What Is Massage?
By Anitra Brown, About.com
Massage is a relaxing, therapeutic treatment that has been around for thousands of years. In fact, the word “massage” comes from the Greek root “masso," which means to touch. Massage is the most popular treatment at spas, but you can also get massage from individual licensed therapists who work out of their home or come to your house with a table.
Many people consider massage a pampering experience, but it has important health benefits. In fact, you get the greatest benefit when it is part of your regular wellness routine.
Many Types of Massage
There are many different types of massage, including deep tissue, sports massage, hot stone , aromatherapy , lymphatic drainage, trigger point therapy ,craniosacral therapy, neuromuscular therapy and myofascial release, watsu Rolfing, reflexology , Shiatsu, Thai Massage and Ayurvedic massage like abhyanga.
Swedish massage best for beginners
Swedish massage is the most popular style of massage in the U.S. It is very relaxing and a good choice for first-time spagoers.
A basic Swedish massage is 50-60 minutes long. It involves the stroking of skin and kneading of muscles. It is performed by a licensed massage therapist, who uses oil to lubricate the skin. You are usually nude but covered by sheets.
The cost of massage varies, depending on geographic location and how luxurious the spa is.
Athletes will be surprised to know that sport or sports massage is not a prticular form of massage in itself, but rather it is the integration of any number of different massage techniques which are applied with the knowledge of common injuries and soft tissue dysfunctions relative to sport and fitness. There is current research to promote that massage reduces the severity of delayed onset muscle soreness associated with high intensity workouts by reducing inflammation response. J Athl Train. 2005 Jul–Sep; 40(3): 174–180.
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