Massage... What's in it for me?

What are the Benefits of a Good Massage, and How can I Enhance My Experience?

Massage is one of the oldest forms of healing known to mankind.

There are even pictures depicting it in the pyramids of Egypt, dating back over 4000 years.

These days we have many different styles of kneading.

Western styles like Remedial, Sports, Therapeutic, and Swedish massage or...

Eastern techniques like Thai, Shiatsu,Cupping and Reflexology.

Massage increases blood flow, thereby improving circulation, which brings fresh Oxygen into and around muscles and body tissues, like your skin and joints for example.

It also encourages the elimination of waste products like lymph and lactic acid and may assist muscle healing processes.

The primary goal of Massage Therapy is to encourage the body to heal itself, promoting health and the feeling of well being.

Most often, we have a massage simply to relax, or relieve aches and pains or reduce stress.

The best opportunity is usually overlooked…

Regular massage with the same therapist is like a regular check-up, and builds rapport and mutual trust.

A good therapist can feel where your tension and stress ‘sits’ and can feel your pain areas by the heat that pain produces, swelling, knots and tight muscles.

The same massage therapist can also feel, and see, imbalances in different muscle groups, i.e. calf and back muscles

The unevenness in the muscles makes injuries and pain more likely, and, as the body tries to compensate for these flaws, other parts of the body may get ‘out of line’ too… creating more pain and/or discomfort.

Another area that can be checked by your massage therapist is the diaphragm. Looking over your breathing pattern will tell you if you are using all of your lung capacity, or if you're only using a small percentage of your lungs?

The best massage therapists will, of course, listen to what brings you to the massage in the first place.

Is it pain in a certain areas? Want more flexibility? Some time for yourself?

Relaxation?… . The reasons can be many and varied. So please let you massage therapist know YOUR motive and what you hope to gain from your massage time.

Some of the Benefits of Massage may be:-

· Relaxation

· Less tension

· Loosens knots and tightness in muscles, leading to

. Less pain, improved posture and joint flexibility

· Improved breathing

· Better blood circulation

· Better lymph draining

· Reduce blood pressure

· Faster recovery from injuries and surgery

· Better complexion and skin tone

· Enhanced immune functions · Increased mental clarity

· Promotes the feeling of well-being

Tranquil music and Aromatherapy will usually enhance your massage experience by stimulating two more of your senses, hearing and smell.

It is very important to advise your massage therapist BEFORE the treatment if you experience any ailments like, high/low blood pressure, blood clots, diabetes, heart problems asthma, allergies or recent surgery.

Also inform your massage therapist if you are on any medication, if you’re taking any painkillers or anti inflammatory tablets, or, if you are pregnant.

This information doesn’t suggest that you will miss out on the massage treatment. It simply gives your therapist enough information to give you the best, and safest possible treatment under the circumstances that YOU at that time find yourself in.

To receive a good massage, and to enjoy the best benefits from your treatment requires a good working relationship between the client (YOU) and the massage therapist.

If you don’t feel confident with the person that gives you a massage… change therapist, rather than miss out on all the benefits from this old, proven form of healing.

Go from Massage Therapy to the Top 10 Massage Styles