message therapy for good health
 

An Introduction to Massage Therapy


A good definition for Massage Therapy is, the art or practice of applying unstructured or structured motion, pressure, tension, or vibration either manually or with the use of mechanical aids.  This would be applied to the soft tissues of the body, which would include the muscles, tendons, ligaments, connective tissue, joints, lymphatic vessels, reproductive system, and organs of the gastrointestinal system, all with the goal of achieving a beneficial response to the client.

Massage Therapy is usually performed by a professional Massage Therapist, but can often be used as a form of therapy by other Healthcare practitioners including Chiropractors, Physical Therapists, and Osteopaths.

Massage can either be applied to parts of the body, or successively to the whole body. This is done to aid the process of injury healing, manage pain, relieve psychological stress, and improve circulation. When massage is used for its mental, physiological, and mechanical benefits, it may be termed "therapeutic massage" or another term is manipulative therapy.

Massage can also be an important part of lovemaking (see the section about erotic massage).

Massage, when done in a professional setting, will involve the client being treated while  sitting upright in a massage chair, lying on a massage table, or with the client lying on a pad placed on the floor.

Except for modalities such as Tui Na, Thai Massage, Acupressure, Shiatsu, or Barefoot Deep Tissue Massage, the massage client will generally be unclothed or at least partially unclothed. This can also be referred to as disrobed. Their body would then be "draped" with towels or sheets.

Quick Facts About Massage Therapy

A Honey Massage

Yes, honey the thick, sticky honey that you put on your toast. The stickiness, in fact, is crucial to the massage. First the massage therapist will put a dollop of honey on to the area he's going to massage. Then it's time for the laying on of hands and the struggle to get them back off again.

This process of trying to lift up your hands has an effect almost similar to a vacuum treatment it lifts up the skin in a way that you couldn't do without the help of the honey. This is what brings the benefits: proponents of honey massage claim that it improves the circulation of blood directly under the skin, and helps the skin to regulate its temperature.

This practice of covering the parts of the clients body that are not involved in the massage is referred to as draping. This practice varies greatly from one part of the world to another. It is felt that the practice of draping makes a statement about the practitioners professionalism, and also provides a boundary for the massage session.  

Theraputic Massage Terms and Facts.

Massage helps to relax the muscles, even between sessions.

The muscles are warmed up and the increased blood flow helps the body remove lactic acid and other things that make the muscles feel stiff.

This is also why it is very important to start any massage with long, slow stroking motions at pressure so that the blood can begin to flow to the muscles faster.

Draping also helps keep the client warm, as well as aids in the clients relaxation response. Some countries do require that certain areas of the body, such as the genital regions on both genders be draped, and also require that the breast/nipple area on female clients be draped.

The United States is one country which has adopted draping as a standard of the profession. While in some parts of Europe, as well as other parts of the world, you will find draping is not practiced at all.

Massage Therapy for Healthy Lives

07/21/2008
Healing Hands: Equine massage therapist loosens up horses, their riders (Arizona Daily Sun)
The aroma that fills Dee Sunday's workplace is decidedly different than the fragrances typically associated with massage therapy. Instead of sniffing the sweet scents of creams and lotion, Sunday's customers wallow in the pungent smell of hay and manure.

Healing Hands: Equine massage therapist loosens up horses, their riders (Arizona Daily Sun)

07/23/2008
National Health Concept Leader Massage Envy Donates To Massage Therapy Research (PRWeb via Yahoo! News)
Massage Envy Donates $10,000 to the Touch Research Institute

National Health Concept Leader Massage Envy Donates To Massage Therapy Research (PRWeb via Yahoo! News)

07/20/2008
Open & Shut: Business that focuses on massage therapy for women opens in Burlington (Burlington Times-News)
Burlington Women's Massage and Wellness will hold its grand opening on July 30 at 607 Alamance Road. The business, on the second floor of Bodies in Progress, will focus on massage therapy for women, said owner Sarah MacDonald.

Open & Shut: Business that focuses on massage therapy for women opens in Burlington (Burlington Times-News)

07/20/2008
Open & Shut: Business that focuses on massage therapy for women opens in Burlington (Burlington Times-News)
Burlington Women's Massage and Wellness will hold its grand opening on July 30 at 607 Alamance Road. The business, on the second floor of Bodies in Progress, will focus on massage therapy for women, said owner Sarah MacDonald.

Open & Shut: Business that focuses on massage therapy for women opens in Burlington (Burlington Times-News)

07/23/2008
Parlor Tricks? 'Masseuses' Caught in Stings (ABC News)
A pair of busts net dozens of women selling sex under guise of massage therapy.

Parlor Tricks? 'Masseuses' Caught in Stings (ABC News)

07/21/2008
Q & A: For $5 you, too, can get a massage at a Honkers' game (Post-Bulletin)
If you've ever attended a Rochester Honkers baseball game, you've probably said 'Hi' to Sharon Coleman. She's the bubbly professional massage therapist who has set

Q & A: For $5 you, too, can get a massage at a Honkers' game (Post-Bulletin)

07/20/2008
Open & Shut: Business that focuses on massage therapy for women opens in Burlington (Burlington Times-News)
Burlington Women's Massage and Wellness will hold its grand opening on July 30 at 607 Alamance Road. The business, on the second floor of Bodies in Progress, will focus on massage therapy for women, said owner Sarah MacDonald.

Open & Shut: Business that focuses on massage therapy for women opens in Burlington (Burlington Times-News)

07/23/2008
Parlor Tricks? 'Masseuses' Caught in Stings (ABC News)
A pair of busts net dozens of women selling sex under guise of massage therapy.

Parlor Tricks? 'Masseuses' Caught in Stings (ABC News)

 

Better Your Health

An Introduction to Massage Therapy
What Is Anma Massage
The Benefits Of The Breast Massage
What Is A Hot Stone Massage
What Should I Know About Reflexology
What Is Shiatsu Massage
What IsThai Massage
What Are Trigger Points Used For During A Massage
What You Need To Know About Massage
Therapeutic Massage For Athletes
A Basic Overview Of Some Of The Different Massage Techniques
So You Want To Be A Massage Therapist
The Benefits As Well As The Risks Involved With Therapeutic Massage
What Are The Benefits Of Massage Therapy
Have A Massage To Improve Your Mood
Can A Sensual Massage Improve Your Sex Life?
Can You Massage Your Own Ears And Feet
Can Therapeutic Massage Help Your Pet?
How To Chose The Right Massage Chair
FAQs About Massage Therapy
FAQs About Sports Massage Therapy
What Is Deep Tissue Massage Therapy
Is A Deep Tissue Massage In Your Future
Descriptions Of Some Of The More Popular Forms of Massage Therapy
What Are The Different Oils Used In Massage Therapy
Some Of The Different Types Of Massage Therapy
Facts To Understand Before Making Massage Therapy Your Career
Getting The Best Results From Your Massage Therapy
Your First Visit To A Massage Therapist
Having A Massage for Relaxation
Therapeutic Massage What Are The Health Benefits
Less Popular Types Of Massage Therapy
Treat Lower Back Pain With Massage Therapy
Relief From Chronic Pain With Massage Therapy
The Use Of Massage Chairs In Therapeutic Massage
Massage Therapy For Both Your Body and Mind
Massage Information For The Newbie To Massage Therapy
Different Massage Styles Used By Therapists
Basic Terminology Of Massage Therapy
Basic Terminology Of Massage Therapy Pt 2
The Facts About Massage Therapy
An Overview Of Massage Therapy
Massage Therapy During Pregnancy
Special Massages Offered By Institutions Or Health Spa
Self Massage for Treating Womens Health Problems
Massage Therapy Information And Tips
The Health Benefits Of Giving Infants Massage Therapy
The Benefit Parents Get From Infant Massage
Shiatsu Massage For Pregnant Women
What Is Swedish Massage Therapy
What Are The 4 Rs Concerning Therapeutic Massage
Pregnancy And The Benefits Of Therapeutic Massage
What Is The Bowen Technique Of Massage Therapy
The Different Types of Therapeutic Massage
Massage And The Healing Properties It Provides
Give Your Baby a Massage
10 Reasons For Giving Your Baby a Massage
Pain Relief With Massage Therapy
The More Popular Types Of Massage Therapy
Dogs Can Get Their Own Therapeutic Pet Massage
Bodybuilding And The Benefits Of Therapeutic Massage
Why A Therapeutic Massage
Tips For Giving Your Infant A Massage
How To Find A Great Massage Therapist
Therapeutic Massage For Treating Fibromyalgia And Minor Pain
What Are Some Different Types of Massage Therapy
Explaining The Different Types Of Massage Therapy
Some of the Benefits of Massage Therapy
What to Look For When You Get Your First Massage
When Should You Consider a Therapeutic Massage
My Massage is Done What Comes Next
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