Light
Jedi: Lecture #23
The
use of Massage
Lightside@forceacademy.com
The
following lecture comes courtesy of Hayley Rust, with my thanks.
The Use of Massage and the Release of Positive Energy
Massage has been used for thousands of years, and has worked its
way into every culture around the world in one form or another.
It soothes aches and pains, helps reduce tension, and is perfectly
suited for most people.
Massage is one of the oldest holistic therapies, taking into account
a person's whole being - physical, mental and emotional. It is perhaps
not surprising that Hippocrates, the ancient Greek philosopher hailed
as the Father of Medicine, wrote in the 5th century B.C. that "The
way to health is to have a scented bath and an oiled massage each
day." The main aim of massage is to relax both mind and body, and
thus relieve the stresses and strains of daily living. It is also
successful in treating back pain and neck pain, particularly in
people who spend their days hunched over a desk or at the wheel
of a car. Success has also been claimed in the treatment of circulatory
disorders, heart conditions, high blood pressure, headaches and
insomnia.
Touch is a very basic natural instinct, and without it, people can
become bad-tempered and depressed. We all need to be encouraged
to touch each other more; and massage, without any aggressive or
sexual connotations, is a perfect way to do this. Even the simplest
form of massage can be richly comforting, and have a profound benefit
upon health. It improves circulation, relaxes muscles, aids digestion,
regulates the nervous system and speeds up waste elimination. In
addition, it provides great psychological benefits. Feelings of
being pampered and cared for soon produce a general feeling of profound
well-being - positive energy.
Massage consists of four basic techniques: effleurage, petrissage,
percussion and friction. These movements should be gentle, stroking
and calming. Massage can either be performed with the person lying
on the floor or sitting on a chair with the upper body leaned over
the back of the chair.
Effleurage generally begins any massage, and is useful for spreading
the oil. This should be done in slow, rhythmic, stroking movements
covering a large area. Pressure should be firm as you stroke up
the body, towards the heart, and be more gentle coming down away
from the heart. This will aid in increasing blood return to the
heart from the lower extremities.
Petrissage consists of grasping and squeezing handfuls of flesh
or muscle, which are then kneaded like dough and released. This
also stimulates the circulation and helps to relax hard, contracted
muscle.
Percussion involves short, fast, rhythmical movements, and is used
mainly on large or fleshy areas.
Friction is a series of small, circular movements made by one or
several fingers, the pads of the thumbs or heels of the hands. It
stimulates circulation and helps keep the joints mobile.
WARNING: Never have a massage if you are suffering from any type
of infection, e.g. colds and flu, a high temperature, acute back
pain, especially when the pains go down your legs and arms (this
indicates possible nerve damage), or if you have a skin infection.
Pregnant women should likewise be cautious about undergoing massages.
Ellen Merrit
EdmRead@aol.com
