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Different types of Massage from around the world and the effects they can have on your body. The art of massage is on of the most impressive technologies conquered by human hands. What can astonish more than magic of touch? Nothing I think and that is why increasing popularity of massage therapy doesnt surprise.
What is massage therapy? According to definition found on Massage Therapy 101 Massage therapy is a hands on manipulation of soft tissues and joints of body. The soft tissues include muscle, skin, tendons and associated fascia, ligaments and joint capsules. During the massage the pressure or vibration is applied to the soft tissues of the body. Depending on the type of massage it can be applied to the some part (muscle) or to the whole body. Massage has many different physiological and physiological effects.
As for the physiology aspect it can heal some slight injuries, manage pain, improve blood circulation, relieve tension and reduce high pressure. As for the physiology effects it attains due to the relaxing feelings created by the therapist's hands moving over the body. Movements are very important in massage therapy. Imagine that you commit to message therapist you body, your soul. You trust higher entirely. Higher strong, skillful and yet tender hands make you feel heavenly.
You see my point when Im talking about the movement importance. According to Massage Therapy 101 The different movements can physically stretch muscles, ligaments, tendons and fascia, encourage the circulation through the tissue, inhibit muscular spasms and be either sedating or stimulating to the nervous system. Its no wonder that so many people are fond of massage. You must know that a lot depends on the inventiveness and qualification of massage therapist. Dont you ever think that profession of massage therapist is an easy deal. This profession is much alike to the profession of doctor.
Massage therapist completes many hours of education at special school, gains extensive knowledge of anatomy and physiology, principles of body working, gets basic knowledge of life processes, and pathology to know when it is necessary to make a massage and when it is not. It is understandable that nowadays many states and provinces require licenses from massage therapists. Massage therapy is very intricate thing and therapist needs to hold codes of ethics and must uphold specific standards. In many states and provinces it is necessary for massage therapist to pass special board governmental examination in order to become a licensed and registered therapist. Exams usually anticipate written and practical parts. After passing the exams and obtaining insurance the therapist is entitled to carry a valid massage therapy license.
And only after the procedure of receiving license, the therapist receives registration number and can provide higher services. Massage therapist assesses clients state of muscle tension and hence the most suitable course of therapy. Courses of the therapy may include the following ones: remedial exercise programs and client self help programs, courses of treatment for medical conditions and injuries or wellness maintenance, hydrotherapy, soft manipulation of soft issues an joints of the body, etc. In commercial settings clients are usually treated lying down on a massage table or in a massage chair, or on a mattress on the floor. The massage technique usually required that body must be unclothed but the body may be "draped" with towels or sheets. In some jurisdictions it is required that certain areas such as the genitals on both genders and the breast / nipple area on women be draped at all times.
Due to the necessary physical contact between the practitioner and the client, sexual arousal is not uncommon, although in most forms of massage this is unintentional. Massage can also be a part of lovemaking for many couples and often takes place in the context of sex work (Wikipedia) There are many types of massage and it is easy to explain. The history of massage is very long. In ancient times healer in highly developed civilizations knew how heal body with hand on manipulations.
I wouldnt examine all existed types of massage because it is impossible. But I can overview the most popular of them. On of them is Accupressure. What is it? Accupressure is a type of massage which requires pressing specific points on the body with fingers, knuckles, and palms.
Sometimes even feet and elbows are used. Accupressure is very helpful for relieving pain, reducing stresses and providing good health in general. This kind of massage has very long history. It was developed in Chine some 5, 000 years ago. There is a theory that it appeared from the natural human instinct to rub the place on he body, which hurts.
The goal of acupressure (and acupuncture) is to release blocked energy by stimulating specific points called acu points along the body's 14 primary meridians, or energy channels. Pressing firmly and steadily on the proper acu points, it is suggested, can promote energy flow to a part of the body that is experiencing disease or discomfort, enabling it to heal itself more readily. (Alternative Therapies) the treatment itself takes form 15 minutes to nearly an hour. It depends on the severity of problem. While this time the therapist will locate the specific acu points, which influence on your condition. Dont be surprised when pressing of the point under your knee will relieve low back pain. You can feel looser or more relaxed after the message but will never be in pain.
Within three or eight visits you will see the result. What are the health benefits of Accupressure? As it was mentioned above, it helps to relieve pain, reduce muscle tension, promote relaxation. It is a very helpful way to get rid of back pain, certain types of headaches. Some people used Accupressure to improve their overal body health. The next type of massage I want to examine is Thai Massage.
The history of Thai Massage is as long as the history of Accupressure. It is an extraordinary method of body energy regulation. It counts its times from the time of the Buddha, originating in India based on Ayurveda later it became popular in Thailand. Known in Thailand as not plan born in Europe and America it is known as Thai ancient massage, Thai classical massage, Thai bodywork, passive yoga, or assisted yoga. It has soothing effect because its technique consists of on stretching and loosening the body.
The client wears pajama and lies on a mat on the floor. The therapist use hands and forearms to apply firm rhythmic pressure to all parts of the clients body. Thai message usually requires no oils. It can lasted two hours or more.
During this time fingers and toes are pulled, knuckles are cracked, and the therapist may even walk on your back and arch it in rolling action. There is a standart rhythm for thai massage and when it is provided in groups it can be made in unison. Thai Massage usually involves peripheral stimulating, meaning it acts as an external stimulant to produce specific internal effects (Massage Therapy 101) It is important not to confuse real therapeutical Thai massage with the service of identical name available in some hotels and brothels. They have nothing in common.
From Thailand to Sweden. From Thai massage to swedish. Swedish massage is a term usually used to describe massage technique developed in the 1700 s by a Swedish doctor Per Henrik Ling. This kind of massage was specially designed for relaxing muscles by applying pressure to them wains deeper muscles and bones. It also requires rubbing in the same direction as the flow fo blood returning to the heart. The main purpose of such massage is to increase the oxygen flow in the blood and release toxins from the muscles.
Therapist uses long flowing strokes and usually applied some oil or creme to reduce friction and increase smoothness in strokes. There are six basic strokes in swedish massage: vibration, friction, compression, effleurage, peris sage, tapotement. As for the benefits of swedish massage I can say that it feels really good. It relaxes greatly and influences invigoratingly on the nerves, glands, muscles, and circulation, promotes health. The next kind of massage is a Deep Tissue Massage. It uses a technique that focuses on the deeper layers of muscle tissue.
It is really effective when it is necessary to release the chronic patterns of tension in the body using slow strokes, deep finger pressure. Therapist works on a specific joint, muscle or muscle group. It helps to break up and eliminates scar tissue. As it focuses on some specific areas it may cause some soreness during the process or after it. If the pressure is applied too deeply or too quickly, the muscle may tighten to protect that area, and unnecessary damage or information can be induced. Very little oil is used as the pressure doesn't travel much over the skin (Wikipedia) You must remember that you should feel better if the massage is done correctly.
The benefits are simple: you will fell much more better, your muscles will not block oxygen and nutrients and the is why there will be no toxins in the muscle tissue. Massage will help your muscle get proper oxygen nutrition and will help to renew blood circulation. It also helps to eliminate toxins from the body. Swedish massage has both therapeutic and corrective effect. Each kind of examined massages has its advantages.
You need to decide what is more preferable for you body and then choose the massage. The effect you will feel immediately. Bibliography Massage, Wikipedia. web Massage Therapy Overview, Massage Therapy 101. web Alternative Therapies, Alternative Medicine. web Swedish Massage, Mamas Health.
web Thomson Gale, Alternative Medicine, Health Living. web
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