Some people opt to ignore these knots and pains, calling them just their daily due, Others opt to fight back, perhaps with an Excedrin.

You don’t have to suffer this discomfort anymore. By spending a few minutes a day, or even at the end of the week, you can recharge yourself and be prepared for the new week ahead. No need to go thru the new week with no energy. Massage is the answer, of course. You can either work your muscles yourself or hire a professional. There are even some services which will come to the office and work ouit the kinks right there.

One of the biggest time constraints that people have is the time it requires to go from one place to another with all of the traffic and other things that demand more of our time. One way is to get a massage where you usually are and that place is work. There is a reason employees are called working stiffs, but with some straightforward massage techniques, you can get some relaxation while you crunch up those numbers and push those papers.

Self massage is a good way to work out many of the aches and pains, but a masseaur can reach places you’ll never touch. That trick is to let the pros and their fingertips do the work.

For a 14 day e-course in self-massage go here.
You can also check out our pages on massage therapy and several massage videos.

The main objective of massage therapy is to relax the soft tissues while promoting an increased delivery of blood and oxygen to the areas being massages and, therefore, to decrease tightness and pain and stress.   Massage therapy is most often accomplished by utilizing the massage therapist’s own fingers, hands, arms, elbows and/or feet.  Occasionally, however, mechanical and electronic devices may be also used.

Massage Therapy is an umbrella term for a whole series of more specific body manipulation therapies. As a matter of fact, there are more than eighty official types of massage therapy treatments, as well as many unofficial types, but a few of the most widely known therapies are the following:

* The Deep Tissue Massage.  This technique uses a combination of strokes and deep finger pressure applied way down under the skin and into the muscles at the painful sites in order to breakup knots and loosen tightness.

* The Trigger Point Massage.  This procedure is also known as the Pressure Point Massage and it is more focused on specific myofascial trigger points with a stronger force than the Deep Tissue Massage.  The goal here is to dissolve the painful knots that were formed in the muscles as well as to relieve additional symptoms in more remote areas of the body.

* The Swedish Massage.  This system utilizes oblong smooth strokes, kneading and friction of the muscles as well as movement of the joints to increase their range of motion and flexibility.

* The Shiatsu Massage.  Using altering rhythmic pressure, tapping, squeezing, and rubbing along the meridian lines and on various other parts of the body, the main objective of this Eastern massage therapy is to enhance the flow of the gi (also, Ki or Chi.)  This energy, in the lore of ancient Chinese medicine, is believed to be the life force that regulates a person’s spiritual, emotional, mental and physical wellness. it is easily affected when subjected to the rival forces of yin and yang.

The massage therapies mentioned above, as well as all the others, are also referred to as complimentary alternative medicine (also known as CAM.) Regardless of the specific therapy used, there are important points to be considered:

• No massage therapy should ever be used in place of regular or ongoing medical care. It’s a complement, not a replacement.
• Massage therapy should not be the cause or the excuse to postpone visiting a medical professional for existing medical issues.
• Make sure you are comfortable with your massage therapist’s schooling, credentials, and technique as well as his or her experience with specific health and medical conditions.
• Any additional complimentary alternative medicine (CAM) such as herbs, supplements, special diets or other treatments which are suggested by the massage therapist must first be reviewed with a medical professional.

If and when massage therapy is performed, preferably by a well trained and experienced professional, few risks are involved and the worst of them may simply be temporary pain or discomfort, bruising, swelling or an allergic reaction to the massage oils.

The small number of serious injuries which have been reported were triggered by untrained hands that were not aware that certain medical conditions should not be massaged. It is, therefore, essential to consult a qualified professional before undergoing massage therapy as a primary treatment for whatever condition you may have. Here are several conditions where any form of massage therapy should be done under qualified supervision:

• Deep vein thrombosis
• A bleeding disorder or when taking blood thinners
• Damaged blood vessels
• Weakened bones from osteoporosis, a recent fracture or cancer
• The presence of high body temperature
• Open or healing wounds, tumors, damaged nerves, an infection, a severe inflammation or fragile skin
• Pregnancy
• Heart problems
• Dermatomyositis or any other skin disease
• History of physical abuse

Certainly the various massage therapies are great for loosening tight muscles, relieving stress, increasing blood flow to an area, and so on. The effect this this has on the various hormones of the body, as well as on the positive mental outlook are certainly beneficial. Just make sure that if you have a serious condition that you’re working with a professional, as well.

If you are giving a Swedish massage, for example, decent massage tables are of extreme importance.  Without proper posture and proper height of the patient, proper Swedish massage may not be possible. Massage tables  can turn a stooped-over, unfulfilling Swedish massage experience into a life-changing event.

Another form of massage that requires proper massage tables is stone therapy. The stones are laid on the patient and then manipulated. A proper massage table will stabilize the patient for the stone therapy, making it much more effective. Without the proper massage tables, stone therapy may actually be ineffectual and somewhat dangerous.

Most businesses that offer some form of spa massage do have the proper massage tables. This allows the masseuse to work with his or her hands fully and have the client at the perfect height for the best results, instead of relying on poor posture and other manipulations to get at the body parts that need the most work. One of the reasons spa massage sites provide such a good experience is because they have the proper equipment, making for a wondrous and relaxing time.

Massage tables can be found almost anywhere that massage equipment is sold. These stores commonly allow the purchasers to relax on the table and see if it “fits right” before making the purchase.

All in all, a good massage table can add so much to the experience of the massage. They can increase the ability of the masseuse to get around to the body parts that need the most attention and they can improve the comfort of the patient. Massage tables are the most important advantage that a masseuse can have besides his or her hands.

This article courtesy of Syndicate Kahuna

Check out the back massage page I just posted, complete with video!

Click here for the video

Dr. Ida Rolf wrote the book on the subject: Rolfing: Reestablishing the Natural Alignment and Structural Integration of the Human Body for Vitality and Well-Being, which you can find at Amazon. it’s not a “how to” book, but it covers the concepts and anatomy quite well.

This book: Rolfing Structural Integration What It Achieves, How It Works and Whom It Helps, covers the 10 lessons of Rolfing as well as adding more detail to Dr. Rolf’s book. It does cover more “how to” info.

An introduction to Shiatsu Massage and

Zen Shiatsu’s Healing Touch

If you’re interested in Shiatsu then check ‘em out.

Here’s the rest of the article on massage therapy schools