Massage: Creative Techniques & Mindful Approaches to Massage Therapy

Not only is massage a great way to relax the body and mind, and find relief from daily strains and stress, but a professional massage can also help to enhance vitality and general health.

When the body is stressed and locked into a fight or flight mechanism, every function of the body is also altered. This can lead to many disorders and medical conditions (such as muscle pain and spasm, headaches, fatigue, constipation, obesity, and TMJ disorder.)

By using a variety of creative techniques, a skilled massage therapist can alleviate these issues and provide many other benefits. Massage therapy, in all its many forms, has been used for healing for many thousands of years and continues to be an effective way to heal mind, body, and spirit.

Relaxation Relates to a Healthy Body

Massage therapy can focus on body parts and offer relief from pain and other issues. For example, in shoulder stiffness, the practitioner should focus on relaxing the shoulder muscle by stretching forward and rear the rotator cuff with the subject lying face down and then applying pressure and stroking.

Myofascial release technique can be applied to stretch the fascia by applying forces in opposite directions with the fingers or with the hands. This massage technique is starting gently and then increases the force when the tissues relax. Myofascial release can be used to treat poor posture, scoliosis, back pain, chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, headaches, carpal tunnel syndrome, tennis elbow, whiplash, and arthritis.

Integrating Creativity in Your Massage Practice

While both eastern and western massage techniques can be very technical, it is important to use intuition and creativity in your massage practice. For a massage therapist, it is very important to apply as many approaches as possible, creatively adapting to the each unique individual. Below we share a few ideas offered by Bloomington, IL based massage center N8 Touch Massage where many different massage therapists offer various massage services and treatment.

As the Bloomington massage specialists emphasize, it is beneficial to introduce some cranio-sacral massage techniques that work with the nervous system in depth. This creative massage technique can release muscle tension and promote general relaxation throughout the entire body. The massage practitioner can sense the subtle rhythms of the nervous system by accessing the points at the cranium, along the spine, and at the base of spine.

Oriental principles of Meridians from the Chinese Medicine can be used creatively together with the crani-sacral therapy. For example, the kidney and the bladder meridians are associated with the element of water, with the ability to recover from stress, and with the emotion of fear. These two meridians run around the spine and they are directly affected if we are scared or stressed.

Adapting to the individual, creatively including using various massage styles and application of unique grips (techniques) enables healing, in addition to sustainability by the practitioner. You may use the Terrier’s soft tissue grip for releasing the different muscle contractions and shortenings. Manual therapy techniques can also treat painful and inflamed ligaments and narrowed joint movements. Elements of Thai massage combined with basic grips of osteopathy, Youmeiho massage, therapeutic mud wrap, and Swedish gripping techniques can treat various physical issues.

It is also important to remember the importance of a holistic approach, as our body cannot be separated from our spirit. Stress reliving techniques and Eastern massage techniques, such as the Thai massage, are better suited to holistically treat body, mind and spirit. For more information on various types of massage and massage services, explore the

Creative Ideas & Techniques for Hair Braiding & Hair Extensions

Hair braiding is a great way to give hair some style while at the same time making it manageable. Additionally, hair extensions offer another alternative for creative hair styling for occasions that both casual and extravagant.

These hair styling techniques are very common among women but only the most creative hair styling techniques will stand out. A few of these classy techniques are discussed below in details:

Creative Hair Braiding Techniques

Traditional Style of Hair Braiding

This hair braiding technique is among the few past ideas that the new world has accepted. The following is a description of how this method is undertaken. Ensure the hair is knot free, that is, the comb can easily go through the whole length. Use water or hair gel to dry hair that gives unpleasant results. Hair braiding when wet gives it a smooth tight outlook. Slightly oiled hair gives the best appearance when braided. After combing, the hair should be divided into three even portions that form the three strands of the braid.

The left and right portions should be held by the respective hands leaving the middle portion free. Cross the left portion over the middle portion. Then cross the right portion over the middle portion. This is the process of traditional hair braiding. When done with braiding, wrap an elastic material several times to secure the braid. A hairspray makes the braid last longer. To decorate the braid, a colorful ribbon can be tied at the end.

French Hair Braiding

As in the traditional hair braiding technique, get rid of any knots in the hair. Select a starter hair portion of choice. Separate this portion into three even sub-portions. Grasp these sub-portions by hand; the left portion by the left hand palm and the right by the right hand palm. The middle portion should be held between the index and the thumb fingers of the right hand.

Shift the right sub-portion to the middle, then the left sub-portion to the middle too. From the non-starter portion, add hair to the right sub-portion. Move the center sub-portion to the right .It becomes the right hand sub-section to be held by the right hand palm.

Afterwards, the hair addition to the right sub-portion is done to the left sub-portion. As previously done, the middle portion is shifted to the left and is held by the left hand. This constitutes the process of French hair braiding. At the nape of the neck, there will be no more hair to add. Therefore from there, regular braiding is performed. Finishing touches such as securing the braid, hair spraying and decorating the braid are then carried out.

Fish Tail Hair Braiding Technique

This unique hair braiding technique is common only the best salons in Peoria, IL or those professionals who are true elites of the craft. Usual hair preparations are first carried out. The hair is then separated into two equal sections by hand or by comb. Pull a small portion of the hair on the right into the right hair portion. Hold the right portion using the right hand and let the left portion free. Pull a small portion of the left portion that is near the ear using the left hand.

Hold this sub-portion with the right hand and merge it with the right hand portion of the braid. Now, hold the left hand portion using the left hand. Do to it what has been done to the right hand portion. This is the fish tail hair braiding technique. Continue doing this until there is no more hair to braid. Ensure that the strands pulled are evenly sized. Finish as in all the other techniques.

Creative Hair Extension Techniques

There two very creative techniques stand out in the styles of hair extensions. Below we describe each in greater detail.

Strand by Strand Hair Extensions

This method of hair extensions involves attaching hair pieces one by one to small portions of ones hair through cold or warm fusion, links, beads, tubes, locks or rings. These hair extensions are long lasting and safe to wear thus effective to all women.

Weft Hair Extensions

Common in specialty hair salons that offer extensions, the weft hair extension technique is cheap and easy to apply and therefore saves on time and money that women would want to use in other activities. It involves several hair strands being attached to a single track (weft) at the top but free at the bottom. Application is done by using this single track unlike the strand by strand technique. The available connection methods are: micro rings, tape, glue and sewing to ones original hair.

So ladies, what are you waiting for. Start untapping your creative hair styling techniques with these ideas for hair braiding and extensions.