Adelaide Massage – An Overview of Massage

Here we have gathered together some information to give you a quick overview of all things relating to Adelaide massage. We hope that you find this article informative and interesting.   

Across Adelaide massage is growing in popularity as a form of relaxation and maintenance of mental and physical health and wellbeing.  Massage literally means ‘kneading’, ‘touch’, or ‘handle’, and it is the practice of manipulating soft tissue using pressure, motion, tension, or vibration.  Skin, muscles, tendons, ligaments, joints, the gastrointestinal system, or the lymphatic system may be massaged.  Almost any area of the body may be massaged.  Different forms of massage tend to focus on different parts of the body.  For example Indian massage focuses on the head, sports massage focuses mostly on arms, legs and back.  Others focus on the feet, or face, or pressure points over the body.  There are a variety of Adelaide massage clinics which specialise in specific massage forms.  Massage can be applied by using the fingers, hands, feet, elbow, or forearm.  Some forms of massage are applied using aids, such as cold or warmed stones, or jets of water. 

Generally massage is performed on a client who is either fully or partially clothed, or completely naked.  Towels are used to cover parts of the partially or fully unclothed body when they are not being worked on.  Massage is usually carried out with the client laying on a massage table, sitting in a massage chair, or laying on a massage mat on the floor.  And often the use of massage and aromatherapy oils are used during many forms of massage.  The most common types of oil used in massage almond oil, coconut oil, grape seed oil, macadamia oil, sesame oil, and of course such aromatherapy oils as neroli, lavender, or pine oil may be added to a carrier oil.  Massaging with oil aids the masseur to move smoothly over the part of the body being massaged, and help to moisturise the skin.  Salts can also be added with oils in order to remove dry skin and improve skin complexion. 

The history of massage is believed to date back to early civilization, where a number of ethnic groups have ancient writings on massage, including those in Rome, Greece, India, Egypt, Japan, and China.  Ancient references to the use of massage were for a variety of reasons including treating illnesses, for use as a beauty regime, and for relaxation.  Today massage is being used in a variety of settings.  In China massage is widely practiced and taught in hospitals and medical schools for treating illness, and is considered to be an essential part of primary health care.  In the Western World massage is used predominantly for relaxation purposes, and also for treating injuries, mostly sporting injuries.  There are many Adelaide massage therapists who specialise in sports massage therapy, and an increasing number who are focusing on offering Adelaide massage therapy for pure relaxation purposes, in order to de-stress, and gain balance with the physical and mental bodily aspects.  There is also an increase in corporate businesses seeing the benefit of relaxation massage for their employees, and an increasing number of Adelaide massage therapists are offering this as a service.