Massage

What is Massage Therapy?

Massage therapy is a procedure that uses touch to manipulate the soft body tissues to increase health and well-being. The benefits of massage have been recognized for centuries. The current type of massage therapy came about in the 19th century in Sweden and is known as Swedish Massage.

Massage involves a manual application of pressure and movement to soft body tissues – the skin, muscles, tendon, ligaments, and fascia (membranes surrounding muscles). Massage is believed to increase blood circulation and flow of lymph (fluid from body tissues that flows into the blood stream). It helps the body to “heal itself” by promoting the flow of blood and lymph, stimulating nerves, conditioning the skin, and stretching and loosening muscles to keep them elastic. Massage also has a positive psychological effect. When we are stressed, our breathing becomes more rapid and shallow, our hearts work harder and digestion slows down. Chronic stress can influence a number of illnesses including migraines, depression, and hypertension. Massage therapy is provided in the form of Swedish massage for relaxation and remedial massage and sports massage to relieve areas of muscle tightness and dysfunction.

Massage has been proven to:

• provide relief from sore and tired muscles
• provide relief from back and neck pain
• improve muscle recruitment
• decrease chronic stress
• improve concentration and work performance
• leave you feeling relaxed and revitalised