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Massage Therapy
Healing Power of Touch
Esalen vs. Swedish
Trigger Point
Manual lymphatic drainage
Reflexology
Philosophy
The basic philosophy of massage therapy embraces the concept of the healing power of nature, which is aiding the ability of the body to heal itself, and is aimed at achieving or increasing health and well-being. |
| | History: Massage therapy is one of the oldest health care practices known to history. Hippocrates, born in 460 BC in Greece and known as the Father of Medicine, wrote, "The physician must be acquainted with many things and assuredly with massage". Modern massage therapy was introduced in the US in the 1850s and the first clinics for massage therapy were opened by two Swedish physicians in Washington, D.C. after the civil war. Today, massage is one of the most popular healing modalities. It is used by conventional, as well as alternative medical communities and is now covered by many health insurance plans.
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| | Massage therapy has a number of medical benefits.
Massage can even help such conditions as: allergies, anxiety and stress, arthritis, asthma and bronchitis, carpal tunnel syndrome and other repetitive motion injuries, chronic and temporary pain, circulatory problems, depression, digestive disorders, tension headache, insomnia, myofascial pain, sports injuries, and minor joint dysfunction. Since toxins are released from soft tissues during a massage, you should drink plenty of water following any massage.
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| | Other Benefits:
Massage is known to increase the circulation of blood and the flow of blood and lymph, reduce muscular tension, affect the nervous system through stimulation or sedation, and enhance tissue healing. These effects provide a number of related benefits:
- relief from muscle spasms
- reduces scar tissue of injuries
- promotes faster healing of injuries
- reduces pain and swelling
- relieves stress and aids in relaxation
- improves flexibility and range of motion
- reduces of muscle tension and stiffness
- enhances the health and nourishment of skin
- increases awareness of the mind-body connection
- promotes mental awareness a feeling of well-being
- improves circulation of blood and movement of lymph
- reduces levels of anxiety and tension-related headaches
Some people experience freedom from long-term aches and pains developed from tension or repetitive activity. After an initial period of feeling almost drowsy, people often experience increased energy, heightened awareness and greater productivity, which can last for days.
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The Healing Power of Touch
While massage can be described in terms of the type of techniques performed, touch is not used solely in a mechanistic way in massage therapy. One can look at a picture of a massage technique depicting where to place one's hands and what direction a stroke should go, but this can not convey everything important for giving a good massage. There is an artistic component.
An often overlooked aspect of massage is the healing power of touch. The basic philosophy of massage therapy embraces the concept of the healing power of nature, which is aiding the ability of the body to heal itself, and aims at achieving or increasing health and well-being. I use touch with sensitivity to determine the optimal amount of pressure to use for each person. This allows me to "read the body" and locate areas of muscle tension and other soft tissue problems. Touch is a form of communication both ways and sensitive touch conveys a message of caring touch - an essential element in the therapeutic relationship to the person receiving massage.
Read about Deep tissue massage and Lomi lomi massage.
Esalen Massage vs. Swedish Massage
Esalen massage strokes are long, sweepy, sensuous and slow. It reduces stress, relieves pain, improves circulation and healing, and helps aid sleep by promoting deep relaxation. Swedish massage reduces pain and increases mobility in specific muscles and joints. So does Esalen, but the emphasis is on treating the body as a whole rather than concentrating on one body part at a time. Client and therapist have a closer, more informal relationship, working together to harmonize body, mind, and spirit with long, slow, relaxing, full body strokes. Swedish is rolling, deep friction, compression and kneading movements to relieve pain and tension and increase circulation and flexibility. Esalen Massage works to change consciousness, helping you to achieve a state of deep relaxation where wholeness and harmony are the goal.
Esalen Massage is known for its long flowing strokes over the whole body, helping release stress, leaving the receiver feeling deeply relaxed, in a state of well-being.
I have been told by clients who have experienced an Esalen session that my style closely resembles Esalen massage. I hope to go to the Esalen Institute at Big Sur, CA sometime next year so I can be certified to offer Esalen massage.
Trigger Point Massage
A trigger point is a little knot or tight string in muscle tissue that refers pain to other areas. A trigger point in the back, for example, may trigger pain in the neck. The neck, now acting as a satellite trigger point, may then cause pain in the head. The pain may be sharp and intense or a dull ache and trigger point may actually refer pain anywhere in the body. Little lumps that do not refer pain are "latent trigger points" and may grow into active ones later. An active trigger point can be deactivated by holding firm but gentle pressure on it for a few seconds until the muscle releases.
Usually there is a taut band in muscles containing trigger points, and a hard nodule can be felt. Often a twitch response can be felt in the muscle. Clusters of trigger points are not uncommon in some of the larger muscles, such as the gluteus group (gluteus maximus, gluteus medius, and gluteus minimus). Often there is a heat differential in the local area of a trigger point, and many practitioners can sense that. The results of therapy are related to the skill level of the therapist.
Manual Lymphatic Drainage
Manual lymphatic drainage (MLD) is a type of gentle massage which encourages circulation of lymph fluids. Manual lymph drainage uses minimal pressure and circular movements to stimulate lymph flow. Lymph massage is a gentle, noninvasive technique that many massage therapists use for their clients as part of detoxification and anti-aging therapy. Read more about Lymphatic Drainage and Lymph Node Massage.
Reflexology
Reflexology is more than just a foot or hand massage. It is based on the idea that all nerves begin in the foot and travel up the body. If any area of the body is not functioning properly, reflex zone therapy done on the specific areas can help relieve the problem. Reflexologist practitioners can relieve stress and pain in other parts of the body through the manipulation of the feet. One explanation is that the pressure received in the feet may send signals that 'balance' the nervous system or release chemicals such as endorphins that reduce stress and pain. Most people find that reflexology foot and hand massage helps relieve tension, improves circulation and feels good.
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