This reflexology video shows you how to use reflexology to help relieve your hemorrhoids and help reduce the swelling and inflammation. Video gives step by step instructions so you can do it in the privacy of your own home.

How to release neck and back stress, extremely useful for office workers, students & computer geeks! From Sianu’ of The Ayurvedic Massage Center in Morjim Goa India.

So what is reflexology?

Reflexology is a form of foot massage that was first introduced to the United States by William H. Fitzgerald, M.D. in 1913. At that time, he called it “zone therapy” because he divided the body into ten bio-electrical zones and believed that our bio-electrical energy all flowed through points in our hands and feet.

Eunice D. Ingham later developed reflexology into what we see today, the practice of stimulating the natural healing response of our body by applying pressure to specific reflex zones in the feet, hands, ears and face.

However, it is important to note that versions of this style of practice have actually been around for centuries, as far back in fact as 2400 BC in ancient Egypt and ancient China.

How does foot reflexology work?

Well, each reflex zone corresponds to a specific part of the human body and pressure applied to these different zones stimulates healing in that corresponding part or area. It does this by increasing the circulation of blood and also ‘Qi’ (chi), our vital energy into that area.

So pressing on the reflex zone on the foot that corresponds to the liver for example, would increase blood flow and Qi energy into the liver region, helping it to perform its most important function, to detoxify the body.

So how can reflexology help?

Well, aside from increased circulation and releasing the blockage / restoring the flow of Qi (vital energy) throughout the body, reflexology treatments assist in overcoming or alleviating a broad range of specific health problems including…

- Stress
- Neck, back and shoulder pain
- Panic Attacks
- Insomnia
- Depression
- Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
- PMT
- High / low blood pressure
- Migraine /headache

However, even if you do not suffer from any ’specific’ ailment, regular reflexology sessions will definitely help to keep you rejuvenated, refreshed and balanced, and therefore more able to maintain a constant state of good health and well being.

Is reflexology painful?

When performed by the hands and fingers of a skilled and caring practitioner, working the reflex zones on the feet actually feels wonderful, especially if your feet are sore, tired or aching.

Any initial pain or discomfort experienced after a reflex point is pressed is usually quickly alleviated and it is not uncommon to experience waves of warm energy move through your body as blockages are dissolved and your Qi is allowed to flow freely again along the meridians.

These meridians are the energy lines (or pathways) through which your Qi flows throughout your body.

What can I expect during a reflexology session?

A typical reflexology session will usually commence with a consultation in regards to your health history and current health situation so that a ‘focus’ for the session can be decided. Some practitioners like to place your feet in a nice warm foot bath so you can relax during the consultation.

It is important to note that reflexology may not be appropriate if you are experiencing certain health conditions for example foot infections or sores and also if you are in the first trimester of pregnancy. Your practitioner will discuss these contra-indications with you and decide if it is appropriate to continue with the treatment or perhaps a ‘modified’ version.

When it is time for the treatment to begin, you will be asked to lie on a massage table or sit on a reclining chair depending on the facilities of the practitioner. Unlike other styles of massage or bodywork, there is no need to remove any clothing beyond your shoes and socks, and typically no massage oil is used, though there are exceptions to this.

Techniques used throughout your treatment:

Next the treatment begins with the practitioner gently holding your left foot at either the ball of the foot or at the ankle (note: the left foot is worked on first as this compliments your digestion and circulatory patterns). The practitioner will then gently rock your foot forward and backward about an in inch or so. This is a common ‘warm up’ technique (although it can also be used mid-session) called ‘cradling’ and it feels absolutely wonderful.

Next your practitioner will start working on your reflex zones/points and the most commonly used technique for this is called ‘thumb walking’. Here your practitioner will place their thumb so that it is flat against your foot and apply pressure while creeping up the sole of your foot, not unlike an inch warm.

This technique can be applied with one thumb working the reflex zones and the other hand holding your foot or two thumbs working the reflex zones at the same time, while the top of the foot is held in place with the fingers.

Your practitioner should check in with you periodically to see if the pressure needs adjusting. However, you should always let your practitioner know if something they are doing is painful or uncomfortable.

Other techniques include ‘wringing the foot’ which is where your practitioner will grasp your toes in one hand and your heal in the other and give a gentle twist in opposite directions. Your practitioner may also do some ankle circles and also stretch your toes back and forth.

These are just a sample of the different techniques that may be applied during a typical full foot reflexology session, which can last anywhere between 60-80 minutes. One thing that remains a constant is that your treatment should always finish off with a big glass of water. Drinking water after your reflexology treatment will help the body to rid itself of toxins that may have been released during the treatment, while minimizing any side-effects.

Ultimately, nobody knows exactly why reflexology works, but the truth is it is often very effective in treating a wide range of ailments. Who would of thought that there is a world of healing right at your feet?

–Tania Hodder is a remedial massage therapist and holistic counselor with a passion for natural healing methods and the law of attraction. (www.woodstovepipes.org)

Sea shells have been thought for centuries to have a positive uplifting energy to them and have been utilized in many different ways.

They have been important in many cultures over the centuries for a number of reasons. But massage? Read on to see how.

For a long time in a number of Indian and Pacific Ocean islands they were the main form of currency, being traded for food and other items. The cowrie shell in particular was seen to be very valuable as currency.

The Dutch East India Company gained a large part of its fortune in trading shell money in exchange for spices and gemstones all of which were valuable in Europe at the time.

Sea shells have also been used as tools, with the large clam shells being used to shovel dirt, and also used as bowls and carrying instruments.

Some such as oyster shells, when ground down, have been used to condition and raise the PH in the soil.

Sea shells have also been used as part of cultures and religions for thousands of years.

Christians see the scallop shell as the symbol of St James the Great, whilst Hindus see the left handed chank shell as sacred to Vishnu.

Cowrie shells are often linked to female fertility with the idea that the dome of the shell resembles a pregnant belly. In Kerala, the home of Ayurvedic medicine, cowries are often used to make astrological predictions.

Ripple Massage uses sea shells in a totally unique way, incorporating them into a massage style.

Using a mix of reef shells, including speckled cowries, ginger scallops, lions paw fans and elegant sun dial shells, this style of massage taps into the energy of the shells whilst giving a deep and calming massage.

The shells are used in a mix of ways. Some like the cowries are heated, and aromatherapy oils are poured into the crevasse to warm before being trickled onto the body.

The smooth domed surface is also used with hands on massage to release muscles. The shells are used both to de stress and for deeper tissue work. The domes are used to work deep into the trapezius muscles and erector spinae muscles.

Other shells like the lions paws and scarlet coloured scallops are heated and placed on the body to warm the chakras and also the hands during the massage.

Smaller more delicate sun dial and cockles are used to release lines in the face, whilst cones and olives unlock tension in the neck and shoulders.

Further details on how sea shells are used in sea shell massage are at http://www.ripplemassage.com.au or by calling 0438 567 906.

Alison Shaw is a qualified mobile massage therapist in Queensland Australia and owns Ripple Massage.

sea shell massage cowrie shell

This is the first installment of our free online aromatherapy class at GiveBestMassageEver.

To start, let’s talk about what is aromatherapy and what are essential oils.

Aromatherapy is really a very misleading term. It leads one to believe that aromatherapy only works through the olfactory senses, in the brain, making us feel good, making us feel relaxed, or even energized. But science has proven that aromatherapy is much more than this. Aromatherapy is becoming a comprehensive holistic science of mind and body, which makes it a perfect compliment to massage therapy.

Aromatherapy definition: The inhalation and bodily application of essential oils from aromatic plants to relax, balance, rejuvenate, restore and enhance you mentally, emotionally, physically and physiologically.

So what are essential oils?

Essential oils are the very concentrated extracts of plants. They are the precious liquids that give plants their wonderful aroma. They reside in sacs and ducts in all parts of plants. They can come from any one, or a combination of the plant’s parts.

For example, jasmine, neroli and ylang ylang essential oils are extracted from flowers. Rosemary, lavender, rose and peppermint essential oils are distilled from the flowers and leaves. Geranium, patchouli and petitgrain are distilled from leaves and stems. Sandalwood and cedarwood from wood. Bergamot, orange and lemon from the rind of the fruit. Juniper from berries. Myrrh from resin. Vetivert from roots.

The special thing about essential oils is that all of them, to a greater or lesser extent, exhibit the following characteristics:

Antiseptic (prevents or combats infection locally)
Bactericide (kills bacteria)
Bacteriostatic (inhibits growth of bacteria)
Cytophylactic (promotes cell regeneration when applied to the skin)

But essential oils aren’t really magic potions. Although is fun to think that they are. Without knowing the science behind them, they truly do seem to work like magic. But their chemical makeup is what gives them their special transformative properties.

Below, read some of the major categories of chemicals found in essential oils:

Acids – kill bacteria
Alcohols – destroy bacterial and viral infections and are skin toners
Aldehydes – reduce inflammation and destroy bacterial infections
Coumarins – thin the blood and are calming and uplifting emotionally
Esters – soothe muscle spasms and irritated skin and kill fungal infections
Ester oxides – release lung congestion and mentally stimulating
Hydrocarbons – reduce bacterial infections, inflammation and intestinal gas
Ketones – promote wound healing and thin out bronchial and lung congestion
Phenols – stimulate blood flow, warm the skin and are powerful antibacterials

Now that we know what essential oils are capable of doing to help us with our health, in our next lesson we will learn some of the best essential oils to own and why. You will learn how to make your own essential oil first aid kit and how to determine a great quality oil.

Stay tuned. The next lesson will come by the end of this week.

Lotus Palm founder Kam Thye Chow and teacher Sukha Wong demonstrate Thai massage on a chair. This is a Thai Yoga Massage form you can offer anywhere and practice anytime, incorporating Lotus Palm’s 4 Basics:
- meditation & metta
- steady stances
- rhythmic rocking, and
- touch techniques

Thai massage, one of the hot “new” massages offered by most spas, was actually developed by Buddhist monks in Thailand as a healing modality 2,500 years ago. It uses passive stretching and gentle pressure along the body’s energy lines to increase flexibility, relieve muscle and joint tension and balance the body’s energy systems. It is both deeply relaxing and energizing.

Enjoy this thai massage video.

(lotuspalm.com)

As the staff aromatherapist here at GiveBestMassageEver, I thought I
would take today to talk about how you can incorporate aromatherapy essential oils into your life.

A lot of people have heard of essential oils and know that they’re supposed to make you feel good, relieve stress, and smell good, but don’t know much else, like how to use them or how to blend them. What are the best oils and how do I know I am getting a quality oil that will actually work for me.

So this month at least once or twice a week I will publish a little lesson of sorts, on the “art” of aromatherapy so you can see just how easy it is to benefit from these seemingly magical essences.

You’ll learn how to use essential oils in your bath, make your own aromatherapy massage oils, make your own aromatherapy bath salts, the best types of burners and diffusers to use, what oils are good for what, how much to blend and use in whatever you are making.

Using essential oils is like sampling the life of luxury. In the moment you are using them, you feel rich and pampered. When taking an aromatherapy bath or enjoying an aromatherapy massage, you come out feeling brand new, clean and smelling of roses, wood and some interesting and aromatic spices from all over the world.

Sampling and using essential oils is an adventure, sort of like going on a safari or a tropical vacation only you don’t have to spend thousands of dollars.

So stay tuned to this spot. The first aromatherapy lesson will come by the end of this week!

In this aromatherapy video tutorial you will learn 3 essential oils that are good for stress relief and how to use them.

In this free massage video demonstration, Susan Salvo, author, instructor, massage therapy expert, shares her foot massage techniques. She blends joint mobilizations, massage techniques, and reflexology into a fantastic routine. Many of these techniques are featured in her book, Massage Therapy: Principles and Practice. Don’t forget that practice makes perfect, so grab a foot and try your hand at foot massage.

This video is a good introduction to the common strokes in massage, effleurage, sweeping, fanning, pulling, v-draining and nerve stroke.

Below, in parenthesis, is the minute where each stroke is demonstrated in the video.

Effleurage (1:00)
Sweeping (1:32)
Fanning (2:20)
Pulling (2:45)
V-Draining (3:35)
Nerve Stroke (4:40)
Cautions and Contraindications (4:56)

Effleurage is a versatile stroke, usually the easiest to learn and be used by most beginning massage students.