Know What to Get on Your Spa Massage
Coming into a spa for a massage, it is always important to know what to expect and how to get the best benefits from the massage treatment. It ma eventually help you get the best results and expected therapeutic benefits that you most certainly deserve.
First time to go in a massage spa? Massage has been around for thousands of years. The word "massage" comes from the Greek root "masso" -- to touch. Today it is the most popular spa treatment.

It's surprising how many people haven't tried this enjoyable and healthful experience. Massage releases chronic tension and pain in muscles, improves circulation, increases flexibility in the joints, and reduces mental and physical fatigue. In addition, massage is one of the most effective means available to combat stress.

If it is your first time to go into a spa for a massage, then know these important things before entering, to help you get comfortable with the new atmosphere and to maximize your massage treatment:

• You can drop in for a tour before you even book an appointment. Here's how you can tell if it's a good spa. Tell them it's your first spa visit when you make your appointment.
• Ask questions about which spa treatments would be right for you.
• Arrive at least 15 minutes earlier, more if you want to enjoy facilities like hot tubs and steam rooms. Check in at the front desk and remind them it's your first time.
• You will usually be turned over to a spa attendant who shows you where your locker is and how it works. This should have a lock on it and your robe and slippers are inside.
• Change and, if you have time, enjoy facilities that help you relax for your treatment, like the steam shower, sauna or hot tub.
• A hot shower before your massage is always a good idea. It's essential if you've had a dip in the hot tub. (You need to shower off the chlorine.)

Like any business, the individual(s) who created their Massage Spa or manages it, incorporates her/his personal philosophies, beliefs and experiences into their program. As diverse as every individual is, so are the facilities they have created. A great massage spa is eco-friendly, quiet, aromatherapeutic and beautiful. Then you choose your talented, professional massage therapist. Choose between relax, deep tissue, aromatherapy or hot stone massage. Whatever your pick, surely these options are present in a massage spa.

Being aware can take you a long way, and in this case, help you get the best massage treatment and therapy you are looking for. When looking for a day spa, look for those that has friendly, nurturing crews, and they should be able to provide you their license when asked. The atmosphere of the place must also be relaxing, with soothing music and low lighting, with pleasing aromas. These things help you get the most benefit of your massage. Plus, their place must also provide important if not basic equipments and provide menus that complement your spa treatment.

Choose a massage treatment that your body really needs. Know what are the offers of the establishment, and get the treatment that you think ca help you get the most relaxing and invigorating experience. Get your pampering experience, most importantly your health benefits in a massage spa. Make it a habit, to keep yourself fit and healthy all the time.

By Teri Plaxton
Published: 1/31/2007 

Proving Chicago is a Place of Great Massages
As Chicago advances forward, it massages are starting to get world recognition. with their high educational standards for massage therapy classes and their quality massage services, Chicago is one place that can offer good massages.
Chicago is a big city with lots of attractions, with a festive atmosphere and warm and welcoming people. But in such an activity filled place, everyone also needs time to retreat and give comfort and relaxation to the body. Chicago is one place that isn’t slow to the latest trend.

With a wide range of clients and requests for various types of massages and other health services, lots of practitioners of their field has come to Chicago the give their share of pleasure and relaxation. And indeed Chicago has established its place in the spa and massage health centers. Chicago offers elite spa services with a professional staff and quality products. They also now offer a series of relaxing, rejuvenating, and physician supervised procedures and body treatments. With various types and techniques being offered, you’ll definitely find one that’s best for you. And with their flexible styles and schedules, they give Chicago spirit a great new meaning.

They offer Pilates as part of their multidisciplinary practice not just for adults but now for Pilates in Chicago for kids. Developed in the 1920s by the legendary physical trainer, Joseph H. Pilates, this system of body conditioning promotes physical and mental well-being. Through physical and mental condition, Pilates improves muscle control, flexibility, coordination, strength and tone. Combining stretching and strengthening exercises, Pilates works the entire body in fluid movements. It works by building strength from the inside-out and rebalancing the body.

Chiropractic is a branch of the healing arts concerned with human health and disease processes. Chiropractic is a drug-free, non-surgical science and, as such, does not include pharmaceuticals or incisive surgery, and one of the great massage offers found at Chicago. It consists of a wide range of specific manual techniques, manipulations, and adjustments designed to improve the function of joins, relive pain and muscle spasm and irritation to the nervous system.

Touch is the core ingredient of Chicago massage therapy and also combines science and art. Practitioners learn specific techniques for Chicago massage and use their sense of touch to determine the right amount of pressure to apply to each person and locate areas of tension and other soft-tissue problems. Touch also conveys a sense of caring, an important component in the healing relationship.

When muscles are overworked, waste products such as lactic acid can accumulate in the muscle, causing soreness, stiffness, and even muscle spasm. Chicago massage improves circulation, which increases blood flow, bringing fresh oxygen to body tissues. This can assist the elimination of waste products, speed healing after injury, and enhance recovery from disease.

Therapeutic massage can be used to promote general well-being and enhance self-esteem, while boosting the circulatory and immune systems to benefit blood pressure, circulation, muscle tone, digestion, and skin tone. It has been incorporated into many health systems, and different massage techniques have been developed and integrated into various complementary therapies.

Chicago massage will give personal attention to your mind, body, skin and lifestyle, providing you with the freedom of personal expression in an environment of pure devotion. And as they say, massage is not a luxury it is a necessity!

By Teri Plaxton
Published: 1/31/2007 

 Healing Herbs - How To Heal Yourself Naturally
For thousands years our ancestors used plants to cure many health problems. Here are a few ways in which you too can get better health, memory and appearance with the help of healing herbs.
Most Asian countries are famous for their use of medicinal heeling herbs. Favorable warm climate is one explanation as well as the culture, where it is traditional to use herbs to fight diseases when even modern drugs don’t work. But these days people in many countries other than Asia use healing herbs as safe and natural way to healthy life.

People use herbs in many different ways to improve their ways of life for example, diet herbal supplement, or as body creams and lotions with medicinal herbs.

Healing herbs vs. conventional drugs

Explanation of healing herbs popularity is simple, people use natural medicinal herbs instead of the drugs you can buy in chemist shops because herbs don’t create you any additional health problems, there are no side effects.

How effective is herbal medicine? It usually gives the same result as most chemical drugs; however, it will not work as fast as strong conventional drugs. For the reason that natural healing herbs stimulate your immune system to fight the disease and that takes time. Healing herbs are only beneficial if taken regularly and exactly as prescribed. And to make sure the cure works, don’t stop taking it when you feel better, finish the treatment for lasting result.

Using healing herbs for your benefit

People who have serious health problems, like high blood pressure, heart conditions and even cancer try natural herbal treatments in hope that it will work. As already mentioned, the side effects of herbal medicine are minimal, but you still need to administer the right ingredients. For herbal medicine to work best it should be taken at the right dosage and at the right time of day. Morning is usually a good time. To find the best herbs for your problem, you should not rely on advertisement, but talk to a doctor about any herbs you want to use.

Don’t just assume that all medicinal herbs are good for you

Many people tend to self-medicate, but you really shouldn’t, because natural herbs not always agree with other medication you take. Most doctors agree, you won’t receive many benefits when you are not careful of what herbal medication you take and how.

Most commonly known healing herbs are:

    * Aloe Vera

    * Garlic

    * Chamomile

    * St John’s wort

    * Tea tree



You need doctor’s advice

Find a doctor who is knowledgeable about herbal medicine, not all modern physicians approve of using herbs for healing, so not all of them can give you an advice about healing herbs. He or she will get all the necessary information to find the right herbal treatment for you. Then the doctor will suggest what herbal medicine should be used to fight your condition.

There are so many different herbs that can be used for medicinal purposes.

Herbs for arthritis, depression, high blood pressure, menopause and other conditions. Herbs for weight loss are also very popular. So all you really need to do collect info about what herbs can do for your health.

Tanya Turner is an owner of Medicinal Herbs Guide where you can find reliable information about different types of medicinal herbs to cure a variety of diseases.

By Tanya Turner
Published: 1/30/2007

Have a holistic Shiatsu Massage
Shiatsu massage is an ancient Western massage that is beneficial to the whole body.
It seems that whatever ease and calm efforts we try to make our lives less stressful, it turns out we can’t control what’s going on around us. And this, as it always had done, makes us more tiring and exhausted by the end of the day. You may not know it, but perhaps the extreme stress and tiredness may be due to something else. The best retreat, a soothing massage to comfort the aching and tired mind and body.

A good alternative for relaxation is the Shiatsu massage. Shiatsu massage is holistic, focusing on the whole person, both mind and body. Unlike western medicine, which treats symptoms, Shiatsu seeks to discover and treat the source of the imbalance. Consequently, Shiatsu may be used both to treat and prevent disease. During a session, one might also receive various suggestions that are intended to assist the healing process. These suggestions may include dietary, life habits, thought/perception and lifestyle changes. Shiatsu is also a great alternative for people interested in the benefits of acupuncture but are needle shy. Because shiatsu’s focus is on massaging the meridians, so to speak, the massage may feel deep and focused without feeling invasive and "pushy."

Shiatsu massage treats common psychological and physical complaints by pressing pressure points. Proponents believe it alleviates disorders such as depression, anxiety, nausea, stiffness, headaches, arthritis, cramps, or pulled muscles. This Japanese equivalent of the Chinese method of acupressure comes from the Japanese words "shi" and "atsu," meaning "finger pressure."

Shiatsu massage, sometimes called Zen shiatsu, unifies spiritual, philosophical, and medical aspects of the body. Some westernized massage techniques are combined with the view that energy, qi or chi, circulates along channels called meridians. When freely flowing, chi brings fresh, strong energy and carries away spent energy along with toxins. In this view, any number of influences upset our natural balance of yin and yang. Blocked or diverted chi must be cleared and restored. An Eastern perspective doesn't cite sleeplessness, indigestion, swollen joints, headaches, or depression as sources of discomfort, but sees them as symptoms of either hyperactive or underproductive chi.

Most people enjoy shiatsu massage as much as they enjoy deep tissue massage, but expect some differences. Shiatsu will involve deep breathing, rotating and stretching your joints, as well as manipulating pressure points. When these points are pressed, people describe the sensation as feeling tender, tickling, intense, or slightly uncomfortable, unlike anything else. After the massage, you may feel strange, but not sore as in a muscular tissue massage. Many believe Shiatsu is both preventative and healing, so getting it done on a regular basis, along with stretching, exercise, and a healthy diet, may improve your health.

Shiatsu supports the self-healing process. As a holistic form of treatment, it looks on illness and symptoms of disease as an imbalance of energy. Treatment stimulates, relaxes, invigorates, decongests, and gives an overall sense of body/mind/spirit well-being. Shiatsu not only works on the visible symptoms of imbalance, but also at an even deeper level, the energetic level, the root of all imbalances. This may eventually give you a better disposition and a more energetic lifestyle, the best way to live the day!

By Teri Plaxton
Published: 1/27/2007
 

Enjoy a Massage at Coloroado!
Get to know why Colorado massage is as great as Colorado itself.
Whether you are an occasional exerciser or endurance athlete, I believe that massage is a key ingredient for performance in sport and life. Living at Colorado? No big deal. Almost everywhere you go there are spa centers and massage parlors that offer various health benefits. And from what I’ve known, Colorado ha many distinguished schools that offer massage job opportunities and education. We might as well understand the situation, with the increase of the demand for these kind of stress releasing alternative, it ay be the most sought after activity after a hard days work. Or a reward for a job well done.

And with such great hospitality and openness, you’re sure to get one great and enjoyable massage experience in one of their well known and respected salons and spa centers. Just as that of many places that guarantee of perfection and comfort every session.

Their upmost commitment to excellence and quality of education, with holistic model instilling not only the technical skills needed for success, but also helps students develop the needed business and organizational skills, high code of ethics, and state of presence needed in order to witness and share in the healing process as a qualified massage therapist. They are very keen on the type and quality of their massage centers. Cleanliness and orderliness, as well as comfort and a relaxing atmosphere are usually present to every of their spas and relaxation centers. All their massage centers and professionals have either the proper license or the certificate that proves their strong work and professional background, as well as their trustworthiness and their expertise. This way, you can have the safety and security when you get your massage from them. Whether your male or female, or otherwise, Colorado has relies of the professionalism and work experience that their clients request for. They only follow with what the client requests or wants them to

With a much established massage background, Colorado is a great place to practice and get a massage. Although they do not have a licensure exam or a certification exam, they are also [particular of people who want to give massages. Colorado has their reason why it is important to monitor massages. Here are some of them:

• To remove the stigma massage has of being merely a sensual / sexual activity.
• Massage laws will ensure that people who use massage for health and wellness will get the most competent, professional, ethical, and effective treatment possible.

Therapeutic massage and bodywork relieves muscle spasms; prevents muscle tears; sprains and strains; increases flexibility and enhances athletic performance. In addition, massage and bodywork directly or indirectly affects every system of the body and promotes health, prevents illness and injury, and speeds recovery.

Colorado has everything to offer. All you have to do is visit. With great views, great people and great places to visit, it would be no wonder you would also enjoy a massage at Colorado. They have already proven and established their massage therapy business well, and are renowned for their perseverance and dedication on perfecting it.

By Teri Plaxton
Published: 1/27/2007 

Extraordinary Healing Secrets Are Revealed In The Science Of Being Well By Wallace Wattles
There is now conclusive evidence by respected scientists that it is even possible to heal a severed spinal cord with the power of the mind.
A range of remarkable healers at The Art and Science Of Energy Healing conference shared extraordinary techniques that have even healed a paraplegic. Some of these techniques were discovered and discussed many years ago by Wallace D. Wattles, the author of The Science of Getting Rich and the Science of Being Well.

An energy practitioner demonstrated secret techniques that enabled her to carry out a remarkable healing of a person with spinal paraplegia caused by an aortic dissection who was paralyzed from the T6 vertebrae, which controls nerves to the chest. After six months of applying the techniques, the patient was re-evaluated and found to have feeling above his lower leg muscles and the even sacral nerves, which control his bowel and bladder.

This exceptional case is in the process of being written up in the medical journals.

Using the full spectrum of healing techniques, it is now possible to:

• Run a ‘current’ of energy between the pineal and the pituitary in the brain, which creates a special charging effect enabling you to perceive layers of The Field
• Develop techniques so that you can perceive the difference between energy body from someone else’s.
• Charge and increase your own energy after balancing

These exciting developments which are now coming to the fore of many conferences and healing workshop have their origins in Age old techniques. Wallace D. Wattles was one of the first writer and practitioner to describe the power of the mind http://www.thescienceofbeingwell.biz/as it applies to create wealth as well as health. He is better known for divulging the secrets of creating wealth, since this has universal appeal.

However, his methods can be applied just as effectively to creating abundant health. The Home Study Course gives you a series of step-by-step procedures that take only minutes of your time to bring yourself back to long-lasting health. The Course contains clear instructions. Click here to claim your FREE report of the First Secret of Abundant Health.

By Laurence Magne
Published: 1/27/2007 

The Treatment Of Diabetes Using Alternative Medicine
Although there have been considerable advances in conventional medicine, many people believe strongly in the use of complementary and alternative medicine for many conditions and this is certainly true in the case of diabetes.

Complementary and alternative medicine use a number of products and practices which are not presently considered to be part of the mainstream system of healthcare and the main difference between the two is that complementary medicine is designed to be used alongside conventional treatment while alternative medicine is used instead of conventional treatment.

There are many forms of both complimentary and alternative medicine which are believed to produce beneficial effects but there are others forms can be extremely harmful and, in the case of a potentially serious condition such as diabetes, you should not use either without the knowledge of your doctor. Indeed, you should talk to your doctor about any form of complimentary or alternative medicine which you wish to use so that he can advise you of any possible medical consequences of such treatment.

There are a large number of different types of complimentary and alternative therapy for diabetes including:

1. Guided Imagery. Guided imagery is technique which relaxes the mind and body and develops an awareness of, and an ability to deal with, the body's response to pain using peaceful images. This can be particularly useful for diabetes suffering with nerve damage.

2. Acupuncture. Acupuncture involves the insertion of needles into different parts of the body and can be used to trigger the release of natural chemical painkillers. It can be especially helpful for diabetes suffering with often painful nerve damage (neuropathy).

3. Magnesium. The exact part played by magnesium in controlling diabetes is poorly understood but it is known that this mineral, which is found in green leaf vegetables, whole grain foods and nuts, plays an important role in many of the body's functions including functions of the nerves, heart, muscles and bones. It also plays a part in the helping the body to handle glucose and low levels of magnesium are often found in people suffering from diabetes.

4. Ginseng. Ginseng has become very popular popularity recently for the treatment of a whole range of different conditions and is sold widely. There is some evidence from studies using American ginseng that it can reduce glucose levels, but this evidence is not strong enough yet to say just how effective it is as a form of therapy. One problem with ginseng is that it comes in a variety of different forms and strengths and nobody really knows just what amount or strength is needed for therapeutic purposes.

Whatever form of complimentary or alternative medicine you would like to try it is important to remember that you treating a serious and potentially life-threatening condition and that you should consult your doctor before trying any form of therapy.

For more information on all aspects of diabetes including taking a diabetes test and diabetes treatment please visit Diabetes-Treatment-And-Cure.com.

By Donald Saunders
Published: 1/13/2007
 

Reiki Healing – How It Can Help You
Reiki can help anyone and this article will introduce this fascinating subject and explain how you can enhance your life.
Reiki can help anyone and this article will introduce this fascinating subject and explain how you can enhance your life.

Reiki is a word in Japanese meaning – Rei / ki or Divine Life Force Energy. For Westerners to easily understand, it is like the "laying on of hands".

The universal (and always healing) life force passes through the hands of the practitioner to the patient.

A feeling of well being

Reiki healing is meant to give the feeling of well-being, wholeness and loving happiness. It often spontaneously heals.
The treatment treats the whole person (holistic treatment), and you can feel the loving radiance all around you.

Healing physical mental and spiritual

Reiki healing treats 3 bodily states of physical, mental and spiritual.Besides being simple, Reiki healing is a natural and safe method that anyone can use.

Testimonies show that Reiki has been effective in helping virtually every known illness and malady and always creates a beneficial effect.

More importantly Reiki healing methods well in conjunction with any medical or therapeutic techniques, it not only relieves side effects it also promotes a speedy recovery.

How can I learn it?

Anyone can learn Reiki, and in fact, it is not learnt, but experience and then transferred by the teacher (Master) to the student.

This is done by the Master raising the vibratory level of the student, and then opening the awareness of the student to the unlimited universal healing life energy.

This is not dependent on the educational level of the student, or even intelligence, but is directed to our own universal essence, and therefore, all can learn it.

Reiki is not a spiritual movement, or an organized religion, and indeed is contrary to popular belief that you must be religious in order to achieve this. You need only experience it, and as it is a natural part of your own essence, you are instantly familiar with it. However, as it comes from our Creator, your own closeness to whomever you feel comfortable with (as our Creator) will enhance your own abilities in Reiki.

The benefits of reiki

You can be healed and heal.
You can raise your own spiritual level, and raise that of others.

As Reiki is truly holistic, your body, emotions, mind and spirit are affected positively (or you can treat others). The natural consequence being special beneficial effects including true relaxation, feelings of peace, security and wellbeing.

How can I begin?

There are Reiki Masters and teachers throughout the world. You must use your intuition to choose the right one. The "right" one will be shown to you during a treatment.

You will instinctively feel the difference, and when the fit is correct (between you and the Master or teacher) you will understand without explanation.

One word of note is that the more you are in harmony with the universal goodness the more the Reiki will work for you and others. This is being in harmony with nature, with your diet, with your thoughts and attitudes. The Reiki treatment itself will assist in this harmonizing effect.

Strangely Reiki is comparatively rare today in Japan where it originated. Instead it has proliferated in the West and has a worldwide presence.

The naysayers such as scientists, doctors and physiologists dispute the effectiveness of Reiki, not because is does not work, but because studies have shown that it does not facilitate healing but because the healing it brings is compared to the placebo effect.

Reiki is for everyone

Reiki healing has gained popularity worldwide within hospitals and many doctors themselves.

The UK NHS (National Health Service) as part of its Complementary Alternative Medicine program uses Reiki as part of day care patient programs.

Reiki healing can help anyone and could help you to.

More FREE Information on... reiki healing and other alternative and general ways to improve your well being visit our website for, articles, downloads and magazines at: http://www.net-planet.org

By sacha tarkovsky
Published: 1/4/2007 

Yoga Sequencing
Discover the ancient yoga secrets to creating a powerful, customized yoga sequence designed to treat your unique physiology.
Yoga Sequencing
The Ancient Yoga Secret Of Creating A Powerful Customized Yoga Sequence.

Modern sports training takes enormous care to create sessions that are carefully sequenced.

You warm up your body before you do any strenuous exercise.

You might also stretch.

Then you build the intensity of your training then cool down, then stretch again.

With some sports training you take time between particularly strenuous exercise to give your body a chance to recover.

This carefully planned sequence is common place in scientifically based modern sports training.

But thousands of years before the field of sports science was developed, ancient yoga teachers and students began developing an even more sophisticated system to sequence their yoga sessions.

In a yoga session you can use sequencing to profoundly effect many different parts of your body including your arms, legs, joints even in your internal organs.

A yoga sequence can also change your thoughts, your emotions and more.

So how do you create a safe effective yoga sequence?

If you were training for a sport you would have a particular goal in mind for each training session.

You may want to improve a particular skill or range of skills or you might want to build strength in a particular muscle group.

In a yoga session, and especially in a Viniyoga session this goal or intention you have for the session is vital when you set out to create a sequence that will serve your intentions.

You might want to increase your level of energy or build your body – with a brhmana practice.

Or you might want to relax, calming and soothing your body – with a langhana practice.

Perhaps you want to experience a certain posture you enjoy.

You might have a particular physical or emotional problem you want to deal with in your session.

You can custom design a yoga practice as therapy for a wide variety of problems including...

# Lower back pain
# Upper back pain
# Neck and shoulder pain
# Pain in your sacrum, hips, knees and other joints...

# Digestive problems
# Repiratory problems like asthma and bronchitis
# High blood pressure, high cholesterol and other heart conditions

# Cramps and period pain
# Menopausal hot flashes
# Moodiness, depression and other mood disorders
# And many, many other conditions.

Also important is context in which you will be practicing. Consider the time of day, the temperature, what activities you will do before practice, and what you will do afterward.

Take into account any physical and emotional conditions that you are not specifically addressing in your practice. For example, you may want to strenghten your back, but to safely do so you need to avoid irritating your injured knee.

Here are a few fundamentals for creating a yoga sequence custom designed for you, your unique problems and your unique physiology.

First you need to keep in mind how contracting, relaxing and stretching a muscle effects that muscle.

You want to have each muscle and each group of muscles prepared before you place them under stress.

In yoga the most natural postures we use are those based around forward bends.

You bend forward all the time in everyday life – it's a very natural movement.

You bend forward to pick up something of the floor.

You bend forward as you sit down and as you get up from a lying position.

Because bending forward is a natural, low risk movement we frequently use forward bends in our yoga sequences as a "hub" or transition from one type of posture to the next.

Also when we move from a standing posture to a lying posture we try to do a kneeling posture in between to make that transition smoother and more natural.

We also use "symmetric" postures to balance your body after performing "assymetric" postures – and we often use assymetric postures to prepare for some deeper symmetric postures.

And if you're going to do a risky posture somewhere in your sequence we will plan to do it near the middle of your session.

That way your body will be prepared but you won't be tired so your risk of injury is at an absolute minimum.

Custom designing a yoga sequence is a sophisticated science and a HUGE part of Viniyoga teacher training.

Every posture has a different effect and changing the sequence in which you do postures changes the affect.

If you really consider the implications of that, you'll realize that there are an almost infinite number of combinations of postures and an infinite number of affects you could achieve from those combinations based on your unique physiology and phsychology.

And this is just the asana. When you add in the other elements of yoga – pranayama, sound, chanting, meditation, prayer and ritual – sequencing becomes even more complex.

That's why it's best to have your yoga sequences designed especially for you by a fully certified Viniyoga teacher – someone trained in the sophisticated science of biomechanics, anatomy and sequencing.

By Andrew Cavanagh
Published: 1/4/2007