Massage Therapy and Watsu
Massage therapy could be as simple as a gentle stroking or gentle rubbing or as complex as precise manipulation and kneading. Massage therapy, no matter what you want to define it involves manipulating the body in ways that help promote healing and harmony of various organs and systems. The aim of massage therapy is to restore harmony and improve function.
Watsu is a kind of massage therapy. Watsu, is a Japanese term, roughly translates as "Oriental bodywork," but is more commonly known by the name massage. Watsu is an Japanese word that translates to 'ido', or 'quality life. Watsu is usually characterized by one-on-one massage sessions in which the practitioner or therapist is able to hold, manipulate, or stretches a recipient in warm, deep water using hand movements, finger tips elbows, feet, and elbows. The client must remain completely covered during a massage session. The therapist or practitioner may touch only the superficial skin.
Massage therapy is frequently utilized to ease chronic pain, such as from injuries from sports, tennis elbow, or carpal tunnel syndrome. One of the most common conditions treated through watsu sessions is chronic pain. Massage chairs are now incorporating many different techniques to help alleviate chronic pain. There is at minimum one method of treating chronic pain that most massage chairs have in the present. Because it lengthens the spine and relieves the pressure on the spine that causes spinal decompression, it's a popular treatment for back problems. Acupressure, Swedish massage and deep tissue massage are the most common treatments for back pain.
Shiatsu is another method to use watsu as a method for pain relief. In shiatsu the pressure is applied to specific points on the feet and hands by using circular, smooth movements. The pressure is applied so that the bodywork is warmed up prior to the movement begins. The movements of shiatsu are similar to those used in Swedish massage, but are typically slower. Shiatsu is another form of massage that uses hot stones to apply pressure to certain areas.
Another aspect of watsu is decreased relaxation of muscles. Muscles can become stiff when they are overworked or injured. The muscles can relax when a skilled massage therapist relaxes them through the use of gentle pressure. A skilled therapist can identify specific muscle relaxation techniques to alleviate pain suffered by a patient. These techniques include knee flexion and hip flexion.
Watsu also offers a variety of stretching techniques. These stretches help to relieve tension in muscles and improve the range of motion of joints. You can stretch your quadriceps quadriceps, hamstrings, hips and shoulders with these stretching movements. While these exercises relieve tension in the muscles they also improve circulation, which in turn helps to reduce pain and time to recover from injuries.
To get a complete treatment in watsu, one must be guided by a skilled, trained practitioner. The majority of therapists trained in watsu will provide instruction at a private practice, but some do massages and other bodywork treatments in a spa. In certain cases the therapist might offer this service in an exercise center or business. Before a client has this extensive therapy they must receive instruction on how to give the massage, as well as information on the various techniques that are used during the treatment. If they have a medical issue or injury medical condition, a professional should never suggest further therapy without first consulting with their physician.
Due to the physical compression involved in the traditional watsu method, there may be a decrease in blood flow to the area that has been injured. Anemia and discomfort can result from the decreased blood flow and muscle contractions. A licensed therapist is necessary for patients receiving treatment. The therapist will position the client's body so that the force is applied to the muscles that are contracting. If force is not applied directly to the muscles, the contractions will be accelerated which will result in lower blood flow. This is a condition that can be detected by a certified therapist and the massage session will be ended immediately.
