A Word About Massage

According to Webster's New World Dictionary, Second College Edition, the word "massage" is derived from Arabic and means to touch or stroke. There's nothing new about massage. It's been around for quite some time in one form or another. The Chinese wrote about it in 3000 BC, the Greeks practiced massage, it's mentioned in Sanskrit text, in Homer's Odyssey, and in the Middle Ages massage was considered an adjunct to surgery and used for therapy.

Swedish massage is a relaxing procedure using long, flowing strokes and is the most popular in the Western world. In the Eastern world, acupressure, a Chinese form of pressure points, and shiatsu, a Japanese style of pressure points, are most common. There also are other more specific forms available. Some are lymphatic massage; sports massage; polarity, the science of balancing the subtle energy of the body; deep tissue, which works entire muscles; foot reflexology, in which the whole body can be done through the feet; Tuina, an ancient Chinese medical massage; sensate shiatsu, a fast-paced tissue massage that targets pressure points and can be done without the client removing clothing; and myofascial release, a relatively new form of therapeutic massage that benefits the fascia system, or connective tissue.

So what comes to mind when YOU hear the word "massage?" Could it be a vigorous rubdown that makes your back tingle or a relaxing, soothing time away from the everyday routine? Whatever your idea, being at the receiving end of a massage can enhance your self-image and feelings of well being. Ask us about our massage services and how you can benefit from something the ancient Greeks knew about long before our time.

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