What type of Massage should I choose?

Tired... In a need of a massage!! What type should I go for!!??

1)    Swedish Massage Therapy

We hear about it all the time, it is common! Swedish massage AKA Therapy massage.

The therapist uses long smith strokes & circular movements in the superficial part of the muscle, using a massage lotion or oil.

Swedish massage therapy can be very gentle and relaxing. If you've never had massage before, this is a good one to try first. 

2)    Aromatherapy Massage

This Massage is the therapy using one or more scented plant oils, which are known as essential oils, each addresses a specific need, such as relaxing, energizing, stress-reducing, balancing, etc.

And the most common aromatherapy massage is Lavender.

Aromatherapy massage is perfect for stress-related conditions or conditions with an emotional component.

3)    Hot Stone Massage

Heated, smooth stones, placed on certain points on the body to warm and loosen tight muscles and balance energy centers in the body.

The massage therapist may also hold stones and apply gentle pressure with them. The warmth is comforting. This massage is good for people who have muscle tension but prefer lighter massage.

4)    Deep Tissue Massage

Deep tissue massage manipulates the superficial and deeper layers of muscle and connective tissue using various techniques, to enhance function, aid in the healing process, decrease muscle reflex activity, inhibit motor-neuron excitability, promote relaxation and well-being, and as a recreational activity.

5)    Shiatsu

Shiatsu is a form of Japanese bodywork that uses localized finger pressure in a rhythmic sequence on acupuncture meridians.

Each point is held for two to eight seconds to improve the flow of energy and help the body regain balance.

People are normally pleasantly surprised when they try shiatsu for the first time. It is relaxing yet the pressure is firm, and there is usually no soreness afterwards.

6)    Thai Massage

Like shiatsu, Thai massage aligns the energies of the body using gentle pressure on specific points. Thai massage also includes compression and stretches.

You don't just lie there--the therapist moves and stretches you into a sequence of postures. It's like yoga without doing any work. Thai massage is more energizing than other forms of massage. It is also reduces stress and improves flexibility and range of motion. 

7)    Pregnancy Massage

Also called prenatal massage, pregnancy massage is becoming increasingly popular with expectant mothers. Massage therapists who are certified in pregnancy massage know the proper way to position and support the woman's body during the massage, and how to modify techniques.

Pregnancy massage is used to reduce stress, decrease swelling, relieve aches and pains, and reduce anxiety and depression. The massage is customized to a woman's individual needs. 

8)    Reflexology

Although reflexology is sometimes called foot massage, it is more than simple foot massage. Reflexology involves applying pressure to certain points on the foot that correspond to organs and systems in the body. Reflexology is very relaxing, especially for people who stand on their feet all day or just have tired, achy feet. 

9)    Sports Massage

Sports massage is specifically designed for people who are involved in physical activity. But you don't have to be a professional athlete to have one-it's also used by people who are active and work out often. The focus isn't on relaxation but on preventing and treating injury and enhancing athletic performance.

A combination of techniques are used. The strokes are generally faster than Swedish massage. Facilitated stretching is a common technique. It helps to loosen muscles and increase flexibility.

10)   Back Massage

Some massage clinics and spas offer 30-minute back massages. If a back massage is not expressly advertised, you can also book a 30- or 40-minute massage and ask that the massage therapist to focus on your back. 

What other types have you tried? tell us about your experience.

Steps to Have a Flat Belly

1.     Eat at this magic hour

"You must eat a snack that contains protein between 3 p.m. and 4 p.m. Go for a protein bar, a piece of low-fat cheese, or some almonds with an organic apple.

No matter what, do not miss that snack. It's important because it boosts metabolism and balances blood sugar. The lower you keep your blood sugar, the lower you keep your insulin, and insulin makes you store fat around your middle. Eating every three to four hours will keep your blood sugar even, but many people tend to go five or six hours between lunch and dinner without eating."

—Natasha Turner, naturopathic doctor, author of The Hormone Diet

also read: 10 Food to Burn Calories & lose weight

2.     Have a ball

"My No. 1 tip: Do the ball exchange three times a week. Lay flat on your back with your arms above your head and legs straight out. Start with a stability ball above your head in your hands. Bring the ball up above your chest as you bring your legs up to meet the ball and place it between your ankles. Bring the ball back down to the floor with your legs and straighten your arms back out over your head. 

Repeat the ball exchange 10 to 12 times, remembering to keep your lower back pressed into the floor as you do this move." 

—LaReine Chabut, author of Exercise Balls for Dummies

3.     Sugar Substitute

"Eat as close to zero grams of sugar as possible. This will keep insulin levels low and also keep levels of glucagon high. Glucagon, a hormone, is the best friend you could ever have in the struggle for a flat belly! Picture Ms. Pac-Man traveling around your waistline, gobbling up fat to be used as energy. That is glucagon.

The closer to zero grams of sugar you consume, the lower your insulin and the higher your glucagon...it's as simple as that."

—Jorge Cruise, author of The Belly Fat Cure.

4.     Chew on this

"Chewing is the No. 1 tip I give to prevent bloating. Chew food until it is like applesauce in your mouth. Digestion begins in the mouth, and without proper chewing, food is not well-digested. Better-digested food means less gas and bloating."

—Dawn Jackson Blatner, RD, author of The Flexitarian Diet

5.     Replace with sea salt

"The culprit making your tummy bloat? It could be the salt in your diet. Use natural sea salt or kosher salt, which is lower in sodium teaspoon for teaspoon than traditional table salts. And stay away from soy sauce: Even low-sodium soy sauce is still high in sodium and will cause practically instant bloating.

Instead, flavor your food with a little fresh tomato salsa or a hint of cayenne pepper, which has an added benefit of boosting metabolism."

—Susan Irby, "The Bikini Chef" and author of Substitute Yourself Skinny

6.     Punch it out and lose 2 inches fast

"Add boxing to your cardio routine. When you throw punches with weights or at a fast pace, you're working your core in a way that helps to flatten your midsection. You must engage your core to throw punches, and twisting your torso works all the ab muscles.

Boxing also gives you a cardio workout that burns extra calories. Add 16 minutes of boxing three times a week to your regular cardio routine (30 minutes at high intensity four to five times a week), and you can lose up to 2 inches from your waist in four weeks. Simply throw punches while holding 1- or 2-pound weights for 8 minutes, alternating arms, then repeat without weights at a faster pace for 8 more minutes."

—Michael Olajide Jr. and Leila Fazel, co-founders of Aerospace High Performance Center in New York City

7.     Flat-Belly Cheat

"Play up a different body part to draw attention from your middle.

If it's your legs, wear skirts or slim pants. Shoulders—bare them even if just a bit with a boatneck or sweetheart neckline. Cleavage? Make sure your bra does its job. If your bra rides up in the back, the bra has likely stretched out. If it accentuates back flab or if the space between the cups doesn’t lie flat, go up a size."

—Kim Johnson Gross, style expert and author of What to Wear for the Rest of Your Life

8.     Whole Grain

"Eating portion-controlled meals that include whole-grain foods and monounsaturated fats (MUFAs) throughout the day is the best way to eat for a flat belly: People who eat whole grains lose more abdominal fat. And making most of the fats you eat MUFAs reduces ab flab, research says." —Keri Glassman, RD, author of The O2 Diet and The Snack Factor Diet

9.     The ultimate flat-belly menu

Best breakfast: A slice of whole-wheat bread with natural peanut butter and 1 cup of your favorite berries.

Best lunch: Spinach salad with sliced avocado, grilled firm tofu, and cherry tomatoes, drizzled with a little olive oil and fresh lemon juice.

Best dinner: Grilled salmon, a roasted sweet potato, and sautéed asparagus with olive oil and garlic.

Best snack: A cup of fat-free yogurt with 2 tablespoons sunflower seeds.

10.     Laugh it up!

"The best thing for your abs is laughing. Every time you laugh it strengthens your abs. There are even laughing yoga classes (Go to Laughter Yoga to find a class near you). If you start busting a gust, you are absolutely toning your abs."

—Kristin McGee, Pilates expert

8 Essential Tips for a Healthy Hair in Fall and Winter

Summer is over! it left the damage cause by the sun and the sea salt! it also took the humidity and changed the weather, which left your hair lifeless and dry.

Need help in restoring the healthy shiny look to your hair? read the below tips!!

1. Trim it

It is essential to get rid of split ends in fall! split ends caused by summer rays are unlikely to recover .. it is also important to trim the ends every 2 months to avoid the dry look, as trimming the hair ends regularly is the best way to keep your hair healthy.

2. Go for oils and natural ingredients

This is not a  season-exclusive tip, it should be the general tip for a healthy hair of all times!
but you will need more natural ingredients in those 2 specific seasons, after the summer and the weather changes, not to mention the heavy usage of the SPF sprays, which is alcohol-based that actually strip your hair of nutrients and damage the protective layer of your scalp, which will leave you with a dry, lifeless hair, and itchy scalp.
using more natural ingredients will restore the shiny, healthy hair, and will prevent further itching and dryness.
olive, coconut, almond oils are you hair's best friends!

Read also – 7 Amazing Hair Masks You Can Make at Home

3. Tint it

In Summer, the sun is a natural effect of color blocking or ombré. Highlights look absolutely amazing on brown and blonde hair. However, the ends usually look a couple of shades lighter than the rest of the hair and the effect fade out in a month. So go for darker hues to even out the hair color and make the transition less visible. 

4. Always have heat protection products

Summer ponytails and other hairdos are very sparing for your hair, fall always means more hair dryer, iron and styling products, which are significantly harmful! DO NOT use you iron or hair styling product without a good heat shield to protect your hair. Using the heat protection products also helps holding you styling longer!

5. Use a clarifying shampoo

In fall hair gets greasy faster due to the residues of styling products. Not to mention the ordinary tap water which is chlorine build-up. So it would be great to have your hair professionally clarified, but If you cannot afford this costly treatment, invest in a good clarifying shampoo. By using a clarifying shampoo once every two weeks you will get absolutely clean and shiny hair. However, clarifying shampoos are drastic, so be careful not to strip hair of color if it is dyed.

6. Moisturize it

It's not unusual that itchy, dry skin comes with cold season, what you might not be aware of that the same happens to your hair. Fall is the season when your hair needs extra moisture,to adjust to temperature change. Deep moisturizing sessions work best after using a clarifying shampoo since your hair won’t feel heavy or oily. to keep your hair hydrated and restored for a long time and help to avoid dandruff, check the below link!

Read also – 7 Amazing Hair Masks You Can Make at Home

7. Headgear 

Most people usually consider headgear for a cold winter and a crisp fall morning, usually it's okay for men, but women suffers from their hair pressed to the scalp, and ruined hair styles, so it will be great to use a max-volume styling product, to save your hairdo after wearing a hat.

you also might want to skip wool scarves and hats, as they create the static electricity that is really hard to get rid of!!

8. Massage

This tip might sound weird, Scalp massage stimulate the blood circulation and hair growth, hair growth and you will eventually get healthier hair and head. You might use essential oils and boar bristle brush to perform the treatment. 10 minute massage before bed is the surest way to relax and fall asleep faster.

Again, these tips are not season-exclusive, easy to follow and you might know most of them. And they will - for sure - help you handle your hair in fall and winter.

7 Advises to Make Your Life Better

 

Unfortunately, in these demanding times people focus mostly on their work. If you think only about your incomes and career development, you will lack time to enjoy family, hobbies and interests. You’ll have a risk to become emotionally poor and miserable person.

I think no one knows all the secrets on how to have a perfect life, but you should analyze things happening around and listen to your heart. Pay attention to the pieces of advice, given by wise and frank people, instead of feeling sorry for yourself and your failures. The only constant and true thing I believe in is that you should never stop or become disheartened, but if you keep working, you will overcome all difficulties and improve your life. Don’t fear to make some major changes in your outlook. I hope these tips will come you in handy.

1. Try to be more organized

Have you ever tried to become more organized? If you prefer to live just the way you currently do, then you should be ready to face the chaos in various aspects of your life. Good organization helps you to save time, money and nerves. When you’re not late, you don’t have to run around your house frantic looking for things you need. Furthermore, well-organized people are more efficient in what they are doing. They have everything organized according to their schedule. Plus, you will have more time to do things you enjoy.

2. Smile more often

Humor and positive vision of the world has always been the main secrets of happy and successful life. Wise people meet various life challenges with a smile on their faces. It’s better to start new things with a positive mood, because those who radiate negative energy are often greeted with negativity every time they do something. If you surround yourself with positive and encouraging friends, you will make a solid, positive progress in your life. Moreover, your magnificent smile can attract new and wonderful people, who will fill your life with bright colors.

3. Read books

Unfortunately, nowadays many young people find reading less popular than using electronic technologies. Reading has much more benefits because books encourage positive thinking and give your brain a different kind of workout. A collection of good classical books can serve as an engine to your personal development. Reading books broadens your horizons and makes you an all rounded person. Moreover, certain books can even change your outlook and boost your confidence in building strong and healthy relationships with society.

4. Accept guidance

I know many people who tend to act on their own and disdain guidance, because they don’t like to be underfoot. I think there’s no need to get offended when somebody teaches you or demands something from you. If you take the constructive criticism in cold blood, you’ll easily turn it into your advantage. Don’t get defensive as soon as you get negative characteristics or comments, but treat it as a temporary thing.

5. Do a little bit regularly

This tip requires you to be patient and persistent, if you want to succeed in something. You should realize that many long term goals cannot b reached in a moment. It may take you from two weeks to a few years to achieve your goals. You should try to find time each day to work on it slowly and steadily until you really improve in a certain field. Moreover, it’s better to take right decisions every day and these small positive changes of your life will lead to great results.

6. Travel

If you’ve never taken an opportunity to travel abroad, you might have no idea how wonderful the world around is. Traveling teaches you to be more tolerant and acknowledged about life. Just like Francis Bacon once said, “Travel in the younger sort, is a part of education, in the elder, a part of experience.” This unique activity develops your skills in communication and helps you overcome language barriers. Furthermore, traveling can help you get rid of negative thinking. It fills you with positive emotions and changes your outlook.

7. Accept the hurt

I understand that dealing with uncomfortable feelings is a challenging thing since you cannot avoid pain, you can only experience and accept it. What does not kill you makes you stronger. You should start every morning ready to face harsh realities of life and do your best to bring your dreams closer to reality in spite of your problems. Adequate perception of hurt makes you a mature and experienced person.

Life is given for you to struggle for your happiness. You should make plans, create schedules, motivate yourself to work for the quality life you deserve. Try to realize that money gives you a great number of opportunities, but doesn’t satisfy your mental needs. Only love, friendship and respect can improve your life. What are your secrets to a better life? Share them with us, please.

from Womanitley

5 Foods That Make Your Skin Glow

Who doesn't want a glowing, radiant complexion?

 

While most people think gorgeous skin is the result of a special skin care routine, the truth is our dietary habits can have even more of an effect.

 

Skin, after all, is an organ, and our body uses it to release toxins.

 

Processed foods can zap its luster, while the antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals in fresh produce can illuminate our skin from within.

 

Here are 5 foods that can help boost the clarity and radiance of your skin:

Pumpkin Seeds

Another seed with a powerful skin-beautifying effect, pumpkin seeds get their power from both the beauty mineral, zinc, and essential fatty acids including omega 3, omega 6, and omega 9. Like hemp seeds, they help reduce inflammation in the body. Try them sprinkled on salads, in smoothies, or simply by the handful.

 

Arugula

This dark, leafy green is an excellent source of two of the keys to gorgeous skin: Vitamin A and sulfur. The chlorophyll in arugula is a potent detoxifier, too.

 

Try a raw arugula salad topped with the rest of the foods on this list for a delicious dish that will get your skin glowing.

Radishes

Raw food advocate David Wolfe claims these are one of the most beautifying of all foods. Radishes contain a number of minerals and compounds that benefit the skin. They are high in sulfur, silicon, and Vitamin C, which work together to create glowing skin by boosting collagen, strengthening skin, and stimulating the circulatory system

 

Slice radishes into salads, or have as a snack on their own or with a dip.

 

Avocados

This creamy fruit delivers a healthy dose of vitamins on its own. Even better: when you pair avocado with a carotenoid-rich food, such as tomatoes, carrots, or bell peppers, it can help you absorb up to five times more of the antioxidants lycopene and beta carotene.

 

Hemp Seeds

These tiny little seeds are composed of a massive amount of protein, including the sulfur-bearing amino acids: methionine, cysteine, and cystine, which are used to build strong hair, nails, muscle, and skin.

 

They also have the ideal ratio of omega 3 and omega 6 fatty acids (1:3), and even include omega 9, which are all strong antioxidants with anti-inflammatory properties. Inflammation is the cause of many of our skin woes, including blemishes and wrinkles, so adding hemp seeds to your diet can help reduce or prevent those skin issues.

 

Enjoy them on their own, sprinkled in salads, or blended in smoothies.

 

by  MARIA MARLOWE