Massage is a ‘hands on’ therapy
Muscles and other soft tissues of the body are manipulated to improve health and well being. Varieties of Massage range from gentle stroking and kneading of muscles and other soft tissues to deeper manual techniques.
Massage has been practiced as a healing technique for thousands of years in nearly every culture around the world. The use of bodywork for healing purposes dates back 4,000 years in Chinese medical literature and continues to be an important aspect of Traditional Chinese Medicine today. A contemporary form of bodywork known as Swedish massage was introduced to the United Sates in the 1850s. By the end of the 19th century, a significant number of American doctors were practicing this manual technique and thus the nation’s first massage therapy clinics were introduced. In the early part of the 20th century, technological advances & the widespread use of prescription drugs began to overshadow Massage Therapy. For the next several decades, Massage remained dormant and merely a handful of therapists continued to practice this ‘ancient’ technique. During the 1970’s there was a rebirth of interest and both the general public and the medical profession began to take notice of complementary therapies and body-mind therapies. Massage was brought back into popularity and today there are more than 270,000 Massage Therapists practicing in the US.
Massage helps relieve muscle tension, reduce stress, and evoke feelings of calmness. Although bodywork affects the body as a whole, it particularly influences the activity of the musculoskeletal, circulatory, lymphatic, and nervous systems. Massage has become an important part of general health care for many people living in today’s stressful world. Numerous studies have concluded the benefits of touch. From newborns to elderly & every body in between, bodywork can help with illness or chronic and acute ailments, and contribute to a higher sense of well being.
Today, nearly 100 different types of Massage & bodywork techniques exist. Each technique is uniquely designed to achieve specific goals. In the US, the most commonly practiced technique is ‘Swedish’. This is the classic method used to facilitate and induce the relaxation response, improve circulation, decrease tension, and improve range of motion.
During the last 27 years of practicing the art of Massage Therapy , I have had many influences and exposures of techniques. My cornerstone of training was completed at the Cayce/ Reilly school of Massotherapy in Virginia Beach, VA. Here I was taught the very specialized methods developed by Edgar Cayce and Harold J. Reilly, a well-known physiotherapist. During the second semester, we had classes in Swedish and Sports massage as well as Reflexology & other integrative therapies.
I went on to take classes in St. John’s Neuromuscular Therapy, Visceral Manipulation, Cranio-Sacral Therapy, Jin Shin Do Acupressure, Shiatsu, Tui Na, and much more. Later, I completed a 1000 hour program in Rolfing- Structural Integration, & a 3000+ hour/four year Acupuncture & Oriental Medicine program. My sessions are catered to individual needs and draw from many resources.
Benefits of Massage Therapy
- Offers a drug free, non-invasive & humanistic approach to encourage the body’s ability to heal
- Increases circulation, allowing the body to pump more oxygen & nutrients into tissues & vital organs
- Reduces Stress
- Promotes Relaxation
- Relieves pain from chronic/acute illness and injury
- Boosts the immune system
- Encourages lymph function
- Reduces swelling from strains/sprains
- Provides relief from muscular pain
- Reduces recovery time from exercise
- Improves posture
- Increases range of motion/flexibility