About Massage

Massage Therapy is perhaps the oldest of the healing arts. It is the logical step to follow after the almost instinctive stretching actions that people make when muscles or other soft tissues feel stressed or otherwise uncomfortable.

Massage was common in the ancient world among the Greeks and Romans in the West and in China in the eastern world. Although it fell out of favor in the western world for many years, it was reintroduced around 1800. A Swedish therapist began the revival, which has grown steadily. A modern therapist provides a full body massage by using their hands, and sometimes lotions, creams and some medical implements, to relieve the muscles, tendons, ligaments, and joints of aches, pains & stress.

Therapeutic Massage is of great value in daily life, but its values extend far past physical relief.

Massage also serves as an instinctive nurturing technique used since the beginning of mankind. When our children fall and hurt themselves, we instinctively rub their "ouie" better. When a friend is depressed and crying, we console them by rubbing their back. When a child is woken from a sleep and crying, we pat their back to calm them and put them back to sleep.

Relaxation Massage serves us with emotional & mental relief.

What other form of therapy do you know that treats your physical, emotional & mental needs? It's hard to believe that something as basic as massage can uplift your mind, body & spirit. You'd be cheating yourself if you chose not to give massage a try!

Benefits & Contra-Indications

The movement of muscle and other tissue by a skilled practitioner helps with the following & more...

Circulates blood, removing metabolic by-products & bringing oxygen & nutrients to the tissues.
Stimulates lymphatic drainage
Increases tissue elasticity & flexibility
Increases range of motion
Decreases adhesions
Increases resistance to disease
Increases energy
Stimulates secretion of endorphins
Increases relaxation
Reduces anxiety
Decreases recovery time from exercise
Increases functioning of immune system
Decreases muscle tension & discomfort

*Please Note - though there are many benefits to massage, there are also several contra-indications. You must make your therapist aware of any of the following conditions, including but not limited to...

Aids
Allergic symptoms
Aneurysm
Arthritis
Atherosclerosis
Back problems
Cancer
Chronic pain
Circulation problems
Diabetes
Epileptic seizures
Fatigue
Fever
Fractures
Frostbite
Geriatric

Heart conditions
Infections
Inflammation
Medications
Numbness
Osteoporosis
Peritonitis
Post-operative
Pregnancy
Psychotic episodes
Recent or acute injuries
Severe pain
Skin Infections / lesions / rashes
Substance Abuse
Thrombophlebitis
Ulcers