Massage Therapy 101

Massage therapy offers therapeutic healing in various ways and over multiple levels. While it may seem like a pleasurable luxury to many, it is actually a highly effective tactic for enhancing well-being. This discipline has gained popularity for several reasons and by many factions of the population.

Reasons for increased popularity include:
- Medical practitioners are becoming more aware of the interconnectedness of mind, body, emotions and spirit. They are realizing that healing and immune responses are aided by therapeutic touch methods. Many doctors, both naturopathic and traditional are incorporating massage techniques into their prescription remedies. Even health insurance companies are approving sessions with certified masseuses as a preventative and treatment measure.

- Lack of human touch is rampant in our society. Societal norms of full plates, deadlines, traffic, and hours behind a computer often result in lack of adequate human touch in many individuals’ lives. Even the elderly and young children may not get enough touching to meet their physical and emotional needs. Elderly are relegated to nursing homes as their families are too busy to take them into their homes to care for them. Young children and babies are stashed away in day care centers amidst the work-a-day world. Even in the best of situations, caregivers, day care workers and teachers are way to overloaded with a slew of kids to hold them all enough. Some have even been instructed by their employers to “not touch.” There are studies about “failure-to-thrive” which show how tots in orphanages have literally withered up and perished due to lack of attention and not being held in nurturing arms. It has also been proven that lack of physical contact contributes to low levels of serotonin and depression. Many psychiatric healthcare providers are now prescribing daily doses of human touch as a cure.

- Stress loads on maximum capacity: Stress is not just uncomfortable. It’s a killer. The constant barrage of “fight and flight” chemicals in one’s body can cause serious diseases such as high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease and even cancer. Stress hampers the immune systems just like tobacco products and should come with a warning label similar to those found on cigarette boxes. Massage can relax muscles and the entire body. It can release these stress induced chemicals which become toxic if stored for too long.

Types of massage therapy:
- Swedish: Swedish techniques include long flowing rubbing moves which were originated by masseuses in Sweden. This can be a great relief for sore joints and athletic injuries.

- Thai: This style incorporates yoga movements and ayurvedic principles in the rubdown. This is an ancient method which began in Thailand.

- Hot stone: Flat river rocks are heated up in this technique and placed on specific regions of the body to aid in the relaxation process. This has gained popularity in classy spas around the nation.

- Deep tissue: Some massages are more focused on the surface regions while others such as deep tissue address deeper muscles. Many people prefer this method while others like a softer touch.

- Acupressure: This is a combination of acupuncture and massaging pressure. Pressure points are targeted with this method.

Massage therapy has been around for many years. It is still alive and well today.