Massage » Massage Therapy

Massage Provides Respite During the Busy Holiday Season

Jennifer — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 15:24:18 +0000

Massage therapy is a must for holiday planning and shopping lists, both as a great gift idea and a way to take a break from extra-busy holiday schedules.

As Americans get into the full swing of the holiday season, massage therapy can be a winning addition to holiday planning and shopping lists. Massage therapy gift certificates are surefire holiday gifts; consumers love giving and receiving gift cards and certificates and first-time massage clients rate their massage experience as highly positive, according to consumer research sponsored by Associated Bodywork & Massage Professionals (ABMP) and others.

What’s more, massage is a “green gift” — one that fits the increasing consumer preference for experiential gifts instead of more “stuff.” Massage therapy is right in step with what consumers say they want and these trends show no sign of slowing. Massage leaves only a small carbon footprint and prices have remained stable in recent years. It’s exactly the kind of gift Americans of all ages are looking for: One that fits their values and budgets.

Respite From the Rush
As well as making a great gift, massage is ideal for stressed-out shoppers, holiday travelers, party-givers and people hosting family gatherings. A bonus for these folks is that shopping malls and airports are increasingly offering chair massage — a quick and inexpensive remedy for shoulders and necks burdened by shopping bags and luggage. Chair massage is performed in a private or semi-private setting in a special, ergonomic chair and usually costs $1 a minute.

What You Need to Know
For best results, ABMP recommends finding qualified massage therapists from the thousands of practitioners listed at www.massagetherapy.com. A zip-code finder and search tool for different kinds of massage makes finding the right therapist a snap. Some massage therapists offer gift packages for a series of massage sessions. Most can sell gift certificates over the phone and mail them, and some Web sites even allow consumers to print the certificates themselves. ABMP is the nation’s largest massage membership association and has licensing and educational requirements for its 65,000 members.

Parties with Plus
Another holiday trend is the spa party, including massage and other services for those hard-working employees, family members in town or friends who want a new way to celebrate. This is a wonderful alternative to overindulgence in food and drink, or stress-filled activities that are unoriginal and time-consuming. Spa parties also strengthen bonds and create memories, while traditional events may soon be forgotten.

Thoughtful gift-givers can also create their own special days by scheduling appointments with independent massage therapists and adding excursions to favorite lunch spots, movie theaters or museums.

A Gift of Lasting Value
Massage will be the gift that keeps on giving as clients enjoy not only relaxation, but the health benefits of massage. In addition to providing relief from anxiety, pain and stress, research shows massage provides beneficial effects to the immune system and lessens the frequency of headaches. While massage may be perceived as a luxury by some, these health benefits are becoming more widely understood as medical professionals increasingly recommend massage for various conditions, especially back pain and sports injuries. More information on the health benefits of massage and how to get the most from a massage session (or a series of sessions) is available at www.massagetherapy.com.

A longer-term health and relaxation benefit will provide lingering memories of the experience and the gift-giver. The gift of massage therapy is something that can start people down the path to less stressful lives; that’s a very nice way to honor a friend or loved one. At an average $60 an hour, this makes massage an excellent value.

There are 250 types of massage therapy currently being practiced in the United States. ABMP encourages consumers to consult the glossary at www.massagetherapy.com to find just the right match.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

What to Expect From Your First Massage

Jennifer — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 13:24:10 +0000

The Perfect End to Warm Weather Work is a Relaxing Massage

(ARA) – With warm weather drawing more Americans out of their easy chairs and into the sunshine, there’s no reason to let stress or muscle stiffness get in the way of feeling your best. Whether participating in weddings, hiking, playing sports or getting earthy in the garden, busy and active Americans are increasingly turning to massage for celebrating special occasions, relieving muscle stiffness or just plain relaxing. Massage is a valuable ally in feeling healthy and staying in the game.

Many kinds of massage have blossomed in recent decades and a glossary at www.massagetherapy.com helps consumers find just the right treatment as well as a qualified massage therapist. According to national consumer research by Associated Bodywork and Massage Professionals (ABMP), most people try their first massage on the recommendation of a medical professional; another third do so because they received a massage as a gift. Consumers report overwhelmingly positive experiences with their first massage, making a gift certificate a winning choice.

The following are some things to know about trying massage or giving it as a gift.

Spa Specials
More than ever, spas are offering bonding experiences for those celebrating special events like proms, graduations, wedding showers and wedding days. These promote fun for family and friends, and ensure everyone from flower girls to mothers-of-the-bride will look smashing and feel great on the big day. Massage is a key part of the package for smoothing jittery bridal nerves or as part of a wedding shower or spa party. Don’t forget couples’ massage — ABMP reports more than ever, men are trying massage and this can be a wonderful gift for when the hectic wedding day is over.

Weekend Warriors
Sports massage isn’t just for professional athletes and you don’t have to be injured to use massage as part of your athletic regimen. Weekend warriors working themselves back into shape can enhance their sports performance by using massage before, during and after events.

Professional athletes use vigorous massage before sports events to loosen up, bring blood to critical parts of the body and support muscle memory while they visualize their optimum athletic performance. Immediate after-event massage shortens recovery time and disperses toxins and waste from muscles. Both can be done fully clothed. Massage can also help if you truly overdo it, as muscles near an injury tend to tighten up and create a ripple effect that spreads discomfort, tightness and even muscle spasms.

Massage: A Vital Honey-Do
The home do-it-yourselfer is another good candidate for massage therapy after cleaning out gutters and garages, painting the house, mowing the lawn and being hunched over in the garden. Many of these activities engage muscles rusty from disuse that may not sound any alarms in the body while being stressed. It’s afterward they express their displeasure. Taking frequent rest breaks, stretching and changing positions while working can help up front; massage therapy can help with after effects.

A gift certificate for that hardworking homeowner could be just the ticket — ABMP research reveals wives often underestimate how much that special man will appreciate a massage gift certificate. Men already seem to understand that massage as a gift will be appreciated by their significant others.

What to Expect
Here’s how to enjoy massage yourself and give it as a gift:
* Find a qualified massage therapist at www.massagetherapy.com and you’ll work with a professional. At this Web site you can choose the massage method you prefer and use the zip-code finder to locate someone convenient. Ask whether they offer gift certificates.
* Many people worry about modesty. You’ll undress only to your level of comfort and will be covered under a sheet or towel for the entire massage session except for the area being worked on. You’ll undress and dress in privacy.
* You’ll be massaged only on your back, arms, legs, feet, hands, head, neck and shoulders. Tell your massage therapist about any aches and tightness and whether the pressure is comfortable.
* Drink plenty of water after your massage to help clear away lactic acid and toxins.
* The average price of a massage has remained steady at $60 for one hour in recent years, a bargain when you consider the rising prices of flowers, home wares, food-and-wine gifts and travel. Tipping is appreciated; 10 to 20 percent is customary.
* Most people find quiet is conducive to relaxation, but it’s okay to chat and ask questions if you wish. Just don’t feel obligated to make small talk – the focus is on your relaxation and it’s perfectly polite to be quiet.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

Does Massage Therapy Work?

Author — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 10:27:26 +0000

In the broad world of alternative care there are many methods that are called into question as far as their effectiveness goes. As chiropractors help more patients then the chiropractic profession moves that much closer to being considered standard care. But you should know that other forms of alternative care such as acupuncture and massage therapy are still considered to be ineffective by many practitioners of standard medicine. Of those two previously mentioned the one that stands the best chance of being recognized as therapeutically beneficial is massage therapy.

When someone sets out to become a massage therapist they usually do so with the intent of helping people relieve their stress and relieve their pain. Many people think that the study of massage therapy is simply learning how to rub someone’s shoulders but there is a great deal of science that goes into massage therapy and if you take the time to talk to a therapist you may be surprised at how much anatomy and medicine they actually know. That is not to say that the study of massage therapy is a medical study but you can suggest that in order to be an effective practitioner of massage therapy one would need to be quite knowledgeable about how the human body works.

Many people get massage therapy just to relieve the general stress of every day life and for this purpose massage therapy is extremely effective. A good therapist knows how to relieve stress that builds up in muscles and joints and they will ask a series of questions about how you are feeling to try and make sure they work on the right spots. But even if you neglect to tell them all the areas in which you feel stress a good therapist will usually find all the areas after a standard examination and therapy session. That is where the anatomy knowledge comes in.

Therapy for Pain

Many people dismiss massage therapy as pain therapy because it does not have instant effect like pain medication does. But if you use massage therapy in conjunction with your standard pain therapy treatments you will find over time that massage therapy is extremely effective at not only reducing pain but, if you continue with your therapy, then it is also effective at keeping your pain under control. A well-trained therapist can relieve pain as well as daily stress. Do not underestimate the power of massage until you actually give it a try.