What Is Massage Therapy

Polarity massage therapy is a form of therapeutic massage that deals with various conditions without manipulating the correction of various dysfunctions in the muscle tissues of the patient. The therapy focuses on balancing the energy within the body which is a principle somehow typical among the Oriental massage therapy types.

The therapy was developed by Dr. Randolph Stone who was a doctor and a writer of health books at the same time. He was famous for writing books regarding the combination of various principles including Naturopathy, Ayurveda, CranioSacral Therapy, Osteopathy, Hermetic Philosophy, and Quantum Physics. These were combined to form a holistic therapy that uses techniques to neutralize the energies within the patient’s body. The therapy became popular in the 1970s when alternative medical care and medicines were becoming the trends when it came to health issues.

Although polarity massages aim in improving the human energies inside the body, the electromagnetic fields, and the balancing of the energies within the body, the principles believed in this type of therapy are more complex than its Asian counterparts. The therapy believes in the presence of negative, positive and neutral energies inside the body of the patient. The massage therapist’s goal is to convert the energies into its neutral state to help the body help itself. The therapist conducts the therapy with bodywork, exercise, diet and self-awareness techniques. Without these, the treatment would not produce sufficient and satisfying results. That is why polarity massage therapists emphasize the importance of all these regimens prior to the therapy session.

During the therapy session, the patient can expect the redirecting of negative and positive energies to become neutral within the body. The therapist will place each hand on the negative and positive areas of the body and redirect them. A dietary plan will also be handed to the client who should be strictly followed for best result and for the success of the therapy. Polarity yoga is also performed during the therapy session which is also based on the principle of realigning or balancing of the energies but in form of yoga therapy. It also acts as a meditation method for calming the mind and body. The last stage of the therapy is the self-awareness where the patient is taught to speed up and help the healing process, relaxation and again, the balancing of the energies. The patient is fully clothed during the whole duration of the therapy which lasts 60 to 90 minutes per session.

The therapy is has many benefits and good effects that a client can expect to receive from after a session. Among the many benefits are the improvement of circulation, relief from chronic fatigue syndrome, treatment of asthma, allergies, sciatica, injury, arthritis, and many more.

Aside from all these benefits, polarity massage therapy can be used on pregnant women and is proven to be safe and effective in dealing with problems related to pregnancy. For expectant mothers, light touch is used to improve the condition and to soothe the body from stress, fatigue and tension. It also improves the condition of the baby by relaxing and calming it.

Nowadays the popularity of receiving massage treatments has been growing significantly. A good massage is very essential for those people who routinely stretches their physical limits through movement such as running, cycling, hiking, swimming, dancing, tennis and other racket sports, strength training and aerobics, or who uses their bodies strenuously.

However, many individuals do not feel comfortable in going to a fitness parlor or do not want to take off clothes in front of a stranger. So the technology now offers other possibilities such as massage chair.

A massage chair is a chair specifically designed to apply pressure and relaxation to the muscles. A typical massage chair has many massage therapies ranging from deep tissue, Swedish, shiatsu, reflexology, and even acupressure. It contains internal electronic motors and gears designed to massage the person sitting in them. They also have some form of controller to vary the type, location, or intensity of massage.

The most common type of such chairs are the Shiatsu and Swedish therapy chairs. Shiatsu chairs use pressing, sweeping, patting, rolling, and rotating movements whereas Swedish chairs use long gliding strokes and kneading motions. Whether you like a full body massage or prefer to target a specific area, these chairs are a practical alternative for receiving frequent fitness therapy.

There are a number of wonderful and positive benefits to receiving chair therapy. Let’s start with the first one.

1. Many people do not feel comfortable in going to a masseuse, for them this chair is a good option. A massage chair provides a convenient method to receive the positive benefits of massage treatment with out the embarrassment. Now you can get massage in the privacy of home, along with convenience and time efficiency.

2. You can now receive massage at your home or office on a regular basis.

3. Nowadays most of the people are living under stress. A good fitness therapy counteracts the effects of stress on the body. It helps in relieving the tension through relaxation. It also provides relief from tension-related or eyestrain headaches.

4. A fitness therapy helps to stretch out the muscles which relieve the aches, pains and soreness. It offers a way to relieve minor aches and pains in the body.

Massage chairs provide you great access to periodic treatments. Perhaps one of the best things in life is getting a full body massage treatment. If you like massage therapy, then you must definitely go for a massage chair as it will certainly provide you unsurpassed convenience.

Bowen massage is probably the safest type of massage therapy that can be used for both the elderly as well as the infants without any fear of injuring the patient. Known as the Bowen technique, this Australian developed massage therapy aims on providing a relaxing and healing effect on the body with the use of gentle yet effective massage strokes and techniques. For this reason, it has gained its popularity as an acceptable type of therapeutic massage that can be enjoyed by elders and infants, both with fragile vessels prone to bone and muscle injuries.

This type of massage therapy was developed by Tom Bowen who had no formal training in any type of bodywork therapy. In fact, he was a school dropout when he was 14 which strip him the privilege of having a formal schooling at any massage school during his time. His talent and ability in treating patients was noticed while he was working as a concrete worker. He practiced on his fellow workers on their spare time and eventually gained knowledge and opened up a clinic of his own. Discouragement didn’t break down Bowen’s will on developing and popularizing his method with the public.

His therapy is made up of four different principles with one goal. Below are the four essential principles Tom Bowen used on his massage therapy:

The bowen move – it is a method of using gentle rolling movement on the area of the body that needs necessary massage treatment. The main goal of this is to target the soft tissue of the patient in order to relieve pain and make it relax and remove its stiffness. The bowen move triggers the self-healing of the body running. This is an additional aid for the massage therapist as he or she treats the patient to improve his or her condition.

The stoppers – they are like the meridian points where the massage therapist examines the patient in order to get an idea on what kind of treatment is needed on the patient. By there, the therapist can assess the physical condition of the patient and apply the necessary treatment for a faster healing process.

The breaks – these are certain periods of time where the massage therapist pauses for a break leaving the body alone for a while. It is believed that when the body is left to rest for a while after series of treatment, it will need time to recover and treat itself. That is why giving it an ample time to coup up is necessary in order to receive the benefits of the massage therapy.

No other treatments – this is in order to follow the treatment properly without any interference by other treatments. Bowen believes that the healing process of the body in time should be given importance and not to be interfered with other types of natural or modern treatments.

Although it is famous for being safe and effective, a discussion with your doctor regarding the pros and cons of this type of massage therapy won’t hurt you, instead it will give you more information regarding the Bowen massage.

For those looking at their options for Massage Therapy Training and considering a career in the massage and wellness industry, here are 8 good reasons to enroll in Massage Therapist Training if you’re still sitting on the fence.

1 – Exceptional Opportunity to “Do Good” The first duty of any health care practitioner whether it be conventional or alternative health care is to “do no harm”. Massage therapy training places you in a career with unlimited opportunity to provide a therapy proven over not decades, not centuries but millennia of time tested application, and provide effective and safe treatment for a huge spectrum of ailments. Most people employed or self employed in the massage industry are by nature caring and nurturing individuals. Few careers will provide the opportunity and scope to care for such a broad range of people and conditions.

2 – Growing Acceptance Insurance industries and medical providers are recommending and covering the cost of massage therapy at an increasing rate. This acceptance of massage as a valid and effective treatment by the insurance and medical providers has the flow on effect of growing acceptance by the public.

3 – Growing Demand Naturally the flow on effect of this is greater demand for massage therapy services and providers. Massage therapist training will avail you to an ever growing crowd of fans of the very service you provide.

4 – Growing Opportunity With growing acceptance and growing demand, is there any wonder that we are seeing an industry in need of more people to undergo massage therapy training and supply the demand. The Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2006-2007 Edition, published by the U.S. Department of Labour Bureau of Labour Statistics, states that employment opportunities for massage therapists are increasing “faster than average.”

5 – Enormous Choice for Training Anyone wishing to enrol in massage therapist training will need to find both a system of massage, and a training facility that is suitable for them, and appropriate for their tastes, their goals and their location.
� There are up to 200 different systems of massage in practice.
� There are thousands of massage training facilities across the country.

6 – Enormous Choice for Work As a trained massage therapist you will have employment opportunities in many arenas. Many however will choose to become self employed or business owners. You can have a home clinic, be a mobile therapist, or work at corporate or sports organisations. Don’t believe for a moment that any of these options don’t have enormous lucrative potential. For the real entrepreneur you can also aspire to set up a multi discipline clinic, aligning yourself with other complimentary practitioners. This is something you may have a goal to achieve down the track. For the right person the rewards would be immense.

7 – Amazing Flexibility This is kind of a summary of everything that a massage therapist career entails. In a world where choices are often in short supply, massage therapy training will place you in an industry of flexibility.
� Flexibility of the style(s) of massage you wish to practice
� The geographical location (city, state, country?) you wish to work at
� Home, clinic, corporate, sports club or mobile
� Hours of your liking, part time – full time
� Employed or self employed
� A business that can grow with you

8 – Solid Industry The last point is simply this; massage isn’t “going anywhere”. There are many industries that will simply not exist in a few years time. This has become a world of dying industries. One technology replaces another and the former dies a slow death or even vanishes overnight. Massage has been practiced and enjoyed for thousands of years and it will continue to be practiced and enjoyed for thousands of years to come. You never need to be concerned if people will still want a massage in 10 or 20 years time.

Vibrational healing massage therapy or VHMT is one of the newer types of massage therapy that has its principles in polarity therapy. The therapy can be done almost anywhere due to its approach and techniques used. It is also quite relaxing and calming to both the body and mind which promotes a feeling of satisfaction and weightlessness after a VHMY therapy session.

The therapy addresses not only the physical conditions of the client but also the mental, emotional, and spiritual problems as well. The technique involves the awareness of the client in speaking, thinking, emotional processing and walking. All of these are essential in allowing a full connection with the body.

The technique was developed by Patricia A. Cramer in 1981 as a form of therapy used on her own health challenges and also to other people who are in need of treatment. Cramer was an active individual who was into martial arts, dancing and other forms of bodyworks prior to being a practitioner of polarity therapy.

Vibrational healing massage therapy practitioners regard the body as a fluid which needs to be handled with free flowing energy similar to the waves of water. The client’s body is not viewed as a solid mass unlike the other types of massage therapies. The therapist focuses on fluid motions to go along with the energies of the body and not against them for a better effect and results on the health. Another concept in VHMT is the Chinese yin and yang where the body is believed to contain two elements that require maintaining balance in order to preserve health and prevent diseases.

In a VHMT session, the massage therapist performs in a gentle manner the various techniques for the manipulation of the client’s body. There are 16 techniques used by the massage therapist during the therapy session. Among these techniques are the torquing, rebounding, stretching, and other techniques to loosen, align, and connect the body in order to get rid of tension within the body.

During the vibrational healing massage therapy, the session includes 3 key parts that are essential in order for the client to acquire the best effects and benefits out of the massage therapy. the three key parts consists of:

� The Fluid Body Model – is important for you to learn the principle that the human body, especially your body is as fluid. This opens up the awareness of the client.

� Dis-ease as a Strategy – it lets you get a grasp on what’s the real deal with your body and its condition.

� The Language of Healing – is regarded as a method of discussing or speaking regarding your body to promote health within the body itself. This part is somehow the most exciting and fun part of the therapy.

Of the many different causes of back pain, one of the most common involves damage to the muscles of the back.

Pain associated with an injured muscle is often short-lived. Muscle sprains from overuse, stress and overextension generally heal within a week. The muscles of the back can, however, experience long-term injury. If a muscle is constantly strained, tense or weak, a serious injury can develop that effects more than the muscle itself.

Fascia is a connective tissue that serves many functions in the body, one of which is to surround and protect muscles. Muscular fascia, or myofascia, becomes inflamed when it is near a damaged area. Inflammation is an attempt by the immune system to flood compromised areas of the body with chemicals that promote healing. Chronic inflammation, however, is harmful.

Inflamed myofascia causes severe muscle tightness and pain. Symptoms of this condition include sciatica, headaches and a limited range of motion due to the muscle restriction.

Massage therapy is often used to relieve muscle-related back pain. This non-invasive treatment alleviates pain caused by short-term muscle damage and long-term myofascial inflammation.

How Massage Therapy Works

Massage can stretch out tensed fascia and press inflammation fluids out of the area. Massages also relaxes tensed muscles. This reduction of tension and inflammation greatly decreases back pain. Massage also releases endorphins that boost mood and modify pain perception.

When massaged, the flow of blood increases and tissues like fascia become more pliable. This helps to restore proper functioning to the area.

Massage therapy was adopted from Chinese tradition. It was founded on the theory that the body contains energy fields that become blocked, and that massage can loosen blockages. Some practitioners still perform massages with the intent of balancing the flow of energy throughout the body.

Finding a Massage Therapist

Your search for the right massage therapist should begin by asking yourself what results you are seeking. Massage can serve many functions, and not all therapists perform every kind. Do you want stress management, energy balance, pain management, realignment therapy or injury treatment? A list of different types of massage can be found at bellevuemassagetherapy.com/massage-types.html.

Another factor to consider is cost. If you’ve obtained a referral from a doctor, chiropractor, physical therapist or osteopath, your insurance may cover the bill.

Masseuses generally earn by the hour. Rates vary widely between different regions, but the University of Minnesota estimates the national average at $60.00 an hour.

If you are seeking occasional relaxation, maintenance or energy balance, one session a month may suit you. For stress management, two sessions a month is recommended. If you are require pain management, one session a week is suggested.

Before, During and After the Massage

Before:

Take a hot shower to loosen the muscles of the back.

It is generally a bad idea to eat just before a session, since lying on a full stomach while pressure is applied to your back can be uncomfortable.

During:

Remember to breathe. When painful areas are pressed upon, the discomfort can lead you to unwittingly hold your breathe. Remind yourself to breathe, since oxygen must be delivered to the massaged area.

Speak up. If something makes you uncomfortable, whether it is the pressure applied or the fact of being touched, communicate this feeling with the massage therapist. The more the therapist knows, the better he or she can help you avoid discomfort.

After:

It is important to stay well hydrated for 24 hours after receiving a massage. Massage releases toxins that must be flushed out of the system before they begin to recirculate.

Take a bath to prolong soothing effects by keeping your muscles loose.

Try it Out

Massage can reduce inflammation and repair muscles. If you’re suffering back pain due to muscle damage or myofascial inflammation, massage therapy may be a vital component of your treatment plan.

While there has been much said about MS and massage there are still a lot of differing opinions as to whether or not it is successful or even safe for the person with this life altering disease. Part of the problem lies in the fact that no two peoples symptoms are alike and you will need to find a therapist who is aware of this and can adapt their massage therapy technique to your particular needs and your symptoms.

There are many different ways that people are affected by MS and massage therapy can be a great way to relieve many of the symptoms as well as provide overall relaxation so that you can continue to get the most out of your day. At times you may find that deep tissue therapy can help to release knotted muscles and relieve the pain that goes with them, while at other times even the lightest touch can invoke a painful reaction.

What are the Benefits of Massage Therapy?

When it comes to MS and massage therapy the benefits are twofold, first when applied properly a good massage can help to alleviate some of the symptoms of MS. Secondly massage therapy can help relieve the everyday stress that daily life can cause allowing you to relax. Just being able to relax can help reduce the frequency and severity of many of the symptoms of MS.

One of the problems that most MS patients have to deal with is stiff joints, muscles and tendons. Massage is designed to help increase the blood flow to the muscles and to help the ligaments; connective tissues and tendons become far more pliable so that when combined with a regimen of stretching and exercises the muscles and joints will stay far more flexible all the time especially between sessions with your massage therapist.

If you suffer from muscles weakness or your muscles have started to atrophy massage therapy can help to restore these muscles by improving the blood flow to them. This will help to carry oxygen and vital nutrients to these muscles and tissues and help them to regain some of their former health and vitality. If spasticity is the issue, massage can be used to relax the muscles and improve circulation which in turn will reduce the stimulation of the muscles and in doing so relieve the spasticity.

Are there Times when Massage is Not Recommended?

There are however times when MS and massage therapy are not necessarily a good idea. Most therapists will agree that if you are at a point of acute exacerbation you should probably avoid therapy. Since your body is fully inflamed at this time massage therapy may in fact make the situation worse instead of better. At this point you need to let the exacerbation run its course and then return for more treatment when you are ready.

What is massage therapy anyway? One thing we can say for sure is that it has become a fast growing profession. A couple of decades ago, you never even heard of massage therapy. But since then interest has grown tremendously. Even insurance companies understand and recognize the benefits of a skilled massage therapist.

The term massage therapy is used when talking about health and healing practices that involve touch and movement. It is a profession in which the therapist applies some manual techniques, and may apply at adjunctive therapies. These techniques when applied have the sole intention of trying to positively affect the health and well-being of the client.

So where did massage therapy come from?

The word massage is most likely to have emerged from the Greek word ‘Massein’, meaning ‘to knead’ or the Arabic word ‘mash’ meaning ‘to press softly’. Massage is really the oldest form of physical medicine known to man. It can be traced all the way back to the early Chinese medical manuscripts around 400BC. Hippocrates was known to advocate massage. And he was born in the fifth century and was also known as “the father of medicine”. It was used and written about in Roman times, with history recording Julius Caesar had received massage to help relieve neuralgia!

Massage therapy dates back thousands of years. Ancient writings of many cultures have referenced the term massage.

They included:

ancient Greek
ancient Rome
China
Japan
Egypt
Indian subcontinent

In the United States massage therapy became popular for a variety of health purposes in about that mid 1800′s. Around the 1930s and 1940s massage therapy fell out of favor. This was because of scientific and technological advances in medical treatments. Massage therapy interest was revived in the 1970s. Athletes were the one who mainly used this form of therapy back then.

There are over 80 types of massage therapy. Most of the time what happens is when people find a method or two that they like, they will usually stick with their practitioner who use this form of therapy. Then there are times when people find a particular massage therapist that makes them feel comfortable and that individual will remain a loyal customer to this particular massage therapist.

The first thing that will happen is the massage therapist will review your symptoms and neeeds. They will then ask you questions about your problem and conditions.

There are a variety of massage techniques that are used to help with the following:

reduce tension and pain
improve blood flow
relax muscles and provide a sense of well-being and relaxation

Massage therapy is really a hands-on manipulation of soft tissues and joints of the body. The soft tissues include:

muscle
skin
tendon
associated fascia
ligaments
joint capsules

Although it largely affects those muscles just under the skin, massage therapies benefits may also reach the deeper layers of muscle and possibly even the organs themselves. Massage also stimulates blood circulation and assists the lymphatic system (which runs parallel to the circulatory system), this helps to eliminate waste thoughtout the body.

The purpose of massage therapy is to prevent, develop, maintain, rehabilitate or augment physical function or relieve pain. It is also a clinically oriented health option with undeniable result in relief from an array of discomforts that include stress, muscular overuse and many other chronic pain syndromes. If employed early enough after accidents involving trauma and injury, massage therapy can greatly reduce the development of painful muscular patterning.

What the massage therapist will do is press, stroke, rub to try and manipulate the muscles and other soft tissue with particular focus on muscles and pressure points. Pressing and kneading different areas of the body to relieve pain, relax, stimulate, and tone the body. This will often happen using various pressure and movement. The therapist use their hands, fingers, forms, elbows, and sometimes feet.

With the goal to relax the soft tissues, help to increase the delivery of blood and oxygen to the massaged areas, reduce tension, relax muscles, decrease pain and provide a sense of well-being and relaxation.

Some of the popular types of massage are:

Swedish
Deep tissue
Trigger point
Reflexology

With the popularity in “massage” today, you should only get your massage from someone who uses the title “massage” (MT). This person has completed a diploma program at a recognized school and has passed an examination. When you are out looking for a qualified therapist look for someone who uses a massage therapist (MT) or registered massage therapist (RMT) as their title.

When is a time when massage therapy is not the right treatment?

If you suffer from certain circulatory ailments (such as phlebitis), infectious diseases, certain forms of cancer, cardiac problems, certain skin conditions, or any inflamed or infected tissues, be sure to consult your physician before initiating any massage program. An experienced massage therapist will also be able to tell you when massage is not indicated.

Recently, the practice of massage therapy has grown remarkably in the United States. It has become more widely accepted as a medical practice by doctors as well as the general public. Massage is defined as: …’the systematic manual or mechanical manipulations of the soft tissues of the body by such movements as rubbing, kneading, pressing, rolling, slapping, and tapping, for therapeutic purposes such as promoting circulation of the blood and lymph, relaxation of muscles, relief from pain, restoration of metabolic balance, and other benefits both physical and mental’ (Beck 3).

The use of massage therapy has many benefits that even medicine or other methods of relief cannot offer. Historical evidence shows that massage was probably one of the earliest remedies for pain relief and for the restoration of the body.

The roots of massage can be traced back to ancient civilizations where many artifacts have been found to support the belief that prehistoric people massaged their muscles and perhaps even used some form of oil.

Early civilizations including ancient Chinese, Japanese, Indian, Hindu, Greek and Roman used some form of massage therapy treatment. With the decline of the Roman Empire, popularity of massage and health care in general also declined.

The Renaissance period brought back the interest in health and science, and massage once again became common practice.

In the following century, medical practitioners incorporated massage therapy into their healing treatments.

Early in the nineteenth century, Per Henrik Ling, a physiologist and fencing master from Sweden developed systems of movements that he found to be beneficial in improving physical conditions. Based on the science of physiology, his movements became known as Medical Gymnastics. Ling established the Royal Swedish Central Institute of Gymnastics in 1813. Ling’s Medical Gymnastics was taught in his new institute and became known as the Swedish Movements. Per Hendik Ling became known as the father of physical therapy.

Mathias Roth, an English physician who studied at Ling’s institute, established his own institute in England. Then Charles Fayette Taylor, a physician from New York, studied under Roth and brought the Swedish Movements to the United States.

In the beginning of the twentieth century, massage therapy once again began to decline. A reason for the decline was that many false practitioners, taking advantage of its popularity, gave poor treatment and hurt the reputation of all practitioners.

The advancement of new medicine also helped in the decline. “Technical and intellectual advances developed new treatment strategies that were based more on pharmacology and surgical procedures. The old ideas of treating disease through diet, exercise, and bathing gave way to the more sophisticated practices of modern medicine.” (Beck 13).

In the 1960′s, the popularity of massage therapy once again revived. The popularity boom was caused by the increased cost of traditional Western medicines and increased awareness of physical and mental fitness.

Massage therapy gained in popularity through the years and its recognition became official in 1992 when the first National Certification for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork exam was given.

Massage therapy offers many benefits to the human body without the use of medicines. “Massage therapy has clearly been shown to me to be very beneficial, particularly in areas where conventional medicine has not been as successful, including chronic arthritis, musculoskeletal syndromes and chronic headache, among others” (Fritz 56).

Massage is a natural and instinctive way of relieving minor aches and pains as well as nervous tension and fatigue. Direct benefits include increased blood circulation, stretching of muscle tissue, and loosening of scar tissue.

This results in the indirect effects of reduced blood pressure and the general relaxation of muscles.

Major advantages of massage therapy include the increased health of the muscular system, the nervous system, and the circulatory system. The stimulation of the muscular system and its circulation, nerve supply and cell activity encourages the nutrition and development of the muscles. “A muscle fatigued by exercise will be more quickly restored by massage than by rest alone because massage helps to remove from the muscle the lactic acid and metabolic wastes that cause it to tighten or become sore” (Thomson 43).

Injured muscle tissue will have a faster healing time and with fewer complications with the application of therapeutic massage because it prevents, or breaks down, the formation of scar tissue.

Massage also eases the pain of an injury to a ligament or tendon by dispersing the inflammation caused by an injury.

Because of the benefits massage therapy offers the muscular system, massage is an effective means of improving muscle tone as well as muscle stamina and strength. “Massage has the ability to prevent or at least delay muscular atrophy that stems from inactivity” (Fritz 102).

Massage will also help relieve, or even prevent, muscle cramps or spasms. The nervous system can be stimulated or soothed depending on the type of massage applied. Massage stimulates the nerve endings in the skin and muscle tissue.

As easily as massage can stimulate a nerve, it can bring about a sedative effect to the nervous system helping to induce deep relaxation and even relieve insomnia. A therapeutic massage affects the quality and quantity of blood flowing through the circulatory system. “Massage dilates the blood vessels, which improves the circulation of blood” (Beck 250).

An increase in blood flow causes an increase in the blood supply and the nutrients that muscles and other vital organs receive. Massage eases the strain on the heart by helping push venous blood and lymph toward the heart. It also improves the blood-making process, resulting in the increase of the production of red and white blood cells.

Through its long history of use, therapeutic massage has become a very popular method of relief that is fairly safe. Today massage is available almost anywhere including spas, health clubs, resorts, clinics, dentist offices and even airports. Massage therapy has proven to be an effective method for treating many conditions for thousands of years and it will continue to be used for thousands of years to come.

Massage therapy is a form of alternate medicine that has been around for thousands of years in the far East. It is a therapy in which the fingers, the thumb, the elbows and even the feet are used to put pressure on designated parts of the body. Massage therapists use long massage therapists use long smooth strokes, circular movements and kneading on the superficial or deep muscles of the body depending on the type of massage that is being applied and also on the ailment that the client is suffering from. They may or may not use a kind of lotion or an oil while massaging.

This form of alternate medicine improve circulation by bringing vital oxygen to the body tissues and nutrients also. Massage therapy relieves muscle pain and tension, increases mobility and flexibility, helps clear waste material such as lactic acid that is the cause of stiffness and pain in the muscles and the joints.

There are many kinds of massage therapy and ten of the most popular ones are listed below.

1. Swedish Massage Therapy: The most popular and common kind of massage in the United States. It is also known as simple massage therapy. The massage is primarily meant for relaxation.

2. Aromatherapy Massage: This is basically a form of therapy wherein one or more plant oils or essential oils that have a pleasant aroma are added to the massage. The type of oil that is used depends on the ailment that the individual is suffering from. This kind of therapy is most suited to relieving emotion related stresses.

3. Hot Stone Massage: Smooth stones that are hot are placed on specific parts of the body to loosen and warm tight muscles and balance what are known as balance centers in the body. Gentle pressure may also be applied where the stones are placed. It is good for relieving muscle tension.

4. Deep Tissue Massage: Here the deeper layers of the muscles and the connective tissues are targeted. Slower strokes and friction methods are applied across the grain of the muscle. This type of massage is used for recovery from injury, postural problems, repetitive strain, painful or tight muscles. Most people feel a kind of soreness after they undergo this form of massage.

5. Shiatsu: This is a form of massage that is predominantly used in Japan and uses finger pressure in a rhythmic sequence on what are known as acupressure points that are on the body. The pressure is applied gently but firmly and the pressure is held for two to eight seconds.

6. Thai Massage: This is somewhat similar to Shiatsu and aligns the energies of the body by the use of gentle pressure on specific points. Compressions and stretches are used in the performance of this massage. This form of massage is more energizing than the others and also improves the range of motion and flexibility.

7. Pregnancy Massage: It is also known as prenatal massage and is now being more and more popular among pregnant women. The massage is customized to the needs of an expectant mother and reduces anxiety, stress and depression, relieves pains and aches and decreases swelling.

8. Reflexology: It is also known as foot massage as the method mainly concentrates on massaging certain specific points on the foot. Each point on the foot corresponds to a certain internal organ and massaging that part of the foot affects the corresponding internal organ. This massage is particularly good for people who spend most of their time standing.

9. Sports Massage: This is a form of massage that has been specifically designed for those people who are involved in strenuous physical activity and those who are involved in sports. The massage is more effective in preventing and treating injury and enhancing athletic performance. It increases flexibility and loosens muscles and can be applied wither before or after a strenuous physical activity.

10. Back Massage: Here the massage is primarily focused on the muscles of the back and the neck to relieve aches and pains of the back and the neck.