Massage – the most effective relaxation

Mar 04, 2010
By Irina Panrelejeva, Darja Kuznecova

RIGA

Massage kinds
There are various massage methods used around the world. Some of them can have several names. For example, classic or Swedish massage; Russian speaking people call it classic, but Europeans – Swedish massage.
Almost every kind of massage is therapeutic and has a prophylactic treatment effect. However, the difference between hygienic and prophylactic massage is only in theory. Any kind of massage, acting simultaneously on the physical and emotional levels, restores strength and energy.

How does this work?
Skin is the most extensive organ for sense. When we touch the skin, our nerve endings send information to the brain. The brain processes this received information and transfers signals to muscles. Gentle touches can provoke the emission of endorphins, and the brain transfers an ‘order’ to the body to calm down and relax. Sometimes a quick fix is necessary. Excellent results can be achieved with gentle pressure, stretching, pulling and massage. Massage is one of the oldest, simplest forms of therapy.

The basic goal of massage therapy is to help the body to increase immunity and well-being. Massage triggers the body’s relaxation response, interrupting a cycle of stress and muscle tension that one can acquire due to life’s challenges. Feeling relaxed and rejuvenated after a massage, you are less likely to slip into patterns of tension that can contribute to soft tissue problems and subluxations. Massage can decrease pain, prevent muscle deterioration, promote joint health, increase strength, stability and range of motion, and protect against new or recurring injuries.

Following an injury, stretching massage is an important way to prevent the formation of scar tissue. Even after it has healed, keeping to the stretching program on a regular basis helps tissues to remain flexible, increases mobility and protects you from new injuries. Massage directly influences the lymphatic system and helps to reduce lactic acid and other chemical wastes from the body.

Kinds of massage
Massage can be divided into different forms: general, part massage, self-massage, mutual, four-hand massage, foot massage and sauna massage.
Massage can have certain purposes: wellness (hygienic), relaxing, restoring, breath- normalizing and lymphatic drainage massage and percussion massage.
Massage also can be divided into categories: child, sports, gynecologic, urologic, and tissue restoring massage. 
There are also national forms of massage, for example, Hawaiian massage, Japanese, Turkish, Chinese, classic [Russian] and Thai massage.

Specialists name also aesthetic kinds of massage: anti-cellulite, cosmetic and silhouette- massage.
There is also massage with additional instruments: vacuum massage, massage with jars and brushes, vibration massage and volcanic stone massage, hydro massage, massage with warm spoons and many more.  

Who needs a massage?
Nowadays, almost everybody has a stressful life, with different, difficult situations.  Massage can help to reduce stress and depression, can improve proper body functioning. It can also help to reduce headaches, to improve blood circulation and process proper brain work. Painful sprains and strains, as well as myofascial adhesions, can be addressed directly with different massage techniques that improve circulation and stimulate healthy separation and realignment of injured fibers.
Hygienic massage is an active way to prevent different diseases. It protects your body against viruses and improves immunity.
Wellness massage helps you to avoid different injuries and to strengthen your muscles and fibers. It is an effective way to treat various diseases.

Rehabilitation massage helps to accelerate health restoration processes after injuries, and is very effective for functional treatment and restoring proper function of musculoskeletal system.
The masseur will choose the best method for your specific needs and will help you to reduce painful swelling and inflammation.
Segmental massage is one of the ways to affect reflector parts of the skin zones. It came from the East. Specialists there say that every internal organ has a special zone on the skin, that’s why you can reduce pain by massaging certain parts of the body. Good specialists can restore normal functioning of a sick organ. There are several techniques of Eastern massage: segmental, tissue restoring massage, shiatsu, point massage, etc.

Masseurs use various instruments to improve the effect of the massage: massage sticks, balls, needles and elastic massage spring rings. But one of the most popular additional massage instruments remains stones. The stones, which are used during massage procedures, were formed on the slopes of active volcanoes. They contain a large quantity of useful micro and macro cells. The volcanic nature gives them various special features. Volcanic stones contain features of four elements: fire, water, air and earth, which promote a strong healing effect.

Massage contraindications:
Massage, as a treatment procedure, has several contraindications. You should not go to a masseur if you have a fever, infection or a cold. Another contraindication is cancer or lumps; massage can also affect metastases. Massage also is not recommended if you have inflammation of the joints or varicose dilatation of the veins.

Source: material is based on http://ru.wikipedia.org/wiki/ content

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