Massage history

Writings on massage have been found in many ancient civilizations such as Rome, Greece, Japan, China, Egypt, Mesopotamia and India.

Massage therapy is recognized as one of the oldest methods of healing, with references in medical texts nearly 4,000 years old. In fact, Hippocrates, known as the “father of medicine”, wrote papers recommending the use of rubbing and friction for joint and circulatory problems.

Chinese records dating back 3,000 years also document its use; the ancient Hindus, Persians and Egyptians applied forms of massage for many ailments. A Chinese book from 2,700 B.C., The Yellow Emperor's Classic of Internal Medicine, recommends 'breathing exercises, massage of skin and flesh, and exercises of hands and feet" as the appropriate treatment for complete paralysis, chills, and fever."

Doctors such as Ambroise Pare, a 16th-century physician to the French court, praised massage as a treatment for various ailments. During World War I patients suffering from nerve injury or shell shock were treated with massage. St. Thoma's Hospital, London, had a department of massage until 1934. However, later breakthroughs in medical technology and pharmacology eclipsed massage as physiotherapists began increasingly to favor electrical instruments over manual methods of stimulating the tissues.

Massage is now used in intensive care units, for children, elderly people, babies in incubators etc. Most American hospices have some kind of bodywork therapy available, and it is frequently offered in health centers, drug treatment clinics, and pain clinics. A variety of massage techniques have also been incorporated into several other complementary therapies, such as aromatherapy, reflexology, Rolfing, Heller work, and osteopathy.

Nowadays massage therapies can be found in any respectable SPA around the world (Day Spas, Medical Spas and of course Hotel Resort Spas).

What is massage
Massage is defined as the application of various techniques to the muscular structure and soft tissues of the human body. It is the application of soft-tissue manipulation techniques to the body, generally intended to reduce stress and fatigue while improving circulation.

Massage therapy techniques include applying fixed or movable pressure, holding, vibration, rocking, friction, kneading and compression using primarily the hands, forearms, elbows or feet. All of the techniques are used for the benefit of the musculoskeletal, circulatory-lymphatic, nervous, and other systems of the body. In fact, massage therapy positively influences the overall health and well-being of the client.

The many variations of massage account for several different techniques. Massage excludes diagnosis, prescription, manipulation or adjustments of the human skeletal structure, or any other service, procedure or therapy which requires a license to practice orthopedics, physical therapy, podiatry, chiropractic, osteopathy, psychotherapy, acupuncture, or any other profession or branch of medicine.


Thai massage 

Known in Thailand as นวดแผนโบราณ (Nuat phaen boran, IPA [nuɑt pʰɛn boraːn]), meaning "ancient/traditional massage", Thai massage originated in India and is based on ayurveda and yoga. It was believed that the massage art was brought over to Thailand by Shivago Komarpaj over 2500 years ago. The technique combines massage with yoga-like positions during the course of the massage; the northern style emphasizes stretching while the southern style emphasizes acupressure.

Traditional Chinese massage

Two types of traditional Chinese massage exist - Tui na (推拿) which focuses on pushing, stretching and kneading the muscle and Zhi Ya (指壓) which focuses on pinching and pressing at acupressure points. Both are based on principles from Traditional Chinese Medicine.

Benefits of massage
Today, the benefits of massage are varied and far-reaching. As an accepted part of many physical rehabilitation programs, massage therapy has also proven beneficial for many chronic conditions, including low back pain, arthritis, bursitis, fatigue, high blood pressure, diabetes, immunity suppression, infertility, smoking cessation, depression, and more. And last but not least, massage helps relieve the stress and tension of everyday living that can lead to disease and illness.

Physical and Mental Benefits of massage:
- relaxes the whole body
- loosens tight muscles
- relieves tired and aching muscles
- increases flexibility and range of motion
- diminishes chronic pain
- calms the nervous system
- lowers blood pressure
- lowers heart rate
- enhances skin tone
- assists in recovery from injuries and illness
- strengthens the immune system
- reduces tension headaches
- reduces mental stress
- improves concentration
- promotes restful sleep
- aids in mental relaxation