Massage
What is Sports Massage?
Sports Massage is a deep tissue massage. It is based on Swedish Massage and combines the gliding and kneading strokes with other techniques such as direct pressure, and stretching and joint mobilisation, to stretch, release tension and relieve soreness in muscles, tendons and ligaments.
Is Sports Massage for me?
Anyone can benefit from a sports massage to help deal with the stresses and strains that our bodies face everyday. Aches, pains and injuries are caused by many activities at home and at work (such as driving, working at a computer or carrying small children) as well as on a sports field or in the gym.
A sports massage treatment is tailored to individual needs. It can be used to treat the whole body or be applied to specific areas.
If you are a sports person,a sports massage can help your physical and psychological preparation for an event, by stimulating circulation and warming muscles, and reducing the risk of injury. After an event it will assist your recovery by removing waste products from those muscles (such as lactic acid), helping to prevent sorenes and maintaining muscular condition.
Aromatherapy today has a growing credibility among the medical profession and is enjoying great popularity with the general public. The combination of touch and aroma seem to have profound effects on mind and body, and the powerful healing energies of essential oils can treat so many common ailments in a safe and effective way.
It is important to receive an aromatherapy treatment from a qualified aromatherapist. Essential oils do have a few side effects, and there are contraindications to massage; it is vital to know when not to give a treatment.
Essential Oils
Essential Oils are highly concentrated substances extracted from various parts of plants. All parts of plants are used flowers, leaves, roots/rhizome, resin, berries, fruit, seed, bark, heartwood, cones, needles and peel. They are usually extracted by steam distillation a process which has changed very little since ancient times.
The chemistry of essential oils is most complex and not all the components have yet been identified. A single oil can help with several disorders because they have many components such as Aldehydes, phenols, alcohols, esters and ketones. We know Lavender is antibacterial, antiviral, antiseptic, antidepressant, analgesic and sedative.
The skin is a semi - permeable membrane, which allows limited penetration of lipophilic or oil soluble substances. Essential oils are lipophilic. Essential oils diluted in carrier oil then massaged into the skin enter the bloodstream, and can be measured on exhaled breath within 60 minutes. Inhalation of essential oils reaches the bloodstream via the respiratory tract.
Swedish Massage
Swedish physician Per Henrik Ling (1776 – 1839) developed a treatment, which combined massage and exercise, which he called gymnastics. Swedish massage is based on his massage movements.
Massage increases the blood and lymph circulation to the skin, underlying muscle and tissue. Oxygen enriched blood aids the healing of damaged tissue and speeds up the elimination of toxins. Blood pressure is lowered, the pulse rate slows, and muscle tension is released. The mind is calmed, anxiety reduced and depression is lifted.