Q.   What is massage?

A.  Massage is to humans what a tune-ups are to cars. It provides a physical and mental boost to the weary, sore, and stressed. Therapeutic massage involves the manipulation of the soft tissue structures of the body:

• to prevent and alleviate pain, discomfort, and muscle spasm 
• to reduce stress and anxiety
• to promote relaxation and calm thinking
• to enhance health and well-being.
  

Massage is nothing more than a systematic manual application of pressure and movement of the soft tissue of the body—the skin, muscles, tendons, ligaments, and fascia (the membrane surrounding muscles and muscle groups). The healing powers of massage have been recognized and practiced in both Eastern and Western cultures for thousands of years. 

Q.   What are the benefits of massage?

A.   Physical — Massage therapy is designed to stretch and loosen muscles, improve blood flow and the movement of lymph throughout the body, facilitate the removal of metabolic wastes resulting from exercise or inactivity, and increase the flow of oxygen and nutrients to cells and tissue.In addition, massage stimulates the release of endorphins—the body’s natural painkiller—into the brain and nervous system.

Mental — Massage therapy provides a relaxed state of alertness, reduces mental stress and enhances capacity for calm thinking and creativity.

Emotional — Massage therapy satisfies the need for caring and nurturing touch, creates a feeling of well-being and reduces anxiety levels.

Q.   What should I expect during my massage?  

A.   At your first appointment, the massage therapist will ask you about your health in general and about anything happening in your body that massage might be able to help. This helps the therapist tailor the massage to meet your needs. You will receive your massage in a private space that has been set up to maximize your relaxation and comfort. Before the therapist enters the room, you will undress to whatever degree is comfortable for you. You will be covered snuggly by a sheet throughout the massage. The therapist will expose ("undrape") only the isolated part of your body that is being massaged, ensuring that modesty is respected at all times. The massage takes place on a comfortable padded table.

Q.   Can massage really help alleviate stress?

A.   Sitting for hours at a computer...
       Standing through weekly labs...
       Practicing...an instrument, a sport...
       Lugging a backpack across campus...
       Facing deadlines and exams...

What do these activities have in common? ...
Can you say STRESS??

These activities, added to the typical Cornell workload, keep our muscles tense and tight. And once the tension sets in, we tend to carry it with us everywhere we go.

Symptoms of stress

Life at Cornell can be quite a juggling act—classes, exams, research, labs, work, relationships—and YOU hold it all together. No wonder you’re tight!

Here’s a checklist of symptoms we commonly experience when under stress:

• stiffness or pain in the neck and shoulders
• backache
• headache/migraine
• insomnia
• stomach tightness or upset
• jaw tension
• fatigue
• anxiety
• frequent emotional outbursts

If you experience even one of these symptoms with any frequency, massage can provide welcome relief from all of these symptoms.