Massage is one of the oldest healing professionals in the world. It dates back over 4000 years and was considered to be the most important healing art practiced by the physicians of that time. Hippocrates, known as the "father of medicine," referenced massage when he wrote, in the 4th century B.C.: "The physician must be acquainted with many things, and assuredly with rubbing."
"Rubbing" or massage, combined with a holistic lifestyle is one of the most natural healing gifts we can give to ourselves on a regular basis to assist us in obtaining vibrant health and well being. It's not a substitute for medical care by a physician should you have an injury or disease, but rather a means to complement your medical care. And, of course, to be healthy and not need a physician in the first place.
There are many types of massage and they are all good and have benefits. Ask ten massage therapists for the definition and difference between the terms "therapeutic massage," "Swedish massage" and "holistic massage," and you will likely get ten different answers! "Therapeutic massage" as I perform it means that I will gear the massage to what the client wants, not some standard set of massage strokes that I use on everyone who comes to me.
That being said, there are different types, or modalities, of massage that I employ. Generally, I use long flowing strokes to warm up the muscle. This long, flowing stroke technique is a style of massage I learned during a week long workshop at Esalen Institute in Big Sur, California. There is much to be said of the curative powers of relaxation and de-stressing, especially when the relaxation session is a regular habit.
The deep bodywork techniques I use are from a week long workshop taught by Perry and Johanna Holloman on deep tissue techniques for the back, shoulder and hips. This is a technique utilizing great sensitivity and a slow "unwinding" of the body's deeper soft tissue layers.
Trigger point therapy of the neck and shoulders is another weekend class I attended in Chicago, Illinois at the Myo Pain Relief Center. The program is based on the techniques developed by Dr. David Simons and Dr. Janet Travell to alleviate painful or tight spots and bands in muscles.
It's important to communicate what you want to receive from your massage session each and every time you have a session. Keep in mind, however, that a single massage session will not cure years of stress, muscle tension, or pain. If it were that easy, there wouldn't be so many people in pain. Regular massage treatment is the key, along with self-care and possible modifications to your lifestyle.
