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What are the benefits of massage? There is a good deal of scientific evidence that supports our general impression that massage feels good. Massage has been proven to reduce levels of cortisol in the blood stream, to reduce blood pressure, and to release endorphins. More generally, massage is known to increase relaxation, improve circulation, and raise self-awareness. Increase Relaxation Compassionate touch of any kind will usually cause us to relax. This is why a firm but warm handshake might make us feel a “connection,” why our shoulders drop when the doctor rests a hand on us as she leaves the office, or why we feel better all over after a good hug. Physically, anxiety—even when unacknowledged—causes us to tense our muscles. Improve Circulation When muscles are contracted, the blood flow to them is reduced (called ischemia). As these muscles begin to relax during a massage, blood flow increases. This allows more oxygen into the muscle cells and helps rid them of any built up metabolic waste. Raise Self-Awareness When our muscles have been relieved of tension, we can become aware of what makes them tense. This awareness comes in many forms: it might be as simple as one day shortly after a massage you discover that sticking your elbow out the car window makes your left shoulder hurt or that your job gives you a pain in the neck, but it could also be a complex realization that has great emotional significance for you. It is not uncommon for us to lock emotions in our muscles, where we think they are safely hidden away. Unfortunately, this only serves to make our muscles feel the physical manifestation of those locked emotions. Releasing muscles from this discomfort can allow us to explore any emotion associated with the physical discomfort. Any modality of massage can give you these benefits, but you may prefer one type over another. How long is a session? Our standard recommendation is 75 minutes. This session length allows enough time for a comfortable pace for a full-body massage or for a thorough unwinding of a specific area of concern. We can adjust the length of the session based on the client’s needs. What modalities do you offer? It seems the list of types of massage grows by the day, but there are still only a few broad categories into which all massage fits. Some knowledge of these categories can help you discuss the options with your massage therapist, for both an overall course of treatment and for particular sessions. Any modality listed below can be incorporated into your session. Relaxation Massage therapists typically use Swedish massage to induce relaxation and a feeling of general wellbeing. Following a rhythmic protocol that aids in creating a feeling of serenity, the massage therapist will work on one part of the body at a time, using light to medium touch in long, superficial strokes (effleurage), followed by slightly deeper and shorter cross fiber strokes (petrissage), and finishing with more effleurage. It may also be appropriate to use light drumming (tapotement). Deep Tissue Almost every human has tension in the upper back and neck. We sit at desks with heads hanging over paper work or toward computer monitors; we sit in cars with heads toward windshields; we sleep on bad pillows. This is not to say that we should suffer through that tension, and a first step in relieving chronic contraction of muscles may be deep tissue work. (There are sometimes specific reasons not to work deeply—phlebitis, for example.) The strokes are often similar to those of Swedish massage, but the massage therapist works into deeper muscle tissue. As a result, such work will usually be focussed on the part of the body with chronic tension. Often our clients say they want a full-body deep-tissue massage. Usually they mean to say that they want a firm Swedish massage. These are entirely different, and clients should be aware that true deep-tissue work over the entire body in one session is unhealthy for them and very taxing on the massage therapist. Acupressure Based on East Asian healing techniques, acupressure comprises finger-pressure on specific points along meridians which are lines of energy in the body. Although its underlying principle is to free blocked energy on those meridians, the pressure on the muscle is a very satisfying physical experience and sometimes quite deep. Very modest clients may prefer acupressure because there is no need to disrobe. Myofascial Release Bad habits, repetitive motion, poor furniture, and modern life in general can lead to widespread chronic problems in the connective tissue of the body, typically manifesting in poor posture and reduced range of motion and/or strength. Myofascial Release is particularly effective in addressing the long-term issues associated with over-, mis-, and abused connective tissue. In a typical session, the massage therapist directs the client to move in particular ways coordinated with deep breathing while she works the length of the muscles in the troubled area. While Myofascial Release can certainly be effective in a single session, severe restrictions in connective tissue may require the full series of nine sessions in which the massage therapist works on one part of the body (bilaterally for extremities) each session following a specific protocol. Sports Massage Unfortunately, the term Sports Massage has come to mean something like “incredibly deep massage” for most people. In reality, Sports Massage is simply massage geared to the needs of athletes at the three stages of competition: pre-, para-, and post-event. Pregnancy and Labor Massage Pregnancy is hard on a woman’s body, and massage can be an excellent addition to the pregnant woman’s health regimen. The primary focus is to reduce the physical and emotional stress associated with hormonal and body changes. Hot Stone Massage Placement stones are left on particular areas (usually the back) to help the soft tissue relax before the massage therapist begins working on that area, and the massage therapist also works with stones in her hands. Heat from the stones enhances the relaxing effects of effleurage. Aromatherapy Massage Essential oils come in three types—floral, leafy, and woody—and are used to enhance the effects of massage on any level. Menthol, for example, is not particularly soothing to the mind or emotions, but it most definitely helps to warm muscles for deeper work and has some post-treatment analgesic effect. Lavender, on the other hand, has little effect on the actual soft tissue, but its light floral scent almost universally puts the mind at ease. Aromatherapy can be an excellent addition to any type of massage. Reflexology There are points in the hands, feet, and ears that correspond to every part of the body. Working these reflex points can lead to improved function in the corresponding area. Such work may be especially appropriate when the problem area is too diseased or traumatized to tolerate direct treatment. Spa Treatments We offer a full range of spa treatments, including facials (no extractions), exfoliations, and mud and seaweed wraps. Most of our spa-treatment products are formulated onsite at the time of treatment based on the client’s needs and preferences. Energy Balancing Matter and energy are two sides of the same coin, so really all bodywork is energetic and vise versa. Usually, though, only the more subtle forms of bodywork are called energetic work. These include techniques of craniosacral therapy, Zero Balancing, and chakra balancing. Clients with intense pain may prefer energetic work because there is a significant physical response without the practitioner having to touch the painful area. How many treatments will I need? The number of sessions needed will vary based on the client and the issue being addressed. For short-term, acute stress, one session may provide significant relief. For stress accumulated over a longer period of time, it may take as many as four to six sessions to begin noticing enduring relief. In any case, our general recommendation is a maintenance/wellbeing massage no less than once per month. |
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Wimberley Acupuncture & Massage 14500 Ranch Road 12, Suite 4 |
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