Skillful, appropriate massage helps most people relax. Many feel a pleasant, relaxed sense of euphoria. To incorporate massage into your practice, hire a professional! You may also enjoy taking classes, learning skills, and practicing basics. Benefits that follow are but a beginning list.

Swedish Massage, developed by a Swedish M.D., is a great way to begin. Strokes:
Effleurage-- long, gliding strokes.
Friction - rolling over tissues beneath the skin without moving over the skin.
Petrissage -- kneading.
Tapotement. Five types--Hacking, cupping, tapping, loose-fisted beating, slapping.
Nerve Strokes -- feathery-light strokes on the skin, especially useful for nervous conditions.

Useful terms: Therapeutic Massage -- Manipulations that relieve specific pathological conditions. Physiological massage -- Manipulations that support health.

Massage Reduces:
- Congestion - Fatigue - Insomnia - Mental /Emotional Tension - Sprains - Swelling

Massage Supports, General:
- Bones are nourished by massage's support of nerve and blood flow
- Circulatory blood flow is enhanced
- Deep muscle function is supported
- Lymphatic drainage supports removal of waste toxins
- Metabolism is activated through circulatory and lymphatic stimulation
- Muscle movements are supported in arms, hands, shoulders, hips, legs, feet, etc.
- Spinal muscle activations, friction and petrissage support nerve flow to all parts of the body
- Vertebrae may be vibrated to support spinal treatment

Massage Supports, Specific:
- Abdominal muscle tone is enhanced thru effleurage and vibration
- Aches & pains are relieved by stimulating the flow of the body's electromagnetic energy/Chi
- Chest area can be relaxed to enhance heart, lung, and breast function
- Colon kneading supports constipation relief
- Headaches and other nervous conditions are helped by neck & facial massage
- Liver is supported with vibration
- Lower back & lower body supported by relaxing sciatic nerves, lower lumbar stretching
- Lung capacity increased by relaxing shoulder muscles, reducing stooping
- Scalp tissue loosened to enhance circulation, may help hair grow. Dryness, oiliness reduced
- Sciatic a is relieved by friction of gluteal muscles
- Small intestine function promoted by rolling
- Stomach muscles can be stretched to support digestion
- Spleen organ can be vibrated to support the immune system
- Weight loss is supported by stimulating fat-burning muscles