Satisfy Your “Kneads”

by Oasis Spa & Wellness Centre 19.JAN.07

Massage is one of the greatest forms of natural healing of all time. Whether you’re seeking to de-stress, ease muscle tension, soothe arthritis, or be rejuvenated, there’s a specific massage technique designed to deliver. Given both the hectic pace of daily life and the fact that we’ve become such a low-touch society, massage has become more essentail to our well-being than ever before.

Enough about its restorative benefits cannot be said. Depending on your needs – to unwind, to ease the very real symptoms of PMS, by using lymphatic drainage massage to reduce water retention prior to the menstrual period, or to erase the painful stress that settles across your shoulders from long periods at the computer – there’s a form of massage with your name on it!{{more}}

If you’re on certain medications such as blood thinners, have high blood pressure, or are undergoing chemotherapy, massage is definitely inadvisable. Another time to forgo a massage is when you’re coming down with a cold or the flu. Having a massage during this stage of the illness is detrimental because you’re increasing the circulation and spreading the virus.

It’s always wise to check with your doctor if you have a medical condition or even suspect a concern. For example, if you’re diabetic, he or she may okay a massage, but only a very light one, such as a Swedish massage. So cunsulting your practitioner in these and other instances is the only way to have a massage free of concern.

What’s key about massage, beyond its obvious feel-good factor, is its impact on your emotional beauty. First of all, it reduces what the experts call the “fight-or-flight response,” brought on by stress. If you’ve ever caught yourself in the mirror with your shoulders hunched as if you’re suspended on a line, you know what I mean! Internally, what this means is that stress hormones are surging, your muscles are tight, and, over time, your heart is being taxed and your immune system weakened. Massage reverses the process.

Given the fact that massage helps with stress reduction and relaxation, you have a way to fight illness, be stronger, and help the immune sytem function the way it was meant to function. How does it work? By enhancing the blood flow, we’re also enhancing the flow of the lymph system, which carries the antibodies that help us fight off disease. On top of that, it boosts the output of endorphins, mood-elevating and pain-dulling brain chemicals, which is why you feel so good and so relaxed when you get off the massage table. These are reasons why, depending on the season in your life, a massage may be as essential as a mammogram – only you know the score. This is why I suggest that we not consider a massage a practice for only the rich and famous, nor a gift that you’re deserving of simply on your birthday or Mother’s Day. Your wellness and inner harmony may dictate having one weekly or monthly.

It’s important to also realize that you play a role in how beneficial your massage will be, so it’s important to be specific about your needs and desires when stepping away for this curative experience. Let the therapist know you’ve had a rough day, and that’ll get you a soothing massage. If you work out every day and are dealing with muscle soreness, or if you don’t have good mobility in certain areas, that’ll tell the therapist something else. The most important consideration to keep in mind is that massage therapists are there to create an environment that is conducive for the clients to heal themselves. So I urge you to see massage as another way to listen within and then make the appropriate response with the healing power of touch.

If you’re looking to explore the different types of massage and body work, here’s a briefing on those available at OASIS SPA AND WELLNESS CENTRE:

SWEDISH A very light, soothing massage, using very long strokes; aids in overall relaxation, stimulates circulation, relieves knotty muscles.

DEEP TISSUE Uses a very firm, focused pressure, often concentrating on specific areas of the body; for muscle soreness, as it releases toxins and lactic acid (which builds up in the muscles) and increases circulation.

HOT STONE Uses smooth heated stones, combined with oil and gliding strokes; relaxes, soothes muscle soreness

OASIS “Rest & Digest” MASSAGE With natural relaxation techniques, this massage was specially developed to encourage the proper function of the major organs (Heart, Lung, Intestines, Reproductive Organs, Kidneys) through full stimulation of the nervous system. This massage technique calms and normalizes the body, restoring it to an optimum resting state.

Oasis Spa – Mind ~ Body ~ Release ~ Peace
456-2555/ 493-0793 (cell)