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29 August 2007

Therapeutic Back Massage

Surely It feels really good to have your back rubbed, however the art and science of massage is far more reaching. Massage may be relatively new in the western world, but it has been part of the healing and wellness tradition of many eastern cultures for hundreds of years. This article will quickly examine the history and health benefits of having regular therapeutic back massages.

Even the names of common massage styles reflect that their heritage is not based in North America but in much older civilizations, such as Sweden, India, China, Thailand, Japan and Hawaii. Of course there are also more modern modes of bodywork that were developed more recently, based on the self-actualization movement with roots in California in the early 1960s.

Regardless of the style of massage being practiced, the benefits derived from the bodywork are quite similar. One of the primary benefits of massage is relaxation and the reduction of the harmful effects of stress on the body. Today’s stressful world causes harm both emotionally and physically. Our hectic pace and the problems of dealing with both career and family take an emotional toll. But environmental pollution also puts physical toxins into the body. Fortunately, massage works to help in both of these areas.

The entire massage process relaxes the body, mind and spirit. Not only are sore muscles soothed and aching joints relieved, but also the entire atmosphere of a good massage session is geared toward relaxation. The lights are dimmed. There may be candles burning softly. Often there is relaxing music, sometimes accompanied by nature sounds such as distant birdcalls or the gentle flow of water. All of these elements assist in creating a totally relaxing environment.

On a physical level, massage therapy increases circulation of blood through the muscles, assisting in removing accumulated toxins. One study found that massage could lower the risk of breast cancer in women. It revealed that women who wear tight-fitting underwear are more at risk for cancer because the circulation in their breasts is restricted. But when they massage their breasts on a regular basis, circulation improves and environmental carcinogens can better be removed.

A lesser-known benefit of massage, not specifically supported by western science, it improves the flow of energy throughout the body. It is believed in the traditional medicines of China and India that energy flows through meridian lines all across the human body. Stress can restrict your energy flow. A full body massage helps clear the blockages and allows your energy to move freely again.

Massage has grown to be a much more important element of modern culture. However, that not everyone who calls themselves a massage practitioner is licensed or certified. Therefore it is advisable to find out beforehand what massage training and certification they actually have, to ensure you have an enjoyable and therapeutic back massage.

4 August 2007

4 Common Wrinkle Culprits

Wrinkling and undergoing old age are two of the most talked about matters of womanhood. For past centuries, society has dictated women to be beautiful. If only there is timeless charm, or if only ugliness will become the reigning attribute, then there is no more complaint. Women have to please the world and stay as youthful as possible.

Permanent wrinkling of the skin is caused by the following conditions:

Facial Caricatures
When you subject the face to mannerisms and constant facial expressions, it causes it to crease permanently. Frowning almost all the time is an example of facial expression that can add two lines in between the brows. Laugh lines are the two angular lines adjacent to cheeks and edge of the lips. Though it complicates with the connotation: “laughter as best medicine,” the main thing is all about the physical stretching and compression of muscles causing it to stay in permanent form.

Natural Aging Process
At age thirty, the regeneration process of the skin and body halts in general. It means the aging process will plummet without mercy. It is the clock that tells the brain processes of a human to stop growing or improving. There is slow deterioration until you reach fifty, but this is the mark of acceptance. For middle-aged women, menopause plays important roles in the elasticity of the skin. Without an ample supply or balance of estrogen, the skin gets thinner losing the plump look, thus making it appear more wrinkled and dry.

Ultra Violet Rays (UV)
The sunlight is generally harmful to human skin. Long-term exposure can cause malignant carcinoma, which is a form of skin cancer. This is the worst consequence of sun exposure. The disadvantage isn’t taken seriously by many people is the sun’s effect to skin aging. Sun can cause wrinkles and fast aging. No sun block can really eliminate the truth about the sun and wrinkles. Also remember going to the ‘tanner’ also exposes you to harmful UV rays. So, while it may look good to have a nice tan during the winter time, but you very well may be doing more harm than good.

Poor Diet
Eating a low nutrient diet can affect your skin condition. This covers poor consumption of water and nutrients to make the skin glow with a youthful appearance. Extreme malnutrition makes the skin drier and older.

The major contributing factor in a person’s supple skin is a hereditary trait. If the above factors aren’t the issue, and yet the person appears generally older, blame the clan silently or live it. Dry skin shouldn’t be confused with wrinkles, once given the proper replenishment, dry skin doesn’t necessarily cause wrinkles.

2 August 2007

4 Simple Ways To Love Your Age

You will grow old and you cannot stop it. No amount of refusing to answer, “How old are you?” questions can change that fact. Well, you are in good company as all people will eventually age. You are not alone in this dilemma.

People are starting to see the aging process in a whole different light. When before, people were scrambling to hide their age, now some are vocal with their age and are embracing their maturity.

Growing old need not be something associated with white hair, wrinkled skin and rusty bones. You can actually be old but not appear to be as old. Heck, you can even land yourself a younger guy or a girl half your age. Just look at what Demi Moore managed to do!

The secret is to not feel old and to take the aging process as something that you can control. Trust me, it isn’t something that you should be ashamed of — that is if you want it to be.

Aging isn’t just growing old but also growing up.

Aging need not be something that will give you white hair and a wrinkled demeanor. Aging can actually be something that will make you more mature and more experienced with the world. You can actually use your age to your advantage by sharing what you know and teaching the younger ones based on what you’ve been through in life.

People who are old are more likely to command more respect. They are more distinguished-looking and appear to be more believable than younger people.

Aging means relaxation

Growing old is something that you should actually celebrate because you have reached a time in your life when you can actually relax and not feel guilty about it. That is of course if you have prepared well for your retirement years. This is the time when you can relax and just have fun with your days.

Aging means fun

Spend the days at home and just read books. Catch up with old friends and hang out with them. Go out and live a little. One usual mistake of older people is to think that just because they are old they can no longer have fun. Actually, it’s the opposite. Now you can have fun.

Aging means freedom

This is also the time when you need not worry about any responsibilities. You are no longer pressured to achieve something in your life because you have gone through so much. Now, you can do the things that you weren’t able to do before because of duty.

23 July 2007

Finding The Fountain Of Youth In Ourselves

Face it, aging is inevitable. Everybody goes through the process, rich or poor, commoner or royalty. No amount of money can stop the aging process. It is this reason perhaps that everybody is on the lookout for what legends call the fountain of youth.

But it seems that the fountain of youth is actually not something that can be found in some ancient and magical stream hidden in some obscure place in the world. The fountain of youth can be found inside ourselves. It isn’t something that we can drink like medicine but something that we do or practice in our lifetimes.

According to a study conducted by the John and Caherine MacArthur Foundation called Successful Aging, the genes make up 30 percent of a personís over all aging process. The rest of the percentage is dependent on how a person uses or abuses his body. In short, it is lifestyle-driven.

More than half of the aging process will be dependent on the kind of life that we lead, whether we abuse the body or not. In fact, by taking care of ourselves, we can actually live up to a hundred years old. Failing organs are no factors. This is because advancements in biomedicine has made the use of artificial organs possible.

Cigarette smoking, drinking alcohol, inactivity and imbalance diets are just some of the lifestyle factors that can affect the aging process.

Cigarette smoking for instance can result in lung problems. This can rob the body of an easy and flowing circulation, leading to a pale and pasted appearance. Ingredients in a cigarette can also rob the body of vitamins like Vitamin C, which is primarily needed in skin renewal and cell regeneration.

The same goes with alcoholic drinks. Too much alcohol can damage the skin as it dilates the small blood vessels in the body and in the skin surface. This leads to an increased blood flow in some areas. Over worked blood vessels can be damaged over time, resulting in a flushed appearance and the appearance of broken blood vessels.

The lack of exercise is also another factor. Continued inactivity robs the body to regenerate and flush away toxins. In addition to getting rid of fats and cholesterol that clog the pores of the skin, activity or exercise builds the muscles and keeps it strong. It also aids in circulation.

Another important factor in skin aging is the food that we take into our body. Eating a balance meal often will ensure that your skin will be nourished by the vitamins and minerals that it needs for its growth and renewal. Lots of fruits and vegetables is recommended as these foods have antioxidants that keep aging at bay.

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