The word holistic comes from the Greek word "holos" meaning whole. General medicine tends to treat an illness or symptom, whereas in essence, holistic therapies take into account your whole being - this means not just the body, but also your environment, nutrition, and your physical and psychological health.

All aspects of our daily lives have an effect on our bodies, good and bad. Unfortunately our modern lifestyle has more adverse effects than good. Poor diet, lack of exercise, stress, pollution, overwork, and other factors all play their part. We can suffer the symptoms without being aware of the cumulative effects, but we are left feeling physically tired, mentally exhausted, stressed and anxious.

Why is a Holistic Approach so important?

Holistic therapy treats you as an individual and in the context of your own unique life. For the the optimum therapeutic effect attention is given to all areas of your daily life, from your diet to sleep patterns. Your Holistic Therapist is trained to consider all aspects of integral biology and create a balanced program tailored for you. This helps you to improve your overall health with guidance and encouragement from your holistic therapist, thus re-establishing your body's equilibrium.

Holistic massage is much more than a pleasant and extremely relaxing experience, there are also many benefits to be gained from the treatment.

Massage can also be helpful in rehabilitation treatment after illness or injury. Long periods spent in bed can result in reduced circulation, constipation, loss of muscle tone, stiff/achy joints and dull skin. Massage can help restore fitness and sense of well-being thus addressing both physical and psychological aspects.

Regular massage can, in the long-term:

• Improve nerve communication and relax the nervous system to alleviate anxiety
• Improve muscle suppleness
• Improve circulation
• Boost the immune system
• Lower high blood pressure
• Assist the digestive system to operate in a more efficient manner
• Improve skin elasticity

This is by no means an exhaustive list, and there are other physiological effects of massage, for example:

• Massage can help to improve skin tone and colour
• Massage can reduce localised swelling by encouraging better lymph drainage
• Relieve muscle fatigue caused by exercise or heavy physical work
• Improve articulation of stiff joints
• Promote general relaxation
• Encourage sleep, helps insomnia

There are also psychological effects of massage. Massage is a wonderful antidote to stress. Stress is of course well known for its dangers, but even in its mildest forms can have a draining effect. During the course of

Holistic Massage

the massage the effects of stress can be alleviated in a number of ways:

• Massage releases endorphins - natural painkilling and uplifting hormones
• It stimulates the part of the nervous system that slows the body down, encourages deeper more relaxed breathing, slower heart beat and restart sluggish digestion
• It stimulates the immune system which can be weakened by constant stress
• It can help address depression and low self-esteem by producing a feeling of well-being and hence improved self-worth
• It stimulates the body’s natural repair work at the lowest (cellular) level

Muscle tension

Massage can relieve many types of muscle tension. Without realising, many of us habitually clench our teeth or sit hunched leading to tense muscles. The appropriate massage technique works to release tension by working directly on the muscles, whilst other techniques work indirectly by affecting the nervous system to allow the muscles to relax.

Muscle fatigue

Vigorous exercise or sustained physical work both create a build up of waste toxins in your muscles which leave you feeling tired and sore. Massage increases circulation, removing the waste and bringing in healing nutrients.

Injury

Massage can help the healing process in injuries such as tendonitis, as well as ligament sprains or muscle strains. Massage reduces inflammation through increased circulation to the affected area, removing waste products and brings nutrients to injured cells. Certain massage techniques can limit the formation of scar tissue in new injuries and can help to increase flexibility in scar tissue from older injuries.

It goes without saying that you should only consult an appropriately qualified practitioner. In the UK, for example, an ITEC (International Therapy Examination Council) qualification in Holistic Massage incorporating the requisite level of knowledge of anatomy and physiology. The Complementary Therapists Association has a Code of Practice for members.

www.libratherapeutics.co.uk

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