RELAX
by Misty Lane, Misty's Element
You should make a conscious effort to make some time to relax this year. An ideal way to do this is with massage.
Relaxation massage is a gentle Swedish massage that uses smooth gliding strokes to help you relax. The massage therapist will move at a slower pace and use lighter pressure. There is less emphasis on working out serious adhesions or "knots" in the muscle tissue, which can be uncomfortable and cause some people tense up against the pressure. In a relaxation massage, the therapist won't push your pain limits in order to get the muscle to release. You might even fall asleep!
Relaxation massage is a good choice for someone who is getting a massage for the first time, or someone who just wants to bring their stress level down. It’s also a good choice for someone who gets massage as a special treat once a year. To drift into a deeply relaxed state in fifty minutes? That’s doable!
There are substantial health benefits to a relaxation massage. Gentle massage stimulates sensory nerve endings in the skin, which transmit messages through the nervous system and cause the brain to release endorphins. These are the body's natural painkillers, feel-good chemicals that create a sense of well-being. Massage also stimulates the body's parasympathetic nervous system (the "rest and digest system”). This causes blood pressure to decrease, the heart rate to slow, and digestive activity to increase. Relaxation massage increases blood circulation and stimulates the body's lymphatic system, which carries away waste products, as well.
And shhhhh… There’s no need to talk. Talking during the massage keeps your mind active, inhibiting the relaxation response. Instead, focus on your breathing or the movements of the therapists' hands. It can become a form of meditation for both you and the therapist, and you get a more mindful treatment. So just breathe…and relax.
Trust your relaxation to Misty Lane. She has enjoyed applying her passion for massage therapy on St. Simons Island since 2007, saying this scenic and tranquil setting provides her with the perfect backdrop to administer pampering treatments strategically designed to achieve maximum relaxation and rejuvenation. As a licensed massage therapist, Misty is well-versed in a variety of cutting-edge massage methodologies like Raindrop and sports therapy. Her other areas of expertise include Swedish, deep tissue, hot stone massage, pre-natal, reflexology, Myo-facial and triggerpoint massage. She also offers a variety of popular spa treatment body scrubs and wraps at Misty's Element Massage at 138 Pier Village Market. To make your appointment, call 912.224.0198 or visit mistyselement.com.
