The effects
of Bodywork may be more
significant than you think!
There are many benefits to
Massage/Bodywork therapy and I believe
that many are yet to be
discovered.
Circulatory Benefits: With any type of bodywork, you
experience conditioning to the circulatory system. Most
massage strokes are directed towards the heart (this is a
standard in Swedish Massage). The flow of blood is
increased throughout the body, this sends more fresh blood
throughout the body sending increased oxygen and nutrients to
cell tissues and removing waste products. This is why you
should drink plenty of water AFTER a massage, to help eliminate
the waste material that has been "kicked up" during
your session. This action also "excercises" the
heart muscle and conditions the arterial paths.
Lymphatic System: Then you have lymphatic drainage, the
lymph system does not have a pump to move fluid as the
circulatory system does.
It relies entirely on muscular
movement and contraction to move the fluids within it. If you excercise on
a regular basis or are a very active person you probably
have a pretty clean lymphatic system. But a massage
(especially deep tissue) will still move more lymphatic fluid
than you can on your own! If you do not lead an active
lifestyle you will most likely havea some what stagnant lymphatic
system. The condition of the lymphatic system has a huge impact on your
immune system. This is why people who receive regular massage have fewer
colds and flus! They have a cleaner and healthier lymphatic
system. With women who have had a mastectomy with loss of lymphatic nodes this
issue becomes paramount! It is common to lose some or all
of lymph nodes in the axillary area (under arm) in which
case it is very difficult to pass lymph fluid from the arm and
edema (swelling due to fluid retention) is experienced.
Lymphatic drainage massage assists the body in moving this fluid into the
functioning lymphatic system.
General Benefits: Benefits of Bodywork are relevant to the individual client and what their goals are from the treatment. The weekend gardener or athlete who comes in with a pulled muscle or thrown back wants to be fixed. A bed-ridden person or an individual with dis- abilities will benefit from Myofaschial stimulation preventing muscle atrophy and increasing circulation and lymph drainage. The athlete will benefit from better muscle tone and increased range of motion helping to prevent injury and improve performance.
Mom will appreciate
"getting away from it all" by getting most
of her muscle tension out. The office and computer worker
will benefit from release of tension through the neck, shoulders
and lower back. If you stop by on your way home from work
for even a 15 to 20 minute chair massage you won't take it all
home with you!
The bottomline
is EVERYONE benifits from Bodywork! This is true
both physically and
emotionally. A funny thing happens to most people
who begin a regular massage
routine, they start becoming more "aware" of their own body. They are
more in touch with what is right and wrong
within themselves.
Posture improves, the skin looks healthier (remember circulation), they start to feel
better about themselves and their body. Victims of abuse
learn to accept positive, respectful touch with trust .
People start feeling good in their own skin.
Infant Massage: Another area that I would like to touch on is infant massage. Massage is a fantastic way to start your life! We have become a culture of touchless inhibitions, these have been instilled to us by political, religious and social mores. I believe that it is necessary to realize that we as humans are born with a need for healing and nurturing touch. It's not really practical to take your child to a massage therapist often enough to be effective. It is much better for the parents to learn to give the child massage themselves. It is not a complicated process and can be learned easily. There are many ways that baby will benefit from regular massage (especially premies), they put on weight faster, cognitive skills are enhanced, improves sleep patterns and an amazing bonding experience to name a few. I currently am not certified in infant massage instruction so I would like to refer you to Brenda Walters for this instruction. You can visit her at the link below
In
Closing: There
is always new research being conducted on Bodywork Therapies,
this is an ancient field of work that is just recently
being looked at in a new
"light". Don't forget that massage is still great
for stress reduction and relaxation, we have created a highly
stress laden
culture and this is still an
important aspect of massage. But massage has moved out of the "fluff and
buff", only for the rich and spa culture paradigm.
There is absolutely NOTHING wrong with a relaxing spa massage but
this work has become mainstream, it is now considered
"health maintenance", not to mention the remedial
aspects of Bodywork.
Bodywork is an extensive field
of knowledge and application. But you can find much more information on that in
my LINKS to Associated Bodywork and Massage Professionals, The
Touch Research Institute and others. Always feel free to
contact me with any questions you may have about what Bodywork can do for you.
Take Care and Good Health!
(405)
528-4840
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