Body Massage for Relaxation, Health Improvement and Sensual Pleasure

By massaging your friend or living partner and let him or her do the same to you, you will both get emotionally closer to each other, and both get several health benefits. Massaging will benefit the mental state of the person you work on, the muscular condition, the blood circulation and the lymph drainage. However, what you want to achieve, will determine the exact technique you use.

MASSAGING ACROSS THE MUSCLE FIBRES

This type of massage is very good for relaxing tense muscles and  a stressed mind

You perform this massage by rubbing or gripping across the direction of the muscle fibres or across tendons. You take one area after the other. You begin by massaging each area lightly, superficially and slowly to warm up, and then proceed by massaging deeper, firmer and more swiftly. 

According to the size and conditions of the area you treat, you can use different types of manipulation. You can use a couple of fingers at a small area, or to reach deep into a tense point  You can rub with all your finger tips or with the palm of your hand at greater areas. To get a harder effect, you can use your finger knuckles.

MASSAGING ALONG THE MUSCLE FIBRES

This type of massage will give the following effects: Stiffness will be reduced or cured, and the muscles will gain in mobility. The muscles will get better blood supply and drainage. The muscles will get a better drainage of tissue fluids into the lymph system, and thereby swollen muscles will normalize. These effects will in turn make tired muscles faster regain good condition. 

By this massage you stroke along the direction of the muscle fibres, and always in the direction of the blood stream towards the heart.

Also now you take one area after the other, but try to reach the whole length of a muscle or muscle group at each stroke. Also by this massage, you begin massaging at each area lightly, superficially and slowly to warm up, and then proceed by massaging deeper, firmer and somewhat faster. 

Also by this longitudinal massage, you can press down and stroke with your finger tips, with all your fingers, or grip around a muscle or muscle group with your fingers.

MASSAGE WITH AN ELECTRIC DEVICE

Most electric massage devices are vibrating up and down. This vibration mostly gives the same effect as the massage across the muscle fibres. If you also stroke with the device head along the muscle in the direction of the blood stream towards the heart, you will simultaneously also achieve the effects of longitudinal massage.

COMBINING THE MASSAGE WITH STRETCHING

The effects of the massage can be increased by also stretching the limbs and body parts of the person you work on. Stretch in the natural movement directions of the limb or body parts until you reach some resistance. Do not stretch hard to go beyond the resistance point. However, by holding the limb some time at the resistance point will often cause the limb to relax, and then you can go some way further.

HOW HARD SHOULD YOU PERFROM THE MASSAGE?

Tired and stiff muscles are often tender and aching. Working at a tender point will always cause some temporal pain. However, if you use the right degree of firmness, the effect of the massage should cause an immediate release of pain and tenderness when you have finished working at a point.  You should never work so hard that the pain is felt nearly unbearable, or so hard that pain remains after the massage is finished. If you do so, you can hurt or aggravate already existing tissue damage. 

To achieve the right firmness you should monitor the reactions of the person you work at and listen to his comments. You should also never perform a massage on an area with a distinct inflammation or a distinct injury.

USE OF MASSAGE OILS

By applying a massage oil or ointment at the area you work at, you ease the massage work and increase the effects of the massage. Your fingers glide more easily upon the skin covering the area. The blood supply of the skin and muscles will be stimulated. You get a sensual and exciting scent on the area and in the air. Ingredients in the oil will ameliorate muscular ache and pain. According to the composition of the massage oil, there will be different stimulating effects upon the muscles, for example faster regeneration of tired or hurt muscle tissue.

MASSAGE FOR MUTUAL PLEASURE

You can use each of the two main techniques, but you let the pleasure of the person you massage decide the technique, the area you massage and the firmness of the massage. Usually gently touching and caressing will be the right manner. 

Also your own pleasure shall decide. Do not work so hard that you get tired out yourself, and the person that you give the massage should be willing to repay you by doing the same favour to you.

Bodybuilding, Is It Unhealthy?

This is a very common question in today's society that has been sensitized to the illegal use of performance enhancing drugs in sports and from many of the health warnings that go along with the supplements that bodybuilders use. So is bodybuilding healthy? Or better yet, can it be healthy? Well lets take a few moments to try to answer that question.

First of all you have to evaluate your goals. Are you considering bodybuilding for the purpose of competition or looking good? Or do you just want to be stronger, more fit, better at a sport? These are very different
options and can be attained at very different levels of dedication. The first is much harder to achieve and because of this there is a greater temptation to push the limit and try things that are unnatural and potentially unhealthy. The second is just like anything that you do in moderation, a good and very healthy thing. It doesn't require as much dedication or specialty training and isn't nearly as hard to achieve. So let's hope and assume you are choosing the second of the two options what are the benefits?

The first and major benefit is that you gain strength through bodybuilding. Strength is very important because it protects your joints and bones from damage due to trauma or repetitive type injuries. Lifting weights has also been shown to increase and maintain bone density, an especially important thing for older women who have to pay a lot of attention to preventing osteoporosis and all of the pain and risk involved with that disease. Increased strength also means increased muscle mass which is good for several reasons.

First muscle is the great regular of glucose metabolism. It is very sensitive to the effects of insulin and helps the body to maintain normal glucose levels and decreases the risks of diabetes mellitus. Muscle also has a very high rate of metabolism and is a very efficient consumer of calories that are stored up in fat cells. This makes it easier to maintain your weight and to avoid all of the harmful effects of obesity and high body fat.

So if you were considering bodybuilding please save yourselves a lot of trouble while at the same time squeezing the maximum potential for enjoyment of this life by doing it in a healthy fashion. Don't use steroids but do get to the gym and pump some

iron.

Body Piercing And The Risk Of Infection

Just like any type of trauma to a part of your body, body piercing comes with a risk of infection. Infections are quite serious that can greatly affect your quality of life and your overall sense of health and well being. Infections from body piercings—or any other type of trauma to your body—can result in serious heart problems or even death if not properly attended to by a trained physician. In addition to the infection risk while the piercing hole is healing, you should also be aware of potential infections associated with needles and unhygienic surroundings

Before you even decide to pierce any part of your body, your main concern should be finding a reputable piercing parlor. There are many serious diseases and infections associated with needles, including HIV and Hepatitis. Ensuring the piercing parlor practices excellent hygiene and cleanliness procedures before you patronize the shop will prevent you from experiencing any potentially life threatening diseases. Be sure you ask about the quality of the hygiene and cleanliness of the shop and the piercer. If the professional is unable to provide you with the correct answers or seems to be unwilling to answer your questions, you may need to avoid the piercing parlor.

Individuals who have their body parts pierced are most likely to experience an infection as the wound heals. Once again, these infections are quite serious and should be taken with the utmost care. Signs of an infection include:

• Discharge of pus or liquid around the wound

• Fever

• Pain around or near the wound

• Red streaks originating from the wound or red flesh around the wound

If you experience any of these signs of infection or any pain associated with the wound, be sure to seek medical attention immediately. These are the first warnings of an infection and can lead to further problems and complications if left untreated.

To ensure your piercing hole does not become infected, take care of the wound using the instructions provided by your piercer. Be sure to keep the wound clean and free from any debris that can potentially infect the wound. You may need to avoid certain types of clothing or take great care in dressing and undressing, since your body jewelry can potentially snag and re-injure the wound. Also, be sure to keep the wound dry, since tears, salvia, chlorine water, or oils can cause infections in the wound.

Body Art: It's Cool To Be Safe

It may seem like a cool idea to use your body as a medium for artistic expression.  Body art has become the “in” thing to do among today's generation, young and old alike.  One cannot walk down the street, go to the mall, or watch TV without seeing somebody with a tattoo on the arms, nape, navel, ankle or piercings in the ears, lips, nostrils, eyebrows, belly buttons, tongues, and cheeks.  Piercings can now be done on just about any part of the body

.But before you think of getting one for yourself to ride on the bandwagon of being “cool” --- you might want to know first how safe it is and the things you need to be aware of if you do decide to have one.  A tattoo or piercing may take only a few minutes or hours to acquire but may cause possible risks of bacterial infections which may lead to long term medical conditions.  Getting a tattoo should not lead to health complications and lifetime of regret. 

So here are a few short notes on some of the more popular types of body art:

Body Art

Body art is considered an extension of performing arts where the artist makes use of his or her own body for the purpose of artistic expression.  Body art comes in different forms, the most common of which are tattoos and body piercings. Other types of body art are called scarification, branding, “scalpelling”, shaping, full body tattoo and body painting.

Tattoos

A tattoo, also known as dermal pigmentation, is a permanent mark or design made on the skin by inserting pigments through pricks into the skin's top layer for decorative purposes.  The procedure entails  repeated piercing of a needle into the skin.  With every puncture of the needle that is connected to a small machine with tubes containing dye, it injects ink droplets into the skin.  There is small amount of bleeding involved in this process which may last for several hours depending on the size of the tattoo design.  The process may cause slight to moderate pain. 

The skin acts as the human body's main protective barrier.  Getting a tattoo puts a person at high risk of skin infections, allergic reactions, blood-borne diseases, skin disorders, as well as MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) complications. 

After getting a tattoo, healing usually takes several days.  When it becomes itchy, avoid picking at scabs.  It may increase the risk of bacterial infections and can also damage the design.

Some people may decide to have their tattoos removed when the design becomes faded or when the design no longer appeals to them.  However, complete removal may be very difficult as tattoos are intended to be permanent marks.  Though there are many tattoo removal techniques nowadays, scarring and skin discoloration are likely to be left on the skin.  

Body Piercing

Body piercing is the insertion of jewelry into any parts of the human body.  Body piercing poses certain risks similar to those when you get a tattoo. However, modern improvements in safety procedures and equipment have made earlobe piercing very popular as it is generally less risky than other body piercings.

Traditional body piercing is done with no anesthesia and, as such, is a painful experience.   But modern techniques in earlobes-piercing makes safe use of ear piercing gun with sterilized, disposable cartridges. This single-use piercing device or gun includes one earring stud and clasp, and comes in individually wrapped sterile packages.

For other body piercings, a hollow needle is pushed through a body part to insert a piece of jewelry into the hole.  The use of a reusable piercing gun for these types of piercings can put a person at risk of bacterial infections.  These devices are difficult to sterilize and can easily damage the skin.

Choosing a reputable piercing and tattoo studio minimizes your chance of getting complications.  These establishments employ trained and licensed tattoo and piercing artists.  You can be assured of quality service as well as a clean environment.  Remember, anytime the skin is punctured, there is a risk of skin infection.  More than just getting an intricately designed tatoo or sporting that diamond-studded nose piercing, it's important to know that it's cool to be safe.

Body Care Shows That You Care

Few things show that you care about your life, your happiness, your relationships and ultimately your destiny like good body care. You only have one life to live, so why not live it well. Why not take the time and effort to have good body care and to love yourself.

Good body care is easy and hard all at the same time. It is easy in that it is really possible to have a longer, healthier life if you have good body care habits now. It is hard, however, because it means breaking old habits and working hard to make new habits. Begin any new body care program first by making goals for yourself. Where do you want to be in a year? What kind of life do you want to be living? What kind of health and fitness do you want to have? Starting your body care with goals and then sharing them with someone is one of the most effective ways to make victory possible.

Body care begins with really caring about your body. It sounds simple and redundant even, but it is true. You will never see significant changes in the condition of your body unless you deeply care that your body is healthy and vibrant. I don't know what it will take for you to be really convinced about the importance of good body care. I can only hope that you have read enough health warnings and perhaps even seen what poor health has done to your family and friends enough to make changes for yourself.

One of the first and easiest ways to improve your body care is to drink water. Replace many of the sugar-filled and caffeine-filled drinks you're used to with water. You will notice a difference in your energy levels, your skin, and your appetite in a short time. Water is one of the best ways to take good body care.

Another obvious and important element to good body care is getting more active. This doesn't mean you have to sign up to run the next local marathoon, but it does mean that you have to make time for twenty to thirty minutes of cardio exercise at least every other day. Go for a brisk walk or a jog, play a game of tennis. Do things you enjoy. The important thing for good body care is that you are active. Inactivity is one of the most dangerous ways to live.

A third and final thing in good body care is your diet. Grab a couple of health books and begin learning about the things you should be eating and the things you must avoid. Educate yourself and then begin to implement changes to fit your lifestyle, budget, and goals.

The health of your body is worth any body care program you begin. I promise you.

Legitimate way to profit from Forex

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bluebasins bath & body launches its line of natural skin care body products

Toronto, ON, Canada – bluebasins, Canada’s newest premier line of bath and body products, is pleased to announce its line of natural skin care Canadian products.

“I invite you to have a look at your average bath or body product,” says Makeda A. Paul, owner of bluebasins. “Can you pronounce all the ingredient names listed? This is why I created bluebasins – to give consumers a choice, without sacrificing quality.”

bluebasins bath & body's natural skin care product line offers a wide array of products, created by hand and with all-natural ingredients. Products include handmade soaps, body shampoos, facial masks, body scrubs, bath melts, body butters and more. Because the products are not mass produced, bluebasins is able to incorporate the best natural ingredients including Sweet Almond Oil, Macadamia nut Oil, Shea Butter, Cocoa Butter, Ylang Ylang essential oil, Rosehip powder, Dead Sea salts and other aromatherapy essential oils. By blending these natural ingredients together, wonderful synergies of products are created that are good for the mind, body and soul.

“At bluebasins, we aspire to create a near-spa like experience for our customers, right in the comfort of their own homes,” continues Paul. “We take pride in knowing all of the ingredients in our products and work with our clients to find out what ingredients would be most beneficial for their unique skin type.”

In addition to custom orders, bluebasins has a wide array of their most popular items available on their website. Your skin is one click away from looking and feeling its best.

“Your skin is yours for life – at bluebasins, we can help you look after it to make it as healthy and smooth as possible,” concludes Paul.

bluebasins bath & body natural skin care products show consumers an alternative natural way to take care of their body. For more information, visit their website at www.bluebasins.com.

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Body Odor - Cannot Runaway From It

Body odor can either make you run towards the person or runaway from him or her. This odor can be found anywhere you go, be it a mall, pub, theatre, bus, train it is everywhere. It can be one of the most disgusting things and most of the times we can’t do anything about it. It reflects improper hygiene and also shows signs of skin problem. Taking good care of your health and food would help to reduce the odor problem.

When sweat surfaces on the skin it gives out a body odor. Even though sweat is odorless, when it comes in contact with skin which has bacteria, it gives out the bad odor. The 'smelly' part of your body is the armpits and the genital area as the functionality of the sweat glands is different from the other parts of the body. 

Every foot has its specific odor which gets to its peak when we cover it with socks and shoes. Having certain kind of food also gives out smelly odor as your skin passes the smell out from your skin. Sweating is one of the easiest ways to keep your body cool. It maintains the temperature of your body and can be termed as a cooler for that hot weather. 

Some of the common reasons for having body odor are improper hygiene, like not having a proper bath or using dry clean clothes. You might be suffering from skin problems which have to be treated before you start pouring chemicals on yourself by use of perfume, deodorants and body wash. It can be also associated with genetic conditions, to be consulted with the doctor.

Things to avoid

* Being overweight 

* Tight fitting clothes

* Spicy and oily food

* Excessive alcohol as it increases perspiration

* Excessive Coffee and tea intake

* Excessive consumption of chocolate, peanuts, 

Things to do

* Have balanced diet which is less spicy and involve good amount of protein plus lots of vegetables,

* Drinking lots of fluid and juices would also help

* Take a bath everyday and wash yourself properly specially in problematic areas

* Adding tablespoon of honey at the final rinse would keep you fresh all day

* A cup of vinegar in your bath water would help too

* Adding alum in your bath water would keep the odor in check

Benefits Of Epidural Steroid Injectio

The epidural steroid injections or ESIs are non-surgical treatment, which helps in alleviating pain of arm, low back neck and leg (sciatica) caused by botheration of the spinal nerves including spinal stenosis, spondylolysis, or disc herniation. The pain can be stable or irregular and its intensity level may fluctuate from a dull ache to a searing feeling.

Epidural steroid injections comprise both long-term steroid ‘cortisone’ as well as a painkiller for e.g., lidocaine, bupivacaine. An injection delivers a steroid and analgesic agent that lasts for a long time, in the irritated and swollen spine. Medications are delivered to the nerve via epidural space, the place between the protective covering of the spine and vertebrae. 

Normally, the effects of epidural steroid injections are impermanent and short-lived. The epidural steroid injections may relieve pain for 1 week or up to 1 year. The main aim is to lessen pain with the intention that patients may restart their regular activities and, in some cases, carry on a physical therapy program.

Epidural steroid injections can allay indications caused by swelling and heaviness on the spinal nerves. Corticosteroids can shrink swelling and can be effectual when injected straightly into the painful part of the neck or back.

Epidural steroid injections are advantageous for those patients having pain in their neck, arm, low back, or leg. Epidural steroid injections are not for those having infection, pregnant women, or those with bleeding problems. Epidural steroid injections may raise the blood sugar level to some extent in diabetic patients, normally for less than 24 hours.

Epidural steroid injections are administered by physicians such as anesthesiologists, physiatrists (PM&R), neurologists, radiologists, and surgeons. Due to lesser risks, epidural steroid injections are the best non-surgical treatment for some patients. The possible hazards linked with insertion of needle too far are bleeding, spinal headache from a dural puncture, infection, nerve damage, and arachnoiditis. 

The corticosteroid fallouts include increased body weight, water retention, and high blood sugar levels in diabetes patients. The patients already suffering from chronic infections, such as heart disease, poorly controlled diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, or those who cannot temporarily discontinue anti-clotting medication should confer with their medical doctor for risk estimation. Approximately 50% of patients get relief from epidural steroid injections.

Blue Cross Blue Shield—Connected To The Community

Oldest Health Benefit Provider Committed to Improving Health Care

75 years ago Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS) was created to ensure healthcare for lumber and mining workers in the Pacific Northwest and hospital coverage for teachers in Texas. Now providing care benefits to more than 94 million Americans, BCBS is the oldest and largest health insurance companies in the United States.

With plans in all 50 states, plus Washington D.C. and Puerto Rico, the BCBS Association serves as the trade organization for the 38 independently run local BCBS health benefit groups that serve 1 in 3 Americans. Using their clout to create a national presence, BCBS offers numerous community programs that are dedicated to education, research and collaboration. Programs related to research and professional development includes the Foundation on Health Care and the Academy for Health Care Management. Those associated with public education consist of labor outreach through the National Labor Organization (NLO), an educational campaign, focusing on the issue of performance enhancing drugs, called Healthy Competition and the PBS television series Second Opinion.

BCBS Foundation on Health Care

The BCBS Foundation on Health Care, which is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit group, coordinates health service research amongst numerous organizations across the nation. The Foundation acts as a facilitator between government agencies, colleges and universities and health plans. It sponsors both the Health Services Research Advisory Council (HSRAC), composed of nationally recognized health care experts, and the Health Services Research Alliance (HSRA), whose participating institutions are located in 25 states.

The HSRAC helps to identify key areas of and provide guidance in multi-plan health services research, offers input regarding how changes in the accessibility and delivery of health care may impact individuals, groups and communities and gives assistance relating to the funding and development of potential studies.

Organizations within the HSRA work collaboratively through the BCBS Foundation to provide key studies that are population and evidence-based. The Foundation is dedicated to creating important partnerships between various institutions, expanding funding opportunities and strengthening its presence in the health insurance and health care community. The group disseminates information relating to health care conferences, promotes data based studies relating to medical issues and works to improve the quality of services and their delivery.

Academy for Healthcare Management

The academy was formed when the BCBS Association and the American Association of Health Plans and Health Insurance Association of America (AAHP-HIAA) joined forces to offer online educational opportunities for professionals interested in broadening their knowledge of the challenges, priorities and procedures connected to managed care operations. Participants are given the opportunity to utilize up-to-date management concepts in everyday, real world situations, learning via instant response and assessment.

Course materials, which are regularly modified, provide students with information, principles and problems designed to solidify basic knowledge and expand upon advanced concepts and practices as they relate to the healthcare industry. Upon completing coursework, along with earning Continuing Education credits, students can be designated as a Professional, Academy of Healthcare Management (PAHM) or Fellow, Academy of Healthcare Management (FAHM).

National Labor Office

BCBS created the NLO over forty years ago, and they continue to fund it today. The NLO is the arm for labor outreach, which focuses on keeping union members abreast of health care developments, strengthening ties to organized labor and providing quality programs and services to the over 20 million union members and their families.

Primarily, NLO acts as a liaison between BCBS and labor, providing educational materials, developing relationships between various organizations and offering important information. Pending legislation, new healthcare products, developing trends, managed care and bargaining strategies are all addressed by the NLO.

Along with communicating with unions, the NLO facilitates the exchange of information and discussion of issues between union officials and BCBS senior officers. Together, they work to address concerns specific to each union, including developing a healthier working environment, defining value-related healthcare and supplying health plan analysis, reporting and design.

The NLO communicates with unions via newsletters, the web and informational meetings as well as through its central office.

Healthy Competition

The Healthy Competition program was developed by BCBS in response to the increased use and popularity of performance enhancing drugs by both professional and amateur athletes. Healthy Competition encourages those involved in athletics to safeguard their health and the integrity of their sport by competing drug free.

The program offers information related to drug use, sports and good health. It delineates profiles of the three types of performance enhancing drugs—stimulants, blood doping substances and anabolic steroids. Healthy Competition supports research and education and promotes public awareness through various initiatives.

PBS Second Opinion

BCBS provides sponsorship for the 2005-2006 season of Second Opinion, the PBS series that engages various medical professionals in discussion of actual medical cases. The program attempts to broaden the public’s understanding of medical issues, choices and procedures encountered in our complex and ever changing world.

BCBS is the major health benefit provider in America. It has grown greatly since its initiation 75 years ago. However, through a commitment to professional and public education and betterment, it continues to focus on serving individual groups, as it did when it first started providing benefits to teachers, lumbermen and miners.

Body pH Balance And Effect On Bone Density

Most people who suffer from unbalanced pH are acidic. This condition forces the body to borrow minerals -- including calcium, sodium, potassium and magnesium -- from vital organs and bones to buffer (neutralize) the acid and safely remove it from the body. Because of this strain, the body can suffer severe and prolonged damage due to high acidity -- a condition that may go undetected for years.

A recent study conducted at the University of California-San Francisco on 9,704 postmenopausal women showed that those who have higher acidity levels (also called chronic acidosis) from a diet rich in animal foods are at greater risk for lower bone density levels than those who have "normal" pH levels. The researchers who carried out this study hypothesized that many of the hip fractures prevalent among older women correlated to higher acidity from a diet rich in animal foods and low in vegetables. The body apparently borrows calcium from the bones in order to balance pH, and this calcium borrowing may result in a decrease in bone density.

Urinary pH levels can indicate how well your body is assimilating minerals, especially calcium, magnesium, sodium and potassium. These are called the "acid buffers" because they are used by the body to control acid levels. When acid levels begin to increase, the body becomes less capable of excreting acid. It must either store the acid in body tissues, or buffer it-that is, borrow minerals from organs, bones, etc., in order to neutralize the increase in acidity. Urinary pH should fluctuate between 6.0-6.4 in the morning and 6.4-7.0 in the evening.

You will also want to test the pH of your saliva. The results of saliva testing can indicate the activity of digestive enzymes in your body, especially the activity of the liver and the stomach.

This reveals the flow of enzymes running through your body and shows their effect on all the body systems and your tissues. Some people will have acidic pH readings from both urine and saliva-this is referred to as "double acid." Salivary pH should stay between 6.4 and 6.8.