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As more
and more people are realizing the importance of taking care of their
body, many have found that there are some things that they can do on a regular
basis to keep their body at its healthiest. In fact, many companies
are even offering a wellness
program to help their employees maintain optimum health.
One
of the most important components of any wellness program is stress
reduction. Without addressing the stress that the body is under, the
body can never be at its optimum wellness. And if stress is ignored, it can
build in the body, which can cause muscle tension, especially the
muscles of the
neck and shoulder. To keep the body in optimal health, a Wellness Massage is an
excellent choice for a monthly massage. This type of massage has the goal of both stress reduction and muscle tension
reduction.
Doesn't
Relaxation Massage help stress and tension?
Relaxation Massage
can relieve everyday stress and can loosen any general tension in the
muscles, but it is not intended to address excessive muscle tension that
is common with continual stress. And Relaxation Massage is also not intended to
help with conditions such
as chronic neck pain, back pain, wrist and forearm pain from keyboard overuse, old
injuries from sports or automobile accidents, limited range of motion in
the neck, arms, or legs, etc. These conditions are typically caused by
tension that is buried deep within the soft tissue (muscles, tendons,
ligaments, and fascia).
If the tension that's
causing the problem is deeper
into your tissue and requires therapeutic techniques with a more firm
pressure to release that tension, you will need a massage
that includes therapeutic techniques. Since Deep Tissue/Therapeutic Massage
can take as much as a full session of therapeutic techniques and may be
perfect for working specifically on the problem area(s), it is not
the best type of massage for a regular wellness program.
Doesn't Deep Tissue/Therapeutic
Massage help muscle tension?
Deep Tissue/Therapeutic Massage uses special techniques that are not used in a Relaxation Massage session. In
order to release the tightness in the soft tissue, the massage therapist
needs to work deeper into the tissue and will use whichever therapeutic technique
is most effective for the condition. In working deeper into the tissues, it
requires a more firm pressure and an expected level of discomfort.
Once a muscle or group of muscles has been brought back into balance
with Deep Tissue/Therapeutic Massage sessions, that muscle or group of
muscles will still need to be monitored
with regular massage sessions to prevent that out-of-control situation
from returning. Most people do not need their regular monthly massage session to
be a Deep Tissue/Therapeutic Massage session, but Relaxation Massage
will not address any muscles that Therapeutic Massage has helped as they
start to tighten again. This is where Wellness Massage is the best
choice for regular massage sessions.
What is a
Wellness Massage session like?
A Wellness Massage session
typically has
the plan of being a full body massage with a pressure that gives the
best overall stress reduction. However, unlike a Relaxation Massage, the therapist will be prepared
to pay special attention to any muscles or muscle groups that were
worked in previous Deep Tissue/Therapeutic Massage sessions.
When a muscle is encountered that was a problem area in the past and
has more tightness than is expected, the therapist will begin
using therapeutic techniques to release any excess tension or trigger
points that are found. And if more time is required to work that area,
the remainder of the massage session may possibly be modified and not
include the remainder of the full body. This is the major difference
between Wellness Massage and Relaxation Massage.
Is Howard
experienced as a Wellness Massage therapist?
Howard Northrup, LMT has built a reputation in the Melbourne/Palm Bay
and Titusville areas for his ability to "mix" different styles
and techniques and different pressures into one massage
session, based on the needs of the client. That ability is very
important for the client to get the results they need to maintain
their optimal wellness through a monthly Wellness Massage program.
Wellness Massage is only available with Howard at Natural Approach
Acupuncture & Massage in Melbourne, Florida. For rates for Wellness
Massage, see the Services
& Rates page.
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