How to Massage
Lying comfortably in a softly lit room, soothing background music playing and aromatic fragrances wafting through the air while all the tension you've been holding is expertly stroked out of your body, you may wonder – can anything that feels this decadent really be good for you? The answer is YES! And the benefits of massage therapy are time-tested. It's definitely worth spending some time learning how to massage yourself and others! History The medicinal benefits of massage therapy have been known for centuries. In fact, massage is widely considered to be the original form of natural healing. Touch is the first of our senses to develop, and is essential to our well being; without it, a person can be left feeling depressed and isolated. You can learn how to massage and treat specific health problems as well as providing a blissful escape from the routine of daily life. Your skin is actually one big sensory organ. An area the size of a quarter contains over three million cells, up to 340 sweat glands, 50 nerve endings, and three feet of blood vessels. It acts as your third lung and third kidney, storing nutrients, vitamins, minerals, chemicals and waste. Massage is one of the most pleasant and relaxing ways of giving your skin the stimulation it needs to make nutrients available to the body, and move wastes to where they can be processed and eliminated. Benefits of Massage Therapy Studies have shown massage is effective in: - reducing the heart rate - lowering blood pressure - increasing blood circulation - improving range of motion Other Benefits of Massage Therapy are: - it increases blood flow - stimulates nerves - stretches and loosens muscles - provides relief from anxiety - provides relief from insomnia - relieves depression - relieves muscle pain - promotes healing and helps eliminate pain by increasing the blood supply to contracted tissue.
How to Massage
There are many different forms of massage therapy that offer immediate and long-lasting benefits, and are effective in managing and reducing pain. Below you'll find a variety of techniques to help you learn how to massage. Some traditional massages include: Neuromuscular massage, a technique in which concentrated finger pressure is applied to painful muscle areas or acupoints. Deep Tissue massage uses slow stokes and deep finger pressure on areas of chronic muscle tension or soreness. Sports Massage, used to assist training and prevent or help heal injuries, is beneficial in the treatment of sprains, strains and tendonitis. Manual Lymph Drainage, a technique using rhythmic pumping to help move lymph fluid through lymph vessels, is an effective treatment in cases where lymph nodes have been removed, or radiation has been administered near them. Many massage therapists use the five basic Swedish massage stokes developed by Per Henrik Ling in the late 19th century. Effleurage (slow, rhythmic strokes following the direction of blood flow to the heart), is frequently used at the beginning of a massage to warm and relax the muscles. Therapists use their whole hand, gradually increasing the pressure applied. This may be varied by stroking with fingertips, knuckles, or the heel of the hand. The Friction Stroke, a steady pressure or small circular motions across muscle fibers, is used in areas around joints. ‘Tapotement’, or drumming on broad areas of the body such as the back, and can include beating with the side of the fist, cupping (striking with fingertips and the heel of the hand), hacking (using rapid chopping with edge of hand), and clapping (striking fleshy parts of the body quickly with a flat hand). The Petrissage stroke involves kneading, pressing and rolling muscles, and when using the vibration stroke the therapist spreads their hands firmly on the client's body and rapidly shakes an area. Massage therapy is useful in treating injuries such as sprains, strains, tendonitis, bursitis, migraines, tension headaches, whiplash, and many more conditions. Though massage cannot cure serious medical conditions, it has been proven helpful with the care of premature infants, HIV infection, chronic fatigue syndrome, asthma and more, in addition to aiding general health and well being -- benefits that last well beyond the time spent on the massage table! Other Styles of Massage There are so many varied styles of massage it wasn't possible to put them all on one page! Please click the links below to go to a page dedicated to that particular type of massage.
Discover exotic Lomi Lomi Massage! Another wonderful form of massage is Bowen Therapy Technique click here to learn more! And don't miss our page on Craniosacral Treatment massage or Shiatsu Another interesting form of energy work is Trager massage I hope this How to Massage page has been helpful to you! I aim to please, so feel free to contact me with your questions or comments, using the form below
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