Therapeutic Massage
Therapeutic – ( ther-a-pu-tik ) a. pert. to healing
Massage – a curative treatment of physical disorders by kneading, rubbing etc carried out by a specialist
Massage goes back to the days of our forefathers and into the realms of ancient history. There is documented evidence taken from old manuscripts and scrolls across the world that describes massage and touch as an intermediary between the physical, psychological, emotional and spiritual aspects of our being. Touch conveys messages. In every aspect of life the touch of a caring hand displays feeling, feeling to care and respond instinctively to another. A cuddle for a crying child, a warm hand touching a cold one, a hug to greet a friend, a hand shake, a warm embrace, a hand held, a sense of knowing that ‘comfort is at hand’. These special gestures are all forms of healing and are instinctive to our nature.
Massage is an ancient science, skill and art, dating back to 3000 BC. Books written in 1800BC referred to massage as a therapeutic healing art while wall paintings found in Egypt depicted a form of reflexology. The Nei Ching - medical treatise written in China more than 1000 BC records the theory and practices of traditional Chinese medicine, making references to massage. There is documented evidence of the practice of massage in ancient Greek and Roman cultures. For centuries massage has been used in central and eastern Europe, many of the techniques incorporating aromatic material. The use of such natural treatments and forms of massage has crossed and re-crossed continents over thousands of years, infiltrating both cultural and religious groups in a series of advancing levels of knowledge which is currently undergoing radical change and transformation. Massage has enormous benefits to the body as a whole seeking to promote, improve and maintain the balance of our body's systems.
Massage can help alleviate muscular, skeletal, and neuralgic pain and aid the body in its recovery from physical and emotional injury and trauma. The various techniques and movements used in massage are those which have an effect on all bodily systems. When employed either individually or in combination, these techniques effect the skin, muscles, circulation of blood, lymphatic system, nerves, bones and some internal organs depending upon position and pressure of the movements involved. Generally the movements involving pressure, speed up the body's physiological functions while the slow gentle movements slow it down. The effect of soothing the nerves aids the relaxation response, and often people who have received a massage will describe having a sense of wholeness and ease, both with themselves and their environment. This feeling of inner peace and well-being is communicated via the nervous system and helps provide a deep inner nourishment, which replenishes resources, restores vitality and exercises vital organs and cells.
Massage transcends other forms of communication, in that it focuses on total body & mind relaxation, initiating the interaction between our physical, psychological, emotional and spiritual aspects. It helps to bridge the gulf between these four aspects, by creating a harmonious and balanced environment internally and externally thus allowing the mind and body to communicate and listen to one another.
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