 Healing Hands offers best massage rates for students in the Boston, at our Back Bay Location
Young Adults these days are under a lot of stress. There are numerous benefits to massage for students - here are just some: Top 5 Benefits Of Massage For Students 1. Lower Levels of Stress, help with Anxiety According to the 2014 National College Health Assessment, students are really stressed out these days. Research has shown over and over that massage therapy is effective for stress relief. Massage therapy has been proven to boost levels of the "feel-good" hormone dopamine, while at the same time lowering levels of the "stress-hormone" cortisol. 2. Better Sleep Massage therapy has been shown help relax the body and improve sleep. Massage therapy can help you get the sleep you need to stay focused on your studies. 3. Improved Focus Students with ADHD can improve mood and classroom attention and focus with regular massage therapy. Headaches, especially tension headaches, frequently get in the way of study and sleep, with up to 30-50% of young people suffering from regular headaches. Get the relief you need to stay focused--massage has been shown to be effective against and to provide relief from from tension headaches. 4. Stay Active and Fit "Freshman fifteen", anyone? All of that study and stress can lead to increased levels of cortisol, which can slow metabolism, trigger inflammation, and encourage accumulation of body fat, one of your body's natural reactions to stress.. In addition to giving a boost to your metabolism, massage can also help out with any stiffness or sore muscles. It is effective for pain management, faster recovery, and prevention of injuries, so that you can keep going. Massage therapy should be a part of your regular wellness regimen - even helping you to maintain peak fitness 5. Immune Boosting In addition to lowering cortisol levels, and increasing our "feel-good" neurotransmitters, massage therapy also improves immune function by increasing our body’s natural "killer T cells” and lymphocytes, Student Dorms, housing lounges, classrooms are all close quarters and can be a breeding ground for germs and germ transmission. Give yourself a boost--research shows that even a single session of Swedish Massage has a measurable biologic impact. For more details on our Student Discount Pricing for massage click here
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  Thai Herbal Compress Massage
Herbal healing has deep roots in Thai culture dating back to ancient times when it was a secret healing technique of Buddhist monks. Ideal for relaxing aching muscles and soothing the effects of sporting injuries or other physical stress, a Thai herbal massage is a wonderful option for people who need a calming experience to induce blissful relaxation. The aromatic and medicinal properties of the herbs and spices have a positive restorative, calming and soothing effect. It is ideal for alleviating pain, stiff, sore or pulled muscles and ligaments, chronic back aches, arthritis, migraines, stress and anxiety. A beautiful way to unwind after a stressful few days or as a way to give yourself a well-deserved reward, Thai herbal massages have lots of lasting health benefits; it is believed that they calm the nerves and replenish your body’s natural energy. The handmade herbal compress balls contain numerous healing herbs that are wonderfully aromatic when heated. This unique poltice is steamed and applied to the body, with oil, to help sooth and relax muscle tension and other aches and pains. Many of the herbs used are anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, astringent and antioxidant. They are used to address sprains, bruises and sore muscles, cleanse and heal the skin by promoting cell growth, and aid upper respiratory ailments such as bronchitis, asthma, and the common cold. The Traditional Herbs used are: Camphor – is stimulating the brain, heart and circulation but relieves mental and emotional stress, anxiety and insomnia. When inhaled it is good for sinuses and respiration. Used in compresses it soothes sore muscles and arthritis, and treats nervous system disorders such as multiple sclerosis and fibromyalgia. Cassamunar Ginger – soothing the muscle aches and pain. Natural emollient used by women to tone and soften their skin, and has been used (in Thailand) by generations to restore the womb after giving birth. Eucalyptus – the aroma has an emotionally refreshing effect. While inhaling the steamed vapours or applying to the chest and throat are all effective treatments for colds, cough, congestion, asthma and other respiratory conditions. It is also antiseptic killing germs and speeding the healing of wounds and infections. Galangal – used internally relieves many digestive ailments. It is strong antiseptic, toning the skin and treating skin diseases. Ginger – powerful stimulant with heating effects on the body. Its oil boosts circulation, eases muscle stiffness and increases the potency of all herbs combined with it. Kaffir Lime – the vapours are uplifting, treating respiratory ailments and oil on the skin acts as a cleansing astringent. Lemongrass – soothing yet invigorating, clearing the head and uplifting the mind. Turmeric – one of the key ingredients in healing, used internally for circulatory and digestive problems. It is also natural moisturizer and antiseptic popular for skin treatments. The balls are individually made, stuffed and tied by hand. The combination of herbs I use in this massage is a secret family recipe, passed down from generation to generation, and I get them direct from Thailand. They are only intended for single use, and at the conclusion of your bodywork you may take them home as a gift, and they have a lovely fragrance for your bath. If you are looking to experience the best massage in Boston and want to try a thai herbal compress massage, go to our menu page. If you are looking to experience the best massage on Martha's Vineyard, we have an award winning second location and would be delighted to see you there.   Are you interested in experiencing Lomi Lomi? the "Queen" of Massages?
If you're looking for a true authentic Hawaiian lomi lomi massage in Boston or for a Boston traditional hawaiian massage therapist, or Lomi lomi massage Boston, I specialize in hawaiian lomi lomi massage. What is Lomi Lomi ? Massage is one of the oldest and most powerful forms of healing. Lomi Lomi is one of the most profound forms of massage. So, what makes it so special, what is it, how does it differ from other massage, how does it "work"? I"m often asked what Lomi Lomi means. The word Lomi Lomi simply means massage. What it is, is a unique healing massage derived from the ancient Polynesians and more specifically the master healers of Hawaii. To understand the depth of Lomi Lomi massage, it helps to have an understanding of the Hawaiian philosophy called Huna, and how the philosophies of Huna relate to bodywork and healing. A fundamental assumption of Huna is that everything seeks harmony and everything seeks love. So how does this relate to massage? Perhaps this can best be understood by one of the alternate names for Lomi Lomi, and that is "Loving Hands" massage. The reason for this is that it works gently yet deeply into the muscles with continuous, flowing strokes, totally nurturing the body and, enabling the recipient to relax, give in and simply be. So whilst technique is an important part of the massage and associated healing, much of the work is done by love, with the focus of the practitioner on the client being deep and complete, using loving hands and a loving heart. This flowing with total energy, using the long continuous, flowing strokes, combined with the very loving touch, relaxes the entire being, assisting in a letting go of old beliefs, patterns and behaviours that cause limitations and which are stored in the cells of our body. People generally think of memory, beliefs, our "programming", as being stored in our head, in our brain. This is not the case, this memory and other programming is in fact stored in all the cells of our body. The Hawaiians look at things in terms of energy flow, following the idea that an idea or belief can block energy flow as much as muscle tension can. Lomi Lomi helps release the blockages, whilst at the same time giving the energy new direction. Thus Lomi Lomi is not just a physical experience; it also facilitates healing on the mental, emotional and spiritual levels as well. The Hawaiians view all aspects of the body as one and believe that the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual are all part of the "whole" self - when healing is effected on one level, all levels are affected. When harmony is lacking the effect is pain physically, mentally, emotionally or spiritually. Illness is a state of tension, which leads to resistance which blocks energy movement. Lomi Lomi helps release this and therefore facilitates the road to healing. On the physical level, through Lomi Lomi stress and tension are relieved, blood and lymph flow assisted and the elimination of wastes and toxins stimulated. So, what happens during a Lomi Lomi massage? How is it performed? A Lomi Lomi usually commences with a stillness between the practitioner and client, often with the practitioners hands gently resting on the clients back. In this stillness the practitioner will quietly say a blessing or prayer asking for whatever healing is needed to take place during the massage. Alternatively or as well, the client may be asked to set their intention for any healing they would like to receive. The practitioner then works very intuitively with the client. In this respect there is no set format or sequence for the massage and no two massages will ever be identical. The massage is given in fluid, rhythmic motion using the forearms as well as the hands. Some people have described this as feeling like gentle waves moving over the body. Another feature is that different parts of the body may be massaged at the same time, for example one arm or hand may be working on a shoulder and the other hand may be working on the opposite hip. This assists the recipient in totally relaxing as it is impossible or at least extremely difficult for the brain to focus on the two different areas at once. By not working on areas in isolation a deep sense of balance and harmony is achieved. As I said earlier, whilst technique is important, the priority is loving the body, using intuition so the massage is "right" for the client. The client on the table is not viewed as someone to be fixed, but a being to be returned to harmony and balance. It is important to remember that the practitioner does not heal but is the facilitator for the healing. Under body and full body strokes also help to free the energy, make the body soft, promoting free and abundant flow of life energy in the recipient. According to Huna philosophy, energy also gets blocked in the joints. Gentle stretches of the body and gentle rotations of the joints are therefore also incorporated to assist the release of tensions and assist the flow of energy, once again not forcing, but feeling the level of the clients resistance or comfort. The practitioner may also hum at various points during the Lomi Lomi as the vibrating and amplified energy that results also aids the release of blockages. Dancework or hula movements, combined with the breathwork of the practitioner are also important and integral aspects of Lomi Lomi. The reason for the hula type dance around the table whilst massaging is not just because it looks good! The movements are all important to assisting the energy flow both within the practitioner and recipient and helps keep the energy at a high level. This combined with breathing techniques by the masseuse are also important in assisting the energy flow. The sharing of the breath, the essence of the Creator or universal energy, whatever name you like to give it, is an old Hawaiian custom and greatly enhances the energy flow once again. Another major difference from other massage is that the person lays directly on the vinyl of the table and not on a towel and rather than being covered completely by towels, is covered by a small sheet or towel leaving most of the body exposed during the massage, whilst maintaining the recipients modesty. This makes it a lot easier to perform the underbody and full body strokes without interrupting the flow of the massage. Specifically, the chest is typically uncovered brieflly for both women and men, for some of the front of the body strokes. You may be thinking it must be very cold in the middle of winter. To overcome this and ensure the comfort of the client, heaters can be used to maintain the room temperature at a warm level. Because the practitioner works intuitively, a massage may be slow and very relaxing or at times it may be a little faster and therefore more invigorating and enlivening to the body. Sometimes the recipient may experience an emotional release as the massage can release and shift negative emotions, negative beliefs and other "stuff" that has been stored in the cells of the body, with the healing effects of the massage continuing long after the massage is over. Aloha The Aloha Spirit refers to the attitude of friendly acceptance for which the people of Hawaii are so famous. Aloha stands for so much more than hello or goodbye or love. Its deeper meaning is " the joyful sharing of life energy in the present". This really is one of the secrets of Lomi Lomi and to love and nurture the body as if it was your own. Aunty Margaret who is one of the oldest and widely recognised teacher of Lomi Lomi has a definition of Lomi Lomi which is "The Loving Touch - a connection of heart, hands and soul with the Source of All Life!" Students of Lomi Lomi learn to flow the love from the heart, through the hands, to connect with the soul of the one receiving the massage. Healing is increased by love, love received and love given. In the Oxford Dictionary the definition of love is fondness, a deep or passionate affection to someone or something - to the Hawaiians it is so much more, it also includes tolerance, forgiveness, acceptance, non judgment, appreciation, compassion, respect and so many other elements - this is the very foundation of a Lomi Lomi massage. Aloha ! Update: read part two here |
A Really Good Massage BlogAbout MeI write about things that I myself need to be mindful of. ways in which I would like to improve. It is not from the perspective of preaching - but rather writing helps me work out what I myself need to do - we are all in this together.
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