Managing Physical Stress with Therapeutic Massage

By Jeffrey W. Forman, M.Ed., Ph.D

This book addresses how health professionals can utilize massage therapy to identify and manage client's physical stress.

It provides specific technique, assessment and trouble shooting tools to identify, track and reduce physical stress.

It lists step-by-step procedures covering everything from developing an anti-stress plan, with breathing techniques for stress reduction, to performing self massage.

It is an indispensable resource for massage and allied health professionals in a variety of practice settings.

It features a section on therapeutic exercises for both clients and massage therapists.

It contains photographs to illustrate specific massage techniques.

Also has forms which can be used in clinical practice to evaluate and track client's progress.

And also cover on improving posture to reduce stress, and help client sleep.

A very good book also available at the library 615.822

Happy reading.

What is Quantum Touch ?

Quantum Touch is a hands-on healing method that works on resonance and entrainment.

Resonance is vibration at a certain energy level, we use certain breathing techniques to raise our energy levels and keep it on a higher vibration stage.

When we do a hands on healing, the body entrains.
Just like the pendulums of the clocks, if at first they swing in different directions, but after a while they become synchronized and swing in the same direction.
This is quantum physics and it is about energy working on a cellular level.

Quantum Touch involves breathing techniques working with sound and some times even colours may be added if necessary.

We all heal ourselves naturally, with Quantum Touch we are given a system of breathing techniques to raise our energy field.

Quantum healing knows no limits. When the cells have a positive energy, then everything heals themselves.

Quantum-Touch and Massage

Quantum-Touch is a powerful, easy to learn, energy healing modality.

It teaches us to focus and amplify life-force energy - "chi" by combining various breathing and body awareness exercises.

Massage Therapists can easily combine Quantum-Touch with their massage work to help clients who are in pain to help them heal by themselves.

Energy healing can also be applied where massage work may be contraindicated.

Massage therapists can use energy healing during the massage to increase the therapeutic work of the massage and allow the client to go into deep states of relaxation.

For more information visit www.quantumtouch.com

Reflexology

Reflexology and Shiatsu share certain similarities of technique and theory in that both utilize pressure on the body and use the idea that the internal organs can be affected by stimulation of reflex areas or points distant from the organs themselves. In reflexology, the feet are regarded as microcosm of the whole body, with certain areas mapped out on the sole and top of the foot corresponding to organs, limbs, glands, senses, and general functions such as circulation or speech. Because of the rich supply of nerves in the feet, pressure on a precise reflex area can have an effect elsewhere in the body via the path ways of the nervous system.

Both reflexology and Shiatsu rely upon the sensitivity of the practitioner's hands to effect treatment, but otherwise technique is fairly different. The standard reflexology "rotating thumb technique" is never used in Shiatsu.

Acupuncture

Acupuncture and Shiatsu have common roots and share elements of theory. Whether a patient choose acupuncture or Shiatsu as a therapy will depend upon personal preference and upon heath condition. Some people like the physical closeness of Shiatsu, with its nurturing and cosseting feeling. Others like the distance of the needle. Practitioners who use both techniques tend to use acupuncture for acute, painful conditions such as arthritis, migraine, frozen shoulder, and any kind of blockage or pain. They see Shiatsu as a more nourishing and tonifying therapy that works well for chronic persistent conditions that need long work at a deeper level.

Healing

Healing - laying on of hands has the ability to bring relief to others.

The practitioner directs healing energy, usually in the form of light or colour, to the painful or affected areas.

It is done by holding hands about two or three inches off the body, at the “etheric” level. Or touching the body lightly

The patient can feel a sensation of warmth, movement, or of a breeze passing by the part being worked upon.

Where to place the hands and when to move to another area depends upon experience and intuition.

It takes time to learn to listen to and trust the small still voice that says “work on the left side of the neck” or “hold the kidney area.”

Everybody has the ability to heal. Everyone in the “caring professions,” orthodox or alternative, is there because of his or her desire and ability to heal others.

Massage and Shiatsu

Massage and Shiatsu share many aspects:
The warm and compassionate touch of another human being, encouraging the body to let go and relax.

Both forms work on the physical site of pain or stiffness and can release emotional disturbances.

Western massage theory and knowledge of physiology can be used to explain the mechanisms of physical dysfunction.

Shiatsu, on the other hand, also enjoys the more poetic, yet commonsense, explanation embodied in oriental medical theory to give the patient an overall view of the condition.