The Art of Sensual Tao

Sensual Tao sessions are one of the ways practitioners introduce the concepts of Tantra and the Sensual Tao to people who would otherwise not be exposed to the practices. Sessions honor the space inherent in all phenomenon. The silence that allows sound the be, the meditative pause between thoughts, the space that potentiates all existence.

The lightest of touch, the longest of strokes, the fineness of textures, the lightest of oils, all contribute to the techniques employed in the Sensual Tao experience. Whole body integration and enhanced awareness is the intent of each session. This is a way to learn meditation through the body, ignoring the tricky split mind and acknowledging that the mind body separation is an illusion.

Not many massage professionals offer or integrate this style, but keep a look out and it is definitely a treat to the senses.

The Benefits of Swedish Massage Therapy

While some people think of fancy salons and spas when they hear the name Swedish Massage Therapy, it is simply a method of massage that is readily available even in the office of a chiropractor. There are many benefits associated with a Swedish massage, and we will explore some of them here.

The Swedish massage is one of the most common forms of massage in the USA and is quite the standard. It is also known as a therapeutic type massage and is an overall method that helps the whole body.

So what is a Swedish massage exactly? Simply - a set and variety of techniques or methods that help to achieve relaxation of the muscles and to help achieve a better and increased rate of circulation.

The main use or purpose of a Swedish massage is:
- Helps to release toxins from the body's muscles
- Help to increase oxygen flow

How is this massage method applied? Basically the Swedish massage utilizes techniques that apply stokes with pressure expressly applied in the direction as the blood would flow as it returns to a person's heart. The pressure is applied to bones and muscles with various types of techniques. These techniques are:
- Shaking motions
- Tapping
- Friction
- Effleurage
- Vibration
- Kneading
- Long strokes

Each of these methods or techniques of the massage has a stroke that can offer benefits in different ways. And these can be further defined as 5 main strokes such as:
- Gliding which is called Effleurage
- Rubbing which is called Friction
- Kneading which is called Petrissage
- Pounding which is called Tapotement
- Shaking which is called Vibration

First the therapist would attempt to concentrate on relaxation which would utilize gliding the palms, fingertips, or thumbs. This would be the Effleurage stroke. Further they would use kneading with the fingers, thumbs, or hands and this would be the Petrissage stroke. Along with this, the therapist would use lotions and or oils to help the technique. The process usually involves a body massage covering the whole body that ranges from between 1 hour to 1.5 hours.

With the Effleurage stroke, the ultimate goal is to find the muscles that are tense and this provides an individual time to get comfortable as they lie face down and are massaged from the neck all the way down the back to the end of the spinal column.

While with the Petrissage stroke, the therapist is striving for the achievement of a deeper relaxation and works to Warm-Up the person body for more intense massage. This technique will involve the muscles being moved or lifted away and upward from the bones. This will help to figure out how much or how deep the pressure applied will need to be. This will possibly lead to other massage strokes that will allow for various benefits. The many and various benefits of utilizing Swedish therapy are:
- Lowers blood pressure
- Increases circulation
- The mind and the body will relax
- Helps with digestion
- Can help to relieve colic
- Helps clear up congested lungs by breaking up mucus
- Helps to stimulate a slower breathing pattern
- Improves muscle flexibility
- Helps to improve the strength of the muscles
- Helps to ease tension and stiffness within the muscles

There are many more benefits to this form of massage with relaxation being a major player in this therapy. Furthermore a person can achieve better overall well being and health if they start receiving a Swedish massage program.

Author Description: Scott Meyers is a staff writer for Its Entirely Natural, a resource for helping you achieve a naturally healthy body, mind, and spirit.

Turkey: Becoming an Elite Spa Destination

I have recently returned from a trip from Europe, including a stop in Turkey. If you want to enjoy Europe, you should not only visit places like France, Germany or Italy because if you should head further into the east, you can be immersed in a culture of both the east and west that can only be seen in Turkey. And the m4m spas are uttetly amazing! Staff members are very attentive and intuitive. Sensual? Reiki? The right degree as their focus is to provide a relaxing, therapeutic experience. I attended 3 male spas and each one I came out feeling like a rejuvinated man.

Also, without the euro (for now), Turkish spas and masseurs are also the Meditteranean's best value. You do get a lot of bang for your buck considering how pricey most high-end european cities are.

And no, I am not getting paid by the Turkey Tourism Bureau. :)

Free interactive network for masseurs

I stumbled across a free interactive network for gay/bi massage therapists. It is very well put together and professional. A great place for masseurs to network and perhaps feed off each other and learn from the community.

It was created by a massage therapist named Markus who resides in San Francisco. We also have a profile there, so check us out under Gay Massage Now.

Take some time and view it:
http://www.bodyworkbymarkus.com

Happy Thanksgiving!
Treat yourself to some turkey and a massage.

Prostate Massage - Ever Tried It?

What about having an energetic, "vigorous" prostate massage? Sounds like a healthy thing to do, doesn't it? A lot of people become confused after reading about the supposely good effects of vigorous massage or drainage at various websites and newsgroups devoted to the subject of prostatitis.

It seems that gentle massage of the prostate may be beneficial by:
- helping to drain painfully sequestered secretions in a chronically inflamed prostate gland or seminal vesicles; or

As a leading prostatitis researcher has stated, "prostate massage" may help by releasing the tension around nerve endings near the prostate in a manner similar to Theile's massage which helps women with IC. This represents a form of "myofascial release".

I came across this video and thought I would share.

In simple words, Pleasure Coach Bob Patrick explains the location and function of the prostate. Part of a series on How to Give a Prostate Massage. See http://www.BobPatrick.com for more details.

When you get a massage from a masseur, do you get draped or undraped?

This has been a hot topic around many message boards. Typically, the consensus is it depends on the style of massage you seek. You need to be clear with your massage therapist in terms of desire of a sensual or strictly therapeutic massage. Most of the time, the masseur should ask you if you mind if he is nude or not or whether or not you would like to be toweled-up. It is only professional of him to do so. If he doesn't ask you these prerequisite questions be sure to be forward enough to ask him the degree of sensuality the massage entails. You might be looking for a strong deep tissue massage throughout your session so you might not be too receptive on sensual touch for more than 25% of your massage.

Now as for draping this can vary from state to state, city to city.
For example, in Texas, the client has a choice, but draping is the default. You have to request no draping. Even then, some therapists choose not to accommodate no-draping requests.

It's all up to the preference of the client. Some spa's and clinics require draping and some do not. It all depends on the city rules and regulations. As far as doing massage out of your home or going to a clients house/apt. You can do the massage anyway the client feels comfortable. City regulations/licensing only apply to established clinic/spa/hotels.

From a well-respected CMT, "As a therapist, it is easier to do the massage seamless without covering and then exposing as you go along. The person on the table is just another body to the therapist *or should be*, granted some are hot to look at...sadly most aren't. I learned in my psych course and interpersonal communications courses that draping actually on many levels makes the client less relaxed because of the constant covering and exposing of skin. Clients always get in a comfort zone and then BAM...you're lifting the sheet again."

Bottom line: be aggressive and make sure to ask questions on the phone or just before starting. Naturally, ask these questions prior to making an appointment.

It all boils down to finding the appropriate massage therapist that fits your needs.

Massage Popularity Increases: Dramatic Jump in Use by Men

National consumer research released by Associated Bodywork & Massage Professionals (ABMP) again shows the increasing popularity of massage among American adults, continuing a 20-year climb in massage use and acceptance. There was a remarkable jump in the number of men reporting massage use, an increase of 5.3 million men from 2004 to 2006, or growth from 8 percent of male adults to 13 percent. The research was conducted by Boulder, Colo.-based Harstad Strategic Research in January.(1)
A full 33.6 million American adults aged 21 or older received at least one massage in 2006, up nearly 9 million from the 2004 level. That represents growth from 12 percent in 2004 to 16 percent in 2006.

It's pretty impressive that fully one in six American adults sought out massage therapy during 2006," says Les Sweeney, nationally certified massage therapist and ABMP president. "It reflects a steady increase in acceptance of, and respect for, massage therapy and massage therapists over the last 20 years.