Health And Fitness

Massage therapy has been influenced by different regions of the world and this has led to various different methods being born which, although different in style, provide similar benefits. Two of these are the concepts of Swedish and Ayurvedic Massage. While these both have their own respective origins and thus utilized different techniques, they both contribute to a deeply relaxed body and provide health benefits. Many people have sought out massage therapy only to be confused by the different methods available.

Swedish Massage:

This is also known as classic massage or traditional massage. It is one of the most common and widely known methods of massage. It is characterized by long flowing hand strokes performed by a skilled masseuse. These specialized movements tend to deeply relax muscles and also aid in joint flexibility and tend to increase circulation in the skin and muscles.

One of these strokes is known as effleurage. Effleurage stokes involves long strokes with the masseuse using their whole hand, the heal of their hand, or their thumb pad and thumb joint. The masseuse begins these at the neck works down towards the spine. Then the masseuse may also move onto the limbs using the same effleurage strokes and works towards the heart. They may also use the fingertips and work down from the shoulder blade toward the heart which may improve circulation and lymphatic flow. This massage is generally performed first so that the masseuse becomes familiar with the persons body.

The next massage technique is called the petrissage. This consists of gentle movements which lift the muscles up and away from the bones and then rolling and squeezing them with very gentle pressure. This is thought to enhance circulation even deeper into the muscles. It is also believed to greatly aid the body in removing toxins and metabolic wastes.

The third technique, and the roughest of them all, is characterized by deep circular movements using the fingertips. It is generally applied over joints and boney areas. This technique is thought to help relax muscle fibers around joints and bones and seems to aid in joint flexibility.

The fourth technique is called tapotement. This involves a series of very quick and forceful movements applied by striking and tapping the muscles with the hand. The masseuse may apply these with a closed fist, the fingertips, or even the edge of the hand. These movements release tension and relieve muscle cramps.

The last type of movement the masseuse may apply during a session involves shaking and vibrating hand movements. The masseuse will press their hands into the muscles of the back or limbs and sake with rapid motions for a few moments. This improves circulation and aids the quick acting contraction muscles to perform better. Those with low back pain, those who perform a lot of keyboard type work, and those who are on their feet all day generally find this technique beneficial.

Ayurvedic Massage:

Ayurvedic massage originated in India. The goal of Ayurvedic massage is to produce and increase harmony and balance within the individual. It also improves circulation and assists the body in quickly removing toxins and metabolic wastes. It promotes a rejuvenation of the body. It was not widely known or practiced publicly until at one point Indian practitioners decided to traveled around and offer this type of massage to various people.

The Ayurvedic massage if basted on the knowledge of the Ayurvedic and also on the Greek system of medicine during the time of its inception. This means it focuses on Doshas and Marmas, also known as pressure points. Many Muslim massage techniques were also developed from this system.

The techniques used in Ayurvedic massage utilize specific oils that are specially suited to your Dosha and on your personal being. One of these is Abhyanga-Garshana in which the masseuse gently brushes the skin and then applies an oil massage.

Another technique is called Udwarthanam which is a slimming massage. This technique utilizes the herbal powders of the Ayurvedic teachings. During this massage the masseuse will use their feet to apply a type of deep tissue massage.

Now that you know a little bit about both of these types of massages, Swedish and Ayurvedic, you are privileged to be able to choose from among them which techniques of the two best suits your personal needs. When deciding which technique to use for the best relaxation effect it may be difficult to choose!

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Exercise is a great way to lose weight and stay healthy. But all of those benefits won’t matter at all if you aren’t getting your exercise done. The most important part of exercising is sticking with your program.

We all know how easy it is to put off exercise, especially if you have a busy life, but here are five key ways to keep yourself motivated:

1. Track your progress.
Find a method to track how many miles you’ve walked, how many calories you’ve burned or how many steps you’ve taken. Consider making a wall chart with milestones written out along a line. Make a check mark each day when you make progress toward your next milestone. You can even create a little character of yourself to move along the line. Each day, you can see how far you have to go until your next milestone, and how far you’ve come.
You can also track your progress on a simple calendar. Mark off the days that you complete your exercise routine. Once you get to the end of the month and see how often you’ve stuck to your plan, you’ll be motivated to keep going.

2. Reward yourself.
Once you’ve reached a milestone on your chart, or checked off a certain number of days on your calendar, be sure to reward yourself with a non-food reward. Buy yourself some new music on iTunes to exercise to. Treat yourself to new workout clothes. Enjoy a movie out with your spouse. If you reward yourself for a good behavior in a way that matters to you, you’ll make the effort to work out more.

3. Give yourself a break.
If you miss a day due to illness or a busy schedule, don’t beat yourself up about it. You won’t get anywhere by putting yourself through a guilt trip. If you end up getting down on yourself each time you make a mistake with your exercise program, you’ll probably get rid of your program entirely. Just plan to make up for a missing session on another day.

4. Mix up your exercise routine.
One of the main reasons that people stop exercising is out of boredom. While your exercise program may be exciting and fresh when you first start, even the most fast-paced workout DVD can get boring after a while. Mixing up your routine will keep you interested enough to want to keep working out. In addition, changing your workout from time to time will help you lose more weight and get more fit. Over time, your body gets used to the same repetitive motions and figures out ways to make the exercise easier. By introducing different types of movement, you’ll keep your body guessing and get more from your exercise.

5. Work out with friends or family.
Exercise is a lot more enjoyable when you do it as a group. The best way to stick with a program is commit to another person to work out together. You can motivate each other to keep going. It won’t be as easy to skip a workout session if you have promised someone else that you’ll work out.

Jamie Jefferson writes for Momscape.com and Susies-Coupons.com, where you’ll find reviews and coupons for popular online diet plans, including Medifast Coupons as well as discounts on Think Right Now behavior modification programs.

Do you find yourself unhappy with the way you look, feel and perform, but dread joining a gym? I mean, when you look in the mirror, are you unhappy with what you see? When you need to perform a physical activity, are you afraid yuo won’t be able to perform your best? And what about going to the doctor’s office, do you fear what the test results will show about your health?

You are not alone. The fact is, our natural environment made up of what we eat, how we exercise and how we live is not producing fit, healthy attractive bodies. And not only does this effect the way you look and perform, but lowers your overall quality of life.

The problem is, the “answer” of going to the gym brings on just as many feelings of dread. Let’s look at this problem and come up with a solution you can live with. (I mean live better with!)

The Fears Of Being Unfit, Unhealthy And Unattractive

Few of us perform, feel or look the way we want. There is always room for improvement after all. The problem is, these little changes we want to make have become HUGE problems. It is no longer a question of vanity, but a question of health.

The fact is, obesity and illness related to being unfit are on the rise. (It is an epidemic that the majority of people have decided to live with.) No matter how many scare tactics the doctors use, most people simply resist doing anything about it.

The Fears Of Going To The Gym

I believe one of the reasons for people avoiding self improvement is the belief they have to join a gym. Many believe the only way to improve fitness, health and appearance is to join the local gym. And the fact is, many people dread it so much that they would prefer a life at a fraction of their ability and an early death.

Look, I know it is hard to go to a gym and work out in front of other people. After all, the reason you need to go to the gym in the first place is the fact you are out of shape. Many people don’t want to be humiliated by their performance or feel ashamed for how they look right now.

The Solution: At Home Workouts

Here is the good news. You don’t need to join a gym to improve fitness, burn fat and build a high-performance, attractive body. At home workouts are just as effective (if not more so) at reaching your goals. And you can do it without anyone watching. (The only thing people will notice is how much better you look and how much energy you have!)

If dreading joining a gym is keeping you from exercising, you’re in luck. In the comfort of your own home you can do at home workouts and get on the path to the body, health and life you want.

Don’t let the conflicting fears of needing to improve vs dreading the gym keep you from taking ACTION. You don’t need a gym membership, or even any fancy equipment. All you need to do is take action now and start performing effective at home workouts.

Maybe even after the at home workouts, you might want to join a gym to show off your body!

Coach Eddie Lomax takes your fitness, fat burning and physique building abilities to new heights with the Ultimate Gymless Workout. If you think you know everything about at home workouts, check out the Above And Beyond Package.