Chi refers to the natural energy of the Universe, which permeates everything. All matter, from the smallest molecules and atoms to the largest stars and planets, is made up of chi energy. It is the total energy force for life. It is the source of every existing thing. Chi has many manifestations. To the taiji practitioners of China it is known as “Chi,” but different philosophies and cultures call it by different names. Japanese call it “Ki.” Metaphysical science calls it “vital force.” The Indian and Hindu yogis call it “Prana.” Western science defines it as “biorhythm,” and New Age people and philosophers simply call it “cosmic energy.”

Naturally, in each manifestation the Chi is viewed and defined differently, but basically it is referred to as the same thing. It is the power which enables us to, move, think, live, and breathe – the energy that makes gravity act like gravity. It is what makes electricity electric. It is the link between our perception of the inner and outer universe

It is our connection to every flow of energy in the universe and the prime moving force within the human body. Chi is not breath; it is the power and energy that makes it possible for us to breathe. Chi is not only “energy,” it is what gives energy the power to be energy. Chi is the power or electricity behind movement and thought…and it is everywhere in everything. It is in the blood that flows through us, and oxygen we breathe.
It is difficult to define or understand Chi concretely. It cannot be seen. heard or measured, it cannot be touched, felt or captured. It is everywhere in everything, yet we have no way to make it tangible, or even prove its exists. Therefore Chi is a difficult concept to understand. The Western mind likes the tangible, the concrete and the specific.

Chi within the body is like electricity in a rechargeable battery. Occasionally it needs to be recharged or replenished. The Chi of our universe is inexhaustible, yet the body needs to renew fresh Chi to maintain its vitality. When you are exchanging the Chi within you with the Chi of the universe, you feel healthy and full of vitality. By energizing the body with Chi it is replenished or revitalised naturally, enabling it to fight off sickness and maintain good health. The true secret to replenishing Chi is controlled in our breathing.

Breathing in and out through the nose is the only method that allows the body to process Chi energy effectively and efficiently. Most people understand that breathing is most effective through the nose. When we breathe in through the nose, there are a series of defence mechanisms that prevent dust, impurities and cold air from entering the body.

A screen of nose hairs in the nasal passage traps dust and other particles that could permeate the lungs and cause injury if we breathe through the mouth. Next, there is a long nasal passage lined with mucus membranes, where excessively cool air is slightly warmed and very fine dust particles that escaped the hair screen are captured. Lastly, in the inner nose are glands which in most cases fight off bacteria that may have slipped through the other defences. The inner nasal passage also contains the olfactory organ that gives us our sense of smell, which can detect dangerous smells or fumes that could damage our health if we were to inhale them.

We are also expelling Chi from the body. But if we are always expelling the Chi, we don’t give it a chance build up in our body into the rich source of energy needed to complete our techniques to our maximum effectiveness. By exhaling through the mouth, we simply allow the Chi energy to escape back into the universe but breathing out through the nose, however, completes a closed circuit. By breathing out through the nose, rather than allowing the Chi energy to be expelled out the mouth with the carbon dioxide, we transfer it to the dan tien or hara, located about three finger widths below the belly button. With each breath we take in, more Chi enters the body and circles down to the dan tien, growing stronger. During this breathing process, the tongue is up, touching the top palate of the mouth just behind the front teeth and the air is expelled from the nose with a sounding audible hiss. There is also a feeling of the abdomen contracting down with breathing out .

Once enough Chi has been generated, the practitioner is able to move or direct the Chi with tremendous force. Remember that Chi is energy, an invisible force that requires much patience and long years of practice to understand. To relax and breathe effectively will benefit your training in building Chi. When your body and mind are working in harmony in a relaxed manner and you are breathing correctly, a extremely large amount of energy is able to flow through your body and mind. The idea is not to force it, just slow down, relax and concentrate on breathing through your nose. It comes naturally in time.

If you’re on the Gold Coast have a read of this article.Full body massage can produce multiple benefits for your health. These benefits go far beyond an hour spent in relaxing quietly on one of our beautiful Gold Coast islands, escaping the day.

An increasing amount of evidence indicates that stress and tension form the root causes of many diseases and illnesses. Hence, if you able to find ways to alleviate or relieve your stress, you are preventing health problems from emerging or becoming worse.

Other than going out on the boat or sunning yourself on a Gold Coast Beaches where the sun is hot.Going for a full body massage on a regular basis is one excellent way to help you fight off tensions.

Full body massage stimulates the production of endorphins that promotes relaxation and drowsiness.

When you go for full body massage, your head to your toes and feet are massaged both front and back. A variety of strokes that includes kneading, pulling, wringing and gliding are used on various parts of the body.If you are already ill or suffering from constant fatigue or pain, then full body massage can play a big part in your treatment.

A full body massage helps to improve blood circulation and blood becomes more easily transportable to the vital organs in your body. This is vital for smooth functioning of your internal body parts. In addition, when blood is supplied to areas that have been injured before, repair and renewal of cells and tissues take place more easily. Combined with conventional medicine and other therapies, repeat sessions of full body massage can do much to accelerate your recovery.

Reflexology is a treatment where the therapist works mostly on your feet. The idea behind reflexology is that there are “acupressure points” in the feet, hands and ears that relate to specific organs and glands in the body.

Massage therapists believe that stimulating those acupressure points promotes good health in that organ via the body’s energetic pathways. (Chi or meridian lines)
When done by a skilled practitioner, reflexology is a very deep and relaxing treatment with benefits that can be reflected throughout the body. (If they’re less trained, you’ll just feel like you’ve had a very long foot rub.)

Reflexology can be a good treatment choice for people who want to keep their clothes on during a massage. It is also a good choice if you are pressed for time and don’t want to get oil on your body or in your hair.Click here for a reflexology foot chart

Deep tissue massage is a style of massage aimed at chronic pain due to daily life and relates to the connective tissue of the muscle fascia, and deeper tissue structures.

Deep tissue massage uses many of the same styles, moves and techniques as Swedish massage, but the pressure will usually be firmer. and more elbow and forearm used.

It is also a more tension focused type of massage in problematic areas, as the therapist works to release chronic muscle tension or knots (also known as “adhesions.”)

does Deep Tissue Massage Hurt?

A deep tissue massage shouldn’t hurt you but it will be firmer than a classic Swedish massage. You should always feel free to speak up if the pressure is too much for you.

Sports massage is a style of massage that is specially targeting muscles for the type of sport you do. It targets ailments and injuries and is not meant to be the most relaxing type of massage.

The target areas that sports massage is used for are the muscles that you would use to play a sport. E.G when running you use your calves, quads (most of your legs), ankles, feet, lower back and your arms and shoulders.By working these areas you can loosen up your range of motion and soothe the tired muscles from training or competing. Sports massage also helps to remove lactic acid out of your muscle after training or competing to reduce soreness, somewhat like a stretching programme but more intense.

Sports massage is used to prevent and relieve injuries and sore conditions that are associated with exercise. It can often be quite strenuous and is meant to relieve and reduce the stress and tension that can build up in the body’s soft tissues while exercising. Sports massage also helps in strengthening the musco skeletal system. It can be carried out during, before, or after playing sport or exercising and uses techniques and styles that are designed to increase endurance and performance, to reduce the possibility of injury and, if there is an injury, to reduce your recovery time.

Sports massage can treat a variety of ailments and injuries that may occur as a result of exercise. It also has other benefits that allow you to train or exercise more efficiently. Some benefits that sports massage has include:

• draining away fatigue
• reducing muscle tension
• improving heart rate and blood pressure
• promoting flexibility
• injuries that occur as a result of overexertion or overuse
• treating injuries such as shin splints, tennis elbows, sprains and strains,
• corked thighs
• relieving pain
• preventing injuries
• increasing blood circulation and lymph flow

Four hands massage or Tandem massage is a fantastic way to maximize your massage time, having two massage therapists massaging you at the same time. Very, very indulgent! And very worth it! The ultimate body massage…two fully qualified massage therapists working together in choreographed unison to heighten your massage experience. Meaning you will receive double the tension relief and relaxation in half the time. It’s like getting a 2 hour massage in 1 hour!

Mobile massage therapists on the Gold Coast come to you home or hotel to treat you, your loved ones or you close friend.Four Hands Massage involves two massage therapists treating you at the same time and can be performed in many different ways:

• Mirroring - one therapist takes the lead and the other therapist does the same work on the opposite side of the body.
• Reflexology & Body Work - one therapist will work on reflexology (feet & hands) while the other one will work on your upper body. Halfway through the session the therapists will swap and one will keep the reflexology work while the other will work on your lower body
• Upper Body & Lower Body Work - one therapist will work on your upper body and the other therapist will work on your lower body. Halfway through the session the therapists will swap and work on the other part of the body.

Our therapists can customize the body work to suit your needs!So if you feeling like you need some TLC, give Four Hands Massage a go. Gold Coast region only.

A myotherapists assesses and treats myofascial injury, pain and dysfunction affecting range of motion and mobility. Myotherapy is applied to the muscles, tendons, ligaments and fascia) of the physical body to rehabilitate, restore and strengthen the physical body.Pain or symptoms caused by muscle or fascia is described as myofascial.

Myofascial pain is not usually specific and is usually described by the person as a ‘deep dull ache’, ‘tightness’ or ‘tenderness’ in an area of the body. It can vary in intensity and branch out to other areas. E.G a sore lower back can move it’s pain and tension to the sciatic nerve in the hip.

Other symptoms can include stiffness, fatigue, numbness, weakness or a tingling sensation. There are many other symptoms depending on the condition. The person, can have many symptoms.Common conditions that Myotherapists can treat include:

• Stiffness & pain associated with poor posture
• Associated joint & vertebral dysfunction & pain
• Scoliosis / Kyphosis
• Hand & finger numbness / tingling – thoracic outlet syndrome Headaches / migraines
• Acute, chronic stiff and painful neck muscles
• Sporting & occupational injuries
• Chronic overuse syndromes - tendonitis, RSI, tennis/golfer’s elbow, carpal tunnel
• Acute & chronic conditions affecting function & mobility
• Acute & chronic back pain / ’sciatica’
• Shoulder pain, impingement syndrome, frozen shoulder
• Pregnancy – pre/post natal complaints
• Knee, leg & foot pain – shin splints, patella tracking dysfunction, runners knee, ankle sprains
• Pain & dysfunction associated with stress & tension
• Chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia
• Rehabilitative stage of an injury or illness

Therapeutic massage is the gentle manipulation of muscle tissue by pressure from the hands fingers and forearms; stimulating both the mind and body.

Therapeutic massage is a style of massage that improves blood flow, chronic tension, the relief of strain and pain or anxiety, improving mental and physical fatigue, fluid retention and increasing flexibility in the joints.

The most beneficial part of therapeutic massage is it has an uplifting effect to your life. It is enjoyable and promotes a good attitude to life.

AromatherpyThe term Aromatherapy means, “treatment using scents and smells”. It is a holistic treatment of the body with pleasant smelling botanical oils such as rose, lavender, lemon, and peppermint. The essential oils are massaged into the skin or added to a bath, inhaled directly or diffused to scent a whole room. Aromatherapy is used through smells for the relief of pain, caring for the skin, alleviating tension, fatigue and invigorating the whole body. Essential oils can affect your mood and promote relaxation. When inhaled, they work on senses in the brain and nervous system by the stimulation of olfactory nerves.These essential oils are aromatic essences extracted from plants, flowers, fruits trees, bark, grasses and seeds with different therapeutic, physiological and psychological properties, which improve wellness and prevent illness. There are around 150 essential oils. Most of these oils have antiseptic properties; some are antiviral, anti-inflammatory, antidepressant, pain relieving and expectorant. Other properties of the essential oils, which are used in aromatherapy, have stimulation, diuretic, digestion improvement, and relaxation properties. To get the ultimate benefit from essential oils, it should be made from pure and natural raw materials. Synthetic oils have no beneficial properties what so ever.Aromatherapy is one of the largest growing types of alternative medicine. It is commonly used at home, clinics and hospitals with many types of applications including pain relief for women with labour pain. Aromatherapy is already slowly getting into the mainstream. In the business world today, engineers are using aroma systems into new buildings. The scent of rosemary and lavender are pumped into the areas where customer are, to calm down them down, while the perfumes like eucalyptus and lemon are used in banks so the teller staff are kept alert.

Relaxation massage We understand the pressures and stress of life everyday and the importance of time to yourself.With this 1 hour relaxation massage using oil to rejuvenate, reinvigorate and restore your body’s energy, you will feel totally relaxed just like you deserve.This massage is the perfect solution for tired minds, muscles, stress symptoms and general wellbeing.

Our massages are based on Swedish techniques to rejuvenate, reinvigorate and restore your body’s energy.

When you’re in your home or hotel and you need to relax and let go of stress, Muscle Matters will come to you to keep the stress of the world out of you way. By giving you a relaxation massage in your surrounds, we will take stress away by unwinding your mind with our soothing hands.

You won’t be disappointed!

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The Green Team Event Professionals

At your event

The green Team will have your participants or employees feeling fantastic and eating out of the palm of your hand, while they are working or being a client of your event.

Imagine having a seminar with many people sitting for hours on end getting tired and sleepy. Send them to us for invigoration and an energizer boost of the natural kind.

Our therapists are fully qualified in corporate chair massage and event massage.

While keeping the treatment short, we give a treatment totally tailored to each individual need. So no massage is the same, “just like people”.

At your Office

Corporate massage therapy in the workplace is a preventative medicine and it is also a great way to get some positive energy flowing around your staff!

It’s easy, economical and relatively inexpensive when compared with costs like servicing your car. Your employees are your best asset. So why not look after them. With unemployment so low, corporate massage is a great way to keep your employees from looking elsewhere.

Outdoor or indoor, our massage therapists come ready to work on the Gold Coast when your company needs to relax or deserves a reward - whether that’s Wednesday morning, Friday evening or over the weekend. Regular seated massage has proven results.

Employee Benefits

Decreases stress

Improves thinking and concentration

Improves circulation and boosts the immune system

Reduces muscle pain and tension

Gives headache relief.

Employer Benefits

Increases productivity through improved concentration and raised morale

Improves retention rates and decreases absenteeism,

Lessens stress and ergonomic related injuries,

Seated massage is a ‘water-cooler’ event, it allows employees to interact on a non-work basis and gives you a chance to find out how your employees are doing.

What to expect

Corporate massage therapy is usually performed in 10-15 minute treatments using a specially designed leaning forward seat. All your employees or clients remain fully clothed and no oil or lotions are used. Headphones with relaxing music are available and a rejuvenating aromatherapy spritz is offered at the end of each treatment.We can also do full one hour relaxation or remedial massages using a massage therapy table if you prefer. All we need is a quite room to set up for the time we are there.

Pricing

Corporate or onsite massage therapy is charged at $80.00 per therapist per hour with a minimum booking time of one hour. Gold Coast area only.(for outside Gold Coast travel costs are included) Some companies may also like to subsidise regular massages through a system of part payment. For example 50% paid by employee and 50% paid by the company. Whatever your situation, Muscle Matters are willing to work with you for the best possible outcome so don’t delay - call today! For an obligation free discussion and quote on your workplace needs please contact Justin directly by email or call 0427 209 706.

Have you ever wanted get a massage together with your loved ones or friends?Couples massage is great when you only have a short time together.Have two massage therapists come and see you at the same time. Side by side, arm in arm. You both can get massages in the same hour, saving you time, so you both can relax together after. Couples massage is great for honey mooners. Once you’re on your honey moon and you don’t want to be apart, you can get two massages right here on the Gold Coast, where the massage therapists arrive together for your convenience. For the shy, you can have male or female therapists come out to see you at the same time.

Kahuna massage is a style of massage that originates from the Hawaiian Islands

Kahuna massage is a very organic type of massage indulging in long strong strokes, sweeping and deep flowing movements.

The Hawaiian people worked with their intuition and their hearts when performing this very pleasurable style of massage.

Kahuna massage is linked with the mind, body and spirit to help us reconnect ourselves to the part of us that has been forgotten by everyday living and stress.

The ancient Kahuna massage therapists were masters of body manipulation and healing with a very strong connection to nature. The surrounds of the Hawaiian Islands having ocean breezes, beautiful sunsets and volcanoes has formed an amazing atmosphere for the birth of such a beautiful form of massage.

 How many times have we seen the physiotherapist, the trainer or the masseur of the team giving the sportsperson a thorough rub at the interval of the game? It seems that the massage not only relaxes the muscles, but it does more than that and prepares the person for the next half of the game. And why only in the game, even after an intense training session, such a thing is often witnessed. For the sportsperson it is such a relaxing and a rejuvenating experience. The importance of the massage has grown so much that these days it has become something permanent.

So what are the benefits of sports massage?

The benefits of sports massage are from two angles – it is psychological and it is also physiological. Both in the game and in the training, the sportsperson has to exert himself to try and excel and beat his competition. In trying to do this, he is stressing the capabilities of his body to the maximum. A sports massage is a great help in this because it can help the athlete recover quickly. When the person is exerting himself, the muscles of the body contract and the fibers glide together – this allows the tendon and the muscle to broaden. The friction and compression techniques of a sports massage emulate this and this is what makes the muscles and the tissues more flexible. And due to this, the muscle is able to broaden easily later on, which in turn allows the sportsperson to perform better.

But the benefits of sports massage are not just limited to this.

Such a massage can stimulate the flow of blood and also the lymph fluids of the body. A good massage therapist will also know the trigger points of the body and be able to break down the knots in the muscles that tend to develop. The breaking down of the knots gives the athlete more motion.

Here are some of the other benefits of sports massage

• A sports massage helps the athlete optimize performance because it repairs the wear and tear of the body.
• The massage reduces the recovery time of the body.
• A massage reduces the soreness and stiffness of the body after a game, at the interval or after an intense training session.
• It makes the body more flexible and allows the person to exert himself.
• It reduces the risk of an injury.
• The sports massage provides the athlete endurance and strength.
• It also enhances the person’s fitness.

Benefits of sports massage – can others gain too?

Yes of course. Why only a sportsperson, absolutely anyone can gain from the benefits of sports massage. And this is precisely why, such message treatments are often delivered at health clubs and spas, and that too often at a high cost. But the cost is worth it, because the body is after all yours, and it is your responsibility to take good care of it.

All of us lead such a stressed up life these days that we can all do with some sports massage to get quick relief. Truly, the benefits of sports massage are many.