Bodywork is a form of communication through touch.  It provides a  theoretical framework, guiding principles, and specific techniques that harness the power of touch to enhance your physical and mental health. 

INTERESTING FACTS ON TOUCH

-Touch is the first sense to develop in humans, and may be the last to fade

-There are approximately 5 million touch receptors in our skin -- 3000 in a finger tip

-A touch of any kind can reduce the heart rate and lower blood pressure

-Touch stimulates the release of endorphins (the body's natural pain killers) which is why a mother's     hug for a child's skinned knee can literally make it better

-People with eating disorders who receive massage three time a day for ten day's, gain weight faster and got out of the hospital six days sooner than those who don't

-Elderly people who massage surrogate grandchildren report higher-esteem and better moods

-Massage before an athletic event, makes the athlete more flexible, enhanced speed and power, and less prone to injury

-One in five Americans have had a massage from a massage therapist in the past five years and 13% report receiving one in the past year. This is up 8% from 1997.

-Today, there are more than 60,000 Nationally Certified practitioners that serve millions of consumers.

-In 1996, massage therapy and bodywork was officially offered for the first time as a core medical service in the Summer Olympic Games in Atlanta. At the Games, Nationally Certified practitioners were providing key medical services.

-Consumers spend between $2 and $4 billion dollars annually on visits to massage and bodywork practitioners, totaling approximately 75 million visits each year.

-The three most often cited reasons for getting a therapeutic massage are relaxation (27%), relief of muscle soreness, stiffness or spasm (13%), and stress reduction (10%).

-Fifty-four percent of primary care physicians and family practitioners say they would encourage their patients to pursue massage therapy as a complement to medical treatment.

-Massage therapy accounts for 18% of the 425 million visits made to alternative healthcare providers each year.

-In 1999, 52% of American adults thought of massage as "therapeutic," which is up 47% from 1997.

-An estimated 20 million Americans receive massage therapy and bodywork each year, according to the National Institute of Health (NIH).

-Approximately 50,000 massage and bodywork practitioners provide 45 million one-hour therapy sessions each year.

-Two thirds of Americans have tried at least one form of alternative therapy or treatment for medical conditions.

-Massage therapy is the third most commonly used form of alternative medicine in the U.S., having been tried by 35% of Americans.

-Women are more likely than men to have tried alternative treatment.

-Forty-two percent of Americans have used some type of alternative care in the past.

-Americans make more visits to see alternative therapists than to see primary-care physicians, spending $21.2 billion.

-The number of massage practitioners in the U.S. is between 120,000 and 160,000.

-Massage and bodywork therapy is sought out by a large number of people in age brackets: 18-24 (22%); 25-34 (31%); 35-44 (25%); 45-54 (22%); 55-64 (19%); and over 65 (9%).

-The most important driver to try an alternative treatment is a recommendation from a friend or family member, which leads 62% of their patients to these providers.

If you have any comments or questions, please contact us via phone or e-mail.  Schedule your appointment today!  And....don't forget to mention iwantamassage.com for your free gift!  Thanks and we hope to speak with you soon!