healingways
as a prominent healing tool has not
followed an uninterrupted ascent.
Starting in 1800 B.C., when East
Indian ayurvedic massage techniques
were used to maintain mental health
The Evolution of Massage
and prevent disease, the development
of related healing modalities, such as
Hands-On Healing Power Gains Momentum
Reiki, acupressure, Shiatsu, Canadian
deep muscle massage, lomilomi and
Swedish massage, generally gained in
by Lee Walker
acceptance. When, in 1884, skepti-
cal British physicians alleged that its
practitioners were stealing patients,
the Incorporated Society of Trained
Masseuses formed to legitimize their
approach. They set about creating regu-
lations and establishing a clear practice
model for physical rehabilitation; today
the organization exists as the Chartered
Society of Physiotherapy. Many of the
techniques used by its members still re-
flect treatment practices invented prior
to the society’s inception.
Since the 1970s, renewed interest
in hands-on methods of manipulat-
ing muscles and other soft tissues has
propelled the therapeutic use of touch
into its latest upward growth spiral,
freeing it from the gravitational pull
of another bout of opposition from
T
he ancient healing practice of therapy has moved in and out of the
mainstream medicine in the early
massage therapy is playing an im- traditional medical models of various
1930s. Now on an accelerated course,
portant role today in the emerging cultures. Current practitioners attri-
massage again has the opportunity to
golden age of complementary and al- bute its staying power to continued
assume a celebrated place in the an-
ternative medicine (CAM). Surprisingly, awareness of the inherent healing and
nals of medicine, just as it did in 1936,
it remains comparatively underrepre- therapeutic value of massage, now the
when Dr. Thomas Lathrop Stedman
sented in U.S. medical school curri- leading form of bodywork in the United
included it as a “scientific method”
cula, while Massage Today reports that States, according to the American Mas-
among therapeutics in his Practical
“Insurance reimbursement for massage sage Association.
Medical Dictionary.
therapy is at an all-time high.” Kneading, tapping and stroking,
In recent years, Tony Hansen,
From the time that Hippocrates, the common ancestors of the 100-plus
owner of Therapy on the Gulf, in
the father of modern medicine, intro- techniques used by today’s massage
Naples, Florida, has noticed a change
duced the idea that a physician should therapists, have survived two evolution-
in his clients’ expectations. “When I
be experienced in rubbing, massage ary spirals, but acceptance of massage
began practicing this service in 2000,
people just wanted to feel relaxed.
Now, they are more interested in mas-
sage as a means to provide relief for
their physical problems,” says Hansen.
Like many of the estimated
265,000 to 300,000 licensed massage
therapists in this country, Hansen’s ex-
pertise includes other modalities that
he has studied since graduating from
massage school. He is pleased that to-
day much of his work comes through
referrals from enlightened physicians
and chiropractors. “A small number of
local physicians understand that the
manipulation of connective tissue in
16 www.VOFLnatural.com
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