~The different styles of massage~

I had my first massage the first day of massage school, so I had NO idea what massage was truly about and how many different kinds of massage that were available. Most people don't have an idea about what kind of massage they want or are getting which is not beneficial for the client or the therapist. The client can get upset because they had the wrong expectations and the therapist can give a perfect massage, but if it is not what the client expected, then they can still lose the client. Or the client may enjoy their massage and continue to get the same massage, but there may be another style massage that they might enjoy more. We will start with the very "basic" or foundational massage, Swedish.



*Swedish massage-uses five strokes to massage, effleurage (sliding or gliding), petrissage (kneading), tapotement (rhythmic tapping), friction (cross fiber) and vibration/shaking. Most people think of the light relaxation aspect of it, but in 1812 the "Father of Swedish Massage" Per Henrik Ling actually used a lot of joint movement and stretching. It was introduced to the U.S. in 1858 as "The Swedish Movement Cure."

There are numerous physical benefits associated with the use of Swedish massage:

• loosening tight muscles and stretching connective tissues
• relieving cramps and muscle spasms and decreasing muscle fatigue
• loosening joints and improving range of motion
• increasing muscle strength
• sedating the nervous system
• stimulating blood circulation
• firming up muscle and skin tone
• relieving symptoms of such disorders as asthma, arthritis, carpal tunnel syndrome , chronic and acute pain syndromes, myofacial pain, headache, temporomandibular joint (TMJ) dysfunction, and athletic injuries
• speeding up healing from injury and illness
• improving lymphatic drainage of metabolic wastes

Mental benefits associated with massage therapy include the following:

• Mental relaxation
• Improvement in length and quality of sleep
• Relief of stress, depression, anxiety and irritation
• Increased ability to concentrate
• Improved sense of well-being

Most of my massages start off with Swedish techniques as a way to warm up the tissues and prepare the muscles for deep tissue or just complete relaxation. I think it's very beneficial to add stretching/joint movement to a routine, but I have had feedback in the past that some people just don't enjoy it or maybe that they just didn't expect it.
I had an decent Swedish massage at Ponte Vedre Inn in Jacksonville thanks to my awesome in-laws, but what I think made it so special was all the amenities that they offered. We spent all day enjoy the sauna, hot tub and pool with the massage as just the "cherry on top." I normally receive deep tissue or therapeutic massages, so I kind of felt like it was just missing something. In the therapist defense, she probably had 7 or 8 clients that day and your hands just wear out or you get into a "cookie cutter" routine. So my question to you is have you had a great Swedish massage? what made it great? what do you think of when someone says "Swedish massage"?

What's your favorite part of a massage?

This is the question I posted on my Twitter account tonight and I can't wait to see what the responses will be. My guess is that most people are going to say "the whole part", but there are so many beneficial and wonderful reasons for massage. Here's a cool article I found~

Five Surprising Benefits of Massage

We know a massage feels good, but it can have a host of therapeutic advantages, too.

By Temma Ehrenfeld | Newsweek Web Exclusive

Sep 4, 2008 | Updated: 6:49 p.m. ET Sep 4, 2008

The newest cure-all may be an ancient one: simple touch. The Chinese have been using massage for all kinds of medical conditions for centuries. Now, Western research is confirming that massage isn't just for muscle pain. One of the most surprising findings: massage may help premature babies gain weight. When Tiffany Field, a professor of pediatrics, became a new mother, she massaged her premature infant daughter and was so impressed with the results she later founded the Touch Research Institute (TRI) at the University of Miami School of Medicine. Massage, it turns out, may boost immunity and help people with a range of conditions from premenstrual syndrome to high blood pressure. It also seems to help soothe pain from arthritis, burns and even surgery. Here are five surprising facts about massage from the research findings at TRI and elsewhere that you can put to use:

1. Pick Your Spot: You don't have to massage the part of the body that hurts most. If you're shy about letting a friend touch your aching lower back, for instance, she could help by massaging your shoulders instead. This is because massage creates chemical changes that reduce pain and stress throughout the body. One way it does this is by reducing a brain chemical called substance P that is related to pain. In a TRI study, for example, individuals with a form of muscle pain called fibromyalgia showed less substance P in their saliva (and they reported reduced pain) after a month of twice-weekly massages.

2. De-Stress, Stay Healthy. Massage may boost immunity. Several studies have measured the stress hormone called cortisol in subjects' saliva before and after massage sessions, and found dramatic decreases. Cortisol, which is produced when you are stressed, kills cells important for immunity, so when massage reduces your stress levels and hence the cortisol in your body, it may help you avoid getting a cold or another illness while under stress.

3. Blood Pressure Benefits: Massage reduces hypertension, suggests a good deal of research. This may be because it stimulates pressure receptors that prompt action from the vagus nerve, one of the nerves that emerges from the brain. The vagus nerve regulates blood pressure, as well as other functions. In a 2005 study at the University of South Florida, hypertension patients who received 10 massages of 10 minutes each over three weeks showed significant improvements in blood pressure compared to a control group who simply rested in the same environment without any massage.

4. Technique Tactics: There's little evidence to support one kind of massage over another, says Field, so don't worry about whether your therapist is schooled in Shiatsu, Swedish or some other technique. The key is pressure firm enough to make a temporary indentation in the skin. If you try massage with a partner, use massage oil, which you can find in a health-food store or pharmacist, but test a little on your skin first to make sure you are not allergic.

5. Self Help. You can massage yourself. Although you don't have to massage the part of the body that hurts to relieve pain, targeting that area does tend to help more. One example is massaging the arms. If you're in danger of developing inflamed nerves in your hands or arms from repetitive movements (like typing on a keyboard, or even gripping a steering wheel for hours at a time) try massaging your arms for 15 minutes a day. Stroke from the wrist to the elbow and back down on both sides of the forehand.

****So I haven't been a very good blogger in the past, but massage is one of my true passions! I strive every day to become a better massage therapist, helping my clients become pain free and educating them to better health. So what I hope with this blog is to talk about current massage research, interesting health topics, how to maintain health/wellness while getting feedback from you to enhance my education and learning. Thank you all for reading my blog and make sure you check back often for updates and leave me feedback on any topics that you are interested in!!! God bless~ ****