Your Health and Wellness Holistic Living Blog

Pregnancy and Reflexology

March 27, 2018 By Heather

At the Foot Palace we are often asked about the relationship between reflexology treatments and how they can be beneficial to expecting mothers. The short answer is that they can help induce late pregnancies, help to improve circulation throughout the body and can generally help to reduce stress. With that being said, we always want to ensure the safety of our clients and prevent any complications that might occur during this strenuous time.

Earliest Recommended Pregnancy Massage Treatments

Most reflexologists advise against working with women that are not yet at least thirteen weeks pregnant. During this period there is a higher risk for miscarriage, and although reflexology generally isn’t known for causing complications such as these most therapists agree that it’s safer not to do it.

Often times women that are late in their pregnancy will try reflexology to help induce labor and as an alternative to pain relief medications. While this can be beneficial, it is often recommended that treatments begin four to five months prior to the due date. This allows the therapist ample time to minimize the amount of stress the client is feeling and help prepare the mother for delivery. While it is rare, reflexology can be performed during labor to help ease the pain of childbirth.

Get Some Relief at the Foot Palace

We know that carrying a pregnancy can be incredibly stressful and demanding, that’s why we recommend coming in to let us help ease the aches and pains of child expectancy. With Mother’s Day coming up, a Foot Palace gift certificate would make a wonderful gift to any expecting mother!

https://plus.google.com/+Yourfootpalaceathensmassagespa

Foot Palace Massage Spa Athens

 1720 Epps Bridge Pkwy Ste 106, Athens, GA 30606
 (706) 521-5290

Heal Those Heels

January 15, 2018 By Heather

With temperatures dipping into the freezing range, your skin is likely to receive some damage. Below are a few effective tips to help you avoid dry skin this winter season.

6 Important Tips to Prevent and Treat Dry Winter Skin

Moisturization is key – An obvious solution to dry skin is using a moisturizer, but picking out the best moisturizer for your skin type can add additional benefits. During winter months choosing an ointment based lotion can be especially helpful as it helps retain moisture throughout the day. Water based lotions also work but can quickly fade. If you’re having trouble with dry heels and hands, Foot Palace offers a hand and foot hydration treatment that could surely be beneficial.

Avoid Hot Showers – During the cold months it’s often tempting to jump into a hot shower to escape the cold, however this can be detrimental to retaining the skins natural oils. When you take hot showers, the water is stripping the skin of its self-produced oils and leaving your skin dry and itchy. You can avoid this by taking room temperature (or even cold) showers. Despite the negative connotation associated with cold showers it can actually be incredibly beneficial to not only your skin but to your overall health.
Checkout the benefits of a cold shower here – yourfootpalace.com/5-surprising-health-beauty-benefits-cold-showers/

Keeping a Room Humidifier – Although its not the first solution that comes to mind, keeping a humidifier in your room can actually help keep your skin and lips moist throughout the night. This added moisture can also be beneficial in keeping your sinus cavities moist as well as keeping indoor plants healthy. All in all, a win-win.
Indoor Home Heating – Surprisingly enough overheating in your home can be a large contributor to dry skin. Setting your heat to a comfortably lower setting can not only help save some money but can also help keep your skin a little less dry. This paired with the humidifier (mentioned above) can show great results for keeping your skin during the cold months.

Over Washing the Hands – During this time of year its best to avoid over washing the hands as this can result in dry and even cracked hands. Popular remedies for countering this are using soft soaps that will help to reduce stripping of oils, applying your own oils such as vitamin E oil and different topical creams.

Drinking Water – Last and most important is staying hydrated from within! If you’re not drinking the proper amount of water your body is going to have trouble replenishing its natural oils. This rule goes for chapped lips, dry hands and feet and itchy skin. The body needs sufficient amounts of water to ensure your skin health is as healthy as can be. During the winter you might not feel as thirsty because you’re often less active than in the summer months. But your body needs the same amount of water to function correctly.

Hopefully these tips can help keep you a little less dry this winter!

https://plus.google.com/+Yourfootpalaceathensmassagespa

Foot Palace Massage Spa Athens

 1720 Epps Bridge Pkwy Ste 106, Athens, GA 30606
 (706) 521-5290

Seasonal Affective Disorder

November 27, 2017 By Heather

Seasonal affective disorder is a type of depression that occurs in relation to changes in seasons — SAD begins and ends at about the same times every year. If you’re like most people with SAD, your symptoms start in the fall and continue into the winter months. Customers of Foot Palace have expressed a draining of energy, and feeling moody or often frustrated. Although SAD might feel like a normal case of rainy day blues, it should be taken seriously and treated effectively.

Helpful treatments of Seasonal Affective Disorder are light therapy (phototherapy), regular exercise, vitamin supplementation and plenty of water.

Symptoms of SAD

The usual symptoms of SAD include depression throughout the day, frequent thoughts of suicide, low energy, having trouble with sleep, and loss of appetite. Winter specific depression (often referred to as Winter Depression) has similar symptoms and can be treated the same. Although absolute causes are unknown there are several factors that can play into your disorder. As mentioned in last month’s blog, the disruption of your circadian rhythm plays a major role in your sleep pattern. This disturbance in your sleep schedule can lead to a decrease in serotonin as well as melatonin, both of which can increase SAD. Family history can also play a role in SAD, the link being that those with a family history of depression are more likely to experience seasonal affective disorder. As well as those with depression, people with bipolar are also at higher risk.

If you feel down for a prolonged period of time and can’t get motivated to do activities you normally enjoy, see your doctor. This is especially true if you begin to have suicidal thoughts, start to lose sleep or your appetite begins to decrease.

Alternative Therapy and Treatments Are an Option

Although treatments such as phototherapy and psychological help are shown to be beneficial, alternative therapies such as reflexology and acupressure can help lift you out of your winter funk. If exercise doesn’t seem to be a realistic option for you, a reflexology service can help to increase the bodies’ circulation and help with the production of melatonin. Helping your body fully relax is also great way to beat the winter blues.

For more wellness related articles, visit https://www.yourfootpalace.com/blog/

https://plus.google.com/+Yourfootpalaceathensmassagespa

Foot Palace Massage Spa Athens

 1720 Epps Bridge Pkwy Ste 106, Athens, GA 30606
 (706) 521-5290

Preparing the Body for Winter Weather

October 23, 2017 By Heather

Colder weather is officially here and with Fall being the precursor to the sick season, the Foot Palace team compiled a few tips to help keep your physical and mental health on the up and up.

Sunlight Interacts with the Body’s Circadian Rhythm

During the winter months we lose about 5-6 hours of direct sunlight a day. This lack of sunlight has a direct impact on how our circadian rhythm (internal clock) affects the body. With limited exposure to day light, the body becomes tired earlier in the day. To make matters worse, a majority of the sunlight is burned up throughout the work day when most people are inside. An effective way to counteract the loss of sunlight is by purchasing a dawn simulator. The simulator is placed in the bedroom and acts as a substitute for natural light sources (aka the Sun) in the morning.

Hydration During Winter Months

Hydration is more important than you think. Drinking water during the summer months seems much easier because of the constant heat and the amount of time we spend outside, but with the cold of winter keeping us inside more, it’s often easier to neglect proper hydration. The winter air means less humidity which means dry air, dry skin and dry mucus membranes. Proper hydration can help to keep your bodily functions running smoothly and decrease your chances of catching an illness. An added level of protection would be placing a humidifier in the home to keep your mucus membranes moist despite the dry air.

Taking Preventative Measures with Vitamin Supplements

Taking your vitamins throughout the winter months can be incredibly beneficial! Research has shown that despite Nordic countries receiving far fewer sunlight hours during winter, they still have incredibly low percentages of “Seasonal Affective Disorder.” Studies show that this is in part due to the high amount of fish consumed in these countries. Fish contain high amounts of key vitamins and nutrients, notably vitamins D and A, which help to maintain a healthy body during times when fresh produce and limited exposure to light are certain. Alternatives to eating more fish are supplementing with fish oil. Standard fish oil capsules can be picked up at most grocery stores as well as super stores. Additionally, taking vitamin D3 and vitamin C capsules (or gummies) is also a great preventative measure.

Following these tips isn’t guaranteed to prevent sickness but it can definitely help, and a healthy winter is a holiday season filled with fun! For more health and wellness topics like this one, visit www.yourfootpalace.com/blog/

https://plus.google.com/+Yourfootpalaceathensmassagespa

Foot Palace Massage Spa Athens

 1720 Epps Bridge Pkwy Ste 106, Athens, GA 30606
 (706) 521-5290

The Benefits of a Couples Massage

September 25, 2017 By Heather

If you and your loved one are looking for a way to spice up the relationship, why not consider a couple’s massage? This massage yourfootpalace.com/couples-massage-athens-ga/ is a wonderful way to get closer to each other while investing in some quality rest and repair for yourself.

How Couples Massages Can Rejuvenate Your Relationship

Spontaneity in shared experiences is always a great way to reconnect with your significant other, and what better way to spend a portion of your day than receiving a massage service together? Couples that engage in new activities together show higher rewards for connectivity and engagement than those who don’t.

In today’s busy world there is seemingly less time being set aside to relax with your loved one. By allotting yourselves time together you’re putting the relationship first and strengthening your bond with your partner. Getting a couple’s service can be a great way to spend a day together and rekindle that flame.

How Reflexology Helps Relieve Stress

As a touch therapy, reflexology is one of the best ways to help ease stress. Reflexology services help release serotonin, oxytocin (aka the cuddle chemical) and dopamine in the body, which paired with a partner can you leave you both feeling more affectionate and ready to spend some alone time with each other. Aside from making a great gift, bringing someone with you to receive a service is a wonderful way to show them how much you mean to them.

Whether you’re wanting to get away from the stresses of everyday life or needing some one on one time with your significant other, couples massage is forever a great option!

https://plus.google.com/+Yourfootpalaceathensmassagespa

Foot Palace Massage Spa Athens

 1720 Epps Bridge Pkwy Ste 106, Athens, GA 30606
 (706) 521-5290

Why Proper Sleep Posture Translates to a Happier Body

June 20, 2017 By Heather

Your sleeping posture may be comfortable, but it could ultimately be the cause of some health issues. Improper sleep positioning has been linked to neck/back pain, poor circulation, sleep apnea, next day fatigue and even premature wrinkles. For the appropriate amount of sleep and tips to fall asleep faster, visit yourfootpalace.com/regular-sleep-promotes-healthy-minds/. For the common sleep positions and how they compare to one another, read on.

Sleeping On Your Side

Side Sleepers (Arm’s/Leg’s straight): Over 15% of adults find this position to be most comfortable. Although relatively few people sleep this way it does show to have positive benefits, notably its help for those with sleep apnea. Because the body is on its side gravity prevents the tongue from falling back into the throat passage, restricting airflow. This position has also been shown to help with acid reflux and alleviating back pain since the spine is elongated. The only downside to this is the increased likelihood of wrinkles via face to pillow contact throughout the night.

Side Sleepers (Fetal Position): By far the most popular sleep position with 41% of people favoring this pose, the benefits are fewer but the comfortability is definitely greater. This position is ideal during pregnancy (specifically lying on the left side) because it helps improve circulation in not only your body but the baby’s as well. Lying on your left side can also help relieve pressure being placed on your liver when you sleep. Although this is the most comfortable position, sleeping with your knees too tightly tucked and your chin tucked down into your chest/pillow can tighten the diaphragm, making it harder to breathe and leaving you sore in the morning. A trick to help with posture in this position is to tuck a pillow in between your knees.

Sleeping on Your Stomach

Stomach Sleepers: A majority of people find this pose to be uncomfortable and understandably so. Because you are on your stomach your neck and spine have a hard time lying flat, especially with a pillow under head, causing serious neck and back the next morning as well as trouble breathing. The upward angle of the neck constricts air flow and this is more so the case when the head is turned to either side. This angle also puts the most stress on the lower back of any sleeping position.

Sleeping on Your Back

Back Sleepers: Without a doubt, sleeping on your back allows for the greatest amount of support along the spine and neck. This support as well as spinal elongation helps to prevent upper and lower back pain as well as keeping your neck in a neutral position throughout the night. Keeping a pillow underneath the head will prevent acid reflux occurring during the night. One of the only downsides to sleeping on your back is airway blockage from your tongue. This can be a serious threat to those with sleep apnea due to the increased lack of breath. Your snoring might increase but with no face to pillow contact your likelihood of developing wrinkles earlier in life will definitely decrease.

Posture Affects Your Sleep

Although posture plays an important role in your sleep there are other factors such as your mattress and pillow type. For side sleepers placing a pillow between your legs helps to correctly align the spine. At the end of the day everyone falls asleep in the position which is most comfortable for them, but taking your health into consideration might just help you make the switch to a better night’s sleep.

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Foot Palace Massage Spa Athens

 1720 Epps Bridge Pkwy Ste 106, Athens,GA 30606
 (706) 521-5290