A body massage is an ancient form of physical therapy. The massage was an important adjunct to the ceremonial bath in Greek and Roman cultures. It is widely practiced today by people from all walks of life. A massage given by a professional therapist is wonderfully relaxing and refreshing. You’ll feel like a new person after a massage, filled with a new-found energy to get work done. Most of us do know what a massage is, but there are some people who haven’t had a professional massage yet. This article will bring the body massage into closer and clearer focus.
You must have experienced a fair share of massages given to you, and you must have given others a number of massages yourself. Even at that non-professional level you’ll have noticed how the person receiving the massage feels and reacts. They feel all ‘thawed’ out! Relaxed, comfortable, at ease, tension-free, rested, and energized. That’s the basic idea behind the activity known as a massage. The body massage has found a place of importance in a number of alternative therapies which are a continuation of the ancient, classical medical traditions. Let’s see what a massage therapist does.
Let’s get a walkthrough of a professional massage. Once in the salon of a professional massage therapist, you’ll be shown to a private cubicle. There you’ll have to remove your clothes and lie down on a massage table with a sheet draped over you. You may have a general massage done, for relaxation and general body tone. Or, you may require more intense massage therapy, like deep tissue massage, which is, well, intense!
The masseur may use massage oils to perform the massage, but this depends on the variation of the massage you select. As the massage progresses you will find tremendous relief of stresses and tensions and aches and pains that you were not even aware of till they disappear! You’ll be amazed at how you feel – rejuvenated, restored, relaxed, and relieved! Your muscles lose their soreness, that dull ache in your head vanishes, you feel happier and at ease with the world! You begin to smile just like that, it feels so wonderful!
It is not only sportspersons who require massage therapy. We all do! Our life has become so hectic; our lifestyle has become so sedentary or lacking in physical activity that our body suffers for it. We sit in awkward positions, we slouch, we shamble around… all this unconsciously. The result is that our blood vessels get shifted from their normal positions and so also do the nerves. Knotted blood vessels means poor blood circulation, which means poor health. Knotted nerves means your very sensations are disturbed. The brain gets a lot of static from cramped up nerves. Result: tension and stress, which makes you lose concentration, comprehension, and conviction. The body massage, as administered by a qualified professional massage therapist, mind you, works the body in such a way that your blood vessels and nerves regain their normal position. Your blood begins to flow normally and your nerves function normally. The physical pressure of the massage even serves to reduce flab, if any. Your skin benefits as well. The massage itself, and the massage oils, rejuvenate the skin. The subcutaneous blood circulation improves and the muscles that lie just below the dermal layer get exercised. This results in a firmer, tauter, radiant skin tone. So you end up looking better.
Most of us see only the physical aspect of a massage. What most people don’t know is that a massage improves our mental health as well. The enhanced blood circulation clears out tension-causing artifacts and toxins from the brain. A properly administered massage makes you feel rested, and helps you get a good, satisfying sleep.
Massage therapy is based on the therapeutic effect of touch. Humans and animals both respond positively to being touched. Ever seen how a dog loves to be petted? What about that pat on your shoulder, that affectionate or sympathetic embrace? All these are examples of how we think of touch being a positive action, rather than a negative action. A well-trained masseur will know just how to touch you to make you feel positive and happier. A body massage is a natural mood elevator.
Maybe you consider a full body massage a fad, with cosmetic benefits solely. That is not the whole fact. Massage therapy is definitely a therapeutic activity. Allopathy includes it in physiotherapy. Many Oriental medical systems are based solely on massage therapy, as for example, acupressure and acupuncture. So you need have no reservations about its efficacy and scientific validity. Just be sure to go to a licensed professional massage therapist. You’ll feel recharged and healthy, physically, mentally, and psychologically.
Many people are now using electric massage chairs to replace a human massage. While they are not as good, they do make a decent replacement if you don’t have the time to go to a licensed therapist. Visit www.Full-Body-Massage-Therapy.com for more information on this plus other varieties of massage like a hot stone massage.