| Receiving a massage therapy is more than just | | | | which is not really comforting. |
| pampering yourself. It is based on the principle | | | | Shiatsu or acupressure uses the Chinese meridian |
| that when the body is calm and relaxed, | | | | system to locate pressure points on the body. |
| emotional and mental anxiety is reduced. | | | | These pressure points are massaged with the |
| The use of human touch to rid the body of | | | | thumbs, fingers, and palms through tapping, |
| physical and emotional stress has been around for | | | | rubbing, and applying pressure to places where |
| ages. In the modern world, we see massage | | | | there is a blockage of chi or energy. |
| therapy techniques being used that can be traced | | | | The Swedish massage is a classic massage that |
| back to India, China, Japan, and Egypt to name a | | | | uses a variety of motions to the muscles and |
| few. | | | | bones: percussion, shaking, long strokes, vibration, |
| A massage is good for the tensed and stressed | | | | kneading, and friction to apply pressure to the |
| individual because it improves blood flow thus | | | | muscles. This not only gives an overall sense of |
| increasing the amount of fresh oxygen that flows | | | | relaxation but also works at enhancing the blood |
| to the tissues. Further, it strengthens the immune | | | | circulation, lessening the time needed for muscles |
| system making the body less prone to diseases, | | | | to recover during injuries, stretching of tendons, |
| relaxes and tones the muscles, and increases joint | | | | stimulation of the skin and lowers blood pressure |
| flexibility. | | | | thereby giving the client an improves sense of |
| For simple enough situations such as headache, | | | | health inside out. |
| sinus, and shoulder relief, or if you're on a budget, | | | | In a Hot Stone Massage therapy, special stones |
| one doesn't have to visit a spa as there are | | | | are heated and placed on specific areas of a |
| massage techniques that a person can do to | | | | client's body to remove the tension from the |
| himself. For instructions, visit various video | | | | deeper muscles that a therapists fingers cannot |
| streaming sites which have tutorials for doing | | | | reach. Depending on the therapist, there may be |
| self-massage. | | | | times when cool stones are alternately used with |
| Although self-massage is generally okay for | | | | the hot stones. |
| relieving stress, receiving a massage from a | | | | For the therapist to be able to make the |
| certified therapist is extremely relaxing because | | | | necessary skin to skin contact needed in any |
| you get more coverage. For removing tension, | | | | modality of massage, the client is required to |
| relaxation, and getting rid of stress from the | | | | disrobe and wear only minimal clothing. Clients |
| body, the most recommended massage | | | | should not worry about their modesty since a |
| modalities or types are Shiatsu, Swedish, and Hot | | | | sheet will always be provided to cover areas the |
| Stone Massage. | | | | therapist is not currently working on. |
| Deep Tissue Massage and Sports Massage are | | | | The number of physicians who extol the benefits |
| not recommended because their aggressive | | | | of massage therapy have grown through the |
| quality makes them less effective for stress | | | | years. This is not only because massage has been |
| relief. With these types of massage therapy, | | | | around for ages, but because the benefits are |
| many clients have reported being sore for days | | | | clearly seen and felt. |