April 2004 [Volume 3, Issue 4]

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In this issue of To Your Health:

• Another Benefit of Massage Therapy
• Discover Ayurvedic Massage
• This Month's Massage Q & A

Think massage is only useful for pain and stress reduction? Think again! A recent study issued by the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (NCBTMB) reveals that massage, when used in conjunction with a regular exercise routine, can maximize performance.

According to the report, massage helps improve range of motion, strength, endurance, and energy levels during exercise, and also assists in injury prevention; moreover, massage can benefit those at any level of fitness, from the casual walker to the professional athlete.

If you exercise on a regular basis (and you really should!), try integrating massage therapy into your workout session. Many gyms now provide onsite massage therapy for a nominal fee. You've got nothing to lose and everything to gain!

For more information on the benefits of massage, visit www.massagetoday.com.

Source: Press release. "Maximizing exercise with massage." NCBTMB. March 22, 2004.

Ayurveda is a practice that originated in India several thousand years ago. The practice involves balancing the three life energy forces: vata, pitta, and kapha. Vata is the energy of movement; pitta, the energy of digestion; and kapha is the energy of structure. These energy forms are made up of the components and combinations of the five great elements: Space, Fire, Water, Air and Earth.

Ayurvedic massage incorporates the knowledge of ayurveda and uses warm oils and herbs along specific energy points to help restore balance to the body. Massage strokes, oils and herbs are selected based on a client's specific needs; hence, each treatment is highly customized. Benefits of ayurvedic massage include vitality, stress reduction, and relaxation. Proponents of ayurveda also report a renewed sense of spiritual connection and inner peace.

For more information on this and other massage techniques, visit www.massagetoday.com/aboutmt.

Question: I've been reading about Asian massage and bodywork techniques like Reiki, Accupressure, and Shiatsu. Some [religious] Web sites talk about them as if they are occult related and that they should be stayed away from. What is the general idea about these practices? Are they really something bazaar or has it been blown out of proportion?

Answer: Massage and bodywork, including Asian bodywork, is based on the core belief that the body has the power to heal itself without the help of synthetic medication, invasive surgery, etc.

Accupressure, Shiatsu, and Reiki are forms of Asian bodywork that have been around for thousands of years, and are concerned with the flow of energy or qi (pronounced "chee"). In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) theory, the flow of qi is directly related to one's health. When qi flow is disrupted or "blocked," it can negatively affect the body -- or cause "imbalance" -- and result in illness. Acupressure, Shiatsu and Reiki are concerned with finding and releasing these blockages and restoring the flow of qi to promote wellness and restore health.

The question you pose about "occult" or "cult" behavior is interesting. Some of the ideological beliefs of cetain religions may not coincide with holistic medicine practices because of terms like "energy." However, the term "energy" can have different meanings for different people: body energy, mind energy, and spiritual energy, including one's connection to a higher power, are all examples.

In holistic medicine, all of these things are tied into health and wellness. For example, if your spiritual life or emotional well-being are out of balance, your health will be negatively affected. In other words, the body is treated as a whole, rather than parts.

Holistic medicine and the forms of bodywork mentioned above do not dictate belief or ideology. They can be practiced and enjoyed by people of all faiths and beliefs; moreover, Asian bodywork, Reiki, or any other type of energy work is not related to the occult or a cult. They are simply practices to assist in promoting health, wellness, and holistic living.

Note: Information provided in the Massage Q & A section is drawn from the "Ask a Massage Therapist" forum, in which massage therapists field questions relative to the massage profession. The forum is located online at www.massagetoday.com/ask/.

This edition of To Your Health is co-sponsored by:

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