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These two terms are often confused by many people, which might derive in them being involved in awkward situations. There are many differences between them that run at various levels and make these two concepts very far apart from each other when you get to really grasp them. In this post you will learn which those differences are and what the benefits of each are. Read on and learn everything about massage, spa and their differences.

What is a SPA?

Digging back into the past of the term, we find that spa is a definition for those places in the world where water that is rich in minerals flow naturally. Taking advantage of the benefits these medicinal waters have for our organism is a practice that can be traced back to the beginning of our civilization. The medicinal baths were even used in ancient Rome to soothe spirits and heal pains.

A long time has passed from that moment and nowadays, the culture of the day spas has taken over the world, gaining amazing popularity especially in Europe, South-East Asia and Japan. Day Spas offer all kinds of different treatments for personal care, relaxation and beauty purposes.

What is a massage?

Massage is another ancient technique that has been around since the beginning of civilization. According to archeologists and historians, massage therapy could be traced as much as over 4,000 years in the past. It continued non-stop through the ages and ramified into many disciplines applied to this day.

In most cases, massages are a mean of stress and pain relief, relaxation and healing. We could divide them in two big groups putting the relaxation ones on one side and the clinical ones on the other. Massage therapy is also used on rehabilitation, chronic pain treatment, trauma relief, depression and many others together with other medicines and techniques.

What are you looking for?

Knowing what you are looking for is going to be crucial to make the final decision, but we brought you one step closer. Now that you are aware of the definition of each, let´s review which the differences between them are.

Therapist Focus

This is, perhaps, the main difference between a massage therapy session happening inside a day spa environment and one happening as a prescribed practice. The RMT (Registered Massage Therapist) will ask you to go through a thorough assessment to identify which is the exact problem you have and how to address it. Sometimes, patients that face this kind of treatment come from a series of other treatments and doctors, which makes it easier for the RMT to proceed with a definite therapy. What is crucial to understand is that the type of massage therapy, the duration, the frequency and when you are fit to stop them is always determined by the RMT and never by the patient.

On the other hand, the spa massages can happen as a one-time thing and the client gets to choose which type of massage therapy they like the most. Also, the focus of the massage therapist will always be the client´s relaxation and comfort and not so much about the health conditions you might be dealing with. Sometimes massage techniques are tailored to the client´s preference in order to try to make them have the best possible time and leave fresh and energized.

General Atmosphere

It is a fact that we all know that luxury is not the first aim of clinics. These sober places are built more for functionality than for luxury or to create a definite ambience for clients to have a good time. There are some aspects related to hygiene, protocol and efficiency that clinics have to accomplish to meet regulations. So, the atmosphere when you go for the first time to get your medical-prescribed RMT massage is cold and most of the times not relaxing, but the opposite. With repeated sessions, you start having a bond with your therapist and know the place and can relax more, but not because the surroundings change, but because you get used to them.

On the other hand, the spa is the complete opposite. Spa houses are designed entirely to satisfy customers. Make you feel as if you were entering heaven on Earth to get the best, most relaxing experience in your life. Some spas offer food, beverages, and a wide range of different esthetical treatments that can really enhance your massage experience. To say it in short words, the atmosphere in a spa is designed entirely to entice your senses and transport you to a beautiful place and opposite to what clinics are, they are completely designed for luxury instead of efficiency or practicality.

The bottom line is knowing what you want

It all comes back to the first question, which is: what are you looking to achieve with this kind of treatment? The response to that question now that you have all the information given above should definitely be one or the other. Let´s review some last points you might be doubtful about:

Spa includes massage and not vice versa

If you are looking for a place in which you can relax and have access to several treatments including beauty and personal care and also a massage, then the spa is your best bet. If you want to get only a massage by a RMT and that´s it, you are going to probably spend less money by just booking it with a professional of your trust. You can have it done at home too.

Relaxing also heals

If you didn´t know this, it is high time you become aware: relaxing heals. If you are suffering from chronic pain maybe on the back or the neck, severe headaches or any other stress-derived symptoms, trying with a spa day before going to another doctor to have a prescribed massage session might be the best bet. The best case scenario would be to try and relax at a day of spa and if that doesn´t work, book some sessions with a RMT and get it solved that way.

A good way to describe a four hand massage could be “double the pleasure”. Four-hand massage is a trend that is becoming increasingly popular in the world, gaining more and more fans as time goes on. We created this post to tell you all about the benefits, techniques and insights for you to make a decision whether this massage therapy is for you or not. Read on and find out everything you need to know about four hand massage therapy in Dubai.

What is four-hand massage therapy?

Four hand massage therapy is a traditional Swedish or full body massage delivered by two different practitioners on the same patient. The massage therapist work together in a coordinated manner over the body of the patient bringing an increased level of relaxation in a reduced period of time among many other benefits. Usually, practitioners who embark in this kind of massage therapy work together for some time until they can achieve the ultimate coordination. They will work in a mirror-like sequence, so you will very likely feel four hands on your legs at the same time (or your shoulders, back or other part of the body). That coordination between the therapists is crucial for you to feel that your body is always balanced, regardless where they are working at the moment. The name of the technique is originally “Purva Karma” and the original goal is to send you into an even deeper state of relaxation than any other regular technique. because of this benefit and some more we are about to describe, this type of massage has gained a huge reputation in the past few years. Demand for this kind of massage therapy has grown non-stop in the past years.

What happens during a four-hand massage session?

The dynamics of a four-hand massage session is quite similar to that of a Swedish or a full body massage, but it involves two professionals. So, the result of that similitude + difference is that you definitely get the same result as in a good Swedish massage but on an amplified way. Other way to do it is to have each massage therapist do a different thing. For example, some people like having deep tissue massages but feel it is a little too painful, so they have one practitioner do the deep tissue while the other is giving a regular full body massage. His relaxes the mind and they forget about the subtle pain of the deep tissue while experiencing all its benefits. Mostly, your therapists will work together throughout your body with synchronized movements that are almost like choreography. Either one leads and the other follows or they both make different movements (if you like different kinds of massage). When the massage therapists have been working together for a long time, they not only mirror movements, but also strength so you can feel a balanced pressure in both sides of your body you are getting your massage at.

Benefits of four-hand massage

Now that you know exactly what goes on with four-hand massage, we are going to review the benefits. Some are exclusive to this kind of massage and some other are the regular benefits in an amplified way.

Complete, deeper relaxation

What happens with four-hand massage is a phenomenon that is related to brain hemispheres and has to do with the mind´s ability to follow other people´s movements. When you are getting a massage done, you can imagine what the masseuse is doing if you try hard and imagine it. For some people that is enough to get distracted from the relaxation and stay alert. When you are having four-hand massage, your brain won´t be able to cope with such a big stimuli coming from all around you, so it just gives up on the whole thing and reaches a different level of relaxation. You become completely detached from reality and might even fall asleep to wake up fresh and utterly relaxed. In terms of relaxation, there are few massage therapies that can get as far as four-hand massage can.

Improved blood circulation

You know that your blood circulation is crucial for health. You also know that your blood travels at an incredible speed and goes around your entire body. Well, because of the enhanced stimulation, the blood travels faster through all the vessels. With two pairs of hands opening them as they go, the blood flow you will feel will be like nothing you´ve experienced before.

Enhanced stress reduction

The stress reduction when it comes to four-hand massage has to do with two particular phenomenon: deep relaxation and boosted circulation. Because you reach a deeper level of relaxation, your body let go of mind problems easier and goes back to them way slower. The improved blood circulation helps the brain receive up to twice the oxygen as in a normal massage session. The more oxygen your brain receives, the more clarity you´ll have and the further away from stress you´ll be.

Muscle relaxation at a different level

Because of the relaxation phenomenon, your muscles can be worked on at a different level. For example patients who can´t stand deep-tissue massage can have it done in a four-hand massage situation. Also, as practitioners can focus on one side of your body, you can get special attention to every knot, fiber and stiff muscle you might have. Both professionals will have more strength and less fatigue on their thumbs as they go on with your massage.

Insomnia, anxiety and pain relief

Relaxation to a different level also boosts a great attribute of massage therapy which is the way that it affects several stress-related symptoms as insomnia and anxiety as well as the pain derived from a stiff neck or a sore back due to bad posture. Most customers fall asleep to wake up to a whole different body than the one they brought into the session. Have a four-hand massage in Dubai and test this for yourself, you´ll leave the facilities with a huge smile.

At Cora SPA we set out to do one thing: balance your body, mind and soul. With that goal in mind, we put together a fantastic team and became the best one-spot solution for your relaxation in Dubai. We provide everything, from the most classic type of massage and spa to the cutting-edge techniques you read in magazines. We are continuously growing and improving to stay on top and provide you only the best in terms of massage therapy. Read on and find out why Cora SPA is your best spachoice when it comes to relaxation.

Our Best Spa Practices

Our team of professionals covers most massage treatments currently known by human kind. We are very proud to say that we excel at each and every one of them. To better suit our customers, we invite them to have a unique experience and choose freely the massage therapy they like. There is always one suitable for you. Read on and see the benefits of each.

Couple Massage

The benefits of a couple massage are plenty and different for each couple that decides to get one. For example, many couples find it lights the spark of physical attraction between them, others take it as a bonding experience of a spiritual kind. Regardless which one your case is, it is always a great thing to spend time together. Get a couple massage and see for yourself which benefits it has for you two.

Deep Tissue Massage

Deep tissue massage is a technique that blends clinical prescribed massages and relaxation moments. Some people enjoy thoroughly the hard pressure on sore points because it gives them a bigger sense of relief. Others prefer a softer touch. If you are a part of the second group, you can always ask the masseuse to go easy on you. Deep tissue massage is absolutely great to cure chronic pains.

Full body massage

The full body massage is one of the most sought-after ones at our SPA. It does have many benefits for the body and for the mind. For example, it helps the lymphatic, immune, nervous and circulatory systems work better. Also, it helps people fight anxiety, depression and stress. Finally, you can get some serious pain relief as well as breathing and skin benefits as well.

Hot stone massage

The basalt stones used in hot stone massage have many benefits. To start with, they are great for anxiety and stress reduction. Also, they are great for overall mental health, muscle tension relief and sleep enhancement; some patients also declared that it gives them a huge energy boost. Finally, tests are being run to check on its effect on cancer symptoms.

Male massage

Men sometimes prefer a differential treatment than the one they get at any given SPA. It is true that they usually undergo huge amounts of stress and that many prefer that it is taken care of by other men. The exclusive male massage benefits Cora Spa offers besides stress reduction are body posture improvement, a better understanding and outstanding strength.

Relaxing Thai massage

If you are a yoga person, you will find in Thai massage a paradise on Earth. If you are not, it will open the door to a brand new world. The key to this type of massage is that the therapist moves the patient in passive yoga poses using his or her own body. It has been said that it generates a huge energy boost, relieves headaches and migraines and improves mobility while lowering stress levels.

Russian massage

A different kind of massage for many, but just as effective as all the rest. The way that Russian massage works is by adding heat to the tissue and resolving knots with vibration. This brings comfort and a sense of relief to many people. It is common to see this kind of massage being used in high-end sports competitions. Clients said they can heal, digest and breathe better after every session.

Shiatsu massage

Our body is a continuous flow of energy called Chi. This energy flows freely through some channels called meridians unless they get obstructed. Modern life is great at obstructing meridians with common issues like stress. With a Shiatsu massage session, you can remove any obstructions from those channels and help headaches, neck, shoulder and back pain problems, slow metabolism, poor circulation and encourage positive emotional feelings.

Thai herbal massage

This could be thought of as the ultimate combination of the hot stone massage and the Shiatsu massage. Using the idea of the meridians, compressed herbal mixes serve as relaxation for sore muscles, open obstructions in your channel and add aromatherapy qualities to the equation.

Foot reflexology massage

It is an ancient (and completely true) belief that our feet have reflex points that refer to most parts of our body (including organs and also glands). By touching only your feet, the reflexology massage therapist will relieve the pain in certain muscles, help your sleeping habits, aid the blood circulation and help you fight depression by improving your mood.

Swedish massage

Swedish massage is exactly what you see when you close your eyes and think of a massage therapy session. The therapist will oil your body, apply gentle, firm strokes in the direction of your blood flow and you will not only feel more relaxed, but also energized and lighter. For those with muscle aches, this non-invasive technique is perfect.

VIP treatment

For those who want a little more out of their visit to our SPA, we created the VIP treatment. We will take you in a journey back to the days of kings because you will be treated exactly as royalty. Choose the massage you like the most and spend the most wonderful day in your life with us.

Conclusion

All these great techniques would mean nothing if we didn´t spend so much time and resources hand-picking our professionals. We work our hardest to have the best facilities in Dubai and work with the star of every technique. We deliver the best massages in the best atmosphere at the best price. Come check us out and stay relaxed!

Sometimes making it through to the summer after a full year of work is nothing short from an odyssey. Stress builds up, muscles suffer and your body is tight and aching. But what if you could revert that and use body relaxation techniques to make your everyday a little more enjoyable? Well, it is possible to follow certain steps and relax at home as you never thought you could. Read on and find out which these techniques are, how to apply them to your everyday life and live better in the long run.

The benefits of body relaxation techniques

The benefits of body relaxation techniques are many and very varied. As with any relaxation technique in the world, they depend largely on the subject receiving them. If you are open to every technique you might just get the best out of them, otherwise you might struggle until you do. That being said, this is a list of the most common benefits registered to this date by multiple users.

• Lower your body´s blood pressure
• Slowing the breath rate
• Slow down your heartbeat rate
• Reduce anger, frustration and other stress-derived negative emotions
• Reduce all kinds of chronic pain and muscle tension
• Improve sleep time and quality
• Reduce fatigue levels
• Fight depression symptoms
• Regulate blood sugar levels to keep them within normal levels
• Blood flow increment to major muscles
• Lower the amount of stress hormones and reduce their action span
• Boost confidence and helps to handle problems easier
• Improve concentration and boost good mood

These are only some of the many benefits of body relaxation techniques because more are discovered daily. Of course that most people practicing them get the most benefits by mixing them with other techniques like positive thinking, anger management and reducing stress factors like overworking.

Body relaxation techniques

Although there are many body relaxation techniques, this is a compendium of the ones we think work the best for today´s problems. Many of them have been around for hundreds and thousands of years.

Breathing relaxation techniques

This simple technique doesn´t require much more than a quiet place, some minutes and some room to stretch. the theory behind it says that oxygen in large amounts does wonders to relax your body. According to western medicine, the more oxygen our blood is able to carry, the healthier we´ll be. Let´s see how to get it done step by step Step 1 The first step is to try and breathe from your diaphragm and stomach instead with the shallow part of your upper lungs. So, sit straight with your back against the wall and put one hand on your chest and another one on your stomach. The second one should rise as you breathe. Step 2 Breathe deeply through the nose pulling in as much air as you can. Keep it in and then empty yourself from all the air you inhaled through your mouth. When exhaling you should feel as if your abdominal muscles contract to let it all out. The hand on your stomach should really move when you exhale. Keep on inhaling and exhaling deeply until you start to feel calm. It is possible and recommended to mix this technique with others as soothing music and aromatherapy.

Mindfulness meditation

Mindfulness is a type of meditation that has gained many followers in the latter times. I am sure you heard it being mentioned more than once. Well, it gained popularity because it really is helpful and works great on most people. The basic concept is to let go on the past and not be concerned or worried about the past, but just be present where you are at the moment. Again, you don´t need much to practice it, just some quiet minutes and a place to sit. This is a basic guide to getting it done: Step 1 Find a quiet place and make some time for yourself in which you know you won´t be disturbed. Step 2 Sit down either with your back against the wall, or a straight-backed chair or cross-legged on the floor. Step 3 Focus on a simple thing. That thing can be as simple as your own breathing or something external like a short phrase or even maybe a candle. Step 4 If thoughts still flood your head from every direction, don´t fight them or yourself. Just pay attention to your element, the one you chose. It is about returning your focus gently to what it was before thoughts broke in. Mindfulness meditation is so easy to achieve that it can work in your first attempt. There are people who do it while doing other regular activities such as walking or running.

Guided imagery

Also called visualization, this technique involves a place and a moment in time that brings peace and joy to our mind. It is important to focus on a place that brings a good memory or a smile that can make us feel unstressed and happy. It can be whatever you like; some people like to go back to real places, people and moments and some others like to make that up from a cool photograph they saw somewhere. Whichever is the case, it should make you feel good. The thing with visualization is that you don´t need a 2-d experience, but a 3-d one. You should feel, hear and touch your environment and not only see it. Here is what should be happening.

• Smell – If you are in a sandy beach, you should, for example, smell the ocean.

• Taste – After a big dive into the blue ocean, what better than the salty taste in our mouths?

• Hear – Can you hear the way the ocean comes and go? Hear it and incorporate that steady rhythm,

• See – The way the sun reflects on the waves creating a million colored mirrors over the surface.

• Feel – The heat of the sun on your skin and the sand coming in and out of your fingertips. The ocean getting you wet and the sun tanning your skin.

This is just an example of the virtually limitless you can think of. Just make sure it is your own happy place. Once you are ready, slowly open up your eyes and come back to reality.

The number of spas offering couple massage is increasing by the hour. It is completely understandable because it is the ultimate experience to forget about the real world and just be with your loved one for some quality time. The benefits of having a couples massage or spa day are plenty and vary from one spa to the next as much as from one couple to the next. We will name the most important seven, but these are not the only ones you might encounter with your significant other. Read on and find out the seven benefits of a couple’s massage at the right place.

Benefit Number One – A Bonding Experience

If you have never tried a couple massage or a massage at all, then it is going to be even more signifying for you. Trying out something for the first time with someone you love generates a sense of bonding. You look for comfort and shelter in each other´s eyes. If it is not the first time you do it, it is also a bonding experience because it is a different kind of talking that requires no words and is unique to that moment in time. Couples who get a massage together usually come out feeling tighter together than before they got into the room.

Benefit Number Two – Get More Affection

All the hormones that make us feel better are invited to the massage too. Your body will release serotonin, dopamine and oxytocin during the massage session because of the expert work of the masseuse. This phenomenon will very likely put a smile upon your face and if that happens and you are holding hands or turn your head and see that same smile in your significant other, the feeling that you will get is a huge “I love you” that involves no words at all. A couple massage will increase the affection you feel for the world thanks to your body´s chemical reactions and will definitely be amplified on your loved one.

Benefit Number Three – Recover Any Lost Connection

This is especially true for those couples that have recently become parents and have literally not seen each other´s faces or talked about anything other than diapers and poop in a while. That erodes any couple and it takes some effort to get back on track. Getting a couple massage is a huge leap in that exact direction. If your connection is lost, deteriorated or just a little low when you begin the session, chances are that trend will be completely reverted by the end of it. This is not a guarantee that once you have two non-sleep nights because of your baby´s crying, things won´t be back to what they were, but will surely give you some extra air to keep on swimming.

Benefit Number Four – Enjoy Quality Time

Couples sometimes find it hard to just put the world on pause and dedicate some quality time to being together. This is increasingly complicated as people grow older and life gets more complicated. A couple massage is the indicated place to get plenty of quality time with your significant other. Starting from the talk wearing only a robe while you are waiting, to holding hands while at it and the amazing feeling of relaxation you both will have once it is done.

Benefit Number Five – Light that Spark

Because of the natural chemicals released by your bodies, the warm light, inviting music and delicious scents, you will find the ideal scenery to light that romantic spark. It is very common that after a massage session couples recover their best version of intimacy. Getting a couple massage is often a great way of lighting that spark and not letting it cool down ever again.

Benefit Number Six – Forget About Problems, Relax and Love

This is a great benefit of couple massage therapy. People who enter the massage room with their head full of problems, their shoulders hard as a rock and their neck under a lot of tension often find themselves forgetting about all of that as soon as they lay down facing down. Even more, some couples that are going through difficult moments and decide to have a couple massage forget about the problems they had with each other and hold hands as if they were back in the earliest stages of their relationship. The connection between relaxation and love is very common in human beings. The more you are able to relax, the more open you are to feeling love. Forgetting about your problems and finding your couple with that same smile you are having might be the ultimate solution for couple problems.

Benefit Number Seven – Communicate at a Non-verbal Level

Nine times out of ten, words get in the way of feelings. It is very common in couples that they fail to understand each other with words. This barrier can melt away with some scent, oil and gentle scrubbing by a masseuse while lying down next to each other. In fact, it is not recommended to communicate verbally at the masseuse room; this discourages that kind of interaction. Your bodies will become the only way you can tell something to each other and hence holding hands, smiling or doing other non-verbal gestures is very common. Masseuses will welcome that interaction between you, so do it with confidence.

Conclusion – Get a Couple Massage

All these benefits from having a couple massage are nothing short from amazing. If you get to think about it, to reconnect in such a spiritual, non-verbal way with your significant other has absolutely no comparison. Sometimes it takes just a change of scenery and rules to put the entire world in stand-by and enjoy some quality time with the person that means the most to you. Most couples that get to the massage room with problems with each other leave holding hands and ready to face the world with more energy. Get a couple massage and rejuvenate your relationship today.

We could call this massage etiquette as a proper description of the right way to behave the first time you go to a massage therapy session. These are not definite rules as you will see, but are tips to enjoy your experience at a maximum level. We will review the dos and don´ts and give you some cool tips. Read on and find out everything you always wanted to know about massage etiquette and never dare to ask.

Different Types of Massage

There are many different types of massage that have different types of etiquette. Each of them requires the patient to perform diverse actions. For example, Thai massage is a technique that requires the patient to be fully dressed and allow the masseuse to put him or her into different positions by moving his or her body around. The patient is not expected to do anything, just relax like any other massage therapy session, but is required to be fully dressed in comfortable clothes and ready to be moved and stretched. The rules of etiquette or series of best practices covered in this article are related to the traditional massage, also known as Swedish massage.

#1 Undress to your Comfort

This is rule number one of a massage session: you need to be completely relaxed and not to worry about anything at all. This is why you should only undress to the point you feel comfortable. In 99 out of 100 cases you will be covered with a towel on your intimate parts, so you should not feel intimidated by the level of “nakedness” you are showing to your masseuse. Besides the towel-factor, you should bear in mind:

• Masseuses work with people all day long – This is a fact, they are very used to seeing torsos and necks, backs, legs and all the rest that they don´t have anything special with your body. Besides, they are professionals and all they see are sore muscle tissues and knots.
• You are expected to undress – In this kind of situation, it is awkward to do the opposite: not to undress, so do it confidently.
• Wear your towel at all times – If you wear your towel at all times, you should not be exposing any parts you don´t want to your massage therapist. Just make sure you don´t drop it while you move

Cool tip: Wear the underwear you feel the most comfortable with and think looks the best in you, so you won´t be embarrassed to be dressed only in it.

#2 Turn Off your Phone

This is an absolute must for relax and also to make the world of the massage therapist a lot easier. Imagine trying to relieve the stress off your shoulders after a long and hard office week when your phone is ringing non-stop… it will make him or her even more nervous and stressed than you! No, don´t put it on vibrate, just turn it off. Even the slightest of vibrations can be heard really loudly in a very quiet room such as a massage one; it will take you out of focus and break the magic of the distractions-free environment created specifically for you. It will even be good for the apparatus if it has been going on for six months straight. Sometimes even technology needs a break from technology. One thing you might notice after the phone has been off for about 90 minutes is that it is not the end of the world as we know it and that you can definitely live without it for about an hour and a half and nothing (bad) will happen to you. Cool Tip: Tell all important people who might be calling you like employers, mother, wife, children that you will be out for ninety minutes to avoid misunderstandings and make that relax feeling last so much longer.

#3 Be Communicative to your Masseuse

Being communicative with your massage therapist is a great way of making a good experience a much better one. for example, there is certain kind of people who don´t feel comfortable with massage therapy sessions involving their feet. Some don´t like feet and others feel like they are ticklish and get them out of the relaxation mood. There is another very important piece of information you have to definitely communicate that is the amount of pressure you like. It is very common that some massage therapists ask this before the session starts. If it is your first time, you won´t likely know, so it is okay to communicate that you are feeling pain or discomfort. It is an old myth that is not at all true the fact that a massage session needs to hurt in order to be effective. A massage session should be just as relaxing as you want it to be. Some people enjoy deep-tissue massage and a lot of pressure and some don´t. This indication is only valid for relaxation massage and not if you are having a massage because of a condition or illness. Some common questions are:

• Can I have a conversation? – Well, it is not recommended to enhance your relaxation experience, but there are no rules against it. You should just use the communication channels as described above, and not to tell him or her about your week, that is what psychologists are for. Besides, for a fully relaxed experience just listen to the music and let go.
• Can I fall asleep? –Yes, it´s totally fine and very common, your masseuse won´t be offended at all.

Cool tip: The good thing about going to the same masseuse time and again when you find one that suits you is that in the growing confidence and knowledge your relaxation experience will grow too.

Conclusion

There are no written rules about massage etiquette; these are just some of the ones that experienced massage-goers have put together throughout the years. We could add to get a proper shower and arrive early to make the experience the best it can possibly be.

Can we think of a right time to get a massage therapy or is it just a treat to oneself every time you can afford it? Well, these are two distinct ways of thinking about it: you can think of a massage session as a gift or you can think of it as an ongoing treatment that can help you live a better life. The medical benefits of massage therapy have been studied and documented largely, but which is the perfect timing to make the best out of your investment? There is no unique answer to that question. Read on as we give you some tips to answer it for your particular case.

Massage at a Given Time of the Day

This is the first approach that we are going to go through. Which is the best time of the day to get a massage session? Some people prefer to have it in the morning, others right after lunch during the afternoon and some other at night before going to bed. Let´s see pros and cons.

Morning Massage Session

Morning massage is a favorite for people whose schedule allows them to find a moment and then face the rest of the day with rested shoulders and back. If you start your day too early, though, it is not recommended to wake up an hour and a half earlier just to get to your massage session. Also, if you are not a morning person and wake up grumpy, then you should not be getting a massage session so early, since you might find it more difficult to relax and make the most out of it. On the other hand, if you are a morning person who loves to have a nice breakfast and a nice wake up ritual, then a morning massage is exactly what you need to make a good morning a perfect one.

Afternoon Massage Session

This is, perhaps, the ideal time to cut a busy day at work in half. Some people book massage sessions next to their working place and can have a forty-minutes massage with their favorite masseuse on a Thursday afternoon to cleanse all kinds of stress and go back to work with a smile upon their faces. If you are not a morning person and can fit this into your schedule, it is the best way to make the day and the week easier to digest.

Evening Massage Session

After a long day and week of non-stop wok, it is ideal to hit the massage center before heading home. Most people choosing this time of the day also pick Thursdays or Fridays as the days to go and start the weekend with a relaxed mind and body. In fact, if you do happen to go on a Friday night and can start your weekend on Saturday, you will notice that next Monday is less complicated and also that the time you spend with family and friends will feel even more valuable. Being on a good mood because your body feels fresh and elastic is great for an awesome weekend, just don´t spoil it by getting little sleep the following days or worrying about your team winning or losing a match!

Massage Therapy for Athletes

Athletes have massage therapy as a part of their training and not just an optional thing as it is for the rest of us mortal humans. Let´s review which the frequency you should be getting your massage is depending on the frequency that you work out with.

Active Athletes

Active athletes are people who work out at least four to five times a week. This people should be getting regular massage as a part of their training schedule. Most athletes who face competition in the higher elites like Olympics or professional football players get a post-workout massage and a pre-competitive one when they are about to have a big event. If you are an athlete that trains four times a week, we recommend you schedule your massage session during your day off and maximize its benefits. The sore muscle tissue and the muscle knots you might have after a week of non-stop training have to be treated by the hands of a professional. Having your massage session once a week should be enough.

Moderate Athletes

Moderate athletes work out anywhere between once and three times a week but are not involved in any kind of heavy competition. In these cases, massage therapy can really help them out to keep focused and on-task. There is no better excuse for a moderate athlete to stop going to the gym than a sore articulation or muscle. This is because they don´t have the metabolism so high-up as the active athletes do and hence, every workout session is like starting over again from scratch. A regular massage session every time you are really sore or once every two weeks, even once a month will be fine to keep you on the right track.

Sedentary People

There are two outcomes that sedentary people can have from massage sessions. The first and most common is to use it as a liberation from the stress that modern life puts on our backs and necks day after day. The other one is to get started physically and do something with your sedentary lifestyle. If you get a night massage and your metabolism gets a little kick from the increased circulation and muscle activation, then you will feel more active during the next morning and can take on some running or any kind of cardio. Both are great ways to enjoy massage therapy if you are not a real athlete or an aspiring one.

Conclusion

These two ways to see massage therapy are drastically different from each other. On one hand, you have the people who use it as a part of their training and on the other, the people who use it as a relaxation of stress. Whichever is the case, pick the right schedule for you (even with a trial-and-error approach) and enjoy the benefits of a massage session.

This is a common question in spa and massage centers around the world. It doesn´t have a definite answer mostly because each organism is different and reacts to sickness and to massage therapy differently. There are some who are benefited from it and others who shouldn´t go to their massage session in that condition. Let´s review some of the pros, cons and whys of undergoing massage therapy when you are sick. Read on and find out which are the things to bear in mind before you make the decision of going or staying at home.

Massage Therapy When you are Sick – The Cons

When you become sick, the advice you will very likely receive from people is to stay in bed and do nothing. Some think it is because you just don´t want to get up and do nothing due to not feeling well, but it really has a lot more to do with the fact that your body is too busy internally fighting against the invaders. There is a revolution inside your organism and the “good side” has all assets compromised in fighting for freedom. This is the reason you should stay in bed and focus all energy efforts on the recovery and give more resources to your inner army to win the battle instead of walking around.

Massage Therapy Takes your Body to the Limits

This is one of the main reasons why you shouldn´t do any kind of massage therapy. The deep pressure of the masseuse and your body´s effort to release toxins will make it a little too much to take in most cases because your organism is already fighting a battle inside. These efforts can prove to be counterproductive to your health state. In fact, if you try to push your body to do it all at once, the most likely thing to happen is that it will not do any of it. Most people who get sick because of a bad cold or flu have a runny nose. That condition is not at all compatible with lying down facing to the floor on a masseuse bed. Comfort and relaxation play a key role in the success of a massage therapy session. People who find it hard to let go and relax usually get limited benefits when it comes to massage therapy. So, in other words you will also be throwing your money away and getting just a fraction of the reward.

Contagious Conditions

This is another major topic to address in this case because if the condition that you have is contagious and you are having massage therapy, then you might be harming your masseuse. Imagine you work as a massage therapist in a spa and someone really sick shows up for his or her appointment. It is a matter of mutual respect, you don´t want to get any bad diseases while you are at work and neither does your masseuse.

This is something often overlooked, but the closeness between patient and therapist along with the small and closed environment you are both together at makes it very possible for viruses and bacteria to fly and enter in each other´s organism through breath. The rule in this case is “if you are too sick to go to work, you are too sick to go to your massage therapy session.”

Massage Therapy When you are Sick – The Pros

The Immune System

Massage therapy boosts the immune system. This is one of the most reviewed and highly-praised benefits of massage therapy and has been studied in multiple occasions. This is related with stress relief, dropping anxiety levels and also augmenting blood circulation throughout the body. While all of this is normally true, it is important to bear in mind that the physical action of receiving the massage might be the worst part. So, try having a massage at:  The earliest stage of sickness – Before you hit your peak, when you feel as if you are going to be sick but not yet; that is the perfect moment to get the massage. Your immune system will benefit a lot from that extra push and your white blood cells (your defense army) will travel faster everywhere.  The last stages of sickness – When you are dropping out of symptoms, it is a great moment to have your massage session. Again, your immune system will be benefited from it and you will also relieve all the tension accumulated in those days of being in bed.

Try Reflexology

Have you ever had a reflexology session? Well, in the case you haven´t, it is a kind of massage treatment that is applied to the hands and feet. The principle behind reflexology is that the same spots that are stressed and hurt in your body can be accessed through your extremities. According to this discipline, there is a mirror effect and all the points that can be hurting in your back have an “embassy” in your feet and hand. If an expert knows which buttons to push in those parts of your body, you can be relieved from pain. Reflexology is perfect to avoid masseuses working with some parts of your body that are still a little sore from the sickness. Coughing probably made your muscles in the back and chest to stress a lot and be really tight. That is something reflexology can address without touching the sore parts.

Conclusion – Avoid Massage When you Feel Sick

Attain to the golden rule “if you are too sick to go to work, you are too sick for your massage session” and you will be fine. We recommend massage therapy in the cases named above as well as reflexology sessions.

You´ve probably read everywhere a million times what are the things you should do before a massage session, but what about the ones you shouldn´t? We are going to give you a series of very important recommendations so you can be sure to enjoy your experience to the maximum extent.Read on to find out about the things that might ruin your experience at the massage center. Follow these simple tips, avoid these bad practices and you shall be happier as well as your massage therapist.

Drink Alcohol

It is great to go to your massage therapy appointment properly hydrated. What is a huge no with a neon sign is to drink alcohol. The removal of toxins that your body will attempt while you are undergoing your massage therapy causes the amplification of the potential ill effects that alcohol will have on you. Besides the toxins release, you r blood flow will be drastically increased, giving alcohol a freeway to get everywhere in your body. This combo will make you dizzy and lower the amount of data your central nervous system can process; hence you will feel less from the contact with the therapist. This is the same as saying you will be throwing your money away and not enjoying your massage session.

Get Too Much Sunbathing

This is a common mistake when going on holidays. If you get too much sunbathing, your skin will get a lot more sensitive to the touch and it will definitely be much harder for the massage therapist to do his or her job properly because of your irritated skin.On the other hand, sunbathing is a great experience when done properly. If you take proper care of your skin and sunbathe using the right sunblock, then you shall not have any problems in an expert rubbing your tan skin. Just make sure you don´t go to your massage therapy session looking like a shrimp.

Feel Ill or Sick

Going to your massage therapy session feeling sick is one of the least recommended conditions of them all. When you are sick, your body is fighting an inner battle to put a stop on the invasion and cannot also remove the inner toxins. To say it in other words, it is important that you let your body focus on what is currently going on inside without adding any extra tasks. Besides, massage therapy is very demanding for the body and the lymphatic system, so it is not perfect timing. Additionally, what you get when you attend to a massage therapy session is a moment of relax and enjoyment. When you feel sick, cough a lot and have some other symptoms related to your sickness like a runny nose, you won´t be able to just let go and get the most out of your massage therapy session. Our recommendation is to follow the golden rule: “if you are too sick to go to work, then you are too sick to go to your massage therapy session too.”

Get a Hot Shower

It might surprise you to find a “no” for hot shower before you get a massage therapy session. The reason behind this is that the hot shower that you might get before your massage therapy session will drastically increase circulation and can make you sweat a lot during your massage session. This will get in the way of your masseuse´s work and will also make you uncomfortable, since you will be getting a feeling of heat all over your body that will ruin your momentum. It is a good idea to shower before you go to a massage therapy session. Knowing you are clean and smell good will help you relax while the therapist is doing his or her job, but you should get that shower a couple of hours previous to the therapy session, not after that. Let your body metabolize the heat of the shower and get to the appointment early and sharp.

Eat a Lot

This might sound as a no-brainer to you, but is actually a very common mistake. Your body´s mechanisms will be completely dedicated to destroying the food you´ve just eaten into little particles and delivering it to different parts of your body; that will be your body´s main focus. If you eat a lot, then there will be many resources dedicated to it, eating less, requires less resources. Besides, you will feel heavy and uncomfortable. You might even experience gases from that gastrointestinal process going on inside you. Just make sure you eat something light like a salad and a small sandwich or you can even wait until it is later to grab a bite and avoid going through digestion at the masseuse´s bed.

Avoid the Loo

This is another no-brainer (I promise it is the last) but most people overlook it. When you need to go to the loo, there is no stopping your organism and if you try to, that will be in your mind breaking your momentum. Go to the loo right before you enter the space where you will have your massage session to get rid of all that proper hydration you gave to your body. This is yet another reason to avoid alcohol before going for a massage session: if you drink alcohol, your body will immediately turn toxins into urine and try to get them out.Stopping your massage session and running to the loo wearing only a robe will ruin your relaxation and also the positive effects of the massage therapy sessions. Don´t avoid the loo.

Conclusion

Avoiding any or all of these tips might not be the end of the world, but might severely damage your massage therapy experience. Each massage session should be pure relaxation and stress relief; making everything you can to amplify that experience is the correct path. Follow these tips whenever your next massage session is and help your body relax to its maximum extent. You won´t regret taking some or all these precautions at all.