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In this
article, I'll be explaining what a Wellness Massage is and
how it can help you.
What
exactly is a Wellness Massage?
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 East Central
Florida 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 his two
locations in Melbourne, Florida and Cocoa, Florida. For rates for Wellness Massage, see the
Services & Rates page.
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