Massage Therapy: Enhance Your Mental and Physical Health

Massage therapy is a healing tool. This procedure has been around for ages in many cultures, and research shows that it offers numerous benefits ranging from treating injuries and chronic illnesses to reducing tension in our lifestyles. If you get massages regularly, the benefits become even more powerful. This practice offers a non-invasive, drug-free approach that's based on the human body's ability to heal itself. Keep reading if you want to find out more about what massage therapy can do for you.

A massage will relax your mind and body. Not only does it feel great, but it's a cure for the problems that are affecting many people, physically and mentally. The experts say that stress can cause many diseases of the body, so massage therapy will have a positive effect on many parts of your life.

Besides decreasing anxiety and increasing relaxation, it lowers blood pressure, and increases concentration. It also reduces fatigue, energizes people, and makes it easier for them to cope with stressful situations.

Therapy provides spiritual and emotional balance and it brings peace and relaxation.

Massage will increase your circulation and allow your body to pump more nutrients and oxygen into your organs and tissues.

Massage stimulates our natural defense system and the flow of lymph. For instance, massage has helped breast cancer patients increases the cells that fight their cancer.

Massage is also good for the muscles and joints. It softens overused and injured muscles, reduces cramping and spasms, and increases flexibility of the joints. Massage is wonderful for sports enthusiasts, fitness-minded people, and athletes because it reduces recovery time, eliminates pain, enhances workouts and athletic performance, and helps them prepare for tough workouts.

Massage releases endorphins, which is a natural painkiller for the body. It's used in recovery and injury from surgery and in chronic disease to relieve and control pain.

Massage decreases discomfort for people with pain in the lower back and it improves range-of-motion.

Massage reduces pain for people who suffer from migraines and it decreases their need for medicine.
Massage benefits the mind and it's good for people who suffer from anxiety, anger, or depression. It helps relieve stress and tension, fosters peace of mind, increases creativity, satisfies the need to be touched and nurtured, and it boosts the mood.

Massage helps with many health conditions such as arthritis, carpal tunnel syndrome, digestive disorders, circulatory problems, fibromyalgia, sleep disorders, sports injuries, tendonitis, whiplash, and mild, chronic, and acute pain.

This practice is not appropriate for some people, so talk to your doctor or a good massage therapist if you have open wounds, burns, cancer, blood clots, fractures, rheumatoid arthritis, severe osteoporosis, or if you are pregnant.

Today, massage therapy is available in luxury spas, beauty salons, upscale health clubs, chiropractic offices, private offices, hospitals, clinics, businesses, and even airports. You should definitely visit a massage therapist if you want to improve your physical and mental health. You can find a reliable massage therapist online by searching in online directories and the search engines. Enjoy your massage!

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Birthday - Anniversary or "Just Because" Package

• A five hour stay 
• One hour massage 
• Body Polish (an exfoliation treatment) 
• Herbal facial massage 
• A decadent candle lit tub soak 
• Moisturizing body wrap 
• Fruit and cheese plate 

$249.00 

36 Oaks Country Retreat, nestled in a grove of majestic oak trees on Gibson Canyon Road, is an oasis of relaxation and natural beauty in the Vacaville countryside. A lovely country cottage setting on two and a half acres with wild ferns growing in the shade, deer wandering through, and even an occasional fox or raccoon.

For more information please visit http://36oaks.com/

The Hidden Beauty of Pollination - Louie Schwartzberg

Pollination: it's vital to life on Earth but largely unseen by the human eye. Filmmaker Louie Schwartzberg shows us the intricate world of pollen and pollinators with gorgeous high-speed images from his film "Wings of Life," inspired by the vanishing of one of nature's primary pollinators, the honeybee.

Talk by Louie Schwartzberg,

May and June Special - $10 Off Our Relaxtion Package

 

$10 off our Favorite Relaxation Massage Package 

Regular Price $95.00 

Special $85.00 

Valid all May and June!

Relaxation Massage Package 

• A four hour stay 
• One hour massage followed by steamy towels and application of a regenerative skin cream to protect your face. 
• Fruit and cheese plate 
• Nice tea selection 

What Does a Facial Do? Why Would I Need a Facial?

Many people think about having a facial, or arrive for a facial appointment, uncertain of the importance of this service - aside from its seemingly pampering nature. Truly, though, a facial is not a luxury, its benefits are far reaching. In order to understand why a facial is important, let's take a look at its components.

The basic parts of a facial are as follows:

- Determining Your Skin Type: It's important for you and your aesthetician to understand your skin type. By knowing this, products and techniques used can be specifically customized to meet your needs.

- Deep Cleansing: With the correct product, a gentle, but deep cleaning is obtained and, depending upon skin type, the correct pressure and movements can be employed to stimulate or calm. Steam and/or hot towels are often used to soften and expand the pores.

- Proper Exfoliation: I say "proper" because you can over-exfoliate. Skin must be manipulated with awareness so as to not cause unwanted reactions. This exfoliation may be done manually or chemically with the use of an electric brush, scrub, enzyme or acid.

- Taking Away: After cleansing and exfoliation, the skin is prepared for extraction - or cleansing of the pores.

- Giving Back: Now the skin is ready to receive vitamins, hydration and minerals in the form of serums, lotions, creams and masques applied with manual techniques or massage appropriate for your particular skin type.

- Additional Pleasures: During this process, you will often receive a hand and arm massage, a facial massage and a neck and shoulder massage.

Here's how I like to explain a facial: What is the one part of the body that is exposed most often? Your face.

The surface of our skin is dotted with tiny pockets called pores. These pores allow for the transfer of materials like sweat and oxygen into and out of the body. Oil glands, located within the pores, secrete sebum. Dust, pollution, free radicals, wind and sun are a constant source of irritants and debris that can stick to the oil or sebum on our skin. Since our skin grows from the inside to the outside, dead cells, though they act as protection from the sun, come to rest upon the surface too.

I like to compare the surface of our face to your stovetop. When you cook with oil and it spatters onto your stovetop, the surface becomes sticky and other matter - like dust - will cling to it. It works the same way with your face. Matter, including dirt, dust and dead skin cells, stick to your sebum, blocking the exit of your pore. The result is dull skin, or eventually a blackhead or pimple (pustule).

However, when you have a professional facial - that is, one performed by a licensed aesthetician - the dead skin cells, dirt, and debris may be removed. What's left is cleaner, shinier, healthier, newer skin that is able to breathe and do what skin is meant to do. The added bonus is a tremendous sense of well being and relaxation.

How often should you have a facial? Generally, every 8 - 10 weeks; however, you can certainly have them closer together, especially when working on a particular concern like acne, aging or sun damage. At the very least, it's good to try and have a facial once per season.

In conclusion, the answer to "Why Do I Need A Facial" is that generally, we aren't able to cleanse and exfoliate our skin the way that a professional aesthetician can, and the benefits are both tangible and esoteric.

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Deep Tissue Massage For Pain Relief

Deep tissue massage is a massage therapy technique wherein the inner muscle layers and the connective tissues are re-aligned. This type of therapy is highly beneficial for the contracted tissue muscles around the neck, lower back and shoulders. It heals stiff neck and lower back rigidity.

The massage strokes that are applied by the deep tissue massage therapists are similar to the traditional massage therapy. The only difference lies in the hand movement which is slower while the intensity of pressure is focused more on the pain stricken and tensed muscles. This particular massage therapy helps to break and eliminate the scar tissues. It concentrates on specific areas where the slower strokes and the deep direct pressure help in releasing the chronic muscle tension.

Normally a person suffering from chronic muscular tension and injury feels the pain emanating from adhesions which are bands of painful tight muscles and tendons. It is generally believed that adhesions block circulation, cause pain and inflammation while it also restricts a person's mobility. Deep tissue massage is recommended as the therapist physically kneads the adhesions and alleviates pain while helping to restore normal movement. To reach this objective, the deep tissue massage therapists often apply intense pressure or friction across the grain of the muscle. At times during the course of the massage, people may feel pain and associated discomfort. It is advisable in such cases to inform the massage therapist about the pain and soreness if it is beyond the comfort range.

Although slight stiffness or pain can be experienced after the deep tissue massage, the discomfort level normally subsides within a day or so. Often the massage therapist applies ice on the area which has been massaged. Deep tissue massage is also used for relaxation. The therapy is beneficial for persons recovering from injuries especially those which are sports generated, osteoarthritis, muscle spasms and postural problems. People suffering from osteoarthritis opt for this therapy as it is highly effective and often they notice remarkable improvement in their mobility immediately after the massage.

During deep tissue massage, the therapists use finger tips, knuckles, hand, elbows as well as the forearms. In the course of massaging, the therapist concentrates on muscles located below the top muscle layer as this is highly effective for people suffering from consistent pain. It is advisable to consume plenty of water once the massage is over to flush out metabolic waste from the tissues. At the start of deep tissue massage the person may want to breathe deeply since this action facilitates the process and relieves the tensed muscles.

Deep tissue massage might not be the best for certain types of people like heart patients or persons under the treatment of chemotherapy. Even for osteoporosis patients, prior consultation with the therapist is advisable. The massage therapist aims at relieving the pain from deeper tissue structures and the treatment can be more uncomfortable than the traditional massage.

However, people have to be realistic when contemplating undergoing this massage therapy. The deep tissue massage might not bring immediate relief from pain though many believe that if the therapist kneads hard on the pressure knots, they would get instant relief. This might not always happen as removing chronic knots and tension built-up over a lifetime is best achieved when the patient goes for an integrated program that includes exercise, improvement of posture, mobility enhancement, other relaxation techniques as well as regular deep tissue massage therapy.

Such duel program is really valuable for re-aligning the body. If the deep tissue massage is executed correctly, their benefits could be experienced within the next few days. As tensed muscles block oxygen and nutrients while building up toxin in the muscle tissues, this form of massage is recommended as it releases the toxin from the muscles as they are loosened up, thereby enabling the blood and oxygen to circulate properly.

The primary objective of deep tissue massage is to relax the muscle fibers and release the deeply held patterns of tension in order to soothe the tendon. The deep tissue massage therapy is corrective as well as therapeutic. The deep finger pressure and slow strokes on the tension ridden spots is a combination of touch, biomechanics and positioning options. The massage technique makes use of knuckles, fist, forearms and elbows to help in releasing pressure and tension from the deeper layers of the body.

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How to Improve Your Life With a Hot Stone Massage

In hot stone massage, the therapist places the flat, smooth and heated stones on particular point of the body. The heat from the stones penetrates deep into the muscles and clears out negative energy and restores our normal alignment of the body, mind and soul.

Nature of the stone

Volcanic basalt stones are heated to a temperature of 120 to 130 degrees Fahrenheit or about 50 degrees Celsius in water. The hot stones are never rough and may vary in size and shape. In order to prevent from bacterial contamination the stones are kept in hygienic.

Since Basalt stones are rich in iron it has innate ability to absorb and retain heat that will relieve stress and tension in muscles and enhance circulation. The warmth of the hot stones also calms the nervous system.

Where the hot stone massage apply

The massage therapist will always hold the stones in your hands before applying them to your body to make sure that they are not too hot. The key points targeted with hot stone massage are located in the toes, back and hand. The therapist moves the stone over the body by applying right pressure. The temporary placement of heated rocks on these areas relaxes the muscles. However this type of massage is painless and feels to be relaxed after completion.

Don't eat much before taking this massage. During this massage therapy, the client must lay on the bed by facing down. The client must communicate with the therapist if the stones are too hot or too much of pressure is applied. This type of massages may take 60 to 90 minutes long.

Benefits

· Increase blood circulation and accelerating the healing process.
· Promotes peace of mind, which reduces depression and anxiety.
· Reduces stress and strains on the joints of the fingers, thumbs and hands.
· Deep sleep for several days after receiving the massage

Conclusion

Since our modern life is stressful, it is best to follow our ancient method of hot stone massage. Most people are free to get their hot stone massage. However, those who have infectious skin disease, those who just came out of surgery are also advised to stay away from getting massages. Meanwhile, if you're pregnant, it's very important to get your doctor's approval before indulging in the massage. The best way to know this massage is to try it and experience the relaxation and pleasure that no other massage can give.

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A Cleansing Facial for Healthier and Brighter Skin

 
For healthy and bright skin, this treatment will thoroughly cleanse your skin without irritation. It removes impurities such as dirt, oil and dry skin. Afterward, your skin will be clean, smooth and fresh. This facial includes cleansing, exfoliating, extractions, blemish control tonic, green tea mask and moisturizing. 

45 minutes - $75 

Call 36 Oaks Country Retreat to make an appointment to try this facial and any other of our relaxing spa treatments. 

(707) 447-8037

May and June Special - $10 Off Our Relaxtion Package

 

$10 off our Favorite Relaxation Massage Package 

Regular Price $95.00 

Special $85.00 

Valid all May and June!

Relaxation Massage Package 

• A four hour stay 
• One hour massage followed by steamy towels and application of a regenerative skin cream to protect your face. 
• Fruit and cheese plate 
• Nice tea selection 

Mother's Day Specials - Treat Mom to a Day of Pampering!

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Treat mom to a very special day of pampering at our lovely country cottage retreat. A relaxing time fit for a queen! 

36 Oaks Country Retreat, nestled in a grove of majestic oak trees on Gibson Canyon Road, is an oasis of relaxation and natural beauty in the Vacaville countryside. A lovely country cottage setting on two and a half acres with wild ferns growing in the shade, deer wandering through, and even an occasional fox or raccoon. 

What's the Difference Between Swedish Massage and Deep Tissue Massage?

Massage therapy is not a one-size-fits-all practice. Knowledgeable and skilled therapists will adjust their techniques and tactics depending on what issues you're dealing with and what kind of relief you hope to gain. The goal is to provide benefits that are specific to your needs and wants, which means tailoring the massage accordingly.

That said, there are distinct techniques under the therapy umbrella that boast different schools of thought, manipulation techniques, and health benefits. Two common practices in the U.S. are Swedish massage and deep tissue. While they do share certain characteristics and a therapist may be certified and trained in both methodologies, there are also distinct differences between the two. Knowing the hallmarks of a specific massage practice can help you choose wisely and reap the maximum benefit it.

Swedish Massage

If you're new to massage, Swedish massage is probably what you think of as a standard, "classic" massage. During a this, your therapist will employ an array of movements, including effleurage (sliding across and stroking the skin), petrissage (kneading motions), tapotement (rhythmic tapping with the palm, back, or side of the hand), vibration, and friction. The kneading and tapping can relieve muscle tension and dispel knots, while gliding and creating friction can increase blood flow to the area, stimulate nerves, and further soothe sore muscles. In general, Swedish massage works on the superficial muscles and promotes relaxation and well-being.

Deep Tissue Massage

For people with injuries or ongoing musculoskeletal issues, deep tissue massage can be just the right prescription. Unlike Swedish massage, deep tissue massage digs down below the surface muscles to directly target problem areas. By manipulating the fascia-the connective tissue that surrounds and supports muscles, bones, organs, and nerves-a therapist can release unhealthy muscle patterns and stretch chronically injured or overly tense muscles. Deep tissue is often included in physical therapy regimens for injury recovery. Athletes, dancers, and other people who rely on their body professionally use it to improve performance. During a deep tissue massage<, the therapist may use fingers, fists, forearms, or even elbows to reach the necessary tissue layer.

Considerations

For a soothing, full-body relaxation experience, choose Swedish massage. Deep tissue is more intense, as the goal is often to encourage injured or tight muscles and fascia to heal faster and to increase range of motion and flexibility. If you're in doubt about what's right for you, talk to your doctor before setting up a massage therapy appointment. Also, always inform your therapist of any and all physical issues you're having before he or she starts the session. Afterward, take care to hydrate and to gently stretch out any areas with residual tension. Note that it's common to experience some soreness after it, particularly a vigorous deep tissue massage. However, massage therapy should never be truly painful and is best viewed as a supplement to rather than a replacement for standard medical care.

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