirodhara. Shirodhara is a therapy where warm oils are poured from a special vessel onto the patient’s forehead. This creates a deep state of relaxation and promotes the health of skin on face and skull.
Head Massage is an exceptional treatment for the following conditions: Insomnia, Stress, Anxiety, Restlessness, Dizziness, Unbalanced Emotions, Depression, Muscle Cramps and Stiffness, Backache and Migraines. It is also reported to have helped for conditions such as: lazy liver, stomach-aches, and other. In conjunction with the use of massage oils is an excellent tool to treat skin and hair problems. Head-Massage is an exceptional preventative system against a lot of ailments since it improves the brain's activity and improves the brain's awareness of affected areas of the body. It is one of the most powerful tools against all affections caused by the modern life.
Learn more about Head Massage.
Thursday, May 21, 2009
Self Head massage
History.
Head Massage appeared in ancient India as part of Ayurveda. Later was brought in Tibet by the Indian Gurus which passed the science to Tibetan Monks. In India Head Massage is very widely spread and they refer to it as Champi. Champi, (Champissage), is an Indian tradition and the knowledge passes from generation to generation.
Benefits of Head Massage.
Head Massage is an exceptional treatment for the following conditions: Insomnia, Stress, Anxiety, Restlessness, Dizziness, Unbalanced Emotions, Depression, Muscle Cramps and Stiffness, Backache and Migraines, intellectual fatigue. In combination with the use of massage oils is an very good tool to treat skin and hair problems. It is one of the most effective tools against all disorders caused by the modern life.
Self massage. If you can’t benefit from the services of a professional massage therapist you can give yourself a head massage. At your workplace to help you regain concentration, at home after an exhausting day, before an exam to help you manage the stress, etc…
Before you start. Before a self-massage warm up your hands, if needed, wash your hands with warm water and use moisturizing cream or massage oil. Rub your hands together very quickly, this warms them even more. Relax as much as possible focusing on your massage.
Begin with a neck stretching.
Place your hands on the place where neck joints with shoulders and start with a side stretching left - and right. The stretching has to be done in a slow motion and the extension should in the limits of comfort. Do this a few times each side. Keeping your hands on the shoulders, continue with stretching forward – backward in the same slow motion. Continue the stretching with alternative rotations; one clockwise the next one counterclockwise this time even slower. Repeat this several times.
Shoulder squeezing.
Place your left hand on your right shoulder near your neck and squeeze the muscle between your palm and your fingers. Do this on the whole shoulder up to the neck. Repeat this with your right hand on the left shoulder. Ideally you should do this directly on the skin. Avoid rubbing the skin too much if you are not using oil.
Nerve Strokes.
Pass your fingers gently through your hair against the direction of hair growth and go all the way to neck. Do this on the opposite direction starting from the neck to the front of the head. When you reach the top of the head where the hair forms a swirl stop for a second and then proceed further.
Eyebrows friction.
Starting from between your eyebrows rub with both of your middle fingers along the eyebrows to the temporal bone. When you reach the temporal bone search for a small cavity and do a small circle fingertip friction. Alternatively this can be done with the thumb. This is an excellent tool against headaches and fatigue.
Ear Massage.
Ear massage will help reduce the stress, improve digestion, improve body temperature adjustment. Pull the ear backward with light force. Squeeze the ear between thumb and index applying a light pressure. Pull the earlobe downward with light force and release. This stimulates all the energetic points on the ear. This is very similar to auriculotherapy. Earlobe massage will calm the hyperactive kids.
A bit of the spiritual part.
Indian head massage is based on the assumption that human body have energetic centers called marma. Marma are sensitive points that are serving as gates between body’s physical and energetic levels, (it is something similar to Chinese pressopuncture points). By stimulating these points we can adjust the vital energy. More on Self Massage. Read the whole manual about Self Head Massage at: Self Head Massage
Saturday, January 3, 2009
Head massage a gateway to heaven
There are other countries where the local culture developed their own versions of Head-massage, however the most important and well documented ones are these two.
Champissage, also known as an Indian head massage is an old Ayurvedic practice focusing on the shoulder, neck and head area of the body. The Indian Head Massage is a vigorous technique which aims to increase blood circulation, stimulate the skin regeneration, and alleviate hair loss problems.
Tibetan Head Massage is a more relaxing alternative derived from the same root - the ancient Ayurveda, but with a different evolving path. It focuses more on balancing energies, on the psychological side of an individual.
The modern, western Head–Massage is a blend of these two techniques and a specific set of acupressure and shiatsu stimulations, with the purpose to provide the patient a unique experience. Head massage is a very powerful tool against the modern’s life illnesses. For more information about head massage check this webpage: http://www.head-massage.net/head_massage.html.