Triathlon athletes are recognized as belonging to the best of the best among athletes. Sports massage therapy is also recognized by triathlon athletes as a crucial component in their training regimen. Triathlon athletes and aspiring athletes in St. Pete can also avail of sports massage therapy in professional massage clinics that likewise offer Swedish massage therapy, deep tissue massage therapy and pregnancy massage therapy in 4th Street Downtown St. Petersburg and Tampa 33607.



By: Business Local Listings

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When you choose to be a massage therapist, you choose a job where you will be in very close proximity with others. Keeping that in mind, it’s vital tht you consider your own personal hygiene, so that you don’t offend your clients.

One of the first things that comes to mind is smoking. If you’re a smoker, you may not realize that the smell of smoke lingers on your hair, your uniform, along with your fingers. I distinctly remember getting a massage, and when the therapist was doing a ****** massage, I could smell the smoke on her fingers. It took a soothing experience and turned it into an unpleasant one for me. Do you smoke? What are your clients thinking? I’ll be honest, I didn’t return to that therapist after that session. If you’re a smoker, it’s important that you don’t smoke between clients. Many people find the smell of smoke that lingers on you offensive. Someone is paying for your time, and you don’t want that tiny little factor to be the reason your clients don’t return.

Another personal hygiene issue you’ll want to think about is your body odor and your breath. Because you’ll be so close to others, this again can be the difference between a one time client and a return client. Most clients will not tell you they found you offensive, but I can guarantee they will find a new massage therapist. Brush your teeth and floss often. Daily showers and deodorant help keep body odor at bay.

What about perfume or cologne? Many people have allergies, and this may bother them. A good rule of thumb is to avoid personal fragrance when working with clients. Remember that what is pleasant to you, may not be pleasant to another. That also comes into play if you have a hairspray that has a strong scent. These may seem like tiny things, but when doing work so closely to another, these tiny things make a difference.

Your nails should be kept short and neat. Nothing is a bigger turn-off than someone with dirty or jagged nails. People notice, and it’s not sanitary to work on a client if your nails are dirty.

Another thing you may want to consider is wearing a uniform. If you work for yourself, or a spa, a uniform will help give you a professional image. People expect professionals to have a professional image. Be sure to wear clothing that is non-restrictive so you can easily move how you need to. You’ll also want to wear comfortable shoes with good support, and above all, make sure they are clean in appearance.

By paying attention to small details like above, you’ll present with a clean, professional appearance. Avoiding smoking between clients, and keeping your breath and body fresh will give you the neutrality you want when working closely with another. Remember one simple thing, you want it to be a good experience. I’ve freely admitted I’ve not returned to a massage therapist that was a smoker. I’m sure I’m not alone. I don’t smoke, and the smell of smoke on my face while I’m relaxing was enough for me to change therapists. Will it be enough for your clients as well? They won’t say anything to you, but they may be thinking it. Make clients, repeat clients by keeping your personal hygiene in check.



By: Deborah Schwabe

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Reflexology massage therapy can help in the treatment of various skin diseases in Monmouth County, Englishtown, Manalapan, Morganville, Old Bridge, Freehold, Howell, Millstone, Matawan, Aberdeen and Colts Neck, New Jersey. Therapeutic massage can be availed of in professional massage spas in Marlboro NJ.

According to Beryl Crane, Fellow of the Reflexologists’ Society and the Association of Reflexologists, reflexology can be used in treating eczema, dermatitis, psoriasis, acne, urticaria, seborrhoea, shingles, erythema and ringworm. While these skin conditions are viewed by modern medicine as allergies or inherited genetic conditions, reflexologists look at them more holistically.

Crane points out that the word eczema come from the Greek words ek zeein which mean to boil, seethe, or anything thrown off or out by an internal reaction. She defines eczema, therefore, as a manifestation of some malfunction in the internal organs resulting in excess heat and turmoil within the body and excessive toxic waste which is then expelled through the skin. Crane also warns that stress exacerbates eczema because stress inhibits many bodily functions.

Based on the theory of reflexology, the skin is closely related to the lungs. Crane states that many patients with eczema also exhibit asthma and problems in breathing. A reflexologist stimulates the reflex point for the adrenal glands to decrease inflammation, alleviate itching, open up the air passages, ease congestion and wheezing, soothe the nasopharynx mucous membranes and help eliminate mucus.

Another common type of skin disease is dermatitis or inflammation of the skin. Skin diseases can be caused by chronic constipation, according to Crane. The toxic wastes that are not expelled through normal bowel movement are eliminated through the skin. Other disorders may also cause skin eruptions. Acne occurs when the sebaceous glands or hormones malfunction. Autoimmune diseases such as lupus erythematosus also result in skin flare-ups.

Food or substance allergies may also aggravate the internal disorders that cause skin diseases. Food additives can be dangerous. Bad eating habits can also be harmful. Harsh chemicals in household products can cause irritation, as well. Often, when other substances are applied as balm to the skin, this only causes even more problems.

With reflexology, the entire blood transportation system of the body is stimulated, enabling the proper distribution of oxygen, nutrients, hormones and other body chemicals. General circulation is enhanced, improving the quality and tone of the skin and strengthening it.

Reflexology stimulates the cells in the skins stratum geminativum, helping the process of exfoliation. When the cycle of skin shedding and skin renewal is normalized, the skin condition improves. Reflexology also restores proper secretory functions, aiding the body in expelling sweat and sebum normally. This detoxifies the entire body system.

In treating skin conditions, reflexology works on the various organs of the body. It stimulates the liver reflex to balance and normalize its function, maintain correct levels of blood glucose concentrations and remove excess heat from within the body. It stimulates the hypothalamus to regulate hormonal functions. It stimulates the kidneys to regulate the internal environment of the body. It stimulates the lungs to improve the intake of oxygen and the release of carbon dioxide. In thus restoring equilibrium to all systems of the body, health and harmony is also restored. The flow of energy is increased and facilitated. Stress is banished and the patient experiences a deep sense of relaxation and well-being.

Apart from reflexology, professional massage spas in Monmouth County, Englishtown, Manalapan, Morganville, Old Bridge, Freehold, Howell, Millstone, Matawan, Aberdeen and Colts Neck, New Jersey also provide Swedish massage therapy, deep tissue massage therapy, sports massage therapy and pregnancy massage therapy. Residents of Marlboro NJ are fortunate to have access to these beneficial massages.



By: Business Local Listings

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Paul Zayer asked:


Massage therapy has been around for a long time. Massages were used as part of medical and health procedures in ancient cultures in Egypt, Greece, China, India and Rome.

All kinds of medical conditions and disorders were treated by massages. Massage can help you relax and can be used to treat stress Most of the time it promotes a feeling of well being. Massage therapy solicits all aspects of the physical system – the muscular, nervous, circulatory and immune systems.

Beside the physical benefits of massage therapy, the most important one is psychological; the intimate contact with another human being provides the feel-good aspect.

One of the ultimate forms of stress relief is a full body massage. A lot of persons who had a full body massage keep talking about how great the feel afterwards. The first thing that someone usually does after experiencing his or her first full body massage is book another full body massage! A common response from people who’ve experienced a full body massage is that for the first time in their lives they feel they’ve totally relaxed.

In addition to full body massage, massage can be used on specific, individual parts of the body. The foot is one of the main individual body parts that can be obtained through a specialist form of massages. The foot massage is normally called reflexology.

Massage therapy was on the fringes of conventional medicine for a long time, but the modern medical experts generally accept the efficacy of massage. In fact, massage therapy in now offered by more than 70% of American hospitals as a part of their treatments.

What do hospitals use massage therapy for? They use it in the treatment of chronic pain symptoms, in cancer cases, pregnancy, infant care, joint and muscle mobility, stress management and many other symptoms and disorders.

New research suggests that massage therapy helps to boost the immune system, manage pain and lower blood pressure.

Massage therapies can also be benefit for people who are receiving drug and alcohol withdrawal cure. Massage therapy can also be associated to other therapies to strengthen their effects – e.g. aromatherapy, reflexology, acupressure and reiki.

To see massage therapy going from the alternative medicine field to the mainstream because this means that many more people can now experience the benefits of this very versatile form of treatment and therapy. So if you want to get the benefits of massage therapy you have to do the first step. Get in touch with someone that does massages and find out on your own all the benefits.

Gary Gordon asked:


Massage therapy is a quickly growing industry, and it seems that everyone is signing up for massage school and buying their own massage therapy tables. They find the increasing popularity of the field as a reason to enter it. Returning patients and referrals comprise the bread and butter of a therapist’s business, and as a therapist, having the right massage table can make the difference between whether or not patients will return or refer their friends and family. This will determine if the therapist’s practice will succeed or fail.

There are many reasons people seek out massage therapy. Some needs relief from sore muscles, and others have tension in their body they want to have released. All patients turn to a massage therapist for relief and comfort. Patient comfort and relief are the primary goals for any massage session, no matter how long. This is why the massage therapy table should be designed for optimal patient accommodation. Most forms of massage on a table will last between thirty minutes to two hours. Patients will likely complain if during that time, they feel that they have to keep moving to find a soothing position. Patient movement of this sort will not help the therapist, either. A sudden patient jerk or movement could lead to pain or injury.

To keep patients happy and returning, they should have a well-padded massage table on which to lie during their session. The padding should be firm enough to support the patient while providing a comfortable cushion. Many patients remove their clothes and are covered with simply a drape during table massage therapy sessions. With bare skin touching the table, the chances of transference of germs from one client to another is increased. This is why it is vital that the top of the table should be easy to clean and disinfect between patients.

The patient will need to be able to breathe during the session, but this can be difficult if he is lying on his stomach. An open face pad or pillow in the shape of a horseshoe at the top of the massage therapy table will allow the patient to have his head supported, let him breathe easily, and maintain his neck posture while he is lying on his stomach. This head cushion also needs to be easy to clean and disinfect as the patient will have his face in it for the duration of the session.

In selecting your message therapy table it is also note worthy to consider the physical dimensions of your prospective clients/ patients. This coupled with a comfortable range of your own reach and your massage style will enable you to make a better decision when it comes to selecting massage therapy tables. A message table which is too narrow, may prove to be uncomfortable for some of the large patients. On the other hand, a massage therapy table which is too wide may force the masseuse to physically overextend her/himself during the session.

In addition to a comfortable massage table, it is also important to create a relaxing atmosphere for the client/patient. A combination of soothing music, subtle and pleasant air freshener in conjunction with dimmed lights will make it a satisfying experience for your client. This in turn, will ensure repeat sessions and more referrals. Happy massaging!

Corbin Newlyn asked:


Nowadays, massage therapy is an extension of physical therapy and goes along with the same educational standards as any medical therapist would. Meeting the requirements of national, local and state certification requires individuals to approve stringent training courses in an assortment of related subjects.

Despite the fact that there are numerous accredited schools that offer a complete message therapy education, the selections will not be simple. The benefits, naturally will be the acceptance by other medical practitioners, respect and trust of your future patients and acknowledgment by health insurers.

The Training

Over half of the states regulate the practice of massage. The requirements of the state all vary. Every one of them require at a minimum 500 hours of training as well as education and several require even more than that. There are some states that require national certification prior to a therapist being able to apply for state recognition. The national level of certification also requires at a minimum 500 hours of training in massage therapy education in an accredited school.

There must be included in the training at least 125 hours of physiology and anatomy, 200 hours of massage and/or bodywork application as well as theory, 40 hours of pathology, 10 hours of ethics as well as business and at a minimum 125 hours of related coursework. A practitioner with 500 hours of experience and training as well as knowledge of the required areas can also submit for review a personal portfolio of examination.

The national certification exam has a minimum of 160 questions that covers all of the required areas of massage therapy education. To maintain your good standing, a professional needs to be certified once every four years. Standards in the Canadian provinces will require a minimum of 2,000 hours.

Prior to choosing a school, a practitioner should determine on what the kind of massage that he or she wishes to specialize in. A general massage therapy education must include rehabilitation, pregnancy massage, sports injuries, pain relief and relaxation massage.

Be sure that the school you choose is fully accredited so that you can qualify for loans and grants. Massage therapy education tuition ranges from about $6-$17 per hour. The needed 500 hours typically runs from $5000-$9000.

Once you have graduated, there are numerous opportunities for seminars and workshops to maintain your massage therapy education and keeping up to date. When you understand the minimum that these educational and training requirements are that you need to complete, you will have a very good idea of what your competition will be like.

Other massage therapists in your area will have at least these levels of training plus contacts and experience. If all of these hours of massage therapy education as well as training sound interesting and exciting, you might have what it takes.

Paul Hata asked:


Massage therapy has been used for centuries. In fact, there are so many of them around with the purpose of encouraging healing by promoting blood flow, relieving tension, stimulating nerves as well as stretching and loosening muscles and connective tissue to keep them elastic. Read on further to find out what are the other massage therapy benefits.

Massage therapy is beneficial because it reduces waste products such as lactic and carbonic acid that builds up after an activity which causes cramping, discomfort and irritability that can happen after working out at the gym. By working with a therapist, he or she will be able to enhance your immune system and aid in the recovery of the tissues by increasing blood circulation in the affected areas.

If you are ill, massage therapy dilates and opens up blood vessels, improves circulation and relieves congestion. It also increases the number of red blood cells for those who are anemic.

Massage therapy also acts as a mechanical cleanser pushing along the lymph and hastening the elimination of wastes and toxic debris. It also helps to eliminate edema or dropsy of the extremities.

It also increases blood supply and nutrition to the muscles without adding to the load of toxic acid produced by muscle contraction. This helps you overcome harmful fatigue resulting from strenuous exercise or injury.

This will also improve muscle tone and prevent or delay muscular atrophy resulting from forced inactivity. It can also relax muscle spasms and relieve tension.

Massage to some extent compensates for lack of exercise or muscular contraction especially for those who are recovering from an injury by returning venous blood to the heart and at the same time eases the strain on this vital organ.

Depending on the type of massage therapy given, some people may feel sleepy, stimulated or exhausted.

Some forms of massage therapy are able to separate muscle fibers and undo or prevent the formation of adhesions. It also stretches the connective tissue which all helps reduce the danger of fibroids.

Believe it or not, massage may burst the fat capsule in the subcutaneous tissue so that the fat exudes and becomes absorbed. Combined with proper nutrition and exercise, this can help the person lose weight.

Massage therapy also increases the excretion of fluids via the kidney, nitrogen, inorganic phosphorous and salt in normal individuals. But for those who are injured, it does the exact opposite because these are needed for tissue repair.

Studies have shown that massage therapy improves the general circulation and nutrition of joints and hastens the elimination of harmful particles in the synovial fluid. It helps lessen inflammation and swelling of the joints thereby alleviating pain.It also disperses the dema following injury to ligaments and tendons, lessening pain and facilitates movement.

Massage therapy improves the general circulation and nutrition of tissues often accompanied by an increase interchange of substances between the blood and tissue cells thus heightening tissue metabolism.

This type of therapy also empties the larger ducts and channels of the body thereby decreasing the auto intoxication resulting from re-absorption of toxic materials in these channels due to constipation or inflammation.

There are so many benefits with regards to massage therapy which is why almost everyone needs it. If you haven’t found a favorite yet, you can try one style this week and then another next week to how different they are from the other.

Juliet Cohen asked:


Massage as a therapeutic instrument has been around for thousands of years in many cultures. Massage is a skilled elixir for better health, but it can too provide a consolidation of system and psyche. Massage is one of the oldest, simple types of therapy and is a structure of stroking, pressing and kneading many areas of the system to ease pain, loosen, arouse, and color the system. Massage therapy reduced the outcome of anxiety, stress, depression, pain, and itching in blow patients. Massage treatments will take the most benefits. Regular massage can get the consequence of strengthening and toning the whole system mechanism.

Massage can provoke or calm the eager system-depending upon what is required by the individual-and thus aid cut tiredness, leaving the reciever with a feeling of replenished energy. At its best, massage has the capability to improve the individual physically, mentally and spiritually. Massage therapists will go a sort of techniques to promote healing and loosening, as well as to promote greater flexibility and range of campaign. When a specific muscle group is injured or contracted, original muscles surrounding the affected area overly brace in response to the injury or contraction.

Certain medical conditions expect the drill of care concerning the advisability of giving or receiving massage. Never use force under or over varicose veins. Never massage immediately over contaminated rind. Massage does often much than produce an enjoyable superstar on the rind, it too works on the tender tissues to better muscle color. While giving a massage, wrap upward any available cuts or scratches on your hands with a plaster or new dressing. Massage on the stomach is better avoided during the best three months of pregnancy when the danger of abortion is topmost.

Paul Hata asked:


It seems that everybody in America is having some massage therapy nowadays. Popularized by Hollywood celebrities who schedule a massage and a spa twice and even thrice a week, Americans have also started to get into the program. The result? A goodly number of massage therapy clinics that have opened shop in virtually every street corner.

With so many clinics to choose from nowadays, it has become really hard to choose a good one. Because some of these so-called massage clinics are only there for the fad, one must be shrewd enough to separate the legitimate ones from those who are just riding the bandwagon but are not really adept with the real techniques of massage therapy.

Below are some tips on how to find a good massage clinic in the metro.

1. Go for the tried and tested

When looking for a good massage therapy clinic, go for the tried and tested. They may be more expensive but you can be sure that what you are getting is a safe and effective massage.

You see, if not done correctly, massage therapy can also cause health problems especially problems that involve the bones. A little too much pressure can also bruise the skin and even cause sprains on the bones.

You don’t have to go for the massage therapy that celebrities frequent. When you say tried and tested, it does not mean that you will go for the upscale ones whose therapy can be ultra expensive. What you can do is ask for referrals from people who are very much into massage therapy. Those who do this on a weekly basis will definitely have one or two recommendations that you will definitely use.

2. Join internet forums

The internet is a rich source of information about anything under the sun. One information that you can get from the internet especially from forums are names of massage therapy clinics that give good service.

You can either read through the forums or join in on the conversation with the members of the sites.

You can also look into blogs and check what they recommend for good massage therapy clinics. These people will frequently have recommendations on the best massage therapy in the country.

3. Try it out

If you are the adventurous type and you are not afraid of trying out a service, then try the service of different massage therapy clinics. You will not always get good service and at some point, you will even experience the worst kind of service but at least you have tried the service yourself and have not relied on mere hearsay.

Of course, when you say trying it out for yourself, this does not mean that you will just go inside any massage therapy clinic.

What you can do to keep safe is to also discriminate among the massage therapy clinics in your neighborhood. Check out the place first and try to learn about the various massages that they do. You can also look into the oils that they use as well as strokes that they employ.

Ask about the massage therapists and ask if they have licenses to practice. This way, you can be sure that what you are getting into is completely safe for your body and your mind.