My first blog - where do I start?

Ok, I've got my blog up and running, what do I write about?

Ok, here goes. My favourite massage, what I would prefer having as a client.

Once upon a time that would've been an easy choice - Hot stone massage. Always been my favourite even though I always felt like I'd been hit by a bus the next day. The enjoyment of the massage and the benefits far outwayed the hangover that I had the following day. I loved the heat from the stones, especially when placement stones were used, the feeling as if I was 'melting' into the table. The stones themselves getting deep into the muscles releasing any tension held there. Pure bliss!

However - as I have learned different styles of massage, my choice has become more difficult.

Bamboo massage! I really couldn't believe how lovely this was. I knew it would be different, and would get deep into the muscles, but wow was I amazed at how lovely it felt. I somehow thought of the bamboo sticks as being more effective than comfortable or relaxing, yet they were all that and more. Right from the outset, the bamboo sticks got right down to work on the tight areas. It felt 'different' and 'good' from the opening effleurage strokes, and I could feel the difference immediately. Even though there was not that 'wonderful heat' that the hot stones gave, it was a lot smoother and flowing as I didn't have to wait whilst new stones were removed from the heater. Oh - and I didn't feel like I'd been hit by a bus the following day!

As if that didn't make my choice dificult enough, I was introduced to Hawaiian massage, or lomilomi, with its long flowing and loving full body massage movements which used the forearms along with the hands and thumbs. Pure ultimate relaxation. This massage has the ability to totally relax the mind, whilst getting deep into the muscles and leaving the 'whole' body, mind and spirit refreshed, relaxed and renewed!

Now which is my favourite? a very close call, but I think it has to be the lomilomi.I just love the way the whole body is massaged and not split into sections as with other more Western styles. I've even started offering my clients a more lomilomi approach to my hot stone massages, so although it takes a little longer at the begining getting the stones ready, it is so much smoother once the massage is under way as the body is massaged from feet to head in one uninterrupted session.

The exquisite movements of lomilomi create one of the most blissful and beautiful massage experiences I have found so far.