Frans Koks

Origin
Massaging with hot stones has been around for centuries.
Stones have been used as tools and aids for as long as men have been walking the earth. For example, stones were used for heating on cold nights.
The Greeks and Romans used stones in the baths to massage each other, because muscle pain, discomfort and injuries decreased faster.
This massage was also used by the Incas, Indians, Maories and many other cultures.
In Eastern culture, hot stones were used to prevent and treat diseases and ailments. Here the stones were placed on the acupuncture points and stroked over the meridians.
A hot stone massage is a body treatment based on the mindset that the soul, body and mind are one.

Effect
The combination of heat and movement allows the massage therapist to go deeper into the muscle tissue, making the massage or treatment more effective.
A hot stone massage ensures that the body repairs itself, it helps to remove excess cells, contributes to the detoxification of the body, stimulates the organs and can bring the body more into balance.
Hot stone massage is good for muscle pain, muscle sprains and muscle tension. It helps with reduced blood circulation, back pain, arthritis, some types of rheumatism, fibromyalgia, menstrual pain. Its relaxing effect helps with stress and anxiety.

Technique
The hot stone massage is given with beautiful volcanic stones, which are rounded by nature over centuries. They have a temperature of 45 °C to 55 °C.
Usually the hot stone massage is performed in the following way.
First, the body is smeared with oil. This is followed by a massage with warm stones that are eventually placed on or next to you. These stones provide warmth and relaxation. The massage mainly consists of long and calm strokes, but during the massage all muscle groups are eventually worked.

Origin
Lymph contains substances that do not belong in the tissues, such as too much protein, too much water or foreign cells that have invaded our body, such as bacteria. The lymphatic system ensures that all excess is removed and at the same time our immune system is stimulated. If we do not have optimal circulation in the lymphatic system, all kinds of disorders can arise and we feel less comfortable.
We stimulate the flow through an adapted rhythm and the specific direction of the spiral and pump movements.
This technique also creates a very relaxed state, removing stress from the body.

Effect
Lymphatic drainage is applied to the places where the body has an excess of waste products in the tissue or has problems with the removal of waste products.

Technique
Manual lymphatic drainage is a very calm and gentle massage technique . The masseur applies special soft touch techniques to stimulate the lymph nodes and remove fluid and waste from your body. The massage has a ‘pressure phase’ and a ‘pressureless phase’.
The pressure phase ensures sufficient opening of the smallest lymphatic vessels just under the skin, which are closed with a kind of sliding valves. This allows the lymph to enter the lymphatic vessel.
The pressure-free phase gives the lymphatic vessels the opportunity to close again, after which the lymph can be drained further.
The treatment itself is gentle and soothing

Origin
Western knowledge of health care and Eastern philosophy play an important role in this form of massage. The classic massage is probably one of the most used massage forms.

Effect
The classic massage stimulates blood circulation, you become relaxed and your freedom of movement is increased.
Due to the increased blood flow, the absorption of nutrients in the muscles is promoted and the waste products are removed faster.
The massage can bring your body into deep relaxation to a deep meditative state. It calms the nervous system, strengthens the immune system and stimulates the release of toxins in your body.
During this massage we typically use slow, sliding movements. The masseur kneads and rubs with the blood flow towards the heart, to stimulate blood circulation.

Technique
Four basic techniques are used in a classic massage: effleurage, petrissage, kneading and friction. Effleurage is a superficial ironing massage technique. Petrissage is a firm kneading massage technique, in which the movements are free to very powerful and circular movements are made. In the kneading technique, the subcutaneous tissue is kneaded with the thumb and fingers, in the same way that dough is kneaded. Friction is a powerful rub-massage technique. Powerful movements are made with thumbs, knuckles and fingertips.
The massage is performed with massage oil and on bare skin.
100% natural essential oils are used for the massage. The oils nourishes the skin at the same time, leaving it soft and supple.
A massage lotion can also be used.

Origin
Reflexology is thousands of years old. The earliest surviving
sources of this technique are wall paintings from 2330
BC, in the tomb of the physicians at Saqqara, Egypt. One
scene shows people being
treated at their feet and hands.
Chinese acupuncturists used
reflexology as an adjunct to their treatment in the 4th century AD. Once in place, the needles applied
direct pressure to the feet to release energy and initiate healing.

Effect
The manipulation of the reflex points stimulates nerve endings and
blood circulation and relieves excess stress and tension in the body.
Reflexology improves circulation and helps the body
to eliminate waste more quickly , so that toxins cannot build up to dangerous
levels in the liver, kidneys or intestines. The massage
improves all body functions, stimulating the self-healing process
to work faster and more efficiently.

Technique
Reflexology is a safe massage technique, which is applied on
the outside of the body. By applying pressure to specific
reflex points on the feet and hands, health is promoted. Each
reflex point corresponds to a part of the body. Everything on the
right side of the body corresponds to the reflex points on the
right hand and foot. Everything on the left corresponds to the
left hand and foot.
Reflexology is most effective on the feet, as they are very sensitive.

Origin
The Lomi Lomi is originally from Hawaii and was passed down from generation to generation.
In the Huna, a Hawaiian philosophy, the main focus is on Harmony and Love. Lack of harmony leads to resistance, which in turn leads to blockages in the energy flow. The treatment is aimed at removing these blockages.
Lomi is the Hawaiian term for massage and means “pressing, kneading, rubbing”, but also “touching a contented cat with velvet paws”. The word has been doubled, because the meaning then becomes stronger several times.

Effect
The Lomi Lomi massage restores the life force and has a stimulating effect on the muscles, the nervous system, the senses, the blood circulation and the organs. In addition, the massage improves the supply of oxygen, the metabolism and the removal of waste.
After the Lomi Lomi massage you will feel reborn.

Technique
Lomi Lomi massage is a calm rhythmic massage, which is aimed at relaxation and healing. It is a full body treatment performed with beautiful, long, flowing movements over the full length of the body, mainly massaging the forearms. The movements can be compared to the waves of the ocean, it almost seems like a type of dance.
The emphasis of the treatment is on relaxation and the removal of fears, irritations and other negative emotions. The body becomes calm and returns back into its own harmonic, natural rhythm.

Yin yoga is rapidly gaining popularity. The postures that you adopt in this form of yoga are mainly aimed at strengthening and relaxing connective tissue and joints; they stretch deeper muscles and loosen the pelvic area. Initially, the postures are intended to allow you to meditate longer in the Lotus position, but it is also a nice exercise for those who have a sedentary profession.
In Yin yoga, positions are held for longer, so you have more time to explore and push your limits. You don’t use your body to get into a posture, but you use the posture to feel better. It is therefore the relatively calm nature of a Yin yoga class that appeals to most participants. Because you don’t have to move very intensively, you can really take the time for your body which makes this class very successful.
The founder of Yin yoga is the American Paul Grilley, who has been teaching yoga and anatomy since 1980. He bases his theory on the researches and writings of Hiroshi Motoyama, a Tokyo yogi and scientist with extensive knowledge of energy pathways and acupuncture.

Yoga Nidra is a form of deep meditative relaxation where you follow a voice that leads you through a structured meditation. It is therefore not an active form of Yoga, and everyone can do it! Literally translated Yoga Nidra means: yoga sleep or sleep of the yogis. But it’s anything but sleeping like you do at night. Through Yoga Nidra you achieve a deep, dreamless sleep with a trace of awareness and connection with your environment. The deep relaxation creates theta and delta brain waves, you reach a trance state in which experiences and fragments of memories are processed, muscle tension and stress in the body decreases and blood pressure and heart rate drop. This has a very healing effect on body and mind.
During Yoga Nidra you are first brought into relaxation where you make contact with your sankalpa, which freely translated means intention or heart’s desire. Then you are guided through the whole body by following a voice through all body parts, which ensures that you relax even more deeply. The theme of Nidra is always changing. Think of the seasons, moods, chakras or deep relaxation. The theme runs like a red thread through the Nidra and after the journey through the body is discussed in the visualizations and the introduction of opposites: such as warm and cold or light and heavy, tense and relaxed.This puts the rational brain out of play even more, deepens relaxation and brings together the opposites that can change the neurological pathways in the brain. Then you go back to your breathing, your sankalpa and slowly back to an awake state after which the Yoga Nidra is completed.

Sonja is eager to share her knowledge about massages and yin yoga widely. Click here if you want to join her.

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Origin
Ayurveda is considered to be the oldest medical and health system. It was written down about 5,000 years ago. It is a holistic system that originated in India . Ayurveda means: knowledge (veda) of life (ayus). Tri Dosha play an important role in Ayurveda. The three doshas are Vata, Pitta and Kapha, which are made up of the five elements ether, wind, fire, water and earth. Everything (people, seasons, ages) can be described in terms of these three dynamic forces. Vata stands for change, Pitta for metabolism and Kapha for structure.
Absence of disease does not mean that you are healthy in Ayurveda. You are healthy when the three doshas are in balance, the excretion is good, the mind is calm and the tissues function normally.

Effect
It is a whole body massage, in which the head and face are included.
The Ayurvedic massage is suitable for everyone, healthy or sick, old and young. An Ayurvedic massage is only not recommended in the following cases: during the first 3 months of pregnancy, with cancer and fever.
The Ayurvedic massage brings the whole body into balance. Body and mind are brought closer together and the self-healing capacity of the body is stimulated. Ayurvedic massage works on the muscles and on the energy system: the aura and chakras. The joints relax and stress, fatigue and insomnia are combated. The massage provides more vital energy, helps to remove toxins that are trapped and to release emotional blockages. It activates the lymphatic system and the circulatory system. It extends the lifespan, contributes to the awareness of the body, relieves muscle tension and increases the sensual appearance. The massage cleanses,, relaxes, nourishes and balances the physical body, the emotions and the mind.

Technique
Ayurvedic massage is a holistic massage, which is characterized by the use of herbal oil. During this massage, massage techniques are combined with the stimulation of the Marma points. Marma points are pressure points from Ayurveda.
In most cases, during an Ayurvedic massage, the hands are massaged.