Y2HealthPlus Tour

Can massaging your big toe make your brain work better? Practitioners of foot reflexology, a kind of foot massage based on the principles of traditional Chinese medicine, would say yes. According to the tenets of reflexology, the foot contains reflex points that correspond to every part, gland and organ of the body. In effect, reflexologists find an image of the body mapped onto the foot and believe manipulating the part of the foot that corresponds to a part of the body, such as the brain, will improve the flow of energy to that body part, bringing it into balance and promoting its healthy functioning. History of Foot Massage as a Healing Art The Chinese have been practicing the art of therapeutic foot massage for as long as 5,000 years. The oldest known medical textbook, written in China 4,000 years ago, describes the pressure point concepts that form the basis of...

There are many types of massage therapy, from classics like Swedish and deep tissue to more exotic styles like shiatsu. Whether you'd like to branch out a bit or have a  health condition  or injury, choosing a style of massage can be confusing if you're not quite sure what it involves. Here is a list of the most popular types of massage (including some that may be new to you). 1) Swedish Massage Therapy The standard type of massage offered in most clinics, gyms, spas, and wellness centers, Swedish massage is virtually synonymous with massage therapy. Swedish massage is based on the Western concepts of anatomy and physiology, compared to the energy-centric style more common in Asian forms of massage. Using lotion or oil, massage therapists typically begin with broad general strokes and then transition to specific strokes to address problem areas. There are five basic strokes in Swedish massage therapy: effleurage (long smooth strokes), petrissage (k...