Written by Aron O'Dowd on 15 December 2013.
Posted in Holistic Therapies.
Massage is a therapy that that focuses on physical touch to unlock tension and nots to help the body re be in its neutral state. Before the wastage became the word we assoicate with this therapy. Threw out the historical time of massage different cultures have called different names. The names in various languages hold the core techquines of modern day massage. Here is some examples of the word massage in different languages The arabic word: Mass “to touch or feel”, French word massed means “to rub”, Greek word Massein means “to need”and the Latin word means mass means “that forms a lump or not”.
In the eastern part of the world is where all these amazing therapies came from. In 3,000 BC in China there was this massage created called amma is the meaning of push or pull. This amma massage technique objective was to create homeostasis balance of energy in the clients body to reave stress, feel better health and to focus on a particular issue that the client would be troubling them.
In 1,000 BC the Japanese Zen monks were studying chinese Buddhism and observed traditional Chinese medicine and the healing techniques. They brought this knowledge back to japan. When going threw the Amma massage method they took the exact pressure points and created their own massage called Shiatsu. The word shiatsu means trigger pressure.and applying the correct pressure to body. The benefits of getting this treatment in the modern day and ancient japan was to increase general health, heart, blood and cell growth.
In India massage plays a huge role in its culture. In indian scripture have been intertwined with the traditiional Aryuveda medicine. It dates back around 3,000 B.C. Aryuveda is a word that comes from a ancient indian language called Sanskrit. The meaning of this word is they the treating the knowledge of life. In the ancient India they would have all this knowledge written in books called the vedas. The vedas were the art of healing and told people everything to know.
In ancient Greece they designed a massage as a form of excise and fitness for the athletes body in its best shape possible. Herodicus was a physican and teacher of Hippocrates wrote a book in the 5th century. The book was based on the benefits of massage. During the 5th century Hippocrates was known as the father of medicine and wanted all doctors to be trained in massage.
At this time in history the Romans had control of a lot nations and learned their knowledge and applied it to them. Rome conquered Greece and took their teachings back to Italy. When the Romen Empire was at its strongest Galen was a phyiscian and used massage to help people with either injuries or dieases. He also wrote a clater of medical books about how vital the usage of massage is. JuJulious Cesar becomes next Roman Empiror has neuralgia so he goes and gets daily massage. Roman baths were a place to get washed and was also a place of all social activity happened. Massage is a ritual after you get your bath, giving important speeches, slaves going to Gladiator fights. The benefits that they would receive from the massage better concentration, stronger mucles and cirrcuitry of blood.
The Native Americans also preformed massage there angle was applying heat and herbs. Today we use oils to apply into the skin of the client. At that time the herbs were the oils to relax, help the body mend and get rid of problems. Before hunting or battle the Navaho and Cherokee would rub in the herbs into their skin and also if they come home after hunting or battle. The women would use both herbs and massage to help the ease of pregrancy. Other tribees around world also used these methods but in a different approach.
Per Henrik Ling was a physiologist and and fenncing. While living in Sweden and influenece massage in which was named Swiddish massage. Between the 18th and 195h century Ling traveled and studied in China. He found system of moves that increased his own health and physical stamina. Lings work noticed by his own country. The Swedish government esblished a Royal Swedish Institute in 1813. Slowly Lings work became recognised around the world. Also Ling was the president of the insitatute. A year before Ling died the Royal Swedish institute opened in London. Now they are all over the world.
In many traditions from the history of massage infuse them into your modern daily lives. A bath with oils is from the Roman, Native Americans. Athletes go in every coupled of months to get the nots taken out like in Greece. It is slowly becoming where all medical professions will have massage as part of their profession. In America I went to a rehab centre where they had massage, chiropractor, GP and many other therapies under one roof working together to get the client the best care possible. A phisotherapist job is get all body parts singing in one big orcrastra.