Chinese Culture >> Chinese Health Medicine >> Asian Massage Styles

Styles of Asian Massage

The vast and rich cultures of Asia have long been the birth place of great healing systems, and within these healing systems massage is often a very important element. In fact many of the massage techniques used in the west originated from Asian massage styles.

For a more detailed description of our Asian massage courses see the links below

It is a great shame that nowadays the term "Asian massage" generally illicites thoughts of sleazy "massage parlors" where sensual delights and worldly pleasures abound, yet the ancient healing wonders of these grand cultures are nowhere to be found. This common use of the term Asian massage has done a huge disservice to the healing masters and people in general over the past few decades however the therapeutic use of massage techniques originating from Asia has had a surge in popularity in Western society during recent times as many people experience the healing wonders of the East.

One of the main differences between the medical systems of the East and West is the acceptance and understanding in the East of a subtle energy flowing throughout the body that relates directly to the health of the body. Known by various names, chi in China, prana in India and ki in Japan, this energy when flowing freely and evenly throughout the body maintains health and a sense of wellbeing within the individual.

There is a common saying that states that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Western medicine is based on the concept of finding a cure to treat a disease or prescribing drugs or surgery to mask or remove symptoms of a disease. Eastern medicine and asian massage in particular, with it's understanding of this subtle energy is based more on the ability of the healer to work with the patient to prevent disease and sickness where possible as well as treating disease when it occurs.

A wise health therapist however will not make a complete distinction between Eastern and Western medicine, rejecting one to accept the other. A wise therapist will understand that both systems contain a wealth of knowledge and procedures that are of great benefit when treating clients.

Raynor Massage Therapy embraces many styles of massage emerging from both the East and West and combines them together to create a fluid, penetrating and deeply healing style of massage that has the effect of relieving tension from the muscles, loosening the joints and allowing the chi to flow freely and evenly throughout the body. This frees the body of stress, tension and soreness that has built up over many years and helps to prevent future injuries and diseases that are can occur due to tension and blocked energy. On a mental and emotional level Raynor Massage Therapy also helps achieve a peaceful state by reducing stress and allowing the release of built up emotional tension.

Here is a brief description of some of the Asian Massage styles

Chinese Massage: Chinese massage is closely related to acupuncture in its use of the meridian system and is considered to be effective for a similar range of health problems. It is a very effective and comprehensive therapy and is regarded alongside herbs, diet, qigong and one of the fundamental arts of Traditional Chinese Medicine.

Shiatsu Massage: Originating in Japan, shiatsu is a therapy of physical and energetic (ki) rebalance. It acts through pressure with thumbs, fingers and palms applied to determined areas and points of the human body, without the use of any mechanical or of another type instrument, correcting internal dysfunctions, promoting and keeping the health and treating specific illnesses.

Thai massage: Thai Massage is an interactive manipulation of the body using passive stretching and gentle pressure along energy lines. The effect is relaxing as well as energizing. Receiving a Thai massage is a bit like doing yoga without putting forth any effort while also getting acupressure treatments.

Ayurvedic massage: Practiced traditionally in India and now increasingly throughout the west, Ayurvedic medicine uses massage to calm the mind, relax the muscles and remove toxins from the body. Oils used in Ayurvedic massage are often infused with medicinally potent herbs.

About the Author:

Brandon Rayor has been practicing Massage and Naturopathy for the past 15 years. He is well known and appreciated for his deeply healing massage work and his down to earth teaching style that makes advanced massage techniques and concepts easy for his students to understand.