MASSAGE THERAPY
“The sense of touch is the massage therapist’s main avenue used to affect another being and is the body’s main method of gathering information about itself. In contrast, an artist uses the sense of vision, and a musician uses the sense of hearing to communicate with others. Touching can affect us physiologically, cognitively, psychologically and emotionally. “
– Susan Salvo –
A great of ancient medicine, Hippocrates of Cos lived in Greece about four centuries before the birth of Jesus, and is referred to as the founder of modern health care. Doctors now take the Hippocratic Oath to “do no harm” in recognition of his teachings and influence. In addition to coming up with his own methodology and practices, Hippocrates is known for having synthesized all of the medical knowledge available in his day into a single Corpus (or body of work) for which physicians could refer.
Hippocrates strongly supported the belief that “the physician must be experienced in many things, but assuredly in rubbing,” as he wrote. Skill in massage, he believed, came not from book learning but through extensive practice. Hippocrates believed that massage had two primary uses: strengthening or relaxing muscles. Each goal had its own set of prescribed methods. Exercise was seen as having the same goals, so massage and exercise were intricately linked in Ancient Greece.
In the time of Hippocrates, mystics and other quack physicians believed that a massage practitioner should start at the center of the body and push negative energy away. Hippocrates reversed this, telling practitioners instead to move towards the heart, in order to help the circulatory system in doing its job. By doing so, Hippocrates took massage away from being seen as a superstitious or “magical” practice and gave it a grounding in science.
Hippocrates had four major teachings about massage: That energetic massage and friction would cause firming (as well as warm up cold muscles), gentle massage would release and relax the muscles (creating a cooling effect), frequent massage would “lighten” or thin down the body, and that a moderate amount of massage would increase the bulk of the body. Thus, the style and frequency of massage could be customized for each recipient based on their own needs and preferences.
AROMATHERAPY MASSAGE
Aromatherapy is the use of essential oils to promote healing and feeling of well-being and relaxation in the recipient. The essential oils are extracted from the parts of herbs and plants and contain all the properties of the plants themselves. There are several ways of applying the oils, including adding the oils to your bath or inhaling them through the nose is thought to promote beneficial changes in the mind and body by affecting the limbic system (region of the brain known to influence the nervous system) but the most popular and effective is through massage.
Aromatherapy massage is a therapy enhanced with highly contracted plant oils = essential oils added to the massage oil and have been used for thousands of years to benefit physical, mental and emotional health.
During aromatherapy massage, the skin is warmed and the blood drawn to the surface, increasing circulation and encouraging the elimination of toxins from the body, which has the consequence of speeding up recovery time from any illness or injury. The manipulation of the muscles continues the process, whilst at the same time releasing tense knotted muscles by dispersing the build up of lactic acid which often occurs after exercise. As the circulation increases, the oils are absorbed through the skin and carried round the body, allowing their healing effects to permeate to all the major body organs.
In choosing the oils for an aromatherapy massage, the aromatherapist generally creates a synergistic blend of 3-5 oils which are then added to a carrier oil. A synergistic blend means that when a particular set of oils are combined together, they enhance each other’s properties, and make a pleasing scent. This treatment will totally relax you and help drive out tensions. It’s a perfect antidote to the stresses of modern life.
MARMA-ABHYANGA MASSAGE
Abhyanga is the manipulation of superficial skin layers of skin, muscles and connective tissues with a special concentration on vital points called Marma to enhance the function of the body and promote relaxation and well-being.
Benefits of Abhyanga as described in Ayurvedic texts: by practicing it the body becomes capable of tolerating the physical stress. It corrects the flow of electromagnetic energy throughout the body. Abhyanga also excites production of antibodies and thereby increases the disease tolerance capacity. Body can tolerate any type of trauma by performing Abhyanga regularly. The technique relaxes the body and removes tension and thus helps inducing sound sleep. Traditionally, Abhayanga itself it is practiced right from the birth and is advised for all age group.
Marma science is the combination of scientific attitude and religious practices by the meditation of experiential philosophy and is part of the human beings’ long experience in day to day life for the achievement of mortal and immortal gains. Marma means mystic dot, essence, life force energy center. Marmas are the seat of Prana similarly to the 7 chakras. Prana is the electromagnetic power of Nature all around us. Prana is taken all around the body through the meridians. Points where more meridians connect has a lot of Prana flow, therefore those areas are very vital, sensitive points of the body. These points are the Marmas.
Any injury, accident happens on a Marma point, the Prana flow becomes blocked and pain, toxins, sickness appear. Activation of the Marmas helps to remove the toxins and blockages and releases pain and convert into joy and health. Overall this treatment will increase blood circulation and electro excitability of the muscle, remove the effects of muscle fatigue, greatly increase lymph flow and dilute the toxins accumulated in internal organs.
THAI YOGA MASSAGE
This grounding and deeply healing full body clothed massage is performed on the floor as a meditative dance between you and the therapist. The Meridian lines are systematically pressed and stimulated to release energetic blockages and facilitate the correct movement and placement of ‘chi’ in the body. The therapist also applies dynamic movements, slow rhythmic stretches, passive yoga and energy work. Thai yoga massage invites deeper opening in the joints, particularly the hip sockets and the shoulders encouraging flexibility and mobility, a deep sense of well-being and contentment. After a Thai massage the body feels light and energised, the spirit refuelled and the mind at ease.
TUI NA MASSAGE
Tui Na means to “push and grasp”. Done correctly, Tui Na Chinese massage techniques stimulate the flow of the body’s vital energies which the Chinese call Qi.
Chinese Tui Na Massage is a deep tissue treatment on a clothed or covered body excellent for chronic complaints such as whiplash injury, tension, disc problems, rheumatoid arthritis, headaches, migraines, neuralgia, depression, insomnia, chronic strain, frozen shoulder, lumbar pain, and other illnesses of repetitive strain. You will be kneaded into a state of health.
“The real purpose of giving massage is to foster more depth of feeling for one another in order to bring out the love that often lies buried beneath the pain of everyday suffering.”
– Robert Noah Calvert –