Massage

What is Massage?

Swedish massage (also known as therapeutic massage) is a range of techniques applied to the skin using oils, including effleurage (stretching and relaxing superficial muscles), petrissage (kneading and squeezing deeper muscles and tissues), friction and compression (rubbing the tissues to break down scar tissue and relax muscles), tapotement (rhythmical movements and tapping performed with the hand or heel of the palm to increase blood circulation) and vibration (movements for releasing tension and boosting circulation). Massage involves different types of touch, pressure, or flowing movements applied to the skin and underlying tissues to release muscular tension and pain, relax the body, and enhance well-being.

What is it used for?

Massage is often used to alleviate stress and aid relaxation, to relieve pain, and to facilitate healing from injury. It's a part of many cancer care programs and is also used for premature babies, infants, young children, and older people. It also plays an important part in sports therapy.

What does it involve?

Touch is used to locate areas of stiffness, pain, or tension, and then various techniques involving pressure, friction, or stretching of the skin are used to promote circulation and release tension. Oils or powder may be used to enable smooth, flowing massage movements.

How does it work?

Massage of the skin and underlying tissues increases circulation of blood and lymph fluids, which is thought to increase oxygenation of the tissues and aid the removal of waste products. Massage is believed to stimulate skin receptors and the nervous system triggering the release of 'feel-good' chemicals, known as endorphins, that help us relax. It may also help 'block' pain signals.

 The History of Massage as a preventative

With its long history, massage can hardly be called a "new" healing tool. However, its application and validated benefits are increasing in awareness and use throughout the health care spectrum, worldwide. Massage is thought to aid circulation, relax the body and mind, encourage better sleep, relieve mental stresses and anxieties, and is considered to encourage a feeling of wellbeing.

How many treatments will I need?

Daily treatments may be advised to treat pain or sports injuries. A weekly massage is often given for relaxation and the relief of stress and anxiety. These may last for a set number of weeks or be on an ongoing basis.

How much will it cost?

Massage can cost from £30 to £90 depending on the type of massage, the length of time taken, and whether it's a full-body or partial massage. Massage is not generally covered by private health insurance.

When should I not have a Massage?

Massage is not suitable on broken, damaged, bruised, swollen, or infected skin, burns, open cuts or wounds, over varicose or inflamed veins, or when someone has deep vein thrombosis (DVT) or a fever. It is also not advised if someone has suspected broken bones, brittle bone disease (osteoporosis), advanced cancers, or serious heart problems.

Hot Stone Massage

Mary Nelson from Arizona is widely credited for introducing stone therapy back into Western focus in 1993, with the introduction of La Stone Therapy TM. She used stones from a sauna to help her with her Swedish massage clients, as she was suffering from repetitive strain injury to her shoulders and was told by her spirit guide to pick up the stones and use them.

Harness the ancient healing powers of hot Basalt stones for total relaxation of the mind, body, and soul. The smooth volcanic stones are warmed and used along with massage. As the heat penetrates relaxing muscular tension the massage is performed with long gliding movements and pressure.

Benefits to the client

* Boosts circulation
* Increases immune function
* Improves muscle and skin tone Improves joint flexibility
* Deeply relaxes the nervous system and calms the mind

Alleviates deep muscle aches and pains - the hot stones heat the muscles and the additional movement of the stones provides deeper penetration into the muscle structure than a traditional massage; often the massage is able to reduce muscle spasms and chronic muscle tension and stiffness, especially sports-related tension.

Deep Tissue Massage

Deep tissue massage is a type of massage therapy that focuses on realigning deep layers of muscles and connective tissue. It is essentially helpful for chronic aches and pains and contracted areas such as stiff neck and upper back, low back pain, leg muscle tightness, and sore shoulders. Some of the same strokes are used as classic massage, but the movement is slower and the pressure is deeper and concentrated on an area of tension and pain.

* Chronic pain
* Lower back pain
* Limited mobility
* Recovery from injuries (e.g. whiplash, falls,
* Repetitive strain injury, such as carpal tunnel syndrome
* Postural problems
* Muscle tension in the hamstrings, glutes, IT band, legs, quadriceps, rhomboids, upper back
* Osteoarthritis pain
* Sciatica
* Piriformis syndrome
* Tennis elbow
* Fibromyalgia
* Muscle tension or spasm
* After a workout or bodybuilding

Therapeutic Massage

Massages are no longer an indulgence but a necessity for all of us who lead busy lives juggling families, work, and the environment we live in. Give yourself a break and let us unravel your tensed aching body and mind. You will leave a different person. These total-body treatments take a holistic approach by promoting total relaxation for the body and mind. Massage promotes relaxation, improves circulation and mobility of the body. Passive and active movements are used to ease muscular and skeletal problems. Massage is believed to stimulate skin receptors and the nervous system triggering the release of 'feel-good' chemicals, known as endorphins, that help us relax. It may also help 'block' pain signals. Touch is used to locate areas of stiffness, pain, or tension, and then various techniques involving pressure, friction, or stretching of the skin are used to promote circulation and release tension. Oils or powder may be used to enable smooth, flowing massage movements.

Aromatherapy

Aromatherapy is an alternative form of holistic therapy that uses essential oils to help improve and balance you emotionally and physically. It also enables you to take time out for yourself, to be mindful, and to reconnect with yourself, even for a moment, and the essential oils have a dynamic effect on the mind and body. This is experienced through the sense of smell which is linked to the deepest parts of the brain governed by your instincts, thoughts, and emotions. On a physical level, essential oils help to ease muscular aches and pains, improve circulation, ease sinus congestion and act as a strong antioxidant.

Holistic Clinical Aromatherapy

This advanced treatment for the scalp, face, and body will offer you a real sense of wellbeing. It incorporates Shiatsu Massage to detoxify as well as release tension, also aromatherapy to soothe and re-balance the body along with the mind. Oils are specially blended to individual requirements and combined with a comprehensive body massage. Ideal to ease away tensions and combat the stresses of modern living.
Tranquility provides the ultimate in complementary holistic health therapies for those who appreciate exclusivity and professionalism. Tranquility wants to help you to help yourself to better health care. We aim to offer high-quality complementary health care.

Indian Head Massage

The therapy is the use of different types of massage movements to the scalp, neck, top of back, and arms. Massage has always played an important part, it encourages the natural healing abilities of the body. Indian head massage springs from traditional family grooming; it has been practiced for over 100 years. It was originally developed by women who used various oils according to the season to keep their hair strong, lustrous, and in beautiful condition. The skills have evolved from generation to generation, nowadays it is very common to go to a barber's shop, receive a wet shave and a head massage as part of treatment. There are no languages or intellectual barriers and physical contact can be especially valuable for those experiencing isolation or loneliness. Touch is essential for stimulating the nervous system and promoting healthy physical development. Physical touch conveys a sense of companionship, comfort, and communication.

Benefits of Massage

* Encourages better sleep
* Creates better elimination of toxins overall
* Help normalise glands and organs to create a better balance in the body
* Helps relieve mental stresses and anxiety
* Encourages a feeling of well-being
* Untangles muscular knots

Tanya has recently followed training courses in ART - Advanced Reflexology Technique - which is more robust than many reflexology methods. However, it has been found to be far more therapeutic than most techniques and can be done in a shorter time, with appointments being 30 minutes rather than the more usual hour. It is useful for most ailments, whilst not as relaxing as some reflexology techniques during the treatment, it has very effective results. It has been developed over 30 years by Tony Porter, and Tanya has been taught by Tony himself. The techniques can produce a very powerful healing response to the body's inherent healing potential, and proper training by Tony or one of his teachers is essential to appreciate its potential benefits. Treatments last around 30 minutes, and as it's just the feet that are being worked on you remain fully clothed, simply removing shoes and socks. You will be reclined on a treatment couch; if it is not possible to work on your feet your hands can be used instead. Shorter, more frequent treatments are sometimes recommended - 10 minutes can give very good results, and chronic conditions may respond better to several short treatments over a few days than one longer treatment several weeks apart. You will be advised on the best course of action during your consultation.

The Feet

 It is important to drink plenty of water after any massage or reflexology to help flush out lactic acid out of the tissues. If you don't you might be sore the next day. It's possible that you might feel some soreness the day after a deep tissue massage even if you DO drink water. This just means a lot of waste products were flushed out of the tissues.