|
What is Massage?
Massage is the practice of touching or of applying structured or unstructured pressure, tension, motion, or vibration — manually or with mechanical aids — to the soft tissues of the body, including muscles, connective tissue, tendons, ligaments, joints, lymphatic vessels and organs; all in order to achieve a beneficial response.
Techniques may involve touch and/or ‘hands off’ healing may be applied to the energetic field around the body. Massage can be applied to parts of the body or successively to the whole body, to aid the process of healing, relieve psychological stress, manage pain, and improve circulation.. When massage is used for its physiological, mental, and mechanical benefits, it is termed "therapeutic massage" or manipulative therapy.
You are treated while lying on a massage table, sitting upright in a massage chair, or lying on a pad on the floor.
Depending upon the treatment you may be unclothed (to underwear) and your body would be draped with towels or sheets. This help keep you warm, which aids in the relaxation response. Relaxation occurs as the treatment takes place and this provides great benefit for health and well being.
Thai Massage
Traditional Thai Massage incorporates techniques that include Shiatsu, Acupressure, Reflexology and Yogasana (yogic postures). Nuad Bo-Rarn (Thai Massage) is designed to relax and open the body's natural energy flow.
During your session
Thai Massage is often described as passive yoga, being that the recipient 'practices' through the body of the worker and receives all of the benefit of a recuperative and energising 'yin' or soft yoga practic.
Tone, strength and flexibility all improve as tension is released from the sinews. All organs and glands derive benefit, either via indirect contact (e.g. gastro-intestinal organs) or through the movement of revitalised blood, lymphatic drainage and stimulation to the nervous and endocrinal systems. All sinews are revitalised by stretching, twisting and compressing in rhythm with the breath and pulses.
A session may last from between one to two hours. During your session you will be lying or sitting on a floor mat. Please wear light, comfortable clothing. No oils or incense are used, unless specifically requested.
Ayurvedic Vishesh Massage
This is a general name for different types of massage based on Ayurveda, a traditional folk medicine from India. Visesh is a deep muscular massage using herbal oils. The massage uses essential oils that are chosen to suit your dosha or bodymind constitution.. The massage techniques used include tapping, kneading and squeezing as well as the more traditional massage strokes one might be used to. The style and flow of the massage is determined by who you are and what your body needs for balance and well being at the time.
An Ayurvedic therapist is trained to focus on the 'Marma' points - energy access points, some familiar or the same as those used in acupuncture, acupressure, reflexology and martial arts.
What is Ayurvedic Massage good for?
When combined with otherAyurvedic principles (eating a range of food prescribed by one's dosha, for example, or exercising at certain times of the day), the massage is designed to detoxify and cleanse, boost the immune system, maintain and improve health and aid those with existing medical conditions.
General Points for receiving either Thai or Ayurvedic Massage
Before You Go
It's a good idea to avoid large meals and alcohol in the hours leading up to a treatment.
Precautions
As with all types of massage, it's important to share any medical concerns or worries that you may have at the start of your session.
Not all tecniques are safe during pregnancy, so it's also important to tell your therapist if you are or think that you might be pregnant. An Ayurvedic Massage can be quite oily and some of the oil gets rubbed into your forehead and hair.
Following Treatment
Don't make any arrangements for a couple of hours after your massage; you will need time to relax and wash the body and hair.
After treatment you may want to relax for a while, taking a long, leisurely shower to wash off all the herbal oil. Sip some water or make an herbal tea to aid re-hydration and enjoy feeling calm, composed and balanced for the rest of the day.
To Book a treatment please go to the Online Shop.
Back to the top |
