{"id":231,"date":"2022-02-01T20:46:59","date_gmt":"2022-02-01T20:46:59","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.nourishinglifewellness.com\/NLW\/?page_id=231"},"modified":"2022-09-10T03:07:18","modified_gmt":"2022-09-10T03:07:18","slug":"massage-therapy","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.nourishinglifewellness.com\/index.php\/massage-therapy\/","title":{"rendered":"Massage Therapy"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Massage Therapy<\/h1>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Massage and its Benefits<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe physician must be acquainted with many things and assuredly with rubbing. \u201d \u2013 Hippocrates the \u201cFather of Medicine\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Most likely you already know massage is a great way to relieve stress, anxiety, tension, improve sleep, and promote a sense of wellbeing throughout the entire body. But did you know that massage could help with many soft tissue based issues including chronic pain, limited mobility, repetitive strain injuries, and postural problems, just to name a few? For multiple reasons, the body\u2019s soft tissues (muscles, tendons, and connective tissue) can become rigid resulting in limited movement, inflammation, and pain. Therapeutic massage incorporates a variety of advanced modalities that enhance the body\u2019s natural restorative functioning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Massage is one of the oldest healing arts. The Chinese referenced its use in \u201cThe Yellow Emperor\u2019s Classic Book of Internal Medicine\u201d (2,700 BCE).  The ancient Hindus, Persians and Egyptians applied forms of massage for many ailments; and Hippocrates wrote papers recommending the use of rubbing and friction for joint and circulatory problems.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Today, massage therapy is part of many physical rehabilitation programs as it is recognized to affect the circulation of blood, lymph flow, reduce muscular tension, stimulate or sedate the nervous system, and enhance tissue healing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So what is it exactly?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Massage therapy is the scientific manipulation of the soft tissues of the body for the purpose of normalizing those tissues and consists of a group of manual techniques that include applying fixed or movable pressure, holding, and\/or causing movement of or to the body. While massage therapy is applied primarily with the hands, sometimes the forearms or elbows are used. These techniques affect the muscular, skeletal, circulatory, lymphatic, nervous, and other systems of the body. The basic philosophy of massage therapy embraces the concept of vis Medicatrix naturae, which is aiding the ability of the body to heal itself, and is aimed at achieving or increasing health and well-being.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are more than 250 different types of therapeutic massage and many therapists use more than one or even integrate techniques into the sessions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is it not?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Massage, bodywork and other therapeutic modalities specifically exclude diagnosis, prescription, manipulation or adjustments of the human skeletal structure, or any other service, procedure or therapy which requires a license to practice orthopedics, physical therapy, podiatry, osteopathy, psychotherapy, acupuncture, or any other profession or branch of medicine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Benefits of massage<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Regardless of the reasons we seek it out, massage therapy can be a powerful addition to your healthcare regimen. Among other benefits, massage can offer:<\/p>\n\n\n\n