Health Benefits of Massage Therapy

Massage therapy is no doubt an effective natural therapy that has tremendous healing properties. To get maximum benefit from this therapy you should know the principles of massage therapy and do's and don't while doing massage. Touch is both healing and comforting and what's more you can enjoy the pleasure of it - both giving and receiving. Massage improves blood circulation; calms the nervous system; stimulates skin function; improves muscle tone and eases aches and pains in muscles and joints.

The basic principles of massage

Massage is a way of stroking the body, with variations in the length and depth of strokes. However, you should always direct firm strokes towards the heart, as this will be beneficial to the circulation.

Long flowing massage strokes with little pressure on the body are the most soothing and relaxing. This type of movement is called gentle, even pressure and is often used to start and finish a massage.

Patting or tapping the skin with your fingers quickly and slowly is stimulating and helps to increase blood flow. This is called tapotement. It is usually done on small areas such as the forehead, cheeks and neck.

Petrissage involves squeezing and releasing a muscle or part of a muscle group. A good example of this kind of movement is kneading dough. It is mostly done with both hands, particularly on the thighs and buttocks. Petrissage helps strengthen muscle fiber, remove waste products and ease fatigue.

There's another type of massage movement called friction which creates just that. It involves rubbing the hands backwards and forwards across an area and is very warming and stimulating to the tissues.

Do's and don'ts

Massage is a gentle healing art suitable for everyone from babies to the very elderly. Note the below points while doing massage -

Do not massage

• Any infected area
• A person who is feverish or has a raised temperature
• Over an area where varicose veins are present
• Over any unusual swelling or inflammation
• Bruised or broken skin

Before massaging do