Archive for the ‘Total Healing Blog Posts’ Category

How The Benefits of Infant Massage Help Your Child

Thursday, November 20th, 2008

Infant Massage Techniques

The latest craze among parents today is the idea of baby massage.  With the new responsibilities of being the parent of an infant, this practice is sometimes overlooked.  That is why several hospitals and birthing centers have begun to distribute information regarding the importance of infant massage.   Most parents do not understand how much this procedure can contribute to the well-being the baby as well as themselves.

Infant massage has many benefits for your baby’s sleep cycle. What infant massage does is help to teach your baby a way that they can relax. As with all things, babies have to learn the art of relaxation. Babies who are massaged often tend to sleep better and more restfully than babies who are not massaged. 

Babies who are not routinely massaged often have a weaker immune system than babies who receive regular massages.  But this is not the only benefit associated with this practice.  Massaged babies also develop appropriately while being able to relieve intestinal and bowel discomfort.  In contrast to babies who do not receive regular massages, they are also generally more perceptive to the world around them.

There are also psychological benefits to infant massage. Massage creates a bond between the parent and the baby that cannot be easily duplicated. Babies crave the touch of their parents, and the soothing movements of infant massage meet that psychological need. Psychologically, massaging a baby helps parents feel more confident in their skill with handling a baby. It also teaches the parents what their baby needs and what their different cues mean. Since massage helps sooth colicky, gassy babies, parents are more centered because they have something they can do to calm their otherwise inconsolable baby.

Massaging a baby does not have to be complicated. Begin learning how to massage when your baby is already calm and relatively still. It is best to work on massage when baby is not hungry. Go to a warm room, and remove as much clothing as possible. Skin to skin contact is especially important to infants. Put a little baby lotion or oil on your hands, and rub them together to warm up the liquid. Stroke your baby from the center of the body towards the extremities.  Remember to spend time on those adorable little feet! The first massage should only last a few minutes, perhaps five or less, but as you and your baby become more comfortable, start increasing the time of massage for as long as your baby enjoys the massage.

The best thing to do is to get on a schedule for massaging your infant.  In order to help the infant sleep better, massage it just before laying it down for the night. This will provide a better stimulus for relaxation throughout the night. Massaging your infant with soothing hands will create a bond of trust from the infant to the parent.  Not only will this create a strong attachment between you and your newborn, but it will soon be an activity that you will look forward to doing.

For additional helpful information click here Teach Children About Obesity also Fighting The Battle Of Obesity and Obesity On Youth

Soothing Break with Aromatherapy Bath Products

Saturday, November 15th, 2008

A soothing bath at the end of a long day can be welcome relief, and aromatherapy bath products can add a special effect to any bath.  Aromatherapy bath products are made with the essential oils that have been extracted from special plants that have healing and healthy qualities.  These aromatherapy bath products are made with great care with special blends that have been shown to have definite and specific effects.  These oils are not randomly chosen for the aromatherapy bath products, but they are carefully selected for the special benefits.

The aromatherapy bath products is the consequence of an accidental discovery by a French chemist many years ago.  The chemist discovered that lavender oil healed burns that he had suffered.  The chemist began the study of special plant oils, and his work has been continued by many knowledgeable people.  Currently, these oils that are used in aromatherapy bath products are chosen based on the years of study by experts.  These essential oils extracted from plants are now often considered to be alternative medicine because of their success.  The aromatherapy bath products are now available using these oils, and these can be purchased by customers for beneficial use.  

Aromatherapy Bath Products Have Many Benefits

Bath gels are very popular products made with the great essential oils of aromatherapy.These gels can be found at specialty stores and websites.Gels are available for the bath or shower that have specific oils that can be beneficial to many people.  There are gels made with lavender, ginger, mint and other oils.  People who use these gels have found them to be very helpful so the products have sold widely.Most of the aromatherapy bath products are made with great care using the essential oils and excluding harmful substances.  These products usually have a combination of vitamins that are also helpful.  

Aromatherapy oils are also used to make bath salts and soaps.  These are also available with a variety of the essential oils.These are known to have big-time effects for reducing stress.These products also have efficacious effects on softening the skin.Some of the oils are gathered from special places around the world for the optimum products available.  The soaps are made with oils from avocado, eucalyptus, peppermint and other special oils.  The soaps are often designed for special skin treatment.  Other soaps are made because of they have special regenerative effects on the skin.  Aromatherapy bath products are successful products because of the great benefits that they provide.

For more health related information please visit Health Choices

12 Step Salute To The Sun

Saturday, November 8th, 2008

An All-Around Yoga Exercises : 12-Step

The ’12-step salute to the sun’ is one of the all-around yoga exercises. As you do it once or twice in the morning it will help loosen up any stiffness in your body and rejuvenate it. Then to help you relax at night you can do several multiple repetitions, in fact, some people who suffer with insomnia find by completing six - twelve rounds often helps them to fall asleep better.

1. Stand with your feet slightly apart, palms together, thumbs against your chest.

2. Inhale deeply, while slowly raising your hands over your head, and bend back as far as possible, while tightening your buttocks.

Then continue to hold that position for three seconds.

3. Slowly exhale and bend forward, keeping your knees straight, until your fingers touch the floor outside your feet.

You may not be able to touch the floor but you should get as close as you can to it and then bend your head inwards, towards your knees.

4. Now slowly inhale, bend your knees and try again to touch the floor just outside where your feet are.

From there you will need to go into a lunge type position, by placing your right foot back as far as you can, then bend your knee until it is only a few inches from the floor. Next arch your back and look up as high as possible, while holding your breath a few seconds before exhaling.

5. Before exhaling again, slide your left foot back until it is beside the right one, and with your weight supported on your palms and toes, straighten both legs so that your body forms a flat plane.

All the time while doing this yoga exercises you need to make sure your stomach is pulled in.

6. Begin to slowly exhale while bending both knees to the floor, keep your hips in the air and lower your chest towards the floor.

7. In this position begin to inhale slowly once again, bend your head back by looking upwards, now lift up your chest and bring it back down.

Your lower body - from the navel down - should be on the floor, and your elbows should be slightly bent. Stay in this position for 3 - 5 seconds.

8. Exhale slowly and raise your hips until your feet and palms are flat on the floor and your arms and legs are straight in an inverted V position.

9. Bring your foot forward as you slowly inhale the same way you did in the forth position.

The foot should be flat on the floor between your fingertips. Your left leg should be straight behind you or as straight as you can make it with your knee slightly bent. Again, you will raise your head by looking upward and arch your back in this position.

10. Slowly exhale and bring your left foot forward next to your right one.

Straighten your legs and stand, trying to keep your fingertips on the floor, and try to touch your head to your knees as in position 3.

11. Slowly inhale, raise your arms up and stretch back as in position 2.

Remember in both position two and eleven you need to tighten your buttocks and hold for three seconds.

12. Slowly exhale, lowering your arms to your sides and then relax.

By repeating these yoga exercises you will improve much of your overall health, both mentally and physically.

Yoga, Life’s Balancing Act

Wednesday, November 5th, 2008

Yoga is composed of a series of stances or poses that are done fluidly and steady while mastering respiration.  Moreover, yoga is essentially a low-impact physical exercise that is exhilarating yet relaxing, as it also encompasses some meditation.  Yoga is about durability and flexibility, not only about stretching out, however, stretching and striving is unquestionably a component of yoga. Anyone can do yoga, from infants to seniors and every other type of lifestyle.  Practicing yoga is unique for every person and the best part of all is that you can tailor it to what works best for you and your activity level.

There are so many postures associated with yoga, all of which employ essentially the identical poses just with unique emphasis. The various postures of yoga which are virtually popularly known are Hatha, Vinyasa, Ashtanga, Power Yoga, Iyengar, Kundalini, Bikram (or Hot Yoga), Anusara, Jivamukti, Forrest, Integral, and Sivananda.

Regardless of the style”>http://learnyoga.lu06.com/”>style of yoga you opt to attempt, there is an underlying belief to all of yoga”>http://learnyoga.lu06.com/”>yoga - balance, ease, flexibleness and durability while taking on spiritual well being and meditation.  Each style of yoga stresses more or less on one focal point, whether that be physical , respiration or spiritual.  Every expressive style of yoga is good for your health and wellness, it is to a greater extent a subject of individual preference as to which style is appropriate for you.

Your yoga exercise is exactly that - yours.  It is individualized to you, solely you can do it and you will get something amazingly unique out of yoga than some other peoplel. Yoga grows with you as you begin to realize it better and have each position mean more to you each time.

 

Inversion Table Therapy

Thursday, October 30th, 2008

What is inversion table?

Inversion table is an exercises table that is designed in such a way that your feet is placed higher than your head. As a result it reduces the bad effect of gravity. In fact these tables position your body upside down, so the gravity works in the opposite direction.

Most of the doctors and physical therapist recommended to their patients with back pain. Many doctors and therapist recommended inversion table exercise for these patients.

Inversion tables are design into many different sizes and styles.They are many different brands available on the market.

Certain design of the table are complicated, big size and difficult to operate. There are some small design that can fit into a small apartment living room.

Some inversion tables could also be used as a workout machine that you can exercise other body parts. The price tag is labeled according to the features and functionality. For examples power inversion tables are more expensive than the manually operated one.

Each of the equipment could only hold certain weight and will last in a limited time. Some of the manufacturers offer warranty while others are not.

What are other benefits of inversion table?

The table is especially effective for people with lower back pain, since the gravity helps to stretch the back bone. As a result it provides a great relief from the lower back pain.

Inversion table exercises are especially helpful for older people. Largely back problems are caused by the aging process. Back pain is the result of gravity that is constantly pulling down for a long period of time.

Inversion therapy is not new. It has been around for thousands of years.

It is  claimed that the use of inversion table could improve blood circulation, helps to lessen compression fatigue and as a result reduces stress and promotes relaxation. It is also used for treatment of stress headaches.

Those who tried this treatment believed that it can increase flexibility in movement for older people and reduce the effects of aging caused by gravity.

Some of the doctors from western countries refuse to recommend inversion therapy to their patients. No doubt the benefit of inversion therapy is proven. Such therapy is known to help improve posture,lessen back pain,better blood circulation and increase flexibility.

Do you need Shoulder Physical Therapy?

Wednesday, October 29th, 2008

Do you need shoulder physical therapy? Is this a step you are willing to take? If not, we can provide you with valuable information about your shoulder, which will illustrate some of the common shoulder problems and the physical therapy available to treat these issues. The most flexible joint in the body is the shoulder, it can do a wide range of motions, which is important for sports. By design it has a remarkable mobility, which can also increase the effect on stability and can be the root cause of problems.

In order to get a good prognosis, early discovery and treatment is crucial. So, if you experience pains in your shoulder don′t hesitate to see your doctor. Even though your first reaction, a natural one, is not to move your shoulder, refrain from it since it can lead to complete loss of shoulder mobility. Physical therapy for your shoulder could be suggested by your doctor. After the evaluation of your condition, a physical therapy program will be put together to keep your shoulder in motion and help you recover.

People of all ages can have problems with their shoulders. Such problems are often encountered by athletes, sports people and children. Everyday exertions can lead to shoulder pain in adults in their 20s. Middle aged people are not spared of such problems especially if they use this joint with a high frequency in their jobs, as well as those who do physical activities a variety of sports as their time permits or those who prefer to do the painting themselves. So, people needing shoulder physical therapy are plentiful and from all age groups and jobs.

Physical Therapy Information
The shoulder is complex and can be difficult to work with due to its makeup with several muscles and three different joints. Skilled shoulder physical therapy workers and unique methods are needed as a result. Shoulder Physical therapy is often used to regain flexibility and movement in the shoulder region. In addition, these exercises can used as a warm-up prior to strength training to minimize risk of shoulder injury.

Why is shoulder physical therapy so important in dealing with shoulder injuries and pains? Well, unlike in the past, present-day treatment advice takes on a more active physical approach. In the past, doctors ordered bed rest and directed patients not to use a joint until it heals but now the treatment philosophy has as its motto or main principle the words “use it or lose it.”
I found the principle is not only typical of shoulder physical therapy evidently, but all the branches of physical therapy apply it. When you don′t move your shoulder or any joint after surgery, it leads to weakening and stiffening of the muscles which can cause bones and cartilage to get weak and cause scarring of the soft tissue. Anyone who is recommended physical therapy for your shoulders should not hesitate to attend.

Shin Running Pain

Tuesday, October 28th, 2008

What is a Shin Splint?

A shin splint is a generalized term that is given for pain felt at the front of the lower leg. Causes of shin splints are commonly overuse or fatigue caused by regular stresses due to biomechanical imbalances of the feet and lower legs. Imbalances can be caused by bad feet, worn out shoes, and inappropriate training methods.

The term Shin Splints covers many injuries that effect the lower leg, including stress fractures, tendonitis, periostitis (the annoyance of the bone covering), muscle tiredness or fascial herniation, popliteal artery entrapment, peroneal nerve entrapment or spinal radiculopathy (which is when the spinal nerve is compressed, causing referred pain). As you can see, diagnosing shin splints isn′t all that easy when there can be many fundamental causes.

Why does this cause Lower Leg Pain?

Shin splint pain is felt in the lower leg. You may feel tenderness on the inside of the shin that may or may not be accompanied by swelling. Shin splint pain generally goes away after a time of rest but comes back when you begin training again. You may feel pain when your toes or foot are bent down and some people have inflammation on the inside of the shin. Others feel lumps or bumps along the inside of the shin bone.

In spite of the many potential causes for shin splints, most are induced by tight calf muscles inducing strain on the weaker front muscles of the lower leg. This is common in runners, whose calf muscles get a lot more work than the front muscles.

Shin Splint Treatment Options

Cold Packs and rest are a great beginning for Shin Splint Treatment. The cold helps reduce pain and inflammation. Anti-inflammatories like ibuprofen may be helpful. You may want to evaluate your running shoes to see if you need more support. Once you feel some ease, there are stretches you can do to increase the strength of your front lower leg muscles. Doing basic wall stretches to stretch your Achilles tendon several times per day to stretch your calf muscles can be helpful. You can also strengthen that front muscle by balancing a small weight of some kind on your foot and lifting up your toes. This will exercise those front muscles. Hold the weight up for a count of ten before relaxing and repeat twenty or more times per day. Over time, this will strengthen those front muscles.

Other things you can do that will help Shin Splints includes wearing shock absorbing insoles in your shoes. Change your exercise routine to include other non impact exercises such as a treadmill or cross trainer

After the initial pain is gone, apply heat to the area before training to help loosen up the muscles and increase blood flow. Taping your ankle can help support your Lower Leg.

Consider getting your posture analyzed as any muscle imbalances in your body could be making the problem worse.

A Sports Massage Therapist may be able to help once the initial inflammation has gone down.

Yoga Can Eliminate Stresses

Sunday, October 26th, 2008

Yoga is a 3,000-year-old, Hindu discipline of mind and body that became known in Western society with the hippie generation of the Sixties and early Seventies. Its persona as a religious mystic exercise is vanishing as fast as the stressful aspects of the 80s are coming out.

As an effective method of stress management, yoga is spreading into the business world, the helping professions, nursing and old age homes, and is used in the treatment of alcoholics, hyperactive children and youngsters with learning disabilities. Yoga centers are getting stiff competition from adult education classes of community colleges, boards of education and parks and recreation departments.

The meaning of yoga is union of the body, mind and spirit with truth. There are many kinds of yoga to study, and there can be endless years of practice for the willing student.

Hatha Yoga is among the most popular forms in the west. It emphasizes the practice of postures, which stretch and strengthen the body, help develop a sense of balance and flexibility, as well as body awareness and mental concentration. All forms of yoga incorporate the practice of proper breathing techniques for relaxation, to rest the mind from its constant chatter, to experience an internal calm, and to energize and purify the body.

As stress levels in society reach new heights, Raja Yoga, the yoga of meditation, is growing in popularity in Western society, while others, such as Krya Yoga, the yoga of cleansing, and Mantra Yoga, the yoga of chanting, not surprisingly, have little appeal for newcomers.

Stretching along and toning up, although advantageous, aren't the main causes people address yoga. Newcomers are hoping that yoga will provide them with a means for handling stress and diffusing tension. The difference between exercise and yoga is that yoga has a meditative quality.

A lot of people are exercising for the psychological benefits and trying many of the Eastern activities, like yoga and tai chi. Yoga seems to have a calming effect on people.

And the techniques work on children as well as adults. When your children are quarreling, ask them to stop what they’re doing, raise their arms over their heads, lean forward and breathe deeply to help diffuse their anger. It unquestionably facilitates them to cool down it.

Yoga : Learning And Instructions

Forget Back Pain With Back Massager

Wednesday, October 22nd, 2008

For those of you who feel tired and fatigued after a long day of work or exercising, a body massage can give you a sensation of being refreshed. Knowing how to give a good body massage takes time and study.

For those who have been busy standing or working behind the computer all day, nothing can be more relaxing than sitting and reclining on a professional home back massager.

To get a quality back massage you need to spend a lot of money. But who can have that kind of money to spend it on the expensive massage you get at spas? Not to mention the travel time for those appointments.

Why not try using a back massager? It’s easy, inexpensive, and can be used anytime in the comfort of your home.

If you react on time, you won′t have to spend whole piles of money on your massage therapist, just on one back massager. The back massager is a reliable way to relax the back anytime and eliminate the stress from the daily grind.

It’s easy to use back massager as well as move it around. You just need to press the on button and relax yourself while you get a refreshing bavk massage. Some homedics back massagers emit penetrating infrared heat to enhance the massage even more. Your muscles can feel the power of infrared massagers, no matter where they are. Make every day a truly relaxing day!

With current high technology, back massagers are equipped with many different combinations of settings and programs that lead to different types of massage. Just try to imagine feeling relaxed every day, with stress and fatigue being removed and lost? With back massagers, you can enjoy a customized massage every day to eliminate stress and fatigue.

It’s very easy to design the program that suits you best with your own back massager.

Hm, where in the world you could get the massager you need? The online shop has a lot of back massagers you could use, no matter what kind of massager you want to purchase for yourself.

Inversion Therapy Exercises

Tuesday, October 21st, 2008

Inversion Table Decompression Exercise

Unless you are Superman, you are going to experience back pain at some point in your life, likely several times. Usually, back pain is the result of overdoing a certain activity, repetitive movement, a car accident, disease and a host of other factors. Back pain usually goes away within a few days to a few weeks depending on the injury but it is one of the most common complaints of patients visiting doctors. However, with back pain therapy exercise, you can avoid a trip to the doctor and remedy the situation on your own.  Here are some of the more popular ways you can eliminate or relieve back pain.

The Exercise Ball

The exercise ball is fast becoming one of the favorite ways to conduct back pain therapy exercise because it is versatile and people of all ages can use it. You can use this huge ball to conduct stretching exercises for back pain, specifically the lower back. The best way to use it is to lie on the floor with your head slightly elevated on a pillow and the heels of your feet propped up on the top of the exercise ball. Slowly lift your buttocks off the floor so that your body is straight at an angle to the ball and floor where your head is positioned. This back pain therapy exercise is one of many on the exercise ball that even physical therapists recommend.

No Tools Needed

There are back pain therapy exercise options that do not require any special tools or implements to ease the aches, just your body! For upper back pain, there is the pectoral stretch, which consists of standing in an open doorway and using both hands to grasp either side of the doorframe. Then, with the frame tightly gripped, you push slightly forward until you feel the muscles in your chest stretch and then hold the pose for about 15-20 seconds if possible. You would then retract and repeat the process at least 2 or 3 more times.

Another back pain therapy exercise consists of lying on your stomach with your chest supported by a small pillow. From there, hold your arms out in a 90 degree position from your body and then squeeze your shoulder blades together by raising your arms from their position This could take some time to get used to but greatly alleviates pain in the upper to middle back areas.

Inversion Table

The inversion table has been around for ages and is a popular way to conduct some back pain therapy exercise. You are strapped into this table and then it is inverted, based on the degree of angle you need. The reason why the inversion table is popular for back pain therapy exercise or inversion therapy as its called, is that it works to increase the disc space between the vertebrae which in turn alleviates the pressure that could be pinching nerves or compacting discs.

Going the back pain therapy exercise route is the best place to start when it comes to aches and pains from the upper to lower back. Remember, a large percentage of people experience pain that can and will go away within a few weeks but you can speed up the process with back pain therapy exercise.