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30-07-2010       The One-Person Spa

When it comes down to it, your visit to the spa is only as good as the treatment. The steam room and beautiful surroundings can add to it, but if your massage therapist is exhausted by working two shifts, then you might not be getting what you pay for. That's the perfect reason for the one-person spas -- Master therapists who have decided they want to work on their own. They are usually small, practically workable, well decorated and the services are top quality. The prices are lower than resort spas, and you can be sure the therapist isn’t burnt out when they work on you. That's because they set their own schedule, and they rely on repeat customers, not someone passing through.

30-07-2010       What Is A Spa?

The word "spa" conjures up images of long days filled with mud baths and meditation classes, exquisitely prepared spa cuisine, and fragrant eucalyptus groves. But spas, lately, seem to be popping up everywhere: office buildings, village storefronts, beach tents. Salons with one tiny massage table tout their spa services. Even nail places call themselves spa pedicures. How can we all be spas? Nowadays, they have become an extension of a hair salon, with a room set aside for treatment. No one is regulating use of the word spa. That's why some salons promote spa services when all they have is one massage table, or use names like "spa pedicure." If you have any doubt, check out the facilities yourself before booking an appointment. Just drop in and ask for a quick tour. At a minimum, a day spa should offer professionally administered massages, facials and body treatments in a quiet, serene atmosphere. There's also a huge range of experiences at resort spas. Again, no one is regulating the use of the name, so it could be anything from one massage room next to the fitness center to a multi-million facility. ( I recently visited Thailand and more than 75% of the resorts, hotels, places that use the word “SPA ‘ have nothing more than a massage facility attached to their premises. When I spoke to the locals about this, it became apparent the word spa and massage went hand in glove. What does it mean? It's up to you, the spa-goer, to figure out what kind of service and experience you want, and find the place that suits you. What You Need To Know About Spas * Day spas range from homespun spas in converted houses to lavish multi-million dollar facilities. * At a minimum a spa should offer a relaxing environment, robe and slippers, soothing music, and high quality spa treatments. ( What ever they are ) Conclusion – If a spa is a hair salon, nail reconstruction studio, beauty salon, exercise consultation fitness centre, body beautification treatment, massage therapy premise, pedicure rooms, then who is the qualified person to work in these places. Does that person have the training in all the aspects covering the spa word. ( ( As a member of ASPA we have tried to formulate some qualification to cover the work performed by people working in spa complexes but to date cannot reach agreement. As a massage therapist it is also interesting to see our own government has now decided to take unit standards of the framework after what has been a 10 year struggle to have them recognized. )

30-07-2010       Will Massage Hurt?

One of the most common questions newcomers have about massage is: "Will massage hurt?" The important thing to remember is that, as the client, you're in control of the pressure. The massage shouldn't hurt if you don't want it to. If you want a purely relaxing massage, get a Swedish massage. Most massage therapists will ask at the beginning of the massage what kind of pressure you like, and you can indicate then that you want a relatively light touch. Gentle types of massage include Swedish, lymphatic massage, reflexology, cranio-sacral, and Ayurvedic. Energy-based work like Reiki and Polarity Therapy uses extremely gentle touch. However, some people enjoy the more intense pressure of a deep tissue massage. And if a massage therapist is trying to undo long-term problems and chronic pain, there might be some discomfort. Types of massage that might involve some discomfort include deep tissue, myofacial release, nueromuscular therapy, trigger-point therapy and Shiatsu. Even if you choose these therapies, you are in control of the pressure. Speak up if the sensation is too intense. Rolfing, also called Structural Integration, is probably the most uncomfortable of all the massage therapies. It is a form of deep connective tissue massage aimed at realigning the body and reshaping its posture. It is usually done as a course of ten treatments of one-hour each. Massage therapy, reflexology, shiatsu, and other types of bodywork are hands-on therapies that release muscle tension and improve circulation. Many therapies also affect "reflex" points on the body, enhance lympahtic drainage, and more.

30-07-2010       What To Expect When You Get a Massage

What does a massage feel like? First, it depends on the kind of massage you get. Swedish Massage should feel very soothing and relaxing and is perfect for beginners. Deep tissue uses firmer pressure and techniques, that might feel uncomfortable. This is better for more experienced spa-goers. Second, what a massage feels like depends on the therapist. Every massage therapist has their own style. Some might do deep tissue in a slow, gentle way. Others might give you a vigorous Swedish massage. A Massage Should Never Hurt Even a deep tissue massage should feel good and be deeply relaxing. If a massage feels painful, it's more pressure than you can take. Listen to your body. Feel free to state your preference for pressure before and during the massage. The massage therapist won't know if it's "too much" unless you tell them. What Happens During a Massage Generally you start face down, your face in a cradle so you don't have to strain your neck. You are usually naked underneath a towel or sheet, but the therapist only works on the part of the body that is uncovered. The therapist should non-verbally "cue" you that the massage is about to begin, and the first touch should be gentle, not a surprise. Their hands should be warm. Massage oils will allow their hands to glide smoothly over your bare skin. Massage therapists use a combination of classic Swedish massage strokes to work the muscle tissue: Some therapists also use passive stretching. The best way to figure out what a massage feels like, and what style you like, is to try different therapists.

30-07-2010       What Causes Muscle Fatigue?

Everyone who exercises realizes that you can’t exercise at a high intensity for long before your muscles tire. You may also know that how long you go depends upon how hard you go. So what causes fatigue and why does it occur faster when you exercise harder? The reason has to do with several factor including the availability of energy to fuel muscle contractions and the mechanism of calcium in muscle cell action. Energy Pathways - Aerobic and Anaerobic Metabolism Consider the energy pathways the body uses for exercise at different intensities. During intense exercise, such as sprinting or lifting heavy weights, muscles rely on anaerobic metabolism, which can only produce a certain amount of energy at a time, unlike the aerobic metabolism system, which can produce energy over hours. Muscles use ATP (adenosine triphosphate) as an energy source. ATP is created in essentially two ways. One is by aerobic metabolism using oxygen carried in the bloodstream. This is a sure and steady way to create virtually unlimited sources of energy; however, it has a limit on how fast it can work. The cardiovascular system is limited in its ability to quickly deliver blood and oxygen to the working muscles. Because of this, during high intensity exercise, ATP is also provided by anaerobic metabolism that don't require an ongoing supply of oxygen. Anaerobic pathways can provide ATP immediately, but they also have limited stores that need to be refilled after they are used up. Training can make a difference in how long and fast both of the metabolic pathways work. Trained athletes have a greater ability to quickly deliver oxygen to the working muscles which increases the ability to use aerobic metabolism at a higher exercise intensity. Trained athletes also develop a greater efficiency in both energy deliver, and skill. Finally training may improve the way the body creates and uses the anaerobic systems so you can access ATP more readily Calcium in Muscle Fatigue Physiologists studies found that muscle fatigue experienced by athletes after long and intense exercise may be caused by a problem with calcium flow inside muscle cells. One doctor who lead the study, fatigue occurs due to tiny leaks of calcium inside the muscles. One of the functions of calcium is to help control muscle contractions. This research found that after extended high-intensity exercise, small channels in the muscle cells begin to leak calcium, which leads to weakened muscle contractions. This leaked calcium also stimulates an enzyme that attacks muscle fibres and also leads to fatigue. The study had experienced cyclists riding stationary bikes for three hours a day, for three consecutive days at a high intensity. Muscle cell samples at the end of the third ride showed calcium channel leaks. After a few days of rest, these leaks were repaired. Although this theory of calcium being involved in muscle fatigue has been around for several years, but this is the first time anyone has been able to identify a specific reason for muscle fatigue.