What is massage therapy?

Massage therapy is a practice that has been around as long as humans have had bodies. We may not have always called it massage therapy but we have always naturally been inclined to massage the body. From the moment we experience pain, our natural reactions include rubbing and kneading the area of discomfort.

Even in times of non-physical hurt, we extend hugs to one another or shoulder pats. Touch has always had its place in healing work. It is usually the first form of communication we have as babies and our way of receiving information. Our way of feeling comfort.

Massage therapy can be described as manipulation of the body’s soft tissues [muscles, nerves, tendons, blood vessels, etc…] using various hands-on techniques as means to promote wellness. As of 2022, most licensed massage therapists in the United States are required to complete a minimum 500 clock hours of education from an accredited institution. [Yours truly, personally graduated with 900 clock hours from Southeastern College [formerly Southeastern Institute] of North Charleston, SC] This education includes anatomy, physiology, pathology, ethics, and hours of hands-on experience.

Massage is a great complement to your current wellness routine. There are various modalities resulting in a plethora of techniques that can be applied during a session, which allows for massage therapy to expand beyond ritualistic treatments and truly offer customizable therapy for each participant. Whether you are seeking massage for relaxation, pain-relief, or energetic body-work [yes, we welcome science AND spiritualism here], massage therapy has great restorative and preventative benefits for every body.

If you’ve received massage before, please comment and share with us what massage therapy means to you. We would love to hear what you love [and dislike] about massage therapy.