Aromatherapy massage - tips for success

Create a great massage atmosphere:

• Let clients know what interests you - in my case using massage to ease joint pain and be knowledgeable about your massage oils and explain your choices.
• Greet the client/model as a professional, a scrub suit is ideal dress. There should be no misundertanding that this is a therapeutic massage!
• Make sure the room is sufficiently warm. Since the client/model is normally unclothed, the massage room should be several degrees above normal room temperature.
• Make sure the room is clean and uncluttered
• Have a place where your client or model may place their clothes and jewelry. A tray or bowl for rings/watches, etc is a nice touch.
• Make sure you have sufficient supplies on hand: clean massage sheets, sufficient massage oil for both parties, small towels to clean your hands.
• Offering your client/model your shower before and/or after the massage is often very welcome.
• Pay attention to your personal hygiene. You may wish to shower before-hand if you've had an active day. A warm shower feels great before a massage as it releases the muscles.
• Turn off all phones and other distractions.
• Make sure you've allocated adequate time. A massage session is usually one hour per person, so that means at least 2 hours. No-one likes to be rushed or short-changed of their time.
• Do you have soft music you can play in the background? That would be great!
• Lighting should be subdued, but not dark.
• Have water on hand. Massage releases toxins from the muscles and drinking plenty of water is recommended after the massage.
• When applying oil, place the oil in your hands first to warm it up, then on the client/model.
• Ask for verbal feedback during the session.
• Dont tell the client/model your life story.
• Respect your client/models requests.
• Be courteous and caring 

Shirley Price Massage Training 

Massage – what is it?

Hippocrates stated that a medical professional must be qualified in many things but assuredly massage.

Things have of course moved on since Hippocrates day when physical labour and physical injury was more common than it is now.  Nonetheless Guys Hospital retained a massage department until recent times.

Massage is defined as the systematic manipulation of the soft tissues of the body for a sensual or curative effect. Soft tissues are made more pliable through massage to promote circulation and blood flow and bring about stimulation, either sensual or healing effects: physical and psychological changes for general wellbeing.

Massage therapy - What does it involve?

The system of massage treatment involves the therapist using their hands to apply pressure on your body. Therapists use various techniques to work on the body: stroking and gliding (effleurage), kneading the soft tissues (petrissage).

What are the ‘real’ benefits?

Massage therapy is extremely beneficial to people leading busy lifestyles suffering from what is now commonly encountered work related stress. Massage can also helps take the place and physical and mental health benefits of sensual massage for people adopting a singleton lifestyle.  Massage will not only aid with mental relaxation but will work on physical symptoms of back and neck pain that comes from sitting for an extended period of time at a desk or from physical labour.

The importance of taking regular massage has heightened in recent times as more people recognise how beneficial it is as a way to counteract the effects of sitting in front of a computer screen daily. Corporations are beginning to realise these benefits for staff wellbeing and as a way to increase productivity. By offering mobile massage therapy as a part of employee benefits in the workplace it could go a long way to help reduce staff stress levels, which in turn will make for a more cooperative relaxed work environment, and then aid productivity. More obviously if employers spend on exercise or massage for their staff they might reduce the cost of lost labour through sick days. Increasing employers have recognised this benefit for example subsidising gym membership.

Many people wait until they are already in pain or suffering spinal injuries before turning to massage, but why let it get that bad? It is a good idea to take regular massage as a preventative measure so that such injuries do not occur. Regular massage maintenance will increase your overall sense of wellbeing for optimum physical and mental health, helping you to achieve your goals.

Massage is used to treat a wide range of disorders, such as:

1. Insomnia
2. Muscular tension
3. Headaches and migraines
4. Work related stress
5. Repetitive strain injury
6. Depression
7. Arthritis
8. Eating disorders and digestive dysfunction
9. Pre-natal pregnancy conditions
10. Fibrositis
11. Spondylitis
12. Frozen shoulder
13. Whiplash
14. Sports and dancing injuries

The power of healing in massage is the energy that flows through the therapist’s hands in touch to refresh, regenerate and revitalise.

Who does it?

Massage is performed through the hands of a Massage Therapist. The Massage Therapist will work out a treatment plan (if desired) by muscle testing. Massage Therapy is available in shopping malls, healing centres, at home (via mobile massage), hospitals, in the workplace, leisure centres, beauty salons, spas and health retreats.

What should I expect from a massage session?

Massage normally takes place in a private room or space. Clients are expected to partially undress and are given a towel or robe to place over themselves. The exception to this is with ‘Mobile Massage’ whereby the client may remain clothed and is not always in a private space. Most massage will take place on a massage table lying down. Massage therapy can last to 1 hour.

What is aromatherapy?

Aromatherapy can be defined as the art and science of utilizing naturally extracted aromatic essences from plants to balance, harmonize and promote the health of body, mind and spirit.  It is to explore the physiological, psychological and spiritual realm of the individual's response to aromatic extracts as well as to observe and enhance the individual's innate healing process.  As a holistic medicine, Aromatherapy is both a preventative approach as well as an active treatment during acute and chronic stages of illness

Essentia