Now Offering Indian Head Massage
May 22, 2010
Lotus mandala illustration by Wendy C. Thompson
Ariel Therapy is now offering Indian Head Massage, a clothed, seated massage focusing on the most common points of stress for most of us who spend our day at a computer or desk: the shoulders, neck and head as well as points on the face are treated to relieve eyestrain and encourage relaxation. Indian Head massage is excellent if you have headaches or a tense neck and shoulders. It can be invigorating or tranquil depending on your needs at the time of treatment. It is also an excellent treatment for anyone seeking a shorter, clothed therapy.
Ariel Therapy offers a 30 minute Indian Head Massage for 20 pounds.
This therapy is also perfect for the workplace as well as social events and gatherings. Please email allyshaw at gmail.com (written as an email address) for details about on-site Indian Head Massage.
Massage and Breath
February 7, 2010
“Whenever I feel blue, I start breathing again.”
–L. Frank Baum
A recent study by a scientist at Barrow Neurological Institute at St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center has shown that deep breathing can reduce feelings of pain as well as feelings of depression. More can be found here.
A good massage therapist listens to the breathing of the client and encourages a deep, slow, cleansing breath which in turn stimulates the parasympathetic nervous system. Though we often take breathing for granted, learning to breathe again as a tool for health can be a revelation.
The importance of oils
December 23, 2009
Mary Magdalene, the patron saint of Massage Therapists?
I snapped this photo of a painting in the Gemaldgalerie on my recent visit to Berlin. It’s Mary Magdalen, holding a beautiful jar of oil, a craggy landscape behind her. Bible stories of tears and hair aside, oil has always been sacred, used for its healing and annointing.
Different plant oils have their own textures and moisturizing properties. Oils nourish the skin in different ways and have their own fragrance, sometimes earthy and sweet, sometimes wild and verdant. Many are vitamin-rich while others are antibacterial and anti-inflamatory. The skin is the largest organ of the human body and often we neglect it, especially in winter. At Ariel therapy we custom-blend oils for each individual client based on the skin’s needs at the time of treatment.
