Massage has been practiced for thousands of years. Today, if you need or want a massage, you can choose from among 80 massage therapy styles with a wide variety of pressures, movements, and techniques. These all involve pressing, rubbing, or manipulating muscles and other soft tissues with hands and fingers. Sometimes even forearms, elbows, or feet are used.
Massage alleviates the effects of stress you often aren't even aware of. Large muscle knots create pockets of tension throughout your body, blocking vital energy, reducing circulation and glandular function. Through massage, your body gets the healthy attention it deserves without pills or drugs
Massage accelerates blood flow throughout your body, without straining your heat, bringing more nutrients and oxygen to organs and muscles. It helps your body restore itself, rebuild tissue, and you enjoy a more relaxed, comfortable feeling.
Massage soothes nerves to your organs, which causes related blood vessels to dilate increasing blood flow for healing or more efficient function. Most internal organs are supplied by nerves, which branch at the spinal cord.
Also meridian lines have been mapped containing a non-cellular liquid not fully understood but Chinese have long recognised their importance as "energy" flow.
Acupressure techniques were developed to open blockage to this energy flow. Your feet provide easy access to these meridians -- thus Reflexolgy techniques are often used as part of massage. Acupuncture points along meridians trigger the nervous system to send messages to the brain, releasing pain feeling or relieving tension-causing pain.
Lactic and carbonic acids are waste products of muscle activity, which results in fatigue, muscle soreness and even cramps. Lactic acid, the prime irritant, is formed when glycogen is burned during exercise.
Massage stimulates the metabolic process to speed flow of lactic acid through the body's complex lymph system to either be released or reconverted to sugar
Oils used in massage can help the skin become more elastic and supple..