The Connection of Water and Beautiful Skin

Sports massage techniques relieve musculo-skeletal stress and help bring back the muscles to a relaxed state. The various massage styles involve a complete conditioning program for sports persons, as they offer immense benefits to athletes. A sports massage includes not just the exercise, but also care for the injuries and corrosion that occurs due to strenuous performance.

The Three Main Types Of Techniques

The predominantly used sports massage techniques are effleurage, petrissage and friction, depending upon the requirement of the athlete. The pressure strokes are mainly directed towards the heart to increase lymphatic flow. Smaller strokes are given to stretch the muscle fibers.

1. Effleurage

Effleurage is the initiation of a sports massage and is carried out with increasing deep pressures using the whole palm. The strokes are directed towards the heart to improve lymphatic drainage and blood circulation. The return strokes are light and follow a different path. Effleurage is also used to finish a massage session, to remove waste and increase oxygen flow to the area. It is done with light strokes to completely relax the client.

Benefits include...

• Improved blood circulation

• Helps find out any tissue abnormalities

• Warming up tissues

• Muscle relaxation

• Stimulation of nerve endings

2. Petrissage

The strokes of petrissage include kneading and movements, such as lifting, skin rolling, wringing, knuckling, pressing, and freeing of the muscle tissue. This massage technique is mainly used on deep tissues to improve flow of fluids, break down any type of adhesions or nodules, stretch the muscle fibers, and finally relax the muscles.

The advantages include...

• Quick warm up of the major muscles

• Pain reduction

• Helps repair damaged tissue

• Improves muscle elasticity

• Preventative massage improves lymphatic drainage and blood circulation

3. Friction

Friction is mainly therapeutic in nature and is used for deeper movements so as to break down lesions and separate the muscle fibers. The process can be quite uncomfortable, if not painful. It helps reduce hypersensitivity and any type of muscle spasm on the tissue. Friction also helps stretch the tissue that cannot be stretched in normal course.

Benefits of A Sports Massage

This type of massage is normally used before, during, and after a performance. The purpose of such techniques is to prepare the sportsperson for peak performance, to eliminate fatigue and muscle stress, and also prevent injuries. It tones the body gradually for extreme overuse during a performance.

Other benefits include...

• Helps prevent injuries, caused by overuse and wear-and-tear.

• Helps get in good shape faster and maintains general body health.

• Ensures faster recovery from intense workouts.

• Improves muscle power and stamina.

• Helps release any kind of lactic acid build-up in the overworked muscles.

• Boosts performance.

• Helps lessen pain by increased release of the body's natural endorphins.

Warnings

Athletes suffering from any of the following conditions should definitely consult a physician before undertaking any kind of sports massage technique:

• Infectious skin disease such as herpes

• Heavy bruising

• Hemophilia

• Cancer

• Hernia

• Inflammation due to tissue damage

• Osteoporosis

• Tumors

• Varicose veins

• High blood pressure

• Traumas such as open wounds, muscle tears, sprained ligaments, burns

A massage along with any of the contraindications can prove to be more detrimental rather than beneficial. Nevertheless, sports massages, when done correctly, is the most effective therapy for easing muscle strain and restoring the musculo-skeletal balance.

 Benefits of Corporate Chair Massage

Chair massage for businesses can cut healthcare costs, promote productivity, and increase income. Massage is becoming more common in workplace wellness programs. Some of the benefits of corporate massage are reduced fatigue, reduced work related stress, and increase productivity.

On-site massage is very effective at relieving two of the most common work related illness and injuries, back pain and headaches.Stress at work is the number one cause of employee turnover.

Studies have shown that massage in the workplace can relieve stress. High blood pressure, a sign of stress, is reduced after a 15 min massage. Workplace stress can cause higher health care expenditures.

Employees who are stressed at work spend 50% more on health care. Also, employees that take sick leave due to work related stress are gone for a longer period of time. Bring chair massage to your workplace to reduce turnover rates, boost productivity, increase employee satisfaction.

Massage can also increase your revenue by attracting more customer interest at your next trade show or expo. Make your business stand out from the rest. A seated massage station at your next corporate event will make a lasting impression for your company. Spend meaningful time with customers as they congregate and stand in line at your booth to get their massage.

Turn weary trade show visitors into sales leads with chair massage. Chair massage is a fit for any event. All participants remained clothed and no oils or or lotions are used. Sessions usually last between 5 and 15 minutes. Only a small area is needed to provide a seated massage.

Call New Jersey Massage and Spa today, to have chair massage at your office, event, trade show or party!

(201) 266-6395

Having high cholesterol is a common problem.

Not only does it put us at risk for heart disease, it can also cause us financial hardship.

Having high medical bills as a result of having a high cholesterol count along with the rise in cost of our health insurance.

Doctors put us on a strict low fat diet and most of us fail because we begin to crave the foods that are considered “taboo”.

The following are 10 easy steps to lower our LDL cholesterol without having to sacrifice our diets.

1. Increase your heart rate daily by doing aerobic exercises at least 20 to 30 minutes a day.This will help increase your HDL levels. Remember to check with your doctor first before starting any exercise program.

2. Losing excess weight will help reduce your LDL levels.

3. Limit your saturated fat intake, by cutting down on cookies, cakes and other unnecessary sweets.Stick with foods that contain poly-and monounsaturated fats like tuna and salmon, walnuts and peanuts.

4. Increase your Omega 3 fatty acids by eating more cold-water fish, like salmon and albacore tuna and less meat.

5. Research has shown that patients who have given up smoking have raised their HDL cholesterol levels.

6. Moderate alcohol consumption may help increase HDL levels by 10 to 15% as shown by a Harvard University study; however, the American Heart Association does discourage doctors advising alcohol consumption to their patients.Drinks are to be limited to 1 to 2 a day.

7. Research has shown that large quantities of garlic can help to reduce your LDL cholesterol levels.If you do not want to lose your circle of friends, taking an over the counter garlic supplement should suffice.

8. Using an egg substitute instead of real eggs. Replace 2 egg whites for 1 egg yolk in recipes, and consider an egg white omelet.

9. More soluble fiber in your diet can help remove LDL levels from your bloodstream.These fibers are found in plant foods such as oats, barley, brown rice, beans, apples, carrots and other fruits and vegetables.

10. Cholesterol reducing drugs like Lipitor may be prescribe by physicians as a second choice if the lifestyle of the patient remains unchanged and becomes a life-threatening situation.Patients do find that they do not feel any better by taking the lower cholesterol drugs; sustained weight loss and lifestyle changes can only accomplish that.Healthy cholesterol levels should be around 180, however having a lower cholesterol level and a low HDL level (generally, a level below 50 mg/dL) can still put a patient at risk for heart disease.

The steps above are considered to be lifestyle changes and although making changes are not always easy you can definitely benefit by introducing them into your daily life.

 5 Steps To Glowing Summer Skin

Summer is here!

Is your skin ready?

If you are like most people, your skin has been hiding behind long sleeves and pants and needs a little TLC before you bare it.

Follow the five tips below, and you’ll have great summer skin in no time!

Step 1. Exfoliate.

Did you ever wonder what happens to all of the skins cells that your body sheds?

They remain right on top of your skin, making it look dull and dry. In order to get rid of those old cells, you are going to have to exfoliate.

Use a facial exfoliator for your face, and a body exfoliator for your body.

Exfoliate at least once per week for soft, smooth skin.

Step 2. Use lotion.

If you’ve been using a heavier lotion in the winter, now’s the time to switch to a lighter lotion.

Try something fast absorbing, and make sure you rub it on immediately after getting out of the shower to seal the moisture in.

Step 3. Pay attention to your hands and feet.

Your hands and feet have been hidden in gloves and boots all winter long, and they are most likely rough and dry.

Schedule a manicure/pedicure, and have all of the calluses sloughed off and your nails buffed and polished. A good pedicure will leave both hands and feet smooth and ready for summer!

Step 4. Stock up on the sunscreen.

Sun not only makes your skin wrinkly and dry, it increases the likelihood of skin cancer!

If you have old sunscreen from last summer, toss it and buy new. Use at least a teaspoon for your face, and a shot glass full for your body.

Reapply whenever you get wet or every two hours—whichever comes first.

Step 5. Give us a call and schedule a massage appointment.

Yep, that's right...

Massage aids your circulatory system which in turn helps to remove toxins from your body... including your skin.