Mind and Body Massage

Many studies have verified that massage has a lot of benefits. For one, office workers massaged regularly were more alert, performed better and were less stressed. Also, Massage therapy is found out to have decreased the effects of anxiety, tension, depression, pain, and itching in burn patients and abdominal surgery patients recovered more quickly after massage. Even premature infants who were massaged gained more weight and fared better while autistic children showed less erratic behavior after massage therapy. Furthermore, according to AMTA, massage helps both physically and mentally in a very unconventional way: "Often times people are stressed in our culture. Stress-related disorders make up between 80-and-90 percent of the ailments that bring people to family-practice physicians. What they require is someone to listen, someone to touch them, someone to care. That does not exist in modern medicine.”

Massage is one of the oldest, simplest forms of therapy that involves stroking, pressing and kneading in different areas of the body. Massage is more than just creating a pleasant sensation on the skin because it also works on the soft tissues like the muscles, tendons, and ligaments to improve muscle tone and relieve pain, relax, stimulate, and tone the body. Although it largely affects muscles just under the skin, it may also reach the deeper layers of muscle and even the organs. Furthermore, it also stimulates blood circulation and assists the lymphatic system, improving the elimination of waste throughout the body.

There are over 150 types of massage therapy with various styles developed from a number of sources. One of the popular ones is the Bowen therapy which involves a rolling type movement over fascia, muscles, ligaments and joints. There is also the Chair massage, also known as the Corporate Massage. This is by far the most convenient method of massage therapy that typically lasts 12-24 minutes and is performed while fully clothed. The Chair massage promotes better circulation, muscle stimulation, stress relief and reduces tension in the back, neck, shoulders, head, arms, hands, legs or feet. On the other hand, the Swedish massage style utilizes long, flowing strokes, often in the direction of the heart to increase circulation and blood flow. Its six basic strokes are effleurage, petrissage, friction, tapotement, compression and vibration that is done with oil, cream, or lotion applied on the skin to allow smooth strokes. This massage is generally attributed to Swedish fencing master and gymnastics teacher Pehr Henrik Ling. Finally, another one popular massage is the Tai Ji Massage which is a Qi treatment made in terms of Qi. The master practitioner can sense the Qi blockages inside the body and these Qi blockages can be a way of getting insight into causes of chronic sicknesses, recurring, psychosomatic or future sicknesses. The main use of this techniques involve relaxation and self-exploration, and in a therapeutic way.

Some Benefits of Massage are generally summed in its relaxing, soothing, healing, and reassuring effects. It also eases tension, stiffness, and pain, improves breathing, circulation and enhances well-being. The direct mechanical effect of rhythmically applied manual pressure and movement can dramatically increase the rate of blood flow as well as stimulate nerve receptors causing the blood vessels to dilate. Massage also reduces muscle tension, loosens contracted, shortened, hardened muscles and stimulates weak, flaccid muscles. The oxygen capacity of the blood can increase up to 10-15% after a massage and by indirectly or directly stimulating nerves blood vessels dilate and allow greater blood supply to them.

Massage also induces better lymph movement. The Lymph is a milky white fluid that drains impurities from the tissue cells which are the by-products of metabolism. The muscular contraction and pumping effect of massage and exercise help to move the lymph. Massage also provides a gentle stretching action to both the muscles and connective tissues of the body which helps keep these tissues elastic.
Other benefits of massage include the following:

However, there’s a risk associated to this practice, take heed not to apply pressure under or over varicose veins. Never also massage directly over infected skin, where there are warts, herpes, boils, or where there is inflammation, unexplained lumps, bruises and open cuts. In giving a massage with these cases, you must first cover up any open cuts or scratches on your hands with a plaster or other dressing. Massage of the abdomen, legs, and feet must never be given during the first three months of pregnancy. For the causes of acute back pain, this should first be diagnosed by a physician before receiving massage. Also consult a qualified medical practitioner in cases of raised temperature, infections, contagious disease, phlebitis, thrombosis, varicose veins or fever. Leave your lumps and swellings should to be checked by your doctor. One must realize that just because it is a wonderful pleasure, a massage is not necessarily always a good medicine.

Mind & Body

Our Partners

Massage