What is a Therapeutic Massage?
A therapeutic massage isn’t a luxury – it’s an acknowledged treatment for the alleviation of many painful and stressful conditions. Research shows that regular therapeutic massage sessions are highly effective at relieving many health problems and imbalances in the body.
A professional therapeutic massage targets your soft tissues, including muscles, tendons, and ligaments, to relieve tension and anxiety. It’s believed to reduce pain by stimulating competing nerve fibers and blocking pain signals sent to the brain.
Benefits of Therapeutic Massage
Therapeutic massage and wellness have been associated for millennia. This ancient practice offers natural, safe, and effective relief. Here are the top 5 benefits you’ll experience at our Tummy Temple therapeutic massage center:
Relieve Your Pain
Do you suffer from chronic pain due to illness or experience cramps or spasms after exercising? Various non-invasive massage techniques and applied pressure trigger pain relief, relax muscles and increase circulation. Improved blood flow carries healthy nutrients and oxygen to sore, swollen joints and promotes healing.
Regular therapy sessions can reduce or eliminate your aches and pains.
Relax Your Muscles
Are you suffering from muscle strain, stiff joints, and back or neck ailments? These tensive issues are becoming more commonplace as people struggle to cope with the rigors of modern living. Therapeutic massage can significantly reduce the impact of muscular tightness by activating your parasympathetic nervous system, allowing your mind and body to relax.
Stressed muscle fibers experience micro-tears that form scar tissue or adhesions. Massage therapy relieves discomfort by breaking up these uncomfortable adhesions and stretching the muscle fibers.
Reduce Your Stress
Are you overwhelmed by life’s problems and pressures and suffer from insomnia, depleted energy, or chronic fatigue? Stress affects all of us, and one of the best ways to manage it is with a relaxing full-body massage. It’ll bring your body and mind into a state of deep relaxation and stimulate endorphin production.
This elevates your mental and physical health, prevents potential diseases, enhances your mood, and boosts your immunity. Furthermore, a good massage controls cortisol, the stress hormone. This regulates melatonin, the sleep hormone, enabling you to get a good night’s rest.
Lessen Your Anxiety
Are you facing a difficult situation in your life that’s affecting your mood and state of mind? Anxiety, depression, and aggression go hand-in-hand. Many research studies have shown that people suffering from extreme emotional distress are positively affected by massage therapy.
Having a wonderful, relaxing, therapeutic massage invokes a sense of joy and being cared for. Our expert therapists can detect the subtle signs of anxiety in your tissues that go beyond muscle contraction and apply special calming techniques to relieve these emotional symptoms.
Boost Your Metabolism
Are you sluggish, bloated, and struggling to lose weight? Therapeutic massage is especially beneficial if you want to maximize your metabolism. With each massage, your circulation is enhanced, causing blood vessels to dilate and move oxygen and life-giving nutrients around the body. It invigorates the digestive system, helping you blast that fat and lose the belly.
Therapeutic massage also stimulates the lymphatic system to clear toxins from your cells and tissues more rapidly.
Contraindications for Therapeutic Massage
What are the contraindications (conditions) that could prevent me from receiving massage therapy?
A contraindication is any indication or symptom that makes it inadvisable to use a particular therapy. Please call us at 206-729-6211 if you believe you have a contraindication. We will help clarify your situation and ensure that your next step is a solid one!
The following are contraindications for massage therapy. If any of these apply to you we are not able to treat you with massage therapy at the present time, unless you have a written prescription from an MD or ND showing supervision over our services for the contraindication.
Contraindications for Therapeutic Massage
For Belly Massage
- Aortic or abdominal aneurism.
- Active and metastasizing cancers of the GI (gastro intestinal) tract or reproductive system.
- Acute abdominal pain (please call us at 206-729-6211 to clarify) – It depends on what is causing the acute pain. We may encourage you to see an MD first.
- Abdominal surgery – Please call us to inquire about your situation as this does not apply to all surgeries: 206-729-6211. Massage is generally fine after the 6 week mark post surgery.
- Acute inflammatory conditions of the GI tract. Please call us to inquire about your situation as we can direct you towards supplementation that may possibly alleviate the pain and then start a massage treatment plan: 206-729-6211.
- Recent history of GI or rectal bleeding. Please call to discuss. For example, bleeding from hemorrhoids is not a problem.
- Hematuria (blood in urine) – Please call to discuss.
For Full body massage
- High fever
- Acute pain or acute inflammatory condition.
- Congestive heart failure / phlebitis or deep vein thrombosis / other severe vascular conditions
- Uncontrolled hypertension.
- History of – uncontrolled – seizures.
- Recent heart attack.
- Renal insufficiency.
- Epilepsy or psychoses
For massaging a specific region of the body
- Communicable skin diseases.
- Open wounds.
- Acute inflammation or acute pain in a specific region of the body. Please call to discuss.
Therapeutic Massage Frequently Asked Questions
Do I take my clothes off like during a regular full body massage?
Some practitioners will work on the floor on a firm mat and only expose the belly otherwise keeping the rest of the clothes on. Other practitioners prefer to work on a massage table and be able to access other areas of the body if needed.
If you have other areas of the body besides the belly that you would like addressed, please let your practitioner know this.
Can I eat food before I receive belly massage?
It is fine to eat a light meal up to an hour or so before receiving this work. This time frame is being conservative, just do not eat a large meal as it will not be comfortable for you and the practitioner will not be able to work all of the areas that they normally could access.
Can I receive belly massage if I am on my period?
Absolutely yes. This is an excellent time to receive the work, and many people report a large change if not a complete elimination of menstrual cramping and discomfort after belly massage.
Can there be a "healing crisis" with massage therapy focusing on the abdomen and viscera?
Yes, but that is not necessarily a bad thing. Detoxification, emotional release and all sorts of interesting things can happen with belly massage. The word “crisis” connotes a bad thing, and it’s important to see the event of release as welcomed relief from years of holding onto things that are no longer supportive, – sort of “out growing” something that is no longer needed.
My belly scars are ages old, what is going to happen with them?
Many people report that their old scars from surgery still ache, especially with a lot of exercise, movement or heavy lifting. Others report that things have never felt the same after their surgery like they were cut off from certain parts of themselves.
Specific scar work and general belly work will help to soften and lengthen the scar tissue itself as well as increase the mobility of the surrounding tissues. The actual scar will never disappear, but the old aches, tightness and loss of sensation often change for the better.
No one has ever massaged my belly before and I have been getting massage for years, why is that?
Although massaging the belly is not new, many massage therapists choose to work on the muscles and joints of the body and skip the belly altogether. At the Tummy Temple, we believe in the importance of the belly and respect all of the work that the organs do for us everyday, and so we have chosen to make this area of the body our focal point.
What are the contraindications (conditions that could prevent me from receiving massage therapy)?
For contraindications, please read the section directly above this frequently asked questions section.
What are the various lumps and bumps that my practitioner rolled over? What is in there?
Many times the practitioner will roll over “lumps and bumps” in the belly that may feel odd at first. Generally those sensations are the intestines being rolled over. If there is some tenderness, it may mean that there is adhesion or holding patterns that your practitioner has discovered.
It is good to breathe here and really notice what those sensations are like. Generally the discomfort is fleeting.
What happens during a belly massage session?
You have several choices here, but we will always review your goals for the work and check in about any treatment plans that have been agreed upon previously.
You will be asked to breathe into your belly and feel the movement of the belly with the breath. Different kinds of work will focus on different organs and different tissues, but the large intestine and liver will always be addressed in order to help the body release toxins and eliminate them when the bowels move.
The work can feel both gentle and firm, and you should always be able to feel the specific tissues that are being worked on with your practitioner. Sometimes people will feel sleepy and doze off during the work, and that is just fine. Other times you will be very awake and aware, but comfortably enjoying the session.
Many people will feel some amount of discomfort in certain areas of the belly where there are areas of tension or old holding patterns that are releasing.
Be sure to let your practitioner know if the work is too deep, or you just need things to go slower for a while.
What kind of draping is used for belly massage?
Some practitioners will work through the sheet for some or all of the session while others will undrape the belly and work directly on the skin. For females, the chest is always covered with a pillow case or a towel.
What should I do after the massage if I am feeling tenderness in my belly?
Rest is always a good idea after belly massage, especially if the work brought up a lot of emotional or energetic charge, or if there is some discomfort. A hot bath with Epsom salts and the Detox Formula Bath Salts available at the Tummy Temple will also help to eliminate toxins and take soreness out of the tissue. Any tenderness you may experience is generally gone in 12 to 24 hours. If the discomfort persists longer, please call the Temple and discuss this with your practitioner.
What should I do to prepare for a massage therapy session?
Special Note: Please do not wear perfumes/colognes, strong oils, scented lotions or smoke before coming in to the Tummy Temple. For 2 hours prior to session:
- Refrain from eating a lot to avoid a full stomach.
- Avoid caffeine.
For 1 hour prior to session:
- Now is a great time to eat something small to cap off your hunger and avoid low blood sugar.
For the 15 minutes prior to session:
- Start relaxing and letting go of the stress of the day. Try to arrive early so that you may sit down for 5-15 minutes prior to the session in the comfortable waiting area to listen to the water fountain and calm your nervous system. Know that you are coming in for a wonderful therapeutic experience and life is about to get better.
Clothing Suggestions:
- You may receive your massage with or without clothes on.
- Sheets and blankets will be used to ensure your privacy and comfort if you choose to not wear clothes.
- If you would like to wear clothes then please wear loose fitting clothes, especially around the waist.
- Please make sure to wear clothes that you do mind getting wrinkled.
- Massage oil is used during sessions. If you are wearing clothes, oil may get on your clothes during a session. As well, the oil on your skin will come in contact with your clothes when you put them on after the session. You may ask for the therapist not to use oil, however this will affect the massage and some techniques will not be possible without the use of oil, eg. cupping.
- We do have tan colored T-shirts that may be purchased for $5 if for any reason you are concerned about oil getting on your shirt.
What should I expect after I receive belly massage?
You should feel lighter and longer in the trunk and abdomen with a sense of more movement and more awareness in the whole abdominal space. Many people report that this feeling stays with them for a few days. You have just allowed someone to touch you to the core and released at least some of the tension that has been bottling up there for some time. Enjoy this new feeling and the openness and expansiveness of your new belly.
When is a belly massage contraindicated?
Belly massage is always contraindicated whenever a full body massage is contraindicated. High fever, acute pain, open or just healing wounds and surgery incisions are the major presentations that will contraindicate belly massage (i.e. we would advise against a belly massage).
When is a belly massage indicated?
Belly massage is indicated for the three following conditions:
- Abdominal trauma which can include surgery, chronic inflammatory conditions and chronic pain syndromes. All of these conditions will produce adhesion within the belly which if not addressed can decrease the functioning of the digestive system, produce bowel obstruction and pain, and can also affect muscular holding patterns and the way that we breathe. Belly massage assists the patient with finding more awareness around these holding patterns and breathing pattern changes, helps create more elasticity in scar tissue and other connective tissues that surround all of the organs, and increases the circulation of blood, lymph and energy in order to feed all of the organ systems more effectively.
Belly massage is also an excellent way to prepare for surgery by increasing circulation to all of the organs and decreasing recovery time, pain and inflammation. It is indicated to wait 4 to 6 weeks after surgery to resume this work to soften scar tissue, move congested lymph and detox the liver from anesthesia buildup. - Assist with a full body detox. The choice to undertake a light or deep cleanse is so important in this modern culture where we come into contact with environmental toxins, heavy metals, air and water pollution, medications, and hormones in our food supplies on a daily basis. The liver processes these toxins and either eliminates them with the bile production, renders them inert with certain chemical processes or the body stores them in various tissues. By helping to drain the liver, move lymph and increase blood circulation to all of the organs, belly massage can assist the body’s own clean up process.
- Relax and de-stress. Belly massage is an excellent way to access and relax the nervous system through breath work, changing muscular and fascial holding patterns and simply slowing down and paying attention to all of the amazing things that abdominal organs do for us everyday. Swedish massage, cranial sacral work, myofascial releasing, and other forms of bodywork applied to the belly will assist with this process.
Why does belly massage work with the navel?
The navel is our first scar in the body as well as the window to the entire fascial system of the guts. The peritoneum is the name of the connective tissue that wraps and surrounds all of the organs in the abdomen, and we can access pieces of this wrapping or “bag” when we work around the rim of the navel.
Many times the belly will “gurgle” or make other interesting noises when the navel is being manipulated. This simply means that holding patterns are unraveling and movement is returning to the organs in the belly. These are all good things. Old familiar pain patterns will also sometimes emerge from this work with the navel.
This is an excellent opportunity to gain more awareness about the way the body has been compensating over the years.
Will belly massage address my deep core muscles?
The core muscles have gotten a lot of attention recently in certain movement and exercise programs like yoga, Pilates, martial arts, tai chi, and others. What they all refer to is the musculature which wraps our trunk and supports our lower spine and pelvis.
Holding patterns in the deep core muscles, as well as the superficial muscles of the trunk and spine can make one feel twisted and compressed and often manifests as lower back pain, and a hard impenetrable belly wall which constricts the breath and the general motility of the organs.
Will I have to run to the toilet to empty my bowels while I am on the table?
Belly massage definitely helps regulate bowel function, but we have never seen any mishaps on the massage table. The work is very gentle and all occurs externally so the amount of stimulation to the nerves that facilitate bowel release will not go haywire while you are receiving belly massage. Sometimes gas will be released while receiving this work, but this is much different. It is a good idea to just let the gas pass on out.
