The integrative massage is a therapeutic method which combines both massage principles and bodywork principles. It tries to incorporate all the physical, emotional and spiritual factors. It is also known as electric massage.

The benefits of Integrated Massage Therapy
The primary health benefits of integrated massage therapy are:

• It gives full support to the mind and body by increasing the blood circulation
• It makes the person to feel good
• Increases the oxygen content in the muscles
• It involves a holistic approach
• Provides flexibility of joints
• It takes the physiological aspect into consideration
• It has a power to redirect the negative psychological aspects

How It Is Done?
It can be done by applying different techniques to change the person’s physiological changes. It promotes the changes that occur physiologically.
It is done by focusing the fascial system. The fascial system involves the connective tissues in the body. It releases soft tissues that are compressed. It adopts guided movements to give full relaxation to the tissues. The integrative massage therapy also uses bodywork techniques to promote circulation and to stimulate atrophied muscles.

Integrative massage therapy can be an effective remedy for many diseases and conditions including blood pressure, immune system dysfunction, arthritis and infertility.

There are different kinds of touch therapy that are been practiced. some ofthem are been discussed below.

Types of Touch therapy Massage
Now touch therapy can be different types. Some can be gentle whereas some is deep and strong massage. Such as:

• Deep massage: this massage involves strong hand movements to get to deep muscles.
• Rolfing: mainly emphasize on controlling connective tissue. It involves strong force to massage tissues
• Craniosacral massage: This touch therapy focuses mainly on the head and spine, to clear blockages in the spinal chord
• Reflexology: is a touch therapy which is based on the concept that evry body parts have some kind of connection to the hands. So pressing on particular areas on hands can have healing effects in other parts of the body

Benefits from Touch Therapy
Touch therapy massage usually have a quick result. It does not cure any health conditions, but it improves life quality and life style. This therapy can be helpful in:

• Reducing stress, anxiety, depression
• Provides relaxation
• circulation stimulation
• immune function

What is Remedial message therapy?

Remedial therapy is generally a message for treatment of soft tissue problems. It is an ideal message for people who have injuries in ligaments, muscles, tendons and other soft tissues. The therapy also helps to get out of daily tensions and stress. Remedial message not only treat the symptoms, but also identify and treat the cause of disorder.

What can remedial message therapy cure?

Remedial message therapy can be effective to conditions such as:

• Back, neck and shoulder pain
• Sports injuries
• Arthritic disorders
• Spondylitis
• Temporary or permanent paralysis
• Muscle sprains and strains
• Headaches, stress and pain
• Recovery from surgery

Different techniques used in remedial message therapy

• Action Potential Stimulator
• Deep tissue massage
• Trigger point therapy
• Myofascial release
• Electro-magnetic herbal heat lamp
• Lymphatic drainage
• Cranio-sacral balancing
• Relaxation massage

What does a session include?

• First and foremost medical details will be asked, which helps in determining treatment priorities.
• If your problem is been built up over time, then you need to have more than two treatments to overcome your problem. It’s advisable to be patient and regular with the treatment for a good outcome.
• The therapists will use their hands, fingers, thumbs, elbow to carry on with the techniques. Initially the massage will be a bit uncomfortable if you are already in pain.

Session time-period

It generally takes 1/2 hour to 1 hour. The first session will take more than 1 hour as a full details of the problem is been discussed and assess.

Cost or fees per session

It does not have a fix cost as such, it varies from place to place and practitioner to practitioner. So it’s better to find out from your local practitioner before making an appointment.

Acupuncture is a traditional and ancient Chinese method of healing, and it has existed for over 3,000 years. This traditional Chinese method includes massage, exercise, herbal medicine and diet. Different type of problems can be cured, be it acute physical injury or chronic pain, emotional problems or any kind of addictions. This therapy is a help and relief to every situation.

What is the process?

First and foremost the practitioner will insert very thin, stainless steel into various parts of the body. For a better response, low frequency electric currents can also be applied to the needles.

There are other procedures which can also be conducted with acupuncture therapy. They are:

• Auriculotherapy – placing needles in ear.
• Acupressure – Pressure used manually
• Procaine
• Vitamins
• Morphine
• Homeopathic remedies which are inserted through needles
• Injection of sterilized water
• Moxibustion – burning herbs that are applied to the skin

Diagnosis before therapy

This includes many things. They are:

• Individual’s lifestyle and medical history
• Examination of the tongue and skin
• Pulse recording
• Checking of breathing sounds

Cost of Acupuncture treatment

Well it depends from one practitioner to another. Usually the cost range from $ 60-120 per session. Initial session is more elaborate and cost more. Whereas routine visits cost somewhere between $50 to $70.

Acupuncture treatment can cure:

A number of body problems can be treated with the help of acupuncture treatment. Thay are:

• Ligament and muscle tear
• Muscle and nerve problems
• Migraines and headaches
• Chronic pain in the neck and back
• Stomach and intestine problems
• Problem related to acne

Side effects of Acupuncture Treatment:

• Minor bleeding can be there after removal of the needles. Though it is rare but can happen in some cases.
• Some people are scared of needles, which can lead to dizziness. But it happens in very rare cases.
• Infection may cause if the needles are not sterilized properly.
• Nerve injury, cause due to accidental puncture of any nerve

We all have unconscious habits that expose our bodies to unnecessary pain and tension when we perform regular movements without thinking about it. For example, we often use more strength then we need to when lifting or pushing objects which put us at risk for back, shoulder and neck strain.

The Alexander Technique is claimed to be an intelligent way of solving body problems, some directly associated with posture, others less so. We tend to blame body problems on the activities we do (such as Carpal Tunnel Syndrome and RSI on computer work) but quite often it is how we do the task that causes the problems, not the activity itself.

Alexander Technique can help us become aware of balance, posture and co-ordination whilst performing everyday jobs.

The basic idea of the technique is that when the neck muscles do not overwork, the head balances lightly on top of the spine. The relationship between the head and spine is of utmost importance and how we manage that relationship is significant for the rest of the body. Our neuromuscular system is designed to work in correspondence with gravity (rather than against it).

The Alexander Technique involves examining posture, breathing, balance and co-ordinationMany people who practice the Technique can experience a general feeling of lightness throughout their bodies and describe the feeling as ‘walking on air’.

The Alexander Technique has broad applications and is required to be studied in schools of acting, music, dance, etc. It’s remedially used for gaining full healing of balance and ease

Benefits of the Technique

Excess tension in your body can cause a variety of unlikable symptoms and it can hinder with your ability to carry out activities well. This technique helps you to carry out your day to day activity well and relives you from any form of physical disorder.
People of all ages and occupations can take up Alexander massage technique.

Alexander massage therapy heals the following diseases:

• Stress
• Anxiety Disorders
• Back Pain
• Depression
• Tinnitus

Teaching of the Technique

An Alexander Technique teacher uses to a blend of verbal explanations and gentle touch to enable students to experience themselves free, connected, and supported. The teacher’s hands-on contact shared with verbal instruction helps students continue inhibiting their usual response to a stimulus. This allows students to willfully direct themselves in new ways.

The Technique can be taught privately, in groups, or in workshop formats. Private and group lessons vary in length. Workshops can be any combination of private or group lesson.

The history of massage therapy
The history of massage therapy is thousands of years old:

Between 2500 and 3000 B.C.: The pictures found in the tombs of Egypt shows people being massaged. In this, they used pressure to certain points in the body and

2700 B.C.: The books which have writings of the Chinese history mentions about the massages, exercise for limbs, breathing exercises, treatment for paralysis, fever etc.

1000B.C.: In Japan, the massage therapy is brought by the monks. This was adopted from China along with Buddhism. This was the beginning of the great traditional Japanese massage. Today, it is popular as Shiatsu. It is helpful to increase the energy level, improved organ functioning and stimulation of natural resistance power.

Between 700 and 800 B.C.: In Greece, the people who started using massage therapy were athletes. They used the different ways of massage to condition their body before massage.

Between 200 and 100 B.C.: A physician named Galen started using massage in Rome to heal injuries and other illnesses.

Between 17th and 19th century: In this period massage therapy became popular in Europe as a natural healing method.

From 20th century: From 20th century, the massage therapy became popular in United States. It was treated as a luxury for the rich people in the early stages.

Massage therapy history is not complete without mentioning India in its roots. Massage therapy is used as a healing touch. The massage therapy is the foundation for holistic health, relaxing medications and aromatherapy. In India the ayurveda massage is done as a sensual massage.

Massage therapy might be one of the oldest methods of medical treatments. It has been there for thousands of years back. The massage therapy is believed to be originated in china and Egypt. Ancient Egyptian paintings are the proof of using massage therapy for medical care.

In massage therapy the touch is used as the healing method for relaxation. It is helpful in improving relaxation and to diminish stress.

The three doshas are vatha, pitta and kapha. The oil which you are using might be focused to treat the doshas in your body.

Abhyanga massage can be done using the sesame oil for massaging your body every morning. Cold pressed sesame oil can be used for abhyanga massage for best results. Sesame oil is rich in antioxidants. It protects the skin from damaging and it repairs the skin problems. It also protects the skin from free radical damage. The sesame oil is found very effective for the bodily processes.

Benefits of abhyanga massage
Some of the benefits of abhyanga massage include:

• Tones full body and muscles
• Increases circulation in nerves
• Lubricates joints
• Increases mental health
• Eliminates impurities from the body
• Softens the skin and makes it smooth
• Improves better and sound sleep

Abhyanga massage is to be done in the morning before you go to bath. It helps your body to release all the toxins that you have incurred during last night.

You might do abhyanga massage using aroma oils, organic sesame oil, coconut oil, herbal massage oil etc.

How to do abhyanga massage
You might follow these steps to do abhyanga massage:

• Dip the oil bottle into hot water and make it warm.
• Apply a thin layer of the oil all over your body
• Let the body absorb the oil for five minutes
• Then massage gently in circular and rhythmic movements

Give special attention while massaging on the soles of the feet, palms, base of finger nails to increase the circulation in the nerve endings.

Every human has a balance of vatha, pitta and kapha. Abhyanga massage is very good for maintaining the doshas. The oil and the herbs for abhyanga massage can be determined by looking into the doshas.

Holistic means ‘whole’. The word holistic has formulated from a Greek word. Holistic health means combining the modern scientific treatments with olden and inventive methods. It is based on a proactive and preventive way of ensuring holistic health.

Methods used to establish holistic health:
The methods used to establish holistic health are:

• Herbal remedies
• Natural diet
• Proper exercise
• Nutritional supplements
• Psychological counseling
• Relaxation
• Spiritual counseling
• Meditation and breathing exercise

In holistic massage therapy the balancing areas are divided into four.
The Four Balancing Areas are:

• Physical
• Mental
• Emotional
• Spiritual

The balancing of these four areas in holistic massage therapy will provide:

• Relief from muscle tension
• Increase in flexibility
• Increase in blood circulation
• Relief from stress
• Reduced anxiety
• Increase in mental consciousness
• Improved sound sleep
• Improved holistic health

In this, the causes of your problems are established first and then they are treated.

The benefits of holistic massage therapy:
To massage your body is effective for relaxing and increasing the whole body circulation. The benefits of holistic massage therapy are:

• Reduces stress
• Lessen the chances of getting injuries
• Injury prevention and rehabilitation
• Sound sleep
• Relief from muscular pain
• Improves breathing
• Healthy joints

In short, the holistic massage therapy means the relaxation treatment which grooms your inner self and ensures the holistic health through massage and other related methods.

For example- essential oil of clove has harmonizing effect on nervous system and is known to give relief from anxiety disorders. Some examples of essential oil are rosewood essential oil, lavender essential oil, sandalwood essential oil, clove essential oil etc.

Methods To Harness Medical Benefits Of Aroma Therapy:

Primary methods to harness medical benefits of Aromatherapy includes:
• The key feature of aromatherapy is use of essential oil which has accessed the human system with the help of inhalation or absorption.
• Essential oils are very beneficial and have no side effects if are used in prescribed manner.
• Essential oils are used for holistic treatment, where oils are used for massages for effective treatment of mental blocks and physical disorders.
• Essential oil is used for clinical purposes which supplement to western medical treatment plans and therapies.
• Aromatherapy is used for aesthetic purposes where fragrance is evoked by special burners and diffuses in homes, offices or added to water.

Rosewood Essential Oil Benefits:

Rosewood essential oil benefits can be summarized in the following points:
• Scent of rosewood is fresh, somewhat flowery and woodsy. It is used for calming and harmonizing both body and mood.
• Rosewood oil provides relief to menstrual pains or fatigue muscles.
• It is used in many massage oil toners as it is effective in maintaining skin’s oil balance and elasticity.
• Rosewood oil gives relief to headaches accompanied by nausea
• Creams and oils with rosewood oil in them are used over stretch marks. This is very beneficial for removing them.
• Rosewood is also used for emotional and mental ailments. It has been known to help with calming, uplifting, worry, frigidity and fatigue.

Now, you can massage the area by :

• Massage with one or both hands:  You can use densely pressed palms can be moved from the top i.e. scalp to the back and unto humeral joints.
• Squeezing: It is carried out with the edge of palm on neck side, massaging hand, a thumb hillock, on hetronymic side.
• Grinding: This is circular motion of four fingers from one ear to another in the area of occipital bone. It is possible to do the same with two hands, displacing each other towards each other.
• Frottage: You can finish massage of neck with frottage. It is carried out with alternate use of hands from jaws to down the breast.

Apart from message few exercises can also provide relief. Some of them are mentioned below:

Exercises for Neck Pain:

• Before beginning any kind of activity it is necessary to warm up the portion. So, warming up of neck can be done by rotating it in sideways and in upward and downward position
• Now, put your chin in your palms and take your head downwards, overcoming the resistance of palm. Make 4-5 sets of the same having 20-30 repetitions.
• Clasped a nape with connected hands, now try to incline your head forward using your hands, keeping hands at back due to muscles of back portion, 4-5 sets till 20-30 repetitions.
• Just lay down on bench with your back on it and in such a manner that your head is in suspension. Now, you need a partner who will press your forehead and try to take your head downwards and you will have to resist this movement forcing a movement in forward muscles of neck. Number of sets and repetitions are same.
• You lie on bench with you stomach on bench and your partner will press your nap softly and you will try to keep your head and tight on your place.