Here’s a Quick Way to Reduce Tightness in Your Hips

Tightness in the hips is not uncommon, especially if you have back issues. Your hip muscles can become tight over time and need to be loosened for you to move with ease as well as sit for long periods of time comfortably. With a series of stretches and massage work, you can feel better in no time.

Stretch Those Muscles

The tightness in the hip area involves the muscles in the back and lower leg. These muscles need to be stretched to loosen up and provide relief from the tight feeling. Take time to sit on the floor and begin simple stretching. Sit in a cross-legged position but instead of crossing your legs, place your feet together. Use gentle force from your hands and press the knee of one leg towards the floor while your legs are in the butterfly position. The outside hip muscle will be flexed which can help to loosen up the tightened muscle. Do this to both legs, adding more force as you can.

If you have a partner, have them assist in stretching your hip muscles. Lie down on the ground with one knee bent, with the foot flat on the ground. You will be stretching the side that hurts, both if you have trouble with both sides. Take the opposite leg and lay your knee towards the opposite side, with your leg bent. Your partner should take this knee and push down, stretching your leg across as it is bent. This stretches the outside hip muscle but in the opposite direction.

Massage Therapy

If stretching does not do the trick, consult with a massage therapist. With massage therapy, the tightness can gently be released over time. Your hip will feel better as you begin to relax when the therapist provides pressure in the hip area.

Academy Massage can provide hip massage therapy to reduce tightness as well as pain. Modern massage techniques are used to help the body heal from injury as well as muscle tightness.

For more information on stretches, visit our website or watch our stretching video on YouTube

What to Expect During Prenatal Massage

Prenatal massage therapy is a massage treatment type that can be a beneficial part of prenatal care. Pregnant women can enjoy a healthy way to reduce stress as well as enjoy an overall wellness while with child. Massage treatments will relieve the common discomfort you feel when pregnant, such as backaches, leg cramps, stiff neck, and headaches. Stress is relieved on weight bearing joints as well as helping to encourage better circulation of blood and lymph nodes. Nervous tension is relieved which provides better sleep.

Many pregnant women do not understand how prenatal massage is possible due to the standard massage techniques. With a standard massage table, the individual lies on their stomach, which is not feasible due to a pregnant belly.  At Academy Massage, we use special prenatal pillows that are specially designed to alleviate many areas of discomfort, and accommodate the belly during pregnancy.  We find the pillows work better than a traditional prenatal massage table since they can be adjusted and customized to fit the individual receiving treatment.

Focus Areas

Depending on the individual patient’s needs, treatment can vary. It is important to discuss your pain areas or treatment needs with the therapist. Everyday symptoms such as headaches and muscle tension can be relieved if you discuss what your problem areas are with the therapist.

One focus area for many pregnant women is headaches. With massage focusing on the head, shoulders, and neck, headaches can be relieved. Stress levels can be controlled with trigger points relaxed to avoid any tension or migraine headaches.

Fatigue and cramps are common symptoms for pregnant women. Backaches, leg cramps, and swelling can also be relieved via several massage techniques. By discussing with your therapist which issues you face, the problem can be alleviated.

Muscle tension is a big problem with pregnant women as the baby creates extra weight and strain on the body. This tension can be reduced with pressure applied to certain areas to encourage blood flow. Nutrient-rich oxygen is produced in the body with the flow of lymphatic fluid increased. This will sweep away the toxins and metabolic waste in the body.

Enjoying Rest

Prenatal massage can ensure that your aches and pains are relieved and you will be able to enjoy a bit of rest. With regular therapy, you will be able to experience a better night’s sleep as your body is relieved of tension and stress. Discomfort will be relieved, and relaxation boosted. Overall, you will see an improvement in sleep patterns, where you will feel better and be able to enjoy your pregnancy instead of feeling uncomfortable all the time.

If you are still not at ease about prenatal massage, speak to a licensed therapist. You will be able to learn more about the techniques used so that you can feel better about scheduling an appointment. Once you have experienced a prenatal massage and the benefits, you will find your pregnancy is much more enjoyable, and you can focus on bringing your baby into the world instead of any pain, discomfort or stress you feel while pregnant.

How is Swedish Massage Different from Deep Tissue Massage?

When scheduling a massage, you have the option of choosing a variety of treatments. Two of the most popular are Swedish massage and deep tissue massage. There are differences between the two as well as benefits, so it important to understand what you will be receiving when booking either treatment. Below is a simple explanation of each so you can decide which treatment option will work best for you.

Swedish Massage

Starting with Swedish massage, this treatment type uses firm pressure on the muscles with long and gliding strokes. Oils, sometimes infused with essential oils, are used to reduce friction during the treatment as well as providing aromatherapy benefits.

This type of massage is used to increase the circulation of blood as well as ease tension in the muscles of the body along with improving flexibility. The treatment will stimulate the skin and nervous system to soothe nerves which can lead to a reduction in physical and emotional stress.

Deep Tissue Massage

With deep tissue massage, the goal is to reach the deeper layers of muscle and connective tissue that surrounds muscles. The treatment is a top choice for athletes who suffer from a sports injury or individuals suffering from whiplash. Muscle tension and spasms can also benefit from this treatment type.

During this treatment type, the therapist will be concentrating on releasing chronic muscle tension in specific areas. Slow and precise strokes will be used to treat the patient as needed. A good massage therapist will know how to provide treatment that will be beneficial and listen to the patient’s cues to know which strokes are working and when to apply more pressure as well as hold back.

Swedish massage and deep tissue massage are both offered by Academy Massage, with qualified therapists providing the best in massage techniques. Schedule an appointment today to enjoy the massage type that will be of the best benefit for your individual needs.

How to Harness the Power of Your Third Eye with Shirodhara Treatment

Often referred to as Third Eye Therapy, the Shirodhara Treatment is a therapy that can help you stimulate the power of your third eye. The treatment originated in India and is a special healing technique that involves warm oil being slowly drizzled on to the forehead. This is done in alignment with the third-eye or the anja chakra.

Oil Application

During the treatment, oil is used to stimulate the third eye. The goal is to provide no other stimulation than on this area to open consciousness. The warm oil is gentle and continuously flowed onto the third eye area and the overflow is captured in a basin beneath the table. Specific oils will be used based on the person being treated to have the best effect. At Academy Massage, water is used instead of oil and considered a much better option among our clients.

Harnessing Your Power

During this treatment, patients will be able to harness the power of the third eye but must be ready to do so. Overall relaxation is needed with an openness of the mind. In order to truly ‘see’, you will need to relax the body and open the mind to all thoughts and processes that enter during treatment. Try to focus on the third eye and feel the power that is inside of you, paying close attention to your intuition. You will find that as you open yourself up to this new power, you will have a clarity of mind as well as the quiet mental state.

Academy Massage offers this treatment type and can assist you in being able to harness the power of your third eye. By showing a willingness to learn and opening your heart and mind, you can become one with yourself, opening up your third eye to the world around you.

Helping Players Prepare for the Blue Bombers Golf Tournament

The Blue Bombers Golf Tournament is a yearly event that gives you the opportunity to play along with the best of the bombers in a game of golf. By participating, amateurs can test their skills against the pros and have a little fun in the process. The event is a much anticipated each summer and this year will take place on August 28th, 2017.

Players who want to participate in the Blue Bombers Golf Tournament can register online for the event held at the Southwood Golf and Country Club. Lunch and registration will begin promptly as 11:00 am with the shotgun start scheduled for 12:00 pm sharp. A reception will follow the event at 6:00 pm.

For the last 25 years, Academy Massage has participated in the Blue Bomber Golf Tournament, providing therapists on hand to ensure all players are ready for the game. Golf can be rough on the muscles with each swing, so our therapists work hard to ensure both team members, as well as golf players, are ready to swing the club.

Therapists of Academy Massage demonstrate stretching to players and Bomber team members to ensure that the golf tournament is injury free. It can be easy to pull or strain a muscle without proper stretching. The football players know the importance of stretching before every game and are more than willing to work with our therapists to ensure the proper stretching is completed for the upcoming golf game.

It is recommended that players warm up for five to ten minutes before stretching for the golf game. This can be walking around the golf tee or running in place for a short period of time. A more fluid golf swing will be produced with adequate stretching. You want to stretch the muscles of the legs, back, and arms to be ready to swing the club at each tee. If you are looking for more information about how a massage can help your golf game, you should read our post “Massage: Helping You Get Back in the Swing of Things.”

We use simple stretches that anyone can do and show each technique to newbies to ensure the game of golf will run smooth. Our therapists at Academy Massage are participating this year as well and look forward to assisting players of the Bombers as well as amateurs with stretching to ensure a quality game.