Find Training in Massage Therapy in the United States and Canada. There are over 80 different massage modalities in practice today. Training in massage therapy, however, is nearly as varied as the broad array of techniques available. Most curricula entail anatomy, physiology, and pathology; with standard hands-on instruction in deep tissue, sports and Swedish massage.

The variation of modalities taught in massage therapy programs depends on the school. For instance, if you are seeking training in massage therapy with an emphasis on Eastern medicine therapies, there are a number of healing arts schools that offer advanced and supplementary training in massage therapy including practical instruction in Thai massage, Oriental massage, Tuina, acupressure/Shiatsu and meridian therapy.

Students seeking more clinical training in massage therapy find that there are several massage programs that provide comprehensive training in hydrotherapy, Trigger point, craniosacral therapy, myofascial release; geriatric, prenatal and infant massage; and lymphatic drainage, among others. Certified massage therapists who have received comprehensive instruction in these therapies are often qualified to work in hospitals, medical clinics, physical therapy clinics, sporting events, health resorts, aboard cruise ships, spas and other healthcare related facilities.

Is there an animal lover in you? Then training in massage therapy with an emphasis on canine and/or equine massage might be right for you. These studies often include anatomy and physiology of the respective animal, and acupressure and sports massage for animals. Graduates of these programs typically receive a certificate of completion and/or diploma, and go onto working in holistic veterinary clinics, vet offices and animal shelters.

There is also training in massage therapy for the terminally ill. Patients with terminal conditions respond well to therapeutic touch therapy, and find it effective in relieving anxiety, musculoskeletal pain, insomnia and other symptoms. Certified massage therapists who have gained training in massage therapy for the terminally ill work in hospitals, nursing homes, and as home healthcare practitioners.

Want to work in a day spa or salon? Getting training in massage therapy for chair, hand and ****** massage; hot and cold stone massage, and Watsu (water therapy) lends advantage for entry-level employment in the spa and beauty industry.

Additional training in massage therapy is designed for particular body regions. Reflexology, for example, is especially for the feet, hands and ears. This study is sometimes included in in-depth massage programs and is complementary to services already offered by a massage therapist or holistic healthcare practitioner.

If you (or someone you know) are interested in finding training in massage therapy, let professional education within fast-growing industries like massage therapy, cosmetology, acupuncture, oriental medicine, Reiki, and others get you started! Explore career school programs near you.

Training in Massage Therapy – Modalities Taught

Copyright 2007

The CollegeBound Network

All Rights Reserved

NOTICE: Article(s) may be republished free of charge to relevant websites, as long as Copyright and Author Resource Box are included; and ALL Hyperlinks REMAIN intact and active.



By: Steven Parbach

About the Author:

Alzheimers Disease Carer

Triathlon athletes are recognized as belonging to the best of the best among athletes. Sports massage therapy is also recognized by triathlon athletes as a crucial component in their training regimen. Triathlon athletes and aspiring athletes in St. Pete can also avail of sports massage therapy in professional massage clinics that likewise offer Swedish massage therapy, deep tissue massage therapy and pregnancy massage therapy in 4th Street Downtown St. Petersburg and Tampa 33607.



By: Business Local Listings

About the Author:

Fashion School

One of the best parts of getting a massage is the great aromas that come from the massage oils your massage therapist uses during the process.

But did you know that certain massage oils can evoke certain moods or trigger reactions in the brain that will make your massage experience especially rewarding.

Here are a few tips that you may want to use when choosing your massage oils.

First, you should determine whether you’re using your massage to be able to sleep better, relieve muscle tension, or improve your mood and increase energy. This will help you to decide if you want a massage oil scent that is calming and subduing, or a fragrance that is vibrant and energy-inducing.

You also could arrange for your spa massage to include the scented oils you select when you’re making your appointment, or you can bring the oils yourself to your massage so that your massage therapist can create a customized oil combination for you.

Massage oil is used in massages in order to make the skin more soft and supple, which makes the kneading and muscle stimulation easier and more comfortable.

The flowers, plants, and herbs used in massage oil are also linked to receptors in the brain that change your mood, which is why you usually leave the spa in a better and relaxed mood.

So, if you’re looking to calm yourself from a long day’s work, you may want to try massage oil that is infused with lavender, which has been known to relax the senses and detoxify the skin.

Vanilla is also a great scent to use during massages, since it awakens the senses and gives the body a calming, centered feel.

If you’re looking to get a massage that gives you a burst of energy in order to keep your day going, you may want to choose an oil with citrus scents, such as lemon, grapefruit, or bergamot. These oils have been known to awaken receptors in the brain, which makes it easier for you stay focused on the day’s tasks and maintain energy.

Oils that are infused with ginger work great as well to improve mood and increase energy, and ginger can also help to remove impurities from the body, since the root can extract mucus from the sinus cavities and keep harmful fluid away from the muscles.

You can find massage oils in a number of places, such as your local grocery store, health food store, cosmetic store, or at your local spa.

Be sure to ask your doctor about which massage oils are best for your skin type, and have a skin test done if you have sensitive skin.

You can even use your massage oils at home to give yourself a quick pick-me-up, and can use it in the bath or shower to give your skin a boost. Enjoy!



By: James Thomas

About the Author:

Alzheimers Disease Carer

Work stress and fatigue often cause a lot of discomfort that need to be addressed through massage therapy. Ironically, many people do not have time to get massage therapy because of work. If this is the case, the solution is to bring massage therapy to your workplace in Valrico, Riverview, Bloomingdale and Brandon 33511. It is possible to contact massage professionals like Massage Envy to bring chair massage therapy right into the corporate workplace at certain predetermined schedules.

The corporate workplace has long been recognized as a breeding ground for various stress-induced medical conditions as well as aches and pains. The highly competitive work environment causes much tension and stress even in seemingly positive situations such as the opening of more accounts or opening additional fields of service. Common complaints from both rank and file and management include general physical and mental fatigue, frequent headaches, upper and lower back pain, shoulder pain, neck pain and carpal tunnel syndrome. Influenza, colds and other viral infections also spread fast because stress weakens the immune system.

Massage therapy is the appropriate solution to the situation since it has been proven to ease tension and stress while also strengthening the immune system. With this multi-pronged approach, massage therapy will be able to help treat and prevent a host of work-induced health conditions.

Any company will find it beneficial and cost effective to sponsor massage therapy services for its rank and file employees and management staff. Massage therapy will lower their stress levels, lower their blood pressure and generally lower the occurrence and frequency of illness thereby reducing absenteeism, raising workforce morale and improving workforce retention. It will, therefore, also lower corporate health care costs. A healthier workforce is a happier workforce that is more productive with a higher quality of output. If the workforce perceives that the company appreciates them and takes care of their wellbeing, it will return the favour by delivering top performance. Furthermore, the companys reputation as an employer is boosted through word of mouth and it becomes much more competitive in workforce recruitment.

Indeed, it would be a wise move for any company to invest in a sound corporate massage therapy wellness program. In fact, many of the companies in the top ranks of the Fortune 500 have already included massage therapy in their workforce benefits programs. After doing so, they have tracked less complaints of fatigue, back pain and headache among their employees and management staff, coupled with higher morale, improved abilities in problem solving and decreased rates of employee turnover.

Chair massage therapy should still be given by qualified massage professionals, though. This is why it is important for a company to coordinate with professional massage clinics like Massage Envy. The clinic can send its professional massage therapists to give chair massages geared to the specific health needs of each individual. This can be scheduled during work breaks or right after work. The employee or manager just needs to sit back and relax while the therapist eases away the stress and tension of the day as well as the aches and pains they bring.

Whenever there are special company activities including athletic events like golf tournaments and marathons, chair massage therapy may also be included in the program for athletes and non-athletes alike. Attendance and participation in exhibits and conventions have also been observed to increase when free chair massage is offered as one of the attractions.

Aside from having massage therapy in the workplace, it would also be beneficial for employees and management staff to enjoy full service Swedish massage therapy, deep tissue massage therapy, sports massage therapy, trigger point massage therapy, cranial sacral massage therapy, reflexology massage therapy and even pregnancy massage therapy. It would be a good practice to give deserving employees and managers gift cards for weekend visits to a professional massage clinic in Valrico, Riverview, Bloomingdale and Brandon 33511.



By: Business Local Listings

About the Author:

Alzheimers Disease Carer

Cutting-Edge News Room

Manual therapy has always benefited humankind. There are massage therapists that provide this form of therapy in many different specialty areas. Many work in private practice while others work with other specialists including physical therapists and more often, chiropractors.

Lets learn how massage therapy and particularly lymph drainage massage can benefit a raw food enthusiast from a health perspective.

Who Benefits And Why

Massage therapy is a form of manual therapy that helps heal the body in many ways. It can benefit all types of people; adults, elderly people, infants and children all can benefit from various forms of massage therapy. There are forms of massage therapy that target certain parts of the body just as there are different techniques in massage therapy.

For example, some people train to work on athletes specifically. Their training may involve specific training in the art of sports massage. Others may work in the healing arts and may want to focus their training on a technique known as Shiatsu.

Still others may want to learn a technique often used in the healing arts known as lymph drainage massage. Sometimes this is also called LDT or Lymph Drainage Technique.

What Exactly is Lymph Drainage Technique?

The lymphatic system consists of tiny nodes located throughout the body. The lymph nodes absorb all manner of substances from tissue in the body, including toxins and waste products. Substances in the body, natural substances also filter through these lymph nodes.

Sometimes the flow of substances through the lymph system gets backed up, kind of like the plumbing might in someone’s house. Why would this happen? There are many reasons. Inflammation is one reason. Too much swelling in the human body suggests a person has too many toxins in the body or experiences too much stress. A person could also have a chronic illness related to theses conditions.

Stress and ordinary fatigues can also cause problems with the flow of the lymph system. Other reasons for a stagnated system may include:



Aging, which can cause the body to process substances slower than normal

Lack of physical activity which causes everything in the body to become sluggish

Clothing that is worn too long or too tightly, including bras (especially those with wires)

Clothing that compresses the body and is worn around the clock



When the lymph system is not in constant action it tends to slow down so cells in the body are not regenerating as quickly as they would ordinarily. This works kind of like the plumbing in the excretory system. If you don’t eat enough fiber and drink lots of water you may become constipated, and with time this can cause fecal matter to become impacted.

Raw foodists tend to avoid this problem because they eat lots of fiber and drink lots of water. Many also find regular colonic and ****** tend to help prevent this problem.

The lymph system is no different. When you drink lots of water and eat well, and exercise, usually your lymph system works well. This helps bolster your immune system, which in turns helps your body maintain homeostasis.

The good news is massage therapists trained in lymph drainage technique can help restart the lymph system and release blockages much like a colonic practitioner would help unstop the bowels. They can help the muscles along the lymphatic pathway contract which can help stimulate the fluids in the lymph.

Some therapists are able to improve circulation at many layers in the body enhancing the removal of toxins and improving the flow of lymph in many areas including around old scars, fractures and even around blemishes in the body to improve the texture in skin. Some people use lymph drainage massage as an anti-aging tool.

You might even consider using lymph drainage technique as an exercise enhancing tool, because the body also expels certain fats through the lymphatic system’s vessels. These occur throughout the body, in the places fat would ordinarily grow.

Lymph Drainage Exercise

There are many exercises you can perform to help drain the lymph. For example, you can lie on the floor with your legs pressed up against the wall above your head or even perform a headstand.

When To Avoid Lymph Massage

There are instances where lymph massage is best avoided. These include:



In cases where an individual has an infectious condition that is contagious.

When an individual is feverish; it is best to work with an individual after the fever is gone.

Anyone that has severe circulatory problems because the person may accidentally free a clot which could result in a heart attack or it could result in a pulmonary embolism.

Anyone with serious cardiac problems as massages can cause heart attacks.

Any malignant disease including an undiagnosed growth although the reasons for this are arguably questionable. Some healthcare providers suggested it may be possible to encourage metastasis of cancer in patients that may have cancer especially when a patient had a lymph drainage massage. However when one researches carefully, they will probably find that there is little evidence to suggest this would happen or is common. It is more likely that individuals that already had metastasis lying dormant might experience a surge in their condition or status.



Sincerely yours,

Omid



By: Omid Jaffari

About the Author:

Massage Therapy

Those who regularly undergo massage therapy, such as Swedish massage, deep tissue massage and sports massage, know how good it feels and how beneficial it is to the body. But did you know that massage therapy is good for babies, too? Women who have received pregnancy massage will see this as a natural extension of the massage benefits their babies received while still in the womb. Even if you have never had a massage therapy session before in Hyde Park, Macdill AFB, Downtown Tampa and South Tampa 33629, though, its not too late to experience it for yourself. Once you have proven its benefits, you will realize how good it can be for your own baby, too.

You dont have to bring your baby to a massage spa or a professional massage therapist. Giving your own baby a massage is good for both of you. Its relaxing and fun, enabling you to get to know each other better and enjoy each other in quality time. Indeed, it is one of the best bonding experiences you can have with your baby. Furthermore, giving baby a massage has been reported to be a good way for mothers to combat postnatal depression. Its a win-win situation since it improves the babys circulation, breathing, digestion and overall growth. It is also especially effective for sensory and muscle stimulation in babies with developmental disabilities and Down’s syndrome.

Some authorities believe that babies should be massaged only from three to four months and not as newborns. Others feel that massage should begin immediately after delivery, as a transition from the womb. It helps counter colic which usually occurs before the babys thid month. Massage is even said to be especially beneficial to premature babies.

Of course, baby massage should always be very gentle, but neither should it be too light since this may make your baby ticklish. The right pressure for very young babies can be gauged by pressing on your own closed eyelids. Older babies can enjoy a little more pressure. By this time, youve already had enough experience handling your baby and will know what kind of touch he or she can enjoy. Keep on observing the babys reactions, though. Stop when you see that the baby feels uncomfortable.

Learn the specific massage techniques and strokes to use on your baby through articles and books. Do only what you feel safe doing. You will build more confidence as you and your baby begin to do it regularly.

Schedule half an hour of massage time with your baby, making sure it is not immediately after a feeding or too close to the next one. You dont want the baby to be too full or hungry and irritable. Focus on baby with good thoughts and a happy mellow mood so that baby will absorb positive energy from you. Turn off distractions like the television. Soothing music in the background would be best.

Make sure that the room is comfortably warm since you will be undressing your baby for the massage. Check that there are absolutely no draughts that could chill your baby.

Put your baby on a firm but cushioned surface. Make sure that baby cannot roll off. You will be using massage oil so your hands and the babys body will be slippery. Ensure babys safety above all. Use only pure natural oil that is safe even on baby skin and even if licked by the baby. Pure almond oil is one of the recommended oils for this purpose.

If you tire yourself out massaging your baby, get yourself a massage therapy session, too, in Hyde Park, Macdill AFB, Downtown Tampa and South Tampa 33629. Youll both feel blissful.



By: Business Local Listings

About the Author:

Discount Car and Jeep Parts

A case study on how therapeutic massage was used to help treat an advanced case of acne vulgaris in a young girl has been documented by Beryl Crane who is the founder and director of the Crane School of Reflexology, as well as a fellow of both the Reflexologists’ Society and the Association of Reflexologists. Based on her success, reflexology massage therapy from a professional massage spa can be availed of by acne sufferers. After all, reflexology massage therapy is readily offered along with Swedish massage therapy, deep tissue massage therapy, sports massage therapy and pregnancy massage therapy in reputable massage spas in Anonka County, Minneapolis, St Paul and Blaine MN.

Crane defines acne vulgaris as a condition wherein the oily substance called sebum produced naturally by the skins sebaceous glands solidifies along with skin debris and plugs the way out for newly produced sebum. Sebum therefore builds up in the sebaceous gland, leading to inflammation. Inflammation contains bacteria which produces pus. The inflamed pus filled pustules are called acne spots. When pricked, they could be infected and could create deep scars.

A 16 year old girl with a bad case of acne vulgaris that had been plaguing her face, chest and back for over a year was brought to Crane. The girl had no success with anti-acne soaps and other over the counter treatments. When her parents brought her to a doctor he gave her oral medication. After taking it for several weeks, though, the girl experienced some unwanted side effects and her other asked her to stop the medication.

Aside from having acne, the girl was also overweight. She told Crane that she had erratic bowel movements. Sometimes she missed a day and sometimes she had loose bowels. She also suffered from excessive sweating from her feet and always felt tired.

Crane was able to elicit the girls admission that she ate junk food such as snack chips every day and that she drank mostly soda, coffee and tea and very little water. Crane told her to replace her drinks with six to eight glasses of water every day and to eat more fruits, vegetables, salads, chicken and fish while lowering her intake of refined carbohydrates and junk food. Furthermore, Crane suggested that she exercise regularly and get more fresh air while staying away from makeup.

When Crane began the reflexology massage therapy treatments, she discovered that the girls feet were very tense and that the reflexology points for the pituitary gland, thyroid gland, adrenal gland, liver, kidneys, large intestine, small intestine, spine and shoulders were very tender and sensitive. Crane treated the tender points and added attention to the auricular points as well as the TB.6 point on the forearm because this is related to skin eruptions, and the Wind Stream point on the scaphoid fossa on the ear because this is related to skin irritations.

The girl underwent six successive reflexology treatments which were followed by monthly maintenance treatments.

At the end of each reflexology massage therapy treatment the girl emerged with flushed cheeks, looking relaxed and refreshed. Gradually, her acne decreased and even her scars eventually faded.

Reflexology massage therapy may have been singled out by Crane for the treatment of acne but acne sufferers will also do well to try other therapeutic massage modalities as complementary health treatments. They will definitely enjoy the benefits of Swedish massage therapy, deep tissue massage therapy and sports massage therapy. These therapeutic massage methods will also contribute much to their overall well being, including the continuing improvement of their skin. It would be convenient to try all the therapeutic massage services offered by the professional massage spa they frequent in Anonka County, Minneapolis, St Paul and Blaine MN.



By: Business Local Listings

About the Author:

Grape Growing and Wine Making

”I don’t fear death because I don’t fear anything I don’t understand. When I start to think about

it, I order a massage and it goes away.” Hedy Lamarr

Massage has been well known to cure the disease of exhaustion and fatigue. Long regarded a recreational indulgence, the world is now waking up to the therapeutic potential of massage in the treatment of many an ailment. In wake of this phenomenon, the number of hospitals offering massage therapy in the US increased by 30 percent in just the two years from 2004 to 20061. Blending into mainstream healthcare, this dramatic shift has spurred the industry to shape up professionally and demand more from professional massage therapy. In light of this trend, massage therapy education and professional certification have become especially relevant and that very well may be the reason why we have seen well established massage therapy colleges across the USA come into the limelight.

Did you know! – There are over 300 accredited massage schools and programs in the United States!1

Exactly what is it about massage therapy that has become increasingly attractive in these last few decades? To answer that question, both sides of the equation; i.e. supply and demand; need to be explored in overview.

Demand Side

”Massage is the only form of physical pleasure to which nature forgot to attach consequences.” Robert Brault

From the surgical point of view, the use of massage as a treatment is widely becoming a hot alternative for medical establishments in light of its distinct feature of being less invasive than most other procedures. Its efficacy of treatment is tremendous for treatment of arthritis, muscle injury, cavernous dysfunction and other organ related maladies. Doctors and patients/consumers both would prefer the idea of a less risk-more result procedure.

Interesting Fact: – More than half of massage therapists (69 percent) receive referrals from healthcare professionals.1

Furthermore, massage has few if any side effects and keeps the harms of toxins at bay (by discouraging drug/medicinal dependency).

Interesting Fact: – Over 1.6 million Americans use alternative medicine for insomnia or trouble sleeping according to scientists at NCCAM!1

”The human body has been designed to resist an infinite number of changes and attacks

brought about by its environment. The secret of good health lies in successful adjustment to

changing stresses on the body.” Harry J. Johnson

Social dynamics in the fast lane require people to be constantly prepared and on edge; all the more vulnerable to stress! Such is the requirement and the eventual reason behind the downward trend of performance. A massage a week does wonders at keeping the body and mind running smoothly and ever ready to keep up with increasing physical and mental challenges.

Interesting Fact: – In July 2008, 45 percent of women and 21 percent of men reported having a massage in the past five years!1

The Supply Side

As if the aforementioned demand factors were not enough to warrant a healthy boost in the supply side of the equation, there may yet be more reasons behind the flourishing number of budding health professionals enrolling themselves in massage therapy schools.

Interesting Fact: – It is estimated that there are 265,000 to 300,000 massage therapists and massage school students in the United States.

”All we have to do is preserve our personality, to live our own life,

be captain of our own ship, and all will be well.” Dr. Edward Bach

The working dynamics are most attractive for massage therapists in the sense that the timings and environment are virtually at the behest of their own wishes!

Interesting Fact: – More than 75 percent of massage therapists are self employed; having the ability to choose their clients, make their own schedule and work as many or as few hours as they want!1

Working conditions are most comfortable in this industry. It gives the massage therapist the luxury of having a secondary line of work with a less demanding timetable!

Interesting Fact: – The average massage therapist works not more than 19 hours a week!1

Massage therapists who excel in their field become hot picks for sports clubs and training facilities that are always looking to provide safe and quick therapeutic treatment to their athletes in training. Consequently, massage therapists have the opportunity to work with some of the best athletes in the world for the simple reason that these athletes make regular use of massage therapy for preparation and rehabilitation!

Conclusion

In summation, it is now quite apparent why these last few decades have seen a miraculous increase in demand and a fantastic response from the supply side in the massage therapy industry!

References:

American Massage Therapy Association. AMTA Industry Survey www [dot] amtamassage [dot] org/news/MTIndustryFactSheet.html

Martin Ashley. Who hires hire massage therapist school graduates? www [dot] naturalhealers [dot] com/qa/massagecareers.html

National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork www [dot] ncbtmb [dot] org/consumers_massage_facts.php

Elizabeth Quinn. Does therapeutic sports massage improve performance or recovery? sportsmedicine [dot] about [dot] com/od/injuryprevention/a/Sports_Massage.htm

Tim Gorman. Massage Therapies for Arthritis Have Been Proven To Be Effective In Providing Arthritis Pain Relief ezinearticles [dot] com/?Massage-Therapies-for-Arthritis-Have-Been-Proven-To-Be-Effective-In-Providing-Arthritis-Pain-Relief&id=437411

Resource Area:

DISCLAIMER: Above is a GENERAL OVERVIEW and may or may not reflect specific practices, courses and/or services associated with ANY ONE particular school(s) that is or is not advertised on HolisticJunction.com.

Copyright 2009 – All rights reserved by HolisticJunction.com

Notice: Publishers are free to use this article on an ezine or website provided the article is reprinted in its entirety, including copyright and disclaimer, and ALL links remain intact and active.



By: David Woods

About the Author:

Hospitality Career

Your baby will benefit from therapeutic massage not only on the torso but also in the arms and legs. Here are some massage therapy techniques you can apply on your baby while at home in Snellville and Gwinett GA.

For arm and leg massage, your baby need not be unclothed. Since you will be massaging his buttocks, too, make sure that your baby is not wearing thick disposable diapers, though. Perhaps cloth briefs would do for the duration of the massage session.

Make sure your baby is in a good mood, not irritable. Do this when its not very close to nap time or feeding time. Place your baby on a cushioned but firm surface where there is no danger of him rolling off by accident.

Take your babys hand. Stroke the palm from the wrist down to each finger. When you reach the end of a finger, roll it gently. Turn the hand over and repeat the massage on the back of the hand.

Use your own fingers to draw circles around your babys wrist bones.

Gently grasp your babys arm from beneath the armpits. Make slow gentle milking movements downwards to the wrist, paying special attention to the elbow crease.

Roll your babys arm gently between your palms.

Carefully raise your babys arm above his head. Coax him into it until he relaxes and allows it. Using a firm but gentle touch that should not be tickling, stroke your babys arm from the wrist to the armpit cavity.

Take your baby by the wrist and bring his arm down to his side, then bring his palm to the opposite collarbone and return it to his side. Do this five times.

Do all the hand and arm massages and movements on both the right and left hands and arms of your baby.

Take your babys foot. Stroke your fingers down its top to each of the toes. Roll the end of each toe gently.

Press your thumbs all over the soles of your babys foot.

Use your own fingers to draw circles around your babys ankle bones.

Gently grasp your babys leg from the top of the thigh. Make slow gentle milking movements downwards to the ankle, paying special attention to the knee crease.

Roll your babys leg gently between your palms.

Lift your babys leg by the ankle and bend the knee gently. Repeat five times.

Do all the foot and leg massages and movements on both feet and legs of your baby.

Hold one of your babys feet in each of your hands. Alternately cross your babys legs right over left and left over right. Repeat five times.

Hold your babys right wrist in your right hand and his left foot on your left hand. Carefully bring his hand and foot together over his belly button, then return his hand to his side and his foot to the surface of the bed. Repeat this five times then switch to the other hand and foot.

Put both of your hands under your babys buttocks and massage them gently. Slide your palms down the backs of your babys legs to his feet. Gently shake his feet before letting go.

After giving your baby therapeutic massage, it is your turn to relax. Get your own Swedish massage therapy, deep tissue massage therapy, hot stone massage therapy or sports massage therapy from a professional massage spa. If your next baby is on the way, you can get pregnancy massage therapy instead. Perhaps you can get massage gift cards for yourself and your partner. Choose a conveniently located spa in Snellville and Gwinett GA.



By: Business Local Listings

About the Author:

Grape Growing and Wine Making

Shiatsu, a Japanese form of massage, takes its name from the Japanese words for “finger” and “pressure.” Despite the name, however, the palms and thumbs can be used in Shiatsu massage as well as the fingers. Although diverse massage techniques have been practiced in Japan for many centuries, the first attempt to create a systemized form of Shiatsu came in 1940, when Tokujiro Namikoshi (1905-2000) opened the first Shiatsu school, which is still in operation today.

Tokujiro Namikoshi claimed to have first discovered Shiatsu as a boy while trying to comfort his mother, who suffered from arthritis. His method incorporated Western concepts about human anatomy and health. Some forms of Shiatsu are also inspired by the Chinese concept of “meridians,” pathways through which blood and energy flow through the body. The purpose is to unblock the meridians and allow a free flow of energy. One example of Meridian Shiatsu is called “Zen Shiatsu.” It developed in the mid-1970s and calls for using the fists, elbows, and knees in addition to the hands.

Other varieties of Shiatsu exist, but the defining characteristic of all forms is the application of pressure to areas of the body which have been decided upon beforehand by an assessment of the patient.

Shiatsu is held in highest official regard in Japan, where it has been recognized as a distinct form of therapy since the 1950s. In Europe, the United States, and elsewhere, Shiatsu is a recognized form of therapy requiring official certification to practice. It has been met with both criticism and acceptance. There is no hard evidence that Shiatsu massage is effective at treating any diseases, and in Europe, it is illegal for practitioners of Shiatsu to claim that their work can “heal” or “cure.” On the other hand, research has indicated that undergoing Shiatsu leaves people more relaxed and less stressful, and helps lessen the symptoms of a variety of ailments, particularly those of the muscles and joints.



By: Ronnie Tanner

About the Author:

Massage Therapy