Consider, if you will, hot, oil-drenched hands rubbing away all that tension in your ears, neck and shoulders. Now, imagine these same hands working the delicate tissue along your spine and rubbing your lower back into a puddle of relaxation. The need to be touched and the need to relax go hand in hand " no pun intended. Its a need as deep as hunger or thirst and it has been a facet of every human civilization throughout history. It has been an integral part of every human civilization. From the Nile Valley to the Indus Valley to the Japanese Isles, massage has always played a part in human socialization and enculturation.
The magic of touch flows through the finger, the elbows, the palms, even the feet. The gentle, and in some cases fierce, manipulation of soft tissues is a mysterious thing. Though the ancients respected it as a necessity, it seems our Modern Era thinks of massage as frivolous or decadent. In the face of the so-called Protestant Work Ethic, it does indeed seem rather facile. But were made of flesh " and that flesh craves touch.
More and more, the medical benefits of massage are becoming apparent. The establishments slow realization began with the 1996 Atlanta Olympics when massage was offered as a medical service. Indeed, most athletes can vouch for the restorative benefits of a deep tissue massage. Football players, boxers, runners, practically every athletic endeavor can benefit from keep the muscles and joints and tendons relaxed.
Benefits beg the question of the method. There are various types of massage and a host of schools that specialize in teaching it. There is Swedish, visceral manipulation, myofascial, and Shiatsu, to name a few. In fact, Shiatsu is a licensed medical procedure in Japan. Translated as finger pressure, Shiatsu primarily uses the fingers and palms to soothe tight muscles and though it is a very popular form of massage, it has only been a codified system for approximately one hundred years.
A professional massage may not be feasible or affordable for most people, but there are alternatives. A proliferation of hand-held devices has become popular, and massaging components have been incorporated into all kinds of furniture. Massage chairs, in particular, have enjoyed a surge of popularity. The appeal of being able to slump into a chair and have it work the kinks out of your back and neck is hard to beat. A candle-lit, oil-drenched session, its not, but for those still at the beck and call of the Protestant Work Ethic, it might as close to the real thing as they get. - 16004
The magic of touch flows through the finger, the elbows, the palms, even the feet. The gentle, and in some cases fierce, manipulation of soft tissues is a mysterious thing. Though the ancients respected it as a necessity, it seems our Modern Era thinks of massage as frivolous or decadent. In the face of the so-called Protestant Work Ethic, it does indeed seem rather facile. But were made of flesh " and that flesh craves touch.
More and more, the medical benefits of massage are becoming apparent. The establishments slow realization began with the 1996 Atlanta Olympics when massage was offered as a medical service. Indeed, most athletes can vouch for the restorative benefits of a deep tissue massage. Football players, boxers, runners, practically every athletic endeavor can benefit from keep the muscles and joints and tendons relaxed.
Benefits beg the question of the method. There are various types of massage and a host of schools that specialize in teaching it. There is Swedish, visceral manipulation, myofascial, and Shiatsu, to name a few. In fact, Shiatsu is a licensed medical procedure in Japan. Translated as finger pressure, Shiatsu primarily uses the fingers and palms to soothe tight muscles and though it is a very popular form of massage, it has only been a codified system for approximately one hundred years.
A professional massage may not be feasible or affordable for most people, but there are alternatives. A proliferation of hand-held devices has become popular, and massaging components have been incorporated into all kinds of furniture. Massage chairs, in particular, have enjoyed a surge of popularity. The appeal of being able to slump into a chair and have it work the kinks out of your back and neck is hard to beat. A candle-lit, oil-drenched session, its not, but for those still at the beck and call of the Protestant Work Ethic, it might as close to the real thing as they get. - 16004
About the Author:
Feel no compunctions about indulging in massage chairs. We are fleshly beings and as such, we need to have our flesh soothed. Given the impressive selection of massage chairs on the market, finding one should be easy.
