What does Massage Therapy do?
Massage Therapy can work on many different levels.
First there is the physical level of soft tissues, muscles, fascia and even joints and bones. Everything in our bodies are somewhat malleable, while massage doesn't necessarily do the forming by itself, it helps your nervous system and your body to find a new shape and form. Muscle tissue and fascia becomes warm and soft under pressure and the heat of the hand, tissues fill with blood and lymph and this process helps clear out metabolic by-products and bring in fresh nutrients to the tissues. Some more specific strokes can help with adhesions and cross links between layers and free up the sliding, shearing movement to decrease restrictions.
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Second would be the nervous system, pain and reflexes. Manual therapies can help modulate pain and flood the nervous system with pleasurable sensations instead of pain. Touch therapies also increase some good hormone production (serotonin) and decrease stress in the body, promote better sleep and mental health. Manipulation of the soft tissues alter the proprioception and interoception of the body by feeding it more signal about the inside and outside world and help regulate muscle tone and contractions. Joint mobilizations and breathing practices open the nervous systems' door to pain free possibilities and new movement patterns.
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Third layer could be the cardio-vascular, lymphatic, glymphatic system. These circulatory systems need un-obstructed pathways to bring in nutrient rich blood and clear out waste products from between the tissues. Most of our fluids, lymph is "between" cells, that's where the exchange happens and this matrix needs to be kept filtered and fluid. When your body can't keep up with the housework, you have inflammation and swelling. The lymphatic system also doesn't have a pump, like the heart so it needs pressure difference and movement to flow. Stagnation can happen, less than ideal environment for health and repair. The glymphatic system is the duct work inside the cranium, nourishing the brain and draining by-products while we sleep. Dysfunction in the circulatory system can affect the whole body from the brain to the guts.
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Finally the nature of massage therapy allows it to be very beneficial from a psychological aspect too. Touch therapies, bodywork, movement and breathing practices can all be incorporated and elevate the experience to a whole other level. Our nervous system and emotions work on the basis of co-regulation. Which means another persons presence can alter how we feel and sense ourselves. A good, healthy, balanced massage therapist can help a nervous system settle and integrate. The touch itself cultivates a somato-sensory experience that is safe and pain free to open the mind to possibilities and healing.
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Massage therapy and Bodywork sessions are available in English and Hungarian.
It might be also beneficial to combine massage therapy with other modalities if the need comes up. In case of orthopedic and structural problems we refer to our in-house surgeon Dr. Gabor Magbade for further evaluation and manual therapies. To resolve any trauma or emotional disturbance caused by your injury or pain you can follow up with trauma healing with Bori. Access Bars and Reiki treatments can help with the energy imprint of physical trauma or injury, ask for Mona or Bori for these sessions. If you realize there are more to talk about surrounding your problem you may want to reach out to Gabi to schedule mental health sessions.