The Massage Bible - Susan Mumford
Год выпуска: 2009Автор: Susan Mumford
Жанр: Книги на английском
Формат: PDF
Качество: OCR
Описание: Massage is a wonderful therapy to share with partners, friends and family. It can promote a strong feeling of wellbeing, reduce stress and even relieve the symptoms of common ailments such as backache and anxiety. This complete guide will teach you all the techniques you need to give a full body massage and take you through a series of guided step-by-step routines. The Massage Bible covers a variety of massage styles, including Swedish, Chinese, Indian Head Massage and Shiatsu, as well as some specialized treatments ranging from baby to sports massage.
Welcome to this guide, which is going to be a fascinating journey through the world of massage. Massage techniques have evolved over the centuries, incorporating influences from both East and West. As you explore different aspects of massage in this book - from its unrecorded beginnings, through the various techniques and styles, to a step-by-step, full-body massage - you may wish either to dip into certain sections for reference or to follow it all the way through. What will become apparent as you read is how different approaches to massage can complement each other and often overlap. While practitioners often disagree about the best approach, this only serves to keep the art of massage alive and vibrant.
What is massage?
Massage is basically couch - and touch is something we all do every day. However, while this book will enable you to explore massage and discover your own talent for it. please don't skip straight to the chapter on techniques! Understanding, preparation and practice are equally important.
Techniques are useful to give structure to a massage, but so are developing empathy and the quality of your touch. It is a question of finding the right balance between them. And once you have mastered the basics and developed your confidence, you can begin adapting your massage to different situations and can even use it to ease everyday common ailments.
Benefits and styles
A basic understanding of the body provides an insight into the therapeutic benefits of touch. To develop and fine-tune your skills takes discipline and practice. By following each chapter, you will gain a basic understanding of the subject and. with practice and feedback, be able to give a relaxing massage to family and friends. Only a qualified practitioner should offer massage when there are medical problems: if you are in any doubt, always seek medical advice.
Several different massage styles are included in this book. With any style of massage there is one body being treated and two hands doing the treating, which is why the techniques for varying styles have been grouped together loosely - the fundamental difference lies in their approach.
Techniques take time to master and are best practised first of all on yourself. Look at increasing your flexibility, your mental relaxation and your sensitivity as a worthwhile investment of your time. All the preparation will finally pay off when the process turns into dynamic interaction with your partner. If you only have a few minutes available for massage, try the quick fixes in each chapter or the self-massage when you are on your own.
The history of massage
The origins of massage are timeless. 'Rubbing' when things hurt is a natural instinct and is comforting, soothing and revitalizing. Therapeutic touch is natural to all cultures, so it is difficult to pinpoint its exact beginnings, although various references illustrate the role of massage from past to current times.
Eastern massage
In China, archeological finds confirm that massage was practised more than three thousand years ago. The Yellow Emperor's Treatise of Internal Medicine. the first comprehensive medical text, compiled sometime between 2700 and 200 bce. outlined treatment using herbs, acupuncture and massage. TuiNa. meaning 'pushing and grasping', sprang from the popular folk massage anmo. which survives today. With roots in the Shang Dynasty (starting in 1700 bce), it emerged in around 1368-1644 ce. In lapan. an early form of massage known as anma was introduced from China via Buddhism in the 6th century ce; Western medicine dominated in the early 19th century, but a century later shiatsu emerged and now enjoys official recognition in Japan.
In India. Sanskrit texts dating from around 1500 все. forming the basis of Ayurvedic medicine, refer to massage.
oils and herbs. Indian head massage, or champissage (champi meaning shampoo), has been part of family grooming for 1,000 years and is used to promote healthy hair. Hieroglyphics found in Egyptian tombs and dated to around 2300 все depict practitioners rubbing hands and feet with their hands.
Western massage
According to Hippocrates, the 'father of modern medicine' (c. 460-377 bce). physicians 'should be practised in many arts but particularly that of rubbing'. And the Greek physician Asclepiades of Bithynia (c. 124-40 bce) recommended massage, diet, exercise and baths. In Greece, massage was used for digestive ailments and commonly before sport. The Roman physician Celsus (c. 25 bce-57 ce) described frictions in detail, recommending massage for headache relief, while Galen (c. 130-201 ce) wrote that 'all the muscle fibres should be stretched in every direction'. Pliny the Elder (23-79 ce) was healed by a medical practitioner of massage, while Julius Caesar (100-44 bce) received massage for neuralgia. The Persian physician Avicenna (980-1037). who was influenced by Galen, wrote of massage and described various friction methods.
Massage later became frowned upon as indulgent, and medical references are sporadic until the 15th century. In 1813. Per Henrik Ling established the Swedish movement system, although Swedish massage terminology was introduced at a later date by Dutchman Johann Mezger.
During che First World War injured soldiers were created with massage, while the Califbrnian bodywork movement of the 1960s combined massage with personal growth.
Each culture has its own traditions, with massage walking a path between pleasure, folk usage and professional therapy. It is now practised in its own right, although traditionally it formed part of a therapeutic whole.
The purpose of massage
Why do we massage, and why is it so popular? Is it done just because it feels nice? It certainly does feel good and a whole health industry has grown up around it. but you could say that the purpose of massage is to benefit both parties that are involved - on many different levels.
Stress relief
For the purposes of health arid well-being. massage stimulates the circulation of the blood, increasing the supply of oxygen to the tissues and lowering blood pressure; it relaxes the muscles and enhances the flexibility of the joints. It also stimulates the nervous system, whether to relax or to increase alertness. Relaxation relieves the effects of stress, which at their worst can cause myriad health problems. In this way massage can be used as a preventative before disease sets in. Stimulation of certain pressure points increases the vitality of the internal organs and can relieve the symptoms of common ailments. Once the body feels at ease, the mind can relax - and switching off may be something that we rarely get to do. The here and now of massage can produce remarkable effects where the stresses of daily life are left behind.
The healing power of couch
Massage can also be meditative and psychologically healing - for people who may have had a negative experience, massage gives them a chance for positive touch. It is also an acceptable form of touch for those who may not have anyone close to them. It is a way of bonding with a partner, and a wonderful way to bond with a newborn baby. It is a marvellous gift to share and a form of deep communication. It also provides a way of caring and of building confidence that is creative and fun.
Because massage is a great tonic, both physically and emotionally, it helps to improve our appearance. The physical benefits of massage include relaxing tense muscles, which can affect our posture and facial expression; and the boost to the body's circulation improves the colour and vitality of our skin. Inner relaxation and feeling good show outwardly in the way we stand and smile.
Contents
«The Massage Bible: The Definitive Guide to Massage Therapy»
Introduction- Techniques
- Holistic massage
- Chinese massage
- Shiatsu
- Indian head massage
- Massage for special situations
- Common ailments
- Lifestyle tips
Acknowledgements