"Whoever wants to become a doctor should learn massage!" This is the value attributed by Hippocrates, the father of medicine, to the oldest and most ancient and handy method of healing: massage.
Massage by a professional massage therapist is not a fad or a treat. Massage, even relaxation massage, is an effective healing method for many conditions.
"Whoever wants to become a doctor should learn massage!" This is the value attributed by Hippocrates, the father of medicine, to the oldest and most ancient and handy method of healing: massage.
Massage by a professional therapist is not a fad or a treat. Massage, even a relaxing massageis an effective healing method for many conditions.
Massage is a technique practiced since ancient times. It originated more as a necessity. Who doesn't know that massaging the struck area lessens pain, or pressing areas of contracted and painful muscles leads to relaxation?
Initially it was practiced intuitively by each individual, but later the technique was sophisticated and developed by doctors - since ancient times. As massage techniques developed, so did its effects on health, beauty and well-being.
Some people love massage just for the instant relaxing effect it creates, but beyond just a piece of pampering, we are talking about a therapy with many health benefits!
Here are the main benefits of massage:
Healthy muscles are in a permanent state of contraction and relaxation, but we don't notice these changes until problems arise. Massage helps maintain the natural rhythm of the muscles, so that we don't end up with a variety of muscle disorders.
Once your muscles are relaxed and stretched, you will notice improvements in posture. It is very important to have correct posture, otherwise we risk unbalancing all the body's systems. For example, slouched shoulders prevent the lungs from working properly.
An indirect effect of the massage is the release of red blood cells from the spinal cord, which contributes to a much better oxygenation of all cells.
Massage stimulates blood circulation to the extremities, organs and blood vessels. It is known that we have enough capillaries to surround the entire planet, but only 5-6 liters of blood. So proper blood circulation is crucial to staying healthy. Massage is very helpful because it significantly facilitates this process.
By counteracting the negative effects of adrenaline, massage can balance the entire hormonal system. During relaxation, endorphins are produced which give us an unparalleled feeling of well-being. It also releases oxytocin, a substance associated with breastfeeding mothers, but which we all actually produce and which gives us a feeling of protection and love.
By enriching it with 10-15% with oxygen; by stimulating blood circulation it improves the tissues and the appearance of the skin, it becomes firmer, velvety and moisturized, dead cells will be removed, favoring faster development of new cells; you will get rid of the problem of cold hands and feet, muscle and joint pain, unsightly cellulite (along with proper diet and plenty of exercise). Relaxation massage also balances the nervous system (right from the first session).
Certain disorders of the internal organs can be treated by massage, as can disorders of the lymphatic system (specific massage techniques).
The massage increases the body's secretions and excretions (saliva, gastric juices, urine, food residues after complete digestion, etc.), causes faster elimination of toxins from the body.
Massage helps shed extra pounds. It is just as important as a balanced diet and regular exercise as part of a diet.
At the same time, any form of massage is an excellent boost for the psyche, being recommended for those suffering from stress, anxiety or depression - diffuse phenomena that have negative repercussions not only on the body but also on the mind. A stressed and anxious person tends to unconsciously strain different parts of the body: the neck, back, abdomen, causing pain and contractures in muscles, joints or internal organs.
There is a wide range of relaxing massages. Most of them can be done in Romanian Spa Centers.
The most popular relaxation massage involves applying oils to the body with firm but gentle pressure on the muscles. Swedish massage involves stroking the skin and kneading the muscles and is practiced only by licensed therapists. Swedish massage is the basis of many relaxation massages
For more details, read the article on Swedish massage.
Lomi Lomi is an ancient form of massage practiced by the indigenous Polynesian people of Hawaii. In Hawaii lomi lomi really means massage, and the techniques used are handed down from ancient times. Lomi lomi represents touching in the spirit of Aloha (respect, mindfulness) targeting body, heart and spirit.
For more details, read the article on Lomi-Lomi massage
Massage inspired by the ebb and flow of the sea, with two components - one energizing, the other relaxing. This type of massage often uses seaweed, traditional Balinese oils, Bali flower milk, spiced rice powder. Also used are compresses with essential oils and hot stones, placed on certain key points.
Read more in the article: Balinese massage.
A massage technique originating in Africa, a little deeper than the classic massage, consists in sliding bamboo sticks all over the patient's body through movements performed from the wrist. The sensations are varied and unheard of in other types of massage. If practiced regularly, bamboo stick massage slims the silhouette, improves circulation and relieves tension in the neck and lower back.
You can read more details in the article: Massage with bamboo sticks
Massage of Tibetan origin, utilizing the nourishing properties of honey. The massage technique associated with honey massage is the classic relaxing massage. The honey massage is done mainly on the back and thighs, but the limbs and face can also be massaged. Honey massage helps to eliminate toxins from the skin and the body. Honey massage is effective against cellulite and other forms of excess fat. The honey massage also increases the body's immune capacity.
For more details, please read the dedicated article honey massage.
It is also called Taurumi and is considered in Polynesia as a preventative, health-maintaining and lifelong therapeutic supplement.
It is a relaxing massage that considers the individual as a whole, adding spirituality, energy, words and touch.
Read more in the article on Polynesian massage.
Four hands massage is performed by two therapists with synchronized movements. Tandem massage is considered more relaxing than classical massage.
You can read more in the article: tandem massage - on all fours
This massage is based on the principles of Buddhist beliefs, performed with the help of gauze balls containing salts from the Dead Sea, Himalayan stone and a series of essential oils such as lavender, musk, sweet almond. During the Tibetan massage session, the therapist walks the jars over the patient's body. Massage recommended to relieve joint and muscle pain.
You can read more in the article: Tibetan massage
Massage technique from Indian medicine, based on the study of the five elements of nature. It includes techniques such as massaging the whole body with oil, dripping a drop of warmed oil on the forehead, massaging the soles with a ball, applying small pieces of gauze soaked in oil to certain energy points.
Ayurvedic massage aims to facilitate the circulation of energies and proves effective in cases of fatigue, depression and ankylosing as well as in more serious conditions.
You can read more details in the article: Ayurvedic massage
A type of massage recommended even for babies, it utilizes the properties of argan oil to alleviate imperfections such as scars and acne, fight cellular aging, and many other benefits.
You can read more details in the article: Argan oil massage
A specialized massage using smooth stones that have been previously heated. In most cases the stones are volcanic and black, known as basalt. These stones have the property of absorbing and retaining heat, which they then give to the body of those who undergo this therapy. This form of massage is very relaxing as the heat helps to relax and release the muscles. Read more: Hot stone massage - what it involves and what you need to know.
Originating in Asia, more specifically in India, Pantai Luar massage allows the body to take advantage of the combined benefits of two elements: essential oils and aromatic herbs. But this therapy also treats various problems through the combined effect of herbs, heat and massage. Read more in the article Massage with herbed boccelotti: Pantai Luar and Pinda.
Imagine yourself sitting in a softly lit room, with a soft towel draped over your back and the scent of essential oils wafting through the air. Slowly, slowly, through the therapist's movements, all your senses relax and your worries seem to magically disappear. If you've ever tried a relaxation massage, these are the sensations you've experienced.
I recommend a relaxation massage if you have never been to a spa before. The relaxation massage is characterized by the use of slow and invigorating movements, which exert more or less deep, but nevertheless rhythmic and fluid pressure. This mix of massage and spa atmosphere are ideal for an introduction to the art of relaxation.
The watchword is gentleness - the therapist must be guided by the hands and harmonize with the breathing of the person receiving the massage.
The therapist will usually start with the abdominal area, where he will perform extensive maneuvers, which will extend to the shoulders and hands, then down to the back and legs. Halfway through the treatment, you will be asked to come back for the front massage. The therapist will use both the back of the palm and the fingertips to apply pressure and relax the muscles. The relaxation massage has been specifically designed to direct blood circulation to the muscle groups.
The most important function of massage is to reactivate energies. We are talking about the energy that flows inside us and with which it is possible to interact. We can stimulate it, make it flow, drain it, make it go up and down from head to toe .... in this way the body is detached from daily worries and enjoys total relaxation.
The spa specialists combine the techniques of this massage with aromatherapy, using oils that have a relaxing effect on the senses, but also with music therapy, using relaxing music that helps us to relax and forget about everyday worries. Chaotic life, stress, worries, tiredness - all these can be somatized in the body, which is why the muscles of stressed people are tense, joints are stiff
Relaxation massage techniques induce a state of well-being, fatigue is banished, muscles are relaxed and you feel how stress disappears. At the end of such a session we feel full of life, energized, with less worries, as if we had a day full of good news.
Properly performed relaxation massage, with the help of oils, helps to reduce muscle and joint contractures, reduces pain, fatigue, eliminates tension, hence the feeling of light body, which almost floats after an hour of complete relaxation.
This helps you to identify which flavors you like and don't like, let your therapist know ahead of time.
Lavender oil is known for its anti-inflammatory, antifungal, antidepressant, antiseptic, antibacterial and antimicrobial properties. Used since ancient times due to its soothing properties, lavender is one of the most widely used herbs in herbal treatments, making it an excellent tonic for the nerves.
Orange oil it is of great help in situations of insomnia, irritability, nervous tension, stress, mental discomfort, frigidity, psychomotor agitation.
Verbena oil is recognized as a balancer of the psyche and nervous system, and is also known for its aphrodisiac effects.
Geranium oil it has the following therapeutic properties: astringent, hemostatic, cicatrizant, cytophylactic, diuretic, deodorant, hemostatic, tonic, vermifuge and heals wounds.
Peppermint oil it has analgesic, antiseptic, antispasmodic, digestive, expectorant, nervous tonic properties. From a psychological point of view it helps to concentrate attention.
Lemongrass oil Used since ancient times, lemongrass oil has been used in aromatherapy, perfumes and deodorants and is among the top 10 essential oils sold in the world. This essential oil combats physical and mental fatigue and has a powerful calming effect on the nervous system. With a pleasant lemon scent, lemongrass oil can be a reliable aid for those who want to eliminate symptoms associated with stress, such as headaches, anxiety or decreased concentration.
Think of massage as a treat for the senses? You are not wrong! But you should keep in mind that it is also a very powerful tool for healing the body.
The great merit of this form of healing is that it acts holistically, i.e. it sees us as a whole and treats us as such. When you do not feel well (physically or emotionally), it does not mean that a particular organ is diseased as a separate entity. But it may mean that the way that organ communicates with the rest of the body is sick.
When, for time or perhaps financial reasons, we start to drastically reduce or even eliminate "soul" activities, we lose sight of something very important. To help you understand what I'm talking about, I'll briefly tell you a little story that someone constructed as a metaphor. When we refuse to treat ourselves "from the inside out" and try to heal the body isolated from the spirit, it is as if we were painting our car and beautifying its appearance, even though we know that the engine is broken. And under those conditions, we would expect it to keep running.
Massage causes physiological reactions in the body by:
Together, the two types of reactions give rise to physical and emotional benefits.
In massage, the therapist's touch is nothing other than an invitation to relaxation, to a state of well-being. This, together with pain reduction through certain techniques, creates the so-called "relaxation response".
Relaxation is a state of the body in which the pulse rate and blood pressure decrease. Production of stress hormones also decreases and muscles relax. According to the latest research, the relaxation response also seems to increase serotonin levels, a substance that acts positively on emotions and thoughts.
Physical manipulation through massage generates two main effects:
Melissa Finley, owner of Mending Hands Massage Therapy Center in Sarasota, FL, has over 2300 hours of training and advanced certifications in prenatal, postnatal and infertility massage. Originally practicing in New York City, she became one of Brooklyn's most sought-after massage therapists precisely because, in addition to performing the actual massage, Melissa has also researched the field, looking for a bridge between therapy and effects such as stress reduction: the body oscillates between two states - sympathetic and parasympathetic. The sympathetic mode corresponds to the fight-or-flight state; this is when the body alerts the stress hormones. Many of us are only in sympathetic mode because of the stressful situations we face every day. And massage helps us to 'transfer' into the parasympathetic state - a zone of relaxation, wellness and recovery.
Another relevant study - this time by Touch Research Institute (University of Miami) - has shown that massage therapy makes a significant contribution to combating anxiety and depression by influencing the body's biochemical structure. In a study involving 500 people (women, men and children suffering from anxiety and depression), the specialists compared the patients' cortisone levels before and after a massage session. Important to know: cortisone has also been dubbed the 'stress hormone' and may be responsible for high blood pressure, high blood sugar levels and a weakened immune system. The US study showed that immediately after the massage, the amount of cortisone in most cases fell by up to 53%. The therapy also stimulated the secretion of dopamine and serotonin (neurotransmitters that help fight depression).
Besides stress, there is another trigger that "sends" people to massage - pain. Especially back pain. And a 2008 study, coordinated by the non-profit Cochrane Collaboration, confirmed that massage is a promising treatment for this problem. Andrea Furlan, an epidemiologist and massage specialist at the Toronto-based Institute for Work and Health, believes that "pain is like the body's alarm system". Acute pain - such as from a burn or broken bone - signals that something is wrong in the body. But chronic pain shows that this "alarm system" is broken. "Massage may not totally fix the alarm, but it will certainly significantly reduce the volume," concludes Dr. Furlan.
There are many theories about how massage can reduce or stop pain. One of the most widespread is the gate control theory of pain. Proponents of this hypothesis claim that pain is caused by competing stimuli. Specifically, pain circulates through small-diameter nerve fibers while massage stimulates larger-diameter portions. And larger nerve fibers reach the brain faster than smaller ones. In other words, the sensation generated by massage wins the fight against pain.
Tension in the body causes headaches, so massage - the ultimate tension reliever - could be the ideal remedy. A specific form of massage - pressure point therapy - is particularly effective. According to researcher Albert Moraska (University of Colorado), pressure points in the shoulders and neck area often cause headaches. Massage could relieve these tension by forcing sarcomeres (proteins responsible for contraction) in muscle cells. As a result, the muscles relax and the symptoms previously caused by tension disappear.
Fluctuations of various brain waves either relax you and send you into dreamland or wake you up. The main idea is that these waves are in control. Massage stimulates delta waves - the ones associated with deep sleep - so therapies could help you solve your sleep problems (insomnia, sleeplessness, poor sleep, and other disorders). Now do you understand why it's so easy to fall asleep on the massage table?
Massage, a therapy dating back thousands of years, has miraculous powers to relax the body and mind. This is proven by scientific evidence.
Even if many people seem to consider massage a treat and a symbol of luxury, it's good to know that it is first and foremost beneficial for your health:
Eliminates muscle tension
Regulates blood pressure
Combat insomnia
Reduces anxiety and depression
Relieves chronic pain
It controls stress levels, which is vital nowadays, when the WHO (World Health Organization) estimates that more than 501TPTP3T of all illnesses are due to stress.
The more it hurts, the more effective the massage?
Considering that a single massage session can cost as much as a month's gym membership, it's natural to want to see results. Unfortunately, many people take the presence of intense pain as confirmation that massage really works. In fact, when you ask the therapist to put more emphasis on certain areas, you're making him or her put even more tension on muscles that are desperate for ... release.
Remember the experiments in school when you had to combine starch with water. The more you mixed, the harder the newly formed substance became. Well, it's much the same with muscle. The higher the pressure, the more it hardens. The phenomenon is called thixotropy and means, in less scientific terms, that too much force is not beneficial. Gentle (but not necessarily powerless!) movements are much more effective.
Is there any point going for a massage if I don't feel tense?
Because many people consider massage as a form of simple pampering, they forget that seeing a therapist is an important condition for staying healthy. If you wait until you're in pain before scheduling a session, your body will have a much harder time recovering than if you had been going to the massage regularly and working on making your body more flexible.
Consider going for a massage a preventative gesture and an essential part of a healthy lifestyle. Wondering how often you should go? Well, there's no rule. If you're not suffering from any acute problems, once every few weeks should be a healthy interval. Remember that massage - as Hippocrates said - helps the body heal itself! Be careful: during massage, free radicals are released from pressure points. And because the immune system will fight the toxins freshly released from the body, it's normal to feel slightly tired the day after the massage!
Must there be total silence during the massage?
Even if you close your eyes and want to totally relax, there is nothing wrong in talking to your therapist. An essential condition for a great massage is communication. Set a comfortable pressure level for you together and don't hesitate to give constant feedback!
Co-authors:
Virtual Wellness Explorer
