Category: Massage Therapy

SWEDISH MASSAGE

A Swedish gymnast, Per Henrik Ling, originally developed Swedish massage in the late 19th century. He developed a method of massage and gymnastics known as Swedish Movement Treatment or Swedish massage. This was the first systematic application of therapeutic massage in the West. It was based on European folk massage, oriental techniques from the Middle East and the then emerging knowledge of modern anatomy and physiology.

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The traditional oriental view of health is quite different from the modern, technological medicine in the West. In Eastern philosophy, illness is placed in the context of a holistic approach to life, and in particular the concept of an energy-based system, from the idea of a universal energy, or the highest level of spirituality, down to the lowest forms of life, much of Eastern ideology is an energetic one, with all parts of the human body interconnected and infused with a vital energy, and all life-forms similarly interdependent on an exchange of energies.

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Guidelines for Giving Deep Tissue Massage

Be in communication with the person. Find out, what areas need to be addressed and how the person feels to start with. Is there pain, tightness, numbness or tingling anywhere?

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Shiatsu is a Japanese word made up of two written characters meaning finger (shi) and pressure (atsu). The word Shiatsu literally means “finger pressure”. It is a traditional Japanese healing art and a form of physical manipulation. But it is very different from most forms of massages practised in the West, since there is no kneading, friction, or smooth flowing strokes. Instead, pressure and stretching are used almost exclusively. The practitioner uses the palms, fingers, thumbs, knuckles, elbows, knees, and even the feet to work on the hundreds of ‘tusbos’, or acupuncture points, along the body’s meridians or energy channels.

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There are some basic rules that should be followed before the practice of Shiatsu.

Wear comfortable, loose fitting clothes made of natural fibres. This will help with the flow of energy or Qi. The room should be warm, quiet,, have adequate space and be neat and clean. If not, this can have an adverse effect on the flow of Qi.

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Auras

A number of auras, or energy layers, surround the physical body that can be detected or appreciated. The first layer, the etheric body, is the densest and is connected with the body and the way it works. The astral body is much wider, is affected by people’s feelings and, if viewed by a clairvoyant or psychic, is said to change in colour and shape depending on the feelings being experienced.

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Practising Shiatsu involves learning to locate precise points on the body, along the meridians or energy channels, and pressing them correctly, for the prescribed number of seconds. The duration and strength of pressure vary according to each tsubo’s properties. The points are described below in abbreviated form; their names define, which meridian they are on. Most of the meridians are bilateral and therefore, involve pressing ‘tsubos’ on both sides of the body, legs, arms and so on.

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Origin

Tui-Na (pronounced tway-na), and An Mo represent different aspects of Chinese massage, which like all forms of Chinese Medicine, trace its origins back to the Wei Ching – the Yellow Emperor’s Classic of Internal Medicine from 2300B.C.

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Shiatsu can be practised to cure common ailments, quite effectively. Whether you practise Shiatsu on yourself or on others, you should always press the ‘tsubos’ in the order given below. In general, the pressure you apply should feel comfortable to the receiver; if there is a slight pain it will soon go.

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Centuries ago, in rural villages of China and Japan, often the martial artist was one of the most learned individuals in the society. The traditional martial artist had two jobs. One job was to protect the weak and powerless, and serve the cause of justice. The other job was to heal people in the community, using knowledge of traditional Oriental medicine.

Continue reading Massage Therapy: Nuad Bo’Rarn – The Traditional Healing Massage of Thailand