Archaeological evidence of massage has been found in many ancient civilizations. Ancient cultures from around the globe found that natural healing and massage could heal injuries, relieve pain, and prevent and cure illnesses. Massage was also found to reduce stress and produce deep relaxation.
What was massage used for during the ancient times?
The history of massage therapy dates back to 3000 BCE (or earlier) in India, where it was considered a sacred system of natural healing. Used by Hindus in Ayurveda “life health” medicine, massage therapy was a practice passed down through generations to heal injuries, relieve pain, and prevent and cure illnesses.
Why is it important to know the history of massage?
Having an underlying sense of history is important for massage therapists emerging as modern health and wellness professionals. Knowing where you came from, the core of your professional identity, provides a strong foundation from which you can move into the future with integrity.
What is the history of body massage?
The oldest written record of massage dates back thousands of years, nearly 4 000 years to be more precise. The Chinese Medical text Con-Fu of the Toa-Tse was written around 1800 BC detailed the application of massage techniques for therapeutic purpose. This book was later translated into French.
What were some of the major cultural and historical influences in the use of massage as a healing modality?
How massage therapy has evolved
- Acupuncture in ancient China. The earliest date of origin for massage therapy goes back to 2700 BCE in ancient China. …
- Reflexology in ancient Egypt. …
- Massage in Japan. …
- Deep tissue massage in Greece. …
- Modern massage therapy.
What are the benefits of massage?
Massage benefits can include:
- Reducing stress and increasing relaxation.
- Reducing pain and muscle soreness and tension.
- Improving circulation, energy and alertness.
- Lowering heart rate and blood pressure.
- Improving immune function.
What does massage do to the muscles?
Massage therapy relaxes muscle tissue, which reduces painful contractions and spasms. Massage can also reduce nerve compression. To understand this, consider that when muscles are contracted, they sometimes compress the nerves around them.
What is the origin of massage therapy?
Ancient literature, artwork and archaeological evidence reveal that massage practices existed in many ancient cultures such as India, China, Egypt, Greece, the Roman Empire, Japan, Thailand and Korea. In English the word “massage” is directly borrowed from French.
Who promoted and developed the use of massage?
In the 16th century, the French surgeon Ambroise Pare (1517-90) promoted and developed the use of massage. He was the personal physician to four French Kings. He is reputed to have successfully treated Mary Queen of Scots with massage. Many other physicians copied his methods and massage was established medically.
Who invented massage?
Modern Western Medicine (1800s-Present Day): Modern Massage Therapy was largely developed during the 19th century Per Henril Ling created what we know today as Swedish massage.
What is the oldest form of massage?
The earliest written records of massage therapy were discovered in Egypt and China. Tomb paintings in Egypt depict individuals being kneaded by others. Furthermore, Egyptians are credited with creating reflexology in approximately 2500 BCE.
Why do Chinese people practice massage?
Chinese Massage techniques
In both types of traditional Chinese massage, the practitioner’s aim is to release both physical and energetic tension, in order to restore a sense of balance and kickstart the body’s own healing process.
What particular massage did the Japanese introduce to us explain it?
In the Japanese language, shiatsu means “finger pressure”. Shiatsu techniques include massages with fingers, thumbs, feet and palms; acupressure, assisted stretching; and joint manipulation and mobilization.
Why is wellness massage important what is the purpose of massage?
Massage has been shown to increase range of motion and flexibility as well as to improve measures of anxiety, depression, vitality, and perceived stress. It can also increase feelings of wellness, calm, relaxation, and a sense of belonging. … Massage helps overcome the feelings of fatigue.
Why is massage therapy popular today?
Another reason massage therapy has become a popular career choice is the overall industry growth and potential job security. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, jobs for licensed massage therapists are expected to grow at a much faster rate than average by 26% by 2026.
When was massage introduced in the United States?
Massage in the United States
Massage was popularized in the United States, in the 1850’s by physicians George and Charles Taylor, who studied massage in Europe before bringing the therapy home to the United States.