Massage

Massage is the one of the most naturally healing things you can do. The nurturing touch is simple, instinctual, and more powerful than we can imagine. Some of the many studies on touch show conclusively that it reduces stress, alleviates depression, reduces pain, boosts the immune system, and helps pre-mature babies catch up in their development. Without touch we close down. With touch we love, communicate, and nurture one another. So massage is not just a profession for a special few; it is part of the healing touch we all possess.

Because massage is naturally healing, its therapeutic use dates back as far as mankind. Ancient Greek, Roman, and Oriental medical treatises describe in detail how and when massage should be used. In the Western world it fell out of favor in the Middle Ages as the church regarded the body as sinful. But, by the 1800's, a new interest in massage was started in Sweden, and today there are many popular modalities of therapeutic massage and bodywork.

Massage professionals have spent years observing the benefits of using certain strokes and have developed systematic techniques to relieve the pain and stress of mankind. There are literally dozens of these therapies, each with their own association dedicated to supporting its members and promoting the benefits of their work.

Benefits

The two most obvious benefits of massage are increased circulation and flexibility.

From a physiological or mechanical engineering point of view, massage increases the lubrication between muscle fibers and allows the muscle to move optimally. Muscle fibers are designed to work independently of each other. When muscles dry out, or dehydrate, the fibers stick together and the muscle becomes stiff or ridged. As fluid is reintroduced, the muscle softens and regains its flexibility. As circulation increases between the muscle fibers, nutrients reach the cells and toxins are carried off more efficiently.

Aging is largely a process of dehydration. The less water in the body, the more quickly we age. As we dehydrate, we begin to shrink and as our muscles become smaller, our skin begins to wrinkle. Drinking lots of water and having regular massage is a great way to get rid of wrinkles.

At post mortem, muscle dehydration is found at every area of disease. This would lead one to believe that good circulation could possibly keep one healthy. Degenerative diseases like cancer and muscular sclerosis are anaerobic and can not live in an oxygenated environment. Because blood carries oxygen to the cells, circulation is necessary for optimal health. The Bible teaches that life is in the blood. If this is true, we need the best circulation we can get. Massage increases circulation, hence, increases oxygen to the cells. 

From a psychological point of view, massage creates a sense of being cared for, of being nurtured. Massage helps us become more aware of our bodies and the feelings we value. Human touch connects one person to another and the feelings shared are healing and energizing emotionally. Safe touch is an important part of life. 

Looking at massage from a physics point of view, we see that electromagnetic energy is transferred from the giver to the receiver and back. This energy transfer can not be duplicated by gadgets or machines. The oriental cultures call this energy Chi´ or life energy. The world renowned nuclear physicist, Professor Serge Sitko, of Vidguk in the Ukraine, has developed equipment that is able to record this energy in the millimeter range of radio waves. This human energy transfer is an important part of the healing process.

Massage gives one a feeling of comfort and relaxation like a mini vacation from the pressures of life. A clinical study at the University of Miami School of Medicine, shows that massage increases mental alertness and accuracy in mathematical calculations. A group was given mathematical problems both before and after a series of massages and accuracy increased some 20%. Massage also increases beta waves in this study which shows that one is more relaxed after a series of massages. This relaxed state lasts longer as the cumulative benefits of more massage at regular intervals are experienced.

Expectations

Massage has been divided into three categories on this site. We will address each one because the results will be very different.

We will begin with light massage which will include Reiki, Swedish, Energy Work and Spa massages. This style of massage can offer profound results or simply relax you.

We will then address medium which may leave light bruising after completion. Professionals who do medium massage are well trained and usually have a great deal of experience. You should never feel sharp pain during a massage. Discomfort is normal momentarily. You should surely feel younger and livelier after a day or two.

Deep massage is for athletes, people who do heavy work and those in acute pain. Again, sharp pain is contrary to healing. Bruising is normal after the first few massage sessions. You may be sore for a day or two like after a good work out. Your body will change dramatically after the third or fourth session. Be the time you have had six or seven sessions, you will be much more flexible and will understand the true value of regular massage.

Light Massage

Most Spa massage is fairly light and designed to relax you. For people new to massage, this is a good first step. Most light massage addresses the whole body at one session. It is the Spa industry that has been at the fore front of massage education. Until recently, only the elite knew the value of massage. Most royal families receive massage daily.

Medium Massage

You will find some medium massage in Spa settings, however, independent practitioners are more likely to practice medium massage. Between light and deep, medium massage still addresses the whole body in one session.

Deep Massage

Born in ancient China 6,000 years ago, massage was used as a form of healthcare. The ancient form of massage called "Tuina" is the foundation of many deep muscle techniques. "Canadian Deep Muscle Massage" was born in the late 1800's. "Rolfing" was born in 1959 at Eslan in California. Each of these techniques addresses only one area of the body at any one time. These practitioners are usually very well trained. Again, sharp pain is not to be acceptable. Discomfort is certainly normal.

Stress

Stress has a way of changing posture. As stress begins to tighten one's body, shoulders begin to roll forward, the chin lifts and the neck moves forward. This happens to all of us as the everyday pressures of life close in around us. In the world of psychology the term for this posture is armoring.

Think of a person sitting at a typing station. This person is not sitting erect, but leaning slightly forward. Her elbows are not hanging by her side but are just forward of her body. As her fingers dance across the keyboard she not only has to hold her forearms up, but has to hold her elbows forward. This puts a tremendous amount of pressure on the muscles of her upper back as well as her lower back.

There are two muscles that are punished the most by stress. We call these muscles the stress muscles. However, their medical name is Levator Scapula. These two muscles connect at the upper bones of the neck called the Cervical Vertebrae and connect to the shoulder blade, known as the Scapula. When we are stressed our shoulders lift putting pressure on our neck. This pressure creates headaches and neck and shoulder pain. The final result of this posturing is pressure on the Medial Nerve which eventually becomes Carpal Tunnel Syndrome.

This condition is easily addressed by massage and three or four visits usually alleviate this stress. How often should you get a massage? Probably once a week, if you have never had a massage before.

As the shoulders lift, the vertebrae of the spine are pulled close together, which puts pressure on the disk between the vertebrae. As the disk is crushed by this pressure it widens and puts pressure on the nerves that exit the Central Nervous System at these openings. As the nerves are impinged, everything in the body begins to shut down and we enjoy a lower level of energy. Life becomes harder.

From our point of view, stress is the fundamental cause of most illness. The Ancient Chinese said that disease was caused by congestion and wellness was the result of circulation. This was written six thousand years ago and it seems they were correct.

For those of you who have never experienced a professional massage, perhaps now is the time to give one a try. All you have to lose is stress and discomfort.