Centuries ago many people were lead to believe that getting a massage was only for the wealthy and famous when in reality, getting a massage of the entire body is beneficial for overall health. Everyone deserves to get a massage and with research backing this statement, now more and more health insurance companies are covering the bill.
Massage helps the entire body heal itself from injuries and allow all the bodies fluids to flow smoothly and correctly.
Was there ever a time you felt knots in your back, as if you couldn’t break them? A massage therapist job is to feel around the back and the entire body and work out any blockages they come across. For example, do you find that your neck is always cracking or making a crunching sound? Every movement of your shoulders are not smooth but almost feel as if they are not fully functioning? Most likely there are many little knots floating all around within the tiny spaces between the vertebrae and bones. Cracking your own neck can be quite dangerous but allowing a massage therapist to work on each part of your body individually is much safer. They are professionally trained in body movement and how relieving some knots will affect the overall health of the entire body.
Any time your body is worked on by a massage therapist, what they are doing is lessening the amount of built up fluid which collects in open pockets in the skeletal frame. Picture it like when a shower drain gets backed up due too much hair blocking the openings in the pipes; the same occurs throughout the body. When fluid is constantly moving throughout the body and in certain places, many times very painful places, the fluid cannot get through and it causes knots in your back or hip.
Different techniques are used to relieve and lessen the fluid back up. There is Swedish massage, Myofacial Release massage, Prenatal massage, or Reflexive massage; all help push the extra fluid or toxins out of our bodies. Anytime a person goes for a massage treatment, they must drink water afterwards to help rid the body of the toxins that were just released by the therapist.
Below are some short explanations of the different styles of massage therapy.
1) Swedish: Long strokes are used, kneading, and friction. Mostly done for a full body session.
2) Myofacial Release: A slow, relaxing, comfortable method where the massage therapist can dig deep to relief any muscle spasms.
3) Prenatal: This is for expectant mothers after their first trimester. The massage is performed while laying down sideways.
4) Reflexive: This form works on the nervous system to help stimulate certain chemicals to be regulated within the body.
Besides relaxing, massage has many beneficial factors when it comes to fitness and taking care of our overall health. For many serious illnesses like Fibromyalgia and Diabetes, massage therapy has been recommended to give some relief to the painful muscles and joints.
If you have been feeling like a massage may be able to help with the painful joint pain or soreness of the muscles, give one a try. Consulting a physical trainer or asking for a recommendation from others is the best way to find a massage therapist who understands how the body works.