Massage
is a ‘hands on’ therapy
 Muscles and other soft
tissues of the body are manipulated to improve health and well being.
Varieties of massage range from gentle stroking and kneading of
muscles and other soft tissues to deeper manual techniques.
Massage
has been practiced as a healing technique for thousands of years
in nearly every culture around the world. The use of massage for
healing purposes dates back 4,000 years in Chinese medical literature
and continues to be an important aspect of Traditional Chinese Medicine
today. A contemporary form of massage known as Swedish massage was
introduced to the United Sates in the 1850s. By the end of the 19th
century, a significant number of American doctors were practicing
this manual technique and thus the nation’s first massage
therapy clinics were introduced. In the early part of the 20th century,
technological advances & the widespread use of prescription
drugs began to overshadow massage therapy. For the next several
decades, massage remained dormant and merely a handful of therapists
continued to practice this ‘ancient’ technique. During
the 1970’s there was a rebirth of interest and both the general
public and the medical profession began to take notice of complementary
therapies and body-mind therapies. Massage was brought back into
popularity and today there are more than 130,000 massage Therapists
practicing in the US.
Massage helps relieve muscle tension, reduce stress, and evoke
feelings of calmness. Although massage affects the body as a whole,
it particularly influences the activity of the musculoskeletal,
circulatory, lymphatic, and nervous systems. Massage has become
an important part of general health care for many people living
in today’s stressful world. Numerous studies have concluded
the benefits of touch. From newborns to elderly & every body
in between, massage can help with illness or chronic and acute ailments,
and contribute to a higher sense of well being.
Today, nearly 100 different types of massage & body work techniques
exist. Each technique is uniquely designed to achieve specific goals.
In the US, the most commonly practiced technique is ‘Swedish’.
This is the classic method used to facilitate and induce the relaxation
response, improve circulation, decrease tension, and improve range
of motion.
During the last 16 years of practicing the art of massage, I have
had many influences and exposures of techniques. My cornerstone
of training was completed at the Cayce/ Reilly school of Massotherapy
in Virginia Beach, VA. Here I was taught the very specialized methods
developed by Edgar Cayce and Harold J. Reilly, a well-known physiotherapist.
During the second semester, we had classes in Swedish and Sports
massage as well as reflexology & other integrative therapies.
I went on to take classes in St. John’s Neuromuscular Therapy,
Visceral Manipulation, Cranio-Sacral, Jin Shin Do Acupressure, Shiatsu,
Tui Na, and much more. Later, I completed a 1000 hour program in Rolfing & a 3000 hour/four
year acupuncture program. My sessions are catered to individual needs and draw from many resources.
Benefits of Massage
- Improves circulation
- Reduces Stress
- Promotes Relaxation
- Relieves pain from chronic/acute illness and injury
- Boosts the immune system
- Encourages lymph function
- Reduces swelling from strains/sprains
- Provides relief from muscular pain
- Improves posture
- Increases range of motion/flexibility
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