Massage therapy/Aromatherapy

Massage can be defined as the systematic and manual manipulation of the body's soft tissue for therapeutic purposes promoting health and well-being.

Most massage therapists utilise Swedish Massage as the foundation for a treatment and blend in various techniques, depending upon training and experience, to address the specific needs of the client. In general, the manipulation of the body's soft tissue (i.e. the skin, muscles, tendons, ligaments and facia) using the hands is a gentle, flowing massage technique that uses varying degrees of pressure and stretching movements. It is most commonly used for relaxation and improving well-being.

A typical full-body massage session lasts for about one hour, many therapists will offer shorter sessions for treating specific areas such as backs, shoulders and necks or any areas giving discomfort, aches or pains. On the first visit clients are asked a number of questions concerning general well-being, injuries and medical conditions that the therapist should know about, in order to determine if there are any contra-indications (physical conditions that would prohibit or limit a massage treatment).

Sports Massage

Even with preventative maintenance, muscles cramp, tear, bruise, and ache. Sports massage can speed healing and reduce discomfort during the rehabilitation process.

*	Soft tissue techniques employed by sports massage therapists are effective in the management of both acute and chronic injuries.
*	Trigger point techniques reduce the spasm and pain that occur both in the injured and "compensation" muscles.
*	Cross-fibre friction techniques can help with healing by improved formation of strong and flexible repair tissue, which is vital in maintaining full pain-free range of motion during rehabilitation.

In all cases, such massage techniques are employed in collaboration with other appropriate medical care.

Aromatherapy is now used to treat a whole range of conditions and is believed to work on people both physically and psychologically. The first part of the theory is that when you smell an essential oil, it triggers your limbic system - the part of the brain that controls emotions and stores and retrieves learned memories - and relaxes you. The other part of the theory is that the essential oils are absorbed through the skin, and have medicinal properties, which act on the cause of the problem.

Just some of the conditions aromatherapy is used to treat are:

*	Anxiety, stress or insomnia
*	Muscular aches and pains
*	Headaches
*	Asthma
*	Eczema
*	Digestive problems
*	Menstrual or menopausal problems

You can choose to be treated by an aromatherapist, or you can buy certain aromatherapy oils over the counter at pharmacies and health shops, and treat yourself. If you visit an aromatherapist, he or she will probably massage oils into your skin. If you treat yourself, you can add them to your bath, or inhale them using steaming water, a diffuser or an incense burner. There is also a wide range of toiletries containing essential oils available, some of which may claim to increase well-being or have some healing properties.