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MASSAGE
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Hello and welcome to "Help Yourself!" We happily encourage
you to distribute this shareware program freely and widely.
Please talk about, upload and distribute this file at every
opportunity!
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Self-Massage Techniques
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
In the following paragraphs, we will discuss the value of
touch, a brief history of massage, its benefits and give you
ways to help yourself with massage.
.............................................................
The Value Of Touch
Above and beyond all techniques, the loving intention
behind the touch is what heals. Not only is touch important,
it can be essential. In fact, various studies have shown
that orphaned infants who were not touched and lacked sensory
stimulation, were dull-eyed and listless. Tragically, some
died. We instinctively touch an area that hurts. This comes
more naturally to cultures other than ours.
For instance, the Netsilik Eskimos who live in the
Canadian Arctic, are friendlier and and freer with their
affections than we. Even though the Eskimo mother lives in
harsh conditions, she finds it easy to give her children
warmth and loving acceptance. Visitors are greeted with warm
and gentle hugging and stroking. She never scolds her child
or interferes in any way, except to respond to its needs. We
would do well to follow in their footsteps.
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Brief History Of Massage
Massage is an ancient, timely art. Its first recorded
use was in 400 B.C. Hippocrates used it then in his
medical practice. He and others valued massage more than we
do today. They were certain that massage had restorative and
recuperative powers.
Some of the earliest masseurs were barbers who doubled as
surgeons. Passengers on the early European sailing ships
were "doctored" by the ship's barber. The pilgrims were
cared for by a barber-surgeon, also. In China, at the onset
of the T'ang Dynasty era (7th century) massage was being
taught in special schools. After a long history of being
left to barber-surgeons and amateurs, massage had now
achieved a professional status.
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The Benefits Of Massage
Treating the whole person, therapeutic massage balances
the body-mind and allows the receiver to feel deeply
nurtured in a safe way. It can also assist those who've been
abused to build trust. European athletes have long valued
massage for recovering from muscle injury, pain and strain.
Dr. Edward Resnick, professor of orthopedic surgery and
director of the Pain Control Center at Temple University
Hospital has discovered how massaging lessens pain. He calls
it the "gate control theory." He says that "Pain impulses run
toward the spinal cord and then up the cord and into the
brain." It's only when they reach the brain that these
impulses are perceived as pain. Rubbing can send other
impulses along the same nerves sand interfere with the pain
impulses. In this way, rubbing can 'close the gate' that
pain impulses have to pass through."
Healing touch also helps restore harmonious body
function and one's self-healing abilities. It balances the
entire system; leaving the person with a glow of well-being.
According to athletes such as Olympian Mary Decker-Slaney and
tennis pro Chris Evert-Lloyd, massage, like stretching, is an
important part of body maintenance as well as an insurance
against injury. Massage can loosen muscles that stretching
can't. It probes deeply and is specific.
A massage practitioner can also discover potential
trouble spots, For instance, tight muscle groups that are
vulnerable to strain and tendons that have a predisposition
for tendinitis. Bodywork can be an effective diagnostic
tool. For example, an achey, tense area can indicate
improper posture, or other ineffective "habits" (both
physical and mental) that are crying out for attention.
Sometimes tightness in the shoulders, neck and back indicate
an incorrect sleeping posture. To help your night-time pos-
ture, be sure your pillow is not too thick and that you do
not sleep on your stomach which can cause neck, shoulders and
lower back stiffness. It might help you to get a specially
designed pillow.
To help your back, before you go to sleep, sandwich a
pillow between your knees and bring them halfway to your
chest. For those who fall asleep on your back, place the
pillow underneath your knees. A mere change in position can
eliminate pain. Tension in the scalp, forehead, neck and
shoulder area, especially, can begin to clue you and the
counselor into which thought patterns, attitudes and
"out-dated" belief systems you are operating from. Chronic
tension is usually due to long-held memories that are
literally "trapped" in your musculature, bones, joints and
cells.
Bodywork also unlocks and releases joints and physical
and emotional tensions. It is useful in recovery from major
or minor muscle injury and strain. It increases blood and
lymph flow, thereby bringing oxygen and nutrition to speed
healing of minor muscular tears. It further enhances re-
covery by removing lactic acid, toxins and other cellular
wastes. Massage slows nervous impulses in the muscle tissue
to assist in pain relief.
Acting as a natural tranquilizer, therapeutic touch slows
heart rate, strengthens the immune system, reduces blood
pressure and anxiety. It can relieve the pain of migraine
headaches, also. Most importantly, you will experience
profound relaxation during and after a massage. Books to see:
"The Masssage Book" by George Downing, "Acupressure Way Of
Health: Jin Shin Do" by Iona Marsaa Teeguarden and
"Shiatsu" by Tokujiro Namikoshi.
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Self-Massage Techniques
Self-massage as stress and illness prevention is most
effective when applied daily. This technique can relax,
soothe nerves, comfort the emotions, strengthen the immune
system, and increase blood and oxygen flow. Massage slows
nervous impulses in the muscle tissue, bringing pain relief.
Used daily, it may relieve chronic stress and depression.
Besides, it feels WONDERFUL to care for yourself! It's one
more tool to put in your "tool box."
Sometimes, where there has been an injury, it is best to
apply acupressure rather than massage. Acupressure, a form
of massage, is a several thousand year old finger-pressure
technique that was originally a folk art belonging to the
common people. It can help disabled children to be better
equipped emotionally for classroom learning.
PRES, Santa Cruz, California's acupressure in the schools
program, has enjoyed marked success with developmentally
disabled and Downes Syndrome children and young adults with
acupressure. This type of massage reduces physical, mental
and emotional stress, relieves pain and sets up trust and
bonding between the giver and receiver which can help allow
the person to function in a balanced, confident way.
In some cases, very light acupressure and gentle stroking
is recommended for moderate to severe rheumatoid arthritis,
tissue damaged areas, inflamed joints, fractures or serious
sprains. Wait until four days after the injury occurred.
At this time, do the following for an inflamed injury that is
not a fracture, break or severe bruise:
To release stagnated blood, energy and heat, apply gentle
pressure to the swollen area. Hold this gentle pressure
for 10 seconds a little below the pain threshold. Stop
pressing and relax while breathing deeply. Repeat this 10
second interval 10 times with a minute of relaxation in
between. To help in your recovery, visualize and feel your-
self doing your favorite activity with comfort and ease.
Also, picture the injured part in it's pre-injured, "perfect"
state.
Notes: Specific details and exact times and amounts are
sometimes left out of this tutorial, because by listening to
your own body, you will be more aware of what to do than any
specific instructions we can give. Working on yourself is a
way to learn more about your body's needs. Remember to RELAX
and do it GENTLY!
I do not claim that the techniques in this chapter or in
the rest of this file can heal or otherwise cure arthritis or
any other ailments. I am not responsible for what occurs as
a result of using the information in "Help Yourself."
.............................................................
End Of Chapter