What I Love About Massage Therapy

Massage as a healing tool has been around for thousands of years in many cultures.  Touching is  natural human reaction to pain and stress, and for conveying compassion and support.  Think of the last time you bumped into something.  What did you do??  You rubbed that spot, right?  Healers all over the world, throughout time have instinctually come up with a variety of therapeutic techniques using touch.  Many are still in use today, rightfully so.

Research has proven that the benefits of massage range from treating chronic diseases and injuries to alleviating the growing tensions of our modern lifestyles.  Going for a massage does so much more than just relax our mind and body  -   when massage is utilized as a preventative, frequent therapy, not just a mere luxury, psychological and physiological changes occur.

In today's day and age, it seems we walk around so stressed, day in and day out.   Stress-related disorders make up between 80-and-90 percent of the ailments that bring people to family-practice physicians.  What people really need is someone to listen to them, to touch them and just basically, someone to care.  It seems that anymore, it just is absent in modern medicine.

Although therapeutic massage does not increase muscle strength, it can stimulate weak, inactive muscles and, thus, partially compensate for the lack of exercise and inactivity resulting from illness or injury.   Massage offers a drug-free, non-invasive and humanistic approach by releasing endorphins - the body's natural painkiller, basing this on the body's natural ability to heal itself.

-Fosters peace of mind

-Satisfies needs for caring nurturing touch

-Reduces levels of anxiety

-Increases awareness of mind-body connection

-Enhances capacity for calm thinking and creativity

-Fosters a feeling of well-being

Promotes a relaxed state of mental alertness

-Improves ability to monitor stress signals and respond appropriately

With massage, there are many different approaches one can use.  Each technique is unique in it's healing qualities.  Below are just a few.

-Swedish massage - Swedish massage offers the patient a more gentle touch than other methods.  The therapist uses long smooth strokes, kneading, and circular movements on superficial layers of muscle using massage lotion or oil.

-Shiatsu - A deep, finger-pressure technique using the traditional acupuncture points of Asian healing.  Shiatsu works to unblock energy flows and to restore balance to meridians and organs.

-Reiki - This is a therapy based on universal life energy that serves to align the chakras and bring healing energy to organs and glands.  Utilized visualization as practitioner acts as a channel for the life energy.  The practitioner places her hand about an inch from the patient, allowing the energy to flow through.

-Reflexology - Reflexology involves applying pressure to certain points on the foot that correspond to organs and systems in the body.  It is very relaxing, especially for people who stand on their feet all day or just have tired, achy feet.

-Deep Tissue Massage - Deep tissue massage focuses on the deeper layers of muscle and connective tissue.  The therapist uses slower strokes or friction techniques across the grain of the muscle.  This method is used more for chronically tight or painful muscles, postural problems or recovery from injury.

-Sports Massage - This method os specifically for people who are involved in physical activity.  You don't have to be a professional athlete to have one-it's also used by people who are active and work out often.  The focus with sports massage is more for preventing and treating injury and enhancing athletic performance.