Reef Beauty KNOWLEDGE BASE

ABOUT MASSAGE

©2001-2008 Andrew Thompson

No other healing technique has survived the test of time like massage.

Long before anyone mixed herbs to form the first therapeutic elixir, someone else had eased another's aches and injuries with a soothing hand.

Before the rise of the Roman Empire, massage was already well established. It was used at the first Olympic Games of Ancient Greece, and before that in Babylonia, Egypt, Assyria and China. During the ensuing millennia, and more particularly during the last hundred years, new forms of massage have been developed. 

However, the basic philosophy of massage remains the same, that is, the application of measured hand and body movements to ease physical, mental and spiritual pain.

Generally speaking, modern massage can be grouped into two categories; Relaxation and Remedial. Relaxation Massage aims at easing the recipient's mental and spiritual fatigue.

Techniques are usually applied using light to medium pressure and might include such modalities as Swedish Massage, Aromatherapy, Russian Massage, Reiki, Hawaiian Massage, and Qi (Ch'i) Massage.

Remedial techniques are far more specialised and thus harder to define. They aim at easing or repairing a physical problem in the client's body, such as muscular tightness, back pain, poor lymphatic flow, or restricted range of motion.

Techniques will vary greatly depending on the nature of the problem, and could include Sports Massage, Lymphatic Drainage, Cross Fibre Mobilisation, Remedial Therapy, Acupressure, Deep Tissue Massage, and Structural Aligning.

DISCLAIMER: Reef Beauty has made every effort to ensure this information is accurate. However, we accept no responsibility for any errors, omissions or inaccuracies in respect of the information contained in the material provided by Reef Beauty, nor is the provision of the material by Reef Beauty to be construed as any representation that there are no other materials or information available in relation to the information provided. Further, Reef Beauty accepts no responsibility to persons who may rely upon this information for whatever purpose.

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