Local experts explain benefits of massage

BOUNTIFUL — Getting rid of a pinched nerve, toxins in your body, headaches, and helping posture are just a handful of the benefits available through a good massage. When therapists go to school, they have to learn about the body in the same way a doctor does. They learn about and memorize all the bones, muscles and tendons throughout the body and even work with cadavers to make sure they know what they’re doing.“A massage therapist is the ideal expert on muscles in society,” said Montague. Massage therapy is the only treatment that can stretch individual muscle fibers. A therapist can work the back of your leg to get rid of a pinched nerve by stretching the individual fibers around the nerve. A therapist knows where each of those nerves is and how to work it.Through working those muscle fibers, therapists can also relieve pain from arthritis, scoliosis, and fatigue. It will also help keep the muscles in paralyzed limbs toned.It also flushes out toxins through pressure. “The bad part is that it causes other symptoms,” said a licensed massage therapist in Layton. When your body is getting rid of toxins, you can suffer from headaches, dizziness and an upset stomach. “But you feel so much better afterward,” she said.The best part about massage therapy for a lot of people is simply relieving stress and pressure. Therapists can relieve sinus pressure, migraines, physical and mental stress and sciatic pressure. All these can be geared toward what a client wants or needs done. “It also helps to increase circulation and prevents posture problems,” said Montague. By increasing circulation, it helps your body maintain healthy skin and prevent bed sores.Massage therapy is often used in the healing process for breaking up scar tissue and getting strength and circulation to injured muscles.The pressure from massage therapy helps blood and oxygen flow through the body and can make you feel relaxed or give you energy; whatever you would like the therapist to do.“Your body is a thing built under pressure,” said Montague. “The bones and muscles work together under pressure. And our focus is muscles.”

sroberts@davisclipper.com

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El Silencio Lodge: Relaxation for Body & Soul in Costa Rica

This past weekend, I had the pleasure of visiting the tranquil and beautiful retreat, El Silencio Lodge & Spa, tucked between Poas Volcano and Juan Castro Blanco National Park just north of the charming town of Sarchi. It’s been ages since I had a weekend as relaxing and enjoyable as this one, and I will certainly be recommending this hotel to other travelers, or anyone living in San Jose looking for a quick getaway for the weekend.
The lodge is a new sister-property to the fabulous and luxurious Hotel Punta Islita on the Nicoya Peninsula. In fact, combining El Silencio with Punta Islita would make for a perfect week-long combo trip for couples or families with older children that enjoy nature, desire luxury, and are seeking the more “untouched” locales of Costa Rica.
El Silencio is a short 1 hour and 15 minute drive from the Juan Santamaria International Airport (perhaps a bit longer if you wish to stop along the way in Grecia or Sarchi to investigate local artisan shops or enjoy some delicious “comida tipica” (local food)). It’s a bit tricky to manuever at night (as my husband and I discovered) so arrival is recommended before 6 PM… however I have to say that one advantage of arriving late was the spectacular view of the San Jose city lights from high above as we drove to the lodge.
Upon arrival we were greeted by the general manager and our “Eco-Concierge” who assisted us with our luggage, parked our car, and showed us to our private cabina via an electric golf cart (the themes of El Silencio, as well as Punta Islita, are environmental consciousness and giving back to the local community, and those values were clearly evident throughout our stay which made us feel even better about choosing this property!).
The cabinas are SO comfy and cozy that you will not want to leave and explore the rest of the 200 hectare property! You will find a king-size bed, excellent linens, gas fireplace, large sitting area for enjoying a good book, large bathrooms, private outdoor jacuzzi, and a sizeable porch with rocking chairs for enjoying the majestic view of the mountains… all decorated with a mountain theme using natural wood and earth-tones.
The fireplace and private jacuzzi were my personal favorite touches. You’ll need the fire as the mornings and evenings are quite cool, and the jacuzzi was perfect after our morning hike to see three amazing waterfalls that certainly rival the falls at La Paz Waterfall Gardens (for those that are familiar with that location). In fact, I found the hike at El Silencio to be more enjoyable than the hike at La Paz, and it’s easy enough that those of any age can manuever the well-built trails without a problem. Accompanying us on our hike was our Eco-Concierge, who was a wealth of knowledge on plants, animals, birds, and insects, as well as the hotel’s future projects and the nearby community of Bajos del Toro. A hike is included as part of your room rate, so be sure to take advantage of this wonderful amenity.
We also made sure to visit the excellent spa at El Silencio. The spa is built slightly away from the cabinas to allow more privacy, and is so peaceful and quiet that I felt I should whisper for fear of disturbing it all. Our experience with the spa was very professional, and I found the prices to be extremely reasonable for the quality of service provided. I was lucky enough to be there at the same time they were offering a special for an exfoliation and aromatherapy massage package for only $100 for an hour and a half treatment. It was truly the best spa experience I have had in Costa Rica because of the staff, quality of treatment, and the atmosphere.
Finally, I have saved the best for last… the food. El Silencio’s per person rates include three meals per day (alcoholic beverages are separate) and, let me tell you, the food is the best quality I have had in Costa Rica to date. Chef Marco uses only the freshest ingredients, many of which come from their organic garden located on property. You can actually TASTE the freshness of the food…it’s like nothing I had ever experienced. The colors of the food are so bright and beautiful that it emphasizes the freshness even more.
With each meal, you have choice of an appetizer, a main course, and a dessert, complimented with tea, coffee, or an array of natural fruit drinks. Of course, alcoholic beverages or the perfect glass of wine are available to complement your meal. The “stand out” favorites in my mind were a delicious Pejibaye Ceviche on the first night, and the best Chicken Parmigiana I have ever tasted with pesto sauce and homemade pasta. The breakfasts are also very unique…they have a hint of the “typical” Costa Rican favorites of gallo pinto, eggs, and fresh fruit, but in creative ways and with creative flavors, plus some surprises like multi-grain pancakes with homemade berry compote. My husband would tell you that his favorite part of all three meals was the out-of-this-world homemade berry jam that accompanied every breakfast. He couldn’t get enough of it…
The staff at El Silencio is extremely personable, kind, and helpful. You can sense the sincerity in their work, and their belief in the hotel’s themes of environmental consciousness and contribution to the local community. It was nice to see the same staff each day as it made the property feel more “home-y” and relaxed, almost like you were visiting friends or family.
Overall, my experience at El Silencio ranks as one of my top hotel stays in Costa Rica. I have stayed at many excellent hotels here through my work, but very few have successfully combined service, atmosphere, luxury, and beauty, AND have a mindful eye on doing right by the environment and the Costa Rican people. Felicidades to El Silencio and Grupo Islita for establishing such a fabulous hotel! If you are reading this article, please be sure to visit El Silencio (and Punta Islita for that matter!) on your next trip to Costa Rica or your next weekend getaway from San Jose. You won’t be disappointed!

Written by katiehigh

Resource: http://www.costaricapages.com/blog/hotel-reviews/el-silencio-lodge/628

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The benefits of massage, choosing the right therapy

Massage. Ahh... Just the thought of it conjures up visions of seeing yourself on a table, totally relaxed, as knowing fingers and hands of a massage therapist work out the kinks and cares of the world from your body and your mind.Who will turn down a good back, shoulder or neck massage, even for just a moment or two? Those brief moments can be like an oasis of pleasure amidst a hectic, stressful day, and a simple stress-relieving massage at your desk can certainly entice you into a better attitudeMassage in its various forms has many benefits. Along with helping reduce stress and encourage relaxation, massage can also improve posture and your circulation. It lowers blood pressure, relieves headaches, and improves flexibility and range of motion, according to Massage Envy’s Web site.But before deciding massage is just the thing you need to restore your worn body and tired mind, consider knowing exactly what you expect and need in a massage. Most massage therapists will ask you some questions to get an idea of what you may be needing and looking for, but a little research ahead of time will enhance your massage experience.Don Nelson, owner of Massage Envy in Rogers, says there are around 250 different types of massage. Some of those may be of the illegal kind, underscoring the necessity for research and of knowing what massage to ask for.Aside from the research, finding a reputable massage business can also be of help, or talk to friends and acquaintances that you trust for a recommendations.Massage Envy, for instance, offers professional therapists for trigger point therapy; Swedish massage; deep tissue massage; and sports, reflexology and cranial sacral massage as well.The cranial massage can relieve stress and provide relief from migraine headaches, as well as relief from back, neck and certain joint disorders.Trigger point massage involves massage and passive stretching, along with corrective exercises to treat pain. It also involves nutrition and stress management.Sports massage is sought after by athletes to enhance their performance and recovery after an event.Swedish massage, perhaps the most popular of the massage therapies in the United States, is a relaxing, massage designed to energize your body. Deep tissue is another massage offered by Massage Envy that many clients opt for. It is very beneficial for those who develop knots in their shoulders, back or elsewhere. If you are not pain tolerant, though, think twice about this one.Personally, it felt as if the massage therapist’s fingers were going to dig through the back and yank out a rib. The massage did feel good otherwise, but there was not much relaxing going on.But people who regularly get this type of massage swear by it. Becky McNellis of Rogers gets deep tissue therapy because she suffers from fibromyalgia, a bad back and pain from a broken hip sustained two years ago.McNellis says the muscles on the left side of the leg where she broke her hip atrophied, causing her severe muscle spasms. It also has affected her gait when she walks.Since getting deep tissue massages, the Rogers woman says she does not limp nearly as much as she used to, but adds she paid the price at the beginning of her therapy.“It isn’t just touchy-feely good,” McNellis concedes. “It’s almost like a workout. I just can’t tell you how much my legs have improved after just four massages.”Tom Gustafson is another believer in deep tissue massage. He played baseball in college, but says the pain and stiffness he played through magnified in later years.“The pain got to the point where it would literally stop me at times when I was walking, and it would shoot down my legs,” Gustafson says. “I would regularly get cramps in my legs at night from muscle spasms.” Since getting the massages, Gustafson says he has not had muscle spasms since.Call Massage Envy for more information at 763-428-3605.Other massages are more beneficial for relieving stress and rejuvenating your skin. Planet Beach in Albertville has a hydro derma fusion massage that hydrates your entire body with steam and either minerals or vitamins, while gently massaging your legs, buttocks and back.With this massage you lie down in a capsule-like machine that has an opening for your head to fit through once the top is in place. Clients getting this massage can choose the specific blends of tropical liquid vitamins, plant extracts or aloe vera they want to have used in their hydration massage. The liquid is poured into a receptacle inside the capsule. As the infrared heat begins warming, these blends are released in the steam that penetrates deeply into every pore in your body, reaching a sustained 118 degrees.Personally, this treatment was incredibly relaxing, making every pore feel deeply cleansed, leaving a tingling, energizing sensation.Owner Susan Hasler says the hydro derma fusion massage “increases collagen and your skin’s elasticity while improving skin tone and texture as well.”It also relieves stress and gives you better range of motion.“I was stressed and tired from working nonstop to finish my basement, and I decided to try the hydro derma fusion because I was so sore. The massage bed was amazing, and it felt much better than a hands-on massage. Afterward my stress was completely gone, and I was calmed down and able to focus more productively to get work done.”Planet Beach also offers hydro dry massage that is great for reliving stress as well. Call 763-497-3511 for more information.A third massage personally experienced was a hot stone massage at Orion Wellness Center in Rogers. Owner Kathy McShane, a licensed massage therapist, gave the one-hour massage. This one was uniquely relaxing. The lava stones used in the massage retain their heat far longer than other stones, and as McShane placed the stones of various sizes on different areas of the body, the heat seemed to penetrate deeply into muscles and tissue.The effects on the body are magnified, as it allows the massage to have a deeper, more pronounced difference than other massages like the deep tissue or the hydro derma fusion massages left.Orion Wellness offers other massages as well, such as the Swedish and acupressure massages, relaxation, deep tissue, trigger point and connective tissue massages.But it also offers alternative therapies that use Eastern methods to massage the mind and a person’s energy fields. These and many other therapies are available at Orion Wellness Center. Call 763-428-0088 to learn more.Whichever type of massage you choose, keep in mind that any benefit could be wiped out quickly by toxins if they are not flushed from your body soon after a massage.Manipulations of a massage release high levels of toxins into your body that need to be flushed out with plenty of water. If you fail to do this it can result in a lot of pain throughout your body, or even a stint of sickness.Without flushing toxins, they can go directly into the bloodstream to overload the immune system. Consequently, the body’s ability to fight off sickness can be lowered too far to adequately prevent a virus from taking hold.Of the 250 massages out there, you are sure to find just the right one for your needs. Just drink plenty of water afterwards.

Tuesday, 19 February 2008 by Bob GraweyStaff writer

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