Body Massage Therapy

What is massage therapy?

Massage is the stroking, kneading, warming, rolling and pressing of skin and muscles.

There are lots of different kinds of massage, each with broadly different origins and aims - some focus on soothing muscle pain; others on increasing energy levels; some aim to improve a specific physical condition; others simply to help you relax.

Massage makes you feel good in lots of ways, and can have a positive effect on your whole body - your bones, your muscles, your heart, your skin, your breathing, digestion, and your mental health.

Massage works in various ways:

• It relaxes and refreshes tired or knotted muscles
• It increases blood circulation
• It stimulates deep circulation, both of blood and lymph which helps your body to heal, and generally work more efficiently
• It encourages your body to produce endorphins - the natural chemicals in your body that make you feel happy

It's instinctive to give someone a hug or a pat on the back to comfort or reassure them; in some ways, massage is a formal version of that instinct.

What are the health benefits of massage?

In its various forms, theraputic massage can help to cure and relieve a wide range of complaints. Research shows that it is particularly good at relieving stress-related problems, from anxiety and panic attacks, through to asthma, constipation and high blood pressure. It is effective at providing pain relief - treating chronic pain, back pain and even arthritis. It is also being used more and more with stroke and cancer patients and with people with dementia.

Massage encourages blood flow, which increases the amount of oxygen and nutrients that reach your organs and tissues. Whilst massage encourages your body to circulate the "good stuff"; it also encourages it to get rid of the "bad stuff" - waste products, toxins, carbon dioxide, and excess water. Stimulating the nervous system and improving the lymphatic system will also boost the immune system. 

It can be used to treat specific physical injuries or difficulties, and to help with rehabilitation after someone has had a sports injury. It can also help prevent further muscle or tissue damage and improve an athlete's range of motion.

One of the greatest effects of most complementary massages is that it can make you feel much better about yourself, more relaxed in your own skin, calm and peaceful.

Before you go

Massages vary, and you'll have to bear different things in mind depending on what kind you're having. However, generally speaking you should wear loose-fitting clothes - you can keep your clothes on for some forms of massage; for others, you will take them off, or just wear a towel.

Different types of massage

There are a huge amount of different massage treatments available:

• Swedish massage
• Thai massage
• Sports/muscular massage
• Hot stone massage
• Indian head massage
• Watsu
• Shiatsu
• Lomi lomi
• Ayurvedic massage
• Lymphatic drainage
• Aromatherapy massage
• Deep tissue massage 
• Reflexology 
• Acupressure 
• Myofascial release therapy and trigger point massage