Massage
Tui na Massage in North London
Deep Tissue Swedish Massage
Massage therapists will use a variety of techniques to promote healing and relaxation, as well as to promote greater flexibility and range of motion. When a specific muscle group is injured or contracted, other muscles surrounding the affected area also brace in response to the injury or contraction. Massage helps to improve blood circulation, decrease pain and inflammation, helps to relax the muscles, and makes you feel better.
Massage is also known to relax muscles and help with minor sports injuries as well as back pain, headaches, joint pain and stiffness and even some forms of chronic pain.
Massage can also stimulate the nerves and increase blood flow and circulation around the body. Regular massage sessions give an excellent feel good factor as they are relaxing and de-stressing as well as being re-energising and stimulating, therefore can help prevent the build up of tension, anxiety and stress.
Tui na Massage
What is Tui na?
Tui na dates back 2000 years to the Shang Dynasty of China and is based on the traditional Chinese Medical Theory of the flow of Qi (or 'Chi'), meaning "energy flows" through the meridians of the body, in the prevention and treatment of blockages.
How does Tui na work?
The term 'Tui na' translates literally into "pushing and grasping" in Chinese. Its technique involves pressing, kneading and rolling to remove blockages along the meridians of the body and stimulates the flow of Qi and blood to promote healing.
Tui na can be quite powerful and painful during the deep-tissue manipulations and herbal oils are often used to aid in the healing process.
What happens during tui na treatment?
Treatments for tui na usually last from 30 minutes to 1 ½ hour and involves wearing loose clothing, and laying or sitting on a treatment couch. Treatment would focus on pain sites, acupressure points, energy meridians and muscles and joints. Depending on the complaint being treated, one or more sessions may be required and may be advised accordingly.
The patient usually feels either relaxed and tired or surprisingly energised by the treatment.
Benefits of Tui na
Tui na can be used as treatment for a variety of conditions, including:
- As a form of preventative care for maintaining physical wellness and stimulating the immune system
- Specific musculoskeletal disorders
- Chronic stress related disorders of the digestive, respiratory and reproductive systems
- In relieving pain and stress
- Stimulating blood circulation and regulating the nervous system
Manual Lymphatic Drainage
What is manual lymphatic drainage?
Developed in the 1930s, lymphatic drainage is a delicate form of massage that stimulates the body's lymphatic system, improving the metabolism, helping the body to eliminate waste and toxins and providing a boost to the immune system.
The lymphatic system is responsible for helping fluid and waste leave the body and for regulating the immune system. When the lymphatic system becomes blocked, fluid builds up and stagnates, causing the entire system to become toxic, making us feel sluggish and more susceptible to viral or contagious diseases.
How does it work?
By stimulating this system through massage, it works more efficiently, which in turn boosts the immune system, clears blockages, eliminates toxins, transports nutrients to cells and increases the metabolism.
What happens during treatment?
Lymphatic drainage utilises a very light pressure combined with soft pumping movements in the direction of the lymph nodes. The process can take anywhere from 30 minutes whilst concentrating on a localised area, to two hours when working on the whole body.
Benefits of manual lymphatic drainage?
It is useful for individuals who seem to suffer regularly from common illnesses like colds and flu, for people who lead sedentary lifestyles, or those who want to reduce puffiness or swelling. It has been cited as having a positive effect on problem skin, cellulite, dysfunctional respiratory systems and people with low energy.
It boosts the immune system so, as well as helping the body ward off illness, treatment can facilitate general feelings of health and vitality, improves the appearance of the skin and reduces puffiness caused by water retention, poor circulation or pregnancy. As with massage, it can help with pain from fractures and sprains and rheumatism, and it promotes the body's own healing mechanisms.
Lymphatic drainage should not be used by people with acute inflammation, malignant tumours, thrombosis or major heart problems. Because of its effect on the immune system, people with cancer, diabetes, thyroid or kidney problems, asthma or epilepsy should seek medical advice before treatment. It is also advisable that women do not undergo lymphatic drainage while menstruating.
Therapeutic Massage
Therapeutic massage helps the body achieve health and vitality by strengthening the body's resistance to disease, improves circulation, muscular relaxation and joint flexibility.
Therapeutic massage is useful for:
- Alleviating pain, tension and inflammation
- Promotes speedier recovery from injury
- Increases mobility and joint flexibility
- Improves circulation and strengthens the immune system
- Relieves muskuloskeletal problems and improves posture
- Relieves discomfort during pregnancy
- Reduces anxiety
- Promotes an overall feeling of well-being