The Healing Benefits of Massage

There are many known healing benefits that can be derived from a massage. The process involves the manipulation, rubbing, or pressing of the skin, ligaments, tendons and muscles in the body in order to therapeutically relieve stress and promote relaxation. One may use his elbow, fingers, hands and even the feet in order to give a massage. Deep or light strokes and pressures are also used in order to provide the physiological response of the body that helps it to relax and attain a higher level of de-stressing the body.

Massage can alleviate many medical conditions like anxiety, insomnia, muscle strain, sprain, digestive disorders, musculoskeletal painful conditions and headaches. Not only is the healing benefit of massage beneficial to various medical conditions but it can also promote the feeling of comfort, caring and empowerment of the mind and body.  

However, although massage is known for its healing benefits, it is not a substitute for professional medical care especially in cases when your condition needs the help of a doctor.

Massage is recognized to provide health benefits not only to the physical body but also to mental health as well. It helps the body to be energized which is the reason why even healthy people like to get a regular massage. Because massage increases the circulation in the body, it could also promote a healthy skin, improve skin tone and improve joint flexibility. It is also healthy for the mind as it promotes a high state of relaxation that allows the mind to think clearly with the opportunity for creative thinking and mental alertness. 

Different Types of Massage to De-stress The Mind and Body

Are you tired?  Stressed?  Everyone is stressed and we are all tired. As it becomes chronic, we don’t know what to do. A relaxed body removes your physical stress.  As your body relaxes, your mind and spirit will also be relaxed. Thus, experts recommend a complete massage that soothes our body.  Haven’t you had any massage yet? Definitely, you missed half of your life! Massage is beneficial to us because it releases the tensions and other negativities in us.

Types of Massage

There are lots of massage types that you can enjoy. The benefits are great and there are different techniques that will suit your preferences.

1.    ACUPRESSURE. It’s a type of massage based on oriental healing concept that utilizes pressure of the hand, fingers, elbow and other parts to apply pressure to a specific acupuncture points in our body. By pressing these points in our body, tension swill be released and it allows our blood to circulate freely. Surprisingly, headaches and constipation can be treated through acupressure. Most therapists consider this as a therapeutic massage since it gives relief to us.

2.  ACUPUNCTURE and  SHIATSU. It’s also known as the Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). Unlike acupressure, needles are placed in the certain meridians of our body. These types of massage concentrate with the energy flow of the body within the 12 meridian pathways. TCM may treat different illnesses such as: breathing difficulty, migraines, arthritis, etc.  Research reveals the positive outcome of acupuncture treatment. Shiatsu recognizes both negative and positive energies.

3.    AROMATHERAPY. Theoretically, the olfactory and the aroma of the essentials oil can cure the stimulating blood circulation and depression. Varieties of herbs have different amazing healing attributes. Like for example, Basil might be used for migraine treatment while oregano might be used to treat an infection. The aroma dissolves in the air gives a soothing feeling while having a massage.

4.    REFLEXOLOGY. A type of massage wherein the pressure applied in certain body sends signal to the corresponding locations such as: gland or the other organs through the nervous system. It can be used n feet, hands or ears. Stimulating those areas may lighten the pain, lessen addiction, release stress and tension and develops nerve functions and blood circulation. 

5.    THAI MASSAGE. This type of massage is based on Ayurveda and Yoga. A complete medical belief and philosophy developed in India more than 5000 years ago, that is used to bring the mind and body to a deep inner peace creating harmony and life balance is known as Ayurveda. As expected, the therapist uses hands, knees, legs and feet to put the us in a yoga positions and exercises. These techniques encourage external body stimulation that produces great effects  within the body that includes the following:

·         Relaxation

·         Increased energy  level

·         High-level of Flexibility.

·         Improved body circulation.

Hence, Reiki, a Japanese modality technique that reduces stress, relaxes body and mind is related to this type of massage. It may be simple but it is powerful since it derives love,   compassion, and kindness.  It promotes healing as the energy flows through the body.

6.    DEEP TISSUE. As it names implies, this type of massage relaxes the soft tissues in the deep areas of the muscle. Deep slow strokes with the use hands, palms, fingers and elbow cause some tenderness and soreness the next day after  the deep tissue massage

It also manipulates the fascia –a connective tissue that creates an unbearable pain and restricts body motions when traumatized. Fascia affects the whole body.

Other types of Massage

The following are other types of message specifically applied as need. 

·       CRANIOSACRAL THERAPY. A massage that gently manipulates the bones of the skull. This therapy treats chronic pain, chronic headaches, scoliosis, whiplash, muscle tension and even the common cold.

·         EFFLEURAGE. A gentle strokes or a light massage technique that warm up the muscle.

·         LYMPH DRAINAGE MASSAGE, LYMPHATIC MASSAGE. It is a rhythmical controlled stroke that restores the connective tissue, releases inflammatory toxins and develops efficiency on our immune. This type of massage treats arthritis, fatigue, pain in joints, cellulite and other lymphatic issues.

·         POLARITY THERAPY. This is the holistic approach wherein manipulation and palpitation are used to recovers harmony in the place as to where the diseases, pain or illness originated. Other conditions that depends on polarity therapy involves the arthritis, asthma, chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia, stress, PMS, depression, and etc.

The kinds of massage can be classified as kinds, modalities and therapies.  However, whatever kind of massage we are looking for, it proves one thing – that it relieves tensions and stress that cause to be ineffective and inefficient in our daily lives. 

Tips in Giving a Thai Full Body Massage

Giving a Thai full body massage is something that you can do at home. There are simple ways by which you can bring the best benefits of a massage through a Thai massage. As you massage the body, you can improve the energy flowing through the body that is energizing and relaxing. Here are some simple tips on how you can improve the benefits that can be derived from giving a full body Thai massage.

Prepare what you need

Before beginning with the massage session, you should already prepare everything that you need like clean soft mat, comfortable clothing for the receiver of the massage, and clean towels for proper draping.

Make sure that the receiver of the massage is free from pain

It is necessary to place the receiver in a comfortable position and free from pain. It is important to ask the receiver how they feel before starting the massage session. One gets the best benefits from a Thai massage whenever they are not feeling any pain and is comfortable.

Use a soft and comfortable mat

Unlike the other types of massage that is done on a comfortable massage bed, Thai massage is usually performed on the floor. The techniques used for massaging the body parts include stretching, pulling and frequent shifting of position. Doing these massage techniques on the floor provides a stable and solid support for both the massager and the receiver of the massage. Using a soft mat adds to the comfort to the receiver.

Give slow and controlled motion

Pacing is important when giving a Thai full body massage. It is important to apply a slow and controlled maneuver in order to do it more comfortably on the part of the receiver. Slow paced techniques add to the relaxation process that is experienced during the massage and it also helps the mind to relax as well.

Begin the massage from the feet

It is best to deliver the massage techniques from the feet upwards. This will aid the circulation to move smoothly from below the body to be distributed to the other body parts. You can also apply pressure using your body weight to encourage ease of movement.

Use the four common Thai massage techniques

One gets the best benefits from a Thai full body massage whenever the four important massage techniques are applied on the body. These are passive mobilization and stretching, compressions along energy lines, rhythmic rocking motion, and guided breathing and meditation. One can alternately use these techniques throughout the massage session and you can add gentle pressure to optimize the relaxed feeling that one will likely feel. The combination of these Thai massage techniques can improve one’s coordination and improve the meditation process.