about massage

ABOUT MASSAGE

Benefits of Massage

  • Reduces stress, tension, anxiety and fatigue
  • Speeds recovery
  • Improves and maintains your posture
  • Reduces blood pressure and heart rate
  • Increases circulation, oxygen and nutrition to cells
  • Enhances ability to think and concentrate
  • Eases sore muscles and joints
  • Strengthens the immune system
  • Improves energy
  • Heightens mental alertness
  • Increases flexibility
  • Improves muscle tone
  • Relieves headaches
  • Improves posture
massage

WHAT IS MASSAGE THERAPY

Massage involves a manual application of pressure and movement to soft body tissues the skin, muscles, tendon, ligaments, and fascia (membranes surrounding muscles).

Massage is believed to increase blood circulation and flow of lymph (fluid from body tissues that flows into the blood stream). It helps the body to heal itself by promoting the flow of blood and lymph, stimulating nerves, conditioning the skin, and stretching and loosening muscles to keep them elastic.

Massage also has a positive psychological effect. When we are stressed, our breathing becomes more rapid and shallow, our hearts work harder and digestion slows down. Chronic stress can influence a number of illnesses including migraines, depression, and hypertension. Massage therapy can help to relieve tension and counteract the effects of stress on the body.

Muscle Tightness and Muscle Imbalances can benefit from massage as it relieves muscle restrictions, tightness, stiffness and spasm which may limit full movement. It encourages better muscle activity through increased movement of nutrients and removal of waste products. It can improve muscle tone and delays muscle atrophy resulting from inactivity.

What to expect before, during and after Massage

Before
During
After

Before the massage

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Some discussion will take place between client and therapist in order to ascertain what treatment will best suit the client’s needs.

There is some paperwork to complete to highlight any medical history that may influence the method of massage.

The therapist will then explain to the client, what modalities are recommended to achieve the best result for the client.

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During the massage

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The therapist will guide the client to the massage room, explaining the position in which they would like the client to set themselve on the massage table.

The therapist will then leave the room in order for the client to undress and get into position. Generally it is normal for the client to remove their clothing to a stage of briefs only. This will enable the therapist to massage the skin of the client without interruption to the client. (If the client is uncomfortable removing their clothing to this stage of undress, the therapist can of course, work around the client’s wishes.)

The therapist will then reenter the room and begin the massage.

After the massage

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The therapist will advise the client that the massage has finished and to slowly get themselves dressed after the therapist has left the room.

It is recommended to sit up from the massage table very slowly as there may be a feeling of light headedness from being in a state of deep relaxation for the period of the massage. Take time to dress and have a drink of the water provided. The following points will assist in the massage recovery:

 

  • Drink plenty of water in the few hours after a massage to flush the toxins from the body that have been released as part of the massage process.
  • Make sure that before you drive your vehicle after a massage that you have complete control of your  bearings and are not still feeling in a deeply relaxed state.
  • You may feel sore for a few days after a massage. This is normal as the muscles have been worked for you throughout the massage. Light stretching and use, as well as heat packs will assist in reducing this discomfort.
  • To achieve the best results from the massage, avoid heavy weights and strenuous workouts for 24 hours after a massage. Light exercise is okay, but heavy exercise will tighten the relaxed muscles, therefore reducing the benefits from the massage.

Reasons for Massage

Tension Headaches, Back and Neck Pain:

Massage Therapy can assist in the relief of pain in the neck, back and especially headaches. Specific techniques are utilised to isolate the areas causing pain and through the use of a combination of different modalities, the problem areas are treated, resulting in a reduction of pain.

Sports Injuries and Training Performance

Massage helps to maintain your muscles in the best possible state of nutrition, flexibility and vitality, speeding up muscle recovery after activity or injury. Deep massage can separate fascial fibres, and prevent the formation of adhesions. It also helps in the reduction of inflammation and oedema in joints and soft tissue following injury.

Pain Relief and Stress Management

Massage can relieve your sore and tired muscles, reduce your chronic stress and work tension, improve concentration and work performance. It will leave you feeling relaxed and energised.

Massage increases local blood flow without putting additional strain on the heart and decreases the heart and respiration rate. It may also increase lung capacity and pulmonary function where they have been compromised by tight primary and secondary muscles of respiration.