I hope you all enjoyed a lovely Christmas and are feeling positive about the year ahead. This is always a great time to assess and rejuvenate, as the beginning of the new year offers us a chance to reflect and a clean slate in which to start a new.
Drinking plenty of water, eating clean healthy food and getting some exercise will all help us feel better and of course enjoying a massage will be sure to give your body a clean slate too!
Detox with a massage
Thousands of channels, veins, arteries and energetic pathways (called meridians) run through our body like little highways; a healthy body moves energy, fluid and solid matter through these channels freely without obstruction however toxic build up can cause congestion in these channels, interrupting our body's ability to function properly. You may find yourself feeling sluggish, tired, constipated, head achy, low in mood and uncomfortable in your body. An essential element of detoxing is too get things moving...
- Massage is not only relaxing but the firm rhythmic strokes applied towards the heart greatly improves circulation around the body. Fresh oxygenated blood improves the functioning of the colon as well as other organs involved with the elimination of waste.
- A combination of different massage strokes and alternating application of pressure, gently compresses and stretches the muscle tissues enabling toxins to be released.
- The firm flowing movements applied to the body also stimulates the lymphatic system which our body relies upon as the main system for eliminating waste. (The lymphatic system is one of those highway networks' and getting this moving more efficiently will greatly assist in clearing away toxins).
- As you relax so does your body, which allows it to return to its natural balanced state; this in turn enables it to cleanse/de tox more effectively.
To further cleanse your body and return it's systems to a balanced state; an oil blend containing the essential oil Juniper berry can be used during the massage. Juniper berry has an earthy, refreshing and pine like aroma; it is extracted from the berries of the Juniper tree which is found in Northern Europe, Canada and Scandinavian. This oil is well known for its cleansing properties....
- The chemical compounds found in Juniper berry have very strong detoxifying effects on the body (and so not advisable if pregnant or suffering from kidney problems)
- Juniper berry is great at helping the digestive system to function properly particularly in the cases of obesity and after an over indulgence of food. It's helpful for indigestion, flatulence and regulating bowel movements.
- Great for hangovers or if you've been drinking a lot of alcohol recently; Juniper helps the body to retain water in our cells and so protecting us from dehydration.
- A great tonic for the liver, Juniper assists in the elimination of uric acid and so may prove helpful in those suffering from gout, arthritis or rheumatism.
- Due to its cleansing properties Juniper berry is also known to help conditions of the urinary tract such as cystitis.
- As well as cleansing and detoxing the body, Juniper berry is also known to have a calming effect on the mind and so is beneficial for those suffering from stress, anxiety or the post festive blues.
