| Massage is a common practice used by everyday | | | | specific points (nerve-pressure points) of the |
| people as a means to relax and unwind after a | | | | body. It improves flexibility and range of motion |
| tense week at work or a tiring holiday. Since | | | | while refreshing and energizing the body - it is |
| ancient times, spiritual and natural healers have | | | | therefore preferred by performers and |
| used massage therapy techniques to cure illnesses | | | | sportsmen and women. |
| and heal injuries to the body or mind. Many of the | | | | Shiatsu Massage (Japanese) |
| most successful techniques have survived the | | | | Shiatsu literally means 'figure pressure' and is |
| ravages of time - passed on from generation to | | | | based on the same concepts as acupuncture. It |
| generation and refined by gifted therapists - to | | | | uses eastern concepts of the balance and flow of |
| exist today. | | | | body energy. Pressure is applied by the thumbs, |
| Overview | | | | fingers and palms of the hand to 'energy |
| The best thing about massage is that you don't | | | | meridians' - the same points of the body as with |
| need a medical degree or a background in | | | | acupuncture. Variations of this type of therapy |
| medicine or physiology-related education in order | | | | include foot-shiatsu (a famous method of foot |
| to learn and practice massage. It also does not | | | | massage) as well as rolling, brushing, vibrating and |
| require years of training to become a good | | | | hand-grasping areas of the body as well as |
| massage therapist - only lost of practical | | | | stretching. |
| experience to get really good at it. The training | | | | Aromatherapy (based on Swedish/ Indian |
| itself is very simple and very practice-based, and | | | | massage) |
| students have a variety of options when it comes | | | | Aromatherapy is basically massage therapy with |
| to deciding which type or types of massage | | | | the use of scented essential oils to provide |
| therapy they wish to learn and practice. The | | | | stimulation through the sense of smell - along with |
| following are some of the types of massage | | | | touch - during a therapy session. The human |
| therapy which are most popular and in-demand | | | | sense of smell is connected to the part of brain |
| these days. Many massage therapy schools in | | | | (limbic system) that can regulate the heart, blood |
| Canada and the US (and all over the world) | | | | pressure, stress factors, breathing, memory, |
| conduct regular training sessions on many of | | | | digestion and the immune system. The human |
| these types of therapy as part of comprehensive | | | | skin absorbs these healing essential oils while the |
| training courses and campus based programs. | | | | scent and the massage motion regulated the |
| The following are four of the several popular | | | | condition - through the brain - according to |
| types of massage therapy taught most | | | | whichever objective is to be accomplished. Some |
| frequently at modern massage schools which | | | | oil used to regulate condition; Calming oils; |
| offer complete massage therapy programs. | | | | chamomile, lavender, geranium. For mood uplifting; |
| Swedish massage: | | | | ylang ylang, clary sage, rose, neroli. For energizing |
| This is the most common type of massage used | | | | the body and cleansing; rosemary, and for |
| in most western countries, especially Canada and | | | | decongesting; eucalyptus, pine and tea tree. |
| the US. Massage lotion and oil are usually used to | | | | References: |
| decrease friction on the surface and therapists | | | | Wikipedia - extensive |
| use their hands for long smooth strokes (in a | | | | readingaltmedicine[dot]about[dot]com/od/massage |
| kneading motion), tapping and circular patterns | | | | a/massage_types.htm |
| with pressure applied to muscles just below the | | | | Resource Area: |
| skin (there are five basic strokes used). This type | | | | DISCLAIMER: Above is a GENERAL OVERVIEW |
| of massage is considered beneficial for reducing | | | | and may or may not reflect specific practices, |
| pain and joint stiffness, and improving blood | | | | courses and/or services associated with ANY |
| circulation and helps patients with osteoarthritis. | | | | ONE particular school(s) that is or is not |
| Thai Massage | | | | advertised on |
| Thai massage is based in yoga and originated | | | | Copyright 2009 - All rights reserved by Media |
| from the far-east and India (originally).The | | | | Positive Communications, Inc. |
| objective of this type of massage is to align the | | | | Note: Publishers are free to use this article on an |
| energies of the human body (eastern spiritual | | | | ezine or website provided the article is reprinted in |
| concepts are used). This involves stretching and | | | | its entirety, including copyright and disclaimer, and |
| compressing muscles and putting pressure on | | | | ALL links remain intact and active. |