Different Strokes for Different Folks :: Healthy Lifestyles and Natural Weight Loss Information

Different Strokes for Different Folks
by author Margot Mostyn, RMT

Massage therapy has been around for thousands of years, and its benefits have stood the test of time. Over the years, massage has expanded to accommodate our changing lifestyles. As life’s pace quickens, people are constantly searching for new ways to slow down. Many turn to massage.

Strokes for Stress

A relaxation massage can often be the perfect solution for de-stressing. This type of massage is a gentle therapy that treats the superficial layers of the muscles in the body. Swedish massage strokes and hydrotherapy (usually hot/warm application) are combined to relax your muscles and help eliminate your stress. Other techniques used to help relieve your tension during a relaxation massage may include hot stone massage, reiki (energy work), reflexology (hands and feet), and aromatherapy.

The benefits of a relaxation massage are endless. Increased blood circulation means more oxygen and nutrients reach your body’s tissues. This leads to lowered heart rate and blood pressure and improved overall health. Increased lymphatic fluid circulation means greater distribution of disease-fighting cells throughout your body, which results in a healthier immune system.

Having regular relaxation massage helps you reconnect and balance your body and mind, allowing you to take better care of yourself and cope with stress more effectively.

Strokes for Athletes

As health and fitness continue to become a priority in people’s lives, sports massage is increasing in popularity. Our health-conscious society is always looking for new ways to stay fit: jogging, cycling, weight-lifting, skiing, rock-climbing, tennis, etc. Each sport or activity brings its own unique stress to the body, including spasms, fatigue, and sprains and strains to overworked muscles.

You do not have to be a professional athlete to benefit from a sports massage which is aimed at helping you perform better at any athletic level. The goal is to warm up your muscles using fast and vigorous strokes before activity, and ease muscle soreness to allow you to recover faster afterwards. Regular treatments can help maintain and improve your flexibility and help to prevent injuries. If it’s better performance you’re looking for, then this is the massage for you.

Strokes for Expectant Mothers

Many women will attest to the fact that being pregnant is not always the most comfortable experience. At any point during your nine-month journey, pain may arise out of nowhere. Because many common oral remedies are unsafe during this period, more and more women are turning to massage therapy for relief.

Prenatal massage helps alleviate the many discomforts of pregnancy, such as hip and low back pain, swelling in the hands and feet, and general aches and fatigue. It can also help while you’re in labour by increasing relaxation, helping you focus on breathing, decreasing pain, and providing emotional support for you and your partner. From week 1 through week 40, massage can be incredibly beneficial.

Nowadays, massage is as individual as you are. In order to reap the most benefits, pick a therapist you are comfortable with and the type of massage that matches your health, activity level, and health goals.

Margot Mostyn, RMT, is a registered massage therapist at Ryerson University and runs a successful massage therapy practice at the St. Clair West Chiropractic and Wellness Clinic in Toronto. www.stclairwellness.com.

Source: alive #280, February 2006

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