An Ideal Combo - Stone Massage and Meridian Work
It’s important for massage therapists to continue adding new techniques and modalities to their repertoire in order to keep their massage style fresh and unique. One way to do this is by combining two established styles of massage and incorporating them into a single session to provide the maximum therapeutic benefit to your clients. An excellent example is the combining of stone massage techniques with the basic meridian principles of Traditional Chinese Medicine to offer your clients a great service. Of course, before you begin this type of integrated work on clients, make sure you have a firm grasp on both techniques.
A hot stone massage can provide tremendous value in the form of relaxation, and is a perfect match for those clients who are stressed, overwhelmed, fatigued or prone to headaches. Hot stones can help relieve stress, ease muscle tension and increase blood circulation. Traditional Chinese Medicine focuses on releasing stagnant energy in the body that may be hindering organ function and eventually causing disease. Combining massage and meridian work can help move the blocked energy so that it may flow freely throughout the body. The environment and weather can contribute to blocked meridians and, many times, TCM can help. If the blockage is caused by extreme cold, using heat therapy is the most logical treatment, and vice-versa. This is where stone massage comes in. Placing and manipulating the stones along acupressure points and meridians can help free up some of the blocked energy and provide pain relief. Whether it’s a hot stone massage or a cool one, this type of alternative therapy can be a great addition to your session by providing an extra layer of therapeutic support to your clients.
Learn more about how combining these two cutting-edge therapies can give your massage added value by reading this entire article here www.integrative-healthcare.org/mt/archives/2007/05/an_ideal_combo.html
This article was prepared for HomeStudyCredits.org. Learn more about massage therapy and massage therapy continuing education programs.
