The
point is that massage is the most naturally healing thing
you can do. The nurturing touch is simple, instinctual,
and more powerful than we can imagine. Some of the many
studies on touch show conclusively that it reduces stress,
alleviates depression, reduces pain, boosts the immune system,
and helps pre-mature babies catch up in their development.
Without touch we close down. With touch we love, communicate,
and nurture one another. So massage is not just a profession
for a special few; it is part of the healing touch we all
possess.
Because massage is naturally healing, its therapeutic use
dates back as far as mankind. Ancient Greek, Roman, and
Oriental medical treatises describe in detail how and when
massage should be used. In the Western world it fell out
of favor in the Middle Ages as the church regarded the body
as sinful. But, by the 1800's, a new interest in massage
was started in Sweden, and today there are many popular
modalities of therapeutic massage and bodywork.
Massage
professionals have spent years observing the benefits of
using certain strokes and have developed systematic techniques
to relieve the pain and stress of mankind. There are literally
dozens of these therapies, each with their own association
dedicated to supporting its members and promoting the benefits
of their work.
This
site is dedicated to massage, all massage, every kind of
massage. We invite you to explore our web site to learn
about the various techniques and their benefits, to help
you find a massage professional, to learn of the associations,
the schools, and the available research being done. We want
our site to be growing always so we welcome your contributions
to it. Thank you for visiting.