Clean up and clear out

Has your family been feeling tense lately? If your home isn’t a relaxing place to rest after a long day at work, it may be time to give it a good cleaning and clear out bad energy. Rooms without enough light, dust and pet dander, and clutter can all have a negative effect on how we feel without us even realizing it. Take a day to go through each room and get organized, get rid of anything you no longer need, and let some light and fresh air in. Bring in a few houseplants for good measure, since they can improve the air quality and even boost your mood.

Give yourself more hours in the day

One thing every entrepreneur wishes for is more hours in the day, and while you can’t change the clock, you can take some of that organization to work with you. Clean up your desk, make things neat and streamlined, and think about how you can simplify the way you do business to free up some time. This might mean hiring a qualified freelancer to take over a project, or creating a new name to do business under should you decide to branch out into a line of different services or products in the future. A DBA name, or Doing Business As, can also help you secure a web domain if the name of your business is already taken. Utilizing resources like this can help make your days a little easier and give you peace of mind.

Get fit

Incorporating a new fitness routine into your day can be tough when you have so much going on, but there are ways to get moving and make it count even when you’re busy. Consider investing in a few budget-friendly pieces of workout gear so you can create a small home gym, or use mornings and lunch breaks wisely by going for a walk or practicing yoga. It’s hard to stay motivated when you’re tired or stressed, but working out can actually help with those feelings when you do it regularly. Just make sure you’re comfortable by buying some breathable gear that allows you to move freely. The right leggings, sports bras, and soft t-shirts can go a long way toward helping you stay on track with your goals.

Stay in touch

Staying busy with work and focusing on your mental and physical health can be time-consuming, but it’s important to make an effort to stay in touch with your friends and family. Get out once in a while and have fun, and stay connected with your loved ones throughout the week, even if it’s just for a few minutes via video chat. Becoming an entrepreneur is often an isolating task, and making connections can have multiple benefits for your well-being.

Being self-employed comes with many pros and cons, but stress and anxiety are some of the worst aspects of becoming an entrepreneur. Taking time to focus on your needs can help, so set some small goals for yourself that will help you practice self-care when you need it most.

Ready to treat yourself to some pampering? Get in touch with Balance Massage & Wellness today.

Photo via Pexels

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When thinking of massage therapy thoughts of relaxation, healing and pampering may immediately come to mind. A wonderful benefit absolutely, however, massage therapy can offer so much more to our overall health and wellbeing.

Massage is one of the oldest healing traditions, dating back to India, 3000 BCE. Massage therapy was considered a sacred system of natural healing, used by Hindus in Ayurveda Medicine to relieve pain, heal injuries, and even prevent and cure illnesses.

Today massage therapy is often used alongside modern medicine, as a combined treatment plan to support in the healing of many medical conditions and ailments.

Benefits of massage therapy include:

• Increased relaxations and stress-relief
• Reduced pain and muscle tension & soreness
• Improved circulation
• Lowered heart rate and blood pressure
• Increased energy
• Improved immune function

Relaxation and Stress Relief

The most common reason people initially seek massage therapy treatment is the undoubted benefit of stress relief and a sense of relaxation. Evidence suggests that massage therapy may lower cortisol levels, a key stress hormone our bodies produce.

Muscle Pain and Soreness

Massage therapy helps soothe sore and inflamed muscles by increasing blood flow and improving circulation to the area. Studies have shown that massage therapy can be as effective as other methods in the treatment of chronic back pain.

This increase in blood flow to the inflamed muscles, may also encourage healing and shorten recovery time according to a 2015 study published in Musculoskeletal Medicine. This can be particularly useful in those patients looking to avoid pharmaceutical pain relief options for chronic pain.

Improved Circulation

This ability to improve blood flow and circulation in specific areas of the body is not just beneficial in treating chronic pain, by warming the area due to increased circulation and releasing hormones such as endorphins and serotonin that lessen pain.

Improved circulation has been also found to be very beneficial in prenatal massages. Increased circulation can help reduce swelling of the legs, a common pregnancy symptom and aid in improving your quality of sleep.

Heart Rate and Blood Pressure

High heart rate and increased blood pressure in adults are a growing concern that we are all aware of, especially as we continue to age. Massage therapy has been shown to lower systolic, diastolic and mean arterial blood pressure.

This is accomplished through mechanically activating muscular tissue, tendons and fascias which “indirectly regulates the tonus of the autonomic nervous system”. While more studies need to be completed, it is suggested massage therapy may be beneficial as a complementary therapy in those who face increased blood pressure issues.

Increased Energy

While massage therapy does not directly increase the energy levels within our cells the overall benefits of your massage, may leave you feeling more energetic, less fatigued and fully rejuvenated.

This can be due to reduced pain, better sleep habits, the release of hormones such as endorphins and serotonin, or the reduction of symptoms caused by chronic health conditions such as sciatica, migraines, arthritis and fibromyalgia. Leaving you feeling better physically and emotionally, you may experience an increased level of energy.

Improved Immune Function

While massage is known to decrease inflammation within the body, recent studies have shown that weekly massage therapy sessions can increase your number of white blood cells. Which play a vital role in our body’s ability to fight disease and keep our immune systems active.

The increase in hormones like endorphins and serotonin, along with the decrease in cortisol levels found after a massage therapy session lower overall stress levels within the body, allowing our body to better fight infection.

While more scientific research is required to confirm, some studies have shown massage therapy to also be helpful for treating a wide range of other conditions.

According to the Mayo Clinic, this includes conditions such as:

• Anxiety
• Digestive issues
• Fibromyalgia
• Headaches
• Lower back pain
• Myofascial pain
• Nerve Pain
• Soft tissues injuries
• Sports injuries
• Stress-related insomnia
• Upper back and neck pain

Massage therapy can be a powerful tool in taking charge of your health and wellness, whether you have a specific health concern or looking to achieve stress relief.

While the benefits of massage therapy are not guaranteed, we are certain you will leave your massage therapy session feeling relaxed and rejuvenated.

At Balance Massage and Wellness in Calgary, we are dedicated to sharing the benefits of massage and are eager to answer any questions you may have and create a custom treatment plan for your goals.

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The art of massage therapy has been utilized for centuries to promote healing, provide stress relief and ease the mind. Massage is the practice of rubbing and manipulating the muscles and tendons of the body to ease pain and tension.

As massage therapy developed over centuries, different methods using a combination of various skills, pressures and techniques have been created. Allowing massage enthusiasts to pick the treatment best suited to their needs.

But, how do you know which massage type is best for you?

Let’s review some of the most common massage types, their benefits and who they are best suited for.

Swedish Massage

Likely the most popular type of massage therapy is the Swedish Massage, perfect for beginners as it is a relatively gentle type of full body massage and is a great introduction to a professional massage.

A Swedish massage uses five basic strokes; gliding, kneading, tapping, vibration and deep circular motions, to release muscle knots and create deep relaxation within the body.

Swedish massage therapy sessions typically last between 30 and 90 minutes and are a fantastic way to soothe strained muscles and decrease cortisol (stress) levels.

Deep Tissue Massage

A deep tissue massage is very similar to a Swedish massage, in both technique and benefits. However, the deep tissue massage uses sustained, slow, deep strokes with more intense pressure applied, to treat chronic muscle pain or injuries.

This technique is also useful in breaking up scar tissue and may be beneficial in certain areas. This type of massage is popular with athletes, people who work out regularly or those with chronic pain.

While a more intense pressure is applied you should not feel sore once the massage therapy session is over.

Prenatal Massage

A prenatal massage doesn’t truly differ from a regular massage, however, it is designed to be safe and appropriate during pregnancy. As well as being developed to support the physiological systems that are strained, often working overtime to support a growing baby.

Swelling of the legs, headaches, sciatica and cramping are all symptoms a relaxing prenatal massage can help alleviate. Prenatal massage therapists will often have you lie on your side, or provide a massage table specifically designed with an opening for your belly, to allow you to lay comfortably on your stomach.

The mental benefits of prenatal massage are just as important, providing a sense of relaxation, lowered stress levels, and increased happy hormones such as endorphins and serotonin.

Hot Stone, Cupping and Aromatherapy Techniques

These techniques are often used on their own and in combination with each other, as in our signature Balance Massage where we utilize hot stones, cupping and aromatherapy to provide you with a well-rounded treatment for your personal needs.

Hot Stones are used in addition to or instead of the therapist’s hands to provide a therapeutic massage that improves blood flow and eases muscle tension. This is such a popular technique we offer it as its own 30-90 minute massage, as well as part of our Balance Massage.

Cupping has been used for centuries to isolate a super tight or sore part of the body by placing a suction cup over it, allowing blood to rush to the area providing temporary pain relief.

Aromatherapy has also been used in massage therapy for centuries, it is a great addition to massage to improve mood, as well as reduce stress and anxiety. Your massage therapist will chat with you to decide on the right blend, to use in both the massage oil and a diffuser located in the treatment room. This will allow you to doubly benefit from the aromatic oils through inhaling and topically absorbing them.

Focused Therapeutic Massage

This style of massage is perfect for specific areas such as the neck, upper back and shoulders to treat chronic pain and migraines. Using targeted medium and deep pressure maneuvers to target trigger points and stretch the muscles provides deep relief, quickly and effectively.

This style of massage is also popular with those who have suffered sports injuries or have strained a specific area of the body.

Couples Massage

While not a specific style or massage technique, couples massages are gaining in popularity as they allow you to spend quality time with a loved one in a calm and relaxed state.

A thoughtful date idea that has many health benefits for you both and your loved one, your massages will be tailored to your unique individual needs.

If you’re looking to book your first massage therapy session or try a new massage therapy technique in Calgary, Alberta – Reach out to us and we’ll help customize a treatment plan that compliments your individual needs.

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