Which styles of massage would suit me best?

What are the benefits of good muscle therapy? and,

How can I get the most out of my session?

So, I start with a little history...

Muscle Therapy 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.

Then there's the Romans and the Greeks, and, of course, the Chinese.

And then, to answer your question...

These days we have many different styles of therapeutic massage. Western styles like Remedial, Sports, Therapeutic, and Swedish or...

Eastern techniques like Thai, Shiatsu, Cupping and Reflexology

Then there are some special therapy techniques for infants, the elderly and expectant mothers.There's even 'Hot Stone' and Bowen.

There's a brief description of the 10 most popular styles here.

All have their own benefits, and each one focusses on a particular aspect.

The trick is to match what YOU WANT to what THEY OFFER!

Now for the benefits...

Muscle therapy is primarily designed to increase blood flow, thereby improving circulation, which brings fresh Oxygen into, and around, your muscles and body tissues, like your skin and joints for example.

It also encourages the elimination of waste products like lymph and lactic acid.

This may well assist muscle healing processes.

The primary goal of any therapeutic practice is to encourage the body to heal itself, promoting health and the feeling of well being.

The 'Healthy Glow' and 'Feel Good Factor'

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

The best opportunity is usually overlooked…

Regular sessions with the same therapist is like having a regular check-up.

You promote some 'history' between you both, and it builds up great rapport and mutual trust.

A good therapist can monitor and track where your tension and stress ‘sits’ and can feel your pain areas by the heat that pain produces, by 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 become ‘out of alignment’ too… creating more pain and/or discomfort.

Don' forget to breathe!...

Another area that can be checked by your massage therapist is the diaphragm.

Looking over your breathing patterns will tell you if you are using all of your lung capacity, or if you're only using a small percentage of your lungs.

It's very important to breathe! It's much more beneficial for you to breathe PROPERLY!

A good masseur or masseuse will teach you some good breathing exercises.

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 area?

Want more flexibility?

Some time for yourself?

Relaxation?…

The reasons can be many and varied.

So, be sure to let us know YOUR motive and what you hope to gain from your massage time.

Some of your motives may be:-

• Pure, unadulterated relaxation, or,

• 'Me Time'... like a one hour vacation!

• To reduce tension and everyday stress,

• To loosen 'knots' and tightness in muscles, leading to
• Less pain, improved posture and joint flexibility.

• To improve your breathing, always a good idea!

• Get better blood circulation happening, that 'healthy glow'

• Or, maybe, better lymph draining, which reduces toxin build-up in your body

• To reduce your blood pressure, if that troubles you.

• A good massage promotes faster recovery from injuries and surgery

• Enhance your complexion and skin tone naturally,

• Strengthen your immune functions and

• Increase your mental clarity. Less stress in your body means less stress on your mind!

• And, of course, it promotes the feeling of well-being, that all-important 'Feel Good Factor'

Stimulate two more senses...

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

Important safety issues...

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

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

This information will always be kept discreetly confidential, part of the trust and rapport I mentioned earlier.

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

Don't miss out...

So, to receive the best treatment, and to enjoy the greatest benefits from your session requires a good working relationship between the client (YOU) and the masseuse (ME). If you don’t feel confident with the person that's treating you…it's much better to change therapist than to miss out on all the benefits from this old, proven form of healing.

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