manchester

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medicines and treatments

Massage

AT its most basic a massage can help ease aches and pains. At its most powerful it can transform your body and transport your mind.

Siobhan Healy from Bodywise Natural Health Centre at the Manchester Buddhist Centre said: ''A massage is not going to make everything in your life better but it can help stop things spiralling out of control. An expert massage will make you feel calmer and happier and helps circulation.

''It brings more life into areas that have gone a bit dead, parts of your body that have felt a bit cut off can feel more alive. Despite being relaxed you feel you have more energy.

''And the emotional effects of a massage are probably stronger than the physical.''

The style of massage depends on the needs of the individual.

Nurturing
For those who are feeling stressed and stretched, ideal for people who give out a lot and want, for a change, to be looked after themselves.

Structural
Deep massage that works right into the muscles. For people suffering lower back problems, a stiff neck and tight shoulders. Often those who say they have no time to stop and relax.

Connection
Ideal for people with busy lives and a job where they have to use their brain, rather than their brawn.

It involves a lot of pressure, so the individual feels every move, on every limb, and is able to reconnect their mind back to their body. People often feel very tired after this massage and report sleeping more deeply.

It takes at least 15 minutes of massage before a person calms down and lets their body relax and at Bodywise a massage session lasts 50 minutes.

''You do not necessarily have to go home and sleep but I would not recommend going back to work or embarking on a massive shopping expedition.

''Massages are always done to fit the individual and their needs, but, an Ayurveda massage takes that one step further. It is based on an ancient Indian holistic practice with the principle that a person is one of three 'docha' types: Kapha, Pitta or Vata.

''After establishing what type you are through a probing questionnaire the massage is carried out using aromatherapy oils by the massage and the aromatherapy ingredients working internally. Once that has been done the toxins and tensions are taken away by the exfoliation.

''It is a total experience. The docha typing is incredibly accurate and customising everything from the massage to the incense has a tremendous effect.

''It gives a real feeling of well being and some clients have reported still feeling the effects up to a week later.''

To get the most out of a deep massage like this you need to make sure you have set aside enough time and herbs to suit your type. If you do not like the feel of oil they can be blended into a gel which is used instead.

While the massage is carried out incense sticks to enhance your docha are burned and afterwards you are given a drink of herbal tea.

Unusually after this massage your body is then exfoliated and cleansed before finishing with a body balm.

Caroline Widdowson, is salon manager at the Body Shop on King Street, Manchester, which offers Ayurveda massage in its private Doorway treatment centre.

She said: ''The body's toxins are broken down the massage and the aromatherapy ingredients working internally. Once that has been the toxins and tensions are away by the exfoliation.

''It is a total experience. The typing is incredibly accurate customising everything from massage to the incense has tremendous effect.

''It gives a real feeling of well and some clients have reported feeling the effects up to a week later.''

To get the most out of a deep massage like this you need sure you have set aside enough time to truly appreciate its benefits.

Return to reality slowly, go to quiet cafe and have a light snack, drink plenty of water to flush out toxins, browse in a book store, return home and relax.

If you don't have the luxury of afternoon to spare, then shorter massages can be of some benefit, especially to help ease tension neck and shoulders. You know if by the end of the day your shoulders are up somewhere around ear level, that you need to learn relax!

But a one-off massage is not to get rid of 20 years of tensions, if possible book a course to make sure you go and you will begin notice a difference as the knots disappear. It is also an excellent of picking up relaxation tips to home.

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