The history of massage goes back a long way, like 3000 BCE (Before The Common Era) long way, if not even earlier. If you were to ask someone where the massage originated from, the answer would probably be China, Japan, or even Egypt, but believe it or not, it actually got started in India, the land known for its mystery, diversity, and spices. It was used by the Hindus and they considered it a sacred system of natural healing known as Ayurveda, meaning “life health” medicine. It was a practice that was passed down through the generations to help heal injuries, relieve pain, and help prevent and cure illnesses. As Time passed through India so did explorers and trade, which eventually led to China’s learning of massages around 2700 BCE, and they in turn further developed the massage method by using a combination of skills coupled with the practices of traditional Chinese medicine, martial arts, and Spiritual Yoga, thus leading to the training of Buddhists and Taoists. In time they wrote a script, known as The Yellow Emperor’s Classic Book of Internal Medicine, which today is considered to be the birth of massage therapies alternative medicine, known as Acupuncture, Acupressure, and Herbal Remedies.
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From there, around 2500 BCE, it made its way to Egypt, where it is said that they found some of the earliest “Written” records of massaging. Where do you ask? Yup! You guessed it! Tomb paintings were discovered that showed individuals being “kneaded” by others. The Egyptians of course added their own spin on the subject and are thus credited with the creation of reflexology. It is a process in which direct pressure is applied to specific points or reflex zones on the feet and/or hands, which produces positive experiences with beneficial effects on the areas of the body that connect to those zones.
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Now let’s jump to about 1000 BCE, where we find some Monks that are studying Buddhism somewhere in the vast territories of China. It was during this time of study that the monks were watching and learning about Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and as an added bonus they also got to witness massages first hand, thus bringing massage therapy to Japan. Now, Japan being a proud nation, as you can probably imagine, had to put their own little claim to fame on it, and came up with a form of massage called “Anma,”, which the rest of the world will later come to know as Shiatsu. It is designed to raise the energy levels of the patient and by doing this it helps to regulate and strengthen organs by rebalancing energy levels through the stimulation of pressure points in hopes of bringing natural resistance to illness.
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Moving on to around 800 BCE we find that the “Massage” had found its way to the borders of western civilization, Greece, and the Roman Empire to be exact, and they had learned a lot about massage techniques from the Egyptians. They used their newfound techniques in many different ways. For example, Greece athletes used the new techniques to keep their bodies in peak condition prior to and after competitions. The doctors of the day used herbs and oils in combination with massage techniques to treat a variety of medical conditions and illnesses. About 300 years later (roughly 500 BCE) there was a man by the name of Hippocrates, also known as the “Father Of Medicine”, who combined the known massage techniques of his time, with friction (Known as Anatripsis). It is a technique wherein you rub the body vigorously in order to create heat thus helping the body to heal. He would go on and prescribed this massage technique, along with proper diet, exercise, fresh air, and music as a means to restore health imbalances. (Sound familiar?? It should for it is widely used in the world today)
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In Rome, around 200 BCE, there was a doctor by the name of Galen (also known as “The Prince Of Medicine”) who believed that Hippocrates’ principles of combining massaging with exercise, diet, and rest were all integral pieces in restoring and maintaining a healthy body. Galen believed in it so much that he started using this technique on many emperors to treat them for different types of physical injuries and diseases. As you can well imagine the word got around (we are talking about ROME after all) and you do know what they say…..“When in Rome”……And everyone wanted it! As can be expected the wealthy had the means of receiving massages in the privacy of their homes by their personal doctor or trained slaves. However, the general populace was treated in public bathhouses. It was custom that the individual would first bathe themselves and then receive a full body massage to help stimulate circulation and loosen their joints. These typically included oils to benefit the skin. AGAIN! Remember that we are talking ROME and with that being said it should come as no surprise that the public baths eventually earned a reputation that the full body massage was more about being used in the pursuit of sexual pleasure instead of as a means for healing. You would think that would be the birthplace of erotic massage, but I am sure due to all the other sexual acts and perversions of the time, the Erotic massage was probably not worth talking about.
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Most people don’t know this but after this era Massaging sort of vanished from western civilization, that is until around 1800 CE (Common Era) when Per Henrik Ling, a Swedish doctor/teacher/gymnast, created a method that became known as the Swedish Movement Cure to help relieve chronic pain. In some circles, it is believed that this was the forefather of what we now know as the “Swedish massage“. Although Ling’s”Cure” does involve both massaging and gymnastics, the credit for the Swedish Massage actually goes to a Dutchman by the name of Johann George Mezger who created it by incorporating techniques that are still used today: a technique which involves stroking, pressing, squeezing, and striking, better known by these names:
Effleurage– which uses long, gliding strokes from the extremities inward at various levels of pressure
Petrissage– a technique that is rhythmic and may include kneading, skin rolling, lifting, or a push-pull movement
Tapotement– a beating/tapping administered with the side of the hand, a cupped hand, or fingertips used in Swedish massage
Friction– a technique that is physically demanding, consisting of deep, circular, or crosswise movements with the thumbs, fingertips, palms, or elbows, designed to penetrate deep tissue
Petrissage– a technique that is rhythmic and may include kneading, skin rolling, lifting, or a push-pull movement
Tapotement– a beating/tapping administered with the side of the hand, a cupped hand, or fingertips used in Swedish massage
Friction– a technique that is physically demanding, consisting of deep, circular, or crosswise movements with the thumbs, fingertips, palms, or elbows, designed to penetrate deep tissue
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By the late 1800s, the titles of masseuse and masseur were becoming accepted titles, which referred to manual therapists trained in the art of soft tissue manipulations. Medical gymnasts soon integrated massage techniques into their overall approach to healing. This technique is referred to as mechanotherapy. In the first half of the 20th century, the Americas finally got with the program. Although at the beginning massages were tended to be more for the rich and famous, as a simple form of relaxation without any other benefits, other than satisfying ones ego of being “privileged”. Of course, it didn’t help that it also had a bad wrap of being associated with the sex trade and scandals, largely due to the first massage parlors popping up. However, with the medical field warming up to the concept that massage therapy can be an important part of a healthy lifestyle and help in the treatment of certain illnesses and conditions, slowly but surely, massage therapy earned a place as a legitimate and respectable form of alternative and complementary medicine.
Nowadays, you can find massage services and massage businesses all around the world. Although the reasons that one goes to get a massage may vary, it is a good thing to see that one of the truly oldest medical techniques has today become one of the most widely used. Massage therapy is an ever-changing technique and although the staple of the massage is still present in today’s techniques, there are new science-based ones continuously being created to help treat an ever-increasing range of issues and symptoms.
The list and types of massages that currently exist are ever-increasing and changing. We have briefly touched on several of them here, but not near all of them. Here is a list of a few more widely used today:
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Thai Massage–A Thai massage is a clothed massage where the massage therapist stretches the recipient in a series of yoga-like poses. Thai massages are generally performed on a floor mat. This type of massage popularized in Thailand is actually a blend of influences from Southeastern Asian holistic traditions, such as Chinese and especially Indian Ayurvedic practices. The spread of Buddhism from India was an important catalyst in the creation of Thai massage, which is largely used to promote stress relief, energy, and flexibility.____________________________________________
Aromatherapy Massage– Aromatherapy can be used with any bare-skin massage, as it pertains only to the use of scented essential oils. In aromatherapy, it is believed that different plants and scents can help with different conditions, such as lavender for relaxation and tea tree for decongestion. Aromatherapy can be used with many types of massages, but it is most often paired with a Swedish-style service in Western spas.
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Hot Stone Massage– One of the earliest known uses of hot stones for massage purposes is from Chinese texts from thousands of years ago, though many cultures and countries also took part in the practice. A hot stone massage consists of a heated stone being placed on the body for therapeutic purposes. The tradition was popularized in the Western world in the 1990s and is now a common offering at massage clinics.____________________________________________
Deep Tissue Massage– A deep tissue massage is meant to address muscle knots and deep muscle strain. It’s used most often to treat chronic pain and injuries and is one of the most intense massage styles, though not necessarily painful. Quite the opposite, the deep tissue massage is meant as a pain treatment and is beneficial to many people who experience consistent muscle pains.
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Prenatal Massage– A prenatal massage, sometimes called a pregnancy massage, is used to address any discomfort in pregnant women. Its main purpose is to provide relaxation, but it can be customized to the mother’s needs, such as alleviating lower back pain, using techniques specifically developed to safely provide comfort to a pregnant woman’s body.
Last but not least, a massage that will surely benefit everyone.
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