Whether you’re recovering from an injury, healing post-surgery, or simply hoping to relieve muscle tension or anxiety, below are five modalities that can help. Along with the guidance of an experienced massage therapist, chiropractor, or athletic trainer, you’ll be on your way to improving your physical and mental well-being in no time!
Benefits of these practices range from increased flexibility, to decreased stress levels, to pain relief. Whatever your health goals, the following modalities are designed to support you.
Myofascial Release
It’s no secret that Nadi Ball team members are big fans of myofascial release. Fascia (think of it as a 3-D spider web connecting everything in your body) follows along the Nadis, which are energy lines (72 thousand of them!) running throughout your body. These lines connect to form a scaffolding system of nerve-rich tissue that holds your muscles, bones, and organs in place and transfers important information and fluids throughout the body. The points where these lines intersect are known in Ayurvedic medicine as your chakras.
The fascia system is one of the first things to develop in the womb and connects every system of your body in every way, making it a foundational part of your wellness. In fact, your fascia is your most sensory-rich organ—with more information coming in from your fascia than your eyes or tongue! So, most of the time, when you experience soreness in your body, what you are feeling is fascial tightness, not muscle tightness. When fascia gets kinked or bound up, you feel tight and tense, and your mobility is limited.
Myofascial release is a method of loosening and reshaping the fascia, systemically targeting these lines to release tension and open up the flow of energy throughout the body. Benefits include increased flexibility and strength, pain alleviation, boosted circulation, accelerated recovery, and overall feeling good!
Assisted Stretching
Athletes of all sorts are familiar with assisted stretching, a type of physical therapy where one person helps another person stretch. It requires specialized training, so it’s usually performed by a professional, but it’s also gentle enough for children, seniors, and those with physical disabilities.
Before embarking on a treatment plan, a physical therapist, a massage therapist, a chiropractor, or an athletic trainer will examine a client’s flexibility, alignment, limitations, and more. From there, they are able to assist in improving overall well-being. Benefits of this modality include increased range of motion, decreased stress levels, and improved athletic performance.
Natural Facelift Massage
Facelift massages are all the rage right now, and for good reason. Some say its effects are better than cosmetic surgery, and a lot easier! This modality is based on Ayurvedic principles and practices, so it’s both natural and powerful.
Facial massage may seem like overkill, but just like the rest of the body, the face and neck are a complex system of bones, muscles, blood, lymph, and tissue. This means that if you want to promote health and longevity in the face, massage isn’t a luxury—it’s a must!
Using a combination of myofascial release, Ayurvedic pressure points, lymph drainage, and other healing practices, massage therapists offer a holistic experience free of creams and lotions. Benefits include increased circulation, relieved sinus pressure, and glowing skin. It can even help to break down scar tissue.
Chair Massage
If a standard table massage just isn’t for you, a chair massage can be an excellent alternative. Rather than lying on a table, clients are able to rest in a specialized chair that supports the chest, arms, and head. The chair promotes relaxation while allowing clients to remain upright during treatment.
During chair massage, therapists generally target the back, shoulders, neck, and arms. Unlike most table massages, this technique requires little time—usually ten to 20 minutes—so you can easily schedule around other errands and tasks. Benefits of this modality include reduced stress levels, pain relief, improved sleep, injury prevention, and many others.
Pro tip: Many companies are now offering workplace wellness packages that include chair massage!
Reiki
While the four modalities listed above are primarily physical, Reiki is an energy healing technique that originated in Japan. It’s great for promoting balance and reducing stress, which in turn promotes well-being in the body.
Reiki masters and practitioners use palm healing to shift the energy of a client. This can result in shortened recovery times, boosted immunity, and pain relief. It has been known to aid in the treatment of cancer, depression, anxiety, and more. If you are preparing for surgery, Reiki can aid in calming your nerves and encouraging swift healing.
During Reiki sessions, many people feel heat, pulsing, or tingling sensations. Some even feel the urge to laugh!
***
When it comes to improving overall well-being, myofascial release, assisted stretching, facelift massage, chair massage, and Reiki are all excellent options. With the help of a licensed professional, you can begin to increase flexibility, decrease pain, and move through your life with more awareness.