Massage Therapy Fun Facts

There’s nothing better than a sensual Massage after a long day at work. A massage can help you to relax, destress, and unwind while benefiting your health at the same time. In fact, even giving a massage can help you feel better!

Although massage is generally something that everyone knows something about, there are dozens of massage facts that most people don’t know and that are worth sharing. That being said, here is a list of fun facts about Massage Therapy.

• Our skin is an organ, and it is the largest organ in our body.
• On our skin, there are around 5 million touch receptors and 3000 of those alone can be found on the tips of our fingers.
• When we receive a massage, we receive the signals because our skin cells send the sensation from our skin to the nerves in our brain. These signals travel at a speed of 390 feet per second which allows us to feel what’s happening instantly.
• Only the blind or legally visionally impaired people can practice massage therapy in Korea.
• The Hawaiian form of massage (known as Lomi Lomi) is supposed to mimic the flowing movements of waves and hula dance.
• The largest group massage therapy session that has been recorded is that of recent years when 1000 Indonesian massage therapists gathered to massage 1000 people for 15 minutes.
• Our sense of touch is the first feeling we develop and the last sense that fades as we age.
• Massage therapy was used by Julius Cesar to cure epilepsy.
• The word “massage” was first used in 15^th century England.
• Swedish massage is the most common type of massage performed in the U.S, with deep tissue massage coming in second.
• A one hour massage has the same benefit as 7-8 hours of light sleep.
• Massaging before competing in an athletic event helps athletes to be more flexible, perform better, and makes them less prone to injury.
• People who have eating disorders and receive a massage 3 times daily for a minimum of 10 days have been found to gain weight faster than patients who don’t receive massages.
• There are an estimated 250 different types of massage.
• Some forms of massage, such as the nuru massage, are performed with both the client and massage therapist fully naked.
• Massage therapy can help to strengthen the immune system.
• A Swedish massage can help to brighten the skin’s complexion and improve its elasticity, as it improves blood circulation.
• In 2010 there were more than 125,000 massage therapists in America alone. By 20120 this number had grown to 300,000.
• Approximately 10% of patients have been recommended massage therapy by their doctors.
• Ancient Egyptians are thought of as the first people to use massage therapy, as there are depictions of the act on the walls of various tombs.
• Elders who perform massages on younger people tend to be happier than their non-massaging counterparts.
• Most states in the U.S require a massage therapist to have at least 500 in-class hours of instruction and experience before becoming registered.
• Most American massage therapists (84%) are females and more than half of them (57%) fall within the age range of 35 and 54 years of age.
• Nuru massage is performed with a special gel that is made out of botanical extracts and seaweed.
• In 2015, it was estimated that massages were a $12.2 billion industry.
• Babies fall asleep faster when they are massaged than when they are rocked.
• Some forms of massage therapy can help restore mobility to elderly patients who suffer from Parkinson’s disease and arthritis.
• Massage is mentioned in ancient Chinese, Japanese, and Indonesian text.
• When children who suffer from autism are massaged regularly, their symptoms can be minimized.
• Massage therapy is the third most commonly used form of treatment in North America.
• Massage was brought to Japan by monks who came back from China and shared the art form with others.

There’s no doubt that massage Therapy is a popular choice for relaxation and a growing business, but it’s truly amazing how long the art form has been around and what it can be used for with its uses being both physical and mental, as well as spiritual.