Healing touch of massage therapy

Whether your need is to have a moment of relaxation, reduce muscle tension or attain relief from chronic pain, a therapeutic massage can enhance your overall sense of emotional and physical well-being.
Hot stone massages work well for those suffering from ailments such as muscular aches, arthritic conditions and autoimmune disorders. The combination of heated lava stones and massage techniques relaxes tense muscles, relieves pain and stiffness and improves circulation. The muscles are gently heated to expand and relax, allowing a deeper massage into the core of the muscle.
If you are looking to detoxify your body, then the Himalayan Salt Stone massage is perfect for you. These stones contain trace elements and essential minerals and are ideal to enhance your health and optimise your body’s functioning. This unique salt will rejuvenate you by restoring vital minerals and balancing your electromagnetic field.
For pains or stiffness, a deep tissue or Thai massage would be ideal. A Thai massage can passively exercise the body. Traditionally a Thai massage works on pressure points of the body to relieve tension, stretching to improve flexibility and various other basic movements to manipulate muscles and joints.
A deep tissue massage is a type of massage therapy that focuses on realigning deeper layers of muscles and connective tissue. Some of the same strokes are used as classic massage therapy, but the movement is slower and the pressure is deeper and concentrated on areas of tension and pain in order to reach the sub-layer of muscles and the fascia (the connective tissue surrounding muscles).
Lomi lomi is a cleansing and detoxifying massage, using the palm of the hand to apply broad, flat upward strokes and circling strokes to break up and decongest areas of tension. As in a Swedish massage, the client’s skin is lubricated with oil to lessen the friction of the strokes. It is an ancient Hawaiian healing technique, targeting the back of the body, using rhythmic and flowing movements of the fingers, palms, forearms and elbows.
Aromatherapy is the use of essential oils to promote healing and a feeling of well-being and relaxation in the recipient. The essential oils are extracted from the parts of herbs and plants and contain all the properties of the plants themselves. There are several ways of applying the oils, including adding the oils to your bath, or inhaling them, but the most popular and effective is through massage.
* Information courtesy of Octavia’s Day Spa.