Zen Massage
Living in Asia you have so many choices to get a massage and so very cheap… ranging from $2.00 to $20.00 plus. In the United States and Europe massages are quite expensive and reserved mostly for Hollywood, the sports world and the wealthy. Choosing a massage parlor can be done on the internet, however word of mouth is always a good choice. Just like checking out a new hotel its up to you to choose a trustworthy massage parlor.
Massage is an intuitive healing art that has been around for millennium. Massage therapy is based on our instinct to rub areas that hurt. We rub our belly when our stomach aches, parents rub their children when they scuff themselves and mothers rub and rock their infants when they cry.
Massage therapy is a field that takes that very basic principle and evolves it into a science. The word “Massage” comes to us from the Arabic root “mass’h” which means to touch, knead or squeeze. Many believe that massage therapy is the precursor to all other forms of manual therapy; including physical therapy, chiropractic and orthopedics.
The oldest written record of massage is approximately 4000 years old. It was found in a Chinese medical text, Con-Fu of the Toa-Tse, dated at about 1800 BC. These early accounts detailed the application of massage techniques for therapeutic purposes. Specific massage modalities, such as Reflexology, have been depicted in Egyptian hieroglyphs as forms of hand and foot therapy. Unfortunately, much of the healing knowledge and wisdom of the ancients has been lost through the passage of time.
Trained massage therapists spend many years learning their trade and you might inquire about having a seasoned therapist on your first visit. If you inspect the massage parlor and they have mats on the floor with sleazy curtains and massage therapists with short skirts or sexy leisure wear you better run for the hills and politely opt out.
Over the years many of these so called massage parlors are a front for the sex trade and you will be surprised when they start to massage the wrong body parts. You have been forewarned.
A proper Zen Massage parlor is attractive inside with zen waterfalls, rocks and natural wood, smells good , has continuous streaming soft zen music.and has proper massage rooms with elevated clean massage tables where the therapist has plenty of room to work. Upon meeting at the reception desk you can choose the type of massage they have available the length of time (usually one hour or more) and they will normally soak your feet first then usher you to your room where you will disrobe naked or just your undies and some places give you loose fitting shorts and shirt.
The massage therapist will introduce themselves and ask you if you want strong, medium or light pressure. They will normally begin with you face down and begin oiling and massaging your back, legs and arms. Just like getting acupuncture a professional zen therapist knows your bodies meridians and will work very hard to loosen stuck energy and CHI making you feel like a new person. When the massage is finished you lay there and relax. As a nice bonus after you get dressed and head to the reception area they normally give you a hot towel and a hot cup of zen tea.
Some of the Zen massages available include: Zen Swedish Massage, Zen Thai Massage,Zen Hot Stone Massage, Zen Cupping, and Zen Aromatherapy.
Massage therapy treatment has a therapeutic effect on the body and optimizes health and well-being by acting on the muscular, nervous and circulatory systems. Physical function can be developed, maintained and improved; and physical dysfunction and pain and the effects of stress can be relieved or prevented through the use of Massage Therapy.
- Increases circulation
- Flushes body of metabolic wastes for faster healing time and detoxification
- Decreases muscle spasms
- Breaks up tissue adhesions
- Releases endorphins to promote relaxation and pain reduction
- Mmmm, feels so good!
So there you have it! Today, with the emergence of ‘preventative’ medicine and the rising cost of health care, modalities such as massage, chiropractic, acupuncture, nutrition, and yoga are no longer ‘alternative’ but rather a cornerstone of every good health practice. Don’t just sit there Grasshopper book a zen massage today…you will be glad u did.
QUOTE: “A zen massage will provide you with an escape from the rigor and stress of life and restore you in body, mind, and spirit.” –Grasshopper
THINGS YOU MAY NOT KNOW: Oriental Massages have been around for thousands of years, and it is believed that in ancient Chinese history, men would gather in areas and the women would massage them before going to battle.
THINGS YOU MAY WANT TO SAVE: Relax Mode….feels good after a Zen massage
ZENTRAVELER SAYS: You want to maintain good health…its simple get a zen massage on a regular basis and even you grasshopper will leap for joy…now that your legs are rubbed out.
From here to Infinity and Beyond is a relatively short ride! The next leg takes eons and eons as you fly through the Barycentric Dynamical Time Zone! …and on and on and on. Follow the Zentraveler Blog often for Travel, Health and Zen-like stories and such. Where else can you get a three in one blog for the price of free.
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