Massage Therapy School Health Works Institute Healing hands
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Massage Therapy School Definition

Massage therapy spans a wide variety of therapeutic approaches, working to improve an individual’s health and well being through the hands-on manipulation of muscles and other soft tissues of the body.

A massage therapist focuses on the normalization of soft tissues affected by stress, injury, and illness through the use of manual techniques that improve circulation, enhance muscular relaxation, relieve pain, reduce stress, and/or promote health and well being.
Massage Therapy School History of Massage Therapy
Therapeutic massage methods used today have both Eastern and Western origins. The first written records of massage date back 3,000 years to early Chinese folk medicine and ancient Ayurvedic medicine of India. Western civilizations were introduced to therapeutic massage by Greek and Roman physicians. Modern Western massage is credited primarily to Per Heinrik Ling, a 19th century Swedish athlete. His approach, which combined hands-on techniques with active movements, became known as Swedish massage, which is still one of the most commonly used methods in the Western world.
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Benefits of Massage Therapy School
Increasing numbers of research studies show massage reduces heart rate, lowers blood pressure, increases blood circulation and lymph flow, relaxes muscles, improves range of motion, and increases endorphins. Although therapeutic massage does not increase muscle strength, it can stimulate weak, inactive muscles and, thus, partially compensate for the lack of exercise and inactivity resulting from illness, injury, or a sedentary life style. It also can hasten and lead to a more complete recovery from
exercise or injury.

THE KEY BENEFITS OF MASSAGE THERAPY ARE AS FOLLOWS:

Physical -- Massage therapy is designed to stretch and loosen muscles, improve blood flow and the movement of lymph throughout the body, facilitate the removal of metabolic wastes resulting from exercise or inactivity, and increase the flow of oxygen and nutrients to cells and tissue. In addition, massage stimulates the release of endorphins -- the body’s natural painkillers -- into the brain and nervous system.

Mental -- Massage therapy provides a relaxed state of alertness, reduces mental stress and enhances the capacity for calm thinking and creativity.

Emotional -- Massage therapy satisfies the need for caring and nurturing touch, creates a feeling of well-being, and reduces anxiety levels.
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Health Works Institute
111 S. Grand Avenue, Annex 3 • Bozeman, MT 59715
Ph. (406) 582-1555 • Fax (406) 522-0493
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