Reiki Healing

Based on the transferring of energy, Reiki is said to release blocked energy from parts of your body while moving it to the areas that are in need of healing. Originating from Japan, the technique requires the Reiki Master to place hands just above the body or lightly touching the body as the client lays on the massage table fully clothed. Reiki healing is intended to help the client relax and de-stress, heal physical or emotional pain, detoxify the body, help aid in the healing process, gain universal life energy, and even stimulate the immune system. Typically a Reiki session has you laying on a massage table fully-clothed for 50-minutes to an hour. The master will place his or her hands over the areas of your body that contain blocked energy. To help you find the massage that fits your specific needs, read Spafinder's guide to Which Massage is Right For You?, or select one of the links on this page for a different massage type.

Based on the transferring of energy, Reiki is said to release blocked energy from parts of your body while moving it to the areas that are in need of healing. Originating from Japan, the technique requires the Reiki Master to place hands just above the body or lightly touching the body as the client lays on the massage table fully clothed. Reiki healing is intended to help the client relax and de-stress, heal physical or emotional pain, detoxify the body, help aid in the healing process, gain universal life energy, and even stimulate the immune system. Typically a Reiki session has you laying on a massage table fully-clothed for 50-minutes to an hour. The master will place his or her hands over the areas of your body that contain blocked energy. To help you find the massage that fits your specific needs, read Spafinder's guide to Which Massage is Right For You?, or select one of the links on this page for a different massage type.

This ancient Chinese healing technique has become significantly mainstream in recent years. In acupuncture long, thin needles are inserted into meridians, or energy centers, just under the skin to not only stimulate the body’s qi, or energy flow, but to treat a number of medical ailments. Studies show acupuncture can help with addiction, allergies, fertility, gastrointestinal issues, headaches, insomnia, and more. Those who are a bit leery at the thought of needles shouldn’t let that fear stop them from receiving this holistic treatment. Acupuncture needles are extremely fine and flexible and administered just underneath the skin. While some might feel a slight tingling or dull sensation, many find the practice to be completely painless.

This ancient Chinese healing technique has become significantly mainstream in recent years. In acupuncture long, thin needles are inserted into meridians, or energy centers, just under the skin to not only stimulate the body’s qi, or energy flow, but to treat a number of medical ailments. Studies show acupuncture can help with addiction, allergies, fertility, gastrointestinal issues, headaches, insomnia, and more. Those who are a bit leery at the thought of needles shouldn’t let that fear stop them from receiving this holistic treatment. Acupuncture needles are extremely fine and flexible and administered just underneath the skin. While some might feel a slight tingling or dull sensation, many find the practice to be completely painless.

The practice of using essential oils dates back to Egyptian times (it’s been said Cleopatra was a fan). Today, aromatherapy is used to promote well-being and stimulate the senses in a wide range of spa treatments, varying from massage to facials to hydrotherapy. Fragrant essential extracts sourced from plants, flowers, and herbs are mainly applied for their therapeutic benefits; studies show aromatherapy not only improves your mood, but may reduce stress levels and treat insomnia. So whether you want to rejuvenate or simply smell delicious, we say aromatherapy just makes sense! Step into a spa and one of the first things you’ll notice is a signature scent wafting in the air. It’s there to entice your senses straight off the bat and sets the tone for a relaxed experience. Not only is aromatherapy used to set the mood in a spa, it’s celebrated for healing purposes as well. Different natural oils are used for different therapeutic benefits. For example, lavender endorses calm, so speak with your therapist about what you’d like to accomplish during your treatment. To help you find the massage that fits your specific needs, read Spafinder's guide to Which Massage is Right For You?

The practice of using essential oils dates back to Egyptian times (it’s been said Cleopatra was a fan). Today, aromatherapy is used to promote well-being and stimulate the senses in a wide range of spa treatments, varying from massage to facials to hydrotherapy. Fragrant essential extracts sourced from plants, flowers, and herbs are mainly applied for their therapeutic benefits; studies show aromatherapy not only improves your mood, but may reduce stress levels and treat insomnia. So whether you want to rejuvenate or simply smell delicious, we say aromatherapy just makes sense! Step into a spa and one of the first things you’ll notice is a signature scent wafting in the air. It’s there to entice your senses straight off the bat and sets the tone for a relaxed experience. Not only is aromatherapy used to set the mood in a spa, it’s celebrated for healing purposes as well. Different natural oils are used for different therapeutic benefits. For example, lavender endorses calm, so speak with your therapist about what you’d like to accomplish during your treatment. To help you find the massage that fits your specific needs, read Spafinder's guide to Which Massage is Right For You?

Ayurveda, meaning “knowledge of life,” made its debut in India more than 5,000 years ago and remains just as relevant to spa-goers today. At the center of this complex holistic medical system is the recognition and balancing of someone’s doshas, one of the three biological energies said to make up our mental and physical dispositions. This is done through the integration of such disciplines as nutrition, exercise, meditation, massage, aromatherapy, and herbal medicine. Prominent advocates like Deepak Chopra have moved this system of preventative healthcare into the mainstream, and a wide range of Ayurvedic treatments can now be found on many spa menus. For more, read our Complete Guide to Ayurveda. Here’s a crash course of Ayurvedic terms. Study them before you hit the spa and impress your esthetician! Ayurveda stems from the Sanskrit words, ayus, or life, and veda, or knowledge. You’ll hear the word dosha come up quite a bit in the Ayurvedic world as well; it stands for three biological mind-body traits: vata, pitta, and kapha. Common rituals on spa menus include Abhyanga (oil massage), Shirodhara (the “third-eye” treatment), and Panchakarma (detoxifying therapy).

Ayurveda, meaning “knowledge of life,” made its debut in India more than 5,000 years ago and remains just as relevant to spa-goers today. At the center of this complex holistic medical system is the recognition and balancing of someone’s doshas, one of the three biological energies said to make up our mental and physical dispositions. This is done through the integration of such disciplines as nutrition, exercise, meditation, massage, aromatherapy, and herbal medicine. Prominent advocates like Deepak Chopra have moved this system of preventative healthcare into the mainstream, and a wide range of Ayurvedic treatments can now be found on many spa menus. For more, read our Complete Guide to Ayurveda. Here’s a crash course of Ayurvedic terms. Study them before you hit the spa and impress your esthetician! Ayurveda stems from the Sanskrit words, ayus, or life, and veda, or knowledge. You’ll hear the word dosha come up quite a bit in the Ayurvedic world as well; it stands for three biological mind-body traits: vata, pitta, and kapha. Common rituals on spa menus include Abhyanga (oil massage), Shirodhara (the “third-eye” treatment), and Panchakarma (detoxifying therapy).

If you’re looking for a way to alleviate pain from sciatica or lower back pain due to an injury or muscle strain, Spafinder has a number of partners that offer chiropractic services to help relieve your discomfort. Using hands-on manipulation, chiropractors properly align your skeletal structure allowing your body to heal itself without surgery. Before you go for an adjustment, your chiropractor will have a consultation with you to evaluate the best course of action. During a typical adjustment, you will lie face down on a padded table and the chiropractor will then use his or her hands to push your joints beyond their typical range of motion. You will likely here popping or cracking sounds as this happens.

If you’re looking for a way to alleviate pain from sciatica or lower back pain due to an injury or muscle strain, Spafinder has a number of partners that offer chiropractic services to help relieve your discomfort. Using hands-on manipulation, chiropractors properly align your skeletal structure allowing your body to heal itself without surgery. Before you go for an adjustment, your chiropractor will have a consultation with you to evaluate the best course of action. During a typical adjustment, you will lie face down on a padded table and the chiropractor will then use his or her hands to push your joints beyond their typical range of motion. You will likely here popping or cracking sounds as this happens.

Sometimes you just need a little quiet time for some mindfulness. Whether you are stressed out and looking for a way to find peace or you simply enjoy all of the benefits of meditation, Spafinder will help you find an amazing place to experience your mindful meditation. These six easy tips to meditate will help you relax and clear your mind.

1. Find a tranquil place with no phones, TV, or other distractions. Use earplugs for extra quietness.
2. Before beginning meditation, do a few gentle yoga postures to get energy flowing, your breath moving, and the body ready.
3. Soothing meditation music or diffusing your favorite aromas can help you unwind and create a positive mind set.
4. Make sure you have comfortable sitting or lying arrangements with a cozy floor pillow, meditation bench, or mat. You can use a blanket or shawl for warmth. If you are outside in very warm climates, choose a shaded area out of the sun to avoid overexposure to ultra-violet rays.
5. Begin with deep breaths. Allow your mind to focus only on the breath. Focusing on the breath will begin to still the mind.
6. Have a meditation guide to help you on your journey. Guided meditation is always best in person but recorded voices can also be used.

Sometimes you just need a little quiet time for some mindfulness. Whether you are stressed out and looking for a way to find peace or you simply enjoy all of the benefits of meditation, Spafinder will help you find an amazing place to experience your mindful meditation. These six easy tips to meditate will help you relax and clear your mind.

1. Find a tranquil place with no phones, TV, or other distractions. Use earplugs for extra quietness.
2. Before beginning meditation, do a few gentle yoga postures to get energy flowing, your breath moving, and the body ready.
3. Soothing meditation music or diffusing your favorite aromas can help you unwind and create a positive mind set.
4. Make sure you have comfortable sitting or lying arrangements with a cozy floor pillow, meditation bench, or mat. You can use a blanket or shawl for warmth. If you are outside in very warm climates, choose a shaded area out of the sun to avoid overexposure to ultra-violet rays.
5. Begin with deep breaths. Allow your mind to focus only on the breath. Focusing on the breath will begin to still the mind.
6. Have a meditation guide to help you on your journey. Guided meditation is always best in person but recorded voices can also be used.

During Thai massage the therapist puts you through a series of stretches that cover the entire body. You lie on a floor mat or on a table wide enough to accommodate you and the therapist, and you wear loose-fitting clothing, often supplied by the spa, because there’s no way a sheet can stay put during these moves! The therapist might kneel on the back of your legs and pull your arms to arch your back and open your chest, or place her shoulder under your heel to lift your leg and stretch your hamstring. Thai massage also includes deep pressure-point work to stimulate the sen, or the body’s energy pathways. Thai massage is a little intense at first especially if you’re used to Swedish massage and don’t normally do much stretching. It reminds you that massage isn’t just pressure applied to you by someone else, but a balancing of the body by limbering joints and loosening muscles through movement and strategic pressure. Unlike Swedish massage, there’s a lot of interaction here between you and your therapist. To move you around the mat efficiently, the Thai massage therapist uses his or her body to leverage you into the elongating stretches. He or she also will use your body as a tool for deepening these stretches by sitting on your feet and legs or pushing or pulling you into twists. Read more about Thai Massage with Spafinder's What is Thai Massage? post. To help you find the massage that fits your specific needs, read Spafinder's guide to Which Massage is Right For You?, or select one of the links on this page for a different massage type.

During Thai massage the therapist puts you through a series of stretches that cover the entire body. You lie on a floor mat or on a table wide enough to accommodate you and the therapist, and you wear loose-fitting clothing, often supplied by the spa, because there’s no way a sheet can stay put during these moves! The therapist might kneel on the back of your legs and pull your arms to arch your back and open your chest, or place her shoulder under your heel to lift your leg and stretch your hamstring. Thai massage also includes deep pressure-point work to stimulate the sen, or the body’s energy pathways. Thai massage is a little intense at first especially if you’re used to Swedish massage and don’t normally do much stretching. It reminds you that massage isn’t just pressure applied to you by someone else, but a balancing of the body by limbering joints and loosening muscles through movement and strategic pressure. Unlike Swedish massage, there’s a lot of interaction here between you and your therapist. To move you around the mat efficiently, the Thai massage therapist uses his or her body to leverage you into the elongating stretches. He or she also will use your body as a tool for deepening these stretches by sitting on your feet and legs or pushing or pulling you into twists. Read more about Thai Massage with Spafinder's What is Thai Massage? post. To help you find the massage that fits your specific needs, read Spafinder's guide to Which Massage is Right For You?, or select one of the links on this page for a different massage type.

Qigong is also known as chi gung or chi kung—but whichever way you say it (or spell it), the overarching concept of this ancient Traditional Chinese Medicine practice remains the same: to bolster energy flow and strengthen body and mind. The set of Chinese self-healing exercises—stemming from qi (energy) and gong (the achievement that comes from practice)—combines easy, slow movement, rhythmic breathing, and visualization to obtain total wellbeing and self-awareness. This body practice moves at a slower speed, using fluid, flowing movements while you focus on deep, regulated breathing, mental imagery, and meditation. But don’t let its pace fool you, as the exercises can be extremely stimulating to both body and mind.

Qigong is also known as chi gung or chi kung—but whichever way you say it (or spell it), the overarching concept of this ancient Traditional Chinese Medicine practice remains the same: to bolster energy flow and strengthen body and mind. The set of Chinese self-healing exercises—stemming from qi (energy) and gong (the achievement that comes from practice)—combines easy, slow movement, rhythmic breathing, and visualization to obtain total wellbeing and self-awareness. This body practice moves at a slower speed, using fluid, flowing movements while you focus on deep, regulated breathing, mental imagery, and meditation. But don’t let its pace fool you, as the exercises can be extremely stimulating to both body and mind.

Reflexology is the practice of stimulating points on the feet that are thought to correspond to specific parts of the body. It is based on a reflexology chart or “zone theory” that maps out the body on the foot. It is not an everyday foot massage. Reflexology involves kneading the soft fleshy ball of the foot, pulling on the toes, tracing around the heel, and pushing deep into the arch. These are just a few of the many small, intense movements you’ll experience. While some spots may feel more sensitive than others, reflexologists will often say that pain indicates blocks in the energy pathways or weak organs and isn’t due to the pressure of the touch. In addition to manipulating the pressure points on the foot, reflexologists sometimes work on hands or ears to trigger relaxation. Some people say they feel hot or cold sensations. During a reflexology session, you’re clothed and seated or lying down while the therapist rubs, presses on, and squeezes points on your feet. The therapist may concentrate on specific areas to alleviate ailments (if you have sinus trouble, she’ll focus on your toes) or work on the whole foot with the aim of strengthening every system in the body. Read more about Reflexology with What is Reflexology? To help you find the massage that fits your specific needs, read Spafinder's guide to Which Massage is Right For You?, or select one of the links on this page for a different massage type.

Reflexology is the practice of stimulating points on the feet that are thought to correspond to specific parts of the body. It is based on a reflexology chart or “zone theory” that maps out the body on the foot. It is not an everyday foot massage. Reflexology involves kneading the soft fleshy ball of the foot, pulling on the toes, tracing around the heel, and pushing deep into the arch. These are just a few of the many small, intense movements you’ll experience. While some spots may feel more sensitive than others, reflexologists will often say that pain indicates blocks in the energy pathways or weak organs and isn’t due to the pressure of the touch. In addition to manipulating the pressure points on the foot, reflexologists sometimes work on hands or ears to trigger relaxation. Some people say they feel hot or cold sensations. During a reflexology session, you’re clothed and seated or lying down while the therapist rubs, presses on, and squeezes points on your feet. The therapist may concentrate on specific areas to alleviate ailments (if you have sinus trouble, she’ll focus on your toes) or work on the whole foot with the aim of strengthening every system in the body. Read more about Reflexology with What is Reflexology? To help you find the massage that fits your specific needs, read Spafinder's guide to Which Massage is Right For You?, or select one of the links on this page for a different massage type.

This Chinese practice of slow meditative movements, originally created as a form of self-defense, is now a prime way to de-stress, relax, and reach well-being. Thanks to this exercise being so low-impact, nearly anyone can practice and benefit from it. Find a qualified Tai Chi instructor with Spafinder and learn this relaxing, ancient practice. Tai Chi can help to alleviate stress and anxiety, increase energy, flexibility, and balance, help you sleep, build your immune system, and improve blood pressure, cholesterol, and joint pain. You can gain greater benefits when you practice at the same time and in the same place each day.

This Chinese practice of slow meditative movements, originally created as a form of self-defense, is now a prime way to de-stress, relax, and reach well-being. Thanks to this exercise being so low-impact, nearly anyone can practice and benefit from it. Find a qualified Tai Chi instructor with Spafinder and learn this relaxing, ancient practice. Tai Chi can help to alleviate stress and anxiety, increase energy, flexibility, and balance, help you sleep, build your immune system, and improve blood pressure, cholesterol, and joint pain. You can gain greater benefits when you practice at the same time and in the same place each day.