Massage is one of the oldest healing therapies. Touch, the basis of massage, is the most fundamental of human needs. Massage benefits the whole body & mind, both physiologically, and psychologically, it is both natural and effective.

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Benefits of Massage:

• Relieves stress, anxiety and depression, encouraging calm

• Promotes suppleness of muscles and alleviates pain

• Soothing relaxing and comforting, and promotes a sense of Well Being

• Stimulating, it therefore encourages better function of all the systems of the body, for example, improved circulation, aids digestion, waste and toxin removal and neural communication

• Promotes cell regeneration and skin desquamation

 

From stress and turmoil - comes calm and inner peace

From discomfort and pain - comes comfort and relief

From grief - comes comfort and care

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More Info:

Massage is a form of tissue manipulation. It's origins from ancient China, thousands of years ago, used for the promotion and restoration of health and wellbeing. A technique derived from many cultures.

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The hands of the therapist are used to manipulate the soft tissues of the body, in particular, muscles. It promotes suppleness of the muscles, improves circulation and all of the systems of the body to work more efficiently and reduce stress, encouraging a state of relaxation. 80-90% of all disease is thought to be caused by stress. It can also be use for stimulation or rehabilitation of the whole body. Massage is a safe non-invasive natural therapy.

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Touch is natural and comforting. It gives a sense of security and wellbeing. Massage has psychological and physical benefits. Massage uses touch to soothe and relax the body, alleviating aches and pains, by manipulation of muscles. Stimulating and activating the systems of the body, encouraging improved circulation and elimination including toxins in the body, neural communication, aids digestion, invigorates & relaxes muscles preventing stiffness & spasms. It accelerates skin desquamation and promotes cell regeneration.

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In Latin, massage means 'that which forms a lump' -  the techniques of massage smooth lumps in the body. In Greek 'massein' means to 'to knead', a fundamental massage technique. In French 'masser' means 'to rub', the basis of massage is rubbing the skin and tissues. In Arabic 'mass' means 'to touch or feel', both fundamental to massage.

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There are recordings of the use of massage in China from 3000 BC. They called their technique 'amma'. It was used for relaxation and for the promotion and restoration of health, by specific movements on points of the body. In Japan, they also used the 'amma' technique, they called the points 'tsubo'. Shiatsu (application of pressure to points of the body) is a direct descendant of the ancient Japanese massage therapy.

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From Sanskrit, 'ayur' translates to Life and Veda knowledge; The 'ayurveda' is an ancient medical text on the art of healing and prolonged life, forming the basis of medical knowledge in India today.

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These many cultures, past and present, use a Holistic process to medicine, treating the whole body, mind and spirit. A holistic treatment, considers the whole person, not just the symptoms, to address the root cause of a condition.

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In ancient Greece, massage was a daily ritual. A 5th Century physician, Herodicus, (teacher of Hippocrates, who was known as the father of medicine) believed all doctors needed the knowledge of massage for healing. In ancient Rome, massage was central to the ritual of their Roman baths. Turkish baths, were massage is still very important, are our modern day equivalent.

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Roman Gladiators were given massage pre and post fighting, to treat muscles and joints, to cure disease, improve circulation and strengthen constitution. A Greek physician, Galen, worked for the Roman Emperor, he wrote many medical books about the benefits of massage for health. Julius Caesar also had a daily massage.

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The techniques today were developed by a Swedish physiologist and fencing master named Per Henrik Ling (1776-1839). Some types of massage are referred to as Swedish massage, because of the system of movements he developed. These movements are known as the Ling system, with passive and active techniques.

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In 1884 The Society of Trained Masseuses was founded. This later became the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy. Massage was used extensively for medical purposes by doctors. And in the 2 World Wars was used to treat nerve injury & rehabilitation. Swedish massage remains the basis for most techniques of massage. And is a central part of therapies such as physiotherapy, stress management and aromatherapy. Being an effective and a natural method to treat both physical conditions & phycological problems. It is beneficial to all systems of the body.