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Holistic Massage Therapy
What Is Holistic Massage Therapy?
If you are interested in pursuing a career in massage therapy, or even if you’ve been working in the field for a
while, you might have heard the term ‘holistic massage therapy’ bandied about, and wondered what it meant.
So, to make the concept of ‘holistic massage therapy’ a little simpler to understand, here is a short explanation
of the terminology.
Holistic
Holistic is a word derived from the ancient Greek, that refers to something as a whole. So, instead of focusing on
a single part or area of the body, in this case, holistic massage therapy looks at the body as a whole, seeking to
find the source of a problem, rather than treating the symptoms only.
Finding Balance
As with most forms of healing that focus on
achieving holistic health, holistic massage therapy looks to treat the whole body, aiming for a sense of balance,
where the entire body is in harmony, or as many practitioners refer to it, homeostasis. It’s when the body is in
this state that we feel healthy, energetic and fit.
What Does Holistic Massage Therapy Entail
Unlike traditional
massage therapy, where you tell the massage therapist what you think is wrong, and they merely massage the
afflicted areas, massage therapists who practice holistic massage therapy will take a more active role in treating
your aches and pains.
Generally, the first consultation with a holistic massage therapist will require you to fill out an extensive
questionnaire on your health in general, and from there, the massage therapist will draw up a treatment plan that
takes into accounts any potential health problems you may have.
Why Is Holistic Massage Therapy So Effective
The growth in
holistic massage therapy is testament to the growing desire for this type of treatment. This, in turn, implies that
patients who have sought this type of treatment have got the results they wanted, which means that holistic massage
therapy must be effective.
There are several reasons for this. First, there’s the relaxation element of massage. In our busy, stressed out
lives, it’s rare that we’d ever take the time to simply relax, and since stress causes and aggravates illnesses and
other health problems, that relaxation alone is a major boon.
However, a trained holistic massage therapy practitioner will also have detailed knowledge of how your body works,
and what symptoms are linked to which causes. By using techniques that, for instance, aid in lymphatic drainage,
they can use external treatments to affect your body’s internal health and well being.
A Word of Warning
It’s worth noting that during holistic massage therapy, your massage therapist will be releasing toxins that have
built up in your body over time. For this reason, it’s strongly advised that in the forty eight hours preceding a
treatment, and the forty eight hours immediately after, you don’t drink or take drugs. It’s also advisable to avoid
this type of treatment if you have a fever, and if you have a preexisting condition, whether its cancer or
pregnancy, it’s always advisable to find out from your doctor first.
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