Sunday, September 11, 2011

Asian Massage Therapy

The different types of asian massages are mentioned.
There are many forms of Asian massage therapy. These are ancient healing rituals being practiced for many centuries in India and the Far East. Thai massage, Asian massage and shiatsu has an increasing popularity in the west as the public is becoming more interested in yoga, pilates and other holistic forms of meditation and exercise.

Types of asian massage
Thai massage began in India. This type of massage uses guided stretching and Meridian pressure point therapy combined with an ancient breathing method called "pranayama". In this breathing methods are used to relax and cleanse the body and simultaneously strengthen the nervous system. The end of the sessions is the ritualized final relaxation that provides intense rest. The focus is on two things – sen that are the energy channels of the body and the different body muscles. Different yoga elements make the massage flexible and very enjoyable. This helps in focusing concentration and more efficient oxidation of the blood. Pranayama breathing technique is useful for cleansing the body and strengthening the nervous system. It boosts the immune system and assists in focusing, concentration and better oxidation of the blood.

Chinese acupressure or "tui na" includes applying pressure to the body at certain points. This is a rather tough massage therapy technique. The acupressure therapist enables the body to activate the self-healing abilities. This method has been developed since 5000 years to treat back pain, migraines, headaches, anxiety and stress. It provides intense relief and has the added benefit of weight management.

In Japanese shiatsu, there is energy rebalance and physical well-being using the palms, thumbs and fingers so that pressure is applied to certain parts of the body. It is from the Japanese words shi meaning finger and atsu meaning pressure. This is very effective in handling the emotional and psychological issues than the actual physical ones. There is rebalancing of the bone system, maintaining balance of the nervous system, enhanced circulatory function and greater skin and muscle flexibility. The roots of this technique are in Japanese philosophy, however usually the Chinese practiced it. This method focuses on the "hara" which is the energy center of the body. It is tried to treat the entire body using this technique. Pressure application, joint rotations and stretches are the usual practices in Shiatsu massage.

Acupressure is similar to acupuncture, but hands are used instead of needles. Using the hands, pressure is applied on various energy centers or meridians. Due to this different symptoms concerning different body parts related to various meridians are relieved. Due to this the blood circulation in different body parts are are also affected.

In Indonesian massage, special oils are used for the massage. The elements of the traditional Thai massage are executed. However, the span of the massage is shorter than the Thai massage. Spinal twists and some other techniques are utilized. Different problems concerning abdomen like indigestion, heartburn bloating, constipation and irritable bowel syndrome can be treated.

Massage therapy
This is the systematic manipulation of soft tissues to normalize them. Different physical methods are used to apply fixed or movable pressure and holding or causing movement to the body. Therapists generally use their hands for therapy. However, they may also use the feet, elbows or forearms. The main aim of massage therapy is to assist the body to heal itself and enhance the health and well-being. Touch is the important aspect of this therapy. The sense of touch is used to determine the correct amount of pressure to apply to different persons and find out areas of tension and different soft-tissue problems. When muscles are overworked, waste products like lactic acid collect in the muscle and cause soreness, muscle spasm and stiffness. Massage enhances the circulation due to which blood flow may be increased and fresh oxygen can be brought to the body tissues. Therapeutic massage boosts the circulatory system and immune system so that the blood pressure, muscle tone, circulation, digestion and skin tone can be benefited.

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