Rejuvenate yourself with spa treatments during monsoon

Happy-Monsoon

Spa Treatments during Monsoon

Monsoon is always a wonderful time. The wet and foggy mornings, dark clouds and drizzles make the place, a fairyland as they bring relief after scorching heat. According to Ayurveda, body is at its weakest during Monsoons.  Also, monsoons are associated with many common health problems like Colds and Coughs, Viral infections etc. It is therefore imperative to provide constant support and rejuvenation mechanism to the body to maintain its immunity and strength.

Immune system is weaker in rainy season, regular massage therapy treatments help boost the immune system. When your immune system is stronger, your body is more prepared to defend itself against those viral infection  around your workplace, school or even your home during this season months.. So keep yourself healthy during monsoon by scheduling regular massage appointments.

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Monsoon is the best period for ‘Spa treatment’ because during this time round, the season remains moist. Particles of dust and soil are present less in the air. The pores of body open up easily during this season giving the best treatment result as it improves the skin’s complexion and helps to build proper tissues in the body . Massage helps to increase the circulation of blood and lymph thereby enabling the body to get rid of excess of the water. Massage helps to preserve longevity, helping to retain youthfulness and revitalise body and mind

 

For specific ailment like common cold, do request for eucalyptus oil usage during Monsoon for relief from Common Cold. Do observe certain precaution to realise full benefits of Spa massage

  1. Ensure that Air conditioning set at a temperature that is comfortable to you. As you will be disrobing for Spa treatment, bare body is more sensitive to lower temperature
  2. Do take hot steam post therapy. Steam helps to open nasal passage, blocked nose and decongest Chest. In short, it helps to declutter ENT route and provide instant relief from Common cold
  3. Do take few minutes to enjoy hot tea post Spa therapy. Any good spa shall offer green tea with other condiments like dry fruits, honey or fresh fruits post therapy. The time that you spend in consuming tea act to condition your body and act as good and slow transition from relaxed/controlled/heated atmosphere of Spa rooms to polluted/noisy atmosphere outside
  4. Last but not the least – stay in present during Massage. Switch off phone, stop worrying about deadlines, To do List, mistakes committed or hurdles ahead. Live in present and enjoy the Spa with your and only yourself.

 

Six Stretch Exercises for Sciatica Pain Relief!

I always thought there wasn’t much I could do when my sciatica pain flared up. But now that I’ve found the following routine, I know there’s an answer. These 6 simple exercises help relieve pressure on the sciatic nerve, and can be performed from the comfort of your own bed with excellent results for sciatica pain relief

Sciatica

Sciatica is an intense and searing pain, sometimes experienced as numbness or tingling, that can be felt around your lower back and shoots all the way down to your legs. This routine was developed at the University of Washington’s Physical Therapy Department, by Jennifer Howe. It’s especially designed to target herniated discs, bone degeneration and tight hip muscles, all of which cause sciatica. Even if you don’t know which of the three factors is causing your pain, try all the stretches and see which one helps.Tight hip muscles The following stretches will loosen the muscles in your hips. They might be pressing on your sciatic nerve, causing your pain.

Knee to opposite shoulder

Lie on your back with your legs extended and your feet flexed. Raise your right leg and hold your hands behind your knee. Pull your right knee gently across your body until it reaches your left shoulder. Hold this position for 30 seconds and repeat once more. Switch to raise your left leg to your right shoulder.

Hold this position twice.

Knee to opposite shoulder

 The Figure-4 Stretch

Lie on your back with your knees bent and place your feet flat on the bed. Cross your right ankle over your left knee forming a 4-shape, as seen in the photo below. Hold your hands behind your left knee and gently pull your legs towards your chest while pressing the right knee away from your chest. Hold this position for 30 seconds and repeat it another 3 times. Switch legs and repeat the exercise 4 times.

The Figure-4 Stretch

Stretches for bone degeneration 

Create spaces between your vertebrae with these moves. These will help prevent them from pinching your sciatic nerve.

Knees to chest

Lie on your back and hug your knees to your chest, while allowing your lower back to curve. Hug your knees in this position for 30 seconds. If this stretch eases the pain in your legs, repeat this position another 3 times

Knees to chest

 Posterior pelvic tilt 

Lie face up on your bed with your knees bent and your feet flat, and place your arms behind your head. Lower yourself until your entire lower back touches the bed, as you see in the photo. Hold this position for 5 seconds and then return to the start position.

Repeat this exercise 10 times.

Posterior pelvic tilt

 Herniated disc 

These two press-up stretches can help create distance between the bulging discs in your spine. This relieves the pressure on the sciatic nerve.

Press-up 

 Lie on your stomach and position your elbows directly under your shoulders, placing your forearms flat on the bed parallel to each other. Lift your chest and stretch your spine from the tailbone to the top of your neck, slightly arching your back. Hold this position for 30 seconds while breathing deeply. If the pain in your leg subsides, repeat this exercise two more times. If you don’t feel any relief, skip the press-up extension (the next and last exercise).

Press-up

 Press-up extension 

Once again, lie face down with your hands flat next to your shoulders. Press your palms into the bed while lifting your upper body, making sure to keep your hips and pelvis on the bed. Stretch your spine from your tailbone to your neck while slightly arching your back. If you feel pressure on your lower back, stop lifting your chest. Hold this position for 10 seconds and then slowly lower yourself back to the start position. Repeat this exercise 10 times, making a set. Do 3 sets of this exercise in total.

Press-up extension

Which body massage is right for me?

The thought of a body massage has you relaxing already, but which one should you go with?

Is one body massage modality more appropriate for your body today than another day?  Is there a difference between Therapeutic, and Deep Tissue massages?  Do you feel like you should be the one to decide what type of massage is right for you, but you’re confused about the differences between the various modalities? The term “body massage” can be a little confusing. Choosing from a menu of massage techniques may sound like a heavenly dilemma (so many techniques, so little time …). But the choice you make is a weighty one — and it’s not just about your preferences for light or deep pressure, but also your health and physical condition right now.

So how do you know which massage therapy technique is best for your health concerns and priorities? Here’s how to know your options so you can get the greatest therapeutic benefit from your massage.

  1. You work at a computer all day and your shoulders, neck and upper back are chronically sore

Recommendations:  Back & Body Therapy.

Ayurvedic Potli MassageIt is the combination of Potli with Deep Dissue massage .Potli massage addresses aching back, neck and shoulder. Following Deep Tissue oil massage helps as an icing on cake with reawakening of dulled senses.

  1. You play sports, but don’t cross-train and have specific trouble spots

Recommendations:  Deep Tissue Massage

Deep Tissue Massage
Back Pain

Deep tissue massage is used to release chronic muscle tension through slower strokes and more direct deep pressure or friction applied across the grain of the muscles not with the grain. Deep tissue massage helps to break up and eliminate scar tissue.

  1. You are so tense and stressed

Recommendations:  Shirodhara with Abhyangam

Anger Management
Stress Management

Stress relief is one of the first benefits of any massage therapy.Combination of Shirodhara with Abhyangam is not only addresses muscular pain or stiffness but also addresses mental stress and helps to improve concentration, reduce sleep disorders, reduce anxiety etc.

  1. First spa experience / First massage

Recommendations: Swedish massage

First time to Spa
Soft pressure body massage

This form of massage is typically very relaxing and is an ideal technique to experience if you’ve never had a massage before. The main purpose of Swedish massage is to increase the oxygen flow in the blood and release toxins from the muscles. Swedish massage feels good, is relaxing and invigorating. It affects the nerves, muscles, glands, and circulation, while promoting health and wellbeing. Swedish massage was first performed to performance of athletes in Olympics. The team eventually went onto win 2 Gold medals.

  1. You are so tense that your back feels like concrete.

Recommendations : Balinese massage                                                       

Balinese Massage
Back Pain, Stress Management

Strongly recommended incase of body pains/stiffness and mental stress. One treatment addresses both relaxes body and rejuvenates mind. Balinese massage is a full body deep tissue holistic treatment that combines acupressure, reflexology, stretching and aromatherapy to stimulate circulation, ease muscular/ joint pain and help in sports injuries and migraine. It start with dry massage which is akin to yoga and is extremely helpful in removing body pain and stiffness. Dry stretching is followed by Oil massage to relax and rejuvenate the body.