If you have ever experienced a professional therapeutic massage, you know the blissful enhancement it can make in your energy, mood and outlook. The best massages make the world better for you and you better for the world. Aromatherapy and massage are practices thousands of years old, as varied and universal as language and still undergoing continual refinement. With the range of products now available for you to choose from, it can be daunting to find and buy the items that will unlock the best kind of rejuvenation that massage holds. This massage supplies buying guide serves as a straightforward primer to help you in the right direction and choose the right massage products for you.
The benefits of massage are not limited to professional athletes or those in chronic pain. Massage therapy is used to treat any variety of ailments and can sometimes even expose ailments you didn't know you had. Still, to undertake the proper therapeutic massage, you will need the proper holistic supplies to do it.
If you plan to go into massage as a professional or give regular massages at home, a massage table is an absolute necessity. To be of professional quality, portable massage tables should be comfortable all the way around, which usually means heavy padding, easy-to-clean surfaces and leg foundations that are secure. You should know the weight limit for your massage table and never operate it outside of its parameters. Your massage table's height should also be adjustable so, as a rule of thumb, the table surface measures no higher than your hip joint. If you're performing massages regularly on a massage table that's too high or too long, you will soon be the one needing the massage.
A massage table or massage chair should have all the support your client needs to get the maximum benefit from the massage. That means looking for a padded facial support, so your client isn't placing undue stress on the neck or upper back. Most portable massage tables already come with detachable head rests. If not, you may need to supplement your massage table or massage chair with bolsters to take stress off of any affected joint. Also, an arm support directly below the head rest is useful for clients whose massages entail a great deal of shoulder work, especially in the rhomboid, deltoid and trapazius muscle groups.
Massage chairs have gained popularity in recent years for a number of reasons. Most massage chairs are easier to transport than tables and cost less, and clients can also receive massages without having to disrobe. Because of this, professional massage therapists are able to give massages in public settings, like shopping malls, student union buildings and corporate offices to create better exposure for their business. Also, most traditional techniques, including Swedish massage, Shiatsu, sports massage, deep tissue and myofascial massage can be adapted to work in a chair. Still, massage tables are widely regarded as the standard in providing the most relaxing foundation, especially when treating trauma from injury or stress.
Powered cushions and devices
Powered massage cushions are a relatively recent development but have exploded in the market over the past few years. One reason for their popularity is that powered cushions can be adapted to practically any space, including the home, office and even long car trips. Additionally, most devices are programmable to your specifications and are designed to be effective on autopilot for an extended period of time.
If you are massaging an area of your body that has undergone trauma or is significantly damaged, make sure to choose a powered cushion or foot massager that offers a heat setting along with an actuating massage device. Heat expands blood vessels, which in turn allows more oxygen to reach the effected area. And just like stretching, heated tissues are more pliable and primed for repair than cold, tight muscle groups.
A massage belt can improve your health by stimulating muscle groups and agitating blood nutrient flow to problem regions. Massage belts have also been proven to be effective weight loss tools by stimulating activity through blood circulation, the passage of accumulated toxins in the muscles and increased metabolism. If used in concert with a healthy diet and exercise, a massage belt can be an excellent way to improve tone and restore health in your body.
Handheld massagers
Whether manual or electric, handheld massagers can be lifesavers for those with an acute injury or chronic pain. They are especially useful for highly localized areas, including your calves, back, neck and scalp. Many devices are specialized to operate around tried-and-true massage techniques, including acupressure, heat application, percussion, tapotement, kneading and rolling. While many handheld massagers are designed with the idea that the patient should not have to strain themselves and reach an affected area, handheld massagers can also be useful instruments for a massage therapist. They provide a break for the hands and fingers and are an easy way to increase the longevity of the massage.
Massage oils
Any trained massage therapist will tell you one great secret that separates a professional-quality massage from the average home massage is the correct use of massage oil. Oils improve the experience by removing friction, which is likely the culprit behind the unnecessarily painful deep-tissue massage you may have received at one time or another. Frequently, oils are scented, lending the benefits of aromatherapy to massage while more deeply relaxing the recipient. Make sure to check for any allergies. It would be a serious mistake to apply almond-based oils to someone with a severe reaction to nuts.
Here's another tip: Use the right amount of oil. Begin with about a quarter-size drop in the palm of your hand (warm it slightly if it's cold to the touch!) and gently work it into the person's back. Distribute your oils evenly before going back to the bottle for more. Overdoing the massage oils will make it impossible to adequately treat the effected area because you will be slipping around too much. Also, the right amount of oil will be more comfortable for the person receiving the massage; when you are finished, they won't have to spend the rest of the day feeling greasy.
Massage accessories
The worlds of holistic medicine and traditional medicine are continually building stronger bonds. There has been upswing in public awareness, attention and appreciation toward holistic health and wellness, and as a result, the number and variety of products out there is growing daily.
Hot stones and cold stones have been used in massage for thousands of years but only recently have reached wide appeal among practitioners and therapists. The stones in a hot stone massage need to have high heat conductivity and therefore a high ore content, so polished igneous and metamorphic rocks are usually the rocks of choice. Hot stones also alleviate constant pressure from the massage therapist's hands. And if it's a massage therapist who's on her sixth massage without a break, a hot stone massage can be a welcome, if not necessary, break.
An array of topical products also go hand-in-hand with massage and the full spa experience. The tactile sensation of a cleansing mud rub, abrading pumice stone or mineral-rich body butter can renew your lease on life. While you're at it, you might want to improve the atmosphere of your patented rubdown with the right scented candle, selected to aromatically complete the atmosphere (lavender for relaxation, eucalyptus for energy and stimulation or jasmine for romance).
I think I give a pretty good massage, but do you have any tips on how to give a great massage?
First, if you've never tried to incorporate oils in your massage, try it. They are functional and keep your subject's skin from unintentionally rolling in your hands. And oils feel great, especially if warmed just a touch beforehand. Second, keep it simple. Ninety percent of massage is tapping into the therapeutic experience of basic human touch. Don't feel as if you should complicate your method with dramatic flair or by faking some crazy chopping technique you vaguely remember from a movie.
Third, you should try to keep both hands in contact with your subject's body the whole time. A great massage requires that above all: time. Pay attention to each stroke, keeping a continual flow as you slowly transition from one area of the body to the next: the neck, the upper back, the arms, the lower back and the legs. Give each area the time it deserves and respond appropriately to how your subject guides you.
For a more in-depth guide to holistic therapies, be sure to check out Overstock.com's books, CDs, movies and other instructional media on massage.
What are the medical benefits of massage?
Some of the benefits go almost without saying: the alleviation of acute or chronic pain, an increase in range of motion and improvements in mental health that encompass anxiety, depression and stress.
Some of the benefits are not so obvious: Did you know some forms of massage can ease labor pains for an expectant mother and even help with post-natal recovery? Coupled with yoga, you could have one of the most comfortable childbirth experiences on record. Visit our books department to learn more and visit the yoga and meditation section of our fitness store to find mats, yoga balls and all the essentials at the best prices.
Therapeutic massage directly improves the circulatory and lymphatic systems, which passes positive effects onto skin, digestion and internal organs. Massage has also been proven to improve quality of sleep, which in turn reduces mid-day fatigue and generates an increase in energy during the day. Of course, you can never reach whole health without the proper diet and exercise regimen. When you're ready for the healthy life you deserve, keep in mind that Overstock.com carries a wide selection of sports and fitness equipment.
Healing through the senses
Massage is a wonderful way to whole health by incorporating the power of healing touch into your life. Think about healthy living through the other senses as well. Overstock.com has a wonderful selection of aromatherapy products to add soothing scents to your daily life and heal your body through your underutilized olfactory system.
Whole health
After you've tried aromatherapy, you may want to try more alternative healing. Browse our selection of healing magnetic jewelry and mats, natural light lamps to counteract the indoor blues and yoga instruction manuals and mats. Be sure to check out our health and beauty store for everything you could need to help you on the way to healthier living. Overstock.com makes it simple to buy anything you need to achieve your goal of the healthy life you deserve.
