BMS

FAQs About Massage

What is Massage?

Massage is based on the principle that rubbing and manipulating muscles to relieve tension & soreness. The contact not only soothes sore muscles but relaxes the mind as well. Massaging muscles and soft tissue stimulates nerves, increases blood flow and relieves stress in the muscles, tendons & ligaments promoting health.

What is Swedish Massage?

Swedish Massage is a manual massage technique involving the use of long, smooth strokes using oil or lotion. Different strokes are used to loosen the muscle tissue such as kneading and compression, deep circular movements, vibration and tapping.

What is Deep Tissue Massage?

After muscle tissue is loosened and warmed up using gliding and soothing Swedish massage, then joints, tendons, and ligaments can be more easily stretched and manipulated using “deeper” massage techniques.

What is Shiatsu?

Shiatsu is a Japanese form of massage, which literally means “finger pressure”. Shiatsu is actually a form of acupressure (see acupressure), using massaging pressure on certain key points along the meridians or “channels” of energy. The Shiatsu system of healing and health maintenance has evolved over thousands of years. Shiatsu is performed on a padded mat with the recipient fully clothed, or Shiatsu can also be performed on a massage table (called “table kata”).

What is Thai Massage?

The ancient form of Thai massage is also performed on a padded mat (or table) with the recipient fully clothed. This massage method includes Yoga-like stretching and certain Ayurvedic and Chinese traditional medicine methods, like acupressure. Thai massage focuses on balancing energy and creating wholeness of mind, body, and spirit. Thai massage is a part of Thai medicine.

What is a Trigger Point?

A focal spot of tenderness within a muscle that may cause local or referred pain. An involuntary tight band or muscle that is painful when pressed and can refer pain to other parts of the body. Pressure on these points are used to release the muscle so it can relax.

What is Acupressure?

A Chinese form of massage over 5,000 years old which contacts points of the body corresponding to organs and muscles much like acupuncture but without the needles. Acupressure provides the same benefits as more conventional western massage using hands, knuckles, elbows and sometimes the feet to reduce pain, stress and improve health and well being. Acupressure is a part of Chinese medicine.

What is Reflexology?

Massage in which pressure is applied to specific areas of the feet and hands which correspond to other areas of the body including organs and muscles. It is based on the belief that each part of the body is interconnected through the nervous system to the hands and feet. By stimulating those reflex points in the feet and or hands it can stimulate the corresponding part of the body to function properly. This form has effects similar to acupressure.

What is Energy Work?

This subject has many answers. Usually Reiki comes up but Acupressure, Thai and Shiatsu are all considered not just massage but energy stimulating forms of healing touch. The other forms like Reiki, Healing Touch and Quantum Touch, along with a variety of others, are used to balance the body's energy with light to moderate contact and manipulaton no contact at all. The body's energy is sometimes called the biofield or life force and many of these practices follow the meridians or sen lines of the body affecting the Chi, Chakras or energy flow of the body. Almost all forms have the client fully clothed.