Oftentimes when people hear the word ‘massage’ they associate it with ‘luxury’ and ‘indulgence’. There can be the mindset that if you have some extra time and money, a massage is a nice way to treat yourself. While it definitely can be a treat, massage has the potential to play an integral role in your ongoing health and self-care plan. The positive physical and emotional benefits of touch are powerful, and may just change your life for the better.
The importance of physical touch has been recognized and incorporated into healing practices around the world, throughout history. Many people are familiar with using Swedish massage as a tool for relaxation and deep tissue massages to address muscle pain. In reality, this just scratches the surface of the plethora of massage therapy options. There is an endless number of modalities and techniques that can be used to address just as many different ailments.
Having trouble with digestion? You could try Chi Nei Tsang, where the therapist works with the energy of the internal organs and mainly works on the abdomen to help train the organs to work most efficiently.
Are you suffering from an affliction related to your Central Nervous System? Craniosacral therapy is a form of bodywork that manipulates the bones in the cranium, spine, and pelvis to release restrictions and treat a wide range of medical problems associated with pain and dysfunction.
Are you interested in improving your posture or addressing structural imbalances in your body? Rolfing could be a good choice for you- a type of structural integration massage often delivered in a series of ten hands-on manipulation sessions that has the potential to drastically change the way that you carry your body and move through the world.
Hands on healing can be life-changing when you find the right modality and therapist. First, ask yourself what you are looking to address with a session. Do you want to feel less stressed or anxious or improve your quality of sleep? Do you have a specific muscular pain? Do you want the session to include aromatherapy or other sensory aspects?
Massage therapy is also available in a variety of settings. In some cases you can even have the therapist come to you and give you a session in the comfort of your own home. If you want to venture out for your session, think about the atmosphere you’d like to experience for your massage. Do you want to have a spa experience and use facilities such as a steam room or sauna before your massage? If you’re already working with a chiropractor or physical therapist, do they have a resident massage therapist at the same location that would be convenient? Therapists often work out of spas, healing centers, yoga studios as well as dedicated massage practices.
If learning more about massage therapy appeals to you, we invite you to explore the information on our site. There are many massage therapists of various modalities that you can reach out to for assistance on your health and wellness journey.
