The History of Massage Therapy
Have you ever had a massage? If so, you’re probably wondering who invented massages so you can personally thank them. Although Pehr Henrik Ling, a Swedish physical therapist, is credited for having invented the massage in 1776 AD, different forms of massages can be traced back to thousands of years ago in India.
The Ancient Indians believed that in order to be well that one must have natural, mental and physical balance. The only way to do this is to have harmony between oneself and the world around them. In order to create this balance, the Ancient Indians believed one must use the five senses to interact with the environment. One of the methods they used was Touch Therapy, what we consider today as Massage Therapy.
The Ancient Chinese along with Ancient Egyptians are also credited with the early use of Massage Therapy. Traditional Chinese Medicine, Buddhists, and practitioners of martial arts all utilized Massage Therapy to help with relaxation and spiritual yoga training.
These beliefs spread to Japan as Japanese monks began to study Buddhism in China and traditional Chinese medicine. The Ancient Japanese began to practice Massage Therapy as well, which eventually evolved into, as it’s called today, Shiatsu.
Shortly after Japan began to utilize the healing powers of Massage Therapy, the Ancient Greeks had begun using Massage Therapy as a way to keep athlete’s bodies in top condition before competitions.
Finally, in the twentieth century, Massage Therapy was brought to the United States and is still being practiced today. Modern massage therapists use a variety of different techniques that originated from all over the world.
Massage Therapy is a creative and peaceful way to help de-stress, increase blood-flow and circulation, and help your body feel great as a whole. No wonder it has stuck around for thousands of years!
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Bridget Riley brings the spa experience into NJ client’s homes based on the theory that an hour of body work should be followed by an hour of rest. She is the owner of Pampered Spirit, the premier mobile massage business in the State of New Jersey. Pampered Spirit has a boutique location which serves as a dispatch center for mobile massage therapists and a serene enclave for onsite clientele.
Ms. Riley’s wellness empire has been featured on national television and has grown to 40 team members strong. In addition to being an established body worker and certified massage therapist, as a wellness coach she has orchestrated workshops for several universities and companies.
Notable clients include NFL Films and the Atlantic City Convention Center. As the industry continually evolves, so does Miss Riley. Her current focus is Wellness Coaching after studying the subject at Duke University.