What You Need to Know about Massage and Kinesiology

Kinesiology is basically the study of how people’s bodies move and respond to messages sent by the brain. The term, which stems from the same root word of ‘kinetics’, literally means the deep understanding of movement. Kinesiology is most popularly applied in alternative medicine as a type of massage therapy that involves the monitoring of muscles to see what could be wrong or imbalanced in a person’s body. 

The technique of Kinesiology carefully scrutinizes the stress reactions that may be unresolved in people’s bodies. From this, the Kinesiology practitioner would assist the body to heal naturally with the help of procedures such as massage. 

How did Kinesiology come about? 

Kinesiology is often seen as an offshoot of chiropractics, combined with the ancient Chinese principle of chi energy, which is most commonly demonstrated in acupuncture. Kinesiology uses biofeedback or muscle monitoring to guide practitioners in the massage therapy. 

How does Kinesiology work? 

A healthy and normal nervous system is creatively designed for self-regulation and adaptation to changes in the environment. However, there are times when the body fails to adapt well, and this manifests with stress in muscles. Kinesiologists then look for the muscle stress patterns to see what could be causing the problems and how to fix them. 

What can be treated by Kinesiology? 

Kinesiology can treat a wide range of ailments by stimulating body energies and tapping its hidden potential to heal itself. A lot of ailments actually stem from these body imbalances and thus Kinesiology could help treat or cure a lot of disorders, both physical and mental. Among the many health problems that can be treated by Kinesiology are muscular disorders, allergies, emotional problems, stress, nervous disorders, nutritional deficiencies and psychomotor difficulties. 

How is Kinesiology practiced? 

A Kinesiology practitioner usually gets the health history of the patient. The patient then lies fully clothed on the massage table, where the practitioner will perform a series of tests involving the patient with some trials depending on the health problem at hand. Here are some of the tests that may be involved in a Kinesiology session: 

Physical test – here, the Kinesiology practitioner would test the integrity of the neuromuscular system by tasking the patient to manipulate a leg or an arm in particular ways. The patient would then hold the positions, as the practitioner would exert mild pressure to the limb. 

Chemical Test – here, the practitioner would test the reaction of the patient to particular allergens or foods by placing small quantities of a suspected substance to the body. The Kinesiologists would examine the body’s reaction by watching for the relationship among muscles and their corresponding organs. 

Mental Test – here, the practitioner would ask the patient to think about particular objects or feelings while the muscles are being monitored. Certain imbalances or stress reactions are being watched for in this session. 

Among the wide range of techniques used in Kinesiology are acupressure, hypertonic release of muscles, massage emphasizing body, reflex and trigger points, nutritional counseling, homeopathic remedies such as aromatherapy, lymphatic massage, and emotional release. 

Is Kinesiology medically proven? 

There are a lot of ailments in the nervous system that can influence muscle strength. However, there is not much scientific research that backs up the philosophy of Kinesiology since it is regarded as a health practice that uses the energy model instead of medical principles. Nevertheless, a significant number of patients who underwent professional Kinesiology therapy have given strong testimonies about the relief they experienced after sessions and the great improvements of their general well being. 

How does one find a Kinesiology practitioner? 

When looking for a Kinesiologist, it is best to consult with the professional alternative medicine association in your area to get a list of their members who practice Kinesiology. You may also ask referrals from health practitioners as well as the recommendation of your family and friends. 

When you first meet a Kinesiology practitioner, do not be afraid to ask about their experiences, qualifications and trainings received. Avoid Kinesiology practitioners who prescribe you to totally abandon the medical treatments you are going through because such cases must be carefully consulted with your physician. 

Kinesiology could greatly help relieve a lot of symptoms that are connected to a lot of body ailments. However, Kinesiology should not be used to solely diagnose disorders. It is still best to avail of Kinesiology in conjunction with conventional medicine.

Everything You Need To Know About Kinesiology And Massage

Kinesiology studies how people's bodies respond and move to messages that the brain sends. The terms come from the root word kinetics. The literal meaning is having a deep understanding of movement. In alternative medicine the most popular application for kinesiology is as a kind of massage therapy involving monitoring the muscles in order to figure out what might be imbalanced or wrong in an individual's body. 

The Kinesiology technique scrutinizes stress reactions very carefully that might be unresolved in a person's body. The Kinesiology practitioner from this would help the body naturally heal with assistance from procedures like massage. 

The Development of Kinesiology 

Frequently Kinesiology is viewed as a branch of chiropractics. It combines with chi energy, the ancient Chinese principle, that is demonstrated frequently in acupuncture. Muscle monitoring or biofeedback is used by Kinesiology to guide practitioners when massage therapy is being used. 

How Kinesiology Works 

A normal and healthy nervous system is designed creatively for adapting to environmental changes and self-regulation. However, there also can be times when the body is unable to adapt well. This results in stress in the muscles. Then Kinesioogists look to see if there are muscle stress patterns to try to figure out what the cause of the problems are, and see if they can be fixed. 

What Can Kinesiology Treat? 

Kinesiology is able to treat a wide array of ailments through stimulating energies of the body as well as tapping into the body's hidden potential for healing itself. Actually many ailments stem from body imbalances. Therefore, Kinesiology can help to cure or treat many of different disorders, both mental and physical. Some of the numerous health problems that Kinesiology can treat include psychomotor difficulties, nutritional deficiencies, nervous disorders, stress, emotional probelems, allergies and muscular disorders. 

How Kinesiology Is Practiced 

Usually a Kinesiology practitioner gets the patient's health history. Then the patient lies on a massage table while still fully clothed. The practitioner then performs several tests that involve the patient. The trials used will depend on what the patient's specific health problems are. Some tests that might be part of a Kinesiology session include: 

Physical Test. The Kinesiology practitioner tests the integrity of the patient's neuromucular system. The patient is asked to manipulate an arm or leg in specific ways. Then the patient holds the position, while the practitioners places mild pressure on the leg or arm. 

Chemical Test. The practitioner tests the patient's reaction to specific foods or allergies by putting small quantities of the substance into the body. Then the Kinesiologist examines the reaction of the body of observing the relationship of the muscles to each other as well as the associated organs. 

Mental Test. The practitioner gets the patient to think about specific feelings or objects while monitoring the muscles. During this session, certain stress reactions or imbalances are watched. 

Kinesiology uses a wide array of different techniques, including nutritional counseling, trigger and reflex points, massages that emphasizes the body, hypertonic muscle release, acupressure and homeopathic remedies like emotional release, lymphatic massage and aromatherapy. 

Has Kinesiology Been Medically Proven? 

There are many nervous system ailments that can potentially influence muscle strength. There isn't a lot of scientific research, however, that backs the Kinesiology philosophy up. It is seen to be a health practice that instead of using medical principles uses an energy model. Despite this, there have been significant numbers of patients who have undergone professional Kinesiology therapy and provided strong testimonials regarding the relief they have experienced following their Kinesiology sessions in addition to large improvements to their overall well being. 

How To Locate A Kinesiology Practitioner 

When searching for a Kinesiologist, the best thing to do is to consult with a local alternative medicine professional association and obtain their members list for who practices Kinesiology in your area. You might also want to ask health practitioners you know for referrals in addition to recommendations from your friends and family members. 

In your first meeting with a Kinesiology practitioner, don't hesitate to ask questions about their training, qualifications and relevant experience. Avoid any Kinesiology practitioners who recommends that you abandon medical treatments completely that you are undergoing. These situations need to involve careful consultations with your physician. 

Many symptoms related to various body ailments can be greatly relieved by Kinesiology. However,it shouldn't solely be used for diagnosing disorders. The best use of Kinesiology is to use it in combination with conventional medicine. 

Shiatsu: A Revolutionary Pressure Point Therapy

The Japanese have their respective line of massage and pressure point therapy. If the Chinese have acupuncture, they have shiatsu. The name shiatsu itself originated from the Japanese words shi and atsu, which means finger and pressure respectively. 

In Japan, shiatsu is considered as a hands-on healing method. In the west, more particularly in the U.S. it is the closest equivalent of Chiropractic massages. It follows the ideology of physiology and anatomy. The main body parts used in conducting a shiatsu massage are the fingers, the palms, and the thumbs. Elbows and knees are not used. 

Shiatsu practitioners in Japan need a license to perform the therapy. There, they are called Shiatsupractors. Tokujiro Namikoshi introduced shiatsu to North America. He came from a line of shiatsupractors himself and is properly trained with it. 

In looking for a shiatsu practitioner in America, always check if the ABTA or the American Bodywork Therapy Association duly certifies him. Their office is located in New Jersey, if you need further verification. 

The essence of shiatsu is to diagnose and to heal. With the use of the palms, thumbs, and fingers, the body's irregularities are detected. And once diagnosed, they can be attended to accordingly. 

Now the process of detection, or the implementation of a practitioner's analyzing skills, is the harder part in learning the art of Shiatsu. And that is actually where the training focuses on. 

People who wanted to undergo natural healing through a shiatsu massage do not have to be previously diagnosed of their previous pains or illnesses. Shiatsu is capable of knowing and healing at the same time. And to top it all, shiatsu is also capable of preventing diseases. And needless to say, prevention is always better than cure. 

A single shiatsu session would last for about an hour. The number of sessions you need to undergo for optimal healing is determined by the severity of your illness. For acute problems, 4 to 8 sessions should be good enough. Acute problems include headaches and stress. Chronic conditions like back pain would require longer treatments. 

As with all other treatment procedures, the noting of medical history is always the first step. Practitioners would like to be informed as to what their patient's lifestyles and diets are, to say the very least. This will help them more with every session. 

Shiatsu sessions are always done lying down, fully clothed. The practitioner does the massaging and pressing with you on the mat on the floor. The first touch will be on the abdominal area. It is believed that this is where the body tension originates. 

The same idea of enabling the energy flow through the body is followed. The main objective of the pressing is to facilitate the body's energy to move freely. And when the energy flows nicely, healing is initiated. 

Shiatsu is not your traditional massage. It involves a lot of other techniques, and that includes holding, rotating, and stretching. Kneading and rubbing are also employed. Other types of shiatsu massage involve the use of the feet as well. 

The general effect of a shiatsu massage is very relaxing. But patients may feel rather odd due to the body's reaction to it. You might hear your stomach gurgle or you may suddenly shudder due to tension. Don't worry. These are all normal. 

And people may have varied body reactions after a shiatsu session. Some may feel sleepy while others are invigorated. Feeling exuberant after a session is expected. And that feeling may even last for around a week or two after the treatment. 

A regular shiatsu massage will ensure you of good health and protection from common illnesses. This is most advisable to people who have problems in dealing with their day-to-day stress. Those who feel muscular tensions and aches are most benefited because they can feel relieved outright. 

Although shiatsu is generally good for the body, avoid undergoing treatment if you have any open wounds or rashes. If you are prone to getting clots on the blood or had been operated on recently, do not attend a session. If you do, it would just be a health risk to you. 

In general, people who are pregnant and have abdominal illnesses should not go to a shiatsu session until after they are back in perfect health. Those who are to attend one, on the other hand, are not supposed to eat for at least two hours prior. 

Shiatsu is a good alternative to people who wanted to get rid of stress. If you do not want to take pills and wanted to do it the natural way, try shiatsu. It could be the pressure point therapy you have always been looking for.

Pressure Point Therapy – Shiatsu

The Japanese people have their very own pressure point therapy and line of massage. The Chinese people have their acupuncture, and the people of Japan have their shiatsu. The term shiatsu originates from the Japanese words- shi (meaning finger) and atsu (meaning pressure). 

Shiatsu in Japan is considered to be a form of hands-on healing. In the west, especially in the United States, this is the closest thing there is to Chiropractic massages. It follows anatomy and physiology ideology. The thumbs, palms and fingers are the major body parts that are used when giving a shiatsu massage. Knees and elbows are not used. 

Japanese Shiatsu practitioner are required to be licensed in order to perform this kind of therapy. They are referred to as Shiatsupractors. Shiatsu was introduced to North America by Tokujiro Namikoshi. He came from a shiatsupractors line and was trained properly in the craft. 

When searching for a good shiatsu practitioner in the U.S., be sure to check to see if the person is certified by the American Bodywork Therapy Association (ABTA). In case you need additional verification, the association's office is in New Jersey. 

Shiatu's essence is to heal and to diagnose. Irregularities of the body are detected through the use of the fingers, thumbs and palms. These can be tended to properly once they have been diagnosed. 

The detection process, or implementing the analyzing skills of a practitioner, is the hardest part when it comes to learning Shiatsu. The training actually focuses on this. 

People who would like to have natural healing done by having a shiatsu massage don't need be have been diagnosed previously of earlier illnesses or pains. Shiatsu has the capability of healing and knowledge all at once. In addition, shiatsu is capable also of preventing diseases. Prevention, needless to say, is better than the cure always. 

One shiatsu session lasts for approximately one hour. How many sessions are necessary for optimal healing depends on how severe your illness is. For problems that are acute, having somewhere between 4 to 8 sessions is sufficient. Acute problems include stress and headaches. Chronic conditions such as back pain often require treatments over a longer period of time. 

Just like any other kind of treatment procedure, the first step is always noting one's medical history. Practitioners want to be informed about their patient's diets and lifestyles. This helps them with each session they work on the patient. 

The client is always fully clothed and lying down during a shiatsu session. The pressing and massaging is done by the practitioner with the client on the floor on a mat. The first touch goes to the abdominal area. This is thought to be where the tension in the body starts. 

The idea is to allow energy to flow through the body. The main goal of pressing is facilitating the energy of the body to freely move. Healing is initiated when the energy is flowing nicely. 

Shiatsu isn't a traditional form of massage. Many other kinds of techniques are involved, including stretching, rotating and holding. Rubbing and kneading are used as well. Other kinds of shiatsu massage use the feet also. 

Shiatsu massage provides an overall relaxing effect to the body. Patients, however, might feel a bit strange due to how the body reacts to it. Your stomach might start gurgling or tension could cause sudden shudders. These are normal, however, and you don't need to worry. 

Following a shiatsu session, different people have various body reactions. Some individuals might feel sleepy. Others could feel invigorated. It is expected that you will feel exuberant following a session. This feeling could even last for one to two weeks following treatment. 

Having shiatsu massages on a regular basis can help protect you against common illness and ensure good health. It is highly recommended for individuals having problems with coping with their stress on a daily basis. People who have muscular aches and tension will benefit the most because they can get outright relief. 

Shiatsu in general is good for your body. However, if you have rashes or open wounds, avoid treatment. Don't go to a session if you've had an operation recently or have a tendency for getting blood clots. These situations could pose health risks for you. 

People with abdominal illnesses or who are pregnant, in general shouldn't attend shiatsu sessions until their health has been restored. However, those who do attend sessions shouldn't eat for two hours at least prior to the treatment. 

Shiatsu is a great option for individuals wanting to rid themselves of stress. Try shiatsu if you are wanting to do this the natural way and avoid taking pills. This might be the pressure point therapy you've been searching for all along.

How Does the Acupressure Pressure Point Therapy Work?

Pressure point therapy, in general, involves the pressing of specific body points. These body points are scattered all over the body, and are usually found on the fingers, palms, limbs, and knuckles. The pressure point to focus on mainly depends on the illness that a person is feeling. Most of the time, acupressure is done to relieve stress, pain, and promote good health. 

Acupressure is similar to Chinese traditional way of healing, which is acupuncture. It also originated from China about 5,000 years ago. But instead of using needles to treat a particular disease, a certain amount of pressure is applied in its place. 

Here in the U.S., acupressure is used largely for relief and relaxation. But in China, it is used as a form of first aid. It is practiced on people who are suffering from colds, sore muscles, headaches, and even hangovers. 

The acupressure technique is relatively easy to learn. You might need to go to a specialist for the first few treatments. And as you become familiar with the process, you can proceed to doing acupressure to yourself and to others. 

Acupressure touches upon the old Chinese belief of chees, chakras and energies. Acupressure is known to facilitate the flow of the vital energies in the body. The Chinese medicine of long ago believes that when the flow of the body's energy is hindered in any way, sickness will soon follow. 

Acupressure is tasked to release a person's blocked energies. This is also the principle followed by its counterpart, the acupuncture therapy. The acupressure technique entails the stimulation the acupoints. Acupoints are the body's specific points of energy. It is also what is referred to as the energy channels. 

The act of pressing the points firmly is the acupressure technique in itself. As the practitioner does that, the energy of the body begins to flow again toward the parts that are under illness or discomfort. The result is a gradual but effective way of healing. 

Acupressure uses no tools or needles. It is performed with a hand massage and by manually pressing the specific body parts. Scientifically speaking, this method is seen to release endorphins. Endorphins are the natural painkillers present in the body. 

The length of a single acupressure treatment varies greatly from 15 minutes to an hour. It all depends on the wellness or the sickness of the patient. It can be performed either in a sitting or lying position. Some therapist would require patients to be dressed with only a towel, so as to achieve a full-body therapy. 

Each specific point on the body corresponds to a certain illness. Back pain, for example, is addressed by pressing the specific body point located behind the knees. On the other hand, pressing the body point found at the top of your foot relieves migraines. 

Pressure is commonly applied for 3 to 10 seconds. But it could be longer than that in a number of cases. And it can be done repeatedly as needed. Usually the relief is instant. But if the problem still exists, or if its severity level did not go down at the very least, the acupressure therapy is considered not to be effective. It might not be effective for you on that specific day or to your specific ailment. 

The overall impact of the acupressure therapy is absolute relaxation and loosening up. There could be minimal aching of the muscles, but it should not be strong enough to be considered as pain. 

The initially visit to the therapist is three to eight times. After which, you should be able to determine if acupressure proves to be effective for you or not. For stress management, a weekly or a monthly series of treatments are required. 

A lot of people have tried acupressure and are pleased with its results. Even the pains caused by surgical operations and nausea are relieved as well. It is also seen to help other body conditions such as sinusitis, motion sickness, and morning sickness. 

To experience the goodness of an acupressure therapy, the first step is to find a good therapist. Unfortunately though, there is no licensing program for acupressure therapists just yet. Try to get recommendations from friends and family members who had experienced it instead. That's going to be a good start for you. 

If you wanted to ease pain away from your body without the use of medicines and chemicals, acupressure therapy is worth trying. Experience its benefits and see for your self if the natural way of doing things is a better option.

Pressure Point Therapy – Acupressure?

In general, pressure point therapy, involves pressing certain points on the body. They are scattered all across the body. Usually they are found on the knuckles, limbs, palms and fingers. The pressure point that needs to be focused on depends mainly on the type of illness the individual is feeling. Acupressure, a majority of the time, is performed to promote good health and relieve pain and stress. 

Acupressure is similar to acupuncture, the traditional Chinese way of healing. It also originated around 5,000 years ago in China. However, instead of needles being used to treat a specific disease, in its place a specific amount of pressure gets applied. 

Acupressure in the United States is largely used for relaxation and relief. However, in China, it gets used as a kind of first aid. Acupressure is applied on individuals who are suffering with hangovers, headaches, sore muscles and colds. 

It is fairly easy to learn the acupressure technique. For your first few treatments, you may need to visit a specialist. As you get familiar with this process, then you can progress to doing acupressure to others and for yourself. 

Acupressure touches on the ancient Chinese beliefs of energies, chakras and chees. Acupressure is known for facilitating vital energy flow within the body. The ancient Chinese medicine believes that when the body's energy flow is hindered in some way, sickness will follow soon after. 

Acupressure is charged with releasing the blocked energies of an individual. The principle is followed also by acupuncture therapy, acupressure's counterpart. The acupressure technique involves stimulating the acupoints. These are the specific energy points of the body. They are called energy channels as well. 

The acupressure technique is the act that involves firmly pressing the points. While the practitioner does this, the body's energy starts flowing again towards those parts that are experiencing discomfort or illness. The results in a way of healing that is gradual but very effective. 

Acupressure doesn't use any needles or tools. A hand massage is used by pressing specific body parts manually. This method, scientifically speaking, might help to release endorphins from the body. These are natural painkillers that exist inside the body. 

How long an acupressure treatment will last can vary greatly, anywhere from minutes all the way up to an hour. It depends on how sick or well the patient is. It may be done either in a lying or sitting position. Some therapists need patients to dress in just a towel in order to perform full body therapy. 

Every specific body point corresponds to a specific illness. For example, back pain is addressed through pressing that specific body point, which is located behind your knees. Pressing the body point that is on top of the foot, on the other hand, provides relief for migraines. 

Usually pressure is applied for approximately 3 to 10 seconds. However, in many cases, it might be longer than that. If necessary, it can repeatedly be done. The relief is usually instant. However, if the problem exists still, or if the severity level doesn't go down at least, then the acupressure isn't considered to be effective. For you it may not be effective for your specific ailment or on that particular day. 

Acupressure therapy's overall impact is loosening up and absolute relaxation. There might be minimal muscle aching. However, it shouldn't be so strong that it is considered to be pain. 

The initial therapists visits are usually three to eight sessions. After that, it should be possible for you to figure out whether or not acupressure is effective for you. For stress management, it required to have a monthly or weekly series of treatments for best results. 

Many people have given acupressure a try and have been pleased with the results. Even the pains that have been caused by nausea and surgical operations are also relieved. It also helps with other body conditions like morning sickness, motion sickness and sinusitis. 

To experience the best of what acupressure therapy can provide, your first step will be locate a good therapist to go to. However, unfortunately at this point in time there aren't any acupressure licensing programs. Try getting recommendations from family members and friends instead who have experience with acupressure. That should be a great place for you to start finding a good therapist you can go to. 

If you would like to ease the pain from out of your body without having to use any chemicals or medicines, acupressure therapy is something that is worth trying out. Experience the benefits it offers for yourself and see if the better options is doing things the natural way.