Massage Therapists can do a variety of kinds of bodywork

The history of massage is extensive, as is the history of medicine as a whole. Although evidence exists that massage was practiced in the early days of recorded history, it's unclear what the exact origin of this practice is. Some historians think that massage probably developed as a result of an Indian spiritual practice called "Yoga," but there is no proof of this. This point is not well documented. However it is clear that Yoga was well-known in India and that its practitioners spread their practices throughout the world. The massage therapy's origins actually date back three thousand years before the oldest known texts from India. This would mean that it was at around 3000 BCE or less. While massage was a common practice among Ayurvedic healers however, it was also utilized by Hindus. However, their purposes were quite different from ours. There is no clear-cut evidence that shows the time when massage therapy first started in the west, although we do know that earlier civilizations such as Egypt had a type of massage, known as "Lavan" or "Tui Na," that was used for healing purposes. It was only a late addition to Western medicine that "massage" became an integral healing method. Early Chinese and Indian medicine emphasized the whole body rather than specific regions. Thus, most of the methods we know today as massage therapy were not invented in those times. However, many of the massage techniques developed there like massage oil application, use of acupressure, and similar, originated from a common source and were later incorporated into Asian culture. In China it is believed that the earliest mention of Chinese massage is the legend of the Yellow Emperor, who allegedly had the body of a 15-year-old girl cured by Means of the peach flower. Another legend states that the Yellow Emperor may have received this treatment by eating peach flowers on the lap of jade Buddha. Another version tells the story of a Chinese herbalist who healed blindness of a patient using a paste composed of the roots and leaves of a single flower, called the "Nan Hu" that he obtained from a well located in the royal gardens of the Nanking area. Although the man was not cured by the "Nan Hu" paste, it's a sign of the healing power of Chinese massage. However, he did not use herbal remedies or other methods. Marco Polo, an Italian doctor who introduced the "Swedish massage" to the Chinese court sometime between the sixth and 13th centuries. Marco Polo and his translator brought along a manuscript written in the Gothic language that was written centuries earlier by an Indian doctor. The manuscript described a Swedish massage technique that was unique to India. The two doctors merged this information with information from other sources and came up with the technique of massage known as "Yoga," meaning "the method." Legend is that two Asian doctors developed the Swedish massage by mixing yoga and Swedish massage techniques. Massage therapists today employ techniques that are found in Sanskrit and other ancient texts on massage to provide an unique touch and energy to their massage therapies. Some of these techniques are built on the ancient "Laying on Hands," where the massage therapist placed his hands in prayer with the hands of the patient doing prayers for a person's health as well as the body's resistance to diseases. Some of these massage techniques, like the "Laying on Hands," are becoming more popular among massage therapists, while others are still considered controversial. For instance, some touch therapies such as Reiki utilize the patient's spiritual energy, thought and will power to heal the patient. Others, like the Swedish massage that uses intense pressure and kneading techniques remain controversial. As massage therapists discover the healing effects of touch but they also learn that the massage therapist must not just touch the patient's skin. Through learning to relax the entire body with his hands the massage therapist can assist the patient in avoiding muscle contractions during a massage therapy session, which can have many health benefits. Massage therapists can aid athletes relax and prevent injuries that can occur during exercises. Massage therapy classes can help athletes to reduce the discomfort and pain in their muscles. Shiatsu is another eminent massage technique. This ancient form of medicine employs thumb pressure, finger pressure along with thumb and finger pressures, and even voice to treat a variety of conditions and illnesses. Shiatsu was developed in China but is now utilized all over the world. Even though the concept of Shiatsu has changed over time, classes in shiatsu are still taught around the world.