Getting Started in Massage Therapy PDF

GETTING STARTED Massage is so much more than a set of techniques. To appreciate the complexity of the practice and put your massage into context, a knowledge of key body structures and systems and consideration of how to prepare will give your practice depth and purpose. Here, a brief introduction t...

GETTING STARTED Massage is so much more than a set of techniques. To appreciate the complexity of the practice and put your massage into context, a knowledge of key body structures and systems and consideration of how to prepare will give your practice depth and purpose. Here, a brief introduction to anatomy and physiology provides a handy starting reference, while an overview of aromatherapy shows the therapeutic possibilities for combining this holistic art with massage. Tips and checklists ensure you are equipped and physically and mentally ready. Most importantly, a guide to safe practice provides essential advice to protect both you and the receiver and ensure you practice with integrity. 16 G ET T I N G STA RT E D THE BENEFITS OF MASSAGE Touch is a basic and powerful human instinct that has the ability to reassure and comfort. Massage therapy uses touch not only to relax the whole body, but also to provide a range of therapeutic health benefits—primarily for the receiver, but also for the giver. Each treatment works holistically to bring relief and release to both the body and mind, promoting an overall sense of increased well-being. HOW MASSAGE HELPS THE BODY Massage therapy has a range of benefits for the body. On a physiological level, it helps improve the functioning of the body’s systems (see pp.18–23), and it is also used to target specific conditions and relieve their symptoms. One of the most notable benefits of massage is the stimulating effect that manipulating tissues has on the circulation of blood and lymph, which in turn helps oxygenate tissues all over the body, distribute nutrients to each cell, and support the efficient removal of waste. The increase in local circulation to the area that is being massaged also has a warming effect that relieves muscular tension and chronic pain. Overall, an improved circulation can have a profound impact on our health and well-being. The relaxing effects of massage also support healthy blood pressure, and the release of tension in the body stimulates and strengthens the immune system, helping build resistance to illness and increase its ability to ward off infections.  T H E B E N E F I TS O F M A SS AG E 17 Another key benefit of massage is its ability to A HOLISTIC PRACTICE increase mobility and flexibility. By improving Looking after our emotional health is muscle tone and body awareness and increasingly important in today’s hectic world. stretching tissues, massage improves Prioritizing time out to recharge both mind mobility; enhances athletic performance; and body and replenish our natural resources and improves posture, which in turn ensures is key for balancing energy throughout the that internal organs have sufficient space to body and managing stress. function optimally. Not only does massage have a naturally Massage can also be used to target specific uplifting effect—in part because touch boosts complaints. For example, certain techniques the body’s levels of oxytocin, serotonin, and DEEP RELAXATION can help reduce congestion in the lungs and dopamine, the feel-good hormones—but it Massage is a truly improve lung capacity by relaxing tightness can also improve self-esteem; promote a holistic treatment, in the respiratory muscles. Also, working on sense of balance and harmony in body and relaxing both the body and mind to the abdominal area can support digestion mind; and provide effective relief from help heal the body by improving the process of peristalsis— stress. All of these factors can ease the and improve the wavelike contractions that pass waste symptoms of anxiety and depression, in turn well-being. through the large intestine. This in turn helps promoting good-quality, restful sleep and relieve the symptoms of gas, constipation, providing a sense of comfort that leads to and also colic in babies. enhanced well-being. STAYING WELL Importantly, massage also acts as a BENEFITS FOR THE preventative tool. By easing muscular tension PRACTITIONER and aiding relaxation, massage can help The powerful effects of massage bring prevent physical pain and also release benefits to both giver and receiver. As a psychological tension and emotions that practitioner, massage can develop into a can manifest as physical symptoms. deeply meditative practice as you learn how to enter into a state of focused relaxation, both to enhance your own practice and to model the deep relaxation that you are “ encouraging in the receiver. In this way, using the power of touch in massage promotes a The holistic benefits feeling of inner calm and increased well- of massage can being that can carry over into everyday life. Massage is also mentally stimulating as a have a profound effect practitioner as you enjoy the fulfillment that is gained through learning and refining skills. on health and well- Physically, you need to learn how to improve posture, distribute weight correctly, and move ” being for both giver around with fluidity to avoid damaging your own body, all of which will have an extremely and receiver. positive and lasting impact on your overall health and well-being. 18 G ET T I N G STA RT E D UNDERSTANDING THE BODY Sternocleidomastoid A basic knowledge of anatomy and physiology Pectoralis major Subscapularis puts massage in context. Understanding the musculoskeletal system—the location of muscles Deltoid and how these attach to bones and joints—is key. Also, an awareness of how other body systems Serratus anterior work, the structure of skin, and the positioning Biceps of major organs will help inform your practice. Abdominals Iliacus Wrist flexors MUSCULOSKELETAL SYSTEM The body has two types of muscle. Involuntary muscle, such as heart muscle, is not under our immediate conscious control. Voluntary, or skeletal, muscles—for example, in the legs—are the ones we move by will. Tensor fasciae latae Adductors Skeletal muscle is composed of muscle and nerve fibers, bound together by connective tissue, and is attached to bones by fibrous Sartorius tendons. Together with the skeleton, muscles Quadriceps give shape to the body and facilitate movement. Muscles work in pairs, responding to signals from the brain. Fibers slide over each other during a contraction as a muscle Anterior tibial Peroneus shortens; as the muscle contracts, providing movement, the opposing muscle relaxes, providing stability and balance. LOCATION OF MUSCLES THE EFFECT OF MASSAGE On the front view, the right side of the body shows the Muscles need oxygen and glucose to work superficial muscles, while efficiently and expel waste such as lactic the left side shows the acid, produced during vigorous or prolonged intermediate and deep exercise. If muscles aren’t relaxed sufficiently, muscles. On the back view, waste builds up, slowing the circulation and this is reversed. FRONT  U N D E R STA N D I N G T H E BO DY 19 the uptake of nutrients and leading to stiffness. Manipulating soft tissues relaxes them and increases blood flow so that oxygen Levator and nutrients reach all of the tissues and scapulae waste such as lactic acid is removed. This repairs and strengthens muscles, easing pain Trapezius Supraspinatus and stiffness to increase the range of motion in joints, improve flexibility, and reduce the Deltoid Infraspinatus risk of injury. Easing muscular tension also Teres minor improves alignment and, in turn, posture. Rhomboid Teres major JOINTS AND TENDONS Triceps Joints, the point where bones meet, give the skeleton flexibility. Tendons and ligaments Latissimus dorsi Sacrospinalis are attached to joint capsules, such as at the shoulder and hips, or directly to bones, such Wrist extensors Quadratus as at the knee and elbow, allowing movement. Gluteus lumborus Cartilage lies between bones, with synovial medius fluid cushioning them to prevent friction. THE EFFECT OF MASSAGE By stimulating circulation, massage nourishes the joints, promoting healing and Piriformis preventing degenerative diseases. It also Gluteus maximus eases tension in tendons and ligaments to Gracilis improve mobility and the range of motion. Hamstrings FASCIA The fibrous connective tissue known as fascia is a densely woven, continuous mesh covering Gastrocnemius each body structure. With healthy tissues, fascia is relaxed and wavy, able to stretch and Posterior tibial move freely. After physical or mental trauma, scarring, inflammation, or repetitive actions, it Soleus thickens, losing pliability and tightening, which restricts movement and causes pain. THE EFFECT OF MASSAGE Deep tissue massage stretches the fascia, releasing adhesions that impede the flow of BACK energy throughout the body. 20 G ET T I N G STA RT E D NERVOUS SYSTEM The nervous system is the control center of Brain the body, sending and receiving signals to and from all parts of the body. Within the nervous system, there are divisions. The central Cranial nerves nervous system (CNS) comprises the brain and the spinal cord. From the spinal cord, Brachial plexus nerves branch out, forming the peripheral nervous system (PNS), which processes incoming sensory information. Spinal cord The autonomic nervous system (ANS), which overlaps partly with the CNS and PNS, Median has its own nerve chains and regulates nerve involuntary muscles, cardiac muscle, and certain glands, usually operating outside Lumbar plexus Ulnar of our conscious control. There are further nerve divisions within the autonomic nervous Sacral system. The sympathetic system is responsible plexus for activating our “fight or flight,” or stress response, while the parasympathetic division supports processes that conserve and restore energy during rest and recovery. The body is constantly working to balance these two responses in the nervous system. Femoral THE EFFECT OF MASSAGE nerve During a massage, nerves in the skin are stimulated, acting on the CNS. This in turn Sciatic nerve activates the parasympathetic system, which is responsible for promoting restorative actions. As a result, the stress response is subdued and the body undergoes restorative Tibial nerve processes, helping balance energy and encourage relaxation. This state of relaxation helps optimize the functioning of body systems, helping these to work effectively. For example, when the circulatory system (see opposite) is Digital branches supported and works smoothly, it nourishes of fibular nerve NERVOUS SYSTEM tissues efficiently; also the liver and the This system comprises lymphatic system (see p.22), unheeded by the the brain and spinal effects of stress, metabolize and transport cord, from which pairs waste materials out of the body effectively. of nerves branch out.  U N D E R STA N D I N G T H E BO DY 21 CIRCULATORY SYSTEM This is the body’s transport hub, taking oxygen and nutrients to tissues and cells Carotid artery Jugular vein all over the body and picking up toxins and waste products to expel. Superior vena cava Subclavian THE EFFECT OF MASSAGE artery Massage increases blood flow to an area. When a part of the body is massaged, this Aorta stimulates the circulation and blood rushes to the area, replenishing it with nutrients and Heart oxygen and removing toxins. This in turn Inferior vena cava stimulates the production of red and white blood cells, increasing their numbers, and Abdominal aorta encourages healing. A healthy circulation also helps lower high blood pressure and reduce the heart rate. Femoral Femoral vein “ artery Massaging a Popliteal artery particular part of Great saphenous vein the body increases the local circulation, bringing blood to the area along CIRCULATORY SYSTEM The heart pumps oxygenated blood ” (red) throughout the body; deoxygenated with nourishment blood (blue) returns to the heart. and oxygen. 22 G ET T I N G STA RT E D LYMPHATIC SYSTEM Tonsils This system of thin tubes—lymphatic vessels— and lymph nodes runs throughout the body Thoracic duct and is key to the immune system, playing a role in fighting infection, destroying abnormal or old cells, and helping remove waste. Like blood circulation, lymphatic vessels branch all over Axillary the body, but rather than carrying blood, they nodes carry a colorless liquid called lymph, which Spleen contains infection-fighting white blood cells. THE EFFECT OF MASSAGE The lymphatic system does not have a pump to circulate its fluids, so massage stimulates Cisterna its circulation, speeding up the removal of waste, chyli helping prevent swelling after injury or surgery, and strengthening the immune system. SKIN As the body’s largest organ, the skin has an important sensory role. In response to touch, thousands of tiny nerve receptors in the skin Inguinal nodes relay messages to the brain via the CNS (see p.20). The brain interprets these and returns them to the muscles. Lymph nodes THE SKIN This has two layers: the outer epidermis and deeper dermis. These contain blood Hair vessels to help control temperature, glands, Lymph The epidermis vessel has a protective follicle sweat ducts, and nerve endings. function Nerve sensor The deeper Sweat duct dermis is rich in nerve endings, Capillaries blood vessels, LYMPHATIC SYSTEM and glands Lymph fluid drained Arrector pili muscle Sebaceous gland from tissues is filtered in lymph nodes, then Sweat gland Subcutaneous returned to the fat layer circulatory system.  U N D E R STA N D I N G T H E BO DY 23 The skin comprises a superficial layer: the epidermis, and thicker connective tissue: the The lungs are dermis. The tougher waterproof epidermis positioned in the The heart, located upper chest cavity protects skin and underlying tissues by to the left of the chest and are part of the producing pigment, providing immune cavity, is part of the respiratory system responses, and detecting touch sensations. The circulatory system dermis, a fibrous layer of connective tissue, contains collagen and elastin proteins to give strength and elasticity. The dermis is also rich The liver in tactile receptors, or microsensors, which forms part of the are sensitive to touch. digestive system The kidneys lie at the back THE EFFECT OF MASSAGE of the body Stomach Massage triggers the release of endorphins— our natural painkillers—sending messages to the nervous system to tell the body to relax. It Large intestine also improves blood flow to the skin and Bladder stimulates sweat glands, both of which help Small remove toxins. Sebaceous glands in the dermis intestine are also stimulated, aiding sebum production to lubricate skin. Also, by stimulating circulation, massage boosts the supply of nutrients to the skin via the blood, improving its texture and elasticity, and also supports the sloughing of dead cells, naturally exfoliating the skin. In addition, vegetable oils in massage provide their own nutrients and essential fatty acids that help nourish and feed the skin. MAJOR ORGANS Major organs such as the heart, lungs, liver, and stomach are controlled by the ANS (see p.20) and protected in the body by the ribcage. The organs are an integral part of the various body systems and are supplied with oxygen LOCATION OF and nutrients from the circulatory system. ORGANS A knowledge of where organs are positioned in the body aids understanding of the area of the body that is being worked on during a massage.