Massage Therapy

What is massage therapy?

Massage is a hands-on treatment to relax tense muscles. Therapists apply pressure on muscles and joints to help rejuvenate the body. Massage treatments, can assist the body to go into a deep state of relaxation. Your heart rate slows and your blood pressure lowers. Muscles relax as the stress hormones are massaged away. People have been enjoying the rewards of this therapy since ancient times. In 3000 BCE, it was seen as a holy practice of natural healing in India. Hindu practitioners of ayurveda used the therapy to rebalance the body. By doing that, they allowed the body to naturally heal itself. Knowing how to perform massages was considered a privilege. So it was passed on from generation to generation as a sacred practice. 

How does it work?

Therapists use their fingers and hands, forearms and elbows, and even feet to perform the massage. They rub, knead, or sometimes even just gently touch muscles, tendons, ligaments, and skin. Similarly, there is a wide variety of therapy styles and techniques. In western cultures, the most popular ones are Swedish and classical massage. These also make up the basic tenets of many training programs. On the other hand, eastern techniques include shiatsu and tuina. 

What can you expect from a session?

As with many other modalities, the therapist begins your first session by collection your medical history. They do this to determine the kind of treatment you will be needing. The therapist will also ask you about health issues that are bothering you. Once all the basics are covered, the therapist will then discuss your treatment plan. They will talk about which specific areas in your body they will be working on. Additionally, to keep you constantly comfortable, they may discuss with you how they will do the draping. When treatment begins, the therapist normally uses massage oils and lotions. Be sure to tell them if you are allergic to any of those. You don't have to be fully undressed for the massage. That's a common misconception. The level of undress is always your decision. This is why communication is key to a successful session. When the session is done, your therapist may give you some light stretches and exercises to do at home. This is to maximise the effect of the treatment. 

Which conditions can massage therapy help ease?

• ADD

• ADHD

• Anxiety

• Arthritis

• Autism

• Back pain

• Dementia

• Depression

• Fatigue

• Fibromyalgia

• Headache

• Migraine

• Pain

• Pregnancy

• PTSD

• Sleep disorder

• Sports injury

• Stress

Massage therapy can also help improve health and wellness, as well as mindset.

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