Hhhhhmmm!!!! Interesting name. Sounds exotic but what does this consist of? Well as the name says, it’s a massage. As for the bamboo part, we can find a variety of different size bamboo sticks used as tools by the massage therapist to apply a good pressure to the tight aching muscles with barely any effort.
What to expect during the treatment
The therapist will start by applying oil to the entire body without massaging. In close range, he will have handy his bamboo sticks (the half pint, the middle man and the shorty). These vary in size and will be switched from one to another depending on the size of the client or the area to be worked on. The treatment starts off with long stokes. Large surfaces are covered with one glide to prepare the body fully for the work to come and to allow the therapist to evaluate the tense areas. Some long stokes are static, the stick does not move but is however moved by the therapist. Others strokes consist of gliding the stick and giving it either a half or full roll or adding a vibration movements. All these techniques can also be applied to short strokes where the therapist will concentrate on one area of a segment. Example, working the calf of the leg. Fanning strokes can be used to work the sides of the body. The therapist will mobilize one end of the stick and move the other end in a full range resembling a fan opening up. They may also use the tip of the stick to target specific knots really digging in to them or to strip away tension from a specific muscle.
Who would like this?
If you like a massage with good pressure that really digs into the muscles this treatment is to be considered. These tools allow the therapist to work hard without any effort. Their weight is simply transferred onto your body via the bamboo.
Sea Shell Massage
Sunday, February 28, 2010
Finding a spa in nature at San Antero volcano
When I was planning my trip to Colombia, I started doing some research on sites to see. One thing that I came across was the San Antero volcano. This grabbed my attention. As I started to look more into it, I saw pictures and videos of people swimming in a pit of mud. Working in a spa, I am very aware of all the benefits of all different types of mud, but being in an area where volcanic mud is hard to come across I did not have the opportunity to try this one out. I told my boyfriend, who was also my tour guide that I had to go there.
We left his town early in the morning and after 2 buses and riding in the back of a truck we finally arrived to our destination. I know that mud is very remineralizing and it can help with all kinds of inflammations, muscle and joint pains, and it does wonders for skin problems like eczema and psoriasis. In my case, I had a wicked sun burn from spending time at the beach a few days earlier and I was anxious to see the healing mud work it’ s wonders on me.
As we walked up a hill, we arrived to the entrance of the pit. We were the clean people walking in to a population of muddy people. Anxious to join the fun, we quickly found a spot to put our stuff and got into our bathing suits. Our major concern was how much we would sink in this pit but looking at the crowd, nobody seemed to be drowning. To enter, we had two options, either jump in from up high or go in slowly, holding to cords as to not to slip and fall. Since we still weren’t convinced on the sinking part, we opted to go in slowly.
As I was making my way into the pit, I was crossing muddy bodies looking for a hand to help them out. It didn’t take long for my clean body to become dirty. I finally made my way to the surface of the mud and dipped one foot it. Ohh!! Warm and slimy, I thought, but very nice, enough to convince me to submerge myself fully. Once all in, I used the chords that ran across to pull myself towards the center. Because the mud was so thick, this ended up being quite the workout and I was once again reassured that I wouldn’t sink. In the center the mud was a bit cooler, probably because there was less action here. On the hand, it made it the perfect place to relax. I was enjoying the feeling and decided it was time to cover my face and hair. It didn’t take long for the mud to dry up in these areas but I knew it was a good thing because it was working at pulling out all the toxins. After about 30 minutes we decided to start making our way out knowing that it would take some work. It was now our turn to rely on the incomers for a helping hand.
Once out, we started removing some of the layers of mud with our hands. This mud had literally gotten everywhere and it was time to head over to the showers. Once there, I was greeted by a woman that offered to wash me for a tip. I hesitated at first, feeling funny to have other people doing things for me but quickly realized that if I was alone working to clear off the mud, it would take too much time and I’d be holding up the line. As I stood under the stream of water, she started to give me a complete scrub down. If the mud alone wasn’t enough to increase the circulation in my legs, her vigorous hands would certainly help.
When I was all cleaned up, my boyfriend noticed that my face was slightly red. I could feel it tight and tingly, which made me feel that it was working. The heating sensation I had from my sunburn was alleviated and the swelling came down. I noticed my skin went from raw burnt to flaking and healing the days following this treatment. My experience has made me a believer of the healing properties of San Antero’s volcanic mud.
Sea Shell Massage
Throughout history sea shells have had importance in many cultures. They once have been used as currency in the Indian and Pacific oceans as well as America, Africa and the Caribbean. Because of their shape, they made great tools used as scrapers, blades and shovels. They are also believed to have very good healing energy and are a strong symbolism in many religions of the world. Today, you can go to a massage therapist who will use a variety of shells as tools to work out your tension and hopefully you will benefit from its healing powers.
What to expect during the treatment:
This treatment consists of a Swedish massage where the therapist will use cone scallops and fan shaped shells with all their different texture as a tool to work your knots and tension. The different contours can be used in a variety of different ways to offer a deep penetrating massage. The massage therapist could use the shells cool or warmed up in hot water. The hot shells could be placed in different areas on the body for concentrated heat or passed along the members, back and neck to increase circulation on an entire area. They might also pour a few drops of essential oils onto the hot shells that have been placed on the body to bring in the added benefits of aromatherapy.
The Benefits to this treatment:
This massage can have therapeutic effect on the muscles. The shells can be used to penetrate deeper and if they are warmed up, they can relax tight, achy muscles and offer pain relief. Using the shells hot will also increase blood circulation which will have a ripple effect on the lymphatic system ridding the body of toxins like lactic acid and helping with circulatory problems. This treatment can also be very relaxing, therefore reducing stress, anxiety and even helping with insomnia. Also, the texture of certain shells can offer a slight exfoliation that will take care of dead skin cells.
With all these benefits how could you not enjoy the healing powers of the shells?
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Foot Bath Recipes
Foot baths are really easy to prepare and beneficial for simply relaxing or for helping all kinds of problems. You can use a foot bath machine or simply a large bowl and add water, a few ingredients from the kitchen and/or aromatherapy to aid your feet. Below you will find a few suggestions for different recipes to work on various foot ailments.
Ginger foot bath
Good for cleansing the feet, it can help clear up infections and fungal conditions like athlete’s foot.
Ingredient
• 1 small onion
• 1 clove of garlic
• 1 inch piece of fresh ginger root
• 3 liters of hot water
• 1 once of dried sage
• 1 once of dried rosemary
• 20 drops of tea tree essential oil
Instructions
1. Chop onion and garlic finely. Grate the ginger root. Heat water in a large sauce pan and add the onion, garlic and ginger. Let simmer gently for 5 minutes.
2. Remove from the heat and allow to infuse for 10 minutes. Stain the liquid into a foot bath and let cool for about 4 minutes. Add the tee tree oil to the foot bath.
3. Soak your feet in the bath for about 20 minutes with a towel over your feet and the bowl. This will keep the heat. Then pat your feet dry, taking care to dry thoroughly between your toes.
Peppermint lavender foot soak
Good for soothing aches, removing odours, and softening skin.
Ingredients
• ½ a cup of Epson salts
• 5 drops of peppermint oil
• 3 drops of tea tree oil
• 3 drops of lavender oil
Instructions
Put all the ingredients to a foot bath filled with hot water. Soak feet for 10-15 minutes. Dry properly and moisturize.
Honey foot soak
Good for soothing feet it is antiseptic as well as relaxing.
Ingredients
• 1 cup of honey
• 1 gallon of warm water
Instructions
Mix the honey to the warm water in a foot bath. Soak for 10-15 minutes.
Enjoy!!!!
Breathing Methods and Their Benefits
Most people don’t take the time to breathe properly. Their breaths are quick and short. Most of the time, they are not even conscious of their breathing at all. Full, deep, relaxed breaths are very beneficial to our health and taking the time to do this can help us with a variety of problems. For example, oxygen is very important for our cells health, and they rely on us to bring it in via our lungs and through the blood system. Also, when we take deep breaths, our diaphragm is lowered into our stomach and encourages digestion. This allows us to eliminate properly. When we take the time to breathe properly, we can also ease stress and anxiety. The deep breaths allow us to slow down our heart rate there for calming us down. Working on these systems with breathing can help with a variety of problems. Below you will find different breathing exercises as well as their benefits.
Before Starting:
Find a comfortable place with no distractions. Allow yourself at least 15 minutes to practice.
Cleansing breath oxygen intake, bringing clarity to the mind and improving concentration:
• Take one deep inhalation
• On the exhalation, sharply contract the abdominals to push all the air out. Breathe through the nostrils making a sighing sound.
• Relax the abdominal and take another deep slow inhalation. Repeat these steps 10 to 20 times.
• After inhale and exhale normally. Inhale once again and hold your breath for as long as it is comfortable. Slowly exhale and pay attention to your mind.
Alternate nostril breathing for soothing the nervous system and calming the mind:
• Put your thumb your thumb and index finger on the side of your nose at the base. Press down on the left nostril and inhale.
• Clip the nostrils together and hold your breath for a bit.
• With you index finger press down on the left nostril and exhale through the right.
• Now inhale through the left nostril keeping pressure on the right one.
• Now exhale through the right nostril while putting pressure on the left.
• Repeat this series 3-5 times, as you get better you can work your way to 20.
Cooling breath for purifying the blood, quenching thirst and stimulating the liver and spleen:
• Stick out your tongue and curl up the side to make a tube. Breathe in as if you are sucking air through a straw.
• Bring your tongue to your palate and hold your breath for a few seconds.
• Exhale through your nose.
• Repeat 3-5 times.
Bee breath for calming the mind, helping pregnant woman prepare for labor and improving the quality of the voice:
• Contract the upper part of your wipe and inhale smoothly but with force.
• Exhale smoothly through both nostrils.
• Repeat 5-10 times.
Victorious breath for strengthening the nervous system, relieving tiredness, removing excess phlegm, gas or bile.
• Exhale deeply and expand the chest for a deep inhalation.
• Contract the back of your throat in order to narrow the air passage.
• Compress the abdominal and expulse as mush air as possible.
• Repeat 5 times.
• Finish by taking 5 normal deep breaths holding your breath between inhalation and exhalations.
Jewel city breathing for cleansing the lungs, improving circulation, bringing clarity to the mind and increasing energy.
• Take deep inhalations and exhalations for 1-2 minutes.
• On an exhalation bring the naval toward the spine.
• On the inhalation bring relax the muscles around the naval and imagine energy coming into your naval.
• Repeat 5-10 times.
With these exercise you will be forced to take the time for yourself and breathing properly. Your mind, body and spirit will thank you.
Aromatherapy for Anxiety
5 Steps To Manage Stress And Anxiety
A Naturally Clean Home with 1 Aromatherapy Blend
Cleaning your house naturally can save money, help the environment, and is a lot easier then you think. Essential oils can allow us to clean and disinfect our house as well as avoid all the toxins from traditional cleaning products. Below you will find an aromatherapy synergy and a cleaning routine for it.
Aromatherapy Synergy for House Cleaning:
• Grapefruit: anti-infectious, anti-septic, disinfectant.
• Tea tree: antibacterial, antifungal and antiviral.
• Lavender: disinfectant, anti septic, anti fungal.
In 1 dropper bottle, mix equal amounts of each essential oil.
The cleaning routine
In the Kitchen
• In a bowl of hot water add 5 drops of the mixture; soak a cloth in the solution and begin the total wipe down. Wash cupboards, oven, sink and so on.
• If you are doing a big clean up you can also clean the inside of the fridge with this mixture.
• To clean the micro-wave, you can take the bowl of water and place it inside and set the timer for 1-2 minutes depending on strength. What is important is that there is steam created inside. When the timer has stopped let sit for 5 minutes, then come back and remove the bowl, making sure not to burn yourself. Take a cloth and wipe off the dirt, it should just fall off.
• To give the house a fresh clean smell, add a few drops to a pot of water and place on the stove on medium heat.
In the living room
• Simply add a few drops of the blend to water and do a complete wipe down.
In the bathroom
• Add a few drops to a bowl of hot water and wipe down everything saving the toilet for last.
• Add a few drops inside the bowl and let sit for a bit. Finish by passing the toilet brush and flushing.
• Take a bit of toilet paper and make a ball. Add a few drops of the mixture on it and place inside the toilet paper roll so that every time somebody takes a piece the aromas are released.
• Place a few drops on a cotton ball and drop in the garbage can to mask the odors.
Cleaning the floors
• Add a few drops of the blend to a bucket of hot water and 1 cup of vinegar and wash floors as usual.
With this cleaning routine my house smells clean and fresh and my hands avoid contact with chemicals. I also find it cheaper because I only need to buy the oils to make this one mixture that lasts forever and I avoid buying 5 different products. I can see only benefits to cleaning this way and I highly recommend it.
Aromatherapy for colds
Aromatherapy for your emotions
Aromatherapy for aches and pains
Self Acupressure for Lower Back Pain and Sciatica
What is Acupressure
Acupressure is an ancient Chinese medicine derived from acupuncture. Instead of using needles to stimulate certain points it utilizes the pressure of the fingers, elbows, or various devices in order to stimulate different points along the meridians to release blocked energy. When the energy flows properly our health in general is improved and we can get relief from physical aches and pains as well as psychological disturbances. We can also do self acupressure in order to help various pathologies when we don’t have time to get to a professional or when we need treatment on the spot. Below you will find a suggested treatment that can ease lower back pain and help treat sciatica.
Before you start a self-acupressure session it is important to find a quiet place where you will not be interrupted for about 20 minutes.
Self-acupressure treatment for lower back pain and sciatica:
1. At waist level, place the knuckles of both hands in your back and hold a pressure here for about 1 minute. This maneuver can be done sitting on a chair or by lying down on the ground.
2. Wrap your hands around your waist placing your thumbs in your back at about 4 finger lengths away from the spine. Once you have found this spot, apply pressure for about 1 minute.
3. Take 2 fingers and place them horizontally beneath the naval. Below these 2 fingers directly under the navel you will find your next spot. Press into this area while talking deep breaths. Work it for about 1 minute.
4. Place your knuckles half way between the base of the buttocks and the top of the hip bone about 4 fingers lengths away from the spine. Move your fingers to work the area for about 2 minutes.
5. Finish by pulling your knees in towards your chest. Hold this position for about 1 minute.
Taking time to do self acupressure can be important tool in helping you get some relief from your lower back pain and sciatica. I hope this will be helpful.
This article is for information purposes only and not intended to replace medical treatment. Those who are pregnant or that have health problems should check with their doctors or a trained professional before treating themselves.
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