Thursday, May 15, 2008

Massage Therapy vs. Self-Massage



What is the difference between massage therapy and self-massage?

Both will do your body good. Both will improve health and mood, reduce stress, speed recovery between workouts, reduce muscle pain and soreness, prevent injury and help you feel better fast.

Massage therapy is for people who care enough about their body to go to a professional. Self-massage is for people who care enough about their physical performance to take matters into their own hands.

Massage therapy is part of the popular culture, it appeals to millions of people. Self-massage is a little edgier, it’s practiced by a relative hand full of athletes and active people who want more from their massage. It’s for people who want a massage more than once a week, who regularly test their bodies, and for people who want to take better care of themselves as they grow older. Self-massage is an intoxicant for people who are passionate about their health.

Massage therapy is for people who care enough about their body to schedule and keep an appointment. Self-massage is for people who care enough about their bodies to learn a skill set. It’s the difference between buying vegetables and growing them, both are good for you. One is active, the other is passive. One requires learning technique, the other a wallet. Both require a commitment to well being. The difference is largely a matter of degree.

People who want the best massage experience will choose both a massage therapist and self-massage. Even if both were free, a person truly interested in improving health and athletic performance would choose both forms of massage because they satisfy different needs.

Massage therapy is dining out; self-massage is home cooking. They’re both good. The problem is not in deciding which of two excellent choices to make. The problem is that most people choose neither, leaving their bodies troubled by injury, soreness, and premature aging.

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