| Massage is a therapeutic art that masters the
technique of mind and body relaxation. It has
been in practice since 3000 BC and may be the
oldest and simplest form of medical care. Over
the centuries, many different forms of massage
have been developed that deal with specific areas
of the body, but, on a whole, the main goal of
massage is to alleviate physical, mental and spiritual
stress that will in turn lead to a complete state
of relaxation.
There are many benefits of massage that, when
put into practice, can affect your physical and
mental health. A simple massage can relieve congestion
and improve overall body circulation. It can increase
blood supply and nutrients to the muscles and
joints, which help reduce fatigue that might be
brought on by strenuous exercise.
Massage helps improve muscle tone, which will
reduce chances of muscle delay or muscular atrophy.
It also reduces swelling and inflammation in the
joints, which in turn alleviates pain. Massage
can improve your body physically, while, at the
same time, it allows your mind and spirit to enter
into a state of relaxation. These benefits can
lead to stress reduction, and a healthier lifestyle.
While general massage can help alleviate certain
ailments, there are several different forms of
massage used by massage therapists today that,
when used, trigger certain effects within the
body. The most often used forms of massage are
Swedish, Deep Tissue, Acupressure and Reflexology.
The most common type of massage used by therapists
today is the Swedish massage. The focus of this
massage is to reduce muscle tightness, provide
relaxation, enhance circulation, and improve overall
muscle tone. The Swedish massage deals with all
of the major muscles in the body. It helps with
the release of toxins from the muscle and helps
regenerate oxygen and blood flow to the muscle.
Although this is the simplest form of massage,
it still provides overall relaxation for the body
as well as the mind.
A more involved form of massage deals with the
deeper layers of tissue within the body. This
is known as a Deep Tissue massage. The Deep Tissue
massage uses slower strokes and deeper finger
pressure in order to release patterns of tension
within the body. Deep Tissue massage works to
loosen the tissue of the muscle which, in turn,
releases toxins and allows the muscles to resume
proper balance as well as normal blood and oxygen
circulation.
Along the same lines as Deep Tissue massage,
there is another form of massage called Acupressure.
The Acupressure method involves applying deep
pressure to certain points on the body. When this
is done, muscle tension is released and an increased
flow of blood is allowed to the muscles. Acupressure
today is used by many to aid in relieving pain,
balancing the body and maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
It enables the body to relax; it relieves tension
and increases overall body circulation.
While Acupressure deals with releasing tension
by putting pressure on specific areas of the body,
another form of massage known as Reflexology deals
with alleviating stress and tension solely through
the hands and feet. Reflexology is based on the
notion that there are reflexes in the hands and
feet that transmit to every organ and gland in
the body. When pressure is applied to the feet
and/or hands, it removes energy blocks, causes
increased circulation throughout the body and
promotes improved bodily and muscular functions.
These and other forms of massage are all historically
known for their involvement in the alleviation
of medical illnesses and ailments, however, today
they are more widely used in everyday instances
as forms of stress relief and relaxation. Massage
is a quick and easy way to release stress and
become more balanced and in tune with your body,
your mind and your spirit. |
