by Chris Tilley

Created on: December 13, 2009   Last Updated: December 22, 2009

One of the best feelings in the world is having your body pampered by someone trained in the art of massage. The ins and outs of the relaxing pressure and tension, the smoothening of your muscles, just washes away the pains and aches of the modern world. And this has been the secret to massage and its success for years, thousands as a matter of fact.

There are many different types of massage. Massage as old as yesterday’s news and even older, ranging to the thousands of years in practice. Each massage technique has its own functions and science and targeting precisions. So which one is best? There are over 80 ways to apply massage, so this question is important.

The act of massage involves manipulating soft tissue to relieve pressure, tension, in a structured or unstructured way with the hands or mechanical aids. Target tissues include muscles, ligaments, tendons, skin, joints, and other areas not excluding lymphatic vessels or gastrointestinal organs. Massage can be applied with the hands, the feet, like the little old Chinese lady does it, the knees, the elbows, and other body parts.

So what should we look for when looking for a masseuse to grind away all our daily stress? Well, the Happy Massage Parlor might work, but beware of the back room.

Some masseuses will come to you and charge by the hour. Others have a parlor, a spa, or a doctor’s office that you can schedule your appointment with if that is more comfortable. But whatever you do, beware; scams exist and the many options make the choices difficult to sort through finding a good masseuse.

One way to find a massage therapist is to go to the American Massage Therapy Association website and use the locator. It has modalities listed. This would take some research into modalities, specific styles of massage, and choose from among them the best one for you. You can check the site out at www.amtamassage.org. Use the locator service in the link, Finding a Massage Therapist.

Tips on finding a masseuse can include a friend’s referral, checking the training and expertise, or simply fees and location. A friend’s referral cannot be topped. Depending on the trustworthiness of the friend, the referral could be the difference in the entire massage experience. Next is training and expertise. Check for certifications like LMT (Licensed Massage Therapist), RMT (Registered Massage Therapist), or CMT (Certified Massage Therapist). Different states have different qualifications, so also check with the local authorities on certifications and licensure if you still are uncertain. Fees and location, location especially, will help you find a good masseuse. Some masseuse’s rates can be pricey, so try out the deals or just go for a half hour. The location is important. Masseuses will come to your home but if this is an uncomfortable thing for you, try to see where the location is. If it is in a doctor’s office, then quite predictably the therapist is also involved in medical therapy. The location of the office will help determine the credentials and establishment of the therapist. Advice taken from www.relaxationexpert.co.uk/choosing-a-masseuse.html.

 So there, you are on your way to finally having the healing of a massage. Choose wisely for it will change your life.  

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