Massage is the oldest known healing art, predating all complementary therapies and orthodox medicine. Historically, the Chinese practised massage over 5000 years ago and ancient Hindu texts include massage in guidelines for hygiene and well-being. The ancient Greek athletes were known to use massage before and after competition and injured Roman gladiators also benefited from massage. The Romans are well known for their baths and bathing rituals where they would finish with a relaxing massage.
Swedish massage was developed by Per Henrik Ling (1776-1839) at his institute and is the basis for modern massage therapy.
Massage is the use of touch on the soft tissues of the body and many different techniques have developed resulting in different names for the different types of massage, such as, Sports, Indian Head, Hot Stone, Aromatherapy.
Massage relaxes the body and mind, stimulates the circulatory and lymph systems, improves skin and muscle tone and induces a sense of well-being. Many painful conditions are caused by muscle spasm or tension which can be alleviated by massage.
Sports Massage
Sports massage has developed in order to help resolve muscular sports injuries effectively; it is also used in injury prevention. Modern medicine has developed an approach to injury prevention based on assessment and exercise but massage can treat muscles specifically to help prevent injury.
Sports massage is so named because massage has been used for injury prevention and treatment mainly in the field of sport but the massage techniques can be used for many muscular problems however they are caused.
Aromatherapy
It’s all in the name!
Aromatherapy uses aromatic substances called essential oils which are extracted, usually by distillation, from the roots, flowers, leaves, and stalks of plants including trees.
In theory, essential oils are absorbed into the body through the skin during massage and by inhalation through the nose.
The properties of the oils vary and Pat uses them according to her clients’ needs. For example, some oils are warming and help to soften tense muscles whilst others have a calming, relaxing effect which helps stress and nervous tension.
Hot Stone Massage
Pat trained in this therapy with Meghan Mari who specialised in hot stone massage at the New York City Stone Spa.
Contrary to the impression given by many images of hot stone massage, where the stones are placed on the body, the stones are used to massage the body, the combination of heat and pressure on the muscles providing the beneficial effects.
Please note: since the coronavirus pandemic Pat is not using hot stones in massage treatments
Fascia
This term refers to the connective tissue which holds the body together, in particular that which envelopes the muscles and connects them to bones. Many body-work therapists (e.g. osteopaths, chiropractors, physiotherapists, massage therapists) are finding that working with fascia can help resolve various musculoskeletal problems.
Pat has trained in Myofascial Release at the Jing Institute of Advanced Massage Training with Rachel Fairweather and Anne Cheshire Cruickshank and has had very good results using this technique.
Special Effects!
Pat uses her expertise in reflexology and massage to combine the therapies to give effective treatments depending on clients’ individual needs.