Touch Therapy & Sex Archives - Page 4 of 4 - Basic Knead by Michelle Ebbin
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October 15, 2010 In Health & Well-Being, Massage, Massage Lotion & OIl, Men, Pregnancy, Reflexology, Research Studies, Stress-Relief, Touch Therapy & Sex, Women

Arvigo Massage Promises Increased Fertility and Sexual Responsse


Arvigo Maya Fertility Massage: More Than a Belly Rub
By Daphne Oz
Oprah.com | March 17, 2010

In the interest of making 2010 our year of wellness, Daphne Oz is on the case to find the ultimate in total mind, body and spirit care.

First, she explored the uses of aromatherapy. Then, she went a bit deeper with alternative medicine by looking into acupuncture. Now, she investigates Mayan abdominal fertility massage.
When you first hear that there is something called “Mayan abdominal fertility massage,” I know what you’re thinking: How could a belly rub possibly bolster fertility? When I first experienced the treatment as part of Soho House New York’s Wellness Week in January this year, I was just as skeptical. I have had a bunch of cats in my lifetime and recall that one of their favorite pastimes was to knead my stomach, every once in a while poking me with an outstretched claw. It was incredibly uncomfortable, and I feared that I had just signed up to have the human equivalent performed.

Perhaps because of this initial skepticism, I ended up leaving my 90 minutes positively raving. Not only was it delightfully relaxing, but my massage therapist’s explanation of how your digestive and reproductive tracts can both benefit from external abdominal manipulation makes complete sense.

That masseuse, Loretta Young, practices Arvigo Maya abdominal massage, a modern adaptation of ancient Mayan healing techniques that adds modern knowledge of anatomy, physiology and herbology. Through noninvasive massage, this technique gently manipulates the muscles and tendons that hold all the belly organs in place to bring all things back into alignment and promote proper functioning.

Arvigo Maya abdominal therapy was developed by Dr. Rosita Arvigo, a naprapath—someone who specializes in realigning the connective tissue—from Chicago who has spent the past 30 years living in the heart of Belize’s rainforest. Dr. Arvigo was an apprentice of Don Elijio Panti, who, when he died at the age of 103, was recognized in his New York Times obituary as “the last Mayan master healer in Belize.” For those who think herbal medicine is antiquated, 25 to 40 percent of all prescription pharmaceutical medications are derived from just 0.05 percent of the world’s planet species—including birth control of aspirin, both of which are made from wild yams. Imagine what medical miracles are hidden in the 99.5 percent of species that have yet to be analyzed for their medicinal properties.

Using Don Elijio’s techniques, Dr. Arvigo created Arvigo Maya abdominal massage in the early 1990s, teaching workshops in the United States and at her campsite in the jungle. In one of the weeklong seminars, Rosita and her staff first teach the art of self-care, stressing that in order to heal others, one must first be able to treat and understand the dynamics within one’s own body.

As part of the core curriculum at Arvigo’s workshops, students undergo rigorous spiritual intensives. All ancient Mayan medicine is based on the gratitude one must show for the bounty that the earth provides by giving thanks to God(s), and to the plants of the forest that work together in harmony to protect and prolong human life. Recognizing a force that exists external and internal to everyone, and connects all life, is fundamental to possessing the true healing power offered in these therapies. I felt this during my session with Young when she placed both her hands on my head as a way of introducing our energies and harnessing a universal energy and higher power to aid in the healing process.

Though Dr. Arvigo’s techniques have delivered results for a variety of gynecological and gastrointestinal ailments, they are typically to boost fertility. I’m not really looking for a bundle of joy just yet, so I was slightly less than eager to endure a half-hour of stomach-contorting toward such an end. But, as Young explained, women of all ages are thought to benefit from such work. When we experience sudden whiplash, jerking or repeated bouncing (such as from long-distance running), she says, the uterus can swing dramatically and become lodged in a sideways or tilted position. Young says this can lead to reproductive complications including PMS and, yes, infertility. And it never hurts to make sure everything in there is in good working order.

Furthermore, it can also be beneficial for men, because you boys tend to hold tension and stress in your stomachs by tightening the abdomen, which affects digestion by squeezing the esophagus and impeding deep breaths. Convinced, I gave her the go ahead.

You could picture Young reading meditation protocols to puppies: Her voice is soft and soothing, and she looks the perfect picture of someone who has spent her life cultivating a serenity that pervades patient and practitioner. Half-Korean, half-Central America, Loretta has rich, cocoa skin, arabesque eyes and a mane of shiny, black ringlets. Her hands are small and soft but very strong from years of working first as a prenatal masseur, then progressing through craniosacral therapy and into the abdominal work in which she now specializes.

To begin my treatment, Young first spread essential oils over the palms of her hands and had me inhale deeply. She then increased the energy flow within my body simply through light touch on my head and feet before beginning the actual belly massage portion of the treatment. Her technique was soft, firm and fluid. She pulled from one side of my stomach to the other, pressing her fingers deep into the flesh and pulling the underlying ligaments along with her in a gentle motion to coax out any entanglements or imbalances. Then, she massaged in a clockwise circle around my naval to smooth the surface and refresh the kneading-then-smoothing cycle.

It doesn’t sound like much, and I’m not doing it justice, but it was one of the most soothing sensations I’ve ever experienced—and nothing like the cat-pawing I had expected. I quickly found myself melting into the massage table as she lifted pressure away from my diaphragm and esophagus and my breath grew deeper. Then, she flipped me over and did a correlating back massage to complete the realignment. By the time it was over, I was ready for a good nap.

After I pried myself off the table and got dressed, I met Loretta in the spa’s softly lit sitting area for tea and a brief chat for her professional perspective on the Arvigo Maya technique. While she’s had incredible success with fertility-challenged couples, I asked whether her massage was worthwhile for someone who wasn’t looking to get pregnant. Learning to increase awareness of the dynamics in the pelvic region, and becoming increasingly connected with its sensations, stimulations and stasis, she says, can lead to increased sexual satisfaction. Relaxation plus body and sensation awareness equals orgasm—who knew? As with any area of the body, the muscles need to be taught how to respond and relax at the appropriate points. Additionally, abdominal massage helps to loosen and relax the muscles that overlay all the core organs, increasing blood and lymph flow.

In keeping with her teacher’s beliefs, Young is a huge proponent of self-care as a way to get to know one’s body better and to continue the healing treatment on a more regular basis. I want to learn—and she’s promised to teach me—but half the fun is getting someone else to rub your belly for you, right?

September 5, 2010 In Health & Well-Being, Massage, Massage Lotion & OIl, Men, Pregnancy, Reflexology, Research Studies, Stress-Relief, Toddler Massage, Touch Therapy & Sex, Uncategorized, Women

The Power of Holding Hands – A Study on Reducing Fear & Pain

I’ve always believed in the healing power of touch, but I recently came across a fascinating research study by Richard Davidson, a neuroscientist at the University of Wisconsin, which proves that touch can actually reduce feelings of fear, loneliness and physical pain.

In this study, scientists observed studied the levels of fear and pain experienced by women when they were given mild electric shocks. (Now, what woman would submit herself to this kind of research study is a mystery to me, but that is another story.) Anyway, Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) measurements were taken of the women’s brain activity and the results were remarkable.

When left completely alone while receiving shocks, the women felt fear and pain, and the areas of their brains responsible for emotion were particularly active. However, if a member of the laboratory team held their hands (and this was someone they had never met before whose face they could not see) the women felt less fear, even though they were in physical pain.

Finally, and most interestingly, when the women’s partners held their hands during the electric shocks their brain activity calmed down markedly at every level. It’s almost as if holding their partner’s hands was like a drug that effectively reduced their pain and anxiety. In fact, the effect on the women’s brains was directly proportional to the love they felt for their partners.
While the women’s hands were held, in the MRI’s changes were visible in the hypothalamus, the brain area involved most in processing emotions. The hypothalamus controls secretion of the body’s hormones, in particular stress hormones. The researchers at the University of Wisconsin call emotional relationships “the hidden regulator” because they have a profound effect on brain function in situations of stress and threat. However, their effect is imperceptible when everything is going fine.

So, I say hold your partner’s hand whenever you can. And if you don’t have a partner, grab a hold of a friend’s hand and give it a squeeze. The power of touch may be imperceptible but it’s there and it’s effective.

**For any science enthusiasts out there, here’s the abstract called “Lending a Hand–Social Regulation of the Neural Response to Threat from the “Psychological Science” Journal:

ABSTRACT—Social contact promotes enhanced health and well-being, likely as a function of the social regulation of emotional responding in the face of various life stressors. For this functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) study, 16 married women were subjected to the threat of electric shock while holding their husband’s hand, the hand of an anonymous male experimenter, or no hand at all. Results indicated a pervasive attenuation of activation in the neural systems supporting emotional and behavioral threat responses when the women held their husband’s hand. A more limited attenuation of activation in these systems occurred when they held the hand of a stranger. Most strikingly, the effects of spousal hand-holding on neural threat responses varied as a function of marital quality, with higher marital quality predicting less threat- related neural activation in the right anterior insula, su- perior frontal gyrus, and hypothalamus during spousal, but not stranger, hand-holding.

To read the entire research study, go to: http://psyphz.psych.wisc.edu/web/pubs/2006/CoanLendingPsychSci.pdf

July 29, 2010 In Baby Massage, Health & Well-Being, Massage, Massage Lotion & OIl, Men, Pregnancy, Reflexology, Research Studies, Stress-Relief, Toddler Massage, Touch Therapy & Sex, Uncategorized, Weight Issues, Women

Silky Skin Tip: The Best Moisturizer & Massage Oil

People often ask me what I recommend to use for massage and for daily after-shower moisturizing.  While I have to admit I am a sucker for delicious-smelling, rich creamy lotions in beautiful packaging, when it comes time to slather something on own skin, I always reach for one thing, Sesame Oil, and I’ll tell you why.

Your skin is the largest organ in your body.  It breathes and absorbs, so whatever you put on it is ingested into the bloodstream to become raw material for tissue building.  After learning this, I started thinking of body products as food for my skin and just as I feed my body, I want to feed my skin with healthy moisturizing natural products as amazon eye masks for baby.

More importantly, in 2004, research from the Marin County Cancer Project concerning harmful chemicals in everyday personal care products confirmed my belief that using all-natural products on the body is the only way to go.

In April 2002, Judy Shils started the Marin Cancer Project after attending a meeting where county leadership announced that breast cancer rates in Marin County, California had risen 60 percent in eight years. At the meeting, announcements were made that funds didn’t exist to do the necessary studies that would uncover the cancer’s cause. As Shils watched one of her close friends struggle to overcome breast cancer, she believed it was her responsibility to take care of the problem.

In November 2002, after mobilizing more than 2,000 volunteers, the Marin County Cancer Project surveyed 65,000 households and raised $150,000 dollars to map out the cause of cancer rates in each Marin County city and town.  After two years of research, the project has published the following list of 15 chemicals found in everyday personal care products such as cosmetics, perfumes, shampoos, conditioners, soaps, lotions, and shaving creams that are toxic, in order to educate the public about the possible health concerns for each.

I don’t want to scare you, but I do believe that after reading this list you will want to read the ingredients on the labels of the lotions in your bathroom and clean house.  Sesame Oil, is an all-natural, light, clean, unscented moisturizer and massage oil.  It is inexpensive and leaves a silky, not greasy, finish on your skin when used after a bath or shower.  If you want a scent, you can always add a few drops of essential aromatherapy oil.  (I like lavender and geranium.)  Give Sesame Oil a try, I think you’ll like it!  But first, read this list of chemicals to avoid in your personal care products (and forward this article to friends who you care about):

1. Butyl Acetate

•  Function: This chemical is a solvent that prevents chipping.

•  Product types: nail polishes and treatments such as strengtheners, hardeners and base coats.

•  Health concerns: Continuous use of products with this chemical cause dry, cracked skin, and the vapors induce drowsiness and dizziness.

2. Butylated Hydroxytoluene

•  Function: As an anti-oxidant, this product slows the amount of time it takes for products to change color.

•  Product types: lip makeup, moisturizer, eye makeup, anti-aging treatment, foundation, fragrance, bar soap, shaving products, anti-perspirant/deodorant, concealer, sunscreen, facial cleanser, body wash, blush, shampoo, conditioner, acne treatment, body lotion/oil, powder, makeup remover, depilatory cream, toothpaste, styling product, exfoliator, and nail treatments.

•  Health concerns: Eye and skin irritant.

3. Coal Tar

•  Function: This chemical helps stop itching, controls eczema, and makes hard, scaly, rough skin soft. It is also used as a colorant in hair dyes.

•  Product types: shampoos and hair dyes.

•  Health concerns: International agency government research on cancer says there is enough evidence to suggest that coal tars are carcinogenic in humans. Coal tar has been banned by the European Union since 2004.

4. Cocamide DEA/Lauramide DEA

•  Function: This chemical is used in shampoos and bath products as an emulsifying agent in cosmetics and as a foaming and cleansing agent to improve how one’s mouth feels.

•  Product Types: shampoo, body wash/cleansers, bath oils, facial cleanser, liquid hand soap, bar soap, acne treatment, baby wash, shaving products, body scrubs, foot odor/cream/treatment, deodorant, moisturizer, and hair dye/spray.

•  Health Concerns: This chemical may be infected with impurities connected with certain types of cancers. After absorption through the skin, it can create carcinogenic compounds called nitrosamines. Insufficient toxicity data is available to determine the safety of the product when inhaled.

5. Diazolidinyl Urea

•  Function: This chemical releases formaldehyde and acts as a preservative.

•  Product Types: moisturizer, styling products, shampoo/conditioner, hair spray/dyes, anti-aging treatment, facial cleanser, sunscreen, facial moisturizer, foundation, eye makeup, acne treatment, mascara, body wash/cleansers, deodorant, concealer, exfoliator, powder, body scrubs, bath oils/salts, eye/contact care, lip makeup, shaving products, after-sun product, douche/personal cleanser, makeup remover/depilatory cream/hair remover, liquid hand soap, nail treatments, pain relief rub/ointment, and fragrance.

•  Health Concerns: It may contain carcinogenic impurities and is associated with other significant health problems.

6. Ethyl Acetate

•  Function: Solvent.

•  Product Types: nail polish, mascara, tooth whitening, perfume.

•  Health Concerns: eye and skin irritant.

7. Formaldehyde

•  Function: This chemical acts as a disinfectant, germicide, fungicide, and preservative.

•  Product Types: deodorants, nail polish, soap, shampoo, and shaving products.

•  Health Concerns: This is considered a possible human carcinogen, may trigger asthma, irritates eyes and the upper respiratory tract, can damage DNA, and is banned by the European Union.

8. Parabens (methyl, ethyl, propyl and butyl)

 

•  Function: These are a large group of chemicals used as preservatives in cosmetics to prevent bacteria, yeast, and mold formations in products such as toothpaste.

•  Product Types: moisturizers, shampoos, conditioners, hair styling gels, nail creams, foundations, facial masks, skin creams, deodorants, and baby lotions.

•  Health Concerns: This chemical may impair fertility; alter hormone levels; increase risks for certain types of cancers; alter reproductive development, cause skin irritation, rashes, and allergic reactions; and some studies have found parabens in breast tumors.

9. Propylene Glycol

•  Function: This chemical acts as a penetration enhancer and keeps products from melting in high heat or freezing when it is cold.

•  Product Types: shampoo/conditioner, bar soap, body wash, face cleanser, liquid hand soap, acne treatment, hair dye, shaving products, moisturizer, makeup remover, toothpaste, sunscreen, perfume, cologne, deodorant, toner/astringent, foundation, bronzer powder, nail polish, lip products, eye shadow/pencil, and mascara.

•  Health Concerns: This chemical alters the structure of the skin by allowing chemicals to penetrate deep beneath it while increasing their ability to reach the blood stream.  It can also be a skin irritant and cause allergic reactions.

10. Phthalates

•  Function: These are industrial chemicals used as solvents and plasticizers in cosmetics.

•  Product Types: nail polish, deodorant, fragrance, hair spray, hair gel/mousse, and lotions.

•  Health Concerns: Phthalates can damage the liver, kidneys, and lungs and acts as a reproductive toxin in males.

11. Triethanolamine

•  Function: This is used as a coating ingredient for fresh fruits and is used as a dispersing ingredient.

•  Product Types: hand and body lotions, shaving products, soaps, shampoos, and bath powders.

•  Health Concerns: This chemical can form carcinogenic nitrosamine compounds (these are compounds formed when nitrates react with anime, a natural chemical found in food and in the body) that creates one of the most potent cancer-causing agents. Based on limited data, it has been shown to cause cancer in humans.

12. Talc

 

•  Function: Talc is designed to absorb moisture.

•  Product Types: blush, powder eye shadow, perfumed powder, baby powder, deodorant, and soap.

•  Health Concerns: Talc is a proven carcinogen and is linked to ovarian cancer. The chemical has particles similar to asbestos and data suggests that it can cause lung tumors.

13. Toluene

•  Function: This is used as a solvent that improves adhesion and gloss.

•  Product Types: nail polish and hair dyes.

•  Health Concerns: This product is a possible reproductive and developmental toxin that reduces the chance for a healthy, full-term pregnancy while decreasing fertility. Although there is limited data, it may also cause cancer. It also contains possible gastrointestinal, liver, kidney, and blood toxins. It is also harmful for inhalation and for the respiratory tract.

14. Petrolatum

•  Function: This is a petrochemical that forms a barrier on skin, making lipstick shine and creams smoother and skin softer.

•  Product Types: Almost every personal care product, especially creams, lotions, wax depilatories, eyebrow pencils, eye shadow, liquid powder, and lipstick.

•  Health Concerns: This chemical may contain harmful impurities that may break down into chemicals linked to cancer. It also may cause allergic reactions and other significant health problems. It is banned by the European Union.

15. Sodium Laureth/Sodium Laurel Sulfate

 

•  Function: Acts as a penetration enhancer.

•  Product Types: shampoo/conditioner, bar soap, body wash, face cleanser, liquid hand soap, acne treatment, hair dye, mascara, shaving products, moisturizer, toothpaste, sunscreen, makeup remover, perfume, cologne.

Health Concerns: This chemical alters the structure of the skin and allows chemicals to penetrate deep into the skin, increasing the amount of chemicals reaching the blood stream.

July 9, 2010 In Massage, Men, Reflexology, Stress-Relief, Touch Therapy & Sex, Women

Reflexology Tips for a Better Sex Life

As a reflexology and massage expert, people often ask me if there are “sex points” on their feet that can be stimulated to turn on their partner (or themselves). The answer is YES! One of the most important aspects of reflexology is that it provides you with an awareness of your body’s organs, muscles, structures, and systems. More than just a fabulous foot massage, it’s been used for centuries to stimulate organs, restore the body’s natural equilibrium and jump start it’s own healing ability. Reflexology is an easy-to-use, natural therapy that can be done by anyone, anywhere, anytime…and it can give your sex life the boost it needs.

For a better sex life, try touching the following areas on your partner’s body and on the corresponding reflexology areas on the feet:

Sexual Hot Spots

1. Brain: The brain is the largest sex organ in the body, so make sure to hit this hot spot. Run your fingers through your partner’s hair and massage the scalp to relax the mind and awaken the senses.
Corresponding Reflexology Area: On both feet, rub the fleshy part of the big toe (behind the nail), to stimulate sensory receptors, improve circulation & even relieve/prevent headaches. It’s said that 90% if sex takes place in the mind, so get “sex on your mind.”

2. Ankles: The inside & outside of the ankles are sensitive spots with many nerve endings that correspond directly to the most important erogenous zones of the body.
Corresponding Reflexology Area: The Vagina and Penis and the Uterus and Prostate, the ultimate hot spots of the body, are located on the hollow areas just under the ankle bones on the inside of both feet. Pressing here is a direct energy channel to these responsive sexual organs. Start gently with slow thumb circles to unleash your partner’s hidden passion.

On the outside of both feet, located on the hollows just under the anklebones, are the reflex areas to the Ovaries and Testicles, sensitive areas that are vital for reproductive health. Press here to help PMS, fertility, strengthen libido and improve performance.

3. Breast/Chest: Relax your partner’s chest & stimulate the network of nerve endings in the breasts. Stimulating the nipples can significantly affect the genitals and get things going quickly. Tip: Smaller breasts are more sensitive while larger breasts can be stimulated more forcefully.
Corresponding Reflexology Area: On the soles of both feet, located in the middle/upper part of the foot, lies the reflexology area that corresponds to the chest and breast. Massaging here can actually send waves of energy to the sensitive nipples and also penis and vagina as well.

4. Stomach: The stomach is one of the most sensual places to touch both men and women. The area between the pelvic bone and belly button encourages blood flow to the entire sexual region. Arouse and excite your partner by focusing here. Run your tongue from her bellybutton down to her infield. Along the way, massage her stomach and hips.
Corresponding Reflexology Area: On the soles of both feet, press along the inner edge of the middle part of the foot. This can relax the stomach and improve the circulation in this area. A light touch here is very arousing.

5. The Back: Caress and gently massage your partner’s back, especially close to the spine, which is rich with nerve endings. Touching it, specifically the lower back, during intercourse will stimulate her even more.
Corresponding Reflexology Area: On the soles of both feet, press along the inner edge of the feet from heel to toe. This can loosen your spine to improve circulation & blood flow to the sensitive nerves of the back. Pay special attention to the lower back, the area from the heel to the middle of the foot along the inner edge. This can awaken chakra energy and relieve/prevent backaches.

6. Ears: Your ears have as many sensitive reflexology areas as the hands and feet. Gently massaging them with your fingers and even licking or nibbling the earlobes can arouse your partner. In addition, as the mind is the largest sex organ in the body, setting the scene with music is an oft-overlooked step in getting the kitty to purr. Research shows that music can activate the same brain structures that are aroused during sex. So pay attention to the ears
Corresponding Reflexology Area: On the soles of both feet, press gently on the area at the base of the fourth and fifth toes. Press here to open passageways, stimulate the ears and hear your partner better.

7. Eyes: Delicately kiss her eyelids, forcing her to close her eyes and enjoy the sensation. Why stimulate the eyes? Because the thin skin of the eyelids is similar to that of the scrotum – both lack subcutaneous fat, pushing the nerves close to the surface. So, eyelids are as sensitive as balls, who knew?!
Corresponding Reflexology Area: On the soles of both feet, press gently on the area between the base of the second and middle toes. Stimulating here can improve eyesight.

8. Legs & Hips: Begin by gently kissing the backs of her knees, then follow by caressing and massaging the legs and hips. Every square inch of skin contains more than 1,000 nerve endings. So no inch of her should be ignored. And skin that rarely sees sun is extra-sensitive.
Corresponding Reflexology Area: Press along the outer edges of both feet, starting at the middle of the foot and moving down towards the heel. The front of the hips, inner thighs and just above the knee are sensitive erogenous areas for men and women. Massaging this area will get the blood flowing in these areas & loosen up the hips.