Examining the art of massage

After a long day in classes, working on that ever-present paper or studying for the next day’s exam, students need to relax. For many IU students, a massage is the ideal remedy for the grind of a stressful college lifestyle.\n“Massages are really relaxing,” said junior Rebecca Liu. “It really helps in relieving tension in my body.”\nBloomington offers massage therapy centers where students and residents come to test different types of massages, ranging from deep tissue to hot stone. Each massage type has a different method for loosening up muscles and offers a variety of health benefits.\n“If you want to relax you can get a standard massage,” said junior Adam Philips, who works in client relations at J2 Salon and Spa on North Morton Street.“If you want to relieve stress and tension in your muscles, try a deep tissue massage.”\nLiu recommended a hot stone massage.\n“People took stones and put them on my body, rubbing them on me to relieve stress,” Liu said. “It was really different but still felt good.”\nMassages have become increasingly important to athletes and medical patients in preparation for sporting events or surgeries, because the health benefits extend much further than simply relaxation, said Anastacia Corbit, massage therapist at Spaah! on North Walnut Street.\n“A massage puts a person’s body through exercise,” Corbit said. “It pushes the blood to the heart while helping prevent pulled muscles. It also relieves anything from back pains to headaches.”\nCorbit said a sports massage can help patients dealing with sore muscles and also helps relieve lactic acid buildup in the muscles. \nAfter July 1, 2009, massage therapists entering practice in Indiana will need to be licensed, which requires a high school diploma and a minimum of 500 hours of supervised classroom activity and hands-on training.\n“To give a good massage, you need to make sure and listen to your clients,” said Corrine Marx, owner of the Center of Massage Therapy Continuing Education in Jefferson, S.D. “It also helps to play relaxing music to cater to your clients and to pay attention to what is going on with them.”\nMarx also recommends the masseuse stay in good physical condition, exercising and staying strong for the sake of the client. Marx’s institute is one of many around the country that offers courses in massage therapy.\nCorbit said a masseuse should not forget about the client when administering a massage.\n“Make sure not to push too hard,” Corbit said. “If someone is feeling pain, then stop. Also, avoid pushing on bones, because that can be painful.”\nIn a massage, both the masseuse and the client both have to be alert on what is happening. Liu said it’s painful if a patient starts to stiffen his or her muscles.\n“I started to tense up once during my massage,” Liu said. “If you tense up, it makes it worse. You have to be consciously thinking that your muscles are supposed to be relaxed.”\nLiu said the benefits of a massage can be enjoyable if done properly.\n“Your body feels a lot looser, and you have more mental clarity,” Liu said. “People often focus on the physicality of a massage, but at the same time it is mentally relieving.”