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Zen Experience-Massage & Wellness's Blog

Promos and new products

May 19th, 2012 • Posted by sandra wiendels • Permalink

Now you can take care of your painful neck at home as a complement to your massage routine. This new product will be available from June 6, 2012.
The Neck and Shoulder Relaxer is a unique and innovative back, neck and shoulder relaxation device. Designed to cradle the head and provide uplifting support to the neck, right at the source of most cervical pain. Ideal for spot treatments and for extended relaxation regimens, this neck and shoulder relaxer can be used anytime, anywhere to help nearly instantly provide the neck pain relief you are looking for.
This product is scientifically and ergonomically designed to gently cradle your neck along the base of the skull. The structure of the device allows you to relax the weight of your head into the firm, soft inner surface while the contoured neck support gently realigns the cervical vertebrae. This allows the many tight muscles of the neck and shoulders to relax and unwind, increasing blood flow to and melting away stress almost instantaneously. Truly a marvel of modern cervical support and alignment. For home use as a complement to your massage program.
USES: Clenched jaws, headaches, cramps and muscle spasms are just some of the results of the stress so many of us hold in our neck and shoulders. Price $29.99



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From June 6th to 28th we will be offering Free 30min foot massage with Sandra for any 1hr paid massage. Bookings available from 1pm to 6pm Mon-Thursday.
Not valid with other coupons or promotions.
Value: $37.50
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What can Reflexology do for you.

April 26th, 2012 • Posted by sandra wiendels • Permalink

Reflexology is a natural healing art based on the principle that there are reflexes in the hands, feet and ears that correspond to every part, gland and organ of the body.
Through application of pressure on these reflexes, reflexology relieves tension, improves circulation and promotes the natural function of the related areas of the body.
In ancient times we stimulated reflexes naturally by walking barefoot over rocks, stones and rough ground, or by using our hands more often to climb, build or work. In today’s modern world we have lost much of nature’s way of maintaining a balanced and healthy equilibrium. Reflexology helps to restore this balance and promote natural health and vitality.
Although Reflexology does not diagnose or treat specific ailments by definition, it has proven highly successful over time to relieve symptoms or ease pain or discomfort that have manifested themselves physically in the body - either as a result of stress, trauma or disease.
Origins of Reflexology:
Reflexology has been practiced for thousands of years in such places as India, China and Egypt. An ancient Egyptian wall painting of the 6th Dynasty (approx.2400 B.C.) found at Saqqara in the tomb of Ankhmahor, an ancient Egyptian physician, depicts two men working on the feet and hands of two other men.
Reflexology has been used as a healing therapy by the North American native people for generations, and was thought to have been passed down by the Inca civilization.
Recent popularity of Reflexology.
Reflexology has enjoyed a lot of popularity recently for several reasons. Firstly, today we are exposed to high levels of stress in our jobs, our homes and travels. Stress is without a doubt one of the main causes of physical and mental pain and suffering, as well as contributing to making symptoms of other diseases or conditions much worse. Reflexology is a great stress reducer. Secondly, even though many people are trying to eat organic or healthy foods, even those 'healthy' foods grown today are grown in soil conditions that are greatly depleted in basic minerals and nutrients compared to the days of our grandparents. This means that even though people are trying to improve their diet, it is not easy to do. This lack of minerals combined with stress puts more pressure on our immune system and health. Reflexology works to allow the body to work to heal itself and normalize functions. Thirdly, people are turning more and more to alternative or natural health care which focuses on pro-active maintenance and holistic or entire body well-being. Traditional 'western' medicine tends to focus on reactive and specific treatment of disease or symptoms. Reflexology offers an all natural therapy which does not require anything other than gentle manipulation to stimulate the body's natural healing mechanisms to normalize and heal. It is relatively easy to learn, and is quickly becoming one of the most popular methods of natural therapy primarily due to the enthusiasm of those who have found and realized the benefits.
What does a treatment feel like? Does it hurt?
Most clients enter into a deep state of relaxation. Areas of congestion may be uncomfortable but shouldn't be painful. We constantly check that you are comfortable and adapt the pressure we apply to suit you.
My feet are very ticklish. Will I be able to tolerate reflexology?
We have encountered many people who say they have ticklish feet but have yet to find someone who finds reflexology ticklish!
How will I feel after the treatment?
Clients report a great feeling of well-being after the treatment. Some feel very relaxed and others feel energised and invigorated.


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Five Things You Can Do to Help Maintain a Healthy Back

April 20th, 2012 • Posted by sandra wiendels • Permalink

Treatment of low back pain has undergone a recent sea change. Experts now appreciate the central role of exercise and the importance of maintaining a healthy back. They also better understand which conditions surgery will help and which patients are good surgical candidates.

Low back pain has many different causes, including the normal wear and tear that comes with aging. While you can't turn back the clock or prevent every type of painful back disorder, in most cases there are things you can do to help keep your back healthy.

1. Stay fit

Weak back and abdominal muscles -- due to deconditioning or age - - cause or exacerbate many cases of low back pain. That's why stretching and strengthening both your back and abdominal muscles is important not only for treating low back pain, but also for helping prevent a recurrence of the problem.

Exercise strengthens and stretches the muscles that support the spine. A stretching and strengthening regimen should target the back, abdominal and buttock muscles. Strong abdominal or flexor muscles, for example, help people maintain an upright posture, as do strong extensor muscles, which run the full length of the back and maintain alignment of the vertebrae.

Stretching is a valuable component of any treatment plan for a person plagued by back problems. Most experts believe that supple, well-stretched muscles are less prone to injury. Indeed, shorter, less flexible muscle and connective tissues restrict joint mobility, which increases the likelihood of sprains and strains.

Certain aerobic activities are safer for your back than others. For instance, bicycling (either stationary or regular), swimming and walking lead the list of low-risk, high-benefit activities for most people's backs. All are low- or minimal-impact exercises that strengthen muscles which support the back. None involve awkward or stressful actions that are detrimental to back muscles.

Sports and activities such as football, tennis, gymnastics, wrestling, weight lifting, rowing (crew), running, aerobic dance and ballet involve a relatively high risk for back injury because of the extension, lifting or impacts involved. Other unnatural motions that could induce pain include back arching (during gymnastics and diving), twisting (while hitting a golf ball, swinging at a baseball, or bowling), vertical jolting (while riding a horse), and stretching your legs strenuously (when hiking or when balancing a sailboat during a race).

2. Maintain a healthy weight

Although carrying too much weight per se has not been proven to be a primary cause of back pain disorders, being overweight or obese can slow your recovery. Those extra pounds also increase the risk that back pain will return.

The heavier you are, the greater the load your spine must carry. To make matters worse, if the bulk of your weight comes in the form of abdominal fat, rather than muscle, your center of gravity can shift forward -- a condition that puts added pressure on your back. By maintaining a healthy weight, you can ease the burden on your spine.

To see if you are at a healthy (normal) weight, calculate your body mass index (BMI), which takes both your height and weight into consideration. Not only will you help your back if you maintain a normal BMI (in the range of 19-25), but you'll also lower your risk for many diseases, including heart attack, stroke, diabetes and high blood pressure.

3. Kick the habit

You've undoubtedly heard this message before: Smoking harms your health. Not only does this habit raise your risk for lung cancer, heart disease, hypertension and a plethora of other health problems, but it also jeopardizes your back.

Research shows that smokers have more frequent episodes of back pain than nonsmokers, and the more people smoke, the higher the risk of such episodes, according to one study.

Scientists believe that the nicotine in cigarettes contributes to low back pain in two ways. First, nicotine hampers the flow of blood to the vertebrae and disks. This impairs their function and may trigger a bout of back pain. Second, smokers tend to lose bone faster than nonsmokers, putting them at greater risk for osteoporosis, another common cause of back pain.

4. Lighten your load

Backpacks have become ubiquitous -- at school, at work, at play. But an overstuffed backpack can be a harbinger of back pain.

Most orthopedic doctors have long recognized that backpacks increase the risk of certain types of back pain, especially in students. A survey by the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons found that nearly 60 percent of the doctors responding had treated school-age patients complaining of back and shoulder pain caused by heavy backpacks. Hauling an overloaded backpack can also cause muscle fatigue and strain and encourage the wearer to bend forward unnaturally.

If you use a backpack, you can take steps to protect yourself. For starters, use both of the pack's straps instead of slinging one strap over a shoulder. Try to carry only the essentials, and lighten your load whenever possible. Opt for backpacks that have different-sized compartments to help distribute weight evenly. And look for wide, padded straps and a padded back.

When carrying a heavy load, put the heaviest items as close as possible to the center of your back, and use the hip strap for support. For very heavy loads, use a backpack with wheels. Above all, remember to bend from your knees when picking up your pack.

5. Develop back-healthy habits

Everyday activities, from vacuuming your house to sitting in front of a computer for hours, can take a toll on your back, particularly if you aren't schooled in proper body mechanics. You can take some of the pressure off your back by following these simple tips:

*While standing to perform ordinary tasks like ironing or folding laundry, keep one foot on a small step stool.

*Don't remain sitting or standing in the same position for too long. Stretch, shift your position, or take a short walk when you can.

*When bending from the waist, always use your hands to support yourself.

*When sitting, keep your knees a bit higher than your hips and bend them at a 90-degree angle. Sit with your feet comfortably on the floor. If your feet don't reach the floor, put a book or a small stool under them.

*Because vacuuming can take a toll on your back, tackle rooms in chunks, spending no more than five to 10 minutes at a time doing this task.


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Massage offers hope for chronic pain

April 2nd, 2012 • Posted by sandra wiendels • Permalink

Anyone with recurring, unyielding back problems knows the beast that is called back pain. While most of us have experienced back pain that comes from overexertion or muscle pulls, the effects of back pain for many can be debilitating, excruciating, and life changing. Experts say back pain accounts for $100 billion in lost productivity and health-care costs each year and is one of the primary causes of work-related disability. Managing back pain can be a daunting and exhausting proposition. One natural avenue for finding relief is massage therapy.

Whether you've pulled a muscle in your yoga class or afternoon basketball game, or you suffer from long-term pain caused by an injury, back pain affects us all. In fact, when it comes to low-back pain specifically, researchers say that 70-85 percent of the population will experience it at some point in their lives.

Unfortunately, the back pain numbers are growing. A recent study in the Archives of Internal Medicine found that the rate of chronic low-back pain has more than doubled in North Carolina since 1992 (from 3.9 percent in 1992 to 10.2 percent in 2006), a statistic the researchers say reflects what's happening across the country.

Obviously, the costs associated with back pain are also growing. According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), Americans spend at least $50 billion each year on low-back pain alone, which is second only to headaches as the most common neurological ailment in the United States.

What Causes The Pain?
Back pain is an especially debilitating condition because every movement your body makes depends on the spine functioning optimally. When back pain shows up, your whole body knows it, and sometimes exacerbates the problem by compensating in other ways to avoid the pain. It's not unusual for sufferers to have secondary problems related to those compensation patterns.

Experts say the cause of back pain can be the result of several factors. High on the list is stress. Hunched over a keyboard, late on a deadline, bogged down in worry--many are familiar with this life. When our body is stressed, we literally begin to pull inward: the shoulders roll forward and move up to the ears, the neck disappears, and the back tightens in the new posture. This natural response to pain can create more problems when left unchecked. That protective mode, with the muscles in flex, can even result in visceral problems, where the pain also affects internal organs.

In addition to stress, poor posture, bad ergonomics, lack of exercise, arthritis, osteoporosis, a sedentary lifestyle, overexertion, pregnancy, kidney stones, fibromyalgia, excess weight, and more can spark back pain.

Mechanics is the main cause of back pain that we see in our practice. "It's mechanics, including repetitive use and ignorance about preventative postures, and neglect by employers and employees to provide rest and recovery." The past also plays a part, he says. "Old injuries and traumatic events, left untreated and unresolved, seem to dictate where stress lands in the back as well."

Massage Offers Hope
Those who suffer with back pain know there are no easy answers for chasing the pain away. Physical therapy has proven effective for some sufferers, as has chiropractic and acupuncture, but massage therapy is also making a name for itself when it comes to providing relief. In fact, research has shown that massage can be a great friend to the back-pain sufferer.

"Massage therapists have long treated low-back pain safely and effectively," says Les Sweeney, president of Associated Bodywork & Massage Professionals. "They have done so less expensively and less invasively than is possible with other treatments."

In fact, an August 2005 issue of Consumer Reports cited deep-tissue massage as one of the remedies voted most effective by readers for back pain, while other research from the University of Miami School of Medicine and the Touch Research Institute showed that massage can decrease stress and long-term pain, improve sleep and range of motion, and help lower the incidence of depression and anxiety that often accompanies back pain.

Another study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine found that massage significantly reduced the pain of moderately severe chronic back pain sufferers. After an hour of massage, once a week for 10 weeks, clients reported that their pain had decreased by nearly 50 percent. Most study participants reported that the relief lasted at least a year after their last massage session.

The length of pain relief provided by massage therapy varies depending on the condition they are experiencing. Getting on a regular massage schedule, however, has really helped our clients manage the back pain. When they go past their normally scheduled appointment, their bodies know it's time to get a massage again. Whether it's just helping clients get through the day, or reminding the stressed-out office worker to breathe, massage can play an important part in back pain relief.

The benefits of massage for back pain depend on the primary cause of the pain. "If it is predominantly muscular pain, then massage has a great deal to offer in reducing pain associated with chronic muscle tightness, spasms, myofascial trigger points, or those types of problems. If it's something caused by a joint alignment problem or compression on a nerve, for example, then the role of massage might be somewhat different, such as helping to address the biomechanical dysfunctions, but not really being able to get pressure off the nerve itself."

When it comes to those more severe cases of back pain, it's often good for back pain sufferers to find therapists with advanced training. Seek out someone who has done some degree of advanced training in low-back pain mechanisms and treatment for such conditions. While Swedish-type massage has value for cooling down some of the pain receptors in the superficial tissue, if the cause of pain is from the receptors embedded in the deeper tissues, ligaments, joint capsule, nerves, etc., a more accurate assessment and treatment technique may be necessary."
Therapies that include movement, alignment, and isolation of injured tissues seem to work best for more advanced cases of pain that are a result of specific tissue damage.

Massage Works
When it comes to back pain, there are a lot of options out there. Some are more effective than others, experts say, depending on the condition for which they're being applied. Ultimately, massage, and its myriad benefits, might be a viable answer. For back pain sufferers, massage can work wonders. Massage can help relax the body, relax the psyche, and improve a client's range of motion and circulation to the affected tissues. Not only can massage help directly with the pain, but it can also make life a little easier, too.Massage lets you tap into the parasympathetic system and tap into all the good hormones that help you sleep better and help you handle stressors along the way. And that all helps in building a healthier back and a happier you.


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Recipe for a star footbath

March 28th, 2012 • Posted by sandra wiendels • Permalink

From ancient times, when weary travelers were greeted at their destination with a warm foot bath, to modern spas that commence full body treatments with a relaxing foot soak, this humble ritual has survived the ages. Both nurturing and practical, the footbath was a way to prevent soil from entering the home, while honoring and acknowledging your guest's journey. In some cultures, a foot wash was also given to clear all negative energy, stress, and anxiety before crossing the threshold.
Though we rely less on our feet for long distance transport and while shoes have evolved significantly (for better and for worse) since Biblical times, the footbath is still a vital ritual. A self-prepared foot soak is a quick and easy way to unwind, relax, and nurture yourself after a long day, a vigorous workout, or too much time in unsupportive shoes. You can experience benefits at home just by giving yourself fifteen minutes to sit, soak, and let the day go before transitioning into personal or family time.

Like many treatments for the feet, a warm soak has a relaxing effect for the whole body. For maximum benefit, tailor your soak to the season (i.e., warming in winter, detoxifying in spring, moisturizing in summer, and exfoliating in fall) or to meet your individual needs. Add Epsom salts to boost detoxification and soothe aching muscles and joints, or peppermint essential oil to boost circulation, energize your spirit, and neutralize odor. Enhance the experience by incorporating candlelight, soothing music, or breathing exercises.

We recommend the following recipe. Fill a large bowl three-quarters full with warm water. Add one teaspoon almond oil, two tablespoons nonfat dry milk, and a splash of lavender or rosemary essential oil. Relax and soak for five to fifteen minutes. Concluding any sole-soaking ritual with an application of oil or lotion and a pair of warm socks to allow the moisturizer to penetrate and hydrate the skin. Practiced regularly, you'll always be ready to put your best foot forward.


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<< Previous Entries
 
Winter is arriving and with it a whole bunch of ailments. Time to boost your natural defenses.

Keep hydrated, eat plenty of fresh greens, use lemon juice wherever you can such as in salads and maybe a hot tea with some honey. If you like garlic, go for it. Take plenty of fresh air.

Here at Zen Experience we have put together a perfect health combo to maintain your balance throughout this winter.

Zen Package: 1hr applied Kinesiology, 30min Shiatsu or Cranial Sacral, ionic foot detox , 20min Oxygen Lounge, herbal tea-Regular price is $150 now for $120 =$30 OFF. Valid untill end Nov, 2010

 

Have a great Fall!