Massage Therapists of South Africa – A Guide to Unwinding with Wellness Finds
A massage therapist uses manual techniques to manipulate the soft tissues in the body, a technique more commonly known as massage. The massage therapist performs this tissue manipulation so as to help hasten healing, increase metabolism, increase the activity of the circulatory and lymphatic systems.
Massage can also serve as a means to relax and refresh muscles, relieve pain and help maintain healthy skin. Additional benefits of massage therapy are that it helps to clam the nervous system, promoting a sense of relaxation and the renewal of energy, and that it assists in reducing tension and relieving fatigue.
Therapeutic massage therefore promotes health and wellness, and involves holding, causing movement of soft tissue, and/or applying pressure to the body. There are many styles and types of massage that therapists may apply and these include: acupressure, ayurveda massage, deep tissue massage, Lomi Lomi massage, medical massage, reflexology, shiatsu, hot stone massage, Swedish massage, Thai massage, traditional Chinese massage, trigger point therapy, Balinese massage, Postural Integration (PI), aromatherapy massage, sports massage, pregnancy massage, remedial massage and relaxation massage to give a few examples.
The body is usually divided into specific areas and massage may be performed to target these specific areas including; head massage, back, neck & shoulder (BNS) massage, foot & leg massage, hand & arm massage, full body massage, back massage, head, back, neck & shoulder massage. Massage is an effective and wonderful tool to aid the body in healing, relaxing and release from stress and other ailments.
