Massage and Valentines

Just wanted to say Happy Valentines, which is right around the corner and also got me thinking...

Do you know what your plans are for this year? The standard fare? Cards, flowers, chocolate, diamonds, etc.

Yeah, I am sure diamonds would be appreciated. But so would a lot of other things, especially anything requiring fore-thought and some effort.

And coming from a male perspective, I know men in general probably don't want diamonds for Valentines. Flowers? Doubtful. Chocolate? Might be a winner or a good start...

But what about something even deeper?

It would seem like what most people want deep down is to simply be acknowledged.

How's that??

Simple. Try ignoring them, especially while they are trying to talk to you. Turn your back on them. Walk out of the room, mid-sentence.. Hang up the cell phone while they are gabbing away and see what happens.

I bet you get a response from them. I would even bet it won't be pleasant.

But seriously, please don't do that. Although at many levels because we are so busy and so caught up in our day to day lives that can happen all too often at the unconscious level.

We spend a lot of our time ignornig each other. And if we are not careful, that can become habitual.

So what's the opposite of that?To pay attention to, fully. To be in the present moment with the person you love and be on the receiving end as much as on the giving end. Some people call that dance, Love.

A simple give and receive process of acknowledging one another and just being there for the other person and experiencing them without judgment.

To start, we can put aside ourselves and our agendas and our own desires temporarily and simply pay attention to the person in front of you and get curious as to who that special person truly is and how grateful you are to have them in your life...

I bet that would get you a different response vs. ignoring them. If you don't do that already...often enough.

Now some people are pretty stressed out these days. And getting and giving their full attention is not easy. But one of the fastest ways to short circuit stress is through simple touch.

As humans, we have the capacity to carry around so much tension and be totally oblivious to it until someone else is kind enough to touch us and help us remember that it's ok to let go and relax for a change. It's ok to feel in the moment.

With a simple touch, you can literally help the other person to relax more fully, which in turn helps them feel more and gives them the opportunity to stop functioning on habit and begin functioning in the moment or as close to it as is possible.

So there are all sorts of things and ideas to play around with for Valentines Day, or any other day for that matter. We're only limited by our imaginations...

Enjoy & Happy Valentines!
Robert

Massage - helping you relax in the world

One of the obvious things about massage is that it is truly relaxing from head to toe, if done correctly. And the benefits of relaxing the nervous system are huge.

For most of us, day to day stress sneaks up on us. It's insidious really. And if we are not careful it can take quite a toll on our health and our relationships with other people.

How many times have you seen someone get upset about something totally non-related? It's like an old fashioned pressure cooker getting ready to blow it's lid. Dreams are one way of dissipating stress. There are of course many other ways, like meditation, exercise, tai chi, food, drugs, sex, music, baths, etc. Some better than others.

But utlimately, there is nothing like a good massage. It quickly and without side effects can help people decompress and unwind. And it does so at the physical level first. If your body is tense and tight and stressed out, that directly affects your mental state as well, whether you are aware of it or not.

And guess what happens when a person acts from a position of relaxtion vs being stressed out? They respond totally differently. It can be the exact same trigger, but if they are relaxed, they'll respond quite differently, more often than not.

A typical example is road rage or road annoyance. You have seen this or might even experience this yourself from time to time. Someone cuts you off or is driving like an idiot and if you're stressed out or late to work or whatever, then it's possible you might raise your blood pressure, say a few choice words or give a hand symbol or two to communicate your sincere concern for their moronic driving.

BUT...if you are relaxed, breathing well, free of built up stress and tension, then your repsonse might be 'Who cares?' or 'I am feeling so fine". You might even hear a little James Brown music in your head like - "I FEEL GOOD...nah..nah..nah...na...LIKE I SHOULD....I FEEL FINE....". And maybe even you can come from a place of compassion or even love for your fellow human being. You could even wave and smile at them and send warm thoughts. How about that as a response? I am sure they won't be expecting that.

Or at the very least, you can control the one thing you ARE in control of. And that's how YOU FEEL. It's your body, your mind. It's up to you how to respond. Either you can be in charge of how you feel OR you can let other people dictate your responses. It's up to you.

One thing is certain, the more relaxed you are, the greater the chances that you'll respond in a more healthy pattern for you...

Advanced Massage DVD Videos

My friend Judah Lyons, of the Lyons Institute, has just released a series of advanced massage videos. This goes beyond our basic How to Massage Video Lessons and gets into the ideas and concepts of the legendary Ida Rolf.

Understanding the importance of fascia in the role of massage is critical for long term massage success. Even in our videos, we explore the benefits of release the fascia (protective covering around the muscles and viscera). And then in Judah's 3 DVD's on Structural Integration : Conversations with the Body, he takes it a step or two further.

I have watched the videos and picked up a couple new techiniques even as a seasoned pro whose been doing massage for nearly a decade now. So there's really no limit to what you can learn and what the body is willing to teach you, if you are listening to the body.

The late Dr. Rolf has really created a whole field of advanced massage. The massage modailty of Rolfing, while always hasn't enjoyed the best reputation (because it is a deep tissue modality and has been known to be painful from time to time) is still as valid today as it was 30 years ago.

Judah's adpated style of Structural integation offers a kinder, gentler take on the modality. Probably corrupted by his Biodynamic Cranial Sacral background, Mr. Lyons shows that Structural Integration can be highly effective without the pain and discomfort commonly associated with it.

Massage techniques? Is more better?

Recently I have seen a rash of massage videos spouting hours of new massage techniques and some even offering 300 or so massage techniques.

How much is too much? In my opinion, human beings can only remember a handful at any one time. According to George Miller, people can typically only handle 7 +/- 2 bits of information at any one time. And depending on how you chunk the information together that can be a lot or a little. Might have to do something with why phone numbers are only 7 digits long, don't know for sure.

So what's that got to do with massage? Everything. Having been a therapist for more than a few years now, I have forgotten most of what I was taught in school and continuing education. Why? Because most of it was just stuff people make up to have something to teach, in my opinion.

I think when it comes right down to it, in order to give a great massage, you only need to know a handful of massage techniques. The rest might be good to know if you somehow got to the point where you mastered the fundamentals of massage. Easier said than done by the way.

Massage is very similiar to martial arts and life for that matter. It's not how much you know, it's what you DO with what you know. When it comes to massage, I sincerely think quality is more important than quantity.

3 New Massage Video Lessons just added!

Learn-Massage-Online.com has just added 3 new lessons to our online massage video library. This brings the total to 18 massage video lessons. All for just $25? That's crazy.

Clearly, this is the tremendous benefit and advantage to joining Learn Massage Online, free massage video updates as well as instant access to the lessons at one low lifetime membership price.

If you've ever wanted to learn some new tips and techniques for how to give a great massage, then now's the time.

Join today and you'll get instant access to all the massage video lessons, including the new ones and any more that we come up with.

Enjoy,
Robert
www.learn-massage-online.com

The value of weekly massage

When was your last massage? I recently just had a massage and I gotta say, everytime I do get a massage I remember how good they feel. AND how much better I feel afterwards.

Massage Therapy is truly an amazing thing. It's so easy to let stress and tension just sneak up on us. I didn't realize I was THAT stressed out. But it isn't until you get a massage that you realize that. At least for me anyway.

So my latest thing is to try to get a massage weekly, and at the very least monthly. You wouldn't think it would be that tough of a commitment, but like all of us, time and scheduling becomes a factor.

I guess it's all a matter of priorities. Feeling good vs. working all the time? Tough choice, right?

Last minute Valentines Day Gift Idea

It's still not too late to give a great gift for Valentine's....You. Starting in just a few mintues from right now, literally, you can easily learn how to give a great massage with our online massage video lessons.

Imagine the surprised look on your Valentines face, when you have a whole candle light, soft music, deeply relaxing massage waiting for them...

Click here to start - online massage video....