Why Receive A Massage

 

Types Of Massage,
Bodywork, And Somatic
Therapies

There are a variety of bodywork techniques.
Following are brief descriptions of just a few.

Swedish Massage—The most common form
of massage, Swedish mainly relaxes the muscles
and eases aches and pains.

Sports Massage—For the athlete, sports
massage techniques are utilized at all stages:
pre-event, post-event, during training, and to
expedite rehabilitation after injury.

Shiatsu—Japanese acupressure massage that
restores energy to the body.

Trager—Utilizes rhythmic rocking movements
to relax the body and mind.

Hellerwork—A combination of movement
reeducation and muscle and connective tissue
therapy.

Polarity—Balances the energetic systems ofthe body.

Reflexology—Massage of the feet, hands,
and/or ears. Stimulates corresponding areas
in the body.

There are more than two hundred fifty variations
of massage, bodywork, and somatic
therapy techniques. Many practitioners utilize
an integration of techniques.


A Brief History Of Massage
Massage is considered to be among the oldest of
all treatments used by man. Chinese records dating
back three thousand years documented its use. The
ancient Hindus, Persians, and Egyptians used forms
of massage for some ailments, and Hippocrates
wrote papers recommending the use of rubbing
and friction for joint and circulatory problems.
Today, massage is an accepted part of many physical
rehabilitation programs and has proven beneficial
to many chronic conditions such as low-back
pain, arthritis, and bursitis. Massage helps relieve                                                                                      the stress and tension of everyday living.
 
Can Massage, Bodywork,
Or Somatic Therapies
Benefit Me?
Massage provides relief to people from all walks
of life—the weekend or competitive athlete, the
home gardener, and the overstressed executive
struggling to keep pace in today's economy.
Secretaries, laborers, waitresses—anyone can feel
a need for massage at some point in time. The
older population, as well, will benefit from massage,
as it enhances flexibility and circulation.
The bedridden can also be helped in this regard.
There are some conditions where massage is not
recommended, however. Your practitioner
should ask for information regarding any specific health conditions 
from which you may be suffering
in order to determine if massage, bodywork,
or somatic therapies are contraindicated. In some
cases, the practitioner may need your doctor's permission
before providing services.
 
Will My Insurance Cover
Massage Or Bodywork Services?
If you are in a car accident or have a job-related
injury covered by workers' compensation, insurance
may cover massage, bodywork, or somatic
therapies when prescribed by a physician. If your
insurance covers chiropractic or osteopathic services,
the services of a bodywork professional may
be covered when prescribed by a chiropractor or
osteopath. Therapies provided as part of the prescribed
treatment by a physician or registered
physical therapist are often covered. The best thing
to do is check with your insurance company to see
exactly what is covered under what circumstances.

Taking Care Of Yourself

Care of your body should be at the top of your
priority list. You will feel and look better if you
take the necessary steps regarding health and
nutrition in this age of increased longevity. Stress
relief alone can improve your vitality and state of
mind. Massage, bodywork, and somatic therapies
could play an important role in your life.

Massage For Pain And
Emotional Problems

With many chronic ailments, massage can relieve
the pain and help heal. As with physical problems,
emotional problems may also be stimulated into
self-healing with massage. In many cases, this helps
eliminate the need to take harmful chemical drugs,
which will unnecessarily burden the liver, kidneys,
and other vital organs.
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Member ABMP