Having a terrific massage therapist is essential to having a blissful and relaxing hot stone experience. Being one of the few people you allow to get inside your personal bubble, it is only necessary that you are able to find someone who is professional and whom you can fully trust.
However, finding the right therapist is not that easy especially with hot stone massage which is not as common as Swedish or Shiatsu. Sometimes, you will have to try out the services of many therapists and still you won’t find what you’re looking for.
To help you in your search for the right hot stone massage therapist, here are some tips you will definitely find useful.
Where to find
- Get recommendations from family and friends who have tried this massage style. It’s easier to trust someone whom people close to you have confidence in. Don’t hesitate to ask them how long they have been receiving services from this therapist, the type of equipment that was used, or if they were satisfied with the experience.
- Get a referral from your doctor. Often, health care practitioners recommend massage therapy as part of a treatment so it’s a sure bet that they know of efficient therapists.
- Be sure to check out the massage therapy schools in your area. They can always provide a list of graduates that are also great to try.
- Research online for a listing of therapists that are located in your city.
Things to ask
- Before you schedule an appointment with a therapist, do a little background interview. Check if he or she has a current city-issued massage permit and a certification of education on massage.
- Ask questions about the therapist’s educational background, specialized training and experience to find out if he or she has sufficient skills to give you the kind of quality massage you’re looking for.
- Ask him or her about hot stone therapy. A hot stone therapist should be adept in explaining the rudiments of this massage style.
A good massage therapist should…
- …ask you about your health history and current medical conditions.
- …check on your personal preferences like what type of music, temperature and lighting you prefer and if you’re comfortable doing the massage naked or you’d rather be partially covered.
- …be decent. Wearing lingerie and showing sexual insinuation are not part of legitimate massage practices.
- …be able to answer most of your questions about hot stone therapy.
- …have a complete set of hot stone therapy supplies.
- …have a neat, clean, and organized massage environment. If you do not have a good vibe or feeling about the ambience, it is always right to trust your gut and leave.
- …be receptive and open to negative feedback and do everything to improve his or her service.
- …always make you feel comfortable.
Finding a wonderful therapist is as tricky as finding a true friend. Once you’ve found yourself someone whom you can feel comfortable with, whom you can trust and who has amazing hands, be sure to establish a good relationship with him or her and give the kind of treatment and respect that you would give a friend.
“Mary Singleton regularly writes for AML Stone Source, the leading hot stone massage supplies provider. They carry such products as basalt stones for hot stone massage, as well as many other many other oYtl accessories for hot stone therapy.
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Tags: basalt stones, hot stone massage
Good health is a reason to celebrate!
National Nutrition Month is a campaign that reminds us of the importance of healthy eating. We also become more aware of the positive impact nutrition has on our health and well-being. Due to the efforts of dieticians, this national campaign has become one of the most recognized nutrition awareness-raising campaigns in Canada.
We embrace and celebrate this national campaign because we know that healthy changes in your eating habits are a major step for you in taking control of your life.
In support of National Nutrition Month let’s take a look this week at the “rainbow of colors” and what this means to you!
A diet rich in colorful fruits and vegetables helps prevent many chronic diseases, including
- heart disease
- cancer
- stroke
- conditions such as macular degeneration and cataracts
This month, branch out of your usual habits at the grocery store. Buy produce with a variety of colors including red, orange, yellow, green and purple to give your body the full spectrum of plant pigments with powerful antioxidant effects. Choosing many colors will not only ensure you are getting the nutrients you need for your very best health but by making these choices you will also help your body to protect you against disease.
As well as fighting off disease, do you want to slow down the aging process? By choosing a wide variety of color with your fruit and vegetable selections you will consume a wide range of compounds known as phytochemicals. Phytochemicals work in harmony with nutritional antioxidants such as vitamin C, vitamin E and selenium to fight against the aging process.
Here is a sample of some colorful foods that you can add to your plate:
- Red/Purple/Blue/Black: blueberries, blackberries, strawberries, red apples, red peppers, red cabbage. These foods contain powerful antioxidants that reduce the risk of heart disease by inhibiting blood clot formation.
- Orange: mangos, apricots, cantaloupe, pumpkin, squash, orange peppers. These contain nutrients that reduce age-related macular degeneration and the risk of prostate cancer, lower LDL cholesterol and blood pressure, promote collagen formation and healthy joints, fight harmful free radicals, encourage alkaline balance, and work with magnesium and calcium to build healthy bones.
- Yellow: yellow peppers, some types of golden delicious apples, yellow beets, yellow tomatoes. The nutrients in these perform the same functions as the Orange category.
- Green: Spinach, honeydew melon, artichokes, asparagus, green beans, sugar snap peas. The nutrients found in these vegetables reduce cancer risks, lower blood pressure and LDL cholesterol levels, normalize digestion time, support retinal health and vision, fight harmful free-radicals, and boost immune system activity.
- White/Green: includes garlic, onions, celery, pears, cauliflower, white peaches and nectarines. These foods have been shown to have anti-tumor effects.
Happy Spring and may you find many reasons to be healthy.
Tags: National Nutrition Month
Take a mini vacation from the list of “Yes I Can” and “No I Can’t” with some fun weight loss tips.
Perhaps we need a break from thinking about all that we can eat and all that we will not eat today. Let’s take a mini vacation to enhance our moods and elevate our spirits with any one of these 10 fun weight loss tips:
- Music: Your world becomes happier while your step is just a little lighter when you can sing or hum along to your favorite tune. A variety of problems including depression, high blood pressure, asthma, migraines, ulcers and a range of physical disabilities are currently treated with music. Turn up the dial!
- Laughter: It’s been said that “laughter is the best medicine”. Take this medicine in heavy doses every single day. Don’t wait until you need a pick me up. Experts say that laughter can relax your body and reduce problems associated with high blood pressure, strokes, ulcers and even arthritis. Find a friend to laugh with about your diet dos and don’ts.
- Massage: Oh yes, please! Diet or no diet a massage is wonderful anytime. Indulge yourself and try hot stone massage therapy. You’ll find yourself with a big smile on your face ready to face the world and whatever foods come your way.
- Exercise: Forget about what you “should” do today. Go out and do what you feel like doing. Do you feel like dancing? Put on the music at home and just dance. Just make it fun and watch how much easier your dieting day becomes.
- Sauna: Drop in to your local swimming pool for a wonderful cleansing sauna. Warm your bones and soul, clean out your pores and go forth into the day feeling lighter and refreshed. You’ll look forward to refilling your body with healthy hydrating liquids.
- Retail: You don’t have to spend thousands. Maybe it’s just indulging in a magazine or a new book to read. Take a walk around Chapters, enjoy the books and invest in your favorite magazine. Take a stroll through a dollar store and blow $10. You’ll feel good taking this break. Sometimes the simple things feel like a mini vacation.
- Friends: Just call up a friend. Chat on the phone. Meet up in your favorite coffee shop for a cup of herbal tea. Sharing your journey and life’s interesting ups and downs with a friend can be the best escape from the routines of every day life. You’ll look forward to arriving home and preparing a healthy meal. Having a buddy to share your fun weight loss tips makes your journey more enjoyable.
- Random Acts of Kindness: Have you ever done something nice for a stranger? One of the best ways to take your mind off of your everyday meal plans and chores that you don’t feel like doing is to do something nice for someone else. Afterward, your meal selections and chores will seem simple. Be careful, this could become a habit!
- Sports: Have you been to your community arena to watch your local hockey team? This is an inexpensive, fun outing. A great way to support your community and to take yourself out of the kitchen.
- Nature: When is the last time you walked along the ocean or the river or through the forest along your favorite trail? Nature has a way of helping us along the road to health and happiness.
Treat yourself today with these fun weight loss tips and any other way you can think of to just simply enjoy yourself. You deserve it!
Tags: dieting, Fun Weight Loss Tips
