Massage

For some people, a massage is an incredible luxury, while for other people, it is simply a weekly or biweekly part of their own health care regimen, and for most of us, the answer lies somewhere in between.

The truth is, massage is one of the best ways to take care of yourself in a way that relates to both your body and your spirit.

After a session, you can feel very refreshed, alert and ready to tackle whatever comes next, something that is a definite bonus that comes along with the sense of physical well-being.

All massages involve the application of pressure to the muscle tissue of your body, whether it uses a mechanical instrument or more traditionally, the hands, the knuckles or the palms.

When the various body parts are treated with pressure, they will feel warmer, as the blood circulation will increase, and because of this, they will often relax from cramped or tense positions.

Benefits

You'll find that this treatment addresses muscles, skin, joints, ligaments and even the organs of your body if the massage was deep enough, it is easy to see how massage can have such a wonderfully holistic effect.

One of the main things that make massage so attractive is the mild and natural release of endorphins, something that is quite relaxing and pleasurable.

If you get a massage regularly it will improve your body’s ability to heal its self; it will stimulate the circulation of your lymphatic system, which is the one that gets rid of toxins from your body. It will improve your overall metabolism thus improving digestion and assimilation of nutrients; it also stimulates and improves blood circulation. Regular massages will also prevent muscle spasms and cramps.

You'll find that any basic spa will often have a massage therapist on duty, though whether you make appointments through the spa or through the therapists themselves will depend on the location.

They vary when it comes to popularity and availability, but you'll soon find that with a little bit of time and some research, you'll find the one that best meets your needs.

The Most Common Types of Massage

With that information in mind, it is important to think about the fact that there are over 80 forms of massage recognized in the world, and while some are very popular and taught in massage therapy schools, others are a great deal more mystical and obscure and are only taught in handful of locations by just a very few people.

Aromatherapy Massage

Deep Tissue Massage

Lymphatic Drainage Massage

Contraindications

Massage is contraindicated or simply not recommended for certain people with an infectious skin disease, rash, or open wounds.

Right after surgery or right after chemotherapy or radiation, unless recommended by your doctor

People prone to blood clots: There is a risk of blood clots being dislodged.

If you have heart disease, check with your doctor before having a massage.

For pregnant women: Most spas won't massage a pregnant woman during her first trimester. Massage in pregnant women should be done by massage therapists who are certified in pregnancy massage. It is also recommended to check with their doctor first if they are considering getting a massage.

This massage should not be done directly over bruises, inflamed skin, unhealed wounds, tumors, abdominal hernia, or areas of recent fractures.

Advise your therapist about this conditions.

It is best if you refrain from eating immediately before a treatment.