by Gloria Coppola, L.M.B.T. Lomi lomi has often been described as a Hawaiian healing massage that provides nurturing and loving touch. Some people learn about more contemporary styles of lomi lomi by viewing video tapes, which do not provide the full

Chronic Inflammation is a silent epidemic; a plague afflicting millions of unsuspecting Americans. It is the mother of most major chronic diseases including: heart disease, cancer, obesity, Alzheimer’s and many others. It’s an under the radar, asymptomatic disease— until actual tissue damage and loss of function occurs.There is no single direct test for inflammation. Instead, doctors use indirect methods by measuring blood levels of C-reactive protein, a pro-inflammatory marker, and

Many massage therapists use tools in their massage sessions. Instrument Assisted Soft Tissue Manipulation (IASTM) is rapidly becoming a popular tool and something for massage therapists to look into for use in their practices. IASTM is a manual therapy

Shaped and influenced by the forbidding landscapes they’ve inhabited for thousands of years, the Inuit culture of the Arctic region is one of the most fascinating on the planet. Hardy, resilient, mysterious and immensely ingenious, the Inuits of the northernmost regions of the Americas, Europe and Russia have not only survived on some of our planet’s harshest environments but indeed thrived, in spite of seemingly insurmountable obstacles. The frozen Arctic tundra which for most of us mere

What is Aromatherapy Massage? Aromatherapy massage is massage therapy but with highly concentrated plant oils, called essential oils, added to the massage oil or lotion. The nostrils are attached to a part of the brain called the limbic system. The limbic system controls emotions and influences the nervous system and hormones. When you inhale essential oil molecules, messages are transmitted to the limbic system and affect heart rate, stress level, blood pressure, breathing, memory

You already know about “mindfulness,” that buzz word that often appears in conversations about meditation and other strategies for fighting stress. It may seem that given the kind of our job as massage therapists, we would have mindfulness all figured out

Original guest post by Kenneth Zysk (University of Copenhagen)I this paper I should like to revisit a problem in the history of Indian medicine, which is yet to find a satisfactory resolution. The issue centres on when and where Āyurveda came into existence and from where all or part of it could have derived, in a word, the origins of Āyurveda.The Origins of ĀyurvedaAt the core of classical Āyurveda stands the aetiological theory of the three doṣas (tridoṣa), broadly defined as defilements of

This past week I've been in training: an experiential intensive on Sciatic nerve pinching, otherwise known as Sciatica.It all started on a day that consisted of seven hours of continuous driving. Three days later, another six hours of driving. But truth be told, it started before that. It's a spot that, muscularly, has given me a history of irritations. As a former dancer, my piriformis muscle has seen better days. Problem is, I'm an overly busy (stubborn?) mother of two with more

Tantra is a bridge between the old way of loving to a new possibility. It is a possibility that we have had glimpses of or maybe what we have just imagined was possible. Kindness and loving intimacy all day long. Lovemaking that was not only totally satisfying but that truly nourished you and made you happier and more peaceful.Tantra is a bridge from the relationships of the past that were often built on obligation or the need to have a partner – either to have children or simply be part of

Waking up in sweaty pajamas or breaking out in a heated flush (when everyone else in the room seems to be cool and comfortable) can be really disconcerting. But hot flashes aren’t just an annoying symptom of menopause. A new study finds that women who

Excruciating, painful, even up to a point that you would think it is sheer torture. That’s how it was to be on the operating table during the Middle Ages.Back in the days when painkillers and anesthetics were non-existent, how do ‘doctors’ remove an appendix or remove an aching tooth? And what is it that exactly occurred during this period in human history?Basically, the Middle Ages in European history lasted for about one thousand years, starting from the fall of the Western Roman Empire