Saturday, June 13, 2009

Massage Your Way To Health And Relaxation

By Ned Dagostino

A massage is a well-known therapeutic activity that helps to relieve the body of all forms of stress: physical, mental, and emotional. It is practiced in a ceremonial fashion in some Oriental cultures. It is a prescribed form of therapy in a few alternative medical systems. For those of you who have not experienced the beneficial effects of a full body massage, this article should encourage you to get an appointment for one at the earliest.

When you have a headache you tend to rub your forehead in a massage-like fashion. Why? Because that relieves you of the ache. Spent many hours staring at facts and figures on the monitor? You massage the lower back of your neck to get relief. This is the basic principle of a massage - to create an ebb and flow of pressure in the target area. Qualified professional masseurs know exactly how to and where to massage an area of the body to generate the desired therapeutic effect. They also know the 'why?' of what they do. Let's go see what a professional massage therapist does for you.

You must visit a qualified, trained, professional masseur to get the real benefits of a full body massage. He will take you into a private cabin. There you will have to lie prone on the massage table, with a sheet draped over your body. The massage is given directly to the body areas and so you have to remove your clothes. You can choose to have a general massage or a special deep tissue massage or any other type of massage which is on offer. The choice is yours, and as you gain more experience in getting massaged, you will be better able to make your selection of a specific massage.

The first thing that happens when the massaging starts, is that the blood circulation gets enhanced. 'Enlivened' is the proper word for what happens to the blood circulation. The blood being the life force of the body, its increased circulation means the whole body gets livened up. When we exert ourselves physically, the muscles get tired due to the accumulation of certain catabolic wastes. The enhanced circulation washes away these wastes and voila! the muscles are not tired anymore! The blood contains elements which are vital for health or healing in other words. So damaged muscles, ligaments, and tissues get healed faster due to the enhanced blood circulation. That's why you feel fresh and whole during and after a massage.

Insufficient activity and improper posture cause our blood vessels and nerves to get displaced from their normal positions. Our health suffers when the blood vessels are twisted out of place. When the nerves get cramped it tells on our brain in the form of a pervasive tension or stress. Thus our health and wellness both suffer. In a body massage, the masseur firmly manipulates the body, helping choked blood vessels to open up, which increases the transport of oxygen, nutrients and disease-fighting antibodies throughout the body. Damaged muscles and other tissues get repaired faster. Unhealthy flab is worked away in the massage. The masseur's manipulations help nerves to get uncramped, thus relieving stress and tension. The blood circulation of the skin gets pepped up as well, resulting in a tighter, healthier skin tone. So, a full body massage gives us many benefits in one go.

Most of us see only the physical aspect of a massage. What most people don't know is that a massage improves our mental health as well. The enhanced blood circulation clears out tension-causing artifacts and toxins from the brain. A properly administered massage makes you feel rested, and helps you get a good, satisfying sleep.

Massage therapy is based on the therapeutic effect of touch. Humans and animals both respond positively to being touched. Ever seen how a dog loves to be petted? What about that pat on your shoulder, that affectionate or sympathetic embrace? All these are examples of how we think of touch being a positive action, rather than a negative action. A well-trained masseur will know just how to touch you to make you feel positive and happier. A body massage is a natural mood elevator.

A full body massage is not a fad activity. It is based on sound knowledge and techniques. It is genuinely therapeutic. The only caveat being that the masseur must a properly qualified and licensed professional massage therapist. Getting a massage from a good masseur will help you physically, mentally and emotionally. - 14130

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