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What is Massage?Massage is a technique that dates back to Ancient times. There are records of massage being used by the Ancient Greeks and Romans and it may well be much older. It is basically the application of pressure to the muscles. The pressure can be of varying degrees and may be applied directly to bare skin or through clothing, depending on the type of massage.Some forms of massage, such as holistic, swedish and aromatherapy involve the use of oils. These help to lubricate the skin during massage, making the movements flow more easily and avoiding rubbing. The oils themsleves can also be part of a treatment if they contain herbs, aromotherapy oils etc. Other forms of massage are carried out when the person is fully clothed - these include shiatsu and indian head massage. This page concentrates on massage directly onto the skin, as there are seperate pages on this site for various types of clothed massage.
What is a Massage session like?The therapist will usually start by asking you some basic questions about your health. There are certain conditions which are contraindicated for massage, such as early pregnancy or recent serious operations. The therapist will then ask you to undress and will provide towels to cover you (if you are receiving a full body massage then you will usually be asked to remove all your clothes). For most types of massage you will lie on a massage couch covered with towels. Massage therapists are trained to help you feel comfortable and to arrange towels in such a way that only the part of the body they are working on is exposed. The room should be warm and you should feel comfortable at all times. The therapist may play music to help you relax and may ask you what sort of a massage you would like eg. relaxing or stimulating.A full body massage should cover almost all of the body, however, some massage therapists prefer not to massage the chest and stomach areas, as they find that some clients are not comfortable with this. You can discuss your massage with your therapist before you start and agree together what the massage will include. It is important to remember that this is your massage. So feel free to ask the therapist to adjust the pressure to suit you. You may like a really firm massage, or you may prefer a lighter touch. Sometimes you may have a massage that only covers certain parts of the body, such as a back massage. This may be a good introduction to massage if you're a little nervous. Or, you may be having massage for a specific physcial problem. What are the benefits of Massage?It is now widely recognised that touch itself can be a powerful healer. We naturally like to be touched, stroked, held etc. In our culture some people can become isolated and lack touch in their daily lives, perhaps because a partner has died, or they find themselves alone for some other reason. For its touch alone massage can be a healing process. Massage also helps to lubricate the muscle fibres, improving the action of muscles and helps to flush out toxins from the body.Studies have shown that massage can help reduce heart rate, lower blood pressure, increase blood circulation and lymph flow, relaxe muscles, improves range of motion, and increase endorphins. It can also help to speed up recovery from certain injuries and illnesses and help to stimulate muscles where a person is unable to exercise.
Massage ArticlesWould you like to write an article on Massage for this site? Click Here for more information. Find a therapistDoreen Wyatt Massage Reflexology, Massage (Swedish, lymph drainage & aromatherapy), Indian Head Massage and Hopi Ear Candles. County: Berkshire For more information: - Telephone - 01344 452893 Pratibha Bedarkar Massage Holisitc Therapist and Life Coach, Body Talk, Reiki and Meditation teaching, Reflexology, Aromatherpy, Hopi Candles, No Hands Basic Treatment, Baby Massage, Indian Head and On Site Massage. County: Berkshire For more information: http://www.thebestof.co.uk/wokingham/11135/1/1/the_best_of.aspx - pratibhabedarkar@netscape.net - 0118 979 0841 Catherine Gurney Massage Nutritional Therapy incorporates lifestyle and dietary changes to achieve Optimum Health. Foods are recommended and some might be omitted, as well as dietary supplements & other natural remedies. Also Massage and Reflexology County: Berkshire For more information: http://www.getwellstaywell.moonfruit.com - suncat101@hotmail.com - 07962 604285 Massage Linkswww.aboutmassage.com Everything you always wanted to know about massage.http://www.massagetherapy.co.uk/ Lots of information about massage of various types. |
