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To The World of Massage Therapyand Reflexology
Cheryl JohnsonCertified Massage Therapist Certified Foot ReflexologistRichmond, Virginia
Hi and thanks for visiting my site.
We all experience stress in our lives. Without certain amounts of stress, we would probably not get out of bed in the morning. Stress can be a motivator, the push that makes us go the extra mile and accomplish great things. However, when our stress levels become too high we begin to experience the effects of the famous "fight or flight" response. The brain tells the body there's an emergency to respond to - a traffic jam, a crisis at work, too many bills to pay. Muscles tense. The heart races. Blood pressure climbs. These changes send signals to the brain...there's a problem to handle! And so on it goes keeping mind and body in a chronic state of tension that can lower immune defenses, increase the risk of heart disease, and sometimes make us difficult to live with.To test your stress level click here.
There are many modalities associated with massage from Swedish Massage, the classic feel-good rubdown with oils, to polarity therapy and other techniques that manipulate the body's energy fields. To learn more about the different techniques you may come across click here.
What's in it for you? Why get a massage? Yes, it feels good, it's relaxing and it's a very nice occasional treat. However, there is so much more to it. Click here to learn the benefits of massage.
Massage alone will not create wellness. In this age of fast food, ever increasing demands to succeed, and high tech living, we must be vigilant in caring for our body's nutritional needs, our spiritual needs, and our sense of peace. Click here to read the Golden Rules of Health.
Touch, why do we need it? Research has found that tiny premature babies have a much better survival rate when they are touched, held, massaged. Older people live longer if touch is a part of their life. Did you know that being in love, touching and sharing with one another, increases the efficiency of the immune system and creates better health? What do we do when a child cries? We touch. What do we do when we see another's pain? We reach out. We touch. Touch is a universal language that needs no words. Touch soothes, touch heals, touch can make us whole. Click here.
Massage releases chronic tension and pain in muscles, improves circulation, increases flexibility in the joints, and reduces mental and physical fatigue. In addition, massage is one of the most effective means available to combat stress. But the question most people want answered before first trying this enjoyable and healthful experience is, "What is a massage like? Click here.
It is rather ironic that we spend so much time on our hands, yet so little on our feet, even though the condition of our feet greatly affects the condition of our body. We manicure, file, paint, lotion, exercise and wash our hands with great care. Heaven forbid that we should reach out anything but a supple, well cared for hand to grasp another's in a handshake. If we spent half as much time caring for our feet, we would see many long term benefits: better health, greater happiness, and longer lives. But it could even go further than that. Could the answers to our ecological problems be as simple as taking off our shoes and regaining that vital connection to Mother Earth that we seem to have lost over the years? And if it is true that we take better care of our hands because they are exposed to the view and touch of others, then perhaps it would also hold true that we as a society could benefit by throwing away our shoes and shaking feet instead of hands. For an overview of Reflexology click here.
Sometimes we need to just BE. To have moments when we go within ourselves and find that quiet place. Maybe we use that time to seek and talk with our Higher Power; maybe we use it to let our body and spirit heal; maybe we use it simply to find peace. Click here for a moment of serenity.
Age or illness can rob us of the ability to be active or to enjoy many of the things we once took for granted. Daily activities that were once pleasurable or private such as sleeping, eating or washing can become difficult. Medical procedures intended to restore health can also diminish independence and quality of life. Sensitive therapeutic massage can provide comfort care for anyone in this situation. In addition to relieving many physical discomforts, skilled and caring touch by a trained massage therapist can provide focused contact and attention that is both reassuring and healing. To learn more about nurturing touch for the elderly and ill click here.
Whether performing on a field with your teammates, rehearsing dance steps in front of a mirror or running down a country road, participating in sports can be exhilarating and rewarding. Be it for the love of health, a drive to compete, or simply to finish a distance race, anyone who is active in sports strives to care for their body. Many people seek massage therapy regularly to help them perform their best and reach their personal goals. To learn how massage can help you in your sports or fitness program click here.
Clients often come to me after suffering many years with chronic pain, especially back pain. Pain has reduced the enjoyment and quality of their lives and affected them on many levels: work, home, relationships, activity, and personality. How many times have I heard, "I wish I had done this years ago"? Too many to count. To learn more about chronic pain and breaking the pain cycle click here.
Are you recovering from a physical or emotional trauma, repeated physical, emotional or sexual abuse, an addiction or eating disorder? Massage can support you throughout your recovery in a number of ways. Massage can relieve tension, improve your physical health, and give you more energy to face life's challenges. It can comfort and support you emotionally through a time of difficult change. Massage is also a safe place to experience positive touch and to reconnect with your body and emotions. For help with your healing click here.
There's a serious condition going around and the faster the world moves the more we need it. Have you caught it? Are you susceptible? Click here to find out.
Well, you have stayed with me thus far and I thank you for that. Perhaps it is time to tell about myself and my family. Click here
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