As a certified stress relief massage therapist I can help people to relax more than they can on their own in their busy life.

In September 2011 I’ll have a massage room available below The Flicks Community Movie House in Phnom Penh, where I will be able to help local expatriate clients with stress or certain tissue damage. Check out this page later for more information.

The Healing Benefits of Massage

The healing power of human touch is a positive experience that many people enjoy through therapeutic massage or bodywork. The effects of a good massage go much deeper than the skin’s surface. Massage can:

• Help improve circulation of the blood and lower blood pressure.
• Act as a detoxification system by propelling toxic waste products through the lymphatic system.
• Help to improve muscle tone and prevent muscular atrophy resulting from inactivity or illness.
• Reduce emotional stress and promote a sense of well-being.

So how can something as simple as this hands-on therapy have so many positive benefits?

A tense or painful muscle is one which is often chronically contracted.

In an acute situation such as recent injury, the muscle can be in actual spasm. This contraction or spasm decreases the flow of blood to the muscle, which leads to a decrease in the nutrient and oxygen supply to the cells of the muscle and related nerves. A chronically contracted muscle will build up lactic acid, a sign of fatigue.

This oxygen shortage and lactic acid buildup irritates the nerve cells, which perpetuates the contracted muscles.

Massages can help remove the lactic acid and other metabolic waste products from the cells and reverse this process, interrupting the vicious cycle of pain > spasm > pain.

There are a multitude of massage styles which are beneficial, depending upon the individual’s needs and preferences. As a massage therapist I provide the following:

Swedish Massage: this is the basic “relaxation” style of bodywork, which uses long strokes, squeezing and kneading. It helps to improve circulation by working to loosen or relax the superficial layers of muscle. This type of massage is particularly useful for muscles which are already sore from stress or a tough workout, as it is often more gentle than other styles.

Sports Massage: this form of massage works on a deeper level of musculature or connective tissue. This style fits more with the “no pain, no gain” philosophy. It can contain slow, hard strokes and deep, sustained finger pressure to work deeply into the contracted muscles, fascia and tendons. This technique increases flexibility, encourages muscles to work at their fullest capacity, and speeds up the healing process by reducing swelling following an injury. It is especially indicated for athletes and “weekend warriors” who suffer from tight or sore muscles.

Reflexology and Zone Therapy: reflexology works on the assumption that parts of the feet (as well as parts of the ears and hands) correspond to other parts of the body’s anatomy. In other words, stress or illness in a certain part of the body may show up as a painful or sensitive area on a specific area of the foot. Reflexologists apply pressure to the side, top or bottom of the feet to help reduce dysfunction in other parts of the body.

There are a few conditions in which massage would not be a good option, such as marked inflammation, fever, significant swelling or very severe pain. But for the garden variety aches and pains that most of us experience, as well as for the general stresses of life, massage therapy is an outstanding way to treat ourselves to a positive, revitalizing experience.

Ramon Stoppelenburg
Phnom Penh, Cambodia

One client per day
By appointment only
$35 per session (60-90 mins)