Massage Therapy

Massage therapy is a medium to deep therapeutic treatment using lotion on bare skin. Your massage therapist uses gliding, kneading, Myofascial release, movement and holding techniques to reduce your tension. Massage has been proven to relieve certain common physical symptoms, and help bring the body back to optimal functioning. After a session, most people feel more relaxed with reduced tension, yet often more energized and alert.

The first appointment generally begins with information gathering, such as filling out a short health history form and discussing your reason for the session with your massage therapist. While she leaves the room to wash her hands, you undress to your comfort and lie on the massage table under a sheet and blanket for warmth and privacy. During the session you are properly draped with only the area the therapist is working on exposed.

To receive the most benefit from your massage, give your massage therapist accurate health information and report discomfort of any kind –whether it is from the massage itself or due to the room temperature or any other distractions.

Check out the Touch Research Institute in Miami, Florida for more information.

History of Massage
Massage therapy is one of the oldest health care practices known to history. References to massage are found in Chinese medical texts more than 4,000 years old. Massage has been advocated in Western health care practices at least since the time of Hippocrates, the “Father of Medicine.” The roots of modern, scientific massage therapy go back to Per Henrik Ling (1776–1839), a Swede, who developed an integrated system consisting of massage and active and passive exercises commonly referred to as Swedish massage. Modern, scientific massage therapy was introduced in the United States in the 1850s by two New York physicians, brothers George and Charles Taylor, who had studied in Sweden. Today, massage is one of the most popular healing modalities and is used as medical, complementary, and wellness care.