Disclaimer: Everything you think about massage, and why it’s a luxury you “just can’t afford,” is about to implode! Send this to the Mrs., cc: the hubby and Facebook every friend and fan. Your massage is really your gift to them all! They can thank you (and us) after a relaxed, drama-less, healthy holiday!
With the holidays sneaking up, most of us will be looking to relieve the stress of added activity (with the shopping and the cooking and the family …) to say nothing of the extra pounds and reduced time for self care! Spa professionals have always known that MASSAGE is not just a pampering service, it can be an essential. According to American Massage Therapists Association (AMTA), not only do 88% of patients agree that massage is effective in injury rehabilitation and overall wellness, but now even physicians are leading the way by strongly encouraging their patients to get massages for a myriad of reasons.
Already feelin’ good? Think of massage as helping you maintain your wellness (see below) and help you stay in shape. Massage increases circulation, giving you added energy before a workout! Post workout massage can help bring muscles back to their relaxed state as well as increase flexibility and range of motion. Recent studies suggest that endorphins enhance the immune system and retard the aging process. **Large amounts of endorphins are released into the bloodstream during massage!
[box] According to Joseph Michael’s Head Massage Therapist, Danny Odroniec, the general physical benefits of all massage include…- relief of pain, soreness and stiffness
- increased blood and lymphatic circulation to speed the healing process
- improved flexibility
- reduced hypertension and high blood pressure
The general mental benefits of all massage include…
- relieved stress and anxiety
- a feeling of being cared for
- an avenue for emotional release
- unified mind-body connection
Danny’s mantra? “Massage is not a luxury. It’s a necessity!” And while all of Joseph Michael’s certified practioners are available to perform basic relaxation or deep tissue work for temporary or chronic muscle pain (which is great for athletes), each have their favorite specialty or two that they are eager to tell you about…
Danny’s Favorite Massages:
Hot Stone Therapy
Placed on specific energy points on the back, in the palms of your hands or between your toes, heated Basalt Lava stones (up to 100 degrees) center your body’s energies, ground your soul, and enhance your journey to awareness. Stones are used to heat and loosen the muscles as well as to massage the body with a combination of Swedish and Deep Tissue work. Hot Stone Therapy is perfect in the winter because it creates heat and helps raise the body’s temperature. Traditional massage lowers the body’s temperature and can make the client feel chilly in cold months.
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Lomi Lomi Massage
Want an island vacation but can’t get away this winter? Also known as “Loving Hands” massage, Lomi Lomi is a beloved Hawaiian tradition that works the muscles with continuous, fluid and rhythmic strokes over the entire body. Combining soothing massage, deep tissue work and gentle stretches of the body and rotations of the joints, Lomi Lomi massage releases tensions and promotes a healthy flow of energy. As an added bonus, the heat from the spa room’s fireplace and the soft sounds of ocean waves will take you away…just close your eyes…
Eva’s Favorite Massage:
Swedish Massage
A favorite service for therapist Eva Jauregui to perform is Swedish massage…with her own unique style. Even though Swedish is typically thought of as the ‘relaxing’ massage—the most common massage that offers light to medium pressure for relaxation and stress relief—this massage, according to Eva, is for clients who are under a lot of stress, have sleeping issues, and clients who workout a lot. The 3 benefits of Eva’s customized Swedish massage include:
- relaxation from the release of knotted muscles
- emotional shift from negative to positive
- hydration
Eva also specializes in the treatment of Upper Crossed Syndrome; using massage to realign, balance and strengthen the upper body for better posture and reduction of pain. “Massage can actually better your life through a different, more positive view on life and life’s situations.”
Candice’s Favorite Massage:
Facelift Massage
Among her many talents as a clinical massage therapist, Candice Lefler provides this specialized indulgent treatment for any age client looking to tone and plump the skin or to minimize fine lines and wrinkles caused by aging. The Facelift massage is as relaxing as it is therapeutic (I swear I looked younger for a week afterwards!) It makes your facial muscles feel both gently caressed and as if they just did bench presses! The 3 benefits of Candice’s Facelift massage are:
- increased collagen production and improved skin elasticity
- reduced under eye puffiness, discoloration and sinus blockages with manual lymphatic drainage
- minimized severity and/or length of migraines, tension headaches, TMJ disorders and Bell’s Palsy
Why is this one of Candice’s favorite massages to perform? “I like the Facelift massage because it makes you look good and feel good.”
[box] FYI: All of Joseph Michael’s massage therapists offer a variety of services and are especially sensitive to the needs and desires of every individual. Like sculptors with clay, they can feel what your muscles require through their trained, expert touch, and customize each and every service per your verbal, or body’s, request.[/box]
We at Joseph Michael’s believe giving yourself a massage will, in fact, pamper those around you! So, really, you’re doing this for them. Once you experience one of our therapeutic services, you will feel more fit, more healthy, and more sane…which, honestly, is the best gift you can give anyone!
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Char Panico Muffitt, author and educator, is Joseph Michael’s Hair color & Texture Specialist. In addition to happily serving clientele, she is presenting her PERSONALITY POWER image seminar to groups all over Chicago. You can view her detailed bio, along with all of our amazing talent, here.
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