| Massage therapists have enjoyed successful careers | | | | school to teach methods of shiatsu. |
| throughout human history; but it was not until modern | | | | Around 800 BCE, the Greeks begin their own |
| times that comprehensive training programs in the field | | | | practices of massage, mainly focusing on its benefits |
| existed. With professional training, massage therapists | | | | for their athletes. They used massage to condition the |
| can help clients work towards healthier, more relaxed | | | | body to prepare for the intense physical strain of |
| bodies that are spiritually, emotionally, and physically | | | | Greek athletic competition. The Greeks also used |
| balanced. Massage therapy certification is provided by | | | | massage to prepare for sleep and be met in their |
| reputable schools across the U.S.; classes cover new | | | | dreams by the gods they worshiped. Hippocrates, the |
| and old massage techniques. | | | | 'father of modern medicine,' was the first physician to |
| Schools teach massage techniques from around the | | | | suggest that external factors affected the body and |
| world. Swedish massage is the most popular, but | | | | caused illness. |
| classes in acupressure, chair massage, and deep | | | | Galen, a physician who was born in Greece when it |
| tissue massage also instruct students in techniques for | | | | was a part of the Roman Empire, treated wounds |
| helping to heal the body and correct chronic conditions | | | | gladiators acquired during their games. Afterward, he |
| and injuries. | | | | spent the rest of his life attending to the Imperial Court |
| How did ancient massage therapy develop into | | | | using methods of massage therapy in conjunction with |
| modern techniques? | | | | the treatments he had learned by treating the |
| 1500-3000 BCE | | | | gladiators. Many of the less wealthy people did not |
| The Chinese produced some of the earliest texts | | | | have the special attention of Galen, but could receive |
| used to treat illness with massage. Doctors combined | | | | some of the healing effects of of massage in the |
| their knowledge of medicine with methods of martial | | | | public baths. The Roman citizens would bathe and |
| arts to produce techniques that coincided with the | | | | receive a full body massage with aromatherapy oils. |
| spiritual nature of Buddhism and Taoism. On the other | | | | 1600-1900 CE |
| side of the world, tomb paintings revealed that the | | | | Massage therapy was largely unpracticed as more |
| ancient Egyptians had been practicing massage | | | | advanced medical pharmaceuticals and technologies |
| therapy as well. Reflexology was developed by the | | | | were developed. It wasn't until Pehr Henrik Ling |
| Egyptians around 2500 BCE. They believed that the | | | | developed the techniques to treat himself for |
| human body reacts to applied pressure in certain | | | | rheumatism that Swedish massage was developed -- |
| places, such as in the feet, ears, and hands. | | | | which was known then as Swedish medical |
| In India, massage techniques called Ayurveda were | | | | gymnastics. In 1813, he and a co-worker received |
| passed down through family lines and were not written | | | | government support to begin the Royal Gymnastic |
| into texts until 1500 BCE. Principles of Ayurveda teach | | | | Central Institute in Stockholm. The goal of this institution |
| that when a person is in harmony with natural | | | | was to help others use exercise and massage |
| surroundings, nature will begin to heal his or her body. | | | | therapy to treat health conditions. |
| Ayurveda takes into consideration each of the five | | | | 1900 CE to the present |
| senses to achieve this balance through methods of | | | | Massage was used to treat and rehabilitate injured |
| aromatherapy and massage. | | | | soldiers who fought in World War I and World War II. |
| 500CE-1500 BCE | | | | The physiotherapy clinics in the U.S. treated roughly |
| Japanese monks experienced Chinese practices of | | | | 75,000 men who were disabled while fighting in World |
| massage while learning about Buddhism during visits to | | | | War I. During World War II, soldiers suffering from |
| China in 1000 BCE. Japanese would later transform | | | | severe post-traumatic stress disorder were treated by |
| what they learned into shiatsu. By stimulating the | | | | massage therapy. |
| energy in the body, shiatsu strengthens the organs and | | | | Throughout history, massage therapy has been used |
| helps them to be more resistant to illness. Shiatsu | | | | to treat ailments and physical stress. Today, massage |
| would become quite popular in the 20th century when | | | | therapy continues to be a popular treatment for |
| Tokujiro Namikoshi coined the phrase and began a | | | | correcting long-term health problems and illnesses. |