Category: Features

 

Cold and flu viruses are flying around all over the place at this time of year. If you’re unlucky to catch one and have a massage appointment coming up, what should you do? Will the massage help to relieve your sickness or should you cancel and reschedule your appointment?

The best thing to do is reschedule your appointment if you have symptoms like a cough, sore throat, runny nose, blocked nose, and fatigue. Here are the main reasons why…

It can make you feel worse

Massage helps to flush toxins and waste materials out of your body. When you’re fighting a virus or infection, there are a lot of toxins circulating around your body, toxins that your body and immune system are already fighting hard to get rid of. The effects of a massage will exacerbate this, making it harder for your immune system to fight and worsening your symptoms. You’ll likely feel much more sick, tired, and sore after a massage.

It could ruin the massage experience

A massage is supposed to be a relaxing experience. If you’re constantly sniffing, sneezing, and coughing, then you’re not going to be very relaxed. As you sneeze and cough, you’re using muscles in your body. As your muscles tense up, the actions of the massage won’t be as effective and your massage therapist may have to stop until your coughing or sneezing fit has passed.

You could make others sick

If you’re sick, then you may be contagious. Going in for a massage then has a high risk of you passing your germs onto the massage therapist. A sick massage therapist must take time off work until they’re better because they don’t want to infect all of their clients. You should reschedule your appointment when you’re ill in order to avoid infecting your massage therapist. Plus, even though massage studios carefully sanitize after each client, you could still leave airborne germs that could infect others that come into the studio.

Massages can be helpful during flu season

Although you shouldn’t get a massage if you’re ill, massages can be beneficial in general during flu season. Massage boosts the immune system, which could help to prevent you from becoming sick. It also relieves stress and tension, and we are much more likely to get sick when we are stressed.

So, if you’ve caught a cold, make sure to tell your massage therapist and reschedule the appointment for after your symptoms have passed. If you want to book or reschedule a massage with us, then get in touch or use our online booking system.

It’s the time for new year’s resolutions, and an ever-popular one is to lose weight, get in shape, get fit, or maybe even gain weight if you’re looking to pack on some muscle. Whichever it is, exercise is almost definitely involved. It’s likely that you’ll be pushing your body by exercising more frequently or introducing types of exercise you’ve never done before.

You’re likely to find this difficult at first as your muscles get used to being used in different ways and the extra pressure you’re putting on them to work harder. You’re likely to feel sore and stiff the next day, but don’t let that stop you from working toward your goal. Just take a rest day, get plenty of sleep, keep eating right, and get back to it the next day.

The importance of rest

Even take two or three rest days if you need. Rest days are really important when training your body as this is when your muscles repair themselves and grow stronger. Pushing yourself too hard can lead to injury, illness, and demotivation, all factors that make you less likely to achieve your goals.

It’s important to be patient and take it slowly, especially if you have low fitness levels to start with. You might start by exercising just once or twice a week. As your body gets stronger and fitter, you can then increase this as you progress.

How massage can help you stick to your new year’s resolution

Massage can also help you out when it comes to that post-workout soreness. A sports massage or deep tissue massage after your workout helps to decrease the soreness you’ll feel the next day. This speeds up your recovery time, meaning you can get back to the gym (or whatever your choice of exercise is) sooner.

Massage also improves the suppleness of your muscles and the mobility of your joints, helping to reduce your chances of injury. Simple injuries like pulling a muscle while working out could prevent you from training for weeks, which could seriously derail your efforts. Looking after your body with regular massage sessions helps to keep you in good shape.

As you continue exercising, your body will start to become more accustomed to it, so you won’t feel the same levels of soreness you did when you first started out. But, in the meantime, you can book a massage therapy session with Moonstone Massage to keep you working toward your goals in 2020. Get in touch to find out about the massage services we offer.

There are times in winter when it’s dark when you leave for work in the morning and dark when you leave work at the end of the day. This combined with the cold can be a real downer. Many of us long for the spring and summer days to come back around. But don’t wish your days away. There’s plenty to enjoy in the winter! Here are some ways to boost your mood if you find it difficult during the winter months.

Sadness and SAD during winter

It’s only natural to feel a little down when it’s always dark and cold outside. Sunlight energizes our bodies, making us feel more awake and alert. When there’s a lack of sunlight, the natural effect on our energy levels can affect our mood. This is usually nothing to worry about.

However, there is a condition known as SAD (seasonal affective disorder), which is a form of depression. People with SAD experience depressive symptoms mostly during the winter when there is less sunlight and warmth. If you consistently feel low during winter, then it’s advisable to see a doctor to determine whether you have SAD and how it can be treated.

Ways to boost your mood

If the winter blues are getting to you, here are some simple, natural ways to help boost your mood.

• Exercise – Going for a run in the cold might not sound appealing, but exercise releases endorphins, which are natural mood-boosters. Whether you exercise at home, outside, in a gym, or elsewhere, get moving this winter.
• Massage – Massage is another activity that releases endorphins, and you don’t have to break a sweat for this one. Human contact naturally elevates your mood, plus all the other amazing benefits of getting a massage.
• Warm up – The best thing about a cold winter’s day is wrapping up warm in front of a fire with a cup of hot chocolate. There’s something about being warm and cozy inside when it’s bitterly cold outside that seems to warm the soul.
• Good company – Don’t isolate yourself in the winter. Make sure you surround yourself with friends and family members you enjoy spending time with. Animals also make great company with guaranteed mood-boosting effects.

What works for you when cheering yourself up during the winter? If you want to book a massage for yourself or a loved one, then contact Moonstone Massage or go online to book an appointment.

Back, shoulder and neck pain is becoming increasingly common in our modern society. A lot of it is down to our posture. We spend a lot of time sitting at desks and staring down at our phones as we walk or watch television, and we have poor posture while doing it.

As well as muscle and joint pain, bad posture can lead to lots of other negative effects, like frequent headaches, a misaligned spine, pinched nerves, and poor circulation. If you want to improve your posture, and your health as a result, then read on for our tips.

Correcting your posture

To improve your posture, it helps to first know what proper posture looks like. Once you know how you should be sitting or standing, you can make corrections to your own posture. At first, this will take some effort to remember your correct posture. But, after a while, you’ll do it without even thinking about it.

Take a look at these guidelines for how your posture should be while sitting at a desk and while standing or walking.

Here are a few simple corrections for common posture mistakes:

• Tuck your backside in – many people stick their bottom out while standing, causing their lower back to curve. Tuck your tail in for a proper alignment.
• Keep your chin up – We spend a lot of time looking down at our phones, which creates a rounding of our shoulders and neck. Look ahead and keep your chin parallel to the ground for good posture.
• Relax your shoulders – When we’re stressed, we tend to carry a lot of tension in our bodies. Relax your shoulders to prevent back and shoulder pain.

Stretches and exercises for good posture

Sometimes, poor posture results from a lack of strength or flexibility, so performing certain stretches and exercises can make it easier to maintain good posture. Here are a few simple ones to try…

Plank

Having a strong core helps you maintain good posture. A plank is a simple exercise you can do every day to help strengthen your core. Try to build up the time you hold it for each day.

How to do a plank

Cat/cow poses

A lot of yoga poses can help you stretch and strengthen your body for good posture. These two poses stretch out your spine in both directions.

How to do cat/cow pose

Chest opener

Chest openers help to stretch out your chest, helping you maintain a balanced posture between your chest and back.

How to do chest openers

As well as being aware of your posture and performing exercises like these, getting regular massages will help to keep your muscles and tendons nice and supple. This helps you maintain good posture more easily. Get in touch with Moonstone Massage to find out the best types of massage to improve your posture, or book a massage with us online.

Daily or even weekly massages sounds like an absolute dream, but most people don’t have the money or the time in their schedule to fit this in. Still, there are ways you can prolong the positive effects of your massage. However often you get massages, here are some tips for in between sessions to keep your body and mind in good shape.

Watch your posture

In today’s society, a lot of the pain and tension we experience is caused by poor posture. We sit hunched over at our work desks all day and then looking down at our phones for hours each day. This can particularly cause problems with back, neck, and shoulder pain. Especially when you’re sat at your desk working, take a moment to notice your posture and correct it. Maintaining good posture helps to keep your muscles relaxed and in good shape.

Stretch

One of the benefits of regular massage is that it makes your muscles more supple and flexible. Performing regular stretches has similar benefits, helping to reduce muscle tension and improve mobility. Stretching your muscles in between massages will help you feel the benefits for longer and can even make future massage treatment more beneficial. Simply take 10-15 minutes per day while watching TV, for example, to perform some gentle stretches.

Relax

Massage services have benefits for both mental and physical relaxation. And the two can have a big impact on each other. If you’re feeling stressed, then you tend to reflect this in your body. We hold our tension in our shoulders, for example, which can lead to pain and tightness. Try to improve at managing stress in your everyday life and take some time each day to do something that relaxes you. This may be walking, yoga, meditation, watching television, or taking a hot bath.

Stay hydrated

It’s important to drink plenty of water after a massage to help remove the waste products from your body and reduce soreness the next day. Not only this, but you should also make an effort to stay hydrated every day in between massage appointments. Hydration has so many benefits to our bodies, including lubricating the joints and keeping our muscles nourished, which help with mobility, flexibility, and getting the most out of your massages.

So, book your next massage appointment with Moonstone Massage and make sure you’re following these tips in the meantime. Get in touch if you have any questions about keeping your body healthy and finding the right type of massage therapy for you around Winston Salem, Pfafftown, Lewisville, and Clemmons.

For those of you with circulation problems, it’s likely that your symptoms flare up or get worse in cold weather. This is because the blood becomes thicker when the body experiences temperature changes from hot to cold. As a result, it is harder for your circulatory system to pump blood around the body efficiently. At the same time, your blood vessels constrict so that they release less body heat into the air, creating a smaller space for blood to pass through.

People with poor circulation will really feel the cold in their extremities and may experience numbness in the hands and feet. As well as these and other symptoms, poor circulation in cold weather can lead to more serious health conditions, with 53% more heart attacks occurring in winter.

You can do various things to improve your circulation, such as exercising, quitting smoking, and taking hot baths. Massage is also a great treatment for poor circulation, and here are a few ways it helps.

Massage for cold weather circulation problems

We’ve mentioned in many blogs before that massage promotes circulation around your body, especially to the area being massaged. The pressure and movement of the massage therapist’s techniques encourage the flow of blood, allowing it to supply oxygen and other nutrients to your body’s tissues more efficiently. Massage can also help to reduce congestion in your body, again promoting the flow of blood.

The circulation of lymphatic fluid around the body is also promoted, which is the fluid that carries toxins away from the muscles and tissues. This is beneficial for anyone who gets swollen legs and ankles as a result of poor congestion. Self-massaging your feet and hands can help to temporarily increase blood flow to the area and warm up your extremities, while regular professional massage will give you ongoing benefits, as well.

These are some of the main types of massage that can help improve your circulation in cold weather:

• Reflexology – targeting the hands and feet to improve circulation to the extremities
• Deep tissue massage or Swedish massage – the deep pressure is effective at relieving congestion and tension
• Hot stone massage – the heat from the stones is a great aid for circulation
• Lymphatic drainage – This type of massage is designed to improve circulation of lymphatic fluid

If you’re suffering from the cold this winter, book an appointment with us to see how regular massage can make you feel better both physically and mentally. Or get in touch to find out about the range of massage therapies we offer.

 

Are you looking for a new way to spend date night? Something that’s both exciting and relaxing at the same time? A couple’s massage is the perfect solution. Here are some of the many benefits it can offer you, both individually and as a couple.

Spend some quality time together

Between work and home responsibilities, it can be hard to find time to spend together, just the two of you. By booking a couple’s massage, you’ve got 60-90 minutes where you can relax and be together. Have a chat while getting massaged or simply lay in silence in each other’s presence. And neither of you can stare at their phone the whole time.

Feel closer as a couple

Whether you’ve been dating a few months or have been married for years, a couple’s massage can do wonders for bringing you closer together. Sharing this new experience together and experiencing the feel-good effects of massage has been found to increase the bond between couples.

Take a break from everyday life

If you’re a parent or have a demanding job (or both!), then everyday life can feel like a constant chore. There’s always something to do and seemingly no time to relax. Put aside your responsibilities, send your kids to their grandparents, and just take some time to relax. This small break in your day can do wonders for your mood, making you calmer and less likely to take your stresses out on each other.

Treat your partner

It can be hard to buy gifts that really reflect how much you love and appreciate your partner. Booking a couple’s massage is the perfect gift for a birthday, anniversary, or any other occasion. And as well as giving them the physical and mental benefits of their own massage, you also get to spend time together in a fun and relaxing way. Use it as a single treat or as part of a full day of surprises and dates.

If you’re considering getting a couple’s massage, then check out what we offer at Moonstone Massage. Receive your massages side-by-side in the same room or in separate, private rooms. And choose between a variety of massage types, including cupping, hot stones, and reflexology. It could make the perfect gift for your partner, which you can both enjoy. Go online to book a massage with us today or get in touch for more information.

Are you looking for a way to boost morale in your workplace? Little perks can go a long way toward making employees feel more valued and happier in their jobs. One way to do this is by arranging monthly or quarterly office massages for your employees.

What is a chair massage?

A chair massage is a fully-clothed, seated massage typically focused on the neck, shoulders, and upper back. The massage therapist will bring a specialized chair designed to make this a comfortable experience. Massages last between 10 and 30 minutes, depending on how much time your staff can spare.

What are the benefits of office chair massages?

There are lots of benefits, both physical and mental, that a chair massage can offer your employees. In turn, your business will benefit as your staff will usually perform better at work as a result. Here are a few of the benefits you can expect:

• Reduce stress and burnout – Allowing your employees to take a short break from work with a relaxing massage can have long-term effects on stress reduction. With less stress, employees will be better able to handle work pressures and are less likely to suffer from burnout.
• Prevent muscle tension and injuries – Working at a desk all day, every day can leave employees with neck, back, and shoulder pain. Regular computer use can also cause other problems like repetitive strain injury. Massage helps to relieve muscle tension and prevent the occurrence of chronic pain or injury.
• Improve focus – Employees that are overtired, overworked, and stressed out will have a difficult time focusing at work. Since massage helps to improve sleep quality and reduce stress levels, employees will have sharper minds and be able to concentrate better on tasks.
• Better job satisfaction – Treats like office massages make employees feel valued because they see that you view their health and wellbeing as important. It also gives them something to look forward to. As a result, employees will be more motivated and report higher levels of job satisfaction.

All of these benefits add up to a happier, healthier, and more productive workforce. If you think your workplace could benefit from office massages, then contact Moonstone Massage to arrange your first appointments. We come to your workplace in Winston Salem, Pfafftown, or Lewisville so your employees can take a short break and then return to their work reinvigorated.

Do you really need an excuse to book a massage for yourself? It’s such a relaxing and enjoyable experience, and most people wish they could get massages more often. But if you do need convincing, then here are some of the best reasons for getting a massage.

You’re in pain

Massage can help with lots of different types of pain. Muscle soreness, joint pain, pain from injury, or a condition like repetitive strain injury, and even chronic pain from things like fibromyalgia. Especially for back pain, massage is a common treatment that can help to manage or relieve the pain.

You’re stressed or anxious

Whether you’ve been diagnosed with anxiety or just experience a great deal of stress in your day-to-day life, a massage can help you unwind and relieve both mental and physical symptoms of stress or anxiety. Not only does a massage feel relaxing at the time, it also has ongoing benefits like lower blood pressure and releasing muscle tension, both of which can be a result of stress.

You have difficulty sleeping

The relaxation benefits of massage also make it easier to fall asleep at night and stay asleep for a good night’s rest. Not only from feeling relaxed, but also because massage is known to boost serotonin levels in our body. As well as helping us feel calmer and happier, serotonin is also the precursor to melatonin, which plays an important role in our sleep cycles.

You get headaches or migraines

If you regularly suffer from migraines and tension headaches, massage could be the key to preventing them or managing the pain without medication. Headaches can be caused by stress, which we’ve already said can be reduced through massage. Physical tension in our bodies can also contribute to tension headaches, especially around the neck, shoulders, and back. So, using massage to relieve this tension could reduce instances of headaches.

After a tough workout

Massage is one of the most effective ways to speed up post-workout recovery. Having a massage after your workout helps to increase blood circulation to the muscles, delivering all the oxygen and nutrients they need to recover. Improved circulation also helps to remove the lactic acid from your muscles. A good workout is what you need to get ahead of delayed onset muscle soreness.

You want to improve your sporting performance

Whether you’re an elite athlete or you just enjoy sport and fitness as hobbies, regular massage can help you improve. Sports massage improves the suppleness of your muscles and the mobility of your joints, allowing you to achieve a greater range of motion. Plus, the fact that it speeds up recovery means you can get back in the gym or on the field sooner.

Whatever your reason, call Moonstone Massage to book your next treatment. We provide a variety of massage types in Winston Salem, NC.

When you think about a relaxing massage, your mind probably goes straight to back massages, or perhaps neck and shoulders. But one often overlooked area that provides lots of relaxation and health benefits is the feet. Even if you don’t like people touching your feet, the firm pressure used in foot massage doesn’t tend to bother even the most ticklish people.

A lot of people choose foot massage as a quick treatment for which they don’t have to get undressed. Let’s look at some of the other great benefits it provides.

Increases blood circulation

Most of us spend the majority of our day either sitting or lying down. This means our feet don’t get much use. Add this to the fact that they’re tied up in shoes and socks for most of the day, and you’ve got a pretty restricted blood flow to the area. Regular foot massage helps to promote blood flow to these extremities. This is beneficial to everyone’s health, but especially for anyone with poor circulation or health conditions like diabetes or Raynaud’s Disease.

Lowers blood pressure

Another heart-healthy benefit of foot massage is that it helps to lower your blood pressure. People can get high blood pressure as a result of stress, bad diet, smoking, genetics, and other factors, and it can lead to numerous health conditions, such as heart disease and stroke. Massage is a simple and natural way to bring your blood pressure down and keep your heart in good condition.

Improves your mood

Foot massage doesn’t only boost your physical health, but also your mental health. The relaxing effects help you feel better and sleep better at night, which helps to keep your hormones balanced and make you feel better overall. Foot massage has even been found to be effective in managing symptoms of depression. The relaxation effect also helps patients to deal with stress and anxiety.

Helps to relieve pain

Massage effectively relieves foot pain by treating the muscles and tendons in the area, which is great for people who spend all day on their feet. And this benefit doesn’t just apply to pain in your feet, ankles, and lower legs. Foot massage has been found to have pain-relieving effects in other areas, even helping to treat migraines and tension headaches.

Reduces swelling

Another benefit of the increased circulation caused by foot massage is that it moves lymphatic fluid around as well as blood. This helps to drain any excess fluid which can build up in your extremities, resulting in swelling around the feet, ankles, and lower leg. This is especially a common problem among pregnant women. Foot massage can reduce this swelling and make you feel more comfortable.

Are you ready to try a foot massage or reflexology? Contact Moonstone Massage to find out more about our massage services, or go online and book an appointment with us today. We serve patients in and around Winston Salem, Pfafftown, and Lewisville, NC.