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Massage
- The rubbing or kneading of parts of the body
especially to aid circulation, relax the muscles, or
provide sensual stimulation .
Massage
has been around for thousands of years. It is probably
one of man's earliest
remedies for pain relief. The word “massage”
comes from the Greek root of “masso,” which means
"to touch". There are many different types of
massage, but the most common is Swedish, which includes
deep tissue, sports massage lymphatic drainage,
nueromuscular therapy and myofascial release.
Asian forms of massage include Thai Massage and
Ayurvedic treatments. Reflexology was actually developed
in the West, but derives from Eastern ideas that the
body has a flow of energy, or "chi" that can
be unblocked with treatment.
What
is massage therapy?
Massage
therapy spans a wide variety of therapeutic
approaches, working to improve an individual’s
health and well-being through the hands-on
manipulation of muscles and other soft tissues of the
body.
What
are the key benefits of massage therapy?
Physical
-- Massage
therapy is designed to stretch and loosen muscles,
improve blood flow and the movement of lymph
throughout the body, facilitate the removal of
metabolic wastes resulting from exercise or
inactivity, and increase the flow of oxygen and
nutrients to cells and tissue. In addition, massage
stimulates the release of endorphins -- the body’s
natural painkiller -- into the brain and nervous
system.
Mental
-- Massage therapy provides a relaxed state of
alertness, reduces mental stress and enhances capacity
for calm thinking and creativity.
Emotional
-- Massage therapy satisfies the need for caring and
nurturing touch, creates a feeling of well-being and
reduces anxiety levels.
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