The history of massage
Massage has existed in some form or another or thousands of years across a number of cultures.
Whilst its origins are somewhat disputed, the use of massage is generally consistent and it has often been used by practitioners across the world as a way of restoring the body’s balance and energy.
The earliest forms of massage are noted in India (approx 3000 BC) and China (2700 BC). In India, massage was used as part of a holistic system of medicine known as Ayurveda to encourage “healing and balance between the mind, body and spirit” [1].
Meanwhile, in China, massage was utilised in Traditional Chinese Medicine to assist with the treatment of various disorders, such as joint and stomach pain and muscle weakness. It was believed that massage had the effect of “moving qi (energy) and invigorating blood” [2]. Massage was often used alongside acupuncture and acupressure.
There are even references to massage in texts dating back to Ancient Egypt, which suggests that the Egyptians believed massage held not only physical but spiritual and psychological effects and “prescribed massage alongside other therapeutic interventions such as herbal remedies, aromatherapy and spiritual rituals” [3]. The Egyptians have additionally been credited with creating the techniques we now know as reflexology [4].
In Japan, monks began to combine traditional Chinese massage (“anmo”) with samurai recovery practices. This fusion of methods created the now hugely popular, Shiatsu massage [5].
Eventually, massage therapy spread in to Europe. Hippocrates, known to most of us as for his contribution to modern medicine, is noted as being one of the first to recognise the medical benefits of massage. The Greeks used massage as a tool to aid holistic healing and was a valued practice for athletes competing in the Olympic Games [6].
One of the most well known methods of massage is Swedish Massage, developed by Per Henrik Ling during his time teaching fencing and gymnastics. Ling identified that it was possible to “influence movements to alleviate sufferings that have arisen through abnormal conditions” and used techniques still widely used in massage today such as hacking, pinching and kneading [7].
In contrast to massage’s deep roots within Eastern culture, the West were not as open to the idea (prior to the introduction of ‘Swedish Massage’) and it was even quoted in 1895 that massage was “looked upon with more or less suspicion as being closely allied to quackery, if not absolutely irregular” [8]. This view has changed massively in the last 60 years and the benefits and importance of adopting a holistic approach to health using massage and other complementary therapies are now recognised by many.
It’s no surprise that even after thousands of years the main philosophy of massage remains to heal and balance your body, mind and spirit. Which is more important than ever in today’s modern and busy world.
References
[1] https://massagestrong.com/history-of-massage/
[2] https://www.acupuncture.com/qigong_tuina/tuinahistory.htm
[3] https://simplymassage.com/massage-in-ancient-egypt/
[4] A History of Massage, K. CALLAWAY & S. BURGESS
[5] https://shiatsubodyworkacademy.nz/the-fascinating-history-and-evolution-of-shiatsu-massage/
[6] https://simplymassage.com/massage-in-ancient-greece/
[7] A History of Massage, K. CALLAWAY & S. BURGESS
[8] The Art of Massage: A Practical Manual, J. H. KELLOGG
