MASSAGE & HEALING

The magic of touch entwines with all other forms of therapy. For without touch we die. Whether it be physically, emotionally or spiritually, a lack of touch leads to "death". Babies left untouched in hospitals die through lack of touch regardless of all the drugs and expensive machines surrounding them. We as humans simply need to be touched and to know we are loved.

I can not fathom what it must be like to be a priest, monk, hermit or any other who chooses to live a life without some form of intimate touch. Imagine how the world would change if we could all receive and give 10 loving hugs a day?

Our world is filled with people who fear being touched. Many grow up in homes where loving touch and physical affection are rarely displayed. The absence of touch between parents starves a child and they learn by example of how they "should" behave. Touch can also be misinterpreted as sexual and inappropriate, which leads to fear of reaching out to another, creating distance and fuelling desire to touch even further.

Whether you want a massage for a physical ailment, relaxation, or to assist in healing, the result is you are getting touch from another, which is highly beneficial in itself. Use your intuition and senses when going to a massage therapist, check the surrounds and go with your gut feel if this person is right for you.

The styles of massage are numerous and varied. There are hundreds of listed styles and therapies available that involve some form of massage.

Ultimately it depends on what you are looking for in a massage and from the therapist. The most common types of muscle and body therapies are:-

MUSCLE RELAXATION/ THERAPEUTIC

This can take the form of light gentle strokes, to deep pressure using thumbs and for the more adventurous, elbows and knees. Muscles that are tight restrict blood flow and can atrophy and waste away. Exercise and massage are the best activities to bring blood back to the muscles and assist to release the tension there.

ENERGY BALANCE

While not essentially a form of massage, energetic balance's in the form of Reiki, Spiritual Healing, Seichim, Deeksha and others are becoming more accepted as therapies in our healing. From personal experience and practice they do and can bring wonderful shifts in clients, whether it is an illness or a state of mind. Science has yet to discover how or why these therapies work, although scientists in 1995 proved the existence of meridians and recently found that enzymes and their receptors are attracted to each other not by their shape as previously thought but by their vibrational signature.

If you would like to know more about the human energy system (Chakras) I have linked part Caroline Myss's (author of "Anatomy of the Spirit") website which has an awesome little demo all about the chakras and how they fit with our bodies and minds.

LYMPHATIC DRAINAGE

The lymphatic system is our second circulatory system. It carries all the wastes, excess fluids and other materials away from our cells. This material is dumped back into the blood stream at the base of the neck after the lymphatic system has had a chance to purify the fluid. Swelling in the lymph glands is a sign that our glands are working to fight off an infection. If the lymphatic system were to shut down for 24 hours we would die. The lymphatic system depends on muscular contraction and body movement to pump the fluid around the body. Deep breathing into the belly is one of the best ways to stimulate the flow of lymph, which is enhanced further by exercise. Lymphatic drainage massage literally pushes the lymph back to the centre of the body. The results are immediate and apparent. Great for athletes after training and competition and those who lead a sedentary life.

SHIATSU

Literally translated as "finger pressure", Shiatsu is a Japanese form of massage or bodywork designed to improve the state of "ki' or "chi" within the body. It uses an Eastern philosophy as opposed to the Western, and looks at promoting a level of health within the body as opposed to the common Western idea of treating disease only. It utilizes the meridian lines as well as gentle rotation of limbs. There are as many styles of Shiatsu as there are massage.

PHYSICAL MANIPULATION

Manipulation of the vertebrae and bones should only be carried out by qualified chiropractors, osteopaths and surgeons. Sometimes during a massage the vertebra will naturally "pop" back into place, there is nothing wrong with this as it can happen at any time when we walk, sleep or move. A regular chiropractic session should be supplemented with regular massage as the bones can easily slip out again if the muscles that pulled them out in the first place are not relaxed.

INJURY MANAGEMENT & REHABILITATION

For severe injuries and car accidents the best people to manage the injuries are doctors and physiotherapists. However once the injury has sufficiently healed then massage is essential to bring the body back to balance. Lying in a hospital bed for long periods slows the lymphatic system and atrophies the muscles. Massage helps cleanse and rehabilitate the system.

Mobile Massage (depending on location)

65 minutes - $85.00
90 minutes - $110.00

Massage at home