The practice of using your touch as a healing process dates back to ancient history. Earlier civilizations found that massage and natural healing can help cure injuries, relieve pain and prevent oneself from getting sick. The most welcomed and immediate effects noted on humans was stress relief and relaxation.
Massage therapy started out as a natural form of healing. However, later on in the history it was also related with disreputable form of pleasure due to many cultural shifts. Now with the passage of time and the extensive research in the medical field. Massage therapy is a well known holistic method for treating depression, anxiety and many sorts of diseases.
Here are a few major traces of massage therapy throughout history and how it evolved in to the billion dollar industry it is today.
Emergence of Massage in India
Ayuveda is India’s most sacred and ancient holistic health system. It is to this date the most used traditional holistic system in the country. Ayurved was developed after centuries of extensive research, studies and meditations.
Many texts that define Ayurved in the ancient India mention that it was heavy adopted throughout India and South East Asia.
Ayuveda is based on the concept that for someone to be happy and healthy they have to live in harmony with their environment. To be at physical and mental peace one must restore the balance and harmony between themselves and the surroundings around them.
The main teachings of Ayurveda are about letting it’s followers know how they can use their 5 senses to better react with their environment to form a perfect balance. Ayurveda uses many different forms of therapy including, massage therapy, aromatherapy, color therapy and sound therapy.
Roots of Massage in Ancient Egypt and China
China and Egypt are known to have the most ancient records of massage therapy seymour. Many ancient wall painting depicts the kneading process in them. Moreover, the origin of modern day reflexology can be credited to Egypt.
The whole concept of reflexology revolves around putting pressure on pressure points in your feet and hands. Your body is connected with these pressure points. When you massage these reflex zones, the beneficial effects pass on to each of these body parts.
China has it’s own traditions relating to massage therapy that date back to 2700 BCE. Traditional Chinese Medicine is the result of centuries of research from doctors and practitioners of martial arts and yogis who believed in the effects of yoga for a better soul and body. Reflexology professionals don’t use needles or any other instrument to apply pressure. They use use their thumbs, palms and fingers. Reflexology treatments can help achieve mind and body fullness to the patients.
Types of Massages
Massage therapy has many different options available for different needs. Whether you’re looking to get help for an existing condition or you simply want to relax. Then this treatment is for you.
Not knowing the different types of rub-down and their functionalities. It can be hard to choose between them all. So here are different types of massage that you can get depending on expectations behind this therapy. .
Swedish Therapy
Unless you have been living under a rock, you should have some idea about Swedish massage. It is the most common type of rub-down that you can get in any spa, gym or in clinics.
Swedish massage is a full body massage. It can help with relaxation and recovering from injuries.
Aromatherapy
Remember the Swedish Massage we discussed earlier? It’s the same. The only difference is the addition of scented plant oils. These essentials are extracted from different plants. And are known to have healing properties along with a pleasing smell. Such a plant used in essential oils is Lavender.
The human body is known to react in a relaxing way to these oils. The soothing effects of aromatherapy can help you with many different conditions including.
Hot Stone
A hot stone massage is exactly what it sounds like. It’s a form of massage therapy that uses stones. These stones are placed on specific pressure points on your body. The soothing and warm touch of these stones can put you in a relaxing state.
Heat is a major factor is treating back pain and stiff muscles. The warmth from the stones help dilate your veins which results in a healthy blood flow around the area.
However, for people suffering from blood pressure, heart disease or any other kind of disease related to veins. Checking up with their doctor before booking an appointment is a good a practice.
Deep Tissue Massage
Deep Tissue Massage works best on the inner-layer of muscles. Where normal massage techniques don’t apply .If you are suffering from muscles knots or adhesions. Deep tissue is a great way to untie these knots and put you in relief.
Using deliberate high pressure strokes along the effected areas, the therapist releases tension from high pain muscles. postural problems and repetitive injuries. Many people don’t enjoy Deep Tissue massage as compared to a Swedish Massage simply because the pressure is too intense.
But keep in mind, the core purpose of deep tissue massages is to workout deep muscle problems that can result in long-term relaxation rather instantaneous pleasure.
Deep Tissue massage is great for people with chronic injuries or pain which might have effected their mobility. A few of the most common conditions it can help with is tennis elbow and tunnel syndrome.
Shiatsu
Shiatsu is also a really famous form of Japanese massage. This techniques makes use of the elbows, thumbs and fingers of the therapist in a sequence along the body. The therapist’s apply pressure on the effected areas for 2 to 8 seconds.
Shiatsu also takes its core healing mechanism from the traditional chinese medicine where the main goal is to release the flow of energy by massaging acupressure points in the body. This helps the patient gain physical and mental re-balance.
Shiatsu therapists uses no oil or lubricant on the body. Instead, you are allowed to wear loose clothing while laying down on either a mat or a massage table. Shiatsu is really effective in reducing stress and stress-related conditions.
Many other studies have suggested that Shiatsu can hep with pain, nausea and insomnia.
Thai Massage
Thai massage is a unique technique. It was formed with the blend of yoga, massage movements and most importantly, passive stretching. You would Thai massage to be really refreshing. It is like doing Yoga, but at the same time. It’s not you who’s doing the hardwork, but the massage therapist that is moving your body in a sequence of positions, usually on a mat or on a table depending on which is more preferable by they client. You can are to make this choice in your session.
Since Thai Massage involves a great deal of yoga movement. It is really effective in increasing mobility and the range of motion. It uses it’s rhythmic compression of the body to release the energy flow in the energy. FF
Thai massage is known for it’s amazing effects on back pain.If you would like to check some massage chairs that can do the same for you, you can check this article. And it can also help with stress and reducing anxiety.
