Welcome!

My Name is Daunya. LMT & owner at Inhale Exhale, I would like to share with you a little History of massage.

Massage therapy history dates back thousands of years to ancient cultures that believed in it’s medical benefits. The first written records of massage therapy were found in China and Egypt then translated to English. The findings in (2700 BCE) China were used as a textbook for teaching many other forms of alternative medicine such as acupuncture, acupressure and herbology. (2500 BCE) Egyptians get the credit for pioneering reflexology, their studies and traditions greatly influenced other cultures such as the Greeks and Romans.(1500 & 500 BCE) The first known written massage therapy traditions come from India, but practice may have actually originated around 3000 BCE or earlier. Hindus used the art of healing touch in the practice of Ayurvedic medicine. Ayurveda, a Sanskrit word, translates to “life health” or “life science.” It is regarded as the basis of holistic medicine, combining meditation, relaxation and aromatherapy. (Early 1800's)  Swedish doctor, gymnast and educator Per Henril Ling developed a method of movement known as the “Swedish Movement System.”  Currently the most common types of massage practiced in the western hemisphere are Swedish massage and the Japanese massage practice of Shiatsu.

Today, if you need or want a massage, you can choose from about 80 modality styles with a wide variety of pressures, movements, and techniques. These all involve pressing, rubbing, or manipulating muscles and other soft tissues with hands and fingers. Sometimes, even forearms, elbows, or feet are used.

Massage causes physiological changes in your body through:

The relaxation response, which is an involuntary, yet predictable response of the nervous system to massage techniques and touch

Mechanical responses, which are physical effects that occur in the body when pressure is applied to the soft tissues  

Together, these responses can produce physical and emotional benefits.