All About Massage

Shiatsu, Trigger Point Therapy, Reiki, Sports Massage, Hot Stone Treatment, Swedish Massage, Deep Tissue, Acupuncture, Thai Massage…the list goes on and on. These massage and bodywork therapies are becoming more familiar in our western world of health care and they are becoming more available in our communities. So, let’s take a look at what massage and bodywork can do for you.

Our body is the dynamic make up of physical, emotional, and energetic systems with unlimited capabilities to heal itself. The efficiency and functioning of each system creates our overall health and wellbeing. We affect all of our systems in everything that we do, from what we eat to how we react to life’s everyday situations. Massage therapy is a tool that is used to promote the optimal functioning of our systems in order for the body to be able to heal itself naturally. Because we are each unique and have very different needs, various massage techniques have been discovered to address each of our very specific imbalances.

In the U.S., the most common massage experience involves a quiet room with dimmed lighting, being naked under a sheet while a therapist massages oil into the skin to promote relaxation and decrease muscle tension…..Swedish Massage. It is wonderful for calming, yet there is a whole world of massage treatments that create different experiences and effects. Boosting immunity, improving circulation, lifting energy rather than depleting energy, headache relief, joint stiffness relief, reducing inflammation, lowering stress and blood pressure, calming menstrual discomforts, treating muscle aches, overexertion, repetitive stress, and detoxification are just a few examples with which massage can help us.

Many forms of massage, often called bodywork, are performed fully clothed. This can be more comfortable for some, but also allows for more movement of the body in order to work with flexibility and to create a more invigorating effect. These styles originate in eastern cultures where the body is viewed as an interconnected web of energy systems that can be healed by relieving stagnancies and improving the flow of energy (chi) throughout the body. While these forms manipulate muscle, they also address our internal energy systems, affecting our overall health.

With such a range of possibilities for massage therapy treatments, it can seem overwhelming to know what to seek out to address our specific needs. Here we will describe some of the modalities locally available, and the needs that they address. We hope that it will make it easier to connect with the tools and practitioners necessary in bringing wellness through massage into our lives.

Swedish Massage – Oil used on the skin to create a calming and relaxing experience.

• promotes relaxation; decreases mental tension; increases circulation; eases muscle tension and soreness; can break up muscle adhesions and scar tissue; skin moisturizing.

Deep Tissue – Used to release chronic muscular tension. Greater pressure is applied and on deeper muscles than with Swedish Massage. Generally focuses on a specific problem area. Also uses oil on the skin.

• chronic muscular pain; injury rehabilitation; reduces inflammation-related pain caused by arthritis and tendinitis.

Sports Massage – Applying massage, stretching, and other techniques to ensure the health and well-being of athletes. Can be done clothed or unclothed depending on the problem area, and techniques used

• enhances athletic performance, improves flexibility, pre- and post-exercise treatments, eases muscle strain, injury therapy.

Trigger Point Therapy – Trigger points are small hyper-irritable spots in muscles that may cause localized pain, or referred pain. Specific compression techniques, deep frictioning, and stretching of muscle tissue release trigger points and blood flow increases in the area.

• point-specific muscle aches and pains; tension headaches; repetitive strain injuries; joint immobility; postural distortion; TMJ; sciatica; whiplash.

Lymphatic Drainage – Very slow, light, and repetitive pressure massage intending to affect the flow of the lymphatic system. Some forms of Shiatsu are Lymphatic Drainage Massage.

• improves circulation; helps lymphedema; enhances immune system functioning; assists cleansing and detoxifying.

Hot Stone Massage – Stones of all shapes and sizes, as well as varying temperatures, are used to promote relaxation. Warm stones will encourage the exchange of blood and lymph and soften muscles for deeper pressure work. Specific points may also be warmed to encourage energy flow and healing in the area.

• typically a warm and soothing spa experience

Foot Zone/Reflexology – Based on the energy paths of the body (meridians) which connect every organ and cell head to toe. Pressure is applied on the feet in particular areas that will signal the brain to facilitate healing in the corresponding body part. Reflexology works with points on the feet, hands and ears, while Foot Zone focuses solely on the feet. These are clothes-on forms of bodywork.

• facilitates balancing internal organ systems; great when other forms of massage and bodywork are contraindicated for medical reasons.

Cranialsacral Therapy – Light finger pressure focusing primarily on the head, spine, and sacrum affecting the functioning of the central nervous system which is responsible for mobility, speech, learning patterns, and ways of perceiving the world.

• shifts emotional holding patterns; drains accumulated stresses in the nervous system; relief from headaches and other problems in the head, jaw, neck, pelvis, and diaphragm.

Shiatsu – A Japanese form of bodywork focusing on balancing the energy system of the body. Firm rhythmic pressure is applied to specific points (acupressure), and may also use tapping, kneading and stretching to address particular imbalances. All forms of shiatsu are intending to stimulate and balance energy flow through the meridians.

• relieves headaches, fatigue, insomnia, nervous tension, constipation, and sore and stiff muscles; aids in treating high blood pressure; circulation of blood and lymph are improved (detoxification).

Acupuncture – Fine needles are painlessly inserted at key points corresponding to body organs to relieve pain and cure disease and dysfunction. This method of bodywork intends to balance the energy meridians and allow the body to heal itself naturally. Often, herbs and dietary changes are recommended with this treatment.

• addictions; mental disorders; backache; migraines; any and all physical pains, imbalances, and dysfunctions have been treated with acupuncture for over 4,000 years.

Tui Na – (Chinese Medical Massage) Acupuncture’s massage equivalent. A clothes-on form of massage with techniques ranging from light and soothing to those that are strong and invigorating. Refined over centuries, tui na facilitates healing by regulating the circulation of blood and qi (energy), which controls body function and enhances resistance to disease, leaving you feeling both relaxed and invigorated.

• acute and chronic pain; maintenance of optimal health and the prevention of disease; chronic stress disorders of digestive, respiratory, and reproductive systems

Reiki- An energy-healing art that focuses on healing through balancing the flow of energy throughout the body. Light touch is used to activate healing energy within receptive points to create physical, mental, and spiritual balance. Reiki is a clothes-on technique that does not manipulate muscle tissue or require movement.

• relieves stress; helps overcome obstacles; promotes healing of illness; a tool for spiritual growth; deep relaxation.

Thai Massage – A combination of passive yoga stretches and acupressure to the energy lines to generate a balanced flow throughout the body. Thai massage is practiced on a mat on the floor with the recipient fully clothed. Although stretching and movement are an integral piece of this bodywork, it is still passive and relaxing.

• lower back pain; sciatica and hip joint disorders; neck and shoulder concerns; flexibility issues; joint movement; leg soreness, pain or tension; and all energy imbalances such as fatigue, restlessness, and tension.

Finding the techniques that best suit your needs is an important aspect of using massage as a health care treatment. Do not be afraid to call a practitioner and ask questions regarding symptoms that you may be experiencing. It is equally as important to make a good connection with your therapist. Massage is a personal experience that may affect you deeply. It is far more effective if you can have an interactive relationship to move further in to problem solving and create an experience that addresses your specific needs. A professional will welcome your inquiries and do their best to help you find a good fit for your needs, whether it is for a session with them, or to refer you to another practitioner.

Massage can be used to treat symptoms, but it is a preventative and holistic approach to wellness, as well. We are all striving to find balance, health, and happiness in this life and there are a myriad of paths that will take us there. Massage can be an extremely effective tool in helping you on your way. The possibilities are limitless, and we are absolutely capable of living well.

Wishing you health, happiness, and peace in all of your days.