Below are Gina’s specialties:

Polarity Therapy

Polarity Therapy is a gentle energetic bodywork session.  Polarity is like driving your energetic self through a car wash.  As we go through our daily lives our energetic systems get dirty, just as your car does from normal weather changes.  Receiving Polarity will help you to attract what you desire and release what no longer serves you.  This 75 minute session is $95.

Hot Shell Massage

Hot Shell Massage is a relaxing, full body session that uses large sea shells with heat from within to relax your muscles and your mind.  The heat relaxes the muscles and the shell can be used to focus on the most tense areas  This 60 minute session is $95.

Salt/Sugar Glow Massage

Salt/Sugar Glow Massage is a session using moist heat, finely ground sea salt or sugar and oil to exfoliate the skin.  The second half of the treatment is a Swedish Massage with lotion application to leave you feeling smooth and silky.  This service is 90 minutes and is $120.

Foot Soak

Tired feat?  Indulge with an essential oil lower leg and foot massage.  Enjoy a cup of herbal tea & warm neck wrap while your feet soak and then enjoy a delightful session for your tootsies!  This wonderful service is 45 minutes for $50.

Gina can also provide you with a traditional Deep Tissue Massage or Swedish Massage for our regular price of $75 for 60 minutes.

Pregnancy Massage is available.

Gina is with us every Wednesday from 9-4 p.m.

-The Spa at Richard Francis

508-881-4003

A deep tissue massage is different from the typical Swedish massage because it works the deeper layers of your muscles in order to relieve tension and release toxins. Since a deep tissue massage will release many of the toxins hidden in your muscles, it is important to drink water before and after the deep tissue massage to assist in removing these toxins from your body faster.

Along with the recommendation to stay hydrated, the following article gives additional advice on preparing for your next deep tissue massage.

How to Prepare for a Deep Tissue Massage

A deep tissue massage varies greatly from a Swedish or sports massage. While the goal of a Swedish massage is to use long strokes to relax you, a deep tissue massage uses forceful, deep strokes in order to work deeper muscles and connective tissues. The goal of a deep tissue massage is to target deep muscles and break up knots, improve muscle positions and release built-up toxins.

Step 1

Do research to find a good massage therapist. Call massage businesses in your area to inquire about a the credentials of their staff. In addition to a certificate and license to practice massage, ask about how long the individual has been performing massage services. You could also ask your doctor to recommend a therapist.

Step 2

Prepare relevant health information for the therapist. A deep tissue massage can be somewhat uncomfortable. If you have any pain in your body or injuries, this is information the therapist will need to know. Preparing the information ahead of time will ensure you do not forget anything when you are at your appointment. You may also choose to include information pertaining to any allergies you have or preferences on aromatherapy scents.

Step 3

Drink water. Deep tissue massages are designed to break up knots and adjust your muscles. They also release toxins from the muscles, which might make you feel fatigued or nauseated after a massage. Staying well hydrated by drinking water before and after the massage will help alleviate these symptoms.

Step 4

Take a warm shower before the massage to loosen up your muscles and help put you in a relaxed state. A fresh, clean body will also make the experience more pleasant for your massage therapist.

Step 5

Wear loose, comfortable clothing to the massage appointment. This will help you continue to feel relaxed and make the process of undressing easier. You may also feel sore or tender following the massage, so loose clothing will be more comfortable to wear.

It is important that you keep the above steps in mind the next time that you schedule a deep tissue massage. You may also want to be sure that you have time to stop at home and shower after your deep tissue massage, as you may feel the need to wash the massage oils from your skin and hair. We want you to have the best experience possible during your deep tissue massage, and this advice will help you get the most out of your experience.

A deep tissue massage is typically used on those with more chronic muscle pains, while a Swedish massage is meant to help the body relax. It is important that you provide the massage therapist with relevant medical information before your deep tissue massage to ensure that it is the correct massage type for your body. Contact the Richard Francis Spa and Salon to see which type of massage therapy would benefit you and schedule your Swedish or deep tissue massage today.

Dry skin can not only be unbecoming, but painful as well. Preventing dry skin is crucial for the cold season, but sometimes merely applying moisturizers doesn’t cut it… There are a variety of ways that you can care for your skin this season to eliminate any threat of dry skin.

Dry skin appears during the winter months thanks to the harsh winds and parched air, so be sure that you know the right methods to defend against dry skin.

Take a look at these tips from WebMD for caring for your body and preventing dry skin during the cold months. There are so many ways to enjoy the wintertime without having to worry about dry skin, so continue reading to learn how to avoid dry skin woes this season.

Skin Care for Dry Skin

Dry skin often shows up as rough, red, and itchy patches in places of the body that show — arms, hands, lower legs, ankles. It’s also common on the soles of the feet, the thighs, and the abdomen.

Making a few adjustments to your daily skin care routine often helps. No matter what the cause, there are many things you can do to make dry skin smooth and supple.

Care Strategies for Dry Skin When You Wash

Try these tips for the bath or shower:

• Skip long, hot showers. Hot water strips oils from the skin faster than warm water. Long showers or baths actually dry out your skin. Limit yourself to a single 5- or 10-minute warm shower or bath a day.
• Use a gentle cleanser or shower gel with moisturizer. Instead of harsh cleansers, go for unscented, soap-free, or mild soap cleansers..
• Moisturize while skin is still moist. Pat your skin with a towel after you shower or wash your face or hands, leaving it damp. Apply a moisturizer within three to five minutes of washing to lock moisture in.

What to Look for in a Moisturizer

You don’t have to pay a fortune for a good, rich moisturizer. Read the label. Ingredients that may be helpful for dry skin include:

• Ceramides. Ceramides help the skin hold water and soothe dry skin. Synthetic ceramides may mimic the natural substances in the outermost layer of skin that help keep moisture in.
• Dimethicone and glycerin. These draw water to the skin and keep it there.
• Hyaluronic acid. Like ceramides, hyaluronic acid helps skin hold water.
• Lanolin, mineral oil, and petroleum jelly. These help skin hold on to water absorbed during bathing.

Be sure to apply sunscreen to areas of your body that are exposed to the sun during the day. Look for a sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or more that says “broad spectrum” on the label.

5 Lifestyle Tips for Relieving Dry Skin

These strategies can also help make your skin supple and smooth:

• Plug in a humidifier at home to help keep skin hydrated during winter months when indoor air is dry.
• Wear cotton and other natural fibers. Wool, synthetics, or other fabrics can be scratchy and irritating.
• Drink plenty of water.
• Eat omega-3 foods. Essential fatty acids can help fortify the skin’s natural oil-retaining barriers. Foods rich in omega-3 include cold-water fish (salmon, halibut, sardines), flax, walnuts, and safflower oil.
• For itching or inflammation, apply a cool compress or a hydrocortisone cream on the area for a week. If these don’t provide relief, talk to your doctor.

These helpful tips for beating dry skin in the winter are sure to help create glowing smiles. It’s a common notion that when your body feels good, you feel good as well, so arm yourself with these guidelines on how to defeat dry skin throughout the frosty months. The weather outside may be frightful, but your skin doesn’t have to be. Dry skin can easily be avoided with these routines.

Feeling like your dry skin needs a little extra pampering? All are more than welcome to stop by Richard Francis Salon and Spa for more dry skin tips or to get a facial or professional skin care products to beat dry skin.

Flat hair is a common problem among those with a finer hair texture. Certain factors, such as hair products or hairstyle, can contribute to the epidemic of flat hair.

Thankfully, a variety of tricks exist to help fix your flat hair. If you struggle to add volume to your flat hair, then this article is for you. You will learn what products actually revive flat hair and which hair styling habits that you have may be promoting flat hair.

Learn more about handy flat hair fixes from the following article quoted from About.com. With the right types of products and hair styling, soon your flat hair will be no more.

Flat Hair Fixes

How to Give Your Fine Hair More Body

I have a head full of fine hair. This means the diameter of my hair strands is smaller than average. This also means that my hair, though thick with body, can fall flat and lifeless with the wrong haircut or product (hello, conditioner on the roots!).

In honor of my hair and yours — assuming you are here because you also have fine, flat and perhaps lifeless hair — I’ve written up every single flat hair fix I know about. From the right haircuts to the best products, to styling tips (oh, how I love ye, oh rounded brush) and much more, you’ll never be more informed about flat hair. Trust me.

Here’s to bouncier days ahead.

Why Layers Aren’t Always Better

I’ve had my share of bad haircuts. My biggest pet peeve is when a stylist thins out my thick, fine hair with overzealous razoring, leaving me with loads of layers and wispy, anemic hair. I believe they believe they are giving my hair “movement” and “body,” but what happens is my hair falls limp and lifeless and I leave the salon looking like someone placed a helmet of hair upon my head.

Now when I get a haircut, I ask my stylist to keep as much of the thickness as possible. I explain that people pay money to have a thick head of hair like mine, so please do not thin mine out. Turns out my instincts were right.

“A one-length cut makes hair look its thickest,” says NYC hairstylist Garren in InStyle magazine. “Too many layers can look stringy.”

And then there’s this from celebrity stylist Ted Gibson. “Keep your hair at a one-length shape. It will add strength and volume to your hair,” says Gibson on the Stylelist Website. “If you put in a lot of layers, what ends up happening is that it has no shape.”

Oh, the Benefits of a Good Haircut

The longer thin, fine hair gets, the flatter it lays. It’s just a sad fact of physics. Want the most body for your fine hair? Keep your hair’s length above the collarbone. The shorter the hair, the more body it will have.

Personally, I love a swingy, shoulder-length cut with the back just a bit shorter than the front, (think “long bob“), but bobs and pixies also work well with fine hair.

How to Go Long Without Your Hair Going Flat

If you absolutely, definitely want to keep your hair longer than your collarbone, then consider these tips:

1. Layers. If you have fine hair, but loads of it, a few layers will add body and movement. But if you have fine hair and not so much of it, the fewer layers the better (see the above section). Ask your stylist to angle a few pieces around your face.
2. Bangs. Bangs give the allusion of fullness and can add body to your hair. Consider cutting in sideswept bangs, fringe or blunt bangs.
3. Consider extensions. Extensions aren’t just for celebrities anymore. More and more women are opting for permanent extensions and clip-ons to add fullness and body to otherwise limp hair. Just make sure to find a reputable stylist who’s experienced with extensions. Do keep in mind that extensions can damage your own hair, but women who try them say it’s worth it.

The Importance of a Good Shampoo

Fine hair can get weighed down by creamy shampoos. Gentle shampoos marked for volume and daily or frequent washing are your best bets. The product should be clear, not thick and creamy. To combat build-up, wash once a week with a clarifying shampoo or rinse hair with a mixture of 1/3 apple cider vinegar and 2/3rds water.

See a list of the Best Shampoos, Conditioners for Fine Hair.

Yes, You Can Use Conditioner. Just Do It Correctly

Since fine hair can be susceptible to knots and tangles, you should use a light (emphasis on “light”) conditioner in the shower. I recommend you condition before you shampoo, however, because sometimes conditioners can leave a residue on hair and the shampoo will take care of that.

Apply conditioner only on the bottom 3/4ths of hair. If you condition the scalp, you will weigh down flat hair even more. Been there, done that.

I include conditioners in this list of the Best Shampoos, Conditioners for Fine Hair.

Make Sure Your Cabinet is Stocked With the Right Products

The right volumizing products can add body to flat hair. Look for products labeled “volumizing” or “adds body.” For best results, New York hairstylist Garren recommends massaging volumizing spray or lotion into the roots of partially dry hair. You can also spray your crown and then comb the product through with a wide-tooth comb. Just be careful not to overuse product, because too much can actually weigh hair down, rather than lift it.

Use creamy pomades and shine serums sparingly and never near the scalp or roots. If you need to use a pomade or serum to tame frizz, use the “palm method”: put a pea- or dime-sized amount in the palm of your hand, rub palms together and then “palm” the product only on the areas that need it most.

See my list of the Top Volumizing Products for Fine Hair.

Why Baby Powder — or Dry Shampoo — Can Change Your Life

Baby powder has been a staple in my beauty closet for years. Whenever I have oily hair days I sprinkle a bit of baby powder on my brush and brush it into my roots and along the crown. Just make sure to brush the powder in so there’s no white residue.

If you have darker hair or hate the smell of baby powder, there are a million great dry shampoos on the market.

Hair Color Actually Boosts Volume

I find my hair is at it’s thickest in the couple weeks after I get it colored. My colorist at Eva Scrivo Salon says it’s because the dyes mess with the cuticle, plumping it up. (Or something like that). Anyway, it works, trust me.

A Good Blowdry Can Last a Long Time

If you’ve ever had a great blowdry at the salon you know a good one can last a 2-3 days, even on oily hair. You can actually give yourself a salon-quality blowdry as long as you have the right products and tools.

Here are my blow-dry tips:

• When it comes to fine hair, a “rough dry” is key. Remove the nozzle attachment to your dryer (it concentrates heat and can flatten hair) and blast the air all over the hair while roughening up the roots with your fingers. Turn upside down for a few seconds to give hair extra body.
• Once hair is dry, blast your entire head with cool air. “This creates fullness and loosens up the blow-dry,” according to hairstylist Nathaniel Hawkins in Allure magazine.

For detailed instruction, see The Perfect Blowout — How to Blow Dry Your Hair.

Yes, Your Hairbrush Matters

I like a metal vented round brush for my blow dries. The metal conducts heat, while the vents circulate it. Hairstylist Ted Gibson recommends round brushes with a mix of boar and nylon bristles. “The combination of the two smoothes and detangles, and creates volume,” Gibson says in InStyle magazine.

When drying hair with a brush, pull hair up with the brush and blast heat underneath to add body. Finish the ends off by rounding under. You can also blow dry with a paddle brush and then end with the rounded brush.

See my list of The Best Hairbrushes.

Air Drying Can Add Volume

Fine hair can be brittle hair, so the less amount of time spent with the blowdryer the better. This means letting hair air dry as much as possible. Blot hair dry with a towel after a shower and comb in a root booster or volumizing spray at the crown, then let hair air dry. You can roughen up hair at the crown or scrunch hair in the palm of your hands to give hair a natural beachy wave effect.

Once hair dries, you may find it falls flat within a few hours. Instead of applying more product, simply wet your fingers with water and massage your scalp and along the crown to reactivate the product you put in after you washed your hair.

You can also wash your hair at night and wake up with hair full of body, ala Heidi Klum: “Sometimes when I wake up in the morning, I don’t even brush my hair,” Klum says on the Website StyleList. “My trick is to wash my hair at night and fall asleep with my hair wet. Then I roll around in the pillow and I wake up and my hair looks perfectly messy.”

How to Properly Tease Hair

Nothing quite builds body in fine hair like a proper teasing job. When it comes to teasing, “be sure to fully remove the teeth of the rattail comb from your hair after each precise, downward stroke,” says Dove hairstylist Mark Townsend in Allure magazine. “That way, you’re actually building up the mass of hair, not just pushing it around.”

For more details, see How to Tease Hair.

How to Make Curls Last

Fine hair and curls. Oh my. While nothing gives hair body like a perfect curl it’s true that curls seem to wilt like flowers on the vine if you don’t prep them beforehand with a styling spray and then set them after with hairspray.

I give you all the curling tips you need for sexy curls in How to Curl Hair: The Secret to Sexy, “Beachy” Waves.

Invest in a Few Fat Rollers

Huge, fat rollers are a stylist’s best friend.

“Many hairstylists set their clients’ hair in curlers no matter what style they’re going for, from updos to long waves,” says Garren in InStyle magazine. “They give the hair a lush fullness you can’t get otherwise.”

To use rollers, Garren recommends first rough-drying hair, then rolling 2-inch sections of hair from the ends all the way to the roots. Hair should be fully dry before you remove the rollers. Loosen the curl with your fingers.

With a new combination of the right hairbrush, shampoo, volumizing products, and a style that works with your fine hair, you will no longer have to deal with flat hair. Consider experimenting with an assortment of techniques to see which best eliminates your flat hair problems.

The stylists at Richard Francis Salon & Spa are well-versed in creating unique hairstyles that match the needs of all different types and textures of hair. If you desire more advice on flat hair or are looking for a new, volumizing haircut, then please contact us.

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 4th 6:00 pm to 8:30 pm.

Events are complimentary to all friends, family and guests of The Spa & Salon at Richard Francis. Join us for merriment and cheer and the best refreshments! Save the date and bring your friends!

The Evening’s Entertainment

• Complimentary Chair Massage
• Complimentary Hand Paraffin Dip
• Complimentary Angel Card Readings by Pat Rainville, Angel Therapy Practitioner
• Complimentary Zero Gravity Chair demonstrations
• Acupuncture Demonstrations by Root and Branch of Hopkinton.
• Makeup by Jane Iredale demos (Contact us if you are interested in being a model!)

We would love to see you here for a wonderful evening! Please bring your friends, family and those who love you!

The Spa at Richard Francis  508-881-4003
The Richard Francis Salon, 508-881-4004
15 West Union Street, Ashland

There are so many facial products and creams to choose from, and they all offer different remedies according to skin type. Your skin type is a part of your physical makeup that cannot be changed, but with the right tools you can learn to care for your face in the proper manner.

There are five basic types of skin that require different types of treatment. Before buying products or using home remedies, know your skin type so that you can bring benefits to your face. A dry skin type will require more moisturizing than an oily skin type, but that does not necessarily that those with an oily skin type should avoid moisturizer altogether.

AllWomensTalk.com offers a simple trick to learning your skin type below. Take the proper measures to preserve facial beauty by learning all about your skin type and know the tips and tricks to working with your skin type instead of against it.

5 BASIC SKIN TYPES – WHICH SKIN TYPE DO YOU HAVE ..?

Knowing your skin type is absolutely necessary in order to make a right decision about a proper skin care or treatment, which is suitable for your particular skin needs. The initial quality, or type, of your skin is genetically determined – meaning that you are born with it.

However, the health and beauty of your skin later in life largely depends on what you eat and how you take care of yourself. A popular Russian saying states that, after the age of 30, a woman looks the way she deserves …To always look great, the first step is to determine your skin type so that you can match it with the best recommended methods to improve your look and slow the aging process.
Generally, we can single out five basic skin types: normal, dry, oily, combination, and sensitive, with each having particular characteristics and requiring specific care and/or treatment.

To determine your type, use a simple test with a clean facial tissue (or paper) to wipe your face in the morning, when you have just woken up:

1. NORMAL SKIN

If you skin belongs to a normal type, the tissue will not reveal any traces of oil. Your skin should feel vibrant, elastic, and supple. Normal skin is the least problematic type.

It looks clean and smooth and has a good circulation and healthy complexion. Even with a minimum care, it will look good well into your advanced age.

2. DRY SKIN

If your skin is dry, the paper will be clean, too, but your face skin will feel flaky, dry, and tight after you have wiped it.

Dry skin can easily develop a sallow tone, wrinkles, and fine pores, and it is very prone to aging and irritating. It might still look great on a young person, but, to keep it healthy, you should apply thorough care and use regular skin or beauty treatment with natural masks and moisturizers.

3. OILY SKIN

If you have oily skin, the paper will have spots of facial oil on it, corresponding to the areas of your cheeks, nose, and forehead. Oily skin is problematic – it usually looks greasy, thick, coarse, and shiny, has enlarged pores, and tends to break into acne.

A good thing, though, is that oily skin is not prone much to aging and wrinkling. Careful cleaning, minimizing of carbohydrate consumption, and avoiding rich creams can be helpful in improving the quality of oily skin.

4. COMBINATION SKIN

If you skin is combination, like that of most women, the tissue will have traces of oil coming from your nose and forehead, but will be clean in the areas that touched your cheeks.

Combination skin has patches of both dry and oily skin, and it requires different types of care in relation to particular facial areas.

Dry zones, which are usually located on the cheeks and around the eyes, should be treated with rich creams and moisturizers, while oily areas, usually on the forehead and nose, will benefit from frequent and thorough cleaning.

5. SENSITIVE SKIN

Sensitive skin is usually very dry, tends to feel tight, and becomes inflamed and irritated easily. Typically, sensitive skin develops reddish and scaly areas, can be itchy and tingly, and is prone to breaking into spots. It is the most problematic and fragile type of skin, which needs a very special type of care. To get the right body products for this skin type too requires great research.

Now that you’ve familiarized yourself with the five basic skin types, you can purchase the appropriate products for your face. Daily moisturizing is a great idea for any skin type, as it will keep your skin healthy and evenly nourished. Instead of avoiding moisturizer, choose makeup and other skin care products that are tailored to your skin type. Radiant skin will soon be a reality when you take care of your skin type.

Get a second opinion on your skin with a relaxing facial or product recommendations by contacting the Richard Francis Salon. We offer a wide variety of facials that can be used to the benefit whatever skin type you have. Learn about and manage your skin type so you can look and feel good for years to come with the occasional facial to give you that extra boost of confidence.

The hot stone massage uses heat to help loosen muscles and improve circulation. A hot stone massage is also popular among those inflicted with certain health conditions. The hot stone massage is not necessarily much different from a basic massage, aside from the massage therapist placing warm stones on your skin during the session. The massage therapist may use the stones in place of their hands during a hot stone massage.

So why would you want to get a hot stone massage over a different type of spa service? Well, the hot stone massage has certain mental and physical health benefits that are not as prevalent in a basic massage.

The following article from About.com delves deeper into why many people prefer a hot stone massage to a classic one.

What is a Hot Stone Massage?

Hot stone massage is a variation on classic massage therapy. Heated smooth, flat stones are placed on key points on the body. The massage therapist may also hold the stones and use them to massage certain areas of the body.

The use of hot stones for healing dates back to ancient times, but it wasn’t until Arizona massage therapist Mary Nelson introduced her hot stone massage technique, called LaStone Therapy, that the use of hot stones for massage caught on.

Nelson conducts workshops to train other massage therapists in LaStone. While LaStone continues to be popular, massage therapists and spas have also developed their own versions of the hot stone massage using heated, smooth rocks.

How Does Hot Stone Massage Work?

The hot stones are usually made of basalt, a type of rock that is rich in iron, so they retain heat. River rocks are normally used because they are so smooth – they have been smoothed over time by the river’s current.

The stones are immersed in water and heated in an electric heating device until they are within a certain temperature range. The stones may be placed at specific points on the back, in the palms of the hand, or between the toes.

The heat warms and relaxes the muscles, which allows the therapist to apply deeper pressure, if desired.

The warmth of the hot stones improves circulation and calms the nervous system.

Some massage therapists place stones on points that are thought to be energy centers of the body to rebalance the body and mind.

Why Do People Get Hot Stone Massage?

Many people find the warmth of the hot stones to be comforting and get it for relaxation.

Hot stone massage is suited to people who tend to feel chilly or who have cold feet. It’s also suited for people who have muscle tension but prefer a lighter massage. The heat relaxes muscles, allowing the therapist to work the muscles without using deep pressure.

People also get hot stone massage for a variety of health conditions:

• Back pain and aches
• Poor circulation
• Osteoarthritis and arthritis pain
• Stress, anxiety and tension
• Insomnia
• Depression

How Do the Hot Stones Feel?

The hot stones are never rough. They are always flat and smooth. The hot stones used on the back are about the size of a large egg, only flat.

The stones are heated in an electrical heating unit that either provides a temperature reading or has an adjustable thermostat control.

The massage therapist always holds the stones first before touching them to your body, which ensures that the temperature will not be too hot. Everyone, however, has their own comfort range. Be sure to speak up if the stones are too hot for you.

Cool marble stones are occasionally used during a treatment, particularly if there is inflammation.

What Can I Expect During my Hot Stone Massage?

The massage therapist often begins by applying oil to the body, which allows the hot stones to glide smoothly along the muscles. You are lying face down, and the massage therapist often then uses the hot stones to massage the back.

After the hot stones have relaxed the muscles, the massage therapist may put down the stones and use his or her hands to directly massage the skin.

The hot stones may then be placed back on to the body and left for a short period of time.

You are then asked to turn over onto your back. The massage therapist may place small hot stones between your toes or in the palm of your hand and repeats the sequence.

A typical hot stone massage is between 60 and 90 minutes long and ranges between $50 and $190.

Precautions

Massage is not recommended for certain people:

• People with infectious skin disease, rash, or open wounds
• Immediately after surgery
• Immediately after chemotherapy or radiation, unless recommended by your doctor
• People prone to blood clots. There is a risk of blood clots being dislodged. If you have heart disease, check with your doctor before having a massage
• Pregnant women should check with their doctor first if they are considering getting a massage. Massage in pregnant women should be done by massage therapists who are certified in pregnancy massage.

Massage should not be done directly over bruises, inflamed skin, unhealed wounds, tumors, abdominal hernia, or areas of recent fractures.

Additional Hot Stone Massage Tips

• Don’t eat a heavy meal before the massage
• If it’s your first time at the clinic or spa, arrive at least 10 minutes early to complete the necessary forms. Otherwise, arrive 5 minutes early so you can have a few minutes to rest and relax before starting the massage.

While a hot stone massage not may be for everyone, certain people with specific conditions can greatly benefit from a hot stone massage. However, even if you just enjoy the warmth of the stones on your back, the hot stone massage can be a comforting and relaxing option.

If you are interested in receiving a hot stone massage, please contact us at Richard Francis Spa. We can also answer any questions that you may have about our hot stone massage.

With the wrong color, your face can look washed out. So, finding the correct lipstick color for your skin tone is an important beauty tool.

Many people who receive massages fail to acknowledge and harvest the psychological benefits of massage therapy. Enjoying massage therapy will release tension in your mind, creating a better sense of awareness yet simultaneously allowing clearer thinking, better sleep, and reduced anxiety. Give your body and mind a moment to stop in this fast-paced world we live in, with a session of massage therapy. You will notice the benefits of massage therapy immediately. The rejuvenating feeling of massage therapy helps cope with your daily worries. The following article from Livestrong explains the psychological benefits of massage therapy.

Psychological Benefits of Massage Therapy

Massage therapy is offered in numerous different ways including business, clinics, hospitals and in private homes. The Mayo Clinic defines massage as a general term for pressing, rubbing and manipulating your skin, muscles, tendons and ligaments. Massage therapists will use their hands and fingers for massage and the intensity may range from light stroking to deep pressure techniques. The most common types of massage are swedish, deep tissue, sports and trigger point. All types offer physical and psychological benefits including stress relief and muscle relaxation.

Depression Relief
Depression is quickly becoming a public health problem and is spreading in unmeasurable numbers. There are many treatments for depression but massage therapy may be one of the best. The National Health Institute claims that there is strong evidence to suggest that massage therapy is an effective treatment of depression. Massage therapy affects depression by reducing stress, adding relaxation, and building a relationship between the therapist and patient. Massage also causes the body to release the hormone oxytocin which is known to create bonding.

Reduce Anxiety
A new study from the National Institute of Health shows that patients, on average, had half the symptoms of anxiety three months after getting a series of 10 hour long massages. It is thought that the benefits of massage may be due to a generalized relaxation response. This relaxation response can control and even prevent anxiety from occurring.

Release Endorphins
Endorphins are the feel good hormone released by the body in times of joy and happiness. It is essentially the body’s natural pain killer. During massage endorphins are released leading to massage therapy being used for chronic illness, injury and recovery from surgery to control and relieve pain. Because of this release massage is also good for relief of pain for migraine sufferers.

During your next massage therapy session, indulge yourself in the psychological benefits of massage therapy. Give your mind a moment to unwind and release ongoing worries. Receiving regular treatment will amplify the physical and psychological benefits of massage therapy. Releasing tension on a consistent basis will help prevent tension from building initially. With each massage therapy session, you will create a greater sense of awareness throughout your body. You’ll feel a clearer sense of self.

Giving yourself a moment to relax is crucial for your overall health. Bottling up intense emotions and tensions is detrimental to ones wellbeing. Massage therapy is just one of the many ways that helps release inner tension. If you’re interested in experiencing massage therapy, give us a call. We’d love to help you relax!