3.1   
Introduction

Part of the beauty of massage is the simplicity
that is possible – just two people, in almost any situation.

But, in practice, massage is immeasurably improved by the use of good equipment.

This can be as simple as a massage table and some oil, or as complicated as you like: bars, inversion
tables, and the like.

Bear in mind that some of these pieces of equipment can be dangerous
if you have not been trained to use them.

3.2 : Oils etc..

Sweet Almond Oil:

Botanical Name: Prunus amygdalus var. dulcus Aroma:
Light, slightly sweet and nutty.

Texture: Slightly oily, leaves a slight oily feeling on the skin. Absorbs semi-quickly. Colour: Virtually clear with a tinge of yellow.

Notes: Sweet Almond oil is considered to be a good all-purpose safe oil and is moderately priced. This oil is high in nutrients
such as unsaturated fatty acids, proteins and vitamins A, D and E. This oil makes an excellent
hair conditioner. Helping
to soften, moisturise and  protect  the 
hair.  It  has warming effects
on the body and is therefore useful for stimulating hair growth, as well as helping to reduce pain and tightness.

Safety Data: Do not confuse with Bitter almond oil as it contains prussic acid, known as cyanide and is a well known poison.
Bitter almond oil should never be used in a therapy. Individuals who have allergies
to peanuts or other types of nuts may also be sensitive
to almonds.

Fractionated Coconut oil:

Botanical Name: Cocus nucifera

Aroma:
Odourless

Texture: Natural creamy texture Colour:
Colourless

Notes: This is a very popular oil and is widely used in the southern parts of India. It is a light oil, which is very moisturising and softening on the skin and the hair. It also helps to relieve
inflammation and can be useful for dry, brittle hair and hair that has become lifeless
due to chemical and physical
stress. Coconut oil has the longest shelf life of any plant oil because of its anti-oxidant properties. It has a high vitamin
E content. When added to other oils it will extend their shelf life.

Safety Data: Coconut
oil can cause an allergic
reaction in some people - especially the solvent extracted
oil.

Mustard
Oil:

Botanical Name: Brassica
nigra. Aroma: Sharp acidic penetrating odour Texture: Light

Colour: Yellow

Notes: Mustard oil is a hazardous oil because of its high content of allyl isothiocyanate. Because of it's hazardous nature we would never use this oil

Safety Data: When mustard oil is inhaled,
it produces an extremely unpleasant sensation in the occipital regions of the head and causes inflammation of the conjunctiva of the eyes and the mucus membranes
of the respiratory system. When applied to the skin, it provokes a burning sensation and again in our opinion should never be used in Indian head massage.

Olive Oil

Botanical Name: olea europaea

Aroma:
Fruity

Texture: Heavy Colour:
Yellow

Notes: This is very popular
in the western world. It is of viscous consistency with a strong smell and is therefore
often mixed with another lighter oil such as almond. The virgin or extra virgin variety of this oil contains
high levels of unsaturated fatty acids and can therefore
be useful in helping to moisturise dry skin and hair. It has stimulating properties, which help to increase heat in the body and can therefore be used to reduce swellings
and alleviate muscular
tightness and pain.

Sesame Oil

Botanical Name: Sesamum indicum

Aroma: Medium with a distinctive sweet, nutty sesame scent. Texture: Mildly thick, leaves an oily film on the skin.

Colour: Light yellow.

Notes: This is one of the most popular oils used in the western part of India and is very popular in Ayurveda. Sesame seeds are high in minerals such as iron, calcium and phosphorus, which help to strengthen, nourish and protect the hair, It is an excellent
oil for dry skin and hair. It is said to help to improve skin texture, reduce swellings
and alleviate muscular pain. It is also believed to be effective
in stopping the hair turning grey.

Safety Data: Should be avoided
by individuals with nut allergies.

Traditional Indian
oils

There are other oils traditionally used in India for the treatment of hair. These oils are blended with eastern herbs and spices not readily available in the west. They may be imported
andsold in traditional Indian Super markets and health stores.

Amla Oil

In combination with Henna this is an excellent hair tonic. It promotes the growth of healthy and lustrous hair and has a cooling and nourishing
effect.

Brahnii
Oil

This is a unique combination of carefully selected
exotic herbs blended with pure coconut oil. Blrahni oil helps the growth of long, lustrous
hair and is said to provide relief from dandruff
and joint pain.

Bhringraj oil

This is a popular oil for daily head and scalp massage in India. As well as helping to promote hair growth,
it is said to nourish brain cells, help encourage
better sleep and relieve stress and tension.

This oil is native to India and has antiseptic, astringent
and antibacterial properties

Pumpkin seed oil

This oil is extremely nourishing
for dry and stressed hair, as pumpkin seeds are rich in vitamin A, E, C and K, in saturated
fatty acids and protein.

Shikakai
Oil

This is said to be an excellent
hair rejuvenator and has astringent
and antiseptic properties. Is said to help with eczema and dry scalp.

Honey

Yes, honey – the thick,
sticky honey that you put on your toast. The stickiness, in fact, is crucial to the
massage. First the massage therapist will put a dollop of honey on to the area
he's going to massage. Then it's time for the laying on of hands
– and the struggle to get them back off again.

This process of trying to lift up your hands has an effect almost similar to a vacuum treatment – it lifts up the skin in a way that you couldn't do without the help of the honey. This is what brings the benefits:
proponents of honey massage claim that it improves the circulation of blood directly
under the skin, and helps the skin to regulate
its temperature.

Important information: If Essential Oils are to be used in the massage oil it is always important
to do a patch test on your client; by mixing one drop of essential oil in a teaspoon of base oil e.g., Sesame oil and applying the mix to the crook of the arm or behind the ear of your client and leave for 24hrs. If no adverse reaction
is seen or felt, such as redness or itching
etc, the oil can be used. Use two to four (2 - 4) drops of Essential oil in ten mls (10mls) of base oil. Use a brown glass bottle and keep stoppered, as essential oils rapidly evaporate
in open air.

Remember that essential
oils are volatile
and some oils could be harmful to certain people (contra- indications). To know more about essential
oils you may like to consider the introduction to aromatherapy course, which will give you a much more indepth study of essential oils. If a client wishes to have oils used then they will need to uncover their upper back, shoulders
and arms. For your recipients dignity supply a towel, which is large enough to wrap around their upper chest and be tucked in.

3.3 : Psychological Aspects of some essential oils

Angelica

Angelica is said to alleviate
feelings of exhaustion and mental stress,
giving a sense of balance
to the emotions and intellect
and helps the client motivate his / herself to deal with forbidding
problems.

Chamomile

Calms depression, fear, hysteria and tension. For those assailed
by worries it is said to be calming and brings a sense of tranquillity where there are states of irritability, anger, restlessness or impatience. Those who are over-sensitive emotionally should find succour in this remedy.

Jasmine

A calming, grounding
and uplifting oil, Jasmine lighten the spirits and brings the person towards a more realistic
view of the world when he /
she is feeling distant or detached. It is a principle agent for the treatment of depression, lightening sadness, instilling self-confidence and rousing those suffering from lethargy and apathy. It is useful for taut states where the emotions are coiled like a spring manifesting as rigidity, lack of emotional
expression and jealousy.

Jasmine calms anxiety and brings calmness to those afraid of coming events and can act as an aphrodisiac. Use with caution for migraine
sufferers.

Lavender

An oil that affects the mind and emotions both physically and subtly, Lavender
is a stabilising remedy. It is said to balance
the emotions of those prone to swing from one mood to another and soothe anxiety,
panic and hysteria
as well as acting to lift the spirits in states of depression and debility. Insomnia may respond to Lavender
essence and it has also been used in the treatment of bipolar affective
disorder.

Lemon

Lemon cools and is said to refresh an over-heated heart and mind, bringing clarity to the thoughts. Use this oil sparingly.

Rosemary

A remedy that brings sharpness
and clarity to the mind and emotions,
honing the intellectual faculties and clearing
away accumulated wastes.
It is used where there is loss of mental functioning whether this manifests
as poor memory or disorientation, brings focus where there is lack of mental clarity
or indecisiveness and gives a feeling of protection. Hysteria,
lethargy,  sadness  and 
the 'Monday morning'
feeling are helped by the uplifting qualities
of Rosemary, the latter particularly when this oil is combined with citrus oils. Use this oil sparingly.

Sandalwood

A medicine chest for the mind, Sandalwood has been used to effectively deal with many negative emotional
conditions. It induces mental calmness,
a boon for those beset by obsessions, anxiety, fear of coming events or failure, short temperedness, insecurity, self criticism
and lack of self-esteem.Sandalwood is said to soothe sadness and depression, helps the grieving
and encourages perseverance in difficult circumstances.

Those who are too bound up with events in the past will find aid to cut binding ties and those who are excessively introverted may find relief from this essence.
Fear of intellectual effort melts away under Sandalwood's influence
and new impetus is given to those prone to listlessness and procrastination.

Sandalwood's odour appears
to give a feeling of protection to the insecure,
brings a freshness
of outlook to the cynical and aids those troubled
by recurrent dreams. It is reputed to help in cases of sexual impotence
and frigidity and to aid the development of the intuitive
sense.

Ylang ylang

An almost archetypal scent, Ylang ylang relieves tight, inflexible, active negative emotions
such as guilt, hostility, impatience, jealousy, rigidity, stubbornness, secretiveness, suspiciousness and anger. It appears to ground those feeling distant,
detached or aloof, gives a feeling of self-worth to those who are too critical of themselves and lack self-esteem and calms those of excitable
temperament.

3.4 : Massage Tables

Any comfortable, flat, stable surface of the right height could double as a massage table, if you are only intending to perform an occasional massage in your own home.

Any more serious use, though, demands
specialized equipment.

Purpose-built massage tables are better in
several ways:

 *They are better designed
to support the body during massage, in a comfortable and ergonomically-correct way

 *They are typically more hygienic, able to be easily wiped down after being used by one person, and before another
comes in to take their place. You're less likely 
to  end  up 
with  a  table sodden with old massage oil

  *They are often adjustable
in height or other respects,
making it easier to set them up correctly for the location
and for the physique of the individual massage therapist.

An inversion table is equipped with
straps to securely tie down the customer. The table can then be mechanically tilted, so that the customer
can be held at an angle, perhaps with the head lower than the feet.

One claimed benefit of this is
that it decompresses the spine. Over the course of normal lives, the vertebrae
of our spine are pressed into one another by the weight of our bodies. This is
why we are slightly taller in the morning than the evening: a night of lying
down allows the spine to expand back to a greater length. The idea of the
inversion table is to take this principle one step further, allowing the force
of gravity to gently pull the spine out to a greater length.

 3.4: Chairs and stools

With the rise in chair massage, many companies now offer specialized chairs for masseurs.

There are a few basic essentials
to check for:

 *Adjustable height – both for different
masseurs, and for different patients

 *Comfort – a massage won't be much fun if a badly-built chair is making you fidget for the entire time

 *Ease of cleaning – Chairs don't need as much cleaning
as tables, not least because
chair massages are usually performed
fully clothed. Still,
it is a definite advantage
to have either removable covers or a wipe-clean surface

As well as normal chairs, you might consider using a kneeler.
This will allow you access to more of the body. Kneelers
can also be more comfortable than chairs – but only once you get the hang of using them. If you choose to invest in a kneeler,
be prepared to help your customers find a good posture in it.

Module Summary