Massage is a time-honored philosophy. People of the ancient Mediterranean civilizations understood the benefits of massage, and after bathing and exercise they included a full body massage. Massage therapy improves function of the circulatory, lymphatic, muscular, skeletal and nervous systems. The direct effect of rhythmically applied manual pressure and movement used in massage can dramatically increase the rate of blood flow and the movement of lymph. The individual cells of the body are dependent on an abundant supply of blood and lymph because they carry nutrients and oxygen throughout the body.
Massage also has a direct psychological affect.
Since massage stimulates the sense of touch, the body's primary sense, it draws people into the moment and away from tension of everyday problems. Muscle tension is the physical result of protecting one's self against psychological pain. Massage can ease this tension and lead to the freeing of repressed emotions. Therapeutic massage is being prescribed by physicians more and more to complement traditional medical treatment for illness, injury and pain. A typical massage session will last one half hour to one hour.