Body Vitality 
-Jodie Kyte- 
Health Practitioner

Hot Stone massage or Cold stone massage or why not try both! 

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Hot stone massage
Hot stone massage therapy involves the use of massage techniques same as remedial and placement of basalt River stones on different points of the body. The stones are heated before use and can then apply deeper pressure to areas of concern without causing any discomfort.
 

Hot stone massage has specifically been associated with symptom relief and aid in people with a variety of conditions such as, 

• fibromyalgia and other autoimmune disorders

• lower back pain

• sciatic pain 

• stress relief

• increased joint flexibility

• decreased muscle spasms and tension

• better sleep.

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The use of the hot stones helps warm up muscles and reduces aches.

 

Cold stone massage
Cold stone massage therapy involves chilling smooth stones on ice and then gently placing or rolling them over the face, neck, or other areas of the body.

 

The cooling sensations from this type of cryotherapy cause vasoconstriction of the blood vessels. Once the cold stones are removed from the skin, the blood vessels begin dilating and supplying fresh blood and oxygen to the affected areas. 

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Benefits:

• can promote circulation, reduce inflamed swelling, decrease muscle spasms, and acts as a powerful decongestant for the body 

• relieving sport injuries that inflammation has occurred such as shin -splints, tendonitis, bursitis and more

• boost circulation

• relieve migraines

• soothe sinusitis

• ease menstrual symptoms

• improve skin

The use of the cold stones helps injury and recovery (aiding reduction in inflammation, pain and swelling.

 

*Great in combination with a sports massage.

 

Dry needling is a treatment used by therapists where we insert very fine filament sterile needles (acupuncture needle) into tissues, in order to stimulate a healing effect.

 

Depending on the specific points chosen and the technique used, its proposed effects are: 

• relax muscle spasm and myofascial trigger points (knots in the muscle) to improve function

• assist with pain relief

• reduce inflammation

• improve local immune / healing responses

Sports massage therapy is a specific type of massage that treats and prevents different sports injuries. The type of sports massage therapy used will depend on the injury or needs of the individual.

 

Main forms of sports massage include:

• Soft tissue massage

• Deep tissue massage

• Whole body massage.

 

Benefits:

• can prevent sore muscles after exercise (known as 'delayed onset muscle soreness').

• helps someone to exercise more efficiently

• prevent some of the common ailments that go with exercise.

• improve heart rate and blood pressure,

• increase circulation and lymph flow

• help treat injuries, including shin splint, tennis elbow, sprains and strains

• Increase flexibility

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*Sports massage is often safe after an injury, although there are some injuries for which it is not suitable. If you are using sports massage for any health condition or injury, talk to your doctor or physiotherapist first.

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Cupping is a practice in which the therapist puts special cups on the skin to create suction. This causes the tissue beneath the cup to be drawn up and swell causing increase in blood flow to affected area. Enhanced blood flow under the cups draws impurities and toxins away from the nearby tissues and organs towards the surface for elimination.

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Benefits:

• release scar tissue and fascial adhesions

• Reduce painful trigger points.

• Improve circulation, blood and lymph circulation

• Relieve pain

• Promote mobility and range of motion

• Improves mature scars

• Decrease toxins

Pregnancy massage uses the principles based on Swedish massage techniques in reducing muscle tension and improving blood flow and lymphatic drainage.

 

Benefits:

• relieves the everyday discomforts of pregnancy such as an aching neck, sore back, and heaviness in the pelvic bones, leg cramps, swelling of the ankles and feet and oedema (fluid retention).

• helps to reduce stress hormones

• reduction in anxiety and free floating concerns

• improvement in general mood 

• improved sleep 

Pregnancy massage can be particularly helpful for women who experience sciatic nerve pain.

*Avoid having a pregnancy massage if your maternity care provider has advised you against it

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Lymphatic drainage massage, (also known as manual lymphatic drainage), relieves swelling that happens when medical treatment or illness blocks your lymphatic system. Lymphatic drainage massage involves gently manipulating specific areas of your body to help lymph move to an area with working lymph vessels.
The lymphatic system can stop working properly if it becomes blocked, inflamed or cancerous. Underlying lymphatic problems and blockages are commonly undiagnosed, contributing to many inflammatory disorders and health complaints.
 

Symptoms of lymphatic problems may include:

• Joint pain

• Muscle aches and pains

• Itchiness

• Swelling of lymph nodes in the throat, armpits or groin

• Breast swelling

• Hormonal problems

• Cellulite

• Weight gain

• Chronic fatigue 

• Stress

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Addressing the lymphatic system is beneficial for overall health and immunity. It has shown promising results in helping:

• inflammation

• pain

• stress

• blockages

• weight problems

• skin issues

• gut health

You don’t have to be an adult to benefit from massage therapy.

 

Young adults and kids can benefit greatly from regular massage care. Children undergo a ton of physical, social and emotional changes during their teenage years. It is no wonder their bodies are always dealing with stress.

 

Adolescent massage therapy can assist with:

• stress management

• sports injury prevention 

• posture related strain on their bodies

• headaches

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Benefits:

• relaxes, soothes and calms

• assists fighting off anxiety and fatigue while improving sleep and energy levels

• develops their thinking and creative abilities

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All bodies, doesn't matter the age, need love and care.

Remedial massage is used to locate and repair damaged areas of the body and speed up the body’s own healing processes. The pressure applied in this healing treatment can either be strong and deep or gentle and shallow, depending on the problem.

                                                  

Remedial massage can be used to help people with:

• neck, shoulder or back pain

• preventing injuries

• headaches

• sports or other injuries 

• arthritis

• chronic pain

• fatigue

• anxiety or depression

• sporting and dance injuries

• lower back pain

• sciatic /nerve pain conditions

• muscle cramps

• whiplash

• fibromyalgia

• muscular atrophy

• fibrositis

• spondylitis

• frozen shoulder