Massage a widening path to less stress, better health - Clarksville Leaf Chronicle

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Robin Sloan, The Leaf-Chronicle 10:33 a.m. CDT August 11, 2014

Massage therapists stand in a Bella Medical Spa massage room. (Photo: FOR THE LEAF-CHRONICLE/ROBIN SLOAN )

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CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. – As school starts back and extracurricular activities start filling the calendar, many people are finding themselves tense and full of stress. Massage therapists across the country urge people to find healthy ways to combat that stress so the body learns to accept tension in a healthy way.
Simply put, massage is the manipulation of muscle tissue to enhance function and muscular healing processes while providing relaxation.
“I don’t think that anyone likes to be under stress,†said Rose Corbin, a trained massage therapist at Eden Day Spa, where she sees her role as more than reducing stress, but also promoting health. “People don’t realize that massage is incredibly healthy for a person’s well-being. It is so much more than a relaxation technique.â€
New international massage trends are popping up in salons across Clarksville. Kelsey Harvey of Bella Medical Spa explains, “There are various massage techniques known overseas or out west that are just beginning to reach the eastern United States. Lymphatic massage, reflexology, and reiki are probably the most popular.â€
Allergy relief
One trend that is quickly gaining popularity, particularly heading into fall, is the allergy relief massage. Using facial massage techniques, steam towels and aromatherapy – the use of aromatic plant extracts and essential oils – the allergy relief massage helps to relieve agitated sinuses, migraines and headaches resulting from sinus pressure.
Many clients have found that the massage results in relief that traditional treatment methods are unable to provide. This particular massage is not recommended for those suffering from a cold, at which point the immune system is compromised and massage could cause damage.
Reiki
Another healing technique that has seen a significant rise in practice is reiki treatment, a low-touch approach to healing in which the therapist touches specific parts of the body in order to normalize energy fields.
“Reiki is a Japanese technique used to harmonize the body and mind,†said Lindy Leeper of Rejuvenating Health Massage Therapy. “It allows a rebalance in the energy field when it has been under stress, fatigue or illness. It allows the body’s natural healing to occur, leaving you with a sense of well-being.â€
Corbin adds, “Massage, no matter the type, is individualized, and it’s about healing. We want to make sure that people are getting the individualized treatment that they need.â€
Indian head massage
For many clients, this relief comes in the form of Indian head massage. Many people carry the majority of their stress in their neck and shoulders, which can lead to headaches, clenched jaws and unspecified pain.
Through Indian head massage, all of the therapist’s efforts are concentrated on this one problem area, allowing the person to stay comfortably seated while the tension is released. For those clients unable to sit without back pain, a table is offered so they are able to lie down.
Growing options
In recent years, Leeper has seen a growth in these trends matched with a growing knowledge base among her clients.
“People are seeing that there is so much more to massage then just stress relief.â€
Clients are encouraged to schedule a consultation with a massage therapist in order to choose the correct treatment for their needs.
“Massage has so many different ways to help you get healthy,†Harvey said. “It’s not just about pampering, though that’s really nice. Massage is about healing your muscles so that you can support your body and lifestyle in a way that works for you.â€
Robin Sloan
Freelance writer
[email protected]
FOR MORE
Here are a few of the massage therapists in Clarksville.
• Rejuvenating Health Massage Therapy, 30 Crossland Ave., Suite 203B, 319-325-2532.
• Eden Day Spa, 150 Hillcrest Drive, 931-552-2313.
• Bella Medical Spa, 400 Franklin St., 931-245-0500.
• United Chiropractic Clinic, 329 Warfield Blvd., 931-648-3000.
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