MASSAGE THERAPY - Healthcare or Luxury

Perhaps you've said it yourself only to think that it's too indulgent to actually getting one. Is therapeutic massage a luxury only to be enjoyed on very special occasions, or is it an important part of health care as many medical studies have shown it to be? Over 2500 studies, published over the past 20 years, indicate that massage should be a part of our regular healthcare maintenance. It's been written that massage is to the human body what a tune-up is to a car. What about this 3000 year old, hands-on treatment makes that statement true? We are only as healthy as the sum of our parts, all of which are dependent on an abundant supply of blood and lymph which deliver nutrients and oxygen and carry away wastes and toxins. The immediate and direct effect of the rhythmically applied manual pressure used in massage therapy is a dramatic increase in blood flow.

4-Hands Massage at Sivara Spa, Amari Hotels, Resorts & Spas

Experience unique and complete pampering with a synchronised massage by 2 skilled therapists at the same time. This luxurious treatment is designed to reduce stress and achieve balance in your body. It will loosen tense muscles to help you feel more comfortable in your skin, .

Protest at new massage parlour

More than 200 people have protested at a site where a massage parlour and escort agency is to be built in a residential area of a Cornish town.

Mark Evens' application for the business in Liskeard was rejected by two councils, but allowed after an appeal went to the Planning Inspector.

Caradon District Council said they expected the Higher Lux Street business to operate within strict regulations.

Protestors said the planning process had shown people were opposed to it.

The Liskeard Against Massage Parlours group said the approval could lead to similar businesses being set up in the area, and they were "concerned for the well-being of their town in the years ahead".

Legal right

The application to build the business on the site of a former tattoo parlour and garage had been rejected by Liskeard Town Council and Caradon District Council.

Massage Technique Shows Benefits for Cancer Patients

Medicine hands, or massage therapy for cancer patients, can offer a number of benefits to patients during chemotherapy. Mary Anne Demeritt, Massage Therapy Training Institute, showed us more about the technique on Wednesday. Gayle MacDonald, expert, author and pioneer of massage for cancer patients, will speak Thursday at the Massage Therapy Training Institute, 9140 Ward Parkway, at 7:30 p.m. .

Westport Village to have massage therapy studio

Underhill Associates Inc. has signed Elements Therapeutic Massage as its newest tenant for Westport Village, a new retail complex that is replacing the old Camelot Shopping Center at Westport Road and Lyndon Lane.

Elements Therapeutic Massage is part of Fitness Together, a franchisor of personal training facilities.

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Touch of Tibet at hotel spa

BRISBANE'S Sofitel has opened a luxury day spa as part of an upgrade to its city hotel, which will also see a new gym and foyer refurbishment completed later this year.

Sofitel general manager Geoff York said luxury spas were now part of the five-star experience and demanded by travellers.

"You need to have them and this is very much an upmarket pampering experience," Mr York said.

For Bulimba businesswoman Stephanie Shepherd, opening the city spa is the realisation of a long-held dream.

She has designed and overseen its construction, adding treatment rooms and relaxation areas conceived after 22 years working in the industry and seven years running Stephanie's Natural Beauty and Day Spa at Bulimba.

As well as the usual couples and single treatment rooms, Stephanie's offers Tibetan ritual massage and an Opal Rasul Temple.

State massage therapy center honors Darien state senator

The Connecticut Center for Massage Therapy will honor state Sen. Bob Duff, who represents most of Darien, with its Special Recognition Award at its annual faculty and staff retreat at the Mercy Center in Madison on Friday, June 15. The award comes in response to a measure championed by Duff for the past two years that was finally signed into law during the 2007 legislative session. Working with other lawmakers, industry professionals, and representatives from CCMT, Duff, a Norwalk Democrat, crafted legislation in response to raids on spas and parlors across the state operating under the guise of legitimate massage therapy while harboring illegal activities, including prostitution, drug distribution, and human trafficking. The bill prohibits anyone other than a licensed massage therapist from using the titles "massage therapist," "masseuse," "masseur," or other similar phrasing.

Massage Parlor Owner Cleared Of Human Trafficking Charges

Vancouver, BC (AHN) - A Vancouver massage parlor owner has been cleared of human trafficking charges but was convicted of 5 lesser charges.

Michael (Wai Chi) Ng faced 22 counts of human smuggling, prostitution offenses and offenses against the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act.

He was arrested for allegedly deceiving two women from China by promising them employment as waitresses in Canada only to have them work as prostitutes in his massage parlor.

His charges in a Vancouver courtroom on Thursday included keeping a common bawdy house, helping create false documents for women to travel under and procuring a person to have illicit sexual intercourse with another.

The case began three years ago when police responded to an assault call at Ng's business and found a hysterical woman on the street.

Texas increases training requirements for massage therapists

Starting Sept. 1, entry-level therapists will need at least 500 hours of training, rather than 300, to get a state license.

A bill recently signed by Gov. Rick Perry brings Texas in line with requirements in most other states. It also means the cost of massage therapist training is going up.

Massage schools in Austin say they expect a surge of new students this summer as aspiring therapists hurry to start training before classes become longer and more costly.

David Lauterstein, co-director of Lauterstein-Conway Massage School, said the school is expanding class sizes this summer to accommodate that demand. The 19-year-old Austin school already offers 500-hour and 750-hour training courses as well as a 300-hour option.

"Clearly, it's been the national standard for years and years," Lauterstein said of the 500-hour program.

WET, The Spa At Treasure Island

Now WET, the Spa at Treasure Island offers new water-themed treatments. The spa is decorated in various shades of blue with glass panels that evoke the ripples of water. Signature treatments include he WET Signature Wrap that uses warm seawater to restore key minerals and reduce fatigue, stress and low energy and the WET Aromatic Seaweed Bath with three types of seaweed vitamins and minerals to eliminate toxicity, nourish the skin and smooth cellulite. WET is the only spa on the Las Vegas Strip to offer specialized evening treatments, they are open until 8pm Sunday through Wednesday and until 10pm on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. The menu of evening treatments tempts with treatments such as The Heiress, a rich golden scrub, wrap and massage followed by a sprinkling of real gold dust and the Sleepy Town Massage, using calming scents of chamomile, marjoram, rose and geranium, and the Bedtime Bath, a relaxing soak in a special creation of lavender and mandarin.

The Majority of Massager Manufacturers in China Are Locally Owned ...

The majority of massager manufacturers in China are locally owned companies, while approximately 10 percent are joint ventures. Reflecting this industry structure, 89 percent of suppliers featured in this report are China-owned, and the rest are foreign invested companies.

The provinces of Zhejiang and Guangdong are the major massager production bases in China. To represent the industry accurately, 35 percent of featured companies are from Zhejiang, while another 35 percent are located in Guangdong.

Shanghai is another key sourcing center, although most suppliers here are trading companies with factories in neighboring Zhejiang. The city, however, is seeing an increase in the number of production facilities being set up.

Companies Mentioned:

In-depth profiles

- An Yang International (HK) Ltd

- Anji Chenxu Furniture Co Ltd

- Foshan Nanhai Wins Furniture Co Ltd

- Shanghai Rongtai Fitness Tech Development Co Ltd

- Shenzhen Gotole Electronics Co Ltd

- Shenzhen Health-King Health Care Product Co Ltd

- Shenzhen Jukangwei Industrial Co Ltd

- Shenzhen Xunfengtong (XFT) Electronics Co Ltd

- Shenzhen Yijian Technology Development Co Ltd

- Sinomax Macao Commercial Offshore Ltd

- Wenzhou Shengli Healthcare Equipment Co Ltd

- Xiamen Comfort Science & Technology Co Ltd

- Xiamen Wellness Technology Co Ltd

- Xiamen Wellrelax Electric Appliance Fty Ltd

- YAS Healthy Fitness Co Ltd

Short profiles

- Anji Hengyu Chair Industry Co Ltd

- Anji Ruixiang Furniture Co Ltd

- Anji Weiyu Furniture Co Ltd

- Foshan Nanhai Jiujiang Heqing Yongcheng

- Furniture Co Ltd

- Foshan Shunde Lecong Shuiteng Shunxing

- Furniture Fty

- Fu'an City Wuzhou Electronics Co Ltd

- Fujian Yihe Electronic Co Ltd

- Future Electronical Co Ltd

- Gaoli Fitness Equipments Co Ltd

- Guangdong Viterfu Electric Co Ltd

- Guangzhou Genial Technology Co Ltd

- Guangzhou Mingjie Electronics Co Ltd

- Hangzhou Xijiang Import & Export Co Ltd

- Jiaxing Sunlong Industrial & Trading Co Ltd

- Lishang (HSL) Electronics & Technology Co Ltd

- Ningbo Comfort Fitness Equipment Co Ltd

- Ningbo Exquisite Electrical Appliance Co Ltd

- Ningbo Golden Fish Electric Appliances Co Ltd

- Oriental Dragon Electronic Co Ltd

- Power Island International Trade Co Ltd

- Rui'an City Kexin Body-Building Apparatus Co Ltd

- Shanghai Conlun Health Care Equipment Co Ltd

- Shanghai Keso Body-Building Equipment Co Ltd

- Shanghai Long-First Electronic Co Ltd

- Shanghai Shubo Body-Building Equipment Co Ltd

- Shanghai Taichang Body Building Equipment Co Ltd

- Shanghai Yinmengtaofu Industrial Development Co Ltd

- Shenzhen Dongjilian Electronics Co Ltd

- Shenzhen Goldenking Electronics Technology Co Ltd

- Shenzhen Haokanglai Industrial Co Ltd

- Shenzhen SC Electronics Co Ltd

- Shenzhen Snsou Electric Appliance Co Ltd

- Tianlun Fitness Equipments Co Ltd

- Tianlun Industry Co Ltd

- Wenzhou Jiabao Electronics Co Ltd

- Wenzhou Lichang Body-Training Equipment Co Ltd

- Wenzhou Luyao Gifts Co Ltd

- Xiamen Yierkang Sports Apparatus Co Ltd

- Yuyao Onlele Electric Fty

- Zhejiang Heaven Furniture Co Ltd

- Zhejiang Jialong Electric Co Ltd

For more information visit http://www.researchandmarkets.com/reports/c60661

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New Law Ups Training Hours For Massage Therapists

(AP) AUSTIN Massage schools are expecting a surge of new students this summer as aspiring message therapists seek their state licenses before increased training requirements take effect Sept. 1. The new rules call for entry-level massage therapists to have at least 500 hours of training, rather than 300, to get certified. Gov. Rick Perry recently signed a bill outlining the new requirements. Massage school operators said the increased requirements will bring Texas in line with other states. David Lauterstein, co-director of Lauterstein-Conway Massage School in Austin, said the school already offers 500-hour and 750-hour training courses as well as a 300-hour option. "Clearly, it's been the national standard for years and years," Lauterstein said of the 500-hour program. The state "hasn't fully served the students or the public, because Texas has a lot of therapists whose training is just very basic." The increased training will also make massage school more expensive.