Massage is a very time honored practice. It is depicted in murals and mentioned in the texts of many early civilizations. Rome, Greece, India, China, Japan, and Egypt all understood the value of massage for the relief of tension and muscle tenderness. Today, it enjoys wide usage, and there are schools that teach the practice.

The art of manipulating the soft tissue (muscles, skin, joints, tendons, ligaments, and even the organs of the gastrointestinal system), either by using a mechanical handheld device or a part of the body, such as the forearm or fingers or even the feet, is recognized as having medical benefits. Beginning in the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, massage was provided as a medical service. Massage can increase circulation and flexibility, decrease stress, cut down on fatigue, and reduce muscle aches.

There are many different sorts of massage: Breema, visceral manipulation, Lomilomi, and Shiatsu, to name a few. Shiatsu, in fact, has the distinction of being a licensed medical practice in Japan. Practiced using the fingers, thumbs, and palms, the name literally means "finger pressure," and the technique is nearly one hundred years old.

Massage is often practiced by skilled professionals on specially designed chairs or on massage tables with a horseshoe-shaped pillow. For home massage, many people own mechanical devices that can target one area of the body at a time to provide relief to sore muscles, but for a whole body treatment at home there are also beds you can purchase that give a heavenly massage at the touch of a button. A remote control device offers three types of massages, each lasting thirty minutes. Fourteen heated jade rollers work over 60" to distribute a deep massage that will leave you warm, calm, and ready for a good night's sleep.

If you enjoy a good massage, having a message bed in your own home is a real delight. You can enjoy the benefits of a full body massage any time you wish!