Thai Massage - A Bodywork Experience Like No Other

Thai massage is rapidly becoming one of the favorite options for individuals looking for a good, relaxing massage. While still not as popular in the United States as it is in Europe, this style of massage is certainly becoming more prevalent - and well-paying - for qualified practitioners.

History of Thai Massage

Thai massage is rapidly becoming one of the favorite options for individuals looking for a good, relaxing massage. While still not as popular in the United States as it is in Europe, this style of massage is certainly becoming more prevalent - and well-paying - for qualified practitioner

Despite the name, Thai massage originated in India. It is an ancient practice that monks learned in India and then brought back to their homeland. Shivago Komarpaj is commonly thought to have been the originator of this massage style in Thailand, bringing it back from his travels over 2,500 years ago.

For generations, Buddhist monks taught other men (as women were forbidden to enter the temples where monks resided) the art of massage, and many Buddhist temples combined spirituality with these treatments.

Techniques of Thai Massage

Most massage types require the person receiving it to simply lie there and receive the treatment for anywhere from 15 minutes to an hour. Thai massage is more intensive and participatory for the client. The traditional style takes up to two hours and usually involves the recipient being maneuvered into yoga poses to aid the function of the actual techniques. Putting the body in certain positions makes it easier for the masseuse to manipulate the muscles properly, resulting in a far more thorough treatment.

The movements in this type of massage are fluid and smooth. Through stretching and pressure, the muscles are worked and acupressure points stimulated. It is often referred to as "Thai bodywork," as it has such a beneficial effect on the body.

The process of Thai massage begins with by pressing the muscles, opening the sen energy lines and softening the muscles in preparation for the stretches. All this is done while the recipient of the massage is completely clothed, which is yet another difference from regular massage practices, wherein oil is used on the bare skin.

Once the muscles have been softened sufficiently, starting at the head and extending down to the toes, the process of stretching begins. The masseuse uses full body contact to mold, stretch, and maneuver the recipient's body into the chosen yoga poses, stretching the now soft muscles and elongating them.

Because of the number of different ways the body can move and muscles be manipulated, there are different specialties in the area of Thai massage. Some aim to prepare the body for sports, while others are designed to heal or repair damage done. Also, there is a more modern type of Thai massage that came about from the teaching of tourists the techniques only, leaving out the information on energy flow and spirituality.

Benefits of Thai Massage

There are quite a few benefits unique to Thai massage procedures. Whereas regular massages simply knead the muscles to relax them, the Thai techniques work to return them to their original length. This is believed to be effective because muscle pain may be caused by muscles that tighten due to tension or repetitive motions. For example, if an individual only ever moved his or her legs in 45 degree angles, the muscles would shorten over time and even cause considerable pain. Thai massage is designed to help.

After a good Thai massage session, the entire body is relaxed and the muscles are stretched out, making movement easier. Often, joint pain is diminished or even eliminated completely. With repeated treatments, the body becomes supple and flexible, returning to what should be a natural state. Other, more unexpected benefits include relief from constipation and other bowel problems, headaches, aches and pains, and joint stiffness. This is usually attributed to the newly released flow of energy caused by the pressing of the muscles.

Learning Thai Massage

It's not a good idea to try Thai techniques without proper training in this specific type of massage. The pressure and positions used mean that the possibility for injury with untrained masseuses is quite high. The danger is not just to the recipient; because this is a physically strenuous activity for both parties, incorrectly performing the moves can cause back problems in the practitioner, as well.

Certified courses can be found in most Western countries. You can also study in Thailand, but the courses are usually lacking in many areas, and it can be difficult to find one that is held in English. Most traditional massage schools in the United States don't yet offer Thai techniques as an option, so you will likely need to enroll in a facility that specializes in alternative therapies or even Thai massage in particular.

The demand for this unique brand of bodywork is growing rapidly as more and more people discover the benefits of Thai massage. While it doesn't require any equipment apart from a mat, there is special training involved to master the techniques safely.

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Sports Event Massage Benefits

There are 3 different categories of sports massage; event, maintenance, and treatment massage. While each type offers specific benefits, all sports massage can help reduce the risk of injury, increase circulation, and improve recovery time; which are three very important factors for all athletes. This article is going to focus on Event Massage.

Event Massage can be broken into the sub-categories of pre-event, inter-event, and post-event. Pre-event massage will help an athlete prepare for the upcoming physical exertion. Inter-event massage is used during and event such as track, where an athlete may be entered in multiple activities. While post-event massage is used to help athletes recover from the exertion of the event. Event massage targets the large muscle groups, is short in duration (10-15 minutes) and fast paced.

One of the most important benefits of pre-event massage is helping to reduce the risk of injury. This is achieved through the warming up of muscle and connective tissue. As muscle and connective tissue warms, it becomes more elastic; therefore it is less likely to tear. Pre-event massage also increases circulation. This will help supply the muscles with the needed nutrients during the event. Pre-event massages also help create a positive state of mind and can help improve an athlete's performance potential.

Inter-event massage is administered between the events during a single day's competition; such as track and field, swimming, and tennis. Inter-event massage is used to identify any areas of tension that developed during competition. Using effleurage and pétrissage massage strokes, a therapist can loosen the tension; therefore reducing the risk of injury.

Post-event massage is best done after an athlete performs normal cool exercises and stretches. The benefits of post-event massage include returning the muscles to a resting or relaxed state. It will help with venous return to support the metabolic recovery; this includes lactic acid build-up in muscle tissue. A massage therapist can identify and de-activate any trigger/tender points that developed during competition. Post-event massage will also reduce the risk of "next day" muscle soreness.

Event Massage is a faced paced style of massage intended to enhance an athlete's performance potential. It will increase circulation and core body temperature; aide in recovery time and reduce the risk of injury. Event Massage is not intended to take the place of normal warm-up and cool-down routines; rather it is an aide to enhance and complete these routines.

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How to Become a Massage Therapist

If you have always thought of Hawaii as only a vacation spot then it's time to think otherwise. Hawaii the island of smiles is not anymore just a vacation destination but a place to get a job and start up a lucrative career. What job might that be? Massage therapy. The island's massage therapy industry is very much in boom. People and tourist here come here looking for ways to unwind and relax.

Peak season or not, tourist come to Hawaii to release those unwanted tensions and irksome muscle pains. Peak season or not, Hawaii is always going to be a tourist magnet and that makes the massage therapy industry an assurance of being lucrative. And the better part of it, Hawaii offers quality education in massage therapy. It's like having a vacation on a school year.

So let's start packing our bags because we are going to become a massage therapist in Hawaii. Massage therapy means many things to a lot of people that in a recently published scholarly article has identified more than 80 different styles. Many of these massages have been developed in the past 30 years but to simply put,it is all about the manual manipulation of the soft body tissues in order to enhance health and well-being. It is used as relief from pain, stress reduction or enhancement of athletic performance.

Basic massage therapy courses is divided into two terms that last in about a year. The two terms is mostly spent on a set of amount of hours on different ares of massage therapy. An example would be that Massage Tech would be 103 hours, Shiatsu 39 hours and so on and so forth. Learning these different massages will give you a broader knowledge of many forms of massage therapy and more options in applying for a job. However if you also want to focus in a certain type of massage therapy.

That can also be done because there are also courses that give a specific class that are focused on such type of massage as reflexology, hand massage, sports massage and acupressure. By starting first to be introduced with the different types of massage it will get you to to know more what you really want to specialize in. This makes the basic courses all the more important.

Massage schools also teach you business tactics that will prepare you in any massage therapy jobs,aiding you especially on how to deal with your own clients. And because Hawaii is an accredited state, you get to be nationally and internationally accredited as a licensed massage therapist making it possible for for you to work anywhere,anytime. So have you packed your bags already? The opportunity awaits.

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Massage Therapy Business in Hawaii

Hawaii is perhaps one of the most visited places in the world. People from all walks of life, from different races and countries, go to Hawaii with a vision in their minds of white sand beaches, clear, blue seas, five star resorts, and a hundred varied recreational activities. In fact, the tourism industry in Hawaii is the foremost source of income for the people in the island. Thus, most of the businesses there cater to the tourists who visit Hawaii., especially in Maui, the capital city of the island.

One of the most successful businesses in Hawaii is the spa and massage therapy business. There, a tourist can enjoy a range of different massage techniques, from Shiatsu to sports massage therapy. Tourists, after a long day out in the sun or frolicking in the water, love getting relaxing massages in Hawaii 's many spas and leisure centers. If you are looking for a job or business that would easily take off, then the massage therapy or spa business is the one for you.

What Hawaiians and their government were lucky to see quickly was the potential of the massage therapy business in Hawaii. They saw that the demand for massage therapists were increasing and did not show any signs of going down as Hawaii became a more popular tourist destination.

Thus, the government and other people built massage schools to cater to those who wanted to learn massage therapy. These massage schools are government accredited, meaning those who learn there can practice their craft practically anywhere. Moreover, Hawaiian massage schools stay on top of their game. They incorporate not only traditional massage techniques in their courses such as Lomi lomi and Shiatsu, but also introduce newer massage styles such as sports massage therapy.

If you want to study something that would guarantee you a lifetime of financial security, then study massage therapy in Hawaii. The benefits are many. You are assured of the best education, and once you graduate, you know that your customers will be abundant.

The massage schools in Hawaii will teach you a wide range of massage therapy styles, from the newly popular and trendy sports massage therapy to the more traditional ones like the Hawaiian Lomi lomi and the Indian Ayurvedic massage, thus ensuring that you can give your services to a wide variety of clientele. You can also use this knowledge to start your own business. So what are you waiting for? Head to Maui, Hawaii now and find out for yourself the amazing opportunities that open to you once you study massage therapy.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Paul_S_Fitzgerald