What is massage?

Massage is the manipulation of the body’s soft tissues with specific techniques to promote or restore health. Massage therapists use their hands to detect and treat problems in the muscles, ligaments and tendon’s in the body’s soft tissues.

Massaging is an excellent way to restore balance on a physical, mental and spiritual level. Through stroking, pressure and kneading the massage therapist can relax, stimulate or tone the body, affecting not only the skin but also the musculoskeletal system, the circulation and the meridians or energy channels.

Most massage therapists who use holistic treatment believe that regular massage therapy can release emotional tension and promote physical health, gradually restoring the body to balanced natural health

Along with its technical qualities, massages provide the opportunity to simply be touched. The sense of touching and being touched are greatly ignored in modern society and are an essential part of well-being.

By using caring and sensitive hands your masseuse can bring about a sense of wholeness from which your own healing energies can be released.

One of the prime benefits of therapeutic massage techniques are to the muscular system. Muscles may be loosened and relaxed, if they tight and knotty, or conversely muscles may be toned, if they are too loose or lacking in tone. Different massage techniques are used to relax or stimulate the muscles. In the process of restoring balanced tone to the muscles, massage benefits the circulation of the blood and the lymph system.

Some of the most common healing massage techniques are;

relaxation massage,
deep tissue massage,
bowen therapy,
lymphatic drainage or lymphatic massage,
shiatsu or shiatsu massage,
acupressure,
aromatherapy massage,
reflexology or foot massage,
sport massage
baby massage

There are a number of specific massage techniques that are used in holistic health care to address specific health problems.

Some massage techniques work on

pressure or reflex points such as shiatsu or reflexology

while other forms of therapeutic massage work on

relieving specific conditions such as remedial massage, bowen therapy and deep tissue massage which can be used for sports injuries and muscle strains and
lymphatic massage being used to help drain the lymphatic system.

At the same time some forms of massage are used to

promote general wellbeing and a sense of relaxation such as relaxation massage, aromatherapy massage or baby massage.

Your masseur can provide a full body massage or your massage treatment can be limited to a specific part of the body such as;

Head massage,

facial massage

foot massage,

Swedish/Relation Massage:

tones the physical body and provides wonderful relief from stress and anxiety; it leaves you feeling carefree, relaxed and at ease with yourself

Therapeutic Massage:

great for specific problem areas - sore neck, back pain, arthritic complaints, muscle strains, headaches, fluid retention, etc.

Reiki/Spiritual Healing:

works on a deep and subtle level bringing about a harmony between mind, body and spirit. Wonderful for deep seated problems.

Bowen’s Technique:

a form of soft tissue manipulation for correcting acute or chronic muscle strain and structural imbalance. Great for post chiropractic care.

Deep Tissue Massage:

useful for correcting postural imbalances and releasing long term tension and emotional blockages

WHAT IS TACTILE THERAPY USEFUL FOR?

Tactile therapy or Massage, releases chronic tension and muscle pain, increases flexibility in joints, improves circulation, and reduces mental and physical fatigue. In addition massage is one of the most effective means available to combat stress and many other problems such as:

Anxiety

Insomnia

Neck & Back Pain

Post Chiropractic care

Poor muscle tone

Headaches

Arthritis

Fluid retention

Sports injuries

Cellulite

Muscular tension

Poor circulation