Therapeutic massage has been proven for literally thousands of years to reduce stress, relax the body, offer relief from physical pain, and allow the body to heal itself. Here is just a few of the benefits that massage may provide for you during and after receiving a massage.

Physical Benefits

Relaxes the whole body,
Loosens tight muscles,
Calms the nervous system,
Relieves tired and aching muscles,
Diminishes tension headaches,
Stimulates circulation,
Strengthens the immune system,
Reduces pain, swelling, and formation of scar tissue following injury,
Increases flexibility and range of motion,
Diminishes chronic pain,
Assists in reducing nerve entrapment through the release of soft tissue or muscular binding,
Enhances skin tone by reducing tension in the skin and adjoining tissues as well as increasing, circulation and detoxification,
Improves muscle tone,
Helps to improve and maintain your posture,

Emotional Benefits

Calms mental activity
Creates a feeling of well-being
Reduces levels of anxiety
Enhances your self image
Supports a sense of being unified and in harmony
Satisfies the need for caring and nurturing touch
Increases awareness of the mind-body connection

Mental Benefits

Increases mental alertness
Reduces mental stress
Improves concentration
Promotes restful sleep
Assists in mental relaxation
Enhances capacity for calm thinking and creativity
Increases your ability to monitor stress signals and respond appropriately

If nothing else, massage just feels good. It feels good to get, and believe or not, it feels good to give it as well. Massage therapists are known to find a sense of calm themselves when giving a massage.

Massage therapy is now being recognized as an effective natural means to alleviate more of the ailments that appear as a result of today’s style of living. Whether undertaken for relaxation or a natural remedy for an ailment, anyone who is discovering how to give a massage to family or friends will no doubt want to create an experience that is closely akin to that which is offered by a professional masseur.

The first part of the therapy is to inquire as to the health of the person in order to be fully aware of any conditions or issues that should prevent then from receiving such therapy. It is important to take this seriously and to be fully aware of the acknowledged list of contraindications that require to be adhered to.

Depending on the actual massage that has been requested, the person should be asked to remove the appropriate amount of clothes and you need to ensure that there is a sufficient number of towels to cover both the person and the massage table or surface. The person who is administering the therapy has an essential role to play in creating the correct ambiance to make the other person feel as comfortable and relaxed as possible, which includes ensuring only the part of the body that is being worked on should be exposed at anytime.

In order to create the correct mood within the room you should ensure that it is adequately heated or ventilated plus how about offering the person the option to have some soothing mood music to listen to? This will assist the person to relax both physically and mentally. A very important matter is the need to understand exactly what the person is seeking from the massage, why they are having it and whether this can be administered in a relaxing or stimulating method. And don’t forget to continue to administer that very style of massage technique throughout the session.

Don’t forget that to provide a great massage the use of oils is essential. They assist in the warming up of the muscles and to improve the movement and uninterrupted flow of your hands whilst administering the therapy. It is important to understand that when using massage oils, the amount used should not be too much plus also the use of fragrance within the oils can be part of the experience and can facilitate the relaxation process for the person.

People will require various types of massage for particular areas of the body such as their back and neck or facial and head areas, or a massage that will provide therapy to their whole body. In order to provide a great experience, it is important to keep yourself fully abreast of the techniques used by the professionals when administering massage so you can provide a massage that will exceed peoples expectations.

Throughout history, humans have employed the art of massage as a means towards greater relaxation and health. The cultures which we regard as the foundations of our civilization including Rome, medieval China and Japan, India, Greece, and even ancient Egypt, all practiced forms of massage. In addition, many cultures which have not traditionally been considered “civilized” have used massage in many different applications.

Today, the benefits of massage and massage therapy are well known, and have in fact been documented in peer reviewed medical research. This means that the best minds in the medical field endorse massage and massage therapy in a number of different situations.

Just what are the situations in which massage therapy may be called for? Let’s take a look at some common occurrences which may lead you to seek massage therapy.

An Injury:

For many, massage therapy is a key component in their road to recovery after sustaining an injury. Whether the injury in question was a pulled muscle or a broken bone, increasing levels of massage as healing takes place can greatly aid the process.

Pain Relief:

Many people suffer from chronic pains, although those pains do not occur due to a past injury. The pains may be in the form of migraine headaches or joint inflammation, incurred through age or environment.

In these cases, the pressure applied through different types of massage can greatly alleviate the amount of suffering a person is feeling. Massage appears to both dull the intensity of pain during treatment and reduce the level of pain when it re-occurs. Sometimes, massage therapy can rid the patient of specific chronic pain altogether.

Stress Relief:

Perhaps the best known massage applications is in the reduction of stress on the individual patient. Massage’s traditional application has been in the form of a relaxant, allowing the pressure of life to drift away amidst pressures placed on the physical form of the patient.

As stress is a factor in the everyday life of every human, stress reduction is the most widespread application of massage therapy. Massage has been proven not only to reduce stress but also to alleviate stress induced symptoms on both the physical and mental levels.

Why Does Massage Therapy Work?

While the benefits of massage have been proven at almost every level that matters to science (the one exception being double blind experiments, as one involving massage is impossible to design), the question of why massage works remains a mystery. Multiple theories exist that suggest why massages are effective in so many circumstances. It may activate an increased blood flow, improve sleep, release endorphins, or any number of other potentially beneficial reactions within the body.

We know that stress and tension are real. As one of the basic components of human nature, stress and tension help us respond to unpredictable situations. We also know this as the flight or flight response. This definitely came in handy in primitive times when man had to fight off giant cats or beasts alike. In modern times we are faced with the same feelings but unfortunately we are experiencing them too much. It has been said that, if you live in a big city, it is like being attacked by several large animals and several small ones all in one day. The stimulus is exactly the same.

Getting a massage is a good way to reduce these types of stresses. But there are different types of massages. How do I know which one is right for me? Let’s look at a few types of massages:

A)    Swedish massage is basically the typical kneading, squeezing and pushing type movements over the muscles.

B)   Light massage is basically a gentle massage. This is a great one for beginners because your body isn’t use to the types of pressures and sensations that a massage can bring

C)   A relaxed massage will typically be the same as a Swedish massage but much lighter. You may even fall asleep with this type of massage.

D)   Esalen massive was created in California. It involves many long and flowing type strokes.

There are many more types of massages, but the Swedish style is most common. There are many reasons to get a massage but releasing stress and tension will definitely help improve your happiness and life quality.

My Style of massage is a mixture of erotic and sensual massage.

Massage is the kneading and stroking of the body’s soft tissues – the skin AND the muscles – with varying degrees of pressure. It has long been incorporated into a number of traditional health systems such as Ayurveda and Chinese Medicine.

Generally, there are 2 types of massage and the benefits of each can be different; gentle and strong.

Gentle massage affects the nervous system through nerve endings in the skin, stimulating the release of endorphins, the body’s natural ‘feel good’ chemicals, to help induce relaxation and a sense of well being, to relieve pain and reduce levels of stress chemicals such as cortisol and noradrenaline. It helps reverse the damaging effects of stress by slowing heart rate, respiration and metabolism and lowering raised blood pressure.

Stronger massage stimulates blood circulation to improve the supply of oxygen and nutrients to body tissues and helps the lymphatic system to flush away waste products. It eases tense knotted muscles and stiff joints, improving mobility and flexibility. Many of today’s health problems can benefit from massage therapy because the manipulation of soft tissues affects so many of our bodily systems.

Prolonged periods of stress can subconsciously affect many systems of the body. Stress has been shown to aggravate, or even cause, such problems as heart disease, gastrointestinal disorders, memory loss and decreased immune function. Massage therapy is one of the best antidotes for stress. Massage boosts the body’s immune system, which can become compromised from extended periods of stress.

Tension can build up in the muscles, causing a decrease in circulation and nutrient delivery to tissues. Manipulation of the soft tissue decreases muscular tension, increases removal of metabolic waste and promotes nutrient delivery to healing tissue. With a therapeutic massage, stress can be significantly reduced. This, in turn, will increase energy, improve your outlook on life, and in the process boost your immune system function.

As you can see, massage is not just a luxury anymore, it’s a better way to healthier living! If nothing else, massage just feels good. It feels good to get, and believe or not, it feels good to give it as well. Massage therapists are known to find a sense of calm themselves when giving a massage.

Massage Therapy is the most used type of complimentary and alternative medicine in hospitals and rehabilitation centers today. Nursing professionals use massage therapy to help with the relief of pain and to assist patients with sleeping. Oils are used in massage therapy to enhance the massage experience with its therapeutic effect.

Massage therapy involves an action of manipulating the body with pressure-structured movements which can be done manually with hands, elbows, fingers, forearm, knees and feet or with mechanically aids, for example hot stones or other various devices. Some of the techniques used are skin rolling, kneading, striking, stretching, compression and shearing. Different areas of the body are targeted in massage therapy, muscles, tendons, ligaments, skin, joints and some organs. Therapy can be done clothed or unclothed, in a chair sitting or on the floor or table lying.

Essential oils and salts are used in massage therapy because they provide therapeutic benefits and help with the removal of dry skin. Each oil provides a different purpose and these are a few of the oils used. Coconut oil are the favorite oil used by therapist because it washes off easily. It helps in boosting your energy and building endurance, it enhances your performance, relieve stress and help with removing of mental fatigue. It is a safe oil to used because it prevents dryness and flaking of skin, delay wrinkles and sagging of skin, helps in treating skin ailments and preventing infections. Jojoba is the most natural oil because it resembles natural skin oil, it is soothing and nourishing and can be used on all skin type. Hazelnut is non-greasy and is used for toning skin.

Grapeseed oil is excellent for moisturizing the skin, it lubricates well, easily absorbed, tighten and tone the skin well. Macadamia oil is the best oil to used on dry skin. Sesame oil is a rich, softening oil that can be used on all skin type. Mustard oil helps to soothes arthritis pain and stiff joints and it lets off a pleasant aroma which some find appealing. Many practitioners of aromatherapy used organically produced essential oils because some states that there are pesticides residues in some essential oils.

Essential oils should not be used in its undiluted form on the skin because it can cause severe irritations or allergic reactions, it should be mixed with a carrier which is usually a vegetable base oil. Some common carrier oils used in massage therapy are Almond oil which helps with softening and lubricating dry skin. Avocado oil can be used on irritated skin, it has a lot of vitamins and can be used as a mild sunscreen. Olive oil contains a lot of protein and vitamins, absorbs rapidly into the skin and used in the treatment of muscular pains. Wheat Germ oil has vitamins, antioxidant properties and helps with diminishing of scars.

Some benefits of using oils in massage therapy are, they have antiseptic properties which provide a curative effect. They provide an uplifting feeling by decreases the feeling of anxiety and depression, increasing awareness and concentration, providing a better focus and calm mind thereby reducing stress and providing relaxation. It relieves muscular pain and provides flexibility in tense muscles. It also improves circulation, promotes deep breathing, improves posture and provides a restful sleep, increasing your general well being.

A back massage is a great way to help reduce stress and muscle tension from a family member, friend or loved one. Not everyone is a trained professional when it comes to this though, so it’s important to keep some techniques in mind when giving a massage. You don’t want to hurt the recipient who you’re supposed to be helping out. Use the following advice sparingly, and make sure to always check with the person who is getting the massage if it’s too much for them.

Most people like to get a back massage so let’s talk about how you do it. Have the recipient lay face down on a bed or table that is comfortable. Put a little bit of massage oil lubricant on their back, and rub down their back with both hands. Use a firm, yet gentle approach, then rub your hands back up towards the neck. Use kneading movements near the top of the shoulders, mid back and buttocks area to loosen tight muscles. You can work out knots or troublesome hard areas of the back, neck or shoulders using your thumbs or fingers. Try circular movements on the back which also can be relaxing.

Make sure to go easy when giving someone a massage as you want to help them relieve stress and muscle tension, rather than hurt them. Most massage experts or professionals will tell you to use your feet positioning for more power while applying your hands to the back for a rubdown. Of course many people like to say they give great massages, and while that may be true, nothing will beat the work done by a true massage professional.

In applying holistic healing to your life, you must take a holistic approach in treatment of problematic imbalances. Holistic products are also using when you want a balanced life. The difference between alternative medicine and holistic medicine is that focusing on your physical health is not the main point.

Essential oils play a large role in holistic living. Here we will discuss the many different aspects of essential oils.

An essential oil classified as a carrier oil is an all natural method of aromatherapy. These oils are organic and can be used topically. How you ration the oil depends on your application method of choice.

Let’s look at synergy oil. This oil has 90% essential oil within it and only 10% of carrier oil. Massage oils contain synergy oils in them. Most of these synergy oils are applied very sparingly. Only the massage oil is applied more heavily.

There are different body cleansers that remove waste from your body by use of negative and positive electrical current. You soak your feet in water with an ionizer for about 30 minutes. The water changes color depending on how many toxins are in your body.

With this process, your body rids itself of wastes accumulated due to high stress levels and poor diets. These ions enter into your body and these acids are then neutralized in the process. This is called reverse osmosis.

Using an aromatherapy facial packed with essential oils, use of herbal cleansers, toners, moisturizers help your skin tremendously. Always use products that are all natural.

Here is a list of essential oils and their many uses in dealing with emotions:

• For anger, use Vetiver, Ylang Ylang, Roman Chamomile, Patchouli, Petit grain, Neroli, Orange, Bergamot, and Jasmine.
• For anxiety use Vetiver, Patchouli, Sandalwood, Rose, Roman Chamomile, Neroli, Frankincense, Mandarin, Lavender, Clary Sage, Geranium, Bergamot, and Cedar wood.
• To boost self confidence use Jasmine, Rosemary, Orange, Grapefruit, Bergamot, Cypress, and Bay.
• To aid in depression use Lemon, Rose, Ylang Ylang, Sandalwood, Mandarin, Orange, Roman Chamomile, Neroli, Geranium, Clary Sage, Bergamot, Frankincense, and Grapefruit.
• To fight fatigue and exhaustion use Vetiver, Jasmine, Sandalwood, Rosemary, Lemon, Peppermint, Patchouli, Helichrysum, Ginger, Grapefruit, Cypress, Frankincense, Basil, Bergamot, Black Pepper, and Clary Sage.
• To conquer fear use Vetiver, Orange, Roman Chamomile, Sandalwood, Neroli, Lemon, Grapefruit, Jasmine, Clary Sage, Frankincense, Lemon, Neroli, Sandalwood, and chamomile.
• To help get over grief use Vetiver, Neroli, Sandalwood, Rose, Helichrysum, Frankincense, and Cypress.
• For happiness and peace use Ylang Ylang, Rose, Sandalwood, Orange, Neroli, Lemon, Grapefruit, Bergamot, Frankincense, and Geranium.
• To help with insecurity try Vetiver, Jasmine, Sandalwood, Frankincense, and Sandalwood.
• To ease irritability use Sandalwood, Roman Chamomile, Neroli, Lavender and Mandarin.
• To ease loneliness use Rose, Helichrysum, Roman Chamomile, Clary Sage, Frankincense, and Bergamot.

There are so many uses for these essential oils. For each specific problem, you are sure to be able to find an oil which will ease the problem. Inhaling these healthful essential oils helps the body feel good all over. These oils should be a way of life, in maintaining your overall health.