INTUITIVE MASSAGE

Over the years I always tried to discover new techniques and new approaches to massage, continuing to study and to invest on my preparation. With time and experience I created a massage which I called “Intuitive”: I put together the best of my knowledges of this art and mix them together. It’s a combination of styles and techniques inspired mostly by the Thai massage, the Foot Reflexology, the Ayurvedic massage and the Swedish one, melted together and customized following to the needs and features of the receiving person, insisting in the parts of the body which need it most. My Intuitive Massage is a global manipulation: at a physical level it stimulates and detoxifies all body systems, relaxing the muscles, providing flexibility to articulations, loosening trigger points, draining the exceeding liquids, improving the lymphatic and blood circulation, whereas at a mental and spiritual level it helps to find again balance, releasing tension and stress.

MASSAGE BENEFITS

Already a simple caress offers an immediate sensation of pleasure. A massage offers not only this, but also a sequence of positive effects, which aim to restore harmony and balance.

Massage helps to release tension, freeing emotions stuck in our tissues. It is well proved by innumerable scientific studies that it is useful against:

• Stress

• Depression

• Anxiety

• Joints pain

• Insomnia

• Headache

• Sport injuries

• Muscles contractures

Massage benefits also include:

• It strenthtens the immune system

• It detoxifies the whole body

• It helps to reduce cellulite

• It improves digestion

Summing up: a universe of wellness!

MASSAGE TECHNIQUES

Every type of massage presents its own particular features, but have in common some base techniques.

In general, the pressure level must be calibrated following to the receiver’s needs. It’s very important to know how to give a massage: a valid rule is to maintain a certain gradualness, starting the massage with lighter manipulations, increasing slowly their intensity. In any case, it is necessary that who’s receiving the massage communicates to whom is performing it if the applied force is excessive or not enough.

We can say that the main techniques are seven: effleurage (gliding strokes), rubbing (with more pressure than the effleurage), friction (thumbs and fingertips move forming deep circles going across the grain of the muscles); petrissage or kneading (muscles are lightly grabbed, twisted and lifted); compression (with thumbs, or fingertips, or fists); tapotement or percussion (chopping, beating, and tapping strokes); vibration  (oscillatory movements that vibrate the body).

PRECAUTIONS OF MASSAGE

In presence of some ache or disease, massage should be avoided since it couldn’t be beneficial. Let’s see some possible massage contraindications, for guaranteeing its safety and efficiency:

• the first three months of pregnancy

• recent surgery

• fever

• cancer

• bleeding disorders as blood clots

• fractures

• wounds

• skin infections

• hypertension

• metabolism, rheumatic and degenerative diseases

Besides, it is prudent to apply a light massage in case of:

• period

• after an abundant meal

In general, massages have no side effects but any pain that intensifies after a massage could be the advising signal of a new disease or of a wrong diagnosis; in this case, it is good to consult your physician for further examinations.

TYPES OF MASSAGE  

There are several types of massage, but we can distinguish them in two main approaches: the Oriental and the Western ones. While following to the Occidental school of thought a disease is due to something of material nature (as a trauma or an infection), the Oriental philosophy has a holistic vision of human beings and sees the cause of a malfunction in an unbalance of our body, mind and spirit.

Let’s see a brief description of some of them:

THAI MASSAGE

Thai massage was born around 2500 years ago. Very connected to Buddhism, its techniques are inspired to Ayurvedic tradition, to Reflexology, to Shiatsu and to Tui Na.

Thai massage benefits are countless: it stimulates the body energies, pressing on exact points, following the SEN meridians, the energetic lines of our system. Similar to yoga positions, the masseur lifts and stretches the receiver into a sequence of postures, reducing stress and relieving tensions. This massage is very choreographic!  

A variation is the THAI TABLE MASSAGE, a very relaxing and draining technique where the person receives the treatment comfortably lying on a massage table.

AYURVEDIC MASSAGE

The Ayurveda, the science of life which since ages settled the bases of Indian traditional medicine, it is based on a holistic vision of the human being, considering the body a unique entity together with the mind: everything is pure energy.

The most important points that the Ayurvedic massage treats are those correspondent to the seven chakras, centres of force through which it flows the prana (in Sanskrit “vital blow”), besides all marmas, the energetic lines that this manipulation liberates, restoring the balance of the whole person. This massage brings a deep physical and interior relax, improving lymphatic and blood circulation, toning up the muscles, aligning the vertebral column, fighting insomnia and irritability. These massages use many sorts of essential and balsamic oils, which have an active part in the treatment.

REFLEXOLOGY

Even though reflexology is often called foot massage, it is more than a simple massage to the feet. In Reflexology the masseur applies pressure to precise points on the foot that reflect organs and systems of the body.

Its origins seems to be dated to 5000 years ago, with written documents and images found in India, in China and in Egypt. The first scientific studies in Western countries have been done by the physician and otolaryngologist W.H. Fitzgerald at the end of 1800.

Besides therapeutic, reflexology is very relaxing, especially for those who stand on their feet all day.

SHIATSU

Born in Japan in VII century, it is inspired by the main principles of acupuncture, Do-In,  judo and chiropractic. As all the others Oriental disciplines, it is a holistic massage which considers the human being as an indivisible unit, trying to intervene following the rules of Tao, the universal principle following which complementary and opposite forces - the Yin and the Yang - generate the vital cycle.

Shiatsu also has a preventive function, fighting anxiety and stress. It stimulates all body systems, increasing the global wellness of the person.  

SWEDISH MASSAGE

In the XIX century the Swedish physician Heinrik Ling decided to create a massage with results similar to those got through gymnastic: he created then a sequence of manipulations he called “Swedish massage”.

This is the most well known practice and it is the first to become established in Europe. In 1813 the Stockholm University inserted it in its studies’ program.

Swedish massage is promotes a deep relax, stimulating circulation, improving articulations elasticity and muscle tone, draining the exceeding liquids. It is ideal for those who do sport, since it releases muscle tiredness.

CALIFORNIAN MASSAGE

This massage was created in California in the early seventies, together with the birth of a new life philosophy, endorsing holistic balance of the person, freedom of thought and expression. Widespread very fast in the eighties, it is now one of the most common treatments in SPA and wellness centres.

Its technique is very slow, sweet and enveloping; movements are relaxed and fluid.

It is ideal for very stressed or apathetic people, since it aims to “re-center” one’s energies. It promotes circulation and draining, allowing a complete loosening of any tension and tiredness.

LOMI LOMI or HAWAIIAN MASSAGE

The Lomi Lomi is a massage typical of Hawaii Islands, handed down from one generation to another to the most skilful member of the family who became a real master of this massage, called the Kahuna.

Born as a secret ritual, the Hawaiian massage fascinates and surprises with its principles of harmony between body and soul, between nature and any live being, love and respect for all creatures. This massage has started to spread only recently in the world being for generations an art practised only by the Kahunas.

It is a very choreographic massage with slow movements and countless virtues, bringing benefits to all body systems: digestive, lymphatic, circulatory, respiratory, muscular, nervous and bone. From the spiritual and mental point of view the Hawaiian massage guarantees an experience of deep calm, helping against depression and tension.  

LYMPHATIC DRAINAGE MASSAGE

Your lymphatic system helps to remove the wastes of your body. The stasis of liquids in the tissues It's not only an aesthetic matter, but it also reduces their vitality, causing a smaller flow of oxygen. The lymphatic drainage massage, with its spiral movements, stimulates the re-absorption of these liquids.  

This technique is well known for its benefits on cellulite and on oedemas.

SPORTS MASSAGE

This massage, loved by athletes, can be effectuated before, after or even during a competition. It increases the performances of the sportsman, heating the muscles, releasing the tensions and reducing the possibility of injuries to tendons and muscles. Together with stretching it helps to reduce excessive lactic acid due to intense physical activity, which provokes tiredness, cramps and pain. Besides, it increases endorphins production, which give a sensation of wellness.  

For those who do regular physical activity, Sports massage therapy is suggested at least once, better twice a week, for loosening possible contractures.