Relaxing or therapeutic? Until recent years these were the only options when you were looking for a massage in Calgary. Today you will need an entirely new vocabulary so that you can find a treatment that you are really going to enjoy. While the standard used to be a Swedish massage, today there are a number of additional options to consider. Some options and what they are best used for are highlighted here.
Swedish Massage
A number of recent studies have recently found that a Swedish massage, which is characterized by a moderate amount of pressure as well as long strokes that go with the muscle grain, is not only extremely relaxing, but also very healing. This type of massage can help to alleviate HIV, cancer, diabetes, immune issues, pain syndromes and even depression. You should select this option if you are stressed and in search of a way to achieve full body relaxation.
Deep-Tissue Massage
This is a massage that is results oriented. The deep tissue option of massage will incorporate the penetrating and kneading techniques, trigger point releases and cross grain strokes. This type of massage will really get into the deepest portions of the muscle and even addresses the muscle attachments. While some find this option of massage a bit painful, it is also extremely therapeutic. You should choose this option if you suffer from muscular injuries or chronic tension.
Shiatsu Massage
This is a type of Japanese massage that works with the energetic meridian system of your body. The therapists will use their fingers and their hands to apply acupressure and massage that may incorporate a type of gentle stretching during the process.
Thai Massage
With this type of massage you will keep all of your clothes on and lie on the floor allowing your therapist to work on your entire body with a series of different stretches that are designed to release your pent up muscular tension. This is often called the “lazy man’s yoga.” This is the right option if you want to feel energetic and invigorated.
Understanding what is available in terms of massage will help you determine the right treatment for your needs. This will also allow you to feel better and reap a number of therapeutic and stress relieving benefits. If you want to release pain, tension and stress, then massage is an option you should carefully consider. It will allow you to feel better and enjoy life more fully due to the various methods that are available. Doing this will also ensure that you enjoy a better quality of life, no matter what you are doing or where you may be headed.
The Key To Great Skin and Good Health
Yes yes, you’re all probably sick of hearing all about the latest miracle food that promises perfect, youthful skin and once you’ve bought and consumed all this said beauty miracle, you realized you’ve eaten all that for nothing. What is key in benefiting from the healthy food we eat, and how we benefit from it is through proper digestion. No, digestion is not all about pooping although elimination is crucial in order to have beautiful skin. Digestion is a complex system that our body functions in order to reap the benefits of the foods we eat and how we function for our mind and body. So here is the lowdown on why effective digestion is necessary and what can enhance the efficiency of this said system.
Digestion is really, in layman’s terms how we process our food. And the important thing to note is how much actual vitamins and minerals to we absorb from the healthy food we eat is important in order to feel and see the difference. A proper functioning digestion also determines how we metabolize our fats, carbs and protein and how it is distributed to our bodies. What we consume is only part of the equation. Stress, hormones and inactivity can actually determine and affect your digestion. So what to do if you suffer from poor digestion? Well, aside from proper digestions, here are some other tips:
1. Get active! Walking as you’ve heard, really helps with digestion if you’ve ever overeat.
2. Do yoga! Twists and forward folds especially really helps with detoxification and also relieves stress.
3. Take some probiotic and enzymes. Usually when you follow a poor diet, our digestive enzymes take a huge beating. Really take the supplements in order to ease your digestion.
So there you have it, yes, nutrition is really important to beautiful skin, but you need to remember that you need to process the food you eat in order to reap the benefits.
Treat Yourself to a Spa Discount at Spa Week
Everyday we work hard to pay our bills, put food on our tables and accomplish the goals that we’ve set for ourselves. This is one of the main reasons why I feel that Everyone deserves a little bit of luxury”. Every once in a while we need to reward ourselves for the hard work and sacrifices that we make on a day to day basis. So whether you treat yourself to an expensive (but worthy) makeup bag, a new makeup palette or a Chanel tote – I say hey you are truly worth it. Why work hard if you cannot reap the rewards? Treating yourself well is not just about the material luxuries of life but also taking care of your bodies. If you do not take care of yourself how can you take care of the kids, your hubby, your wife or even your goldfish?
I frequently get manicures, make trips to the salon and get facials whenever I can. Sure sometimes these treatments can be expensive and may not always fit into your budget, after all these are tough economic times. Well ladies (and gents) this is where Spa Week comes it. Spa Week is the glorious week of April 12-18, 2010 where you can get $50 spa treatments at approximately 800 spas throughout the US (and Canada) including (but not limited to) New York, Virginia, Florida, California, Nevada, New Jersey and several other states. Ladies you can treat yourself to everything from Botox to ear candling to laser hair removal to vajazzing. I was quite happily surprised at the extensive list of participating spas and services available. I plan on partaking in a 60 minute hot stone massage since I’m always in need of some relaxation after a long day at work. A trip to the spa is not just a luxury as there are many healthful benefits such as stress relief, detox and healthy skin (depending on the treatment). When you feel good you look good and this is important to your overall mental well being. When a person takes care of themselves it helps to improve their body image and their self esteem. So take a moment or an hour out of your busy life to do something fabulous for yourself, you deserve it.
To check out the participating spas go to http://www.spaweek.com/ and then book your appointment.
Beauty Food: Water for Internal Beauty
Over the past year and a half, I’ve been on a personal quest to improve my overall health and fitness. I read a lot of health and beauty advice and learned quite a bit during this time.
I adopted a new philosophy about really taking excellent care of myself. I feel that we as a culture spend lots of time on making sure our outfit is designer and that our hair looks good. We spend time feeding our souls through spirituality. We have time to learn and nurture our minds. We have time for friends and partying and going to the club. But somehow we just never have the time to eat right or exercise. Why is that? Well I decided to quit the excuses and really put forth an effort to improve myself on the inside and out.
I began reading and doing research to find out how to eat healthier. I went to anyone physically fit that I saw and asked them what they did to stay fit. I’m also constantly researching and learning and finding that it’s not as hard as it seems to stay fit. One important factor in fitness is drinking water and staying properly hydrated.
Water makes up more than two thirds of the weight of the human body, and without it, humans would die in a few days. The human brain is made up of 95% water, blood is 82% and lungs 90%. A mere 2% drop in our body’s water supply can trigger signs of dehydration: fuzzy short-term memory, trouble with basic math, and difficulty focusing on smaller print, such as a computer screen. (Are you having trouble reading this? Drink up!) Mild dehydration is also one of the most common causes of daytime fatigue. An estimated seventy-five percent of Americans have mild, chronic dehydration. That’s a pretty scary statistic for a developed country, where water is readily available through the tap or bottle.
Here are just a few benefits that drinking water can provide:
- Water serves as a lubricant
- Water transports nutrients and oxygen into cells
- Water detoxifies
- Water forms the base for saliva
- Water forms the fluids that surround the joints.
- Water regulates the body temperature, as the cooling and heating is distributed through perspiration.
- Water helps to alleviate constipation by moving food through the intestinal tract and thereby eliminating waste- the best detox agent.
- Water regulates metabolism In addition to the daily maintenance of our bodies, water also plays a key role in the prevention of disease. Drinking eight glasses of water daily can decrease the risk of colon cancer by 45%, bladder cancer by 50% and it can potentially even reduce the risk of breast cancer.
Water is important to the mechanics of the human body and the body cannot work without it, just as a car cannot run without gas and oil. In fact, all the cell and organ functions made up in our entire anatomy and physiology depend on water for their functioning. So instead of drinking soda and sugary juices grab a glass of water and drink up, your body literally depends on it.