In China, texts documenting the medical benefits of massage therapy date back to

approximately 2700 BCE. The Chinese tradition of massage therapy was developed from the

combined expertise and methods of doctors in traditional Chinese medicine, practitioners

of martial arts, Buddhists and Taoists who viewed touch as essential to their spiritual

yoga, and laymen who offered massages for relaxation.

Chinese massage methods originated from the principle that diseases and illnesses arise

due to a deficiency or imbalance in the energy in specific pathways or meridians that

represent physiological systems. Through massage and other specific techniques, energy

will flow more harmoniously through these pathways, allowing the body to heal itself

naturally.

Techniques include Tui Na, amno, acupuncture and acupressure, to name a few.

Practitioners may complement massage treatments with herbal remedies, dietary therapy

and exercise recommendations.

Tui Na is a hands-on body treatment that uses Chinese taoist and martial arts principles

to bring the body to balance. The principles being balanced are the eight principles of

Traditional chinese medicine. The practitioner may brush, knead, roll/press and rub the

areas between each of the joints (known as the eight gates) to open the body’s defensive

(wei) chi and get the energy moving in the meridians as well as the muscles. The

practitioner can then use range of motion, traction, massage, with the stimulation of

acupressure points; this is claimed to treat both acute and chronic musculoskeletal

conditions, as well as many non-musculoskeletal conditions. Tui na is an integral part

of traditional chinese medicine (TCM) and is taught in TCM schools as part of formal

training in oriental medicine. Many east asian martial arts schools also teach Tui Na to

their advanced students for the treatment and management of injury and pain due to

training. As with many other traditional Chinese medical practices, there are several

different schools with greater or smaller differences in their approach to the

discipline. It is related also to Chinese massage.

Chinese massage is extremely popular in Shanghai today where there are many massage

outlets is almost every major streets. These outlets are popular with both the locals

and a large foreign population found in Shanghai.
Types of Massage Therapy:

Infant massage: This form of  massage is becoming most popular in the world at

this moment. Caring touch is good for every for child. There are major benefits of

infant massaging, including increased awareness of the baby and their needs and also

promotes the boding process between therapist and the baby. Chinese massage greatly

helps in reducing colic in children.

Head and shoulder massage: This form of massage is centered on the scalp, face, ears and

shoulders. This massage focuses on the vital energy points that energize the head to

deeply release tension, increase circulation and relieve stress. This massage is

designed to ease aching, improve sleep and relieve fatigue.

Relaxationmassage: This type of Chinese massage is strictly for the purpose of rest and

relaxation. This is not designed for therapeutic effects or for dealing with chronic

pain or discomfort. This therapy helps in improving circulation, range of movement,
relief minor muscle pains, and promotes overall relaxation.

Thai massage: This shanghai massage is an interactive manipulation of the body using

passive stretching and gentle pressure along energy lines. This therapy helps to

increase flexibility, balances the overall energy system, adjusts the skeletal

structure, relieves muscular and joint tensions, and stimulates internal organs.

Foot massage:  This popular form of massage involves applying focused pressure to

certain known reflex points located in the foot to cure or prevent disease. Foot

reflexology is based on the premise that our nerve zones or reflex points go from the

bottom of our feet to the top of our head, encompassing all vital organs on the way. A

trained reflexologist can put pressure on different meridiens or energy lines on the

sole and side of the feet to determine the cause of illness.

Shiatsu massage:  This Japanese massage is also a popular massage in Shanghai. It is a

finger pressure massage technique that is sometimes confused with acupuncture. Shiatsu

massage therapy and acupuncture are founded on the Chinese meridian system. The

therapist applies pressure with his thumbs, finger, and palms to specific areas of the

client’s body that have been determined during an assessment period prior to the massage

session. There are no needle pokes involved with Shiatsu. Massage techniques like

tapping, squeezing, rubbing, and applied pressure are applied along the meridians to

unblock energy blockages and reintroduce the optimal flow of ki.
Benefits of Massage Therapy:

* Massage mainly stimulates blood circulation and assists the lymphatic system.
* It is one of the most important healing techniques and helps in relaxing and

soothing.
* Chinese massage helps in relieving tension, anxiety, depression, stress,

stiffness, and pain.
* It improves breathing and circulation. There is an improved elimination of waste

throughout the body.
* Chinese massage helps in reducing some diseases like allergies, asthma, arthritis,

bronchitis, digestive disorders, headache, insomnia, sports injuries, and sinusitis.
* Deep tissue massage helps in breaking up the tightness in the muscle tissue and

retreating the muscles.
* Soft massage is very relaxing and most of you fall asleep during the treatment.
* Chinese massage is also used to relieve fatigue which can be caused from the

muscles in the body being so tight.