Beauty Explained – Massage

The topic is Beauty, and I will explain all about Supplements, Procedures and products.

Beauty can be a jungle to find your way around in, so in this series we are looking closely at Beauty, and trying to find out what it is.

We will look at what it is & what it does

What types exist

Do you need it & when should you use it

Today we will focus on Massage.

As always – you can watch this series on my YouTube Channel

WHAT IS A MASSAGE AND WHAT DOES IT DO?

Massage is a process of working with and on the body’s skin and muscles.

A massage does many good things to the body for example:

• Gives physical and mental well-being
• Reduces stress
• Counteracts myosis and infiltrations
• Reduces muscle tension
• Makes shoulder, neck, back and more flexible
• Relieves tension headaches
• Increases blood flow in muscles which can help promote restitution in tired muscles
• Can be calming
• Can relieve pain
• Can fight against the formation of wrinkles

WHAT TYPES EXIST?

There are extremely many types of massage, some of them I will mention here:

• Classic massage (Swedish massage)
  Five different movements are used here to directly massage the skin and muscles in a designated area. Is usually used to relax the muscles and improve circulation.
  
  
• Hot stone massage
  Heated stones are placed on different areas of your body while massaging using the Swedish massage techniques. Cold stones can also be used.
  
  
• Aromatherapy massage
  Combining Swedish massage with the use of essential oils and you get aromatherapy massage. The oils are either used directly on your body, diffused, or both.
  
  
• Deep tissue massage
  There is more pressure to this type of massage than a Swedish massage and it especially helps if you got chronic muscle problems since the pressure goes down to the deepest layers of your muscles and tissue.
  
  
• Reflexology
  Finger pressure, kneading and rubbing is used to relax the body. It is only used on hands, feet and ears.
  
  
• Trigger point massage
  This massage focuses on relieving trigger points, so that pain is reduced. Trigger points are areas of tightness in the muscle tissues and can cause pain in other parts of the body. Broad and flowing strokes are used gently to relax, while stronger and deeper pressure will release the tensions on the trigger points.
  
  
• Sports massage
  This type improves flexibility, enhances athletic performance and can treat injuries. It takes strokes from the Swedish massage and sometimes mixes it with mobilization, pressure point therapy and compressions.
  
  
• Lomi Lomi massage
  An ancient Hawaiian massage that uses a combination of palms, knuckles, elbows, feet, knees, fingers, and sticks and stones.
  
  
• Ashiatsu therapy
  Comes from India and uses the feet and legs to massage. The masseuse holds unto bars or rope above the client to do this.
  
  
• Burmese Massage
  This massage uses both kneading and acupuncture to release stress from the body. The elbows and hands are used.
  
  
• Shiatsu Massage
  This is a Japanese type of massage that helps relieve stress while making you feel relaxed and give overall mental wellbeing (while being able to reduce muscle tension and relieve headaches)
  
  
• Thai Massage
  A very active form of massage that can reduce and relieve pain and stress, while improving flexibility, circulation and energy levels. Similar to yoga stretching.
  
  
• Chair massage
  A quick massage that focuses on shoulders, neck and back. It has a light or medium pressure and is made sitting in a specially designed chair where you sit with your back to the masseuse.
  
  
• Couple’s massage
  You can bring your partner, friend or a family member to get this type of massage. It has the normal benefits of a massage but is often mixed with an entrance to other facilities like hot tubs or saunas. It can be a “all in one” package where facials or pedicures are sometimes offered as part of the package. You can each choose what types of massage you would like depending on your preferences. You will be side by side while having your own massage therapist.
  
  

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DO I NEED IT & WHEN SHOULD I USE IT?

Many people can use a good massage, but it is definitely not necessary.

If you don’t have any special concerns, a massage can just be a nice to have that feels nice, and makes you feel good.

Others might need it if they have any of the following troubles:

• Sore muscles
• Congestion of joints and muscles
• Acute or chronical muscle disorders
• Need for relaxation
• Sleeplessness, restlessness and anxiety
• Headache and migraine
• Pain in back, shoulders, neck, legs, arms or pelvis

Though a massage can help, it is of course not a wonder miracle, and your troubles won’t be gone after one time – often a series of massages are needed to relieve some of the pain – or even all of it.

Now we know what conditions are good to work on. As always there are also some causes where it is better to not massage at all. Some of these does not affect the whole body, and you are usually able to just massage around the concern. The conditions you should be aware of are:

• Acute traumas
  These are for example, broken bones, open wounds, burns, frostbite, damaged muscles or tendons and so on.
  
  
• Too high blood pressure
  The blood pressure rises locally (read: the place you massage) when doing a massage, so you can risk either bursting a blood vessel or getting a headache.
  
  
• Diabetes
  The veins can be more fragile the, and there should not be massaged directly where the insulin has been injected. It might be a good idea to measure blood sugar before and after a massage to make sure everything is as it should be.
  
  
• Eczema
  It might be a good idea to restrain from massaging if you have eczema, because some types can infect others, and others may be very sore.
  
  
• Fever
  Since a massage Increases the body temperature it could be dangerous.
  
  
• Pregnancy
  There are lots of things to beware of when being pregnant. The first three months of a pregnancy is where the highest risk of miscarriage is. An miscarriage can be started because the massage releases wastes (I think this is the right word?) in the body. The last month of the pregnancy, these wastes can start the birth. The risk gets lesser, the more used to massages the person getting it is.
  
  
• Heart diseases and blood clots
  Since Massage increases the blood circulation, it makes the heart work overtime. Blood clots can detach and circulate to other, more serious places.
  
  
•  Infections
  Some infections can be spread to other parts of the body, while the contagious infections can also spread to other people. These infections could be bacterial or inflammation.
  
  
• Warts
  These can infect others, so there should not be massaged directly on that area.
  
  
• Fungal Infection
  The area where this infection is present, there should not be massaged since it will further irritate.
  
  
• Inflammation
  When there are clear signs of inflammation, it is not advised to massage, since the condition will worsen. These signs are for example redness, warmth, swelling and pain.
  
  
• Artificial Blood Vessels
  These cannot be massaged on, since it can ensure irritation between the normal and artificial tissue. It can even be destroyed or repelled. This also counts for other similar conditions, though it is possible to massage above artificial joints.
  
  
• Muscle injuries
  These can be pulled muscles, intramuscular or intermuscular bleeding (charley horse and bruises).
  
  
• Kidney Inflammation
  If you got either kidney inflammation, or only have one kidney; beware. Because of the wastes that are released can poison the body.
  
  
• Osteoporosis
  The pressure here should be light, so you do not damage the bones.
  
  
• Periostitis
  The irritation can be increased if you massage directly on it.
  
  
• Tumors
  Massage can increase the growth or spread it to other tissue.
  
  

As long as you remember to beware when getting a massage, it can be a truly pleasurable event, and even help lots of different causes!

If there is something you would like explained, tell me in the comments and we will get to it.

I hope you all have a happy life, one day at a time!