Deep Tissue Massage – Relaxing Your Body

A good massage can truly help the mind and body relax. Deep tissue massage may bring other benefits to the body and is a good way of relaxing and winding down after a tough day or week at work.

Deep tissue massage involves a technique that focuses primarily on the deeper layers of muscles. Sometimes, this technique will involve the use of a firmer amount of pressure in order to reach key areas and get them to "un-knot" and release, which is why this particular massage technique is oftentimes recommended for people who are comfortable with slightly heavier pressure. That said, deep tissue massages can also refer to gentle yet sustained pressure targeting the myofascial layer of the muscle. This can help relieve stress and tiredness as well as relax the body after heavy exertion.

A good deep tissue massage can help ease stress from the heavy demands of work, home, or both. This is important especially with today's busy and hectic lifestyle where unresolved stress can do major damage to a person's mental and physical health. An estimated 60 to 80 percent of doctor’s office visits are attributed tostress, as noted in a 2003 study in the Journal of the National Medical Association.

Deep tissue massage may also be used to lessen pain. Research published in an April 2014 issue of Manual Therapy concluded that deep tissue massage applied to the posterior calf muscles—along with some self-stretching exercises—helped reduce the research participants’ pain associated with plantar fasciitis. Deep tissue massage can also be used for other conditions, such as fibromyalgia, tennis elbows, or low-back pain, which can potentially provide some much-needed relief from the said conditions.

Another study published in 2008 in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine involving 263 participants who reported cases of muscle spasm or strain. Each individual’s blood pressure and heart rate was monitored and recorded prior to a 45 to 60-minute deep tissue massage, and then again afterwards. The results show lower recorded systolic and diastolic pressure—as well as lower heart rates—after the massage.

Barre – Tip to Toe Exercise

Barre workouts are fast becoming a fitness trend. It’s one of the best ways to achieve a ballerina figure as it works the small supportive muscles throughout your bodyusing an exercise style called ‘isometrics.’Derived from and incorporating movements from ballet, barre workouts use classical dance movements and positions combined with yoga and Pilates, as well as the use of other gym equipment to tone and strengthen your muscles with small, pulsing movements. Benefits of this form of exercise include improved strength, posture, flexibility, balance, stability, and muscle definition. It has also been claimed to help in weight loss and in reducing stress levels.

Barre classes typically focus on small, pulsing movements with an emphasis on form, alignment and core engagement, which is similar to what can be expected from ballet training. Participants are asked to hold their bodies still while contracting specific targeted sets of muscles in isometric exercises, which are strength training movements in which the joint angle and muscle length do not change during contraction. Isometrics exercises are done in static positions, rather than being dynamic through a range of motion, with many repetitions, short movements, and utilizing only light weights when applicable.

Barre exercises are considered to be lower impact compared to regular workout routines, and they typically don’t build as much functional strength as conventional strength training does. These exercises are not as effective as cardio training as traditional aerobics classes in building cardio-vascular fitness, as they only raise heart rate to about 40-50 percent of maximum. However, it a good choice for those who want to tone their muscles and can be done in conjunction with other workouts. It is also easier and lighter on the body than other more extreme workout programs available in your local fitness center. Interested?Sign up for a barre class and begin your journey to better health.