Headaches & How to Manage Pain

Headaches & How to Manage Pain

The Hidden Reasons You're Getting Headaches & How to Manage Pain

When it comes to pain, I have experienced it all and most important, I have learned how to manage it. A broken foot, wrist, dislocated knee, and I have even suffered from partial paralysis with surgeries on my knee, shoulder and cervical spinal fusion. These are just some examples of somatic (musculoskeletal) and neuropathic (nerve) pains. Of I've experienced visceral (internal organ) pains as well; stomach cramps, menstrual pain, anxiety, and so on. But, what do you do when you are in pain? Do you put a Band-Aid on it or find the cause of your symptoms?

If you take a pill to get rid of your headache, for example, you are masking your symptoms. However, if you lie down in a dark room, close your eyes, take deep breaths, and allow yourself to experience the pain, then you are finding the cause of the headache. First, let's answer a few basic questions so you can understand why you got the headache in the first place:

Fatigue

: How many hours of sleep do you get per night? Do you sleep through the night?

Food Allergies/Unhealthy Diet

: What does your diet consist of? High/Low sugar and carbs? Do you consume processed foods?

Alcohol Consumption/Smoking/Exposure to Smoke

: Do you drink alcohol? Do you smoke?

Dehydration

: How many glasses of water do you drink per day?

Menstrual Cycle

: Are you ovulating? Menstruating?

Muscle Tension or Strain

: Do you exercise? What kind of exercise?

Stress

: What is your stress level?

The next time you have a headache, don't just take a pill. Sit down and pay attention to your body and become aware of your signs and symptoms. There are always reasons behind visceral pain; it is up to us to listen to our bodies and take care of it.

Somatic and neuropathic pains have obvious causes, soft tissue and nervous system injuries respectfully. How do we manage these pains?

Mindful Tips to Boost Self-Esteem

Mindful Tips to Boost Self-Esteem

Love the Skin You're In

Ever feel like your self-esteem is on an emotional roller coaster? Sometimes you feel good about yourself. Sometimes you don't. There are times when you're resilient and times when you'd like to curl up in a corner and disappear.

What's going on?

Taking a look at self-esteem can offer a clue. Self-esteem is the ability to feel good about yourself, appreciate your work, take pride in who you are, your abilities, and accomplishments… and at the same time know that you're not perfect.

Step out of the past…

Self-esteem is shaped by input from others. From earliest days, people around you have been sending messages – both verbal and nonverbal – about how you're doing. Parents, teachers, family members, peers, playmates – their words and judgments can linger on. In fact, messages from childhood can affect how you're talking to yourself right now!

And into the present…

Although the roots of self-esteem are in childhood, the only place to begin the work that supports change is right here, right now. Achieving a clear and balanced view of yourself and accepting your value as a unique person – not a "perfect" person – can boost self-esteem and help you feel happier and more confident. That's where mindfulness comes in. Simply being present in the moment in a gentle, non-judgmental way can help you cultivate self-acceptance. If you listen mindfully you can start to hear an interior commentary that may surprise you. Sometimes it's supportive, sometimes harsh. When you see and understand what you're telling yourself – and when – you can begin to make changes to support self-esteem.

Here are some mindful tips to help you get started:

Stop the Blame Game!

When you're in a slump, you can be interpreting actions, events, and interactions in a way that builds negative momentum. Be mindful and challenge your thinking! Are you caught in an all-or-nothing pattern of thinking? "I didn't do this perfectly… I screwed it up. Never get anything right…" Are you mistaking feelings for facts? "I feel like a failure… I am a failure…" How about mental filtering? "That's no big deal, anyone could have done it." Jumping to negative conclusions? Someone hasn't called you back – could it be that she's just busy? No need to create a low self-esteem story!

Start practicing positives

As you explore your self-esteem self talk, take some full gentle breaths in and out… and… begin to claim your successes! Acknowledge what's worked, learn from your mistakes, and be kind to yourself. Understand that patience is important. Building self-esteem is a process that happens one moment at a time… an opportunity where you can change your life – and only you can do it!

Beginners Makeup and Facial

Beginners Makeup and Facial

Brush Shape

Brush shape will determine where the mascara hits your lash. To achieve volume and thickness, most brushes need to be fuller, thicker and have more bristles. Curling mascaras tend to have a curved wand to help lift the lash. For lengthening mascara, most brands will provide a wand that is straight and narrow that looks more like a comb than the traditional brush. The more space there is between the bristles, the better the brush will be at separating and defining your eyelashes.

Lengthening Mascara

If you love extra long lashes that hit the sides of your sunglasses, you will want to find mascara with a lengthening formula. Lengthening mascaras tend to have ingredients like fibers that can attach themselves to your own lash for a longer look. They tend to have a formulation that you can layer up without clumping and they work well for someone with shorter lashes.

Thickening Mascara

Thickening mascara will add volume and weight to the lash. They tend to be a more dense formula and may contain silicone polymers or wax that makes your lashes look fuller. With a thickening mascara you want to apply liberally, but wipe the brush with a tissue to remove excess mascara between coats. Focus a thickening mascara at the area of the lash you want to accentuate. Apply it to the center of the eye for a more open eye and at the corner for more lift or for cat eye looks.

Curling Mascara

Curling mascara traditionally contains polymers and resins to help your lash hold the curl temporarily. With a curling mascara you want to get the most amount of product at the root to allow it to take shape.

Selecting the right facial for your skin

Life in cities like London, New York, Paris, Rome, Singapore can be tough on women and men. Everything from the seasonal haze, polluting traffic and scorching Sun can get in the way of your health. Taking care of your skin & your face is imperative to bring out your natural best.

Oily Skin

Oil produced by your body can help keep your skin healthy but too much is too bad. You'll need a deep cleansing facial that increases the flow of oxygen to your skin. Applying masks & clays to your face can draw out oils & cleanse pores to redeem your radiant glow.

Tired Skin

Putting in long hours at work can dull your skin. Exfoliation is a great way to brighten up those dead cells. Facial packs that have coconut milk, saffron, banana & honey can revive your complexion & bring a natural richness to it.

Dry Skin

Having dry skin can dehydrate your body & its advisable to avoid soap-free products. Using moisturizers that are rich in ceramides & glycerin can help draw water to your skin. Banana masks, & avocado masks can do magic for you.

Sensitive Skin

Women with sensitive skin should avoid product-heavy facials. Opting for a calming mask that will stimulate blood flow & sooth your skin will your best bet. Beauticians usually remove blackheads before they start a facial which can cause redness & lesions. Advise them to do it with great care.

Remember guys and girls, a billion dollar smile will always go better with a glowing face

What is massage

What is massage

What is massage – It can be defined as an act

To give a massage to (someone or a part of someone's body)

To rub or press (someone's body) in a way that helps muscles to relax or reduces pain in muscles and joints

A brief history about massage

Massage has developed continuously in China for nearly 5000 years. Western ideas are considered within the traditional framework. It is widely practiced & taught in hospital & medical schools & is an essential part of health maintenance & primary healthcare.

Hot Stone Massage?

During a hot stone massage the therapist heats as many as 50 basalt stones of varying sizes to 120–140º F, rubs them over your oiled body, & rests them on top of & beneath you on your stomach, in your palms, on your back. The stones' warmth enhances the relaxing effects of the pressure. Some people believe the stones have healing, grounding qualities, which makes hot stone massage a more profound experience than your basic massage. The therapist will leave some of the smooth, heated massage stones in contact with your body & use others to massage you. Cold stones are sometimes incorporated, especially on the face, where they have a firming effect. Hot stone is a feel-good treatment found on most spa menus. Hot & cold stone temperatures have said to be like the ‘vascular gymnastics' of the circulatory systems, the system that controls self-healing in the body.

What is Deep Tissue Massage?

Deep tissue massage is a type of massage therapy that focuses on realigning deeper layers of muscles and connective tissue. It is especially helpful for chronic aches and pains and contracted areas such as stiff neck and upper back, low back pain, leg muscle tightness and sore shoulders.

Some of the same strokes are used as classic massage therapy, but the movement is slower and the pressure is deeper and concentrated on areas of tension and pain in order to reach the sub-layer of muscles and the fascia (the connective tissue surrounding muscles).

Benefits of Deep Tissue Massage

Deep tissue massage usually focuses on a specific problem, such as chronic muscle pain, injury rehabilitation, and the following conditions:

Chronic pain

Lower back pain

Limited mobility

Recovery from injuries (e.g. whiplash, falls, sports injury)

Repetitive strain injury, such as carpal tunnel syndrome

Postural problems

Muscle tension in the hamstrings, glutes, IT band, legs, quadriceps, rhomboids, upper back

Does Deep Tissue Massage Hurt?

At certain points during the massage, most people find there is usually some discomfort and pain.

It is important to tell the massage therapist when things hurt and if any soreness or pain you experience is outside your comfort range.

There is usually some stiffness or pain after a deep tissue massage, but it should subside within a day or so. The massage therapist may recommend applying ice to the area after the massage.

What is Sports Massage?

Sports massage was developed to help athletes prepare their bodies for optimal performance, recover after a big event, or function well during training. Sports massage emphasizes prevention and healing of injuries to the muscles and tendons.

But you don't have to be and athlete to benefit from sports massage. Sports massage is also good for people with injuries, chronic pain or restricted range of motion. The massage therapist generally concentrates on a specific problem area that you present, usually associated with some sort of sports activity, such as running, tennis, or golf.

The most important thing with sports massage is that you find a specially trained massage therapist who has mastery of a wide range of techniques and knows when to use them. Many spas used to put sports massage on their menu as a way to appeal to men. As spas have become more sophisticated, however, they realize they shouldn't list sports massage unless they have some therapists with specialized training.

What Happens During Sports Massage?

Sports massage therapists will use a variety of techniques to achieve the desired goal.

Pre-event sports massage -- a short, stimulating massage 15 - 45 minutes before the event. It is directed toward the parts of the body that will be involved in the exertion.

Post-event sports massage -- given within an hour or two of the event, to normalize the body's tissues.

Restorative sports massage -- given during training to allow the athlete to train harder and with less injury.

Rehabilitative sports massage -- aimed at alleviating pain due to injury and returning the body to health.

Types of massage you can book

Aromatherapy massage

Back massage

Chair massage

Deep tissue massage

Head massage

Hot stone massage

Pregnancy massage

Shiatsu massage

Sports massage

Swedish massage Therapy

Thai massage

Therapeutic massage

Trigger Point massage

Tui Na massage