Julie Kouyate explains the benefits of massage therapy.
In this podcast (Quicktime ipod compatible, 31MB; Google streaming flash video), Bud Gibson speaks to Julie Kouyate about her massage practice.
Julie begins the conversation by defining massage therapy. She explains that at it's most basic level it is simply touch and touch provides a healing effect. She also explains that if the therapist focuses the intention of their touch that the vibration of pain within the body can be changed.
How does a therapist know when a specific muscle needs attention? Julie states that there is a definitie difference in how the muscles feel. She compares it to running your fingers over a pleat in a pair of pants. When the muscle is bound she says she can feel a little "extra" or "pleat" within the tissue. As the muscle relaxes the "pleat" disappates.
Bud next asks about deep tissue massage. Julie explains that superficial massage mostly affects the skin, lymph, blood and superficial musculature and that this type of massage can be very healing in and of itself. Deep tissue massage affects the attachments of the musclulature close to the bones, joints and also the nervous system as well as the skin, lymph and blood. Julie uses deep tissue massage on all her clients. She describes that there are different levels of deep tissue and that she chooses the technique based on the situation and the client.
Julie has been a nationally certified masssage therapst for eight years. To contact her for an appointment please call 734-330-7903 or (if in the Ann Arbor area) look up Massage Works in the yellow pages.
ADDITIONAL LINKS
- The American Massage Therapy Association may answer questions you have about massage therapy.
- Further information on deep tissue massage can be found here.
- View the Massage Therapy Foundation website for more information about massage.
