What Is Massage Therapy?


Massage therapy is a hands-on manipulation of the soft tissue and joints of the body. The soft tissues include muscle, skin, tendons and associated fascia, ligaments and joint capsules. Massage has many diverse physiological effects, which are primarily due to the therapist's hands moving over the body. The different movements can physically stretch muscles, ligaments, tendons and fascia, encourage the circulation through the tissue, inhibit muscular spasms and be either sedating or stimulating to the nervous system. The therapeutic use of massage by a registered massage therapist affects all the systems of the body - in particular, the muscular, circulatory, lymphatic (immune) and nervous systems. No wonder so many people find massage therapy so helpful in so many ways!

Here's What Massage Does:


• Stimulates circulation so essential to the nourishment of your cells
• Relaxes tight or sore muscles; improves muscle tone
• Increases motion and flexibility of your joints so that energy and blood can flow through your nerves and arteries
• Eliminates wastes and toxins such as lactic acid (produced by muscles during exercise)
• Keeps your vital nerve endings open and supportive of other nerve cells
• Strengthens overall immune system
• Lowers anxiety and stress hormones
• Increases productivity and efficiency
• Enhances well-being through positive touch
• Reduces blood pressure
• Raises mood-elevating brain chemicals, such as serotonin

Specific Medical Conditions Aided By Massage Are:

• Allergies
• Arthritis
• Asthma & bronchitis
• Carpal tunnel syndrome
• Chronic conditions, such as fibromyalgia and scoliosis
• Depression
• Digestive disorders
• Headache, esp. related to tension; migraines
• Insomnia
• Recovery from surgeries, accidents, or other traumatic events
• Sinusitis
• Sports injuries
• TMJ (noise and/or pain in the jaw joint)
Massage benefits are greatest with regular treatments, rather than waiting until your body feels pain or stress due to underlying conditions. Enjoy optimum health benefits through preventive care.