Just about everyone I know loves a massage. Wouldn't we all get one at least once a week if it didn't cost so much?
Even after a hectic day at work, once I get onto my massage therapist's table, I know I'll be able to let it all go and forget it for awhile. My love of massage led me to attend massage school four years ago.
Benefits of Massage
Massage is not a new trend in alternative medicine. It has been used for various purposes since ancient history all around the world 1. It is used not only to affect muscles, but tendons, ligaments, skin, joints, lymphatic vessels, and connective tissue as well.
The benefits of massage include pain relief from injuries, reduction of anxiety and depression, and increased attention. Massage also timulates the immune system and temporarily reduces blood pressure and heart rate. The benefits of massage can be experienced after a single session and may be derived from the blocking of nociception, the perception of physical pain.
Other physiological responses that benefit the body are the activation of the parasympathetic nervous system, stimulation of the production of endorphins and serotonin, increased flow of lymphatic fluids, and improved sleep.
Massage Specialties
Among the methods that I studied were Swedish massage, deep tissue, sports massage, pregnancy massage, trigger point therapy, and aromatherapy. I'll give a brief introduction to each modality here.
Swedish is a relaxing technique that uses flowing strokes to increase circulation and decrease pain in the body. It is also useful in reducing joint stiffness, however there is no substitute for daily stretching!
Deep tissue massage is incorporated with Swedish strokes once the area is warmed up and can tolerate slower, deeper strokes. These therapeutic techniques help relax chronically tensed muscles. Sometimes after an area has been worked deeply, it will feel sore the day after like you had worked out the previous day. Commonly sore muscles are shown in the diagram below.
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| Muscles of the Back |
Sports massage can help every athlete improve their performance, whether you like to run marathons, mountain bike, swim, or build strength and endurance at the gym. Sports massage incorporates stretching and deep tissue strokes targeted at different muscle groups worked harder in your sport.
Pre- and post-event massages help warm up muscles before the event and rid them of toxins after the event that increase muscle soreness during those painful recovery days. Cramp release techniques are a necessity for tired and twitching muscles after a long marathon or triathalon.
Note: Deep tissue methods should not be used on the day of your sporting event. Be sure to choose a sports massage therapist who knows this, otherwise your performance might be hindered.
The picture below shows me volunteering with my sports massage classmates at the Long Beach Marathon in Los Angeles, California. |
| Candice Betty Sports Massage Volunteer Long Beach Marathon |
