Shiatsu Massage – Flourish Good Health

There are different kinds of body massage and each has its own health benefits. One of the most favorites of many including me is the Shiatsu massage.

Just like the Western massage, Shiatsu promotes health, relieves stress and focuses on the body of the person being treated. It is known as a Japanese style healing technique although it uses Ancient Chinese medicine and acupressure in relieving stress and eliminating toxins from the body in a natural way.

“Shi” stands for finger and “atsu” means pressure. Finger pressure is used instead of needles. The organs of our body are connected to the meridians (energy channels where concentrations of nerves are).

Shiatsu massage has been widely known and respected in many parts of the world. Many hospitals use it as therapy for patients who have experienced heart attack, stroke and other chronic disorders. Applying the right amount of pressure to the meridians reduces the risk of hypertension and heart attack by stimulating the associated organs. Energy circulation is believed by most Chinese to one of the best ways to having good health.

Before performing the acupressure method (patting, holding, shaking, pinching, vibrating, rolling, joint rotations, grasping, hooking and plucking), stretching must be done first. Palms of the hand and soles of the feet are the most common area applied with Shiatsu massage. In addition to fingers, the massage therapist also uses his or her thumbs, palms, hands or massage tools made of wood to apply pressure.

Let’s find out how Shiatsu massage is done….

1. Assessment of Conditions

It is a must for the therapist to assess the conditions of the person to be treated. Assessment is done by applying light pressure to the corresponding meridians. There is an energy imbalance if you feel pain at a certain area.

2. Undressing

The patient is asked to remove upper and lower clothes with underwear or a loose towel left. Then they are asked to lie down on a futon or Shiatsu mat on the floor. Undressing makes it more comfortable for the therapist to access areas of the body where acupressure is necessary.

3. Working on the 12 Meridian Points

The massage therapist will then work on your 12 meridian points. Areas wherein pressure is most needed, pressure is usually applied for more than 3-5 minutes. Typically, the session lasts from 45-60 minutes. It is normal to feel pain while pressure is applied to certain areas but it is “good pain” which is tolerable.

There are some normal side effects after the Shiatsu therapy session. These include stomach ache, diarrhea, headache and depression because of the release of body tensions and toxins from your body. These effects last only for 1-2 days.

In order to enjoy and experience the true benefits offered by Shiatsu massage, you must do it regularly and must be done by a master or expert therapist.

Four Health Benefits of Hot Stone Massage

Are you a fan of massage therapy?
If yes, chances are you have heard about the concept of hot stone massage and its amazing benefits to the body and health. If not, you will learn more about the reason behind this craze and how you will get to enjoy these benefits as well. But in order to understand what a hot stone massage can do for you, it is important to learn more about how it works.

A hot stone massage utilizes warmed stones that are placed on various parts of the human body. The goal here is to exploit the therapeutic benefits offered by the heated stones, which are made from basalt. This kind of therapy has been used for treating various health conditions including high blood pressure and other conditions that go with pregnancy. However, there are four generic health benefits that you can enjoy, of which you will know more of below.

1.It provides relief from pain.
The effects of hot stone massage is similar to other kinds of massage therapy wherein tensed muscles or stiff joints are relieved of any pain due to the intensity of this massage and the warmth coming from the stone. The stones and the heat allow the physical effects of the massage to penetrate deeper into the skin tissues instead of just the skin surface.

2. It relaxes the muscle.
As mentioned above, hot stone massage can cure any stiffness or tightness in the muscle that is causing you to feel easily fatigued or drained out. The heat also allows the muscles to release tension, which is why this form of therapy is recommended for those with sore muscles.

3. It improves blood circulation.
The hot stones are placed on trigger points of the body to encourage circulation that happens as an effect of the heat penetrating deep into the tissues and blood vessels. Facilitating better circulation of the blood helps to introduce more oxygen to the rest of the body that naturally relieves pain and eases the body of fatigue.

4. It brings forth several mental benefits.
The biggest benefit of undergoing hot stone massage extends beyond the physical benefits. In fact, the mental benefits of this massage therapy are more integral. It eliminates mental stress and feeling of tension, which often results to tightening and stiffening of the key muscles in the body.

Any of the physiological benefits mentioned above contribute to simply feeling good about yourself. Hence, it comes as no surprise that this kind of therapy is incorporated into treatment plans for depression or anxiety disorders.

Get a great massage here

Facial Massage Techniques for Enhanced Beauty

According to popular belief, a smile can make you beautiful. This statement holds true not just in terms of enhancing your confidence and the way you project yourself to others, but also in the physiological aspect. Smiling can workout your facial muscles and that helps to fight the signs of wrinkles and other facial imperfections that make you look older than you really are.

The benefits of massage to your health are supported by ancient and modern medicine. The same benefits can also be experienced when performing facial massage. In fact, a lot of women these days undergo facial massage in order to keep looking fresh and vibrant, whatever their age may be.

When you are looking to get a facial massage to enhance your beauty, or improve your aura:

Tired-Eyes-Relieving Massage
This kind of massage is ideal before going to bed at night. Here are the steps for doing this massage on your own:

• Remove your glasses or lenses if you are wearing one. Make sure you’re relaxed before you get started.
• Rub your palms together until it gets warm. Once your palm is warm enough, promptly use the center of your palm and rest it onto your arms. Repeat this several times.
• Slow your breathing. Allow the heat to transfer from your palm to your eyes. This will help to relieve your tired eyes. Keep doing this until you feel relaxed. Ideally, repeat 3 times or as often as desired.

Facial-Skin-Relaxing Massage
This is a more in-depth kind of massage whereas the one above is a basic one. This one is recommended for those who want to relax their facial skin and achieve a better skin complexion. Here are the steps:

• The same process as above – heat your palms by rubbing them together, back and forth.
• Once warm, press your palm against your whole face until the heat begins to fade. Repeat the process for 3 times or more. This is a relaxing sensation to feel the warmth against your facial skin.
• After you have done the step above, use your hands to gently massage your face. There is no need to rub your palms at this point. Just perform a clockwise and counter-clockwise motion as you massage your face using your fingers.

The Bottomline
The above massage techniques are very easy to do on your own, or when you hire a professional massage therapist to do it. According to studies, regularly undergoing facial massage can help eliminate wrinkles, acne, freckles, and other skin impurities on the face.
This will also help your skin to become rosy and bright, which naturally makes you look younger than your age. Think of these benefits the next time you intend to get a facial massage, or before buying expensive creams that promise to achieve the same results.

The Good Things from Deep Tissue Massage

An advance type of massage is used when there is a need to focus on the deeper layers of muscles and tissues in the body. And this is the deep tissue massage. This type of massage is used primarily to treat several physical problems brought about by damaged tissues. An example of such cases are the injuries that athletes receive when playing their sports.

Doctors highly recommend deep tissue massage to help these injured athletes recover and bring them back to top shape and form. Go here to get a great massage

But it is not just the professional athletes who can benefit from deep tissue massage. Anyone can benefit as well. To prove it to you here is a list of the good things that you can get from this type of massage.

Reduction of Chronic Pain

Recent medical research had proven that deep tissue massage is very effective in dealing with chronic pain compared to other medical treatments. This is due to the increase in the flow of blood throughout the body promoted by slow and firm strokes in the deep tissues. The result is fast reduction of inflammation, the main cause of pain in the muscles and tendons.

Muscle tension is also alleviated by deep tissue massage further relieving the patient of discomfort.

Improvement of Blood Pressure

Since deep tissue massage eases tension, it also has a great effect on our blood pressure. Medical studies have shown that deep tissue massage causes an average systolic pressure drop of 10 mm Hg and a diastolic pressure drop of 5 mm Hg.

Massage also relieves stress and increases the body’s production of serotonin, the substance in the body that makes us feel happy and make us feel more positive.

Breaks Up Scar Tissue

Deep tissue massage can get rid of our body’s scar tissue over time. It can even reach a point when not a single trace of scar tissue will remain. This is the main reason why athletes who got injured are given deep tissue massage all throughout their rehabilitation program.

The deep strokes to the tissue improves the drainage in the lymphatic circulation which restores the flexibility of the affected muscle area. This is also the reason why deep tissue massage is given to individuals who had surgery.

Rehabilitates Injured Muscles

Injured muscles can be restored to full health with deep tissue massage. Athletes such as boxers, football players, soccer players and basketball players all benefit from this type of massage when they suffer injuries.With deep tissue massage, the toxins are removed from the muscles which aids in their regeneration.

It also relaxes the muscles which reduces swelling and pain restoring significant levels of motion and flexibility in the affected area better in a short period of time.

These are all the great benefits you and anyone else can get from deep tissue massage. If you got injured in your thigh muscles or just finished a surgery, deep tissue massage can help you get healed fast without the need to take too much medications.

Remedial Massage - What is it about?

There are times when a person strains himself so much that he ends up impairing his muscles and tendons. You usually experience this when you are injured during athletic activities like sports and running. When this happens the body will be in severe pain especially when moving. This is where remedial massage comes into play.

Remedial massage is a type of deep massage that is done to help restore impaired muscles and tendons to their normal state. This is done by systematically targeting deeper areas on the tissues of the muscle and tendons to promote the natural regeneration process.
Remedial massage achieves this since it removes blockages on blood vessels due to damage, removes adhesions and damaged cells.

Remedial massage is not applied until the patient reveals all necessary information about the affected area to the massage therapist or physical therapist. This way the therapist will know where to focus the deep massage treatment. Applying such a massage on a healthy muscle or tendon can lead to injury which is why the information must be accurate.

To verify the massage therapist will do light massages on the area being pointed by the patient. The patient will feel pain after the light massage is applied if the area is the one that needs the remedial massage.

The healing process takes time, but after the application of remedial massage the patient will experience the following results instantly:

• Less pain on the affected area
• Better movement, especially on the joints
• Better mobility and improve flexibility of the muscles
• The patient feels more relaxed all throughout the body
• The patient feels a whole lot better on his/her entire body

Remedial massage also helps in the flushing out of toxins by unclogging blood vessels and promote proper blood circulation. In turn, it also aids in the circulation of nutrients that will help in restoring impaired muscles and tendons.


Lymphatic circulation is also improved through remedial massage. This aids in the reduction of scar tissues since a good lymphatic circulation aids in the development of new tissue cells.

Remedial massage is commonly given to athletes due to them being prone to injury when they play their sports. However, people who do not play any sport can still get injured in their tendons and muscles due to overstrain and accidents. And only with the help of deep tissue massages like the remedial massage can these injuries be dealt with and return you to your normal state.

Before you consider getting yourself into remedial massage treatment you must first consult a doctor. They are the ones who can verify if you really need the massage. If you do not need it the treatment could make your injuries more severe than it is now.

These are all the important things that you need to know about remedial massage. Remember, this is a high level massage that is used to treat injuries. So do not take it casually as you do with relaxing massages that you normally get from spas.

At Total Essence you can get an amazing remedial massage on the Gold Coast

My Fav - Hot Stone Therapy

Hot stone therapy is a form of specialty massage that involves the use of smooth heated stones. These special stones are used as either extension of the hands or placing them in key areas of the body for a period of time and/or while the therapist massage other parts of the body. The heat from the stone can help relax and warm up tight muscles so therapists can work on them quickly and deeply.

How It Works

The idea behind hot stone massage / therapy is the use of heat from the stones to relax the muscles, allowing therapists to massage through the deeper layers of the muscle. The hot stone promotes ease of muscles, better blood circulation by expanding blood vessels, and melts away tension from body. The stones also have natural sedative effect that instantly relieves chronic pain, promoting better relaxation and reducing stress.

Hot stone massage therapy melts away tension, eases muscle stiffness and increases circulation and metabolism. Each session promotes deeper muscle relaxation through the placement of smooth, water-heated stones at key points on the body.

How Its Done

Heated stones are usually placed on chakra point, along the spine. These points are your body’s energy center. Treatments on these parts of the body are believed to vitalize the whole body, as it promotes better flow of energy through the body. 

With this, hot stone therapy is considered as a gentle type of therapy compared with deep tissue massage and Swedish massage. But it doesn’t mean it’s less effective, as therapists use hot stone instead of bare hands to massage, which allows them to reach up to ten times deeper than the usual fingers and palms. 

Stones are heated through a hot water ranging from 120-130° Fahrenheit. Some treatments utilize either heated basalt stones (or basinit stones) and cold marble stones, as the combination of hot and cold are believed to promote relaxation and healing of the whole body and detoxification.

Benefits of Hot Stone Therapy

Opens Up The Body’s Energy Pathways

As said earlier, hot stones are placed along the chakra points, which hare energy pathways of the body, and medical science backs this claim up.

Eases Muscle Tension

Therapist heats up the stones and applies it to the tensed muscles and then use traditional massage. The heated stone relaxes the muscle, making it easier for the therapist to apply massage to the painful area. However, in some cases, people may still experience pain in the massaged area. If this is the case, always tell your therapist about it, and if the stone feels like burning your skin.

Alleviates Pain

Driving long distance or sitting in front of the compute all day can cause stress and stiffen muscles in the lower back. For this, massage therapist can use the other alternative called “cold stone therapy.” This therapy reduces inflammation and pain in the affected area and promotes healing of the injured part of the body. 

I had the pleasure of visiting the beautiful town of Metung and had a hot stone massage from Gail at McMillans of Metung in there relaxation centre.

Deep Tissue Massage

This massage focuses on realigning the muscles and connective tissues right on its deeper layers. It is used to treat painful areas and chronically tensed muscles by loosening contracted muscles, such as low back tightness, sore shoulders, and stiff necks. 

It is characterized by slow but deep strokes to directly apply pressure to affected muscles. Some strokes are similar to classic massage therapy, but in considerably slower movements to concentrate on areas that are in pain and tension. Some highly affected muscles may feel painful, but it is significantly helpful to loosen up the muscles and release tension all throughout the body.

How Does It Work

Injuries or chronic muscle tension is characterized by adhesions. These are rigid and painful tissues in the muscles, ligaments and tendons. These adhesions block blood circulation and results into pain, inflammation, and limited movement. 

Deep tissue massage targets these adhesions by physically breaking them down, relieving pain and promoting normal movement in the process. Massage therapists imply deep pressure directly to the affected areas to treat the adhesions. 

The deep strokes may hurt at certain points throughout the massage, and many people experience discomfort and pain. This is why it is very important to tell therapist when the massage becomes uncomfortably painful.

In some cases, you may feel pain and stiffness even after the massage, but it usually subsides after a day or two. Also, it is advisable to apply ice to the massaged area after the treatment.

Benefits of Deep Tissue Massage

Even doctors recommend this type of massage to their patients because of its considerable benefits. 

Improves Blood Pressure

This type of massage alleviates stress and tension, which obviously have direct beneficial effect on blood pressure. A study in University of Maryland Medical Center shows that, deep-tissue massage can also help the body produce better levels of serotonin, a hormone that promotes good mood and happiness. 

Breaks Up Scar Tissue

Scars usually cause ongoing stiffness and pain, and deep tissue massage can address this problem when done over time. Deep tissue massage help break scar tissues and even erase them in from the body in the long run. It is through its improvement of lymphatic circulation which promotes drainage to improve the muscle’s flexibility and range of motion. This is the reason why many doctors recommend this massage as part of their patient’s recover program after surgery. 

Reduces Chronic Pain

The University Of Maryland Medical Center also reports that this form of massage is an affordable and effective option for relieving chronic body pain compared to the traditional medical remedies. Also, because deep tissue massage improves blood flow, it alleviates the inflammation which causes pain. This massage can also be used in treating muscle tensions as it works by loosening the right clusters of tissues. 

Restores Injured Muscles

Injured muscles can really benefit in deep tissue massage as it enables the movement of toxins out from the muscles and help stretch those tight and twisted muscle mass in affected areas and give way for faster and better healing. Also, because it relaxes the muscles, it greatly reduces pain cause by the injury. This is why therapist use this massage to rehabilitate athletes’ injuries.

One of the best deep tissue massage I have had has been from Monica at Total Essence Massage on the Gold Coast.

Aromatherapy Massage

Aromatherapy is a form of alternative medicine that revolves around the use natural oils extracted from volatile plants, from stems, barks, leaves, roots, etc. which is known as essential oils. When inhaled, the aroma of these oils alters a person’s mind, mood, and health, and cognitive functions which improve both psychological and physical well-being.

Today, this form of therapy is used for various applications, such as mood enhancement, pain relief, and to better cognitive functions. One form of application that is believed to provide noticeable effects is the aromatherapy massage. 

Aromatherapy massage is not very different from other types of massage, except that the massage oils or lotion includes essential oils.

How Does It Work

One theory that explain how aromatherapy massage work is that, our body absorbs the essential oils directly through our skin and gets into our bloodstream and send it through different parts of our body, which causes the effect on particular parts, organs and functions of our body.

The aromatherapy massage combines the healing power of traditional massage and natural therapeutic properties of essential oils. As we all know, massage improves our body’s function and promote better healing process by manipulating the outer and deeper layers of muscles and connective tissues which promotes relaxation and improved well-being. Along with the help of the therapeutic properties of essential oils, aromatherapy targets physical, psychological, and emotional experience for a wider range of health conditions. 

Today, aromatherapy is widely used for relaxation, mental clarity, stress management, and alleviating headaches as it targets our circulatory, nervous, lymphatic, muscular, and even immune system.

When the essential oils is inhaled, the nostrils, which are attached in the brain through limbic system, it can influence the nervous system and hormones. And with that same process, the oil promotes better breathing, digestion, heart rate, blood pressure, stress level, memory, and immune system functions. 

Different Essential Oils for Different Results

Specific blends and formulations of essential oils provide particular effects to the body. Some oils are made to calm while others are energizing. Some alleviates aches and pain while some eases apprehension and nervousness. Here are some of the common health issues and the known essential oils used to alleviate them:

Aches and Pains – clove, cypress, sweet birch, and rosemary, are known to promote tissue recovery after a physical exertion. Combined with other aromatics, these oils alleviate pain in muscles and joints.

Anxiety Release – chamomile, geranium, lavender, and vetiver are used to ease apprehension, nervousness and irritability and promote pure tranquility of the mind.

Energizing – rosemary, and mint oils have an energizing effect that enlivens both the body and mind, improve blood circulation and cool the body. It is also used to stimulate brain functions, which can be very helpful for tasks that require sustained attention.

Inflammation Reduction – lavender green is used to calm the mind and promote better sleep. Grape fruit and lavender are mixed with the oil for reducing pains and inflammation and work as a natural and mild antidepressant which also promotes calming of the mind. Other formulations of lavender green essential oils help better the respiratory system through natural detoxification.

Recently I visited Broome and stayed the Pearle on Cable Beach. They have a Day Spa at the resort and I indulged in one of the amazing massage there, you can check it out for yourself here http://www.thepearle.com.au/facilities/the-pearle-day-spa