During my time at University I was an active member of the Cambridge University Massage Society, and took advantage of the Professional International Therapy Examination Council accredited course they ran in collaboration with the Jade College of Natural Therapy. While still at University, we were able to capitalise upon our Qualifications through working in a professional capacity at the College Balls (in return for free tickets). Since graduation I have continued to practice in a limited capacity, but only secondary to my full time day-job within ICT.
You'll notice a few extra buttons above this text, below the StudioJWB title. These will bring you to bookmarks and points of interest within the Massage section of my website.
If you've come looking for the Contact/Bookings section, sorry but I just haven't the time and energy to practice at the moment and am instead concentrating with my IT Consultancy work. Hopefully in a few months I'll find the time again! I enjoy massage and will miss it, but in the meantime I'd still love to hear from you, so please don't hesitate to email or call.
Massage Therapy has a history dating back to the fourth millennium BC, although the variant typically recognised by modern Western culture, which has come to be known as Swedish Massage, was developed by Per Henrik Ling around the turn of the 18th Century. This practice uses six basic movements to manipulate the muscles and stimulate circulatory systems in varying ways;
Effleurage is a long, slow, rhythmic movement over the whole surface of the body part being massaged. It is used to spread the oils evenly over the skin after initial application, and is very often used to provide a flowing linking movement between the other movements. At the end of a massage, a final effleurage is used to even the body energies. The movement should be firmer towards the heart, than when returning back across the body to aid circulatory functions.
Kneading is a deep movement used on large areas of soft tissue. It aids in the removal of waste products from the body, in the breakdown of adipose tissue, and decongestion.
Petrisage is a shallow form of kneading used on areas of tissue with bone underneath. It produces the same effects as kneading, but in much more concentrated, localised form. This movement helps to soothe and tone muscle fibres.
Cupping and hacking often complement each other. Cupping creates a vacuum to draw more blood to the surface skin. The same area is then hacked which compresses the cupped blood into the muscle tissue. These movements are best applied to areas of particular tension, for example in the buttocks, shoulders, back and thighs.
The last movement, tapotement, “to tap”, stimulates the body circulatory system, aiding in the removal of waste products and improving blood circulation.
Together these six basic movements combine to complement each other in toning the muscle tissue, improving circulation, both of the lymph and blood systems, and breaking down and removing adipose tissue, as well as the many other psychological and physiological benefits of massage.
Massage affects the body as a whole. To understand how massage works, some of the physiological effects of massage need to be briefly examined.
Massage is known to increase the circulation of the blood and the lymph. The direct mechanical effect of rhythmically applied pressure and stretching (as done in massage) can dramatically increase the rate of blood flow. Also, the stimulation of nerve receptors causes the blood vessels (by reflex action) to dilate.
A milky white fluid called lymph carries impurities and waste fluids away from the tissues and passes through gland-like structures spaced throughout the lymphatic system that act as filtering valves. The lymph does not circulate as the blood does, so its movement depends largely on the squeezing effect of muscle contractions. Therefore, inactive people fail to stimulate lymph circulation. On the other hand, the stimulation caused by vigorous activity can be outstripped by the increased waste produced by that activity. Massage can aid the movement of lymph dramatically in either case.
For the whole body to be healthy, the sum of its parts-the cells-must be healthy. The individual cells of the body are dependent on an abundant supply of blood and lymph because these fluids supply nutrients and oxygen and carry away wastes and toxins. So, it is easy to understand why good circulation is so important and why massage can be so beneficial for the entire body due to its effect on circulation alone.
This primary effect of massage on the circulatory systems has a number of specific physiological effects on body organs and systems, including;
Massage improves muscle tone, loosening contracted, shortened muscles and stimulating weak, flaccid muscles. This muscle balancing can help posture and can provide for more efficient movement, reduced tension and cramping. Massage does not increase muscle strength, but it can promote recovery from the fatigue that occurs after exercise. In this way, it can be possible to do more exercise, which may in the long run strengthen muscles.
In addition to mechanically aiding peristalic alimentary canal movement, massage is accepted to increase the body's secretions and excretions. Increased production of gastric juice, saliva, and urine, and increased excretion of nitrogen, inorganic phosphorus, and sodium chloride (salt) suggest that the metabolic rate (the utilisation of absorbed material by the body cells) increases.
Dependent upon the individual client, a professional massage therapist can utilise a range of vigorous techniques to stimulate the client, or more sedatory techniques to aid relaxation. This results in a balance improvement of the autonomic nervous system, and enhanced tonus through its effect on the neuromuscular reflex pathways.
Massage enhances general skin condition by directly improving the function of the sebaceous (oil) and eccrine (sweat) glands which keep the skin lubricated, clean and cool. Improved circulation encourages nutritional supply, and furthermore the oil used in the massage is absorbed, particularly helping tough, inflexible skin become soft and more supple.
By directly and/or indirectly stimulating nerves that supply internal organs, blood vessels supplying these organs dilate and allow greater blood supply to them, improving their operating efficiencies.
Understanding these physiological effects of massage makes it possible to better understand the health and fitness benefits of massage. What takes place under a massage therapist's hands has profound importance for those interested in health and physical fitness; in tuning their bodies. In every sport or form of exercise, massage can help improve performance, increase endurance, and lower fatigue levels. By reducing fatigue, massage enables the athlete to train better-with longer, more effective workouts. The people of ancient Mediterranean civilisations knew this. After bathing and exercise, they included a full body massage. The ancients understood that education involves equal development of mind and body. The current interest in physical fitness, holistic health, wellness and human potential represents a bid to revive a time-honoured philosophy.
For most people embarking on a fitness program, often the spirit is willing but the flesh is not. When regular exercise is begun almost every part of the body changes. Of interest to massage therapists is the way blood vessels become more intricate in order to
This takes time. While the muscles are getting into shape, they have trouble getting enough oxygen and nutrients, and wastes back up and stagnate. Unfortunately, many sophisticated exercise programs regard aches and pains as the inevitable price to be paid. This is simply not true because massage can be used as the Greeks used it: to increase endurance and to control fatigue.
Massage acts to disperse the accumulated by-products of muscle action that irritate muscles. Lactic and carbonic acids surround muscle tissue shortly after exercise begins. These acids are waste products that causitatively contribute to the pain and occasional cramping that exercisers, athletes, dancers, etc. suffer after workouts. They are formed when the glycogen stored in the liver and muscles is anaerobically consumed to produce the energy expended during exercise. The acids must be reconverted to glycogen and stored again, or drained out via the lymph and circulatory systems. Pain persists until this process of reconverting or excreting is completed. Massage can help eliminate the irritation caused by these wastes by stimulating the metabolic process, thus increasing muscle recovery rates. When massage has been substituted for rest, an increase in muscle recovery has been recorded. That is why boxers are massaged in their corners between rounds rather than simply rested.
Joints are critical to exercise because it is the muscles moving the joints that produce movement. All joints are complicated, and their parts have a way of settling and stiffening when not used. A sluggish, numbed feeling in the joints discourages exercise. Massage counteracts this by increasing blood supply to the joints, by releasing muscle tension that can bind them, and by passively moving them. Massage also aids in recovery from injuries such as sprains, strains, and fractures. This is possible because the growth and recovery of tissue is accelerated by efficient circulation in the injured areas. Thus, massage helps bridge the gap between common neglect of injury and major medical intervention. Of course the mechanical contact of massage prevents it’s application for some time after incurrence of the injury, dependent upon the severity of the injury.
Increased health consciousness complements increased nutrition consciousness. The most carefully planned diet is wasted if blood vessels are not developed and open. Massage can boost internal nutrition rates by improving circulation.
The relationship of stress and illness is of interest to anyone maintaining their health. We all have stress in our daily lives relating to work, family, environment, society. Mental tensions, frustrations, and insecurity are among the most damaging. Stress causes the release of hormones that create vasoconstriction - vessel shrinking - and so reduced circulation. Affected by stress, the heart works harder, breathing becomes rapid and shallow, and digestion slows. Every body process is degraded. Psychosomatic studies show how stress factors can cause migraines, peptic ulcers, hypertension, depression, etc. Soothing and relaxing massage can help by counteracting stress effects.
Massage has a definite psychological effect. Since massage animates the tactile sense, the body's primary sense, it brings people into the here and now and away from tension generated by constant preoccupation with problems. Also, loosening of muscle tension or armouring can lead to freeing of repressed emotions.
Confidence comes from within, if you think positively about yourself and are mentally and physically prepared you will succeed. 100% input from yourself will achieve results. 99% will take the edge off your confidence and ultimately your mental attitude. In other words if you want to achieve something you should put everything into it. The psychological effects of a therapeutic massage enhances the users positivity, mental and physical being, and can therefore have a profound benefit.
Users of massage as a healing tool realise quickly that they have found a form of drugless therapy. Headaches, insomnia, constipation, and minor aches and pains often respond. Massage can have a spectacular effect on nervous people who have been dependent on their pharmacy for rest and relaxation.
Simply stated, the foundation stone of the therapeutic effect of massage is what Hypocrites defined as "vis medicatrix naturae", or the body's innate recuperative powers; the life force. The theories of therapeutic massage are scientific in character, but the actual application of these theories is an Art, for it involves the healing sense, sensitivity of touch, insight, and intuition. It is a unique way of communicating without words, of sharing energy, of enjoying pleasurable relaxation, and of experiencing peace of mind. Massage is often attributed to having ethereal spiritual effects akin to those of meditation.
The past ten years or so have seen a proliferation of different terms, title, and systems of massage such as: Therapeutic, Holistic, Swedish, Body Work, Oriental, Shiatsu, Acupressure, Esalen, Reichian, Polarity, Reflexology, etc. To enjoy the benefits of massage which have been discussed, it is best to receive a therapeutic massage from a practitioner who has blended a thorough knowledge of anatomy, physiology, kinesiology, and massage technique with a sensitive, powerful touch and the healing sense. Compare the abilities and your preferences of the therapists available to you. Different clients prefer different approaches and techniques, making the right choice of therapist will make a significant difference to the effectiveness of the massage you receive.
| Cambridge University Massage Society | I first learned to practice massage with this Society while at University |
| Jade College of Natural Therapy | These guys prepared me for my Professional ITEC Diploma in Anatomy, Physiology and Body Massage |
| International Therapy Examination Council | I passed the necessary ITEC examinations in 1996 |
| The Federation of Holistic Therapists | I am a registered (NICHT) member of the FHT |