Massage Therapy and Watsu
Massage therapy could be as simple as a gentle rubbing or stroking, or as intricate as precise manipulation and kneading. Massage therapy, however you prefer to describe it, involves manipulating the body in ways that promote healing and harmony of various organs and systems. The aim of massage therapy is to restore harmony and improve function.
One type of massage therapy is referred to as watsu. Watsu is an Japanese term that roughly translates to 'Oriental Bodywork' however it is more commonly referred to as massage. In Japanese the word watsu is a reference to 'ido' or 'quality of life.' Watsu is often characterized by one-on-one massages in which an individual or therapist gently manipulates or stretches the recipient in warm water using hand movements, finger tips and elbows. The client must remain completely covered during a massage session. The practitioner or therapist may apply pressure to only the superficial skin.
Massage therapy is often utilized to treat chronic pain such as tennis elbow, carpal tunnel syndrome, and other sports injuries. Chronic pain is among the most common conditions that watsu therapy can treat. Massage chairs are now incorporating several different methods to treat chronic pain. There is at least one method for treating chronic pain that all massage chairs use today. Because it extends the spine while relieving spinal compression that causes spinal decompression, it's a popular treatment for back issues. Acupressure, Swedish massage and deep tissue massage are all standard treatments for back pain.
Shiatsu is another way to use watsu for pain relief. Shiatsu employs circular pressure to apply pressure to specific points on the feet and hands with smooth circular movements. Pressure is applied so that the bodywork is warmed up prior to the movements begin. Shiatsu movements are similar to the ones employed in Swedish massage, however they are typically slower. Shiatsu can also be accomplished with hot stones that apply pressure to specific areas.
Another form of watsu therapy involves decreased muscle relaxation. Muscles can become tight when they are stressed or injured. A skilled massage therapist can relax muscles by applying gentle pressure to them. A skilled therapist will be able to find specific muscle relaxation techniques which can help ease the pain. Some of these techniques include hip flexion and knee flexion.
Watsu also includes different stretching techniques. These stretches aid in relieving tension in muscles and improve the range of motion of joints. Common stretching movements include stretching the hamstrings, stretching the quadriceps, twisting the hips, pulling the sacrum into the abdominal cavity, and rotating the arms and shoulders. While these exercises help relieve tension in the muscles, they also help to increase circulation, thereby helping to decrease pain and time required to heal from injury.
To be able to receive a full watsu treatment, they must receive the correct instruction by a skilled, trained practitioner. While most watsu practitioners can provide instruction in private practice, some offer massages in a spa. Sometimes, a therapist might offer this service at the gym or in a business. The client should be taught on how to massage and the different techniques that are used before they are given this treatment. A professional should never recommend that a patient seek out further therapy if they suffer from an injury or condition that has already occurred.
The traditional watsu method can cause a decrease in blood flow to the area that has been injured through the physical compression. The discomfort and anemia can result from the reduced blood flow and muscle contractions. This is why the services of a licensed therapist are so important in a patient receiving a treatment. The therapist will place the patient's body in a way that the force is applied to the muscles that are contracting. If force is not placed directly to the muscles the contractions will be increased and this will lead to less blood flow. This condition is detected by a certified therapist and the massage session will be stopped immediately.