An Ayurvedic perspective on OBESITY

Obesity is a medical condition involving excessive body fat. It increases the risk of severe health problems like diabetes, hypertension, arthritis etc. Though, it is not a serious problem in itself, yet it certainly could hamper quality of your life.

Obesity is turning into a major global health problem. A recent American survey shows that obesity has already become an epidemic in North America. More than one-third of the U.S. adult population is overweight!

Ayurvedic approach towards Obesity

Our ancient healing system, Ayurveda, provides a totally different holistic approach to life. The Ayurveda concentrates on the basic cause for any imbalance. It tries to fix the root cause, instead of focusing only on symptoms and overlooking their roots.

Ayurvedic experts believe that there are seven basic tissue elements (dhaatus) that assist our body in its functioning. Meda (Body Fat) is one of those Dhaatus. An excess of meda dhatu (fatty tissues) is the main reason behind obesity.

TOP CAUSES FOR OBESITY IN ADULTS

Overeating/binge eating:

Binge Eating
Over-eating leads to Obesity

A habit of consuming excessive amount of food is the primary cause of obesity. Over a period of time, excess amount of carbohydrates and fats get accumulated in the body causing obesity or bulkiness. Unnecessary consumption of heavy-to-digest, sugary and fatty food items start suppressing the ‘stop eating’ hormone. According to a study published in a Journal of the American Society of Nutritional Sciences, people who eat high calorie foods, bakery items, fried junk foods and cold drinks etc. tend to gain weight faster than those who eat light easily digestible food.

Physical inactivity and sedentary lifestyle:

Physical exercise on regular basis is the best natural way of allowing your body to burn extra calories. Adapting a sedentary lifestyle without physical activities can negatively impact your overall health. If your job involves long sitting hours, it may increase your chances of weight gain. Your body may become bulky and you may become prone to diseases like diabetes, heart disease etc.

Heredity and other medical conditions:

Obesity could be inherent
Obesity could be genetic

Several scientific research points towards a strong relationship between obesity and genetics. Sometime our genetics play an important role in deciding how our body will store fat. If a person is obese, in spite of regular workouts and healthy eating, he may have inherited the obesity gene.

AYURVEDIC APPROACH TO WEIGHT LOSS

As per Ayurveda, we should consume “living” food like fruits, green vegetables and grains that have been grown naturally. These whole-foods provide a more vitalising and reviving effect on our body and mind.  On the other hand, we should consumption of overcooked processed, frozen and micro-waved food. These kinds of food contribute towards the accumulation of harmful substances (ama) in our body, which may cause various health conditions like obesity, arthritis etc.

The concept of 12-hour fast:

Obesity Management
12-hour fasting for weight management

Ayurvedic experts believe a lot of energy is directed toward the digestive process at night time and our digestive fire goes down during night time. Therefore, they suggest strict fasting between dinner and breakfast. Fasting allows intense and more effective mental, emotional, and cellular cleansing. Thus, one should eat a nutritious breakfast in the morning and lunch meal at around 12. Also, one should make sure to have a very light dinner.

Importance of yoga and exercise in weight-loss:

Modern society is becoming more and more inactive, and desk bound. Our sedentary lifestyle has made us the slave of gadgets and machines which is causing a huge lifestyle imbalance. From an Ayurvedic viewpoint, daily physical exercise offers numerous health benefits. Physical activities facilitate prana to reach every tissue. Exercise supports blood flow and also helps in the removal of harmful toxins. It clears all the circulatory channels and improves our lung capacity. Apart from destroying excess fat, regular exercise offers better stamina and immunity against diseases caused by obesity. Hence, physical activity plays a huge role in obesity management.

Obesity management through asanas and therapies:

Simple yoga asanas, ayurvedic massage therapies along with few lifestyle changes can help your body slim down naturally.

Ayurvedic practitioners suggest various dietary changes and anti-obesity herbs to pacify the imbalances in our body. Vata and kapha imbalance is the main cause of obesity in adults. Plenty of natural remedies have been described in ‘Charak sanhita’. These herbs, when taken in right quantities, may help in reducing excess fat and improving metabolism.

Udwarthanam (Dry powder massage): 

Apart from these lifestyle changes, Ayurveda also suggest specific types of body massage, with ayurvedic oils, for obesity and related ailments.

Dry Powder Massage
Udvarthanam

Udwarthanam is an ancient massage therapy in which massage is performed with herbal medicated powder. It facilitates the removal of toxins from body which in turn helps in fat reduction. Udwardhanam treatment is extremely beneficial in the treatment of obesity, rheumatoid arthritis and skin problems. For better digestion and metabolic activities, some ayurvedic supplements can also be taken after consulting an ayurvedic practitioner.

Ayurvedic Slimming Oil and anti-cellulite oil:

Benefits of massage with ayurvedic slimming and anti-cellulite oil – Body massage with ayurvedic slimming oils is one of the most natural and popular way of removing excess fat. Panchakarma treatments such as vasti and vamanam are also beneficial for weight management. It is advised to take these specific weight reduction therapies from a highly experienced and well qualified massage therapist.

Ayurvedic slimming oil
Ayurvedic Oils

Body massage with ayurvedic slimming oil offers remarkable improvement in overall physical and mental health. The whole process of weight management with slimming oil is actually very pleasing and uplifting. Through massage, you can achieve your weight loss goal without starvation or intense work-out. For getting extra benefits from ayurvedic slimming treatments, one should follow slimming diet along with some herbal medications.

Herbal anti-cellulite oil or slimming oil includes warm and detoxifying properties of fat-reducing herbs. These herbs help you in weight reduction. Most of the ayurvedic anti-cellulite oils are enriched with antioxidant properties of herbs like Haridra, Trikatu, Peepal and Ashwagandha etc. These herbs along with organic essential oil help remove fat and excess water while toning and tightening the skin.

Slimming massage with warm oil is performed all over body with gentle firm strokes. Effective herbal ingredients work in synergy to trigger the slimming process. They also offer extreme satisfaction and relaxation to your body and mind. Anti-cellulite oil instantly starts working on restoring suppleness of your skin. Whereas vigorous massage strokes improve blood circulation, removes toxins and reduces excess fluid.

Aromatherapy for weight-loss:

Aromatherapy massage can also help you reduce your belly fat up to a great extent. A 2007 Korean research proved that there is a clear link between high cortisol levels (stress level) and abdominal weight gain, even in otherwise slim people.

Therefore, it is important to reduce cortisol levels in order to prevent abdominal weight gain. Aromatherapy massage solves both the purposes. Frequent massage with slimming oils help reduce cortisol levels, thus boosting the weight reduction process. Various kinds of essential oils such as sweet fennel, juniper berry, rosemary, sage, and citrus essential oils are used in aromatherapy for fat reduction and excess fluid retention.

OVERALL

Obesity can be managed with few changes in lifestyle and eating habits. It is a challenge but not a hurdle that cannot be overcome. So, fight it out with smaller, doable changes.

Good Luck to all our readers!!

Energised in summer
Stay Healthy!!

Feeling Lazy? Tips to fight lethargy in summer

As the summer sets in, the heat waves have reached to the maximum level. The heat is contributing to tiredness and lethargy. The excessive sweat that occurs during summer drains out all the energy that we store. Thus, it is very common to feel a bit lazy during the summer. Due to heat, we even lose our appetite and the heat takes a toll on our body. We usually tend to get more sick and restless in summer.

Those who work in offices in an air conditioned environment, suffers a lot more. You reach your office bathed in sweat and then sit for long hours at your chilled office. Then again when you come out, you feel the intense heat. The extreme changes in temperature tires our body more than we could imagine. As a result, you get more tired and lazy when you finally reach home. Fatigue and tiredness are very common during summers. However, there are numerous ways you can beat them.

WAYS TO FIGHT HEAT AND LETHARGY

Discussed below are few ways in which you can combat your laziness during summers:

  • STAY HYDRATED – Maintain a high water level

Since we sweat a lot during summers, a lot of body water and glucose drains out of our body. One must ensure that he/she consume lots of fruit juices, water, and juicy fruits. Regular intervals of these juices and fruits keep our body remain cool and hydrated. Coconut water is a thirst quencher and a natural store of electrolytes. Make sure to consume atleast one every alternate day. Also, avoid black coffee during summers. If you are addicted to it, try to gulp at least two glasses of water after you have your cup of coffee.

 

Summer Hydration
Stay Hydrated in Summer to fight Lethargy
  • EAT HEALTHY- Eat in small quantities

Avoid too spicy and oily food during summers. Eat fresh fruits and vegetables. Melons are a good source of hydration. It is suggested to have light food and fill only 1/3 of your stomach, but make sure to eat at regular intervals and do not skip meals. Skipping meals will lower down your energy level. All of this keep the insulin level of our body under control and prevent laziness. It is also important to maintain the vitamin and mineral content of your body.

 

Summer food
Eat healthy and variety
  • SPA TREATMENT – Body Massage

It is helpful to visit a health care clinic for a body massage once a week in summers. Body massage helps in regulating the blood circulation, releases the stress and also helps to overcome the laziness. Spa treatment is also beneficial. It relaxes the muscles and rejuvenates the weakness that has been caused due to the excessive heat. Body massages are very beneficial for various reasons to several people. If you are looking for a clinic, contact Blue Terra Spa, for best spas and body massages.

  • GO GREEN – Include Green vegetables in your diet

As you already know, green vegetables contain a lot of essential nutrients that are of high importance for proper body metabolism. Food rich in protein like pulses, chicken, eggs and meats takes longer time to digest than vegetables and fruits. It is because the body can break down minerals and vitamins at a higher rate than protein. So, to gain energy during the summer, include a lot of vegetables in your diet.

 

Go Green
Go Green in summer
  • EAT REGULARLY – Eat to gain energy and not weight

Although, the easily available foods like burgers, sandwiches, and pizzas satisfy your hunger but they provide you nothing except calories. During summer, you are usually lazy and consuming these foods will add on to your weight and increase the level of your fatigue. Avoid these foods as much as possible. Also, to quench your thirst, grab juices and water over fizzy drinks or other beverages. You can have milkshakes, as that provides you along with energy. During summers, think before you eat to fight against the laziness that is ruining you.

  • DO NOT SKIP A MEAL – Restore the lost energy

As the excessive heat makes you lose the essential glucose of your body, you lose your appetite. Also, tiredness added to it makes you skip meals. This is the worst decision that you could ever think of. When you are losing out on glucose, it is important for you to understand that you are losing out on your energy. Your body needs food that will fulfil the void and help you to restore back the lost energy. Eat light, eat less but eat frequent is the key to keep you active during this summer.

 

Energised in summer
Restore the Lost Energy
  • MAINTAIN HYGIENE – Keep yourself clean

It is very important for you to keep yourself clean during the summers if you want to be fresh and not fatigue. Bath early in the morning, before the scorching heat of the sun, reaches you. And also bath before you hit bed. This reduces the chances of a heat stroke. Wear clothes that are light and prefer cotton garments. It is better that you cover your face and head with a scarf so that you can be prevented from the sun. Wash your face, drink a lot of water and maintain a proper hygiene.

Along with all these try and avoid the sun as much as possible. Use sunscreen, and summer lotions and sunglasses when you step out in sun. A proper sleep is also very necessary. So, keep practicing all of these in order to enjoy summer without laziness.

BEAT THE HEAT AND ENJOY SUMMER!!!

How could Ayurveda help with Stress-relief?

Stress has become a fairly common element of the modern life. While little amount of stress is productive, excessive stress can seriously damage our health – physically, mentally, and emotionally. Almost everyone in today’s world is living a chaotic life, be it the household life, the school life, the workplace, or the society.

Ayurveda, the ancient system of natural healing, offers a totally distinctive and holistic approach to stress management. It recommends several natural effective ways of stress management for our day-to-day life. Ayurveda focuses on using the intrinsic power of herbal medicines to treat various physical and mental diseases.

According to Ayurvedic philosophy, the systems of human body are governed by three fundamental energies: Vata, Pitta & Kapha.

Energies of Life
The 3 Doshas of Ayurveda

When the balance of these 3 energies a.k.a  ‘3 doshas’ is disturbed, our body and mind start suffering with various diseases. Therefore, the Ayurvedic experts advocate the use of various natural remedies to bring back the balance of these three energies of Ayurveda. These natural substances are totally harmless and support our body in managing an easy, stress-free life.

Ayurvedic herbs for stress relief

A range of powerful combinations of herbs and plants have been mentioned in Ayurvedic scriptures. These combinations/ herbs help in the treatment of stress, anxiety and depression etc.

The BRAHMI herb is considered very helpful in the treatment of stress. It takes care of the mental disturbance, headaches, anxiety and depression. Brahmi has shown amazing effects on serious disorders like Alzheimer’s disease. It is highly recommended for people suffering with stress, post-natal depression, anxiety etc.

Brahmi is beneficial in treatment of stress
Brahmi Herb

ASHWAGANDHA is yet another important stress bursting herb which is heavily used in Ayurvedic medicines.

Ashwagandha for treatment of Stress
Ashwaganda – a powerful Herb

According to an eminent ayurvedic consultant, Ashwagandha is an all-purpose brain tonic, which improves our thinking ability, memory power and concentration. It basically helps in maintaining the chemical balance in our brain, which in turn helps us deal with chronic stress. One study published in the Indian Journal of Psychological Medicine suggests that Ashwagandha has shown extremely positive results in the treatment of anxiety, insomnia and depression.

Alternative Therapy for Stress Relief

Restore your inner balance with yoga and meditation

Most of us are juggling from one task to another during the day, and there is a constant lack of time to finish those tasks. The pressure that we feel due to a tight schedule may negatively affect our mental and physical health. Over a period of time our body, mind and heart start losing the sync.

Meditation is vital for stress relief
Meditation

Therefore, it is essential to re-establish the inner connection in order to regain our mental and physical balance.  The practice of yoga and meditation allows us to naturally experience our inner self, which in turn increases our capacity to handle challenges of life more easily and calmly.

Yoga, meditation and other relaxation therapies allow our body, mind and heart to be more integrated. Thus our natural balance is restored and the level of stress and anxiety goes down.

Food for a stress-free life – Eat Right

As we know, prolonged stress generates free radicals and toxic chemicals. This disturbs the balance of vata, pitta and kapha in our body and creates several disorders. These disorders could be related to health, brain, heart and digestive system. According to Ayurvedic philosophy, food that we eat can also work as our medicine. The right kind of foods can help us find our inner peace and reduce stress.

Eat Right
Food for Stress-Relief

In case of stress and anxiety, all plain or sweet fruits are usually considered the right choice due to their vata and pitta pacifying qualities. These two energies stimulate and control various mental and physical functions. Hence, it is important to pacify them in order to maintain proper functioning of the body.

Berries, bananas, sweet orange and amla help in pacifying pitta. They reduce the stress level by providing Vitamin C and Vitamin B6. All kinds of berries like blueberries, raspberries and strawberries are good sources of antioxidants and vitamin C. Consuming these fruits on regular basis may help reduce the risk of depression, tiredness and anxiety etc.

Abhyangam (The ancient oil massage therapy) for stress relief

Abhyangam is the ancient warm oil massage therapy which recharges and rejuvenates the whole body and mind. It is a very effective ancient treatment of muscles and connective tissues, which also help calm down the nervous system. Abhyanga with Ayurvedic nutrient-rich warm oils promotes good sleep. It also helps to improve skin while taking care of your emotional health. In this treatment, warm Ayurvedic oil is poured and gently applied on the body. Oil starts penetrating, slowly, through the cells and removes the harmful toxins or ‘Ama’ from the body. This makes our body and mind feel totally relaxed and stress- free.  This warm oil massage on regular basis can help pacify tri-doshas and promote good health.

Anger Management Techniques to Rein in your Temper

Anger is a completely normal healthy human emotion that prompts you to make positive changes in your life. However if not managed appropriately, it can ruin your social as well as your personal life. Apart from creating problems all around, anger could also impact your health negatively.

 

Anger can destroy your life completely –

Uncontrolled anger can spoil your relationships with the most important people in your life. Moreover, your judgment becomes impaired which eventually gets in the way of your success and prompts you to act inappropriately.

Results of various medical researches show that constant high levels of stress, impulsive behavior and anger can increase your risk of heart ailments, sleeping problems, high BP and various mental disorders etc.

 

Manage your anger and live a better life-

Uncontrolled anger, constant irritability and anxiety drain enormous mental energy, and make it difficult for you to focus on positive aspects of life or simply enjoy life. This is why anger management has become the need of the hour. However, it takes time and a positive mindset to master the art of anger management; but constant effort can take you closer to your goal.

Learning to calm your anger and put your thoughts in proper manner is extremely important for strong relationships, and success at work. Anger management techniques and therapies like massage bring your body and mind in sync with each other. It also enables you to take the right steps to calm yourself down in challenging situations.

 

Role of massage in anger management-

Several occupational therapists say that anger is basically a stress reaction. Gradual reduction in stress level can be very helpful in keeping the anger down. Massage techniques are a great way to release stress and anxiety. Relaxation techniques and massage therapies can help your brain release negative energy while providing you a serene space to peel away all the tensions of life.

Massage therapies on a regular basis help decrease the negative impact of stressful and hectic lifestyle on your outlook towards life. Apart from other health benefits, it also makes you mentally strong to cope with everyday stress and anxiety.

A soothing massage session with a qualified and trained therapist can relieve stress and aid relaxation. A massage will help flush out the harmful toxins from the muscles, and increase the ‘feel-good’ hormones.

However, massage also alleviates nerve pain and offers relief from everyday aches and pains, but the physiological impact is much deeper than simple relaxation. Constant stress and anxiety at work or home may cause depression. A combination of massage therapy and herbal preparations can improve emotional health significantly by increasing the level of serotonin, which in turn reduces depression and pain.

Specific massage techniques are used for balancing anger and the fire element inside the body. That’s the reason why massage therapy is considered very useful in stress management. Moreover, if your anger gets out of hand at times, you should consider learning a simple self-massage technique for calming yourself instantly.

According to Ayurveda, an insufficient communication between the brain and heart causes the emotional imbalance due to anger. Some people can easily overcome their anger due to their ability to express emotions in a healthy way. Some people, on the other hand, find it difficult to control their temper with slightest annoyance.

Ayurveda and holistic therapies like massage lead the path to personal power while helping people learn how to win over the negative emotions. Once this control is achieved, you can become a master of your own thought process.

Ayurvedic principles are applicable on mind and body, both. With regular yoga practice and soothing oil massage, you can easily learn to manage your anger, anxiety, and other negative emotions.

Therefore, it is important to take a break from a busy work schedule and indulge in a stress busting massage therapy. This will help you to take control of your emotions and feelings.

 

How Abhyangam and Shirodhara can help reduce anxiety and anger-

Abhyangam massage and Shirodhara therapy, both are based on ancient Ayurvedic wisdom. They can provide you support and comfort during times of distress. It is a well- known fact that our emotions come from our mental state. Few sessions of these therapies can help you calm down while improving your emotional state.

These types of therapeutic massage offer a caring human touch of the therapist which helps individuals’ relieve their emotional burden. Also, it will accelerate the healing process by creating a sense of emotional security.

Meditation and therapeutic massages are scientifically proven ways of creating consciousness, compassion and acceptance. All of these ultimately help you defeat stress and anger. So, don’t be afraid to get away from crowded elevators, noisy streets and busy workplaces. Just start treating yourself with relaxing massage therapies more frequently than ever before. This will build up your emotional well-being and physical strength.

Could Spa and Massage result in healthier Lifestyle?

Life in the present time is way different than what it used to be even 10-15 years back. In today’s world, the humans are nothing less than the machines. They work relentlessly for 8-9 hours at stretch. We do take breaks in between but that can be almost ignored rather than mentioning it. This means the majority spends 8-9 hours sitting in front of the laptop or computer that can royally give us a nice back pain, neck pain, and shoulder. Not to forget, our eye goes for a toss.

To make things a lot worse, we are addicted to our mobile phones which are equivalent to our lives. A day without our phones can make us feel like we have been stranded on an island.

Next comes in late night parties, which involve drinking alcohol and a gamut of junk foods that further causes havoc to our body. However, it is extremely hard to escape these things because this is what life is in today’s world. And most of us get carried away by the trend, without realizing how much we are playing with our health.

Late night party with binge eating
Late night party adds to poor lifestyle

So, is there any cure to all these effects?

Well, yoga is one of the most effective ways that will give us a healthy lifestyle. But again, who has time, energy and the patience of doing yoga sessions daily? And that too after getting dog tired at the end of the day? To be honest, most of us are least interested in yoga or physical exercise but however we all, secretly, wish to be pampered. When it comes to pampering our body and mind, nothing can win above a luxurious Spa, and Body Massage. It naturally pampers us and makes our life stress free.

Spa and Massage
Spa and massage helps us be stress-free

We come across a number of spa and body massage centers but hardly indulge into them. However, research and experts say that indulging into the world of spa and body massage, maintaining a proper time interval, can actually help us in changing our lifestyle. This means it will inspire us to follow a better lifestyle. Massage helps in toning our body muscles and relieves our body from stress and any kind of body pain.

So, how can spa and body massage give us a better lifestyle?

Below is the rundown of reasons that will make you run to the nearby spa and body massage salon, trust us!

Say Goodbye to Stress: A warm spa and body massage session works like a magic and helps in Stress relief which is essential in today’s world. We get burdened with stress, which we carry on our shoulders throughout the day. Excuse yourself from such life, hit your nearby spa and unburden the stress to experience a stress-free and a happy life.

De-stress for a healthier lifestyle
Say good-bye to stress

It has been proved that massage is known to stimulate a hormone called serotonin, which you can also term as ‘Happy Hormone’. The happy hormone, Serotonin, make your body and mind feel happy and enables relaxation.

Prevention from Disease: Poor blood circulation in the body can give rise to number of health issues, which of course are not pleasant. To avoid such unwanted health issues, indulge yourself right away into a good body massage.  This indulgence will improve the overall blood circulation into the body and also improve the flow of oxygen and nutrients to cells that kicks out any kind of toxin from the body. This in turn, prevents diseases like high blood pressure, blood clots and so on.

No Pain but Gain: Spa session helps to free our body from body pains like Joint Pain and Back Pain to make us feel healthy and happy from within. They help in relaxation of the body muscles thereby kicking out body pains. There are spa massages which have been designed especially to relieve our body from all kind of pains thereby inspiring us to have a Healthy Lifestyle.

Back Pain Massage
No Pain, Only Gain

Spa massages induces the body to relieve endorphins which are basically the natural body pain killers. Thus, a body massage is a better option than popping in some tables.

Way to Detoxification: Detoxify your body with a great body spa massage. Well, most of us were not aware about this fact, so it can be a bit of surprise. However, the pressure and the rhythmic strokes that are put on the body (tissues, muscles and organs) improve blood circulation in our body. This in turn, pushes out the toxins and the fat which are trapped in between the body muscles and releases them into the circulatory system, which encourages faster elimination of such toxins.

Detox
Detox Naturally

Skin worth Gazing: Well, trust us on this. You’ll be gifting yourself with a great skin. How? A spa treatment involves body exfoliation which aids at removing dead skin cells and refining the clogged pores which gets packed with dirt and other harmful materials. Unclogging of pores, in turn allows the body to soak moisture and the nutrients from it, thereby leaving your body radiant, soft and supple which can be quite a head turner.

‘Sleeping Beauty’ Therapy: Last but not the least, a healthy lifestyle involves a good amount of sleep (8 hours approx.) to keep you running and fighting the daily struggles of life. A good body spa will make sure that you get this amount of sleep by relaxing your body; mind and de-stressing you keep you happy so as to accept any new challenge.

A good night sleep
Sleeping Beauty Therapy

Wrap Up

The above points clearly highlights the benefits of involving into a good spa and body massage session. The happy hormones that will be released in the process will automatically inspire you to get rid of all the unhealthy stuff in your life. So, now,  you can look forward to a better life with some purpose.

Spa has a great effect on your emotional state of mind that will encourage you to follow a proper schedule or a routine on a daily basis that will make you fall for yourself more. So, without anymore waiting, book your appointment in your favourite spa and take out some time for yourself.

Feel Relaxed and Feel Pampered!!!

Stay healthy and Stay Happy!!!

How Massage could help to sleep better!

A good sleep is a scarce resource in the recent years. People are too busy to take a proper nap at night.  Stress and working schedule is the main reason for causing a recession in sleep. All over the world, people are losing out on good sleep which in turn is affecting their good health.

The modern mantra of life is very simple. Work hard now and sleep later. If this is an ideal life to lead then a time will come when people will actually forget how to sleep.

Work hard, be passionate, give every bit of your energy towards the work but never ignore on sleep.  This is the basic necessity for a person to stay alive for a lifetime.

The pain of sleepless night is horrendous.  People get affected by insomnia and slowly it turns out to be a serious disease.

Sleepless nights lead to health ailments
Massage could help with sleepless nights

What causes sleepless nights?

There are reasons that affect sleep. In the initial stage people may ignore but later it turns out to be a major issue.

  • Anxiety – It is one of the major reasons for a sleepless night. People suffer from various types of anxieties like fear, tension, depression etc. All these thoughts create a big disorder in sleep. Anxiety can affect a person at any age and if not taken seriously it might lead to a great disaster.
  • Alcohol and nicotine – Too much consumption of alcohol and drugs can also lead to sleeplessness. People get addicted to it and slowly it creeps into your body affecting various normal functioning.
  • Stress – This is the most obvious reason for staying up all night. Be it work or personal matter stress affect a person from many ways. There are people who can handle stress but the rest who are unable to do it suffer the most. Not only sleep but it also affects their eating habit, nature etc. When stress hits a relax mind then everything around gets affected
  • Change in the schedule – Sleep may often get hamper due to chance in working schedule. The circadian rhythm of the body gets affected due to it.
  • Getting old – Another worry for people who are getting old. After a certain age man finds it very difficult to sleep for longer hours. Slowly with time people starts losing out on sleep.

Another major factor behind disturbance in sleep is innovation in technology.  With time people are getting highly addicted to social media, games on phone and movies in a laptop.  These are actually making them stay awake night after night.  The attraction is so deep that people find it difficult to come out of it. More or less every person in the age group of 20 to 30 is addicted to it.

Finding remedies for sleeplessness is difficult.  There are sleeping pills but consumption in a huge quality may cause serious trouble.  The best way to get over it is to find some peace and maintain a balance in life.  Maintaining a proper routine is the basic need for a pure and healthy life.  Good food, good sleep, proper exercise will even enhance the productivity of work.  Though such lessons have been given at various occasions yet people are not ready to accept it.

How does Spa work as a magic?

Body massage in a spa helps to get over with stress and all kinds of anxiety. People are often visiting such place for a quick massage.  Relaxation is a need for every human body after a tormented working hour. A simple body massage can create a magic.

Relaxation Therapy at a Spa
Relaxation therapy could help to sleep better

A tired body is unable to find sleep and if you are extremely tired you won’t be able to get a good sleep.  You need to calm down and relax a bit to get some proper sleep at night.

Massage is the best way to heal every bit of tiredness in a persons body. Visiting a Spa can give you a variety of massage. Some of them are:

  • Swedish massage- This form of massage uses long strokes, deep circular movements, vibration which helps one’s body to relax and get more energy.
  • Deep Massage- This technique uses more forceful strokes so that the deep layers of the muscles get affected.
  • Trigger point massage- This kind of massage focuses on certain tight muscle fibers for relaxation.

There are innumerable types of massage that one can get in a Spa. The main motive remains to calm down the human body and make it relief from stress.

Destress massage
Relief from stress through a massage session

A person goes through a lot over an entire day.  It becomes extremely difficult for a tired soul to get a good sleep.  Relaxation is a need for everyone. Body Massage in a Spa will help you to wash out every bit of tiredness and give you freshness for a good sleep.

Both sleep and massage shares an extremely good bonding with each other.  A proper massage at a Spa helps in the production of serotonin in the body, which is essential for melatonin.

People often consume sleeping pills due to uneven sleep.  They belief that is can bring immediate relief and is the best remedy for it. Nevertheless it is harmful and disturbs the other functions in a body.

Try to undergo a body massage in a Spa and experience the difference. People who already done it knows how much effect it makes. A comfort sleep is all that a person can get after a full body massage in a Spa.

Massage therapy is a complete drug free therapy which helps people to fight with sleep.  There are thousands of people around the world who are spending their life without sleep.  This has been the biggest issue for people who are unable to sleep.

Be it men or women, every person should undergo a massage therapy for relaxation.  This not only helps him/her to regain his/her body fitness but also helps to rejuvenate your mind and to think better and act better.

Sleep is a necessity which every person needs.  If you are too stressed out or tired or going through a rough patch in life just make out some time and visit a Spa for a massage therapy.  You will feel better eventually.

SLEEP WELL, FEEL WELL!!

Why do i feel Tired and how to become more Active?

There are days when we simply feel tired, stressed or moody; these feelings of extreme tiredness are usually cured with some rest during the day or a sound sleep the following night.

For some people however, feeling exhausted and worn-out before the end of an ordinary workday is a regular issue. This type of unusual or excessive whole-body tiredness which is not relieved by sleep is referred as FATIGUE. Psychiatrists claim that, on an average, one in five adults feel extremely tired and one in every ten adults have symptoms of long-lasting fatigue. Also, women are likely to suffer more tiredness than men. Interestingly, the root cause of constant tiredness is an obvious or relatively minor health issue, which can be treated easily. Rarely, it may also be a sign of more serious ailments like diabetes, arthritis, thyroid problem, depression etc.

Feeling of fatigue is a health issue

Tips to overcome TIREDNESS

If you feel tired all the time no matter how much sleep you get then you should consider these simple tips to feel fresh and better

  • Dietary changes– Wholesome food is always a better choice than processed junk food as they are rich in nutrients and vitamins. Natural and chemical-free food allows your body to get more energy. On the other hand, processed foods are high in calories; they give you little nutrition, which translates into less amount of energy. So, opt for fresh food and see the change in your freshness level. For snacking, choose to snack on salad with hummus or peanut butter or a crunchy apple.
  • Exercise daily – It is true that when a person is experiencing fatigue, the last thing he/she would want to do is exercise. But scientists claim that regular, mild work-out may help improve the energy level. That’s the reason why doctors often recommend mild exercise routine to people with chronic fatigue symptoms. Be more active and get that spark of energy to get you through the day. Start with 30 minute walk every day and slowly pump up the intensity.
  • Yoga- Yoga is a great way of producing a calm energy that helps individuals be more productive. Simple yoga routine creates a calm energy which makes you more confident, energetic and optimistic.
  • Massage and holistic treatments– A soothing massage can help ease symptoms of extreme fatigue. Several patients suffering with severe tiredness and other chronic conditions like lupus, fibromyalgia feel much better after massage therapy. Basically, massage stimulates the production of endorphins and serotonin (neurotransmitter) which boost up the energy level in human body.

Kick out fatigue with the healing touch of massage

The benefits of a gentle massage goes beyond simple relaxation; therapeutic massage with warm oils like ginger or clove oil can increase the blood circulation in the body, which can be highly beneficial for people suffering with numbness or tingling sensation. It can also help you get rid of sluggishness during the day.

Refill your energy levels!!

People suffering with chronic fatigue may become extremely sensitive, both emotionally as well as physically. Therefore, it is recommended to hire a qualified massage therapist who can understand your needs and be ready to incorporate specific massage techniques and stretches. In general, very slow, mild and comforting massage strokes can help alleviate physical symptoms of tiredness and sluggishness.

Fatigue generated by stress at work and ways to deal with it-

It is not uncommon to hear the complaint of feeling lethargic or extremely tired during office hours. Tiredness or fatigue at work place is a serious problem, which can interfere with your productivity and performance. In today’s competitive world, almost every job is full of stress and anxiety. On top of that, long shifts, strict deadlines, and ever increasing work pressure can leave you feeling fatigued, worn out and depressed.

Learn to deal with work-related stress

When stress goes beyond your capability to handle state of affairs, it becomes harmful both physically and mentally. Stress often leads to several other health ailments like insomnia, headache, stomach pain, behavioural problems, fatigue and depression etc. To treat stress at go, try Destress roll on (Destress Roll on)for immediate relief from Stress, Headache or Migraine

Massage as an alternative therapy for fatigue:

In recent times massage has become the standard alternative therapy to treat the patients of chronic fatigue syndrome. Additionally, results of several researches show that you could minimise anxiety and restlessness up to a great extent using therapeutic massage therapies. It is an excellent option for people who are not healthy enough to exercise.

If you have been suffering from fatigue and tiredness due to your workplace conditions, you should try anti-fatigue massage treatments. Treatments like Thai massage would help you to get an extra punch of energy and freshness.

There is a wide range of relaxation massage therapies available. All of these therapies that are available are designed to relax body, ease pain and increase energy level. Moreover, these therapies are scientifically proven and are extremely helpful in reducing stress or anxiety related issues like fatigue etc.

Shirodhara to fight tiredness

Deep tissue massage is yet another highly beneficial massage technique for the treatment of fatigue, stress and anxiety.  In this technique, increased pressure is applied on the muscle tissues in slower movements. It stimulates the capillaries found in the soft tissues. Deep tissue massage is also used for treating persistent upper back, low back pain, stiff neck and, leg muscle tightness (Deep Tissue Massage).

Our ancient healing system Ayurveda describes chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) as a combination of toxins and excess heat in the body. The people suffering with this condition experience too much exhaustion, fatigue, weakness and general body aches. Ayurvedic experts say that the tiredness or weakness is the result of a compromised digestive fire which causes the accumulation of toxins in the body.

Get up, get recharged with a Massage

If left untreated, fatigue can even become a disabling condition over time that can destroy your work, home and social life. Ayurveda has gifted us with a very unique detoxification and rejuvenating treatment for CFS in the form of Shirodhara Massage. There has been an extraordinary demand in urban areas for massage therapies such as Shirodhara and other holistic treatments.

Shirodhara has shown great results for people suffering with chronic tiredness, fatigue and depression. In Ayurveda, these health conditions are considered treatable. In ancient ayurvedic scriptures, these ailments have been categorised under “vata dosha” diseases. Shirodhara treatment along with specific herbal preparation is particularly helpful in the treatment of body pain, weakness and compromised immunity (Ayurvedic Massage).

While relaxing your mind and body, this therapy alleviates ama, pacifies aggravated vata and brings back your energy. Shirodhara therapy is excellent for calming restless mind, balancing hormone levels and reducing symptoms of stress, insomnia, headaches and tiredness.

How Can Massage Help Depression?

DEPRESSION has become a growing public health problem, especially in urban areas. Modern life is making us more depressed and lonely. Recent research indicates that this constant feeling of sadness can drain our energy, hope, and drive to perform better at work place. With inadequate treatment, it can negatively affect the course and outcome of common ailments like arthritis, asthma, heart disease, and diabetes etc.

If your depression is severe and stubbornly persistent, it can cause you short-term disability too. Just like any other chronic illness, beating depression isn’t quick and it takes time to feel better. However, you can slowly win your fight against depression if you make positive choices each day.

Every time you do things that relax and energize you, you get one step closer to your ultimate goal of defeating depression. Therefore small steps like following a healthy lifestyle, learning to better manage stress, calling your friends, and taking time out for body massage and other holistic treatments etc. can make a huge difference.

The relation between Stress and Depression

There are so many factors which directly or indirectly increase the risk of developing depression; long term Stress and Anxiety is one of the most common causes of depression. Stress has become an unavoidable part of our everyday life and it is not possible to take away all the stress from our daily life. However, we can take some steps to lower physical and emotional stress in order to improve overall health.

The relation between Stress and Depression is quite complex. People, who are facing stressful situations on a daily basis, often tend to ignore healthy lifestyle practices. They try to comfort themselves by smoking or drinking alcohol, and also neglect regular work-outs. Heavy stress and anxiety for a longer period of time can sometimes lead to the risk of developing severe depression.

 

Lifestyle practices to combat Depression

The following healthy lifestyle practices and good body massage can help you de-stress, improve your flexibility and alleviate symptoms of depression too:

MILD EXERCISE: Only 30 minutes of moderate exercise, like brisk walking or swimming on a daily basis can do wonders! Regular exercise improves the production of chemicals in the body that fill you with positivity and reduces stress hormone, cortisol.

Exercising or working out of any physical form also releases chemicals called Endorphins. These endorphins interact with the receptor in our brain that reduces the perception of pain. Endorphin triggers a positive feeling in our body, similar to that of Morphine. Hence, there is a strong relationship between Exercise and Endorphin.

STRONG & HEALTHY RELATIONSHIP: Isolation or loneliness is one of the main reasons for depression, whereas strong relationships work as a shock absorber and saves you from the effects of adversity. Invest in a relationship which is long-term and will stay with you in the thick and thin of your life.

YOGA & MEDITATION: These ancient healing practices can be extremely beneficial if you feel depressed and stressed-out almost all the time. Meditation calms your mind and develops a positive attitude towards life. Yoga is another form of exercise with a controlled breathing pattern. A controlled breathing pattern ensures the right amount of oxygen to your body, which is essential for relaxation just like body massage.

BALANCED DIET & NO ALCOHOL POLICY: It is important to take a healthy and balanced diet; you should choose your carbs intelligently. Instead of taking too much sugary foods, go for “complex” carbs like whole grains. Ditch junk foods like cakes and cookies and start eating more fresh food like fruits, green tea and green vegetables.

THE MAGIC OF BODY MASSAGE THERAPY: The results of various researches show that getting Body massage therapy on a regular basis can help fight depression by significantly decreasing cortisol hormone levels. Body Massage can also be very effective in suppressing feelings of dejection. 

When you are under depression, your brain produces less amounts of feel-good hormones (serotonin, endorphins and dopamine etc.), these are the chemicals responsible for making us feel happy, relaxed, and confident. Massage with body massage oil helps our brain release both serotonin and endorphins.

Apart from increasing the levels of these feel-good hormones, massage therapy also aids in decreasing the stress hormone, cortisol which in turn releases tension and helps stabilize the mood. The emotional balance is vital and valuable for our overall health and well-being.

Massage is safe and nurturing therapy to relax, refocus and progress in life. It makes you aware of the mind-body connection and generates confidence and enhances self-esteem and overall personality.

Safe, nurturing and gentle touch provides “much- needed” human contact just like a comforting hug which helps you calm down physically and emotionally. Body Massage therapy supports a peaceful state of mental awareness, which in turn builds up a positive outlook towards life. Therefore it makes sense to reserve some time for a professional therapeutic massage, which is tailored to address your specific needs. Soothing massage sessions at regular intervals remind you that you deserve to feel good physically as well as emotionally.  

How does massage therapy help in relieving depression?

When you feel stress for an extended period of time, your muscles and joints become stiff or inflexible; it can cause soreness and limit your physical activities. Massage therapy using ayurvedic oil like nalpamaradi thailam can help relieve this stiffness in your body. However, body massage therapy alone can’t cure severe depression without proper medication, but it can definitely help relieve the symptoms associated with depression. Body massage therapy helps you get rid of fatigue, back pain, migraines, and sleeping problems.

 

Stress management with Shirodhara

Ayurveda, the ancient healing system explains a number of curative procedures like meditation and massage therapies for relaxation of body and mind. These ancient practices bring an unstable mind to a tranquil state, de-stress the body and help in developing a positive attitude.  

All the above benefits of meditation and relaxation techniques can also be achieved by an ayurvedic procedure called “Shirodhara”. Due to its positive effects on mind and body, Shirodhara ayurvedic treatment is now gaining huge popularity in the western countries too.   This classical procedure involves slow and steady dripping of herbal oil on the forehead.  The word “shiro” refers to the head and the word “dhara” refers to the stream in Sanskrit language.  Gentle pouring of warm herbal oil on the forehead or the Ajna chakra between the eyebrows, can cure various neurological disorders like Alzheimer, Parkinson disease, dementia and paralysis.

This ancient ayurvedic therapy for peace and serenity has several health benefits:

  • It nurtures the brain cells by increasing the blood flow. 
  • The nerves originating from the brain becomes stronger with this therapy. 
  • Shirodhara increases the production of feel-good hormones like dopamine, which improves the quality of sleep, and regulates mood and social behavior.
  • This classical stress busting treatment has the ability to unblock the chakras, and to develop an increased flow of the vital energy towards the brain.

Shirodhara is one of the most effective treatments for balancing the aggravated vata dosha in the mind. When your mind is preoccupied with racing thoughts, it becomes difficult to slow down the mind; this causes nervousness, anxiety, depression, insomnia and fatigue.  

Shirodhara is the perfect treatment for these types of stress related disorders.  Scientists claim that more than eighty percent of all diseases in the western world are stress related; in such a scenario, shirodhara can be considered as one of the most effective stress-busting therapies. 

Top reasons for Back Pain

Almost 80% of us suffer from Back Pain at some stage in our lives. Back Pain is a culmination of inadvertently accumulated bad habits like Back posture, work station posture, foot wear, sleep posture etc. What is worrying is despite our various graduation and post graduation degrees, we may manage multi dollar businesses, but we dont learn to manage a simple machine – our body!

Here are simple tips to avoid if you want to live a Back Pain free life!

Flip-flops

When summers are on, flip-flops are what we put on!” In warm weather we love wearing flip-flops while running or walking. But coming to a deeper study on the same, flip-flops do cause shortening of your gait and thus reduces a comfortable movement and in turn increases the chances of fatigue in lower body or cause pain in the knee and feet. They also cause stress in the toes and leading to pain in feet.

Excessive Mobile Phone usage could cause Back Pain

Smartphones

Beep’, ‘Tap tap tap’, ‘Ping’. ‘Beep’, ‘Tap tap tap’, ‘Ping’… The constant cycle of texts, instant messages and tweets has been established to affect eye health, increase stress levels and result in poor sleep. Now, however, research shows that your mobile phone may also be the culprit of back pain and neck strain.

Your Wallet

Millions of guys drive with their wallet in their back pocket, but they can’t figure out why they moan whenever they get out of the car. But sitting on your wallet while you drive is a recipe for lower back pain and – if you do it often enough — nerve pain that shoots down your leg. Riding with one cheek higher than other can trigger chronic pain in your back, hips, and shoulders. It can even set off foot cramps.

Driving could cause Back Pain

Driving

Approximately 30-60% of drivers report back pain that is caused or made worse by driving. This is not uncommon as driving exposes the body to many different forces including acceleration, deceleration and most notably vibration. Larger heavy goods vehicle drivers are exposed to a lot of vibration and consequently this group of people report more back pain. Driving also involves the use of your feet to control the car’s pedals which means they are not used to help stabilise and support your lower body as they normally would when sitting. A combination of these factors as well as the inadequate design of some vehicle seats can cause back problems for some.

Video Games

The human body was just not designed for sitting for long periods of time. Many serious video gamers report spending countless hours playing their favorite games. This can take its toll on the body, especially the neck and back. Nearly three quarters of primary school children and nearly two thirds of secondary school age children have reported back or neck pain in the past year, a study found.

Your Baby

As a new mum your focus is on your baby, however caring for your new born, especially as they grow and develop can also put strain on you and your body. Many mums do not get the chance to stop and think about some of the positions they are putting themselves in during the range of new repetitive activities of being a new mum. These repetitive stresses can lead to RSI’s (repetitive stress injuries)

Laptop bag 

One of the most overlooked culprits of back, neck, shoulder and even lower back and hip pain is the way we are carrying our laptops around.  Most of us carry around our laptops in a laptop carrier, shoulder bag, messenger bag or back pack.  And once you factor in the laptop itself, power chords, notebooks, files, maybe a bottle of water and other personal items, you quickly find yourself lugging around a mighty heavy bag which can take it’s toll.

Sleeping habits

If you wake up sore most mornings, take a good look at your sleep posture. Stomach sleepers may twist their necks to the point of hyperextension. Other people sleep on their sides with one arm overhead. After many hours, this position can strain the shoulder.

Work station

The most common causes for work-related back pain are strained muscles or ligaments, wear and tear, bad posture and stress, and most of us will have some back pain at some point. Usually, it’s not serious, and the pain clears up (although that can take up to 6 weeks).But you want to do all you can to take preventative measures at work – keeping you away from the osteopath or chiropractor. In the modern workplace, that’s not always possible The body can tolerate being in one position for only a short period of time before you feel the need to adjust

Shoulder Rides

It’s classic family fun: A parent walking along with a delighted child enjoying a shoulder ride. But lifting kids overhead is a common source of neck and shoulder pain.

Stress

The most common is simply muscle tension. Anxiety can drastically increase muscle tension, which in turn increases pain. Since the back contains a variety of muscles that are known to tense during stress, this can lead to mild to severe back pain in both the upper and lower back.

 

While there are many reasons for Back Pain, prevention and cure is surprisingly simpler. Read more on https://blueterra.in/back-pain-can-happen-anyone-can-massage-prevent/ or apply at home https://www.bluenectar.co.in/ayurvedic-herbal-back-pain-and-joint-strengthening-oil.html for immediate relief

 

Can Acupressure techniques reach where medicines cannot?

Though we say that there is no such alternative to medicines but in some cases, we can find few. And that few other methods are Alternative Medicine or Alternative Healing.

Here we will be talking about an old yet an uncommon technique of dealing with various bodily issues and that is Acupressure. This is the one of the many alternative to medical treatment.

Acupressure is mainly based on the concept of life energy which flows through the meridians in the body.  In this treatment, the physical pressure is applied to the various acupuncture points to clear the blockages in the meridians.  The pressure can be given by hand or by the elbows or with other devices.

Acupressure
Acupressure as an alternative method of healing

Acupressure can be effective if done in a proper way.  A medical research has suggested that this process is effective to deal with nausea and vomiting, lower back pain, headaches, stomach ache and various other bodily issues.

Though medicines work like magic but this particular technique can be highly effective and can even give better results at the end.

This particular method is applied by various ways like rubbing, rolling or applying pressure on the various acupressure pointsThis particular pressure if gets applied gives relieve from various muscle and joint pains by releasing the nodules in the affected area.

Hand Reflexology
Pressure points on Hands

Benefits of Acupressure

Acupressure has several advantages on our bodies because of which many people prefer this particular method of massage.

  • Helps to reduce muscle tension– It is widely used to reduce muscle tension in the body.  Acupressure is more like a body massage which is done to get relief from various pain It also helps in blood circulation.
  • Helps people to get calm– It also helps to make people cool down after excess aggression.  In this way, the mind works better.
  • It also helps to reduce the need for OTC Drugs– People do not have to use OTC drugs for headaches, cold and various other a The process of acupressure helps to heal every such ailment.  It helps people to get less dependent on medicine for these issues.

There is a particular method by which acupressure works.  It is more like a message therapy but gives better comfort to the body.

Technique of Acupressure

The acupressure practitioners use fingers, palms and elbows to apply pressure on the different body meridians.   It also involves stretching like the way it is done in massage for joints.

Elbows are used for applying pressure
Technique of Acupressure

During acupressure a person lies down on a soft massage table. Then the practitioner slowly presses on the acupressure points on the body.  This therapy is done for at least an hour to make a person feel better. This should be practiced for one week to get an effective result.

Pain relief Massage

Acupressure can also be called as a massage for pain relief.   Any kind of bodily pain can be easily dealt by acupressure.  Apart from pain this particular exercise also helps the mind to get free from excess stress and tension.

Deep tissue massage is another important therapy which people undergoes during chronic muscle tension.  In this massage the focus remains more on the deepest layers of the muscle tissue, tendons and fascia.  This therapy is very much similar to Swedish massage but with the higher intensity of pressure.

Massage therapy is very important for anyone and everyone at certain point of time.  Though there are medicines for several back pains or neck pains but a proper massage like acupressure can heal out the pain in a much efficient way.

Though we know that it is highly productive for various body pains yet it is important to know that during certain situations it is better not to perform acupressure.

Pressure points on Feet
Foot Reflexology

Avoid Acupressure in following situations

During the time of pregnancy– It is definitely not at all feasible to undergo acupressure during pregnancy.  This may lead to miscarriage. A mother should never undergo acupressure during pregnancy.  A light oil massage is preferable if the pain gets too much.

People with fractured bone should never try acupressure to get relief from pain.  Applying pressure on the fractured bones may lead to more damage.

Acupressure is indeed the most vital healing process for pains and muscle tension.
It sometimes works much better than the medicine.
But sometimes it may take longer time to heal the pain. 
All the pressure points take more than five to ten minutes to get stimulated on the body.
This method is one of the most effective technique for Body Pain.

Nevertheless this method of massage is the most effective one for every body pain.  Quite often people undergo this method to get a proper result.

It is recommended to all that if body pain and muscle pull are really making you suffer a lot then don’t just depend on medicine but take the help of acupressure healing technique. It is natural, better and effective.