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Massage comes in many shapes, forms, and styles. Massage has been around
for 3 to 5 thousand years and consists of accessing the body in various ways. Massage can be as obscure as running
the hands 1 to 3 inches from the body and addressing the field or auric energy surrounding the body as is done
in Healing Touch. Many nurses have become Healing Touch Practitioners to assist patients prepare for pre and post
surgery procedures. It has been shown that patients receiving Healing Touch prior to surgery have a much faster
recovery period. The opposite end of the massage spectrum is called Rolfing. Rolfing was developed by a medical
doctor, by the name of Ida Rolf. She believed that posture played an important role in our health. She developed
a methodology (a series of sessions) to bring alignment back to the structure. To do this she utilizes Elbows,
Knuckles and Fists to go deep into the muscles, tearing away unwanted adhesions, and breaking up any unwanted scar
tissue. It is considered the most painful type of massage and some clients come away black and blue, bruised and
in pain.
Massage then includes everything within these two opposite ends of the spectrum. Some of the types are:
Circulatory or Swedish Massage - this is the most common type and uses basic strokes to assist a person to relax. It is
best used for Type A individuals who desire a lowering of the adrenalin rush caused by their driven nature. This
type of massage does not address chronic muscular tension problems. This is the type of massage a novice with 100
hours of training normally provides.
Combination or Deep Tissue Massage - This massage normally combines some of the strokes used in Swedish Massage with some Acupressure,
Trigger Point, Sports Massage and other techniques to release chronic holding patterns in the body.
Acupressure and Trigger Point Therapy - these are similar techniques in that they find particular spots of tension and put pressure
on those spots to allow the tension to release.
Feldenkrais and Alexander Technique - These are considered functional integration procedures to bring the body into alignment
using gentle movements and time to allow the process to happen.
Reflexology --
This technique works only with the feet, hands or ears (normally feet) and addresses the organs and different parts
of the body by pressing on different spots of the feet. The toes reflect to the head and neck and the heel reflects
to the pelvic region, for example.
Shiatsu --
This massage is defined literally as finger pressure. Can be self administered or done by a practitioner. The finger
pressure is normally applied rhythmetically over the entire body allowing for tension to release.
Trager Therapy
-- A type which uses movement a shaking or rocking movement of the limbs. The rocking motion allows the muscles
to relax.
Myofascial Release
-- This technique can be defined as "the facilitation of mechanical, neural and psychophsiological adaptive
potential as interfaced via the myofascial system." WOW - that is a mouthful -- myofascial normally is associated
with stretching of the limbs and muscles and allowing them to release tension with the stretch.
Craniosacral Therapy
- The practitioner feels for a pulse that runs from the skull to the tail bone. A person doing Craniosacral Therapy
is looking for anything that would impede the strength or rhythm of that pulse and uses mobilization techniques
to bring it to full volume.
Neuromuscular Re-Education
is a term often used in the massage arena. It is said that what is in the sub-conscious is also scattered throughout
the musculature. (BodyMind connection - What is in the Mind is in the Body and what is in the Body is in the Mind
- they are inseparable.) When we have a holding pattern (chronic muscle tension) in the body, something in the
mind sets up that condition (habit) to protect us. In order to overcome or get past that condition we must retrain
the mind (develop a new habit). This can be accomplished by using various massage techniques combined with a breathing
exercise. By the same token, very often, when the muscles are manipulated, old memories or emotions are often recalled.
By getting in touch with those old forgotten memories it often allows the subconscious to reevaluate / change its
perception and therefore gives it the ability to change old beliefs.
BodyMind Connection concept of massage: The BodyMind style does not adhere to any one modality, but believes that each person
as an individual will respond to their specific needs. We believe that it is the responsibility of the therapist
to find the technique or techniques that best fits that need. The BodyMind style does not believe that the therapist
should do anything to the client to bring about change, but does believe that the therapist should establish the
environment, using the proper technique for that person, that will best allow the client to make the decision that
it is in their best interest to change.
The BodyMind type of massage can be defined by two different
styles of massage.
1. Moving Palpations can be defined as continually feeling for where the body carries its tension. Addressing
the tension found in the body, utilizing all of the above techniques allows the subconscious to calm (get over
the need to protect), feel what is going on (truly get in touch with the body) and allows the muscles to release
of there own accord (Neuromuscular Re-Education). Many times this work uses a two handed approach, where one hand
will be addressing tension in the neck and the other many be working with the arm or hand or elsewhere on the body.
There is no prescribed technique or pattern to this massage.
2. Re-Tracing can
be defined as accessing known holding locations (52 in all, called Gateways) and opening those gates which are
closed. This in turn allows full energy (Lifeforce, Chi) to flow through the entire body. Many times as these blocks
are released, there is a release of old emotional issues. This can be a positive life altering experience.
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