Author: Shakti Wellness

What are the Chakras?

चक्र

 What does the word Chakra means?

The word Chakra (pronounced “cha”-“kra” with a resounding “ch”) is derives from the Sanskrit word  चक्र  which means “wheel”, “circle” or “cycle”. The Chakras symbolises endless rotation of shakti (energy) and is commonly described by many cultures as a “spinning wheel of light” also described as lotus flowers each with their distincts number of petals, colors, fragrances, sounds, etc.

Chakras, by definition, are energy centers within the human body that help to regulate all its processes, from organ function to the immune system and emotions with its function as a vortex of spinning energy interacting with various physiological and neurological systems in the body.

Of the 88,000 chakras within the human body, 7 are considered of principle importance and are referred to as the “major” or “main” chakras. Those 7 chakras are positioned throughout your body, from the base of your spine to the crown of your head. Each chakra has its own vibrational frequency, that is depicted through a specific chakra color, and governs specific functions.

Below is an extract from a most beautiful inspiring book called "The Song Of Your Life- Expect a Miracle" by Srila Bhagavata Bhusana Guru.

The 7 Major Chakras In The Human Body

FIRST CHAKRA  The Root Chakra – Health, Mental Firmness & Security

SECOND CHAKRA  The Sacral or Splenic Chakra – Sexuality, Clear & creative expression, Emotional Balance

THIRD CHAKRA The Solar Plexus Chakra – Personal Power & Will

FOURTH CHAKRA The Heart Chakra – Compassion & Self Sacrifice

FIFTH CHAKRA The Throat Chakra – Choice & Communication

SIXTH CHAKRA The Third Eye Chakra – Intelligence, Wisdom & Intuition

SEVENTH CHAKRA The Crown Chakra – Selflessness & Spirituality

              End of Extract from The Song Of Your Life

Chakras & The Human Body

As we explained each of the body’s major 7 chakras are associated with specific locations on the body, such as the heart and crown of the head. The Chakra system is believed to govern and influence an underlying network of glands and their nearby organs.

These 7 chakra symbols are vital to our health. Negative feelings hamper the spin of these chakras, resulting in sickness and disease. This vital energy center that resides in our bodies is not detectable by most modern medical means. Therefore modern western medicine does not support the existence of chakras, that is why a majority of North Americans have never heard of them. But the eastern nations, as well as aboriginal and tribal people all over the world, are not only aware of these chakra symbols and what they are capable of doing, but have created visual pictures of the chakra symbols..

Not all cultures visualize the chakra symbols the same. What does seem universal is that the colors appear to be mostly consistent, and the higher chakras move more quickly than the lower chakras.

Unblocking, Balancing & Realigning Chakras

Wondering what healthy chakras feel like? The foundation to a healthy system consists in opening and balancing the chakras in order to create a sustainable, harmonious flow of energy. A number of practices aim at opening the chakras. They often originate from traditional schools of thoughts associated with Eastern spirituality, as well as modern healing modalities often derived from these practices.

When the chakra system functions properly, it is characterized by several properties:

  • Balance, overall equilibrium
  • Distinction between the different quality of energies or frequencies associated with each chakra
  • Appropriate intensity or level of energy of each chakra
  • Appropriate direction (clockwise or counterclockwise)
  • Appropriate polarity (inward and outward flow, or reception and expression)

Today’s chakra healing techniques are created by people coming from a broad range of fields from energy healing and holistic medicine, to fitness and psychology.

What does Chakras and Reiki have in commun?
Reiki is a spiritual practice originating from Japan that uses hands-on energy healing to support a person’s self-healing and balance. Reiki and the chakras have something in common: They relate to energy and how it functions in the human body. Reiki healing is a whole body healing approach that relies on the transmission of energy through the hands into the person who is the recipient.

 Shakti Wellness Chakra Balancing Prices:

* 60min Chakra Tuning………….…$105

*Add-on Chakra Balancing……….$30

To Book your Session with Shakti go to:

ShaktiWellness.Booksy.com

For more assistance text/call Shakti at:

650-906-4202

Or email:  harmonie4ever@me.com

In Conscious Health,

Shakti.

PS: To expedite the check in time during your visit at our Centre for your appointment you may go now to “Intake Form” page, print the respective form and fill it out to hand in at the front desk when you walk in.

Disclaimer: The information contained on this site is intended for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for advice, diagnosis or treatment by a licensed physician. It is not meant to cover all possible precautions, drug interactions, circumstances or adverse effects. You should seek prompt medical care for any health issues and consult your doctor before using alternative medicine or making a change to your regimen.

Deep Tissue Massage Therapy

What is Deep Tissue Massage?

Deep Tissue massage can aid in reducing chronic aches and pain and relieving stiff areas such as neck and upper back, low back pain, leg muscle tightness, and sore shoulders. A deep tissue massage session will begin as relaxing Swedish massage, with light and gentle strokes to warm up and prepare the muscles, we then gradually increase the level of pressure from medium to firm. Generally we favor slow strokes in order to reach deeper layers of muscle and the layers of connective tissue surrounding muscles called fascia.

What are the different techniques?

While Deep Tissue massage uses a deeper level of pressure to focus on the deepest layers of muscle tissue as well as the fascia (the protective layer surrounding muscles, bones and joints) it isn’t all about the pressure. We use specific techniques and angles to physically break down muscle knots or adhesions and break up connective tissue and scar tissue that can cause pain by disrupting circulation, creating more deposit of “crystals’ or lactic acid and toxins, limiting range of motion and causing inflammation.

Deep Tissue Massage Therapy may include and is not limited to the common techniques listed below:

Muscle Stripping – deep, gliding pressure along the length of the muscle fibers using the elbow, forearm, knuckles, and thumbs. Can be done on extended or flexed muscles.

Cross Fiber Friction – pressure applied across the grain of a muscle rather than moving with them to release adhesions and realign tissue fibers. This technique improves mobility, range of motion and reduce scarring within the soft tissue structures of ligament, tendon, and muscle after an injury. It also reduces the crystalline roughness that forms between tendons and their sheaths that can result in painful tendonitis.

Active Stretches – also called PNF (Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation) or MET (Muscle energy technique) Where the patient is asked to contract the muscle against static resistance (usually supplied by the therapist). The client is guided through a series of muscle contractions followed by periods of muscle relaxation. This is an effective approach based on the principle of reciprocal inhibition, a theory that explains that muscles on one side of a joint will always relax to accommodate the contraction of muscles on the other side of that joint when indirect pressure is applied. MET is often applied to patients who suffer from muscle spasms.

Passive Stretches – This is simply when the therapist will release and lengthen different muscles and muscle groups by slowly stretching them while the patient remains completely relaxed and unengaged.

Static pressure –  In this technique, the therapist uses their elbows, their knuckles, their thumbs or their fingertips to apply firm pressure on tissues in the body. The motion must be very, very slow in order to properly penetrate each muscle.

Negative pressure– In this technique, the therapist uses suction cups to expand the muscles and separate them so that toxins and metabolic waste, stagnant blood and lymphatic fluids can flow easily as they are released.

Trigger Point Therapy – A trigger point is the contraction mechanism of the muscle locked into a shortened position, the treatment of the trigger point involves unlocking that contraction mechanism. This can be achieved by applying pressure with a finger or other instrument to the trigger point and increasing the pressure as the trigger point “release” and softens. There are a number of variations on this technique and a skilled therapist will choose which is right for each patient and muscle treated.

Myofascial Release – The word myofascial means muscle tissue (myo) and the connective tissue in and around it (fascia). Myofascial pain often results from muscle injury or repetitive strain. When stressed or injured, muscles often form trigger points, like contracted knots, that cause pain and tightness. Therefore Trigger point therapy will induce myofascial release. Gentle superficial stretches held for 2 minutes or more can also penetrate through many deeper layers and aid in releasing the fascia.

 

What are the Benefits?

We have seen this modality significantly reduces stress hormone levels and heart rate while boosting mood and relaxation by triggering the release of oxytocin and serotonin in the body. (Serotonin is a feel-good hormone that promotes the feeling of happiness in a person). Additionally, it has been reported that a single 60 minute deep tissue massage can lower blood pressure.

But when it comes to deep Tissue Massage Therapy we usually focuses on a specific problem such as:

  • Chronic muscle pain
  • Injury rehabilitation  and sport concerns (e.g. whiplash, falls)
  • Repetitive strain injury, such as carpal tunnel syndrome
  • Postural problems
  • Piriformis syndrome (pain caused by sciatica)
  • Low back, upper back or neck pain
  • Limited mobility
  • Muscle tension in the hamstrings, glutes, IT band, legs, quadriceps, trapezius, rhomboids, etc
  • Osteoarthritis pain
  • Tennis elbow
  • Fibromyalgia

According to Consumer Reports magazine, 34,000 people ranked deep tissue massage more effective in relieving osteoarthritis pain than physical therapy, exercise, prescription medications, chiropractic, acupuncture, diet, glucosamine, and over-the-counter drugs.

Will a Deep Tissue Massage Hurt?

At certain points during the massage, you may feel some discomfort or even some pain as the massage therapist works on areas where there are adhesions or scar tissue…to your surprise you may also find yourself thinking “Hmm it hurts so good!”.

However your therapist should aim to work around that fine line and you should always report immediately if you feel pain during the massage. The therapist can easily adjust the technique, the level of pressure or further prep the tissues if the superficial muscles are tense.

This is not a “No Pain No Gain” situation! Pain is not necessarily a sign that the massage is working. In fact, your body may tense up and offer resistance by contracting the muscle in response to pain,  making it harder for the therapist to reach deeper muscles.

What Can I Expect During My Visit?

After an assessment you will be told the proposed plan of action for the massage treatment.

You may be asked to observe your breathing pattern at specific times as the massage therapist works on tense areas. Your therapist will ask you several times if you are comfortable with the level of pressure.

After this type of massage, it is common to feel some stiffness or soreness, but it should subside within a day or so.

Drinking plenty water after the massage may help to flush the metabolic waste from the tissues allowing your to fully reap the benefit of this modality and make you feel better longer.

Be sure to contact your massage therapist to report any concerns or positive feedback as well!

Precautions

Deep tissue massage may not be safe for people with certain conditions. PLEASE OBTAIN YOUR DOCTOR’S APPROVAL FIRST if:

  • You have or are at risk of having blood clots (e.g. thrombophlebitis or deep vein thrombosis) due to the risk that they may become dislodged. .
  • If you’ve had recent surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, or any other medical procedure..

Massage should not be done directly over bruises, inflamed or infected skin, skin rashes, unhealed or open wounds, tumors, abdominal hernia, fragile bones, or areas of recent fractures. Some people with osteoporosis should avoid the deeper pressure of this type of massage. Certain conditions, such as ankylosing spondylitis, may not be able to tolerate the pain of a deep tissue massage.

If you have any conditions and in doubt if massage isn’t recommended for you please consult your primary care provider beforehand.

Possible Side Effects

Deep tissue massage may result in bruising, however during my 18 years long career I have personally never gotten feedback reporting bruises.

Case reports have reported venous thromboembolism, spinal accessory neuropathy, hepatic hematoma, and posterior interosseous syndrome after deep tissue massage.

Book your Massage with Shakti at:

ShaktiWellness.Booksy.com

For more assistance text/call Shakti at: 650-906-4202

Or email:   harmonie4ever@me.com

Your Partner in Health and Consciousness,

Shakti.

PS: To expedite the check in time during your visit at our Centre for your appointment you may go now to “Intake Form” page, print the respective form and fill it out to hand in at the front desk when you walk in.

Disclaimer: The information contained on this site is intended for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for advice, diagnosis or treatment by a licensed physician. It is not meant to cover all possible precautions, drug interactions, circumstances or adverse effects. You should seek prompt medical care for any health issues and consult your doctor before using alternative medicine or making a change to your regimen.

Pregnancy Massage

Massage for the expecting mother

prenatal

Massage during pregnancy, labor, and postpartum has a long and honorable tradition. Historical accounts of midwifery and childbearing practices demonstrate the use of manual assistance during labor and birth. Many traditional cultures used massage throughout the childbearing months to maintain optimal maternal and fetal health, prepare the gravida (pregnant woman) for labor, and ensure a speedy recovery. One of the greatest enemies of a healthy pregnancy is stress. Stress not only adversely affects the maternal physiology and emotional experience of pregnancy but also can have harmful effects on the in utero environment and fetal growth. Massage is one of the safest and most effective ways to reduce tension, stress, and anxiety. Additional benefits of prenatal massage include decreasing chronic muscle tension, increasing venous and lymphatic circulation, reducing swelling, easing varicose veins, normalizing blood pressure, and fostering deep breathing. Massage supports the dynamic physical and emotional changes of pregnancy.

Prenatal Massage Benefits

■ Reduces tension, stress, and anxiety

■ Supports a healthy in utero environment

■ Decreases chronic muscle tension, restores postural balance, normalizes joint range of motion

■ Speeds up venous and lymph circulation, brings nutrients to tissues and eliminates waste products, reduces swelling, eases varicose veins, normalizes blood pressure

■ Fosters deeper breathing, enhances internal respiration

■ Minimizes nausea, stimulates peristaltic activity

■ Elevates mood, encourages loving maternal care

■ Reduces pain

■ Treats the common discomforts of pregnancy

■ Prepares the woman physically, emotionally, and mentally for labor Prenatal massage practitioners can employ other useful adjunctive tools and skills to help their pregnant clientele. Educational materials, a nonjudgmental environment, exercise suggestions, and dietary tips — those within the scope of practice — can provide a more holistic approach to the bodyworker’s nurturing hands-on care.

To book your Pregnancy Massage Session with Shakti go to:

ShaktiWellness.Booksy.com

For more assistance text/call Shakti at:
650-906-4202

Or email harmonie4ever@me.com

Your Partner in Health and Consciousness,

Shakti.

PS: To expedite the check in time during your visit at our salon for your appointment you may go now to “Intake Form” page, print the respective form and fill it out to hand in at the front desk when you walk in.

Disclaimer: The information contained on this site is intended for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for advice, diagnosis or treatment by a licensed physician. It is not meant to cover all possible precautions, drug interactions, circumstances or adverse effects. You should seek prompt medical care for any health issues and consult your doctor before using alternative medicine or making a change to your regimen.