Therapeutic Body Work
vs
Spa Massages
Today most are aware of massage and know that it relaxes you.
A few even have a more in-depth knowledge of the field while
some only know that it's out there as a profession with little or no
knowledge beyond that. And a good portion of the population think
that massage just 'rubs' the body's muscles and does nothing more
beyond that.
Let's take a Spa environment for example. Most Spas offer
Swedish and Deep tissue massage. These are basic forms of body
work and are the base from which other more diverse forms of body
work are launched. On a superficial level one addresses the circula-
tory system while the other addresses the muscular system. Relaxa-
tion is achieved by slowing the individual down and releasing tight
muscles. But, so much more can be achieved.
So, what can therapeutic body work address other than just relax-
ing and releasing tight muscles?
*Reduce edema (swelling) by addressing the Lymphatic system
with small light strokes and long sweeping directional strokes
to draw the excess fluid away from the affected area.
*Relax an over stimulated nervous system with various levels of
vibration ('rocking') of the body.
*Decrease scarring after an injury such as a pulled muscle or sur-
gery with various levels of depth into the tissue.
*Balance an over abundance of emotions that occurs with a loss or
traumatic event and settle spinning thoughts with various energy
holds to name a few.
While general relaxation is awesome for everyone and going to a
spa to 'unwind' is fantastic, just remember that therapeutic body work
has a healing power beyond that of relaxation!
Therapeutic Body Work by Pamela Ann, LMBT #2311
massageoceanstyle.com 252-423-0393