Massage
What Massage is
Massage is an ancient form of healing therapy and is thought to have emerged from the Greek work ‘massein’ meaning ‘to knead’ or the Arabic word ‘mash’ meaning ‘to press softly’. Massage is the oldest form of physical medicine known to man and can be traced back to early Chinese medical manuscripts from around 400BC. Massage was advocated by Hippocrates ‘the Father of medicine’ and during Roman times there had been many records of the use of massage to relieve muscular and neural conditions. Very little was recorded about massage in Europe between the Roman times and the early Middle Ages, but by the 16th Century, medicine slowly started to re-learn what had been lost. In 1776 a Swedish professor, Peter Ling, created a scientific system of therapeutic massage known as Swedish massage. Today, massage therapy is one of the fastest growing forces in the field of health care.
How Massage Works
Massage is the simple manipulation of the soft tissues of the body and involves working the muscles, tendons and ligaments. Massage works as a mechanical action, created by moving the muscles and soft tissues of the body using pressure and stretching. The movement and heat created during a massage helps to loosen tense muscles and reduce stress stored in the body. Often we can suffer with tension knots in our back and shoulders. These ‘knots’ are caused by tension in the muscles, usually due to stress and posture. This tension leads to a build up of lactic acid, which is a waste product produced by our muscles, which under constant strain, overloads and leads to hard, grizzly lumps. Massage helps to reduce muscle tension and increase oxygen flow to these areas, lowering overall stress and promoting relaxation over time.
The Benefits of Massage
- Promotes relaxation and reduces stress
- Enhances immunity by stimulating lymph flow
- Speeds up the removal of toxins and waste from the body
- Improves skin condition
- Increases joint flexibility
- Reduces emotional problems, such as depression and anxiety
- Promotes tissue regeneration to reduce scars and stretch marks
- Releases endorphins, the body’s natural pain killers
- Relieves tension headaches and migraine
- Helps athletes prepare for and recover from strenuous workouts
- Creates a feeling of stability and grounding
What a Massage Treatment Includes
A full massage treatment includes work on the legs, feet, arms, hands, chest, back, shoulders, neck, head and face. The massage treatment can be tailored to suit the client’s needs, so that a particular area of the body can receive more work if needed. The client will be covered with towels and underwear can be kept on. The therapist will only expose the area being worked on at each time, so the client is kept warm and comfortable. The massage treatment begins with the client lying on their front. The therapist will start by massaging the backs of the legs and the soles of the feet. Next, the client will receive a back, neck and shoulder massage before the client is asked to turn over. The therapist will then work on the front of the client’s legs and feet, using some gentle reflexology techniques. Next, the arms, shoulders, hands and chest are massaged before the treatment finishes with a pressure-point face and head massage. Overall, the treatment is an ideal way to relax, unwind and care for tired, achy muscles.
Catriona has Oncology massage training, so all massage and reflexology treatments can be tailored to suit clients going through cancer treatment or who have been through treatment for cancer.
Prices
Holistic Body Massage
A relaxing but effective massage, focussing on soothing effleurage and petrissage movements to calm and body and ease tension.
£55 (one hour and 15 minutes)
£60 (one hour and 30 minutes)
Holistic Back, Neck & Shoulder Massage
£45 (45 minutes)
Park Avenue
Aylestone
Leicester
LE2 8BD
T 07930 335744
E hello@karunaholistics.co.uk
*Male clientelle treated upon a strict referral only basis*
