Massage is one of the oldest, simplest forms of therapy. It combines several techniques, such as stroking, pressing and kneading, to different areas of the body to relieve pain, relax, stimulate, and tone the body. Massage does much more than create a pleasant sensation on the skin, it also works on the soft tissues(the muscles, tendons, and ligaments) to improve muscle tone. Although it largely affects those muscles just under the skin, its benefits may also reach the deeper layers of muscle and possibly even the organs themselves. Massage also stimulates blood circulation and assists the lymphatic system (which runs parallel to the circulatory system).

Although a single massage will be enjoyable, receiving regular massages can produce powerful changes in the body. Regular massage can strengthen and tone the entire body mechanism, and help to prevent unnecessary strains and injuries that might otherwise occur. Massage can stimulate or calm the nervous system, depending upon what is required by the individual, thus help reduce fatigue, leaving the receiver feeling replenished and energized. At its best, massage has the potential to restore the individual physically, mentally and spiritually.

Massage has also been known to increase one's alertness and overall energy level. Digestion, breathing, appearance, metabolism and several other aspects of the body are stabilized and operate more efficiently after bodywork.  In addition to all the benefits listed below, massage FEELS WONDERFUL!

Physical/Muscular Benefits:

• Promotes deep relaxation
• Relieves muscle tension and stiffness
• Reduces muscle spasms and cramping
• Reduces adhesions (knots), scar tissue and fibrosis
• Relieves tension-related headaches
• Helps relieve effects of eyestrain
• Reduces fatigue
• Improved flexibility and range of motion in joints
• Increased suppleness and elasticity of muscles
• Decreased healing time for injuries to soft tissue
• Reduces muscle and soft tissue pain
• Helps to reestablish proper tone in muscles
• Improves posture
• Enhances athletic performance

• Helps to reduce tension in the skin and adjoining tissues
• Increases circulation and improves nutrition
• Enhances the health and nourishment of skin

Respiratory Benefits:

• Promotes deeper and easier breathing
• Normalizes the breathing pattern through relaxation
• Releases tension in the breathing structures, including the rib cage and the muscles that assist in respiration
• Relieves congestion in the lungs through percussive and compressive movements

Digestive Benefits:

• Stimulates peristalsis
• Can reduce cramping or spasm in the digestive tract
• Massage supports healthy digestion through its stress releasing effects
• Increases and improves the waste elimination process throughout the body

• Improves circulation of blood which speeds healing
• Increasing Lymphatic Circulation resulting in decreasing inflammation
• Speeds the elimination of metabolic wastes
• Balancing of Blood Pressure
• Helps reduce hypertension
• Increases blood supply to the muscles and organs
• Increases the number of red blood cells in circulation
• Strengthens the immune system

Mental/Emotional Benefits:

• Helps to relieve depression
• Improves quality of sleep
• Reduces mental stress
• Balances Your Energy
• Creates a feeling of well-being
• Reduces anxiety levels
• Increases awareness of the mind-body connection
• Fosters a peace of mind
• Promotes Vitality
• Provides a Self Reward
• Satisfies the need for caring and nurturing touch

As modern society rediscovers the benefits of Massage Therapy, people are increasingly looking to touch-based manual therapies for the relief from stress, physical pain, and dysfunction. In our fast-paced and stress laden society massage can provide a way to relieve stress symptoms and reduce the negative impacts stress has on the body.

People with the following conditions have reported that therapeutic massage has lessened or relieved many of their symptoms:

• Arthritis
• Allergies
• Asthma and bronchitis
• Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
• Chronic and acute pain
• Circulatory problems
• Discomforts of pregnancy
• Gastrointestinal disorders like spastic colon, colic and constipation
• Headaches
• Immune function disorders
• Insomnia
• Myofascial and other pain
• Reduced range of motion
• Sports injuries
• Stress
• Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) dysfunction
• Whiplash

Realize that massage can be a useful tool in managing your health, but it's not the entire treatment. For many injuries and muscle conditions, massage may be a tool to make you feel better and experience less pain, but it doesn't take the place of standard treatments and exercises, including flexibility, strength training and aerobic conditioning. 

Massage is generally safe as long as it's done by a trained therapist. But massage isn't for everyone. For some people and conditions, it can even be dangerous. Discuss massage with your doctor and your practitioner before making an appointment if you have:

• Burns on the area to be massaged
• Open wounds on the area to be massaged
• Had a heart attack or other cardiac problems
• Certain forms cancers
  (If indicated, you'll want to avoid direct pressure on the tumor area)
• Deep vein thrombosis
• Unhealed fractures
• Rheumatoid arthritis in the area to be massaged
• Osteoporosis
• Infectious diseases
• Some skin conditions
• Phlebitis
• Edema
• Hematoma (bruising)
• Varicose veins