Why Massage

If you have never had a massage and are wondering if it may be right for you, then the short answer is “yes”- give it a try. The long answer continues below.

The health benefits of massage have been known in some cultures for ages. Western science has just exploded in the last few years with studies showing the many benefits of massage. The nice thing about massage is that there is a style for everyone. Every therapist has a personalized approach to body work and what this means is that there is someone out there for everyone. Of course, the flip side of this is that you may not like every therapist that you try. One way to circumvent this problem is communication. Communication is vital in massage. It is your body and no one feels things quite like you do. You are paying for the session so you want to make sure it is happening the way you want it too. At any time during a massage you are welcome to speak up and let the therapist know if you need changes made.

When you see the term ‘therapeutic’ massage, this just means that the therapist is stressing the point that it is not a sexual massage, but one designed to offer you the many physical benefits of bodywork.

Massage Therapy has been shown to offer benefits to just-born infants all the way to hospice patients. These benefits include improved circulation, lowering blood pressure, relaxing muscles, aiding in digestion, and by stimulating the lymph system, speeding up the elimination of waste products. Another important benefit is the calming power of touch. Healthy touch has been shown to be vital in the physical and emotional development of infants and children. As we age, touch can be just as powerful and important to our well-being.

If you have any doubts about whether massage would be good for you, talk to your physician, or several of your physicians to get their opinion.

In a typical massage session, after arriving, your therapist will run through a series of questions to access what your health history is like and what your needs are for the session. An hour is a very common time period for massage, but many people who are familiar with the benefits will get a longer session, perhaps an hour and half. A longer session is also better if there are many areas you need addressed or if you are looking to get deeper work done. You will then be given your privacy to get undressed and onto the massage table. Your therapist should have private areas of your body draped at all times; undraping only the area they are working on. I find it is best if the client gets completely undressed, underwear included, but this decision is left up to the client. The client may wear whatever amount of clothing they need to in order to feel comfortable. I can adapt my massage style to their needs.

I try not to talk too much after the initial set-up, but instead allow the clients mind to relax, focusing on what their body is feeling and letting them drift away into deeper relaxation.

Some contraindications to massage would be if the person is experiencing a fever, diarrhea, or vomiting. If an area is swollen or in acute pain, the therapist might choose not to work on this area or might apply very light pressure intended to aid in reducing the swelling.

After your massage session is over try not to plan anything strenuous. You want to give yourself the space to allow your body to stay relaxed and enjoy the maximum benefits. Let your massage remind you throughout the day to ….breathe….