Relaxation massage, or Swedish massage, is the most popular of all traditional European style massages. Developed by Per Henrik Link in the 1700s who merged Western and Eastern healing techniques, it was the first organised and systematic method of modern therapeutic massage in the Western world.
Using oil or lotion as a lubricant, Swedish relaxation massage incorporates the following five strokes, all of which are done in the more superficial layers of the muscles towards the heart.
Effleurage – Meaning touching lightly, effleurage comprises long gliding strokes from the neck to the base of the spine, or from the shoulder to the fingretips. Done with the entire hand or the pads of the thumb, it helps relax the muscles while also enabling the therapist to exame the texture and qualiity of the muscle tissue.
Petrissage – Meaning kneading, petrissage involves the kneading , rolling or squeezing of the muscles to encourage deeper circulation through the veins and lymph vessels. This stroke is also believed to help clear toxins from the muscles.
Friction or rubbing – This consisits of deep circular or transverse movements of the thumb pads or fingertips around the joints and other bony areas to break down adhesions or knots of muscle fibre which develop in reponse to muscular trauma or pain.
Tapotement or tapping – Here the therapists taps the muscles with the edge of the hand, tips of the fingers or with a closed fist to release tension sand cramping and stimulate circlation in an area of atrophy. When performed correctly this technique invigorates the muscles before relaxing them
Vibration or shaking – this is performed at the end of the massage when the therapist persses her hands on the back or limbs and rappidly shakes them for a few seconds. This stroke is particularly helpful for relieving back pain.
The Egyptians have a rich history of using aromatic plants as perfumes. Imhotep, the Egyptian god of medicine, is said to have recommended fragrant oils for bathing and massage. However, credit for aromatherapy as we know it today belongs to the French chemist Rene Maurice Gattefosse. In 1920, a laboratory explosion badly burnt his hands. After immersing them in lavender oil, they quickly healed without scarring or infection. Afterwards his life was devoted to the study of essential oils.
It was later, during World War II that a French doctory, Dr Jean Valnet, used the healing properties fo essential oils for treating injured soldiers. His findings wer documented in his book Aromatherapie. The use of aromatics in massages was introduced by Madame Marguerite Maury in the 1950s, who, although trained as a biochemist, was unable to dispense essential oils as medicine and discovered their therapeutic and cosmetic benefits via massage.
Essential oils are the aromatice essences extracted from plants, flowers, trees, fruit, bark, grasses and seeds. Each essential oil may contain up to 100 chemical components, which when combined together, exert powerful effects on the body, mind and emotions. Over 150 essential oils identified to date which can be used alone or as a blend to treat specific complaints, without any recognised side effects. A maximum number of three oils in any one blend is recommended for the best result.
Because essential oils are highly concentrated and volatile, they are usually diluted with base oils such as almond or walnut oil to inhibit the evaporation of the essential oil and it takes a skilled aromatherapist to truly understand their common properties.
Essential oils are easily absorbed into the blood stream via the lungs, nose and skin. The vapor travels to the limbic system of the brain which is the area responsible for the expression of feelings, leaning , memory and physical drives. Used for physical ailments, the relief of congested sinuses or through for instance, the oils can be inhaled. When used in massage, essential oils are absorbed through the skin and carried to the muscle tissue, joints and organs. While more concentrated oils can be used for the relief of physical complaints such as muscle aches and skin lesions, the essential oil is best diluted with a base oil before using especially when used on sensitive skin and during pregnancy.
The word spa, which literally means sanus per aquam or health by water, is taken from the town of Spa in Belgium, which was one of the first places to recognise the healing properties of water.
The benefits of water and massage in strengthening health and treating disease dates back to Hippocrates. best known as the father of modern medicine, and the ancient Egyptians, who believed that water had both physical and secret properties. Similaly, in both Ayurveda and TCM, water is seen as being the medium through which the life force or qi travel, restoring health and harmony.
Whilst many of the spa treatments appearing on spa menus today world wide have their origins in the East, they also take from more traditional Western medicine to enhance well being and health. The founders of these more modern techniques are often trained in tradition Oriental healing methods which they later modify to suit their needs. Not surpirising then is the emergence of a new style of therapy – contemporary cosmepolitan or a fusion of East and West.
Massage is increasingly used both preventively and therapeutically to combat the effects of stress and promote rejuvenation and relaxation. And the beauty of massage is that the client can benefit from a number of healing traditions in the one treatment. So wherever you may be in Australia, from the Gold Coast to Yarra, Melbourne to Byron Bay, we can benefit from time honoured traditions combined with modern scientific techniques to destress, heal and truly calm the body.
Massage can be traced back to 3,000 years before the birth of Christ. A medical treatise in China, known as the “Nei Ching” contains some of the earliest references.
The Indian books of the Ayur Veda, written around 1800 BC, refers to massage as a means to help the body heal itself. Egyptian, Persian and Japanese physicians made many references to the benefits when attempting to cure illnesses.
The Romans and Greeks also believed in the benefits of massage. Homer, Herodotus, Hippocrates, Socrates and Plato all it as a treatment. Homer described in The Odyssey the restorative powers for exhausted war heros of massage with oil. Herodotus stated that massage can cure disease and preserve health, while Hippocrates, one of his pupils, believed that all physicians should be trained in it. Julius Caesar was massaged every day because he suffered from neuralgia adn Pliny, who was plagued by recurring asthma attacks, regularly received massage to relieve these bouts.
Massage continued to be popular into the Middle Ages when it lost its foothold in the medical profession because of a general feeling of antipathy towards the body ans physical world. Christianity placed a greater importance on the spiritual self that tended to exclude such earthly matters as the joy of physical well being. The Renaissance brought a renewed interest in massage and it began to develop as a science.
This continued and through the 16th century many prominent physicians incorporated massage into their approach towards healing the body. Massage took another great leap forward with the work of Per Henrik Ling. Ling, a native of Sweden, travelled to China and brought back some remarkably effective techniques that has become known as “Swedish massage“. Currently Swedish massage and the Japanese Shiatsu are two popular forms but there are many more styles available today. The medical profession is also taking a greater interest in the benefits of massage with interest in remedial massage.
Ripple is the day spa that comes to you all Byron Bay.
Lush Byron Bay massage and spa packages in your hotel or accommodation.
Relax, unwind, put up your feet (literally!) and we will do all the rest. Have the convenience of the massage therapist coming to you so all you have to do is enjoy your treatment.
Ripple also comes to Lismore, Ballina, Kingscliff, Tweed Heads, Cabarita and everywhere in between.
But decided to make the dash to the post box before yesterday’s mail got soaked.
I love it when you open your mail and get something apart from bills, and today there was a letter in amongst the boring stuff, giving us a lovely massage review.
A small taste of it went something like this…
“Best massage ever (and I have had plenty), can’t remember the therapist name but would definitely like to rebook with her, she was excellent.
The therapist had the best massaging hands I have ever experienced. The face mask was also fabulous. Overall fantastic!”
